such a thing。 The way in which you are resolved and determined to
disgrace us on all occasions； is really infamous。 You bad little thing！'
'Does it disgrace anybody；' said Little Dorrit； very gently； 'to take
care of this poor old man？'
'Yes； miss；' returned her sister； 'and you ought to know it does。
And you do know it does； and you do it because you know it does。 The
principal pleasure of your life is to remind your family of their
misfortunes。 And the next great pleasure of your existence is to keep
low pany。 But； however； if you have no sense of decency； I
have。 You'll please to allow me to go on the other side of the way；
unmolested。'
With this； she bounced across to the opposite pavement。 The old
disgrace； who had been deferentially bowing a pace or two off （for
Little Dorrit had let his arm go in her wonder； when Fanny began）； and
who had been hustled and cursed by impatient passengers for stopping the
way； rejoined his panion； rather giddy； and said； 'I hope nothing's
wrong with your honoured father； Miss？ I hope there's nothing the matter
in the honoured family？'
'No； no；' returned Little Dorrit。 'No； thank you。 Give me your arm
again； Mr Nandy。 We shall soon be there now。'
So she talked to him as she had talked before； and they came to the
Lodge and found Mr Chivery on the lock； and went in。 Now； it happened
that the Father of the Marshalsea was sauntering towards the Lodge at
the moment when they were ing out of it； entering the prison arm in
arm。 As the spectacle of their approach met his view； he displayed the
utmost agitation and despondency of mind； and……altogether regardless of
Old Nandy； who； making his reverence； stood with his hat in his hand； as
he always did in that gracious presence……turned about； and hurried in at
his own doorway and up the staircase。
Leaving the old unfortunate； whom in an evil hour she had taken under
her protection； with a hurried promise to return to him directly； Little
Dorrit hastened after her father； and； on the staircase； found Fanny
following her； and flouncing up with offended dignity。 The three came
into the room almost together； and the Father sat down in his chair；
buried his face in his hands； and uttered a groan。
'Of course；' said Fanny。 'Very proper。 Poor； afflicted Pa！ Now； I hope
you believe me； Miss？'
'What is it； father？' cried Little Dorrit； bending over him。 'Have I
made you unhappy； father？ Not I； I hope！'
'You hope； indeed！ I dare say！ Oh； you'……Fanny paused for a sufficiently
strong expression……'you mon…minded little Amy！ You plete
prison…child！'
He stopped these angry reproaches with a wave of his hand； and sobbed
out； raising his face and shaking his melancholy head at his younger
daughter； 'Amy； I know that you are innocent in intention。 But you
have cut me to the soul。' 'Innocent in intention！' the implacable Fanny
struck in。 'Stuff in intention！ Low in intention！ Lowering of the family
in intention！'
'Father！' cried Little Dorrit； pale and trembling。 'I am very sorry。
Pray forgive me。 Tell me how it is； that I may not do it again！'
'How it is； you prevaricating little piece of goods！' cried Fanny。 'You
know how it is。 I have told you already； so don't fly in the face of
Providence by attempting to deny it！'
'Hush！ Amy；' said the father； passing his pocket…handkerchief several
times across his face； and then grasping it convulsively in the hand
that dropped across his knee； 'I have done what I could to keep you
select here； I have done what I could to retain you a position here。 I
may have succeeded； I may not。 You may know it； you may not。 I give no
opinion。 I have endured everything here but humiliation。 That I have
happily been spared……until this day。'
Here his convulsive grasp unclosed itself； and he put his
pocket…handkerchief to his eyes again。 Little Dorrit； on the ground
beside him； with her imploring hand upon his arm； watched him
remorsefully。 ing out of his fit of grief； he clenched his
pocket…handkerchief once more。
'Humiliation I have happily been spared until this day。 Through all
my troubles there has been that……Spirit in myself； and that……that
submission to it； if I may use the term； in those about me； which has
spared me……ha……humiliation。 But this day； this minute； I have keenly
felt it。'
'Of course！ How could it be otherwise？' exclaimed the irrepressible
Fanny。 'Careering and prancing about with a Pauper！' （air…gun again）。
'But； dear father；' cried Little Dorrit； 'I don't justify myself for
having wounded your dear heart……no！ Heaven knows I don't！' She clasped
her hands in quite an agony of distress。 'I do nothing but beg and pray
you to be forted and overlook it。 But if I had not known that you
were kind to the old man yourself； and took much notice of him； and were
always glad to see him； I would not have e here with him； father； I
would not； indeed。 What I have been so unhappy as to do； I have done
in mistake。 I would not wilfully bring a tear to your eyes； dear love！'
said Little Dorrit； her heart well…nigh broken； 'for anything the world
could give me； or anything it could take away。'
Fanny； with a partly angry and partly repentant sob； began to cry
herself； and to say……as this young lady always said when she was half in
passion and half out of it； half spiteful with herself and half spiteful
with everybody else……that she wished she were dead。
The Father of the Marshalsea in the meantime took his younger daughter
to his breast； and patted her head。 'There； there！ Say no more； Amy；
say no more； my child。 I will forget it as soon as I can。 I；' with
hysterical cheerfulness； 'I……shall soon be able to dismiss it。 It
is perfectly true； my dear； that I am always glad to see my old
pensioner……as such； as such……and that I do……ha……extend as much
protection and kindness to the……hum……the bruised reed……I trust I may so
call him without impropriety……as in my circumstances； I can。 It is quite
true that this is the case； my dear child。 At the same time； I preserve
in doing this； if I may……ha……if I may use the expression……Spirit。
Being Spirit。 And there are some things which are；' he stopped to
sob； 'irreconcilable with that； and wound that……wound it deeply。
It is not that I have seen my good Amy attentive； and……ha……condescending
to my old pensioner……it is not that that hurts me。 It is； if I am to
close the painful subject by being explicit； that I have seen my child；
my own child； my own daughter； ing into this College out of the
public streets……smiling！ smiling！……arm in arm with……O my God； a livery！'
This reference to the coat of no cut and no time； the unfortunate
gentleman gasped forth； in a scarcely audible voice； and with his
clenched pocket…handkerchief raised in the air。 His excited feelings
might have found some further painful utterance； but for a knock at the
door； which had been already twice repeated； and to which Fanny （still
wishing herself dead； and indeed now going so far as to add； buried）
cried 'e in！'
'Ah； Young John！' said the Father； in an altered and calmed voice。 'What
is it； Young John？'
'A letter for you； sir； being left in the Lodge just this minute； and a
message with it；