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'Now I do say； Pa；' cried she； 'that this is disgraceful！'
'What is disgraceful； Fanny？'
'I do say；' she repeated； 'this is perfectly infamous！ Really almost
enough； even at such a time as this； to make one wish one was dead！
Here is that child Amy； in her ugly old shabby dress； which she was so
obstinate about； Pa； which I over and over again begged and prayed her
to change； and which she over and over again objected to； and promised
to change to…day； saying she wished to wear it as long as ever she
remained in there with you……which was absolutely romantic nonsense of
the lowest kind……here is that child Amy disgracing us to the last moment
and at the last moment； by being carried out in that dress after all。
And by that Mr Clennam too！'
The offence was proved； as she delivered the indictment。 Clennam
appeared at the carriage…door； bearing the little insensible figure in
his arms。
'She has been forgotten；' he said； in a tone of pity not free from
reproach。 'I ran up to her room （which Mr Chivery showed me） and found
the door open； and that she had fainted on the floor； dear child。
She appeared to have gone to change her dress； and to have sunk down
overpowered。 It may have been the cheering； or it may have happened
sooner。 Take care of this poor cold hand； Miss Dorrit。 Don't let it
fall。'
'Thank you； sir；' returned Miss Dorrit； bursting into tears。 'I believe
I know what to do； if you will give me leave。 Dear Amy； open your eyes；
that's a love！ Oh； Amy； Amy； I really am so vexed and ashamed！ Do rouse
yourself； darling！ Oh； why are they not driving on！ Pray； Pa； do drive
on！'
The attendant； getting between Clennam and the carriage…door； with a
sharp 'By your leave； sir！' bundled up the steps； and they drove away。
BOOK THE SECOND： RICHES
CHAPTER 1。 Fellow Travellers
In the autumn of the year； Darkness and Night were creeping up to the
highest ridges of the Alps。
It was vintage time in the valleys on the Swiss side of the Pass of the
Great Saint Bernard； and along the banks of the Lake of Geneva。
The air there was charged with the scent of gathered grapes。 Baskets；
troughs； and tubs of grapes stood in the dim village doorways； stopped
the steep and narrow village streets； and had been carrying all day
along the roads and lanes。 Grapes； split and crushed under foot； lay
about everywhere。 The child carried in a sling by the laden peasant
woman toiling home； was quieted with picked…up grapes； the idiot sunning
his big goitre under the leaves of the wooden chalet by the way to the
Waterfall； sat Munching grapes； the breath of the cows and goats was
redolent of leaves and stalks of grapes； the pany in every little
cabaret were eating； drinking； talking grapes。 A pity that no ripe touch
of this generous abundance could be given to the thin； hard； stony wine；
which after all was made from the grapes！
The air had been warm and transparent through the whole of the bright
day。 Shining metal spires and church…roofs； distant and rarely seen； had
sparkled in the view； and the snowy mountain…tops had been so clear that
unaccustomed eyes； cancelling the intervening country； and slighting
their rugged heights for something fabulous； would have measured them as
within a few hours easy reach。 Mountain…peaks of great celebrity in the
valleys； whence no trace of their existence was visible sometimes for
months together； had been since morning plain and near in the blue sky。
And now； when it was dark below； though they seemed solemnly to recede；
like spectres who were going to vanish； as the red dye of the sunset
faded out of them and left them coldly white； they were yet distinctly
defined in their loneliness above the mists and shadows。 Seen from these
solitudes； and from the Pass of the Great Saint Bernard； which was one
of them； the ascending Night came up the mountain like a rising water。
When it at last rose to the walls of the convent of the Great Saint
Bernard； it was as if that weather…beaten structure were another Ark；
and floated on the shadowy waves。
Darkness； outstripping some visitors on mules； had risen thus to
the rough convent walls； when those travellers were yet climbing the
mountain。 As the heat of the glowing day when they had stopped to drink
at the streams of melted ice and snow； was changed to the searching cold
of the frosty rarefied night air at a great height； so the fresh beauty
of the lower journey had yielded to barrenness and desolation。 A craggy
track； up which the mules in single file scrambled and turned from
block to block； as though they were ascending the broken staircase of
a gigantic ruin； was their way now。 No trees were to be seen； nor any
vegetable growth save a poor brown scrubby moss； freezing in the chinks
of rock。 Blackened skeleton arms of wood by the wayside pointed upward
to the convent as if the ghosts of former travellers overwhelmed by the
snow haunted the scene of their distress。 Icicle…hung caves and cellars
built for refuges from sudden storms； were like so many whispers of the
perils of the place； never…resting wreaths and mazes of mist wandered
about； hunted by a moaning wind； and snow； the besetting danger of the
mountain； against which all its defences were taken； drifted sharply
down。
The file of mules； jaded by their day's work； turned and wound slowly
up the deep ascent； the foremost led by a guide on foot； in his
broad…brimmed hat and round jacket； carrying a mountain staff or two
upon his shoulder； with whom another guide conversed。 There was no
speaking among the string of riders。 The sharp cold； the fatigue of the
journey； and a new sensation of a catching in the breath； partly as if
they had just emerged from very clear crisp water； and partly as if they
had been sobbing； kept them silent。
At length； a light on the summit of the rocky staircase gleamed through
the snow and mist。 The guides called to the mules； the mules pricked up
their drooping heads； the travellers' tongues were loosened； and in a
sudden burst of slipping； climbing； jingling； clinking； and talking；
they arrived at the convent door。
Other mules had arrived not long before； some with peasant riders and
some with goods； and had trodden the snow about the door into a pool
of mud。 Riding…saddles and bridles； pack…saddles and strings of bells；
mules and men； lanterns； torches； sacks； provender； barrels； cheeses；
kegs of honey and butter； straw bundles and packages of many shapes；
were crowded confusedly together in this thaire and about the
steps。 Up here in the clouds； everything was seen through cloud； and
seemed dissolving into cloud。 The breath of the men was cloud； the
breath of the mules was cloud； the lights were encircled by cloud；
speakers close at hand were not seen for cloud； though their voices and
all other sounds were surprisingly clear。 Of the cloudy line of mules
hastily tied to rings in the wall； one would bite another； or kick
another； and then the whole mist would be disturbed： with men diving
into it； and cries of men and beasts ing out of it； and no bystander
discerning what was wrong。 In the midst of this； the great stable of the
convent； occupying the basement story and entered by the basement door；
outside which all the disorder was； poured forth its contribution of
cloud； as if the whole rugged edifice were filled with nothing else；
and would collapse as soon as it had emptied itself； leaving the snow to
fall upon the bare mountain summit。
While all this noise and hurry were rife among the living travellers；
there； too； silently assembled in a grated house half…a…dozen paces
removed； with the same cloud enfolding them and the same snow flakes
drifting in upon them； were the dead travellers found upon the mountain。
The mother； storm…belated many winters ago； still standing in the corner
with her baby at her breast； the man who had frozen with his arm raised
to his mouth in fear or hunger； still pressing it with his dry lips
after years and years。 An awful pany； mysteriously e together！ A
wild destiny for that mother to have foreseen！ 'Surrounded by so many
and such panions upon whom I never looked； and never shall look；
I and my chi