were others who did so really because their eyes； accustomed to the
gloom of their imprisonment and poverty； could not support the light of
such bright sunshine。 There； were many whose shillings had gone into his
pocket to buy him meat and drink； but none who were now obtrusively Hail
fellow well met！ with him； on the strength of that assistance。 It was
rather to be remarked of the caged birds； that they were a little shy
of the bird about to be so grandly free； and that they had a tendency to
withdraw themselves towards the bars； and seem a little fluttered as he
passed。
Through these spectators the little procession； headed by the two
brothers； moved slowly to the gate。 Mr Dorrit； yielding to the vast
speculation how the poor creatures were to get on without him； was
great； and sad； but not absorbed。 He patted children on the head
like Sir Roger de Coverley going to church； he spoke to people in the
background by their Christian names； he condescended to all present； and
seemed for their consolation to walk encircled by the legend in golden
characters； 'Be forted； my people！ Bear it！'
At last three honest cheers announced that he had passed the gate； and
that the Marshalsea was an orphan。 Before they had ceased to ring in the
echoes of the prison walls； the family had got into their carriage； and
the attendant had the steps in his hand。
Then； and not before； 'Good Gracious！' cried Miss Fanny all at once；
'Where's Amy！'
Her father had thought she was with her sister。 Her sister had thought
she was 'somewhere or other。' They had all trusted to finding her； as
they had always done； quietly in the right place at the right moment。
This going away was perhaps the very first action of their joint lives
that they had got through without her。
A minute might have been consumed in the ascertaining of these points；
when Miss Fanny； who； from her seat in the carriage； manded the long
narrow passage leading to the Lodge； flushed indignantly。
'Now I do say； Pa；' cried she； 'that this is disgraceful！'
'What is disgraceful； Fanny？'
'I do say；' she repeated； 'this is perfectly infamous！ Really almost
enough； even at such a time as this； to make one wish one was dead！
Here is that child Amy； in her ugly old shabby dress； which she was so
obstinate about； Pa； which I over and over again begged and prayed her
to change； and which she over and over again objected to； and promised
to change to…day； saying she wished to wear it as long as ever she
remained in there with you……which was absolutely romantic nonsense of
the lowest kind……here is that child Amy disgracing us to the last moment
and at the last moment； by being carried out in that dress after all。
And by that Mr Clennam too！'
The offence was proved； as she delivered the indictment。 Clennam
appeared at the carriage…door； bearing the little insensible figure in
his arms。
'She has been forgotten；' he said； in a tone of pity not free from
reproach。 'I ran up to her room （which Mr Chivery showed me） and found
the door open； and that she had fainted on the floor； dear child。
She appeared to have gone to change her dress； and to have sunk down
overpowered。 It may have been the cheering； or it may have happened
sooner。 Take care of this poor cold hand； Miss Dorrit。 Don't let it
fall。'
'Thank you； sir；' returned Miss Dorrit； bursting into tears。 'I believe
I know what to do； if you will give me leave。 Dear Amy； open your eyes；
that's a love！ Oh； Amy； Amy； I really am so vexed and ashamed！ Do rouse
yourself； darling！ Oh； why are they not driving on！ Pray； Pa； do drive
on！'
The attendant； getting between Clennam and the carriage…door； with a
sharp 'By your leave； sir！' bundled up the steps； and they drove away。
BOOK THE SECOND： RICHES
CHAPTER 1。 Fellow Travellers
In the autumn of the year； Darkness and Night were creeping up to the
highest ridges of the Alps。
It was vintage time in the valleys on the Swiss side of the Pass of the
Great Saint Bernard； and along the banks of the Lake of Geneva。
The air there was charged with the scent of gathered grapes。 Baskets；
troughs； and tubs of grapes stood in the dim village doorways； stopped
the steep and narrow village streets； and had been carrying all day
along the roads and lanes。 Grapes； split and crushed under foot； lay
about everywhere。 The child carried in a sling by the laden peasant
woman toiling home； was quieted with picked…up grapes； the idiot sunning
his big goitre under the leaves of the wooden chalet by the way to the
Waterfall； sat Munching grapes； the breath of the cows and goats was
redolent of leaves and stalks of grapes； the pany in every little
cabaret were eating； drinking； talking grapes。 A pity that no ripe touch
of this generous abundance could be given to the thin； hard； stony wine；
which after all was made from the grapes！
The air had been warm and transparent through the whole of the bright
day。 Shining metal spires and church…roofs； distant and rarely seen； had
sparkled in the view； and the snowy mountain…tops had been so clear that
unaccustomed eyes； cancelling the intervening country； and slighting
their rugged heights for something fabulous； would have measured them as
within a few hours easy reach。 Mountain…peaks of great celebrity in the
valleys； whence no trace of their existence was visible sometimes for
months together； had been since morning plain and near in the blue sky。
And now； when it was dark below； though they seemed solemnly to recede；
like spectres who were going to vanish； as the red dye of the sunset
faded out of them and left them coldly white； they were yet distinctly
defined in their loneliness above the mists and shadows。 Seen from these
solitudes； and from the Pass of the Great Saint Bernard； which was one
of them； the ascending Night came up the mountain like a rising water。
When it at last rose to the walls of the convent of the Great Saint
Bernard； it was as if that weather…beaten structure were another Ark；
and floated on the shadowy waves。
Darkness； outstripping some visitors on mules； had risen thus to
the rough convent walls； when those travellers were yet climbing the
mountain。 As the heat of the glowing day when they had stopped to drink
at the streams of melted ice and snow； was changed to the searching cold
of the frosty rarefied night air at a great height； so the fresh beauty
of the lower journey had yielded to barrenness and desolation。 A craggy
track； up which the mules in single file scrambled and turned from
block to block； as though they were ascending the broken staircase of
a gigantic ruin； was their way now。 No trees were to be seen； nor any
vegetable growth save a poor brown scrubby moss； freezing in the chinks
of rock。 Blackened skeleton arms of wood by the wayside pointed upward
to the convent as if the ghosts of former travellers overwhelmed by the
snow haunted the scene of their distress。 Icicle…hung caves and cellars
built for refuges from sudden storms； were like so many whispers of the
perils of the place； never…resting wreaths and mazes of mist wandered
about； hunted by a moaning wind； and snow； the besetting danger of t