me Doyce and Clennam infinitely more correct and though unquestionably
distant still 'tis distance lends enchantment to the view； at least I
don't mean that and if I did I suppose it would depend considerably on
the nature of the view； but I'm running on again and you put it all out
of my head。'
She glanced at him tenderly； and resumed：
'In times for ever fled I was going to say it would have sounded
strange indeed for Arthur Clennam……Doyce and Clennam naturally quite
different……to make apologies for ing here at any time； but that is
past and what is past can never be recalled except in his own case as
poor Mr F。 said when he was in spirits Cucumber and therefore never ate
it。'
She was making the tea when Arthur came in； and now hastily finished
that operation。
'Papa；' she said； all mystery and whisper； as she shut down the tea…pot
lid； 'is sitting prosingly breaking his new laid egg in the back parlour
over the City article exactly like the Woodpecker Tapping and need never
know that you are here； and our little friend you are well aware may be
fully trusted when she es down from cutting out on the large table
overhead。'
Arthur then told her； in the fewest words； that it was their little
friend he came to see； and what he had to announce to their little
friend。 At which astounding intelligence； Flora clasped her hands；
fell into a tremble； and shed tears of sympathy and pleasure； like the
good…natured creature she really was。
'For goodness sake let me get out of the way first；' said Flora； putting
her hands to her ears and moving towards the door； 'or I know I shall
go off dead and screaming and make everybody worse； and the dear little
thing only this morning looking so nice and neat and good and yet so
poor and now a fortune is she really and deserves it too！ and might I
mention it to Mr F。's Aunt Arthur not Doyce and Clennam for this once or
if objectionable not on any account。'
Arthur nodded his free permission； since Flora shut out all verbal
munication。 Flora nodded in return to thank him； and hurried out of
the room。
Little Dorrit's step was already on the stairs； and in another moment
she was at the door。 Do what he could to pose his face； he could not
convey so much of an ordinary expression into it； but that the moment
she saw it she dropped her work； and cried； 'Mr Clennam！ What's the
matter？'
'Nothing； nothing。 That is； no misfortune has happened。 I have e
to tell you something； but it is a piece of great good…fortune。'
'Good…fortune？'
'Wonderful fortune！'
They stood in a window； and her eyes； full of light； were fixed upon his
face。 He put an arm about her； seeing her likely to sink down。 She put
a hand upon that arm； partly to rest upon it； and partly so to preserve
their relative positions as that her intent look at him should be shaken
by no change of attitude in either of them。 Her lips seemed to repeat
'Wonderful fortune？' He repeated it again； aloud。
'Dear Little Dorrit！ Your father。'
The ice of the pale face broke at the word； and little lights and shoots
of expression passed all over it。 They were all expressions of pain。 Her
breath was faint and hurried。 Her heart beat fast。 He would have clasped
the little figure closer； but he saw that the eyes appealed to him not
to be moved。
'Your father can be free within this week。 He does not know it； we must
go to him from here； to tell him of it。 Your father will be free within
a few days。 Your father will be free within a few hours。 Remember we
must go to him from here； to tell him of it！'
That brought her back。 Her eyes were closing； but they opened again。
'This is not all the good…fortune。 This is not all the wonderful
good…fortune； my dear Little Dorrit。 Shall I tell you more？'
Her lips shaped 'Yes。'
'Your father will be no beggar when he is free。 He will want for
nothing。 Shall I tell you more？ Remember！ He knows nothing of it； we
must go to him； from here； to tell him of it！'
She seemed to entreat him for a little time。 He held her in his arm；
and； after a pause； bent down his ear to listen。
'Did you ask me to go on？'
'Yes。'
'He will be a rich man。 He is a rich man。 A great sum of money
is waiting to be paid over to him as his inheritance； you are all
henceforth very wealthy。 Bravest and best of children； I thank Heaven
that you are rewarded！'
As he kissed her； she turned her head towards his shoulder； and raised
her arm towards his neck； cried out 'Father！ Father！ Father！' and
swooned away。
Upon which Flora returned to take care of her； and hovered about her on
a sofa； intermingling kind offices and incoherent scraps of conversation
in a manner so confounding； that whether she pressed the Marshalsea to
take a spoonful of unclaimed dividends； for it would do her good；
or whether she congratulated Little Dorrit's father on ing into
possession of a hundred thousand smelling…bottles； or whether she
explained that she put seventy…five thousand drops of spirits of
lavender on fifty thousand pounds of lump sugar； and that she entreated
Little Dorrit to take that gentle restorative； or whether she bathed the
foreheads of Doyce and Clennam in vinegar； and gave the late Mr F。 more
air； no one with any sense of responsibility could have undertaken to
decide。 A tributary stream of confusion； moreover； poured in from an
adjoining bedroom； where Mr F。's Aunt appeared； from the sound of her
voice； to be in a horizontal posture； awaiting her breakfast； and from
which bower that inexorable lady snapped off short taunts； whenever she
could get a hearing； as； 'Don't believe it's his doing！' and 'He needn't
take no credit to himself for it！' and 'It'll be long enough； I expect；
afore he'll give up any of his own money！' all designed to disparage
Clennam's share in the discovery； and to relieve those inveterate
feelings with which Mr F。's Aunt regarded him。
But Little Dorrit's solicitude to get to her father； and to carry the
joyful tidings to him； and not to leave him in his jail a moment with
this happiness in store for him and still unknown to him； did more for
her speedy restoration than all the skill and attention on earth could
have done。 'e with me to my dear father。 Pray e and tell my dear
father！' were the first words she said。 Her father； her father。 She
spoke of nothing but him； thought of nothing but him。 Kneeling down and
pouring out her thankfulness with uplifted hands； her thanks were for
her father。
Flora's tenderness e by this； and she launched out
among the cups and saucers into a wonderful flow of tears and speech。
'I declare；' she sobbed； 'I never was so cut up since your mama and my
papa not Doyce and Clennam for this once but give the precious little
thing a cup of tea and make her put it to her lips at least pray Arthur
do； not even Mr F。's last illness for that was of another kind and gout
is not a child's affection though very painful for all parties and Mr
F。 a martyr with his leg upon a rest and the wine trade in itself
inflammatory for they will do it more or less among themselves and who
can wonder； it seems like a dream I am sure to think of nothing at all
this morning and now Mines