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the dark cloud cleared away。 I shall see him； as my poor mother saw him
long ago。 O my dear； my dear！ O father； father！ O thank God； thank God！'
He yielded himself to her kisses and caresses； but did not return them；
except that he put an arm about her。 Neither did he say one word。 His
steadfast look was now divided between her and Clennam； and he began to
shake as if he were very cold。 Explaining to Little Dorrit that he would
run to the coffee…house for a bottle of wine； Arthur fetched it with all
the haste he could use。 While it was being brought from the cellar to
the bar； a number of excited people asked him what had happened； when he
hurriedly informed them that Mr Dorrit had succeeded to a fortune。
On ing back with the wine in his hand； he found that she had placed
her father in his easy chair； and had loosened his shirt and neckcloth。
They filled a tumbler with wine； and held it to his lips。 When he had
swallowed a little； he took the glass himself and emptied it。 Soon
after that； he leaned back in his chair and cried； with his handkerchief
before his face。
After this had lasted a while Clennam thought it a good season for
diverting his attention from the main surprise； by relating its details。
Slowly； therefore； and in a quiet tone of voice； he explained them as
best he could； and enlarged on the nature of Pancks's service。
'He shall be……ha……he shall be handsomely repensed； sir；' said
the Father； starting up and moving hurriedly about the room。 'Assure
yourself； Mr Clennam； that everybody concerned shall be……ha……shall
be nobly rewarded。 No one； my dear sir； shall say that he has an
unsatisfied claim against me。 I shall repay the……hum……the advances I
have had from you； sir； with peculiar pleasure。 I beg to be informed at
your earliest convenience； what advances you have made my son。'
He had no purpose in going about the room； but he was not still a
moment。
'Everybody；' he said； 'shall be remembered。 I will not go away from
here in anybody's debt。 All the people who have been……ha……well behaved
towards myself and my family； shall be rewarded。 Chivery shall be
rewarded。 Young John shall be rewarded。 I particularly wish； and intend；
to act munificently； Mr Clennam。'
'Will you allow me；' said Arthur； laying his purse on the table； 'to
supply any present contingencies； Mr Dorrit？ I thought it best to bring
a sum of money for the purpose。'
'Thank you； sir； thank you。 I accept with readiness； at the present
moment； what I could not an hour ago have conscientiously taken。 I am
obliged to you for the temporary acmodation。 Exceedingly temporary；
but well timed……well timed。' His hand had closed upon the money； and
he carried it about with him。 'Be so kind； sir； as to add the amount to
those former advances to which I have already referred； being careful；
if you please； not to omit advances made to my son。 A mere verbal
statement of the gross amount is all I shall……ha……all I shall require。'
His eye fell upon his daughter at this point； and he stopped for a
moment to kiss her； and to pat her head。
'It will be necessary to find a milliner； my love； and to make a speedy
and plete change in your very plain dress。 Something must be done
with Maggy too； who at present is……ha……barely respectable； barely
respectable。 And your sister； Amy； and your brother。 And my brother；
your uncle……poor soul； I trust this will rouse him……messengers must be
despatched to fetch them。 They must be informed of this。 We must break
it to them cautiously； but they must be informed directly。 We owe it
as a duty to them and to ourselves； from this moment； not to let
them……hum……not to let them do anything。'
This was the first intimation he had ever given； that he was privy to
the fact that they did something for a livelihood。
He was still jogging about the room； with the purse clutched in his
hand； when a great cheering arose in the yard。 'The news has spread
already；' said Clennam； looking down from the window。 'Will you show
yourself to them； Mr Dorrit？ They are very earnest； and they evidently
wish it。'
'I……hum……ha……I confess I could have desired； Amy my dear；' he said；
jogging about in a more feverish flutter than before； 'to have made some
change in my dress first； and to have bought a……hum……a watch and chain。
But if it must be done as it is； it……ha……it must be done。 Fasten the
collar of my shirt； my dear。 Mr Clennam； would you oblige me……hum……with
a blue neckcloth you will find in that drawer at your elbow。 Button
my coat across at the chest； my love。 It looks……ha……it looks broader；
buttoned。'
With his trembling hand he pushed his grey hair up； and then； taking
Clennam and his daughter for supporters； appeared at the window leaning
on an arm of each。 The Collegians cheered him very heartily； and he
kissed his hand to them with great urbanity and protection。 When he
withdrew into the room again； he said 'Poor creatures！' in a tone of
much pity for their miserable condition。
Little Dorrit was deeply anxious that he should lie down to pose
himself。 On Arthur's speaking to her of his going to inform Pancks that
he might now appear as soon as he would； and pursue the joyful business
to its close； she entreated him in a whisper to stay with her until her
father should be quite calm and at rest。 He needed no second entreaty；
and she prepared her father's bed； and begged him to lie down。 For
another half…hour or more he would be persuaded to do nothing but
go about the room； discussing with himself the probabilities for and
against the Marshal's allowing the whole of the prisoners to go to the
windows of the official residence which manded the street； to see
himself and family depart for ever in a carriage……which； he said； he
thought would be a Sight for them。 But gradually he began to droop and
tire； and at last stretched himself upon the bed。
She took her faithful place beside him； fanning him and cooling his
forehead； and he seemed to be falling asleep （always with the money in
his hand）； when he unexpectedly sat up and said：
'Mr Clennam； I beg your pardon。 Am I to understand； my dear sir； that I
could……ha……could pass through the Lodge at this moment； and……hum……take a
walk？'
'I think not； Mr Dorrit；' was the unwilling reply。 'There are certain
forms to be pleted； and although your detention here is now in itself
a form； I fear it is one that for a little longer has to be observed
too。'
At this he shed tears again。
'It is but a few hours； sir；' Clennam cheerfully urged upon him。
'A few hours； sir；' he returned in a sudden passion。 'You talk very
easily of hours； sir！ How long do you suppose； sir； that an hour is to a
man who is choking for want of air？'
It was his last demonstration for that time； as； after shedding some
more tears and querulously plaining that he couldn't breathe； he
slowly fell into a slumber。 Clennam had abundant occupation for his
thoughts； as he sat in the quiet room watching the father on his bed；
and the daughter fanning his face。 Little Dorrit had been thinking too。
After softly putting his grey hair aside； and touching his forehead with
her lips； she looked towards Arthur； who came nearer to her； and pursued
in a low whisper the subject of her thoughts。
'Mr Clennam； will he pay all his debts before he leaves here？'
'No doubt。 All。'
'All the debts for which he had been imprisoned here； all my life and
longer？'
'No doubt。'
There was something of uncertainty and remonstrance in her look；
something that was not all satisfaction。 He wondered to detect it； and
said：
'You are glad that he should do so？'
'Are you？' asked Little Dorrit； wistfully。
'Am I？ Most heartily glad！'
'Then I know I ought to be。'
'And are you not？'
'It seems to me hard；' said Little Dorrit； 'that he should have lost so
many years and suffered so much； and at last pay all the debts as well。
It seems to me hard that he should pay in life and money both。'
'My dear child……' Clennam was beginning。
'Yes； I know I am wrong；' she pleaded timidly； 'don't think any worse of
me； it has grown up with me here。'
The prison； which could spoil so many things； had tainted Little
Dorrit's mind no m