按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Little Dorrit to take that gentle restorative； or whether she bathed the
foreheads of Doyce and Clennam in vinegar； and gave the late Mr F。 more
air； no one with any sense of responsibility could have undertaken to
decide。 A tributary stream of confusion； moreover； poured in from an
adjoining bedroom； where Mr F。's Aunt appeared； from the sound of her
voice； to be in a horizontal posture； awaiting her breakfast； and from
which bower that inexorable lady snapped off short taunts； whenever she
could get a hearing； as； 'Don't believe it's his doing！' and 'He needn't
take no credit to himself for it！' and 'It'll be long enough； I expect；
afore he'll give up any of his own money！' all designed to disparage
Clennam's share in the discovery； and to relieve those inveterate
feelings with which Mr F。's Aunt regarded him。
But Little Dorrit's solicitude to get to her father； and to carry the
joyful tidings to him； and not to leave him in his jail a moment with
this happiness in store for him and still unknown to him； did more for
her speedy restoration than all the skill and attention on earth could
have done。 'e with me to my dear father。 Pray e and tell my dear
father！' were the first words she said。 Her father； her father。 She
spoke of nothing but him； thought of nothing but him。 Kneeling down and
pouring out her thankfulness with uplifted hands； her thanks were for
her father。
Flora's tenderness e by this； and she launched out
among the cups and saucers into a wonderful flow of tears and speech。
'I declare；' she sobbed； 'I never was so cut up since your mama and my
papa not Doyce and Clennam for this once but give the precious little
thing a cup of tea and make her put it to her lips at least pray Arthur
do； not even Mr F。's last illness for that was of another kind and gout
is not a child's affection though very painful for all parties and Mr
F。 a martyr with his leg upon a rest and the wine trade in itself
inflammatory for they will do it more or less among themselves and who
can wonder； it seems like a dream I am sure to think of nothing at all
this morning and now Mines of money is it really； but you must know my
darling love because you never will be strong enough to tell him all
about it upon teaspoons； mightn't it be even best to try the directions
of my own medical man for though the flavour is anything but agreeable
still I force myself to do it as a prescription and find the benefit；
you'd rather not why no my dear I'd rather not but still I do it as a
duty； everybody will congratulate you some in earnest and some not and
many will congratulate you with all their hearts but none more so I
do assure you from the bottom of my own I do myself though sensible of
blundering and being stupid； and will be judged by Arthur not Doyce and
Clennam for this once so good…bye darling and God bless you and may you
be very happy and excuse the liberty； vowing that the dress shall never
be finished by anybody else but shall be laid by for a keepsake just
as it is and called Little Dorrit though why that strangest of
denominations at any time I never did myself and now I never shall！'
Thus Flora； in taking leave of her favourite。 Little Dorrit thanked her；
and embraced her； over and over again； and finally came out of the house
with Clennam； and took coach for the Marshalsea。
It was a strangely unreal ride through the old squalid streets； with a
sensation of being raised out of them into an airy world of wealth
and grandeur。 When Arthur told her that she would soon ride in her
own carriage through very different scenes； when all the familiar
experiences would have vanished away； she looked frightened。 But when
he substituted her father for herself； and told her how he would ride in
his carriage； and how great and grand he would be； her tears of joy
and innocent pride fell fast。 Seeing that the happiness her mind could
realise was all shining upon him； Arthur kept that single figure before
her； and so they rode brightly through the poor streets in the prison
neighbourhood to carry him the great news。
When Mr Chivery； who was on duty； admitted them into the Lodge； he saw
something in their faces which filled him with astonishment。 He stood
looking after them； when they hurried into the prison； as though he
perceived that they had e back acpanied by a ghost a…piece。 Two or
three Collegians whom they passed； looked after them too； and presently
joining Mr Chivery； formed a little group on the Lodge steps； in the
midst of which there spontaneously originated a whisper that the Father
was going to get his discharge。 Within a few minutes； it was heard in
the remotest room in the College。
Little Dorrit opened the door from without； and they both entered。 He
was sitting in his old grey gown and his old black cap； in the sunlight
by the window； reading his newspaper。 His glasses were in his hand； and
he had just looked round； surprised at first； no doubt； by her step upon
the stairs； not expecting her until night； surprised again； by seeing
Arthur Clennam in her pany。 As they came in； the same unwonted look
in both of them which had already caught attention in the yard below；
struck him。 He did not rise or speak； but laid down his glasses and his
newspaper on the table beside him； and looked at them with his mouth
a little open and his lips trembling。 When Arthur put out his hand；
he touched it； but not with his usual state； and then he turned to his
daughter； who had sat down close beside him with her hands upon his
shoulder； and looked attentively in her face。
'Father！ I have been made so happy this morning！'
'You have been made so happy； my dear？'
'By Mr Clennam； father。 He brought me such joyful and wonderful
intelligence about you！ If he had not with his great kindness and
gentleness； prepared me for it； father……prepared me for it； father……I
think I could not have borne it。'
Her agitation was exceedingly great； and the tears rolled down her face。
He put his hand suddenly to his heart； and looked at Clennam。
'pose yourself； sir；' said Clennam； 'and take a little time to think。
To think of the brightest and most fortunate accidents of life。 We have
all heard of great surprises of joy。 They are not at an end； sir。 They
are rare； but not at an end。'
'Mr Clennam？ Not at an end？ Not at an end for……' He touched himself upon
the breast； instead of saying 'me。'
'No；' returned Clennam。
'What surprise；' he asked； keeping his left hand over his heart； and
there stopping in his speech； while with his right hand he put his
glasses exactly level on the table： 'what such surprise can be in store
for me？'
'Let me ansr Dorrit； what surprise
would be the most unlooked for and the most acceptable to you。 Do not be
afraid to imagine it； or to say what it would be。'
He looked steadfastly at Clennam； and； so looking at him； seemed to
change into a very old haggard man。 The sun was bright upon the wall
beyond the window； and on the spikes at top。 He slowly stretched out the
hand that had been upon his heart； and pointed at the wall。
'It is down；' said Clennam。 'Gone！'
He remained in the same attitude； looking steadfastly at him。
'And in its place；' said Clennam； slowly and distinctly； 'are the means
to possess and enjoy the utmost that they have so long shut out。 Mr
Dorrit； there is not the smallest doubt that within a few days you will
be free； and highly prosperous。 I congratulate you with all my soul on
this change of fortune； and on the happy future into which you are soon
to carry the treasure you have been blest with here……the best of all the
riches you can have elsewhere……the treasure at your side。'
With those words； he pressed his hand and released it； and his daughter；
laying her face against his； encircled him in the hour of his prosperity
with her arms； as she had in the long years of his adversity encircled
him with her love and toil and truth； and poured out her full heart in
gratitude； hope； joy； blissful ecstasy； and all for him。
'I shall see him as I never saw him yet。 I shall see my dear love； with
the dark cloud cleared away。 I shall see him； as my poor mother saw him
long ago。 O my dear； my dea