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looked； so fragile and defenceless against the bleak damp weather；
flitting along in the shuffling shadow of her charge； that he felt； in
his passion； and in his habit of considering her a child apart from
the rest of the rough world； as if he would have been glad to take her
up in his arms and carry her to her journey's end。
In course of time she came into the leading thoroughfare where the
Marshalsea was； and then he saw them slacken their pace； and soon turn
down a by…street。 He stopped； felt that he had no right to go further；
and slowly left them。 He had no suspicion that they ran any risk of
being houseless until morning； had no idea of the truth until long； long
afterwards。
But； said Little Dorrit； when they stopped at a poor dwelling all in
darkness； and heard no sound on listening at the door； 'Now； this is a
good lodging for you； Maggy； and we must not give offence。 Consequently；
we will only knock twice； and not very loud； and if we cannot wake them
so； we must walk about till day。'
Once； Little Dorrit knocked with a careful hand； and listened。 Twice；
Little Dorrit knocked with a careful hand； and listened。 All was close
and still。 'Maggy； we must do the best we can； my dear。 We must be
patient； and wait for day。'
It was a chill dark night； with a damp wind blowing； when they came out
into the leading street again； and heard the clocks strike half…past
one。 'In only five hours and a half；' said Little Dorrit； 'we shall be
able to go home。' To speak of home； and to go and look at it； it being
so near； was a natural sequence。 They went to the closed gate； and
peeped through into the court…yard。 'I hope he is sound asleep；' said
Little Dorrit； kissing one of the bars； 'and does not miss me。'
The gate was so familiar； and so like a panion； that they put down
Maggy's basket in a corner to serve for a seat； and keeping close
together； rested there for some time。 While the street was empty and
silent； Little Dorrit was not afraid； but when she heard a footstep at
a distance； or saw a moving shadow among the street lamps； she was
startled； and whispered； 'Maggy； I see some one。 e away！' Maggy
would then wake up more or less fretfully； and they would wander about a
little； and e back again。
As long as eating was a novelty and an amusement； Maggy kept up pretty
well。 But that period going by； she became querulous about the cold； and
shivered and whimpered。 'It will soon be over； dear；' said Little Dorrit
patiently。 'Oh it's all very fine for you； little mother；' returned
Maggy； 'but I'm a poor thing； only ten years old。' At last； in the dead
of the night； when the street was very still indeed； Little Dorrit laid
the heavy head upon her bosom； and soothed her to sleep。 And thus she
sat at the gate； as it were alone； looking up at the stars； and seeing
the clouds pass over them in their wild flight……which was the dance at
Little Dorrit's party。
'If it really was a party！' she thought once； as she sat there。 'If it
was light and warm and beautiful； and it was our house； and my poor dear
was its master； and had never been inside these walls。
And if Mr Clennam was one of our visitors； and we were dancing to
delightful music； and were all as gay and light…hearted as ever we could
be！ I wonder……' Such a vista of wonder opened out before her； that
she sat looking up at the stars； quite lost； until Maggy was querulous
again； and wanted to get up and walk。
Three o'clock； and half…past three； and they had passed over London
Bridge。 They had heard the rush of the tide against obstacles； and
looked down； awed； through the dark vapour on the river； had seen little
spots of lighted water where the bridge lamps were reflected； shining
like demon eyes； with a terrible fascination in them for guilt and
misery。 They had shrunk past homeless people； lying coiled up in
nooks。 They had run from drunkards。 They had started from slinking men；
whistling and signing to one another at bye corners； or running away at
full speed。 Though everywhere the leader and the guide； Little Dorrit；
happy for once in her youthful appearance； feigned to cling to and rely
upon Maggy。 And more than once some voice； from among a knot of brawling
or prowling figures in their path； had called out to the rest to 'let
the woman and the child go by！'
So； the woman and the child had gone by； and gone on； and five had
sounded from the steeples。 They were walking slowly towards the east；
already looking for the first pale streak of day； when a woman came
after them。
'What are you doing with the child？' she said to Maggy。
She was young……far too young to be there； Heaven knows！……and neither
ugly nor wicked…looking。 She spoke coarsely； but with no naturally
coarse voice； there was even something musical in its sound。 'What are
you doing with yourself？' retorted Maggy； for want Of a better answer。
'Can't you see； without my telling you？'
'I don't know as I can；' said Maggy。
'Killing myself！ Now I have answered you； answer me。 What are you doing
with the child？'
The supposed child kept her head drooped down； and kept her form close
at Maggy's side。
'Poor thing！' said the woman。 'Have you no feeling； that you keep her
out in the cruel streets at such a time as this？ Have you no eyes； that
you don't see how delicate and slender she is？ Have you no sense （you
don't look as if you had much） that you don't take more pity on this
cold and trembling little hand？'
She had stepped across to that side； and held the hand between her own
two； chafing it。 'Kiss a poor lost creature； dear；' she said； bending
her face； 'and tell me where's she taking you。'
Little Dorrit turned towards her。
'Why； my God！' she said； recoiling； 'you're a woman！'
'Don't mind that！' said Little Dorrit； clasping one of her hands that
had suddenly released hers。 'I am not afraid of you。'
'Then you had better be；' she answered。 'Have you no mother？'
'No。'
'No father？'
'Yes； a very dear one。'
'Go home to him； and be afraid of me。 Let me go。 Good night！'
'I must thank you first； let me speak to you as if I really were a
child。'
'You can't do it；' said the woman。 'You are kind and innocent； but you
can't look at me out of a child's eyes。 I never should have touched you；
but I thought that you were a child。' And with a strange； wild cry； she
went away。
No day yet in the sky； but there was day in the resounding stones of
the streets； in the waggons； carts； and coaches； in the workers going
to various occupations； in the opening of early shops； in the traffic
at markets； in the stir of the riverside。 There was ing day in the
flaring lights； with a feebler colour in them than they would have had
at another time； ing day in the increased sharpness of the air； and
the ghastly dying of the night。
They went back again to the gate； intending to wait there now until it
should be opened； but the air was so raw and cold that Little Dorrit；
leading Maggy about in her sleep； kept in motion。 Going round by the
Church； she saw lights there； and the door open； and went up the steps
and looked in。
'Who's that？' cried a stout old man； who was putting on a nightcap as if
he were going to bed in a vault。
'It's no one particular； sir；' said Little Dorrit。
'Stop！' cried the man。 'Let's have a look at you！'
This caused her to turn back again in the act of going out； and to
present herself and her charge before him。
'I thought so！' said he。 'I know YOU。'
'We have often seen each other；' said Little Dorrit； recognising the
sexton； or the beadle； or the verger； or whatever he was； 'when I have
been at church here。'
'More than that； we've got your birth in our Register； you know； you're
one of our curiosities。'
'Indeed！' said Little Dorrit。
'To be sure。 As the child of the……by…the…bye； how did you get out so
early？'
'We were shut out last night； and are waiting to get in。'
'You don't mean it？ And there's another hour good yet！ e into the
vestry。 You'll find a fire in the vestry； on account of the painters。
I'm waiting for the painters； or I shouldn't be here； you may depend
upon it。 One of our curiosities mustn't be cold when we have it in our
po