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in the world to manage a thing of this sort。 I don't know what I should
have done if I had been in the diplomatic line……right； perhaps！ The long
and short of it is； Arthur； we have both been in England this fortnight。
And if you go on to ask where Doyce is at the present moment； why； my
plain answer is……here he is！ And now I can breathe again at last！'
Doyce darted in from behind the door； caught Arthur by both hands； and
said the rest for himself。
'There are only three branches of my subject； my dear Clennam；' said
Doyce； proceeding to mould them severally； with his plastic thumb； on
the palm of his hand； 'and they're soon disposed of。 First； not a word
more from you about the past。 There was an error in your calculations。
I know what that is。 It affects the whole machine； and failure is the
consequence。 You will profit by the failure； and will avoid it another
time。 I have done a similar thing myself； in construction； often。 Every
failure teaches a man something； if he will learn； and you are too
sensible a man not to learn from this failure。 So much for firstly。
Secondly。 I was sorry you should have taken it so heavily to heart； and
reproached yourself so severely； I was travelling home night and day
to put matters right； with the assistance of our friend； when I fell in
with our friend as he has informed you。 Thirdly。 We two agreed； that；
after what you had undergone； after your distress of mind； and after
your illness； it would be a pleasant surprise if we could so far keep
quiet as to get things perfectly arranged without your knowledge； and
then e and say that all the affairs were smooth； that everything was
right； that the business stood in greater want of you than ever it did；
and that a new and prosperous career was opened before you and me as
partners。 That's thirdly。 But you know we always make an allowance for
friction； and so I have reserved space to close in。 My dear Clennam；
I thoroughly confide in you； you have it in your power to be quite as
useful to me as I have； or have had； it in my power to be useful to you；
your old place awaits you； and wants you very much； there is nothing to
detain you here one half…hour longer。'
There was silence； which was not broken until Arthur had stood for some
time at the window with his back towards them； and until his little wife
that was to be had gone to him and stayed by him。
'I made a remark a little while ago；' said Daniel Doyce then； 'which I
am inclined to think was an incorrect one。 I said there was nothing
to detain you here； Clennam； half an hour longer。 Am I mistaken in
supposing that you would rather not leave here till to…morrow morning？
Do I know； without being very wise； where you would like to go； direct
from these walls and from this room？'
'You do；' returned Arthur。 'It has been our cherished purpose。'
'Very well！' said Doyce。 'Then； if this young lady will do me the honour
of regarding me for four…and…twenty hours in the light of a father； and
will take a ride with me now towards Saint Paul's Churchyard； I dare say
I know what we want to get there。'
Little Dorrit and he went out together soon afterwards； and Mr Meagles
lingered behind to say a word to his friend。
'I think； Arthur； you will not want Mother and me in the morning and
we will keep away。 It might set Mother thinking about Pet； she's a
soft…hearted woman。 She's best at the Cottage； and I'll stay there and
keep her pany。'
With that they parted for the time。 And the day ended； and the night
ended； and the morning came； and Little Dorrit； simply dressed as usual
and having no one with her but Maggy； came into the prison with the
sunshine。 The poor room was a happy room that morning。 Where in the
world was there a room so full of quiet joy！
'My dear love；' said Arthur。 'Why does Maggy light the fire？ We shall be
gone directly。'
'I asked her to do it。 I have taken such an odd fancy。 I want you to
burn something for me。'
'What？'
'Only this folded paper。 If you will put it in the fire with your own
hand； just as it is； my fancy will be gratified。'
'Superstitious； darling Little Dorrit？ Is it a charm？'
'It is anything you like best； my own；' she answered； laughing with
glistening eyes and standing on tiptoe to kiss him； 'if you will only
humour me when the fire burns up。'
So they stood before the fire； waiting： Clennam with his arm about her
waist； and the fire shining； as fire in that same place had often shone；
in Little Dorrit's eyes。 'Is it bright enough now？' said Arthur。 'Quite
bright enough now；' said Little Dorrit。 'Does the charm want any words
to be said？' asked Arthur； as he held the paper over the flame。 'You can
say （if you don't mind） 〃I love you！〃' answered Little Dorrit。 So he said
it； and the paper burned away。
They passed very quietly along the yard； for no one was there； though
many heads were stealthily peeping from the windows。
Only one face； familiar of old； was in the Lodge。 When they had both
accosted it； and spoken many kind words； Little Dorrit turned back one
last time with her hand stretched out； saying； 'Good…bye； good John！ I
hope you will live very happy； dear！'
Then they went up the steps of the neighbouring Saint George's Church；
and went up to the altar； where Daniel Doyce was waiting in his paternal
character。 And there was Little Dorrit's old friend who had given her
the Burial Register for a pillow； full of admiration that she should
e back to them to be married； after all。
And they were married with the sun shining on them through the painted
figure of Our Saviour on the window。 And they went into the very room
where Little Dorrit had slumbered after her party； to sign the Marriage
Register。 And there； Mr Pancks； （destined to be chief clerk to Doyce and
Clennam； and afterwards partner in the house）； sinking the Incendiary
in the peaceful friend； looked in at the door to see it done； with Flora
gallantly supported on one arm and Maggy on the other； and a back…ground
of John Chivery and father and other turnkeys who had run round for the
moment； deserting the parent Marshalsea for its happy child。 Nor had
Flora the least signs of seclusion upon her； notwithstanding her recent
declaration； but； on the contrary； was wonderfully smart； and enjoyed
the ceremonies mightily； though in a fluttered way。
Little Dorrit's old friend held the inkstand as she signed her name； and
the clerk paused in taking off the good clergyman's surplice； and all
the witnesses looked on with special interest。 'For； you see；' said
Little Dorrit's old friend； 'this young lady is one of our curiosities；
and has e now to the third volume of our Registers。 Her birth is in
what I call the first volume； she lay asleep； on this very floor；
with her pretty head on what I call the second volume； and she's now
a…writing her little name as a bride in what I call the third volume。'
They all gave place when the signing was done； and Little Dorrit and her
husband walked out of the church alone。 They paused for a moment on the
steps of the portico； looking at the fresh perspective of the street in
the autumn morning sun's bright rays； and then went down。
Went down into a modest life of usefulness and happiness。 Went down
to give a mother's care； in the fulness of time； to Fanny's neglected
children no less than to their own； and to leave that lady going into
Society for ever and a day。 Went down to give a tender nurse and friend
to Tip for some few years； who was never vexed by the great exactions he
made of her in return for the riches he might have given her if he had
ever had them； and who lovingly closed his eyes upon the Marshalsea
and all its blighted fruits。 They went quietly down into the roaring
streets； inseparable and blessed； and as they passed along in sunshine
and shade； the noisy and the eager； and the arrogant and the froward and
the vain； fretted and chafed； and made their usual uproar。
End
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