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that he announced his intention of lodging at the coffee…house where he
had left his luggage。 Mr Flintwinch taking kindly to the idea of getting
rid of him； and his mother being indifferent； beyond considerations of
saving； to most domestic arrangements that were not bounded by the walls
of her own chamber； he easily carried this point without new offence。
Daily business hours were agreed upon； which his mother； Mr Flintwinch；
and he； were to devote together to a necessary checking of books and
papers； and he left the home he had so lately found； with depressed
heart。
But Little Dorrit？
The business hours； allowing for intervals of invalid regimen of oysters
and partridges； during which Clennam refreshed himself with a walk；
were from ten to six for about a fortnight。 Sometimes Little Dorrit was
employed at her needle； sometimes not； sometimes appeared as a humble
visitor： which must have been her character on the occasion of his
arrival。 His original curiosity augmented every day； as he watched for
her； saw or did not see her； and speculated about her。 Influenced by his
predominant idea； he even fell into a habit of discussing with himself
the possibility of her being in some way associated with it。 At last he
resolved to watch Little Dorrit and know more of her story。
CHAPTER 6。 The Father of the Marshalsea
Thirty years ago there stood； a few doors short of the church of Saint
George； in the borough of Southwark； on the left…hand side of the way
going southward； the Marshalsea Prison。 It had stood there many years
before； and it remained there some years afterwards； but it is gone now；
and the world is none the worse without it。
It was an oblong pile of barrack building； partitioned into squalid
houses standing back to back； so that there were no back rooms；
environed by a narrow paved yard； hemmed in by high walls duly spiked at
top。 Itself a close and confined prison for debtors； it contained within
it a much closer and more confined jail for smugglers。 Offenders against
the revenue laws； and defaulters to excise or customs who had incurred
fines which they were unable to pay； were supposed to be incarcerated
behind an iron…plated door closing up a second prison； consisting of a
strong cell or two； and a blind alley some yard and a half wide； which
formed the mysterious termination of the very limited skittle…ground in
which the Marshalsea debtors bowled down their troubles。
Supposed to be incarcerated there； because the time had rather outgrown
the strong cells and the blind alley。 In practice they had e to be
considered a little too bad； though in theory they were quite as good as
ever； which may be observed to be the case at the present day with other
cells that are not at all strong； and with other blind alleys that are
stone…blind。 Hence the smugglers habitually consorted with the debtors
（who received them with open arms）； except at certain constitutional
moments when somebody came from some Office； to go through some form of
overlooking something which neither he nor anybody else knew anything
about。 On these truly British occasions； the smugglers； if any； made a
feint of walking into the strong cells and the blind alley； while this
somebody pretended to do his something： and made a reality of walking
out again as soon as he hadn't done it……neatly epitomising the
administration of most of the public affairs in our right little； tight
little； island。
There had been taken to the Marshalsea Prison； long before the day when
the sun shone on Marseilles and on the opening of this narrative； a
debtor with whom this narrative has some concern。
He was； at that time； a very amiable and very helpless middle…aged
gentleman； who was going out again directly。 Necessarily； he was going
out again directly； because the Marshalsea lock never turned upon a
debtor who was not。 He brought in a portmanteau with him； which he
doubted its being worth while to unpack； he was so perfectly clear……like
all the rest of them； the turnkey on the lock said……that he was going
out again directly。
He was a shy； retiring man； well…looking； though in an effeminate style；
with a mild voice； curling hair； and irresolute hands……rings upon the
fingers in those days……which nervously wandered to his trembling lip a
hundred times in the first half…hour of his acquaintance with the jail。
His principal anxiety was about his wife。
'Do you think； sir；' he asked the turnkey； 'that she will be very much
shocked； if she should e to the gate to…morrow morning？'
The turnkey gave it as the result of his experience that some of 'em was
and some of 'em wasn't。 In general； more no than yes。 'What like is she；
you see？' he philosophically asked： 'that's what it hinges on。'
'She is very delicate and inexperienced indeed。'
'That；' said the turnkey； 'is agen her。'
'She is so little used to go out alone；' said the debtor； 'that I am at
a loss to think how she will ever make her way here； if she walks。'
'P'raps；' quoth the turnkey； 'she'll take a ackney coach。'
'Perhaps。' The irresolute fingers went to the trembling lip。 'I hope she
will。 She may not think of it。'
'Or p'raps；' said the turnkey； offering his suggestions from the the top
of his well…worn wooden stool； as he might have offered them to a child
for whose weakness he felt a passion； 'p'raps she'll get her brother；
or her sister； to e along with her。'
'She has no brother or sister。'
'Niece； nevy； cousin； serwant； young 'ooman； greengrocer。……Dash it！
One or another on 'em；' said the turnkey； repudiating beforehand the
refusal of all his suggestions。
'I fear……I hope it is not against the rules……that she will bring the
children。'
'The children？' said the turnkey。 'And the rules？ Why； lord set you
up like a corner pin； we've a reg'lar playground o' children here。
Children！ Why we swarm with 'em。 How many a you got？'
'Two；' said the debtor； lifting his irresolute hand to his lip again；
and turning into the prison。
The turnkey followed him with his eyes。 'And you another；' he observed
to himself； 'which makes three on you。 And your wife another； I'll lay
a crown。 Which makes four on you。 And another ing； I'll lay
half…a…crown。 Which'll make five on you。 And I'll go another seven and
sixpence to name which is the helplessest； the unborn baby or you！'
He was right in all his particulars。 She came next day with a little
boy of three years old； and a little girl of two； and he stood entirely
corroborated。
'Got a room now； haven't you？' the turnkey asked the debtor after a week
or two。
'Yes； I have got a very good room。'
'Any little sticks a ing to furnish it？' said the turnkey。
'I expect a few necessary articles of furniture to be delivered by the
carrier； this afternoon。'
'Missis and little 'uns a ing to keep you pany？' asked the
turnkey。
'Why； yes； we think it better that we should not be scattered； even for
a few weeks。'
'Even for a few weeks； OF course；' replied the turnkey。 And he followed
him again with his eyes； and nodded his head seven times when he was
gone。
The affairs of this debtor were perplexed by a partnership； of which he
knew no more than that he had invested money in it； by legal matters
of assignment and settlement； conveyance here and conveyance there；
suspicion of unlawful preference of creditors in this direction； and of
mysterious spiriting away of property in that； and as nobody on the face
of the earth could be more incapable of explaining any single item in
the heap of confusion than the debtor himself； nothing prehensible
could be made of his case。 To question him in detail； and endeavour
to reconcile his answers； to closet him with accountants and sharp
practitioners； learned in the wiles of insolvency and bankruptcy； was
only to put the case out at pound interest and inprehensibility。
The irresolute fingers fluttered more and more ineffectually about the
trembling lip on every such occasion； and the sharpest practitioners
gave him up as a hopeless job。
'Out？' said the turnkey； 'he'll never get out； unless his creditors take
him by the shoulders and shove him out。'
He had been there five or six months；