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！
as they were： and those who had been deluded being certain to find
excuses and reasons for themselves； of which they were equally certain
to see that other sufferers were wholly devoid： not to mention the great
probability of every individual sufferer persuading himself； to his
violent indignation； that but for the example of all the other sufferers
he never would have put himself in the way of suffering。 Because such a
declaration as Clennam's； made at such a time； would certainly draw down
upon him a storm of animosity； rendering it impossible to calculate on
forbearance in the creditors； or on unanimity among them； and exposing
him a solitary target to a straggling cross…fire； which might bring him
down from half…a…dozen quarters at once。
To all this Clennam merely replied that； granting the whole protest；
nothing in it lessened the force； or could lessen the force； of the
voluntary and public exoneration of his partner。 He therefore； once
and for all； requested Mr Rugg's immediate aid in getting the business
despatched。 Upon that； Mr Rugg fell to work； and Arthur； retaining no
property to himself but his clothes and books； and a little loose
money； placed his small private banker's…account with the papers of the
business。
The disclosure was made； and the storm raged fearfully。 Thousands of
people were wildly staring about for somebody alive to heap reproaches
on； and this notable case； courting publicity； set the living somebody
so much wanted； on a scaffold。 When people who had nothing to do with
the case were so sensible of its flagrancy； people who lost money by it
could scarcely be expected to deal mildly with it。 Letters of reproach
and invective showered in from the creditors； and Mr Rugg； who sat upon
the high stool every day and read them all； informed his client within a
week that he feared there were writs out。
'I must take the consequences of what I have done；' said Clennam。 'The
writs will find me here。'
On the very next morning； as he was turning in Bleeding Heart Yard by
Mrs Plornish's corner； Mrs Plornish stood at the door waiting for him；
and mysteriously besought him to step into Happy Cottage。 There he found
Mr Rugg。
'I thought I'd wait for you here。 I wouldn't go on to the Counting…house
this morning if I was you； sir。'
'Why not； Mr Rugg？'
'There are as many as five out； to my knowledge。'
'It cannot be too soon over；' said Clennam。 'Let them take me at once。'
'Yes； but；' said Mr Rugg； getting between him and the door； 'hear
reason； hear reason。 They'll take you soon enough； Mr Clennam； I don't
doubt； but； hear reason。 It almost always happens； in these cases；
that some insignificant matter pushes itself in front and makes much
of itself。 Now； I find there's a little one out……a mere Palace Court
jurisdiction……and I have reason to believe that a caption may be made
upon that。 I wouldn't be taken upon that。'
'Why not？' asked Clennam。
'I'd be taken on a full…grown one； sir；' said Mr Rugg。 'It's as well to
keep up appearances。 As your professional adviser； I should prefer your
being taken on a writ from one of the Superior Courts； if you have no
objection to do me that favour。 It looks better。'
'Mr Rugg；' said Arthur； in his dejection； 'my only wish is； that it
should be over。 I will go on； and take my chance。'
'Another word of reason； sir！' cried Mr Rugg。 'Now； this is reason。
The other may be taste； but this is reason。 If you should be taken on a
little one； sir； you would go to the Marshalsea。 Now； you know what the
Marshalsea is。 Very close。 Excessively confined。 Whereas in the King's
Bench……' Mr Rugg waved his right hand freely； as expressing abundance of
space。 'I would rather；' said Clennam； 'be taken to the Marshalsea than
to any other prison。'
'Do you say so indeed； sir？' returned Mr Rugg。 'Then this is taste； too；
and we may be walking。'
He was a little offended at first； but he soon overlooked it。 They
walked through the Yard to the other end。 The Bleeding Hearts were more
interested in Arthur since his reverses than formerly； now regarding him
as one who was true to the place and had taken up his freedom。 Many of
them came out to look after him； and to observe to one another； with
great unctuousness； that he was 'pulled down by it。' Mrs Plornish
and her father stood at the top of the steps at their own end； much
depressed and shaking their heads。
There was nobody visibly in waiting when Arthur and Mr Rugg arrived
at the Counting…house。 But an elderly member of the Jewish persuasion；
preserved in rum； followed them close； and looked in at the glass before
Mr Rugg had opened one of the day's letters。
'Oh！' said Mr Rugg； looking up。 'How do you do？ Step in……Mr Clennam； I
think this is the gentleman I was mentioning。'
This gentleman explained the object of his visit to be 'a tyfling madder
ob bithznithz；' and executed his legal function。
'Shall I acpany you； Mr Clennam？' asked Mr Rugg politely； rubbing his
hands。
'I would rather go alone； thank you。 Be so good as send me my clothes。'
Mr Rugg in a light airy way replied in the affirmative； and shook hands
with him。 He and his attendant then went down…stairs； got into the first
conveyance they found； and drove to the old gates。
'Where I little thought； Heaven forgive me；' said Clennam to himself；
'that I should ever enter thus！'
Mr Chivery was on the Lock； and Young John was in the Lodge： either
newly released from it； or waiting to take his own spell of duty。 Both
were more astonished on seeing who the prisoner was； than one might have
thought turnkeys would have been。 The elder Mr Chivery shook hands with
him in a shame…faced kind of way； and said； 'I don't call to mind；
sir； as I was ever less glad to see you。' The younger Mr Chivery； more
distant； did not shake hands with him at all； he stood looking at him
in a state of indecision so observable that it even came within the
observation of Clennam with his heavy eyes and heavy heart。 Presently
afterwards； Young John disappeared into the jail。
As Clennam knew enough of the place to know that he was required to
remain in the Lodge a certain time； he took a seat in a corner； and
feigned to be occupied with the perusal of letters from his pocket。
They did not so engross his attention； but that he saw； with gratitude；
how the elder Mr Chivery kept the Lodge clear of prisoners； how he
signed to some； with his keys； not to e in； how he nudged others with
his elbows to go out； and how he made his misery as easy to him as he
could。
Arthur was sitting with his eyes fixed on the floor； recalling the past；
brooding over the present； and not attending to either； when he felt
himself touched upon the shoulder。 It was by Young John； and he said；
'You can e now。'
He got up and followed Young John。 When they had gone a step or two
within the inner iron…gate； Young John turned and said to him：
'You want a room。 I have got you one。'
'I thank you heartily。'
Young John turned again； and took him in at the old doorway； up the old
staircase； into the old room。 Arthur stretched out his hand。 Young John
looked at it； looked at him……sternly……swelled； choked； and said：
'I don't know as I can。 No； I find I can't。 But I thought you'd like the
room； and here it is for you。'
Surprise at this inconsistent behaviour yielded when he was gone （he
went away directly） to the feelings which the empty room awakened in
Clennam's wounded breast； and to the crowding associations with the
one good and gentle creature who had sanctified it。 Her absence in his
altered fortunes made it； and him in it； so very desolate and so much in
need of such a face of love and truth； that he turned against the
wall to weep； sobbing out； as his heart relieved itself； 'O my Little
Dorrit！'
CHAPTER 27。 The Pupil of the Marshalsea
The day was sunny； and the Marshalsea； with the hot noon striking
upon it； dropped into a solitary
arm…chair； itself as faded as any debtor in the jail； and yielded
himself to his thoughts。
In the unnatural peace of having gone through the dreaded arrest； and
got there；……the first change of feeling which the prison most monly
induced； and