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Dorrit for himself。 So he went up his grand staircase； slowly； and
tired； and looked into various chambers which were empty； until he saw a
light in a small ante…room。 It was a curtained nook； like a tent；
within two other rooms； and it looked warm and bright in colour； as he
approached it through the dark avenue they made。
There was a draped doorway； but no door； and as he stopped here； looking
in unseen； he felt a pang。 Surely not like jealousy？ For why like
jealousy？ There was only his daughter and his brother there： he； with
his chair drawn to the hearth； enjoying the warmth of the evening wood
fire； she seated at a little table； busied with some embroidery work。
Allowing for the great difference in the still…life of the picture； the
figures were much the same as of old； his brother being sufficiently
like himself to represent himself； for a moment； in the position。
So had he sat many a night； over a coal fire far away； so had she sat；
devoted to him。 Yet surely there was nothing to be jealous of in the old
miserable poverty。 Whence； then； the pang in his heart？
'Do you know； uncle； I think you are growing young again？'
Her uncle shook his head and said； 'Since when； my dear； since when？'
'I think；' returned Little Dorrit； plying her needle； 'that you have
been growing younger for weeks past。 So cheerful； uncle； and so ready；
and so interested。'
'My dear child……all you。'
'All me； uncle！'
'Yes； yes。 You have done me a world of good。 You have been so
considerate of me； and so tender with me； and so delicate in trying to
hide your attentions from me； that I……well； well； well！ It's treasured
up； my darling； treasured up。'
'There is nothing in it but your own fresh fancy； uncle；' said Little
Dorrit； cheerfully。
'Well； well； well！' murmured the old man。 'Thank God！'
She paused for an instant in her work to look at him； and her look
revived that former pain in her father's breast； in his poor weak
breast； so full of contradictions； vacillations； inconsistencies； the
little peevish perplexities of this ignorant life； mists which the
morning without a night only can clear away。
'I have been freer with you； you see； my dove；' said the old man； 'since
we have been alone。 I say； alone； for I don't count Mrs General； I
don't care for her； she has nothing to do with me。 But I know Fanny was
impatient of me。 And I don't wonder at it； or plain of it； for I am
sensible that I must be in the way； though I try to keep out of it as
well as I can。 I know I am not fit pany for our pany。 My brother
William；' said the old man admiringly； 'is fit pany for monarchs；
but not so your uncle； my dear。 Frederick Dorrit is no credit to William
Dorrit； and he knows it quite well。 Ah！ Why； here's your father； Amy！
My dear William； wele back！ My beloved brother； I am rejoiced to see
you！'
（Turning his head in speaking； he had caught sight of him as he stood in
the doorway。）
Little Dorrit with a cry of pleasure put her arms about her father's
neck； and kissed him again and again。 Her father was a little impatient；
and a little querulous。 'I am glad to find you at last； Amy；' he said。
'Ha。 Really I am glad to find……hum……any one to receive me at last。
I appear to have been……ha……so little expected； that upon my word
I began……ha hum……to think it might be right to offer an apology
for……ha……taking the liberty of ing back at all。'
'It was so late； my dear William；' said his brother； 'that we had given
you up for to…night。'
'I am stronger than you； dear Frederick；' returned his brother with an
elaboration of fraternity in which there was severity； 'and I hope I can
travel without detriment at……ha……any hour I choose。'
'Surely； surely；' returned the other； with a misgiving that he had given
offence。 'Surely； William。'
'Thank you； Amy；' pursued Mr Dorrit； as she helped him to put off his
wrappers。 'I can do it without assistance。 I……ha……need not trouble you；
Amy。 Could I have a morsel of bread and a glass of wine； or……hum……would
it cause too much inconvenience？'
'Dear father； you shall have supper in a very few minutes。'
'Thank you； my love；' said Mr Dorrit； with a reproachful frost upon him；
'I……ha……am afraid I am causing inconvenience。 Hum。 Mrs General pretty
well？'
'Mrs General plained of a headache； and of being fatigued； and so；
when we gave you up； she went to bed； dear。'
Perhaps Mr Dorrit thought that Mrs General had done well in being
overe by the disappointment of his not arriving。 At any rate； his
face relaxed； and he said with obvious satisfaction； 'Extremely sorry to
hear that Mrs General is not well。'
During this short dialogue； his daughter had been observant of him； with
something more than her usual interest。 It would seem as though he had
a changed or worn appearance in her eyes； and he perceived and resented
it； for he said with renewed peevishness； when he had divested himself
of his travelling…cloak； and had e to the fire： 'Amy； what are you
looking at？ What do you see in me that causes you to……ha……concentrate
your solicitude on me in that……hum……very particular manner？'
'I did not know it； father； I beg your pardon。 It gladdens my eyes to
see you again； that's all。'
'Don't say that's all； because……ha……that's not all。 You……hum……you
think；' said Mr Dorrit； with an accusatory emphasis； 'that I am not
looking well。' 'I thought you looked a little tired； love。'
'Then you are mistaken；' said Mr Dorrit。 'Ha； I am not tired。 Ha； hum。 I
am very much fresher than I was when I went away。'
He was so inclined to be angry that she said nothing more in her
justification； but remained quietly beside him embracing his arm。 As
he stood thus； with his brother on the other side； he fell into a heavy
doze； of not a minute's duration； and awoke with a start。
'Frederick；' he said； turning to his brother： 'I remend you to go to
bed immediately。'
'No； William。 I'll wait and see you sup。'
'Frederick；' he retorted； 'I beg you to go to bed。 I……ha……make it a
personal request that you go to bed。 You ought to have been in bed long
ago。 You are very feeble。'
'Hah！' said the old man； who had no wish but to please him。 'Well； well；
well！ I dare say I am。'
'My dear Frederick；' returned Mr Dorrit； with an astonishing superiority
to his brother's failing powers； 'there can be no doubt of it。 It is
painful to me to see you so weak。 Ha。 It distresses me。 Hum。 I don't
find you looking at all well。 You are not fit for this sort of thing。
You should be more careful； you should be very careful。'
'Shall I go to bed？' asked Frederick。
'Dear Frederick；' said Mr Dorrit； 'do； I adjure you！ Good night；
brother。 I hope you will be stronger to…morrow。 I am not at all pleased
with your looks。 Good night； dear fellow。' After dismissing his brother
in this gracious way； he fell into a doze again before the old man was
well out of the room： and he would have stumbled forward upon the logs；
but for his daughter's restraining hold。
'Your uncle wanders very much； Amy；' he said； when he was thus roused。
'He is less……ha……coherent； and his conversation is more……hum……broken；
than I have……ha； hum……ever known。 Has he had any illness since I have
been gone？' 'No； father。'
'You……ha……see a great change in him； Amy？'
'I have not observed it； dear。'
'Greatly broken；' said Mr Dorrit。 'Greatly broken。 My poor；
affectionate； failing Frederick！ Ha。 Even taking into account what he
was before； he is……hum……sadly broken！'
His supper； which was brought to him there； and spread upon the little
table where he had seen her working； diverted his attention。
She sat at his side as in the days that were gone； for the first time
since those days ended。 They were alone； and she helped him to his meat
and poured out his drink for him； as she had been used to do in the
prison。 All this happened now； for the first time since their accession
to wealth。 She was afraid to look at him much； after the offence he had
taken； but she noticed two occasions in the course of his meal； when
he all of a sudden looked at her； and looked about him； as if the
association were so strong that he needed assurance from his sense of
sight that they were not