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'You are a traveller！ Stay！ See； the water！ Let me give you some。' They
had rested the litter on a pile of paving stones。 It was at a convenient
height from the ground； and by stooping he could lightly raise the head
with one hand and hold the glass to his lips with the other。 A little；
muscular； brown man； with black hair and white teeth。 A lively face；
apparently。 Earrings in his ears。
'That's well。 You are a traveller？'
'Surely； sir。'
'A stranger in this city？'
'Surely； surely； altogether。 I am arrived this unhappy evening。'
'From what country？' 'Marseilles。'
'Why； see there！ I also！ Almost as much a stranger here as you； though
born here； I came from Marseilles a little while ago。 Don't be cast
down。' The face looked up at him imploringly； as he rose from wiping it；
and gently replaced the coat that covered the writhing figure。 'I won't
leave you till you shall be well taken care of。 Courage！ You will be
very much better half an hour hence。'
'Ah！ Altro； Altro！' cried the poor little man； in a faintly incredulous
tone； and as they took him up； hung out his right hand to give the
forefinger a back…handed shake in the air。
Arthur Clennam turned； and walking beside the litter； and saying an
encouraging word now and then； acpanied it to the neighbouring
hospital of Saint Bartholomew。 None of the crowd but the bearers and
he being admitted； the disabled man was soon laid on a table in a cool；
methodical way； and carefully examined by a surgeon who was as near at
hand； and as ready to appear as Calamity herself。 'He hardly knows an
English word；' said Clennam； 'is he badly hurt？'
'Let us know all about it first；' said the surgeon； continuing his
examination with a businesslike delight in it； 'before we pronounce。'
After trying the leg with a finger； and two fingers； and one hand and
two hands； and over and under； and up and down； and in this direction
and in that； and approvingly remarking on the points of interest to
another gentleman who joined him； the surgeon at last clapped the
patient on the shoulder； and said； 'He won't hurt。 He'll do very well。
It's difficult enough； but we shall not want him to part with his leg
this time。' Which Clennam interpreted to the patient； who was full of
gratitude； and； in his demonstrative way； kissed both the interpreter's
hand and the surgeon's several times。
'It's a serious injury； I suppose？' said Clennam。
'Ye…es；' replied the surgeon； with the thoughtful pleasure of an artist
contemplating the work upon his easel。 'Yes； it's enough。 There's a
pound fracture above the knee； and a dislocation below。 They are
both of a beautiful kind。' He gave the patient a friendly clap on the
shoulder again； as if he really felt that he was a very good fellow
indeed； and worthy of all mendation for having broken his leg in a
manner interesting to science。
'He speaks French？' said the surgeon。
'Oh yes； he speaks French。'
'He'll be at no loss here； then。……You have only to bear a little pain
like a brave fellow； my friend； and to be thankful that all goes as
well as it does；' he added； in that tongue； 'and you'll walk again to
a marvel。 Now； let us see whether there's anything else the matter； and
how our ribs are？'
There was nothing else the matter； and our ribs were sound。 Clennam
remained until everything possible to be done had been skilfully and
promptly done……the poor belated wanderer in a strange land movingly
besought that favour of him……and lingered by the bed to which he was in
due time removed； until he had fallen into a doze。 Even then he wrote a
few words for him on his card； with a promise to return to…morrow； and
left it to be given to him when he should awake。 All these proceedings
occupied so long that it struck eleven o'clock at night as he came out
at the Hospital Gate。 He had hired a lodging for the present in Covent
Garden； and he took the nearest way to that quarter； by Snow Hill and
Holborn。
Left to himself again； after the solicitude and passion of his last
adventure； he was naturally in a thoughtful mood。 As naturally； he
could not walk on thinking for ten minutes without recalling Flora。
She necessarily recalled to him his life； with all its misdirection and
little happiness。
When he got to his lodging； he sat down before the dying fire； as he
had stood at the window of his old room looking out upon the blackened
forest of chimneys； and turned his gaze back upon the gloomy vista by
which he had e to that stage in his existence。 So long； so bare；
so blank。 No childhood； no youth； except for one remembrance； that one
remembrance proved； only that day； to be a piece of folly。
It was a misfortune to him； trifle as it might have been to another。
For； while all that was hard and stern in his recollection； remained
Reality on being proved……was obdurate to the sight and touch； and
relaxed nothing of its old indomitable grimness……the one tender
recollection of his experience would not bear the same test； and melted
away。 He had foreseen this； on the former night； when he had dreamed
with waking eyes； but he had not felt it then； and he had now。
He was a dreamer in such wise； because he was a man who had； deep…rooted
in his nature； a belief in all the gentle and good things his life had
been without。 Bred in meanness and hard dealing； this had rescued him
to be a man of honourable mind and open hand。 Bred in coldness and
severity； this had rescued him to have a warm and sympathetic heart。
Bred in a creed too darkly audacious to pursue； through its process of
reserving the making of man in the image of his Creator to the making of
his Creator in the image of an erring man； this had rescued him to judge
not； and in humility to be merciful； and have hope and charity。
And this saved him still from the whimpering weakness and cruel
selfishness of holding that because such a happiness or such a virtue
had not e into his little path； or worked well for him； therefore
it was not in the great scheme； but was reducible； when found in
appearance； to the basest elements。 A disappointed mind he had； but a
mind too firm and healthy for such unwholesome air。 Leaving himself in
the dark； it could rise into the light； seeing it shine on others and
hailing it。
Therefore； he sat before his dying fire； sorrowful to think upon the way
by which he had e to that night； yet not strewing poison on the way
by which other men had e to it。 That he should have missed so much；
and at his time of life should look so far about him for any staff to
bear him pany upon his downward journey and cheer it； was a just
regret。 He looked at the fire from which the blaze departed； from which
the afterglow subsided； in which the ashes turned grey； from which they
dropped to dust； and thought； 'How soon I too shall pass through such
changes； and be gone！'
To review his life was like descending a green tree in fruit and flower；
and seeing all the branches wither and drop off； one by one； as he came
down towards them。
'From the unhappy suppression of my youngest days； through the rigid and
unloving home that followed them； through my departure； my long exile；
my return； my mother's wele； my intercourse with her since； down to
the afternoon of this day with poor Flora；' said Arthur Clennam； 'what
have I found！'
His door was softly opened； and these spoken words startled him； and
came as if they were an answer：
'Little Dorrit。'
CHAPTER 14。 Little Dorrit's Party
Arthur Clennam rose hastily； and saw her standing at the door。 This
history must sometimes see with Little Dorrit's eyes； and shall begin
that course by seeing him。
Little Dorrit looked into a dim room； which seemed a spacious one to
her； and grandly furnished。 Courtly ideas of Covent Garden； as a place
with famous coffee…houses； where gentlemen wearing gold…laced coats and
swords had quarrelled and fought duels； costly ideas of Covent Garden；
as a place where there were flowers in winter at guineas a…piece；
pine…apples at guineas a pound； and peas at guineas a pint； picturesque
ideas of Covent Garden； as a place where there was a mighty theatre；
showing wonderful and beautiful sights to richly…dr