'My brother；' said the old man； pausing on the step and slowly facing
round again； 'has been here many years； and much that happens even among
ourselves； out of doors； is kept from him for reasons that I needn't
enter upon now。 Be so good as to say nothing of my niece's working at
her needle。 Be so good as to say nothing that goes beyond what is said
among us。 If you keep within our bounds； you cannot well be wrong。 Now！
e and see。'
Arthur followed him down a narrow entry； at the end of which a key was
turned； and a strong door was opened from within。 It admitted them into
a lodge or lobby； across which they passed； and so through another door
and a grating into the prison。 The old man always plodding on before；
turned round； in his slow； stiff； stooping manner； when they came to the
turnkey on duty； as if to present his panion。 The turnkey nodded； and
the panion passed in without being asked whom he wanted。
The night was dark； and the prison lamps in the yard； and the candles in
the prison windows faintly shining behind many sorts of wry old curtain
and blind； had not the air of making it lighter。 A few people loitered
about； but the greater part of the population was within doors。 The old
man； taking the right…hand side of the yard； turned in at the third or
fourth doorway； and began to ascend the stairs。 'They are rather dark；
sir； but you will not find anything in the way。'
He paused for a moment before opening a door on the second story。 He had
no sooner turned the handle than the visitor saw Little Dorrit； and saw
the reason of her setting so much store by dining alone。
She had brought the meat home that she should have eaten herself； and
was already warming it on a gridiron over the fire for her father； clad
in an old grey gown and a black cap； awaiting his supper at the table。
A clean cloth was spread before him； with knife； fork； and spoon；
salt…cellar； pepper…box； glass； and pewter ale…pot。 Such zests as his
particular little phial of cayenne pepper and his pennyworth of pickles
in a saucer； were not wanting。
She started； coloured deeply； and turned white。 The visitor； more with
his eyes than by the slight impulsive motion of his hand； entreated her
to be reassured and to trust him。
'I found this gentleman；' said the uncle……'Mr Clennam； William； son of
Amy's friend……at the outer gate； wishful； as he was going by； of paying
his respects； but hesitating whether to e in or not。 This is my
brother William； sir。'
'I hope；' said Arthur； very doubtful what to say； 'that my respect for
your daughter may explain and justify my desire to be presented to you；
sir。'
'Mr Clennam；' returned the other； rising； taking his cap off in the
flat of his hand； and so holding it； ready to put on again； 'you do me
honour。 You are wele； sir；' with a low bow。 'Frederick； a chair。 Pray
sit down； Mr Clennam。'
He put his black cap on again as he had taken it off； and resumed his
own seat。 There was a wonderful air of benignity and patronage in his
manner。 These were the ceremonies with which he received the collegians。
'You are wele to the Marshalsea； sir。 I have weled many gentlemen
to these walls。 Perhaps you are aware……my daughter Amy may have
mentioned that I am the Father of this place。'
'I……so I have understood；' said Arthur； dashing at the assertion。
'You know； I dare say； that my daughter Amy was born here。 A good girl；
sir； a dear girl； and long a fort and support to me。 Amy； my dear；
put this dish on； Mr Clennam will excuse the primitive customs to which
we are reduced here。 Is it a pliment to ask you if you would do me
the honour； sir； to……'
'Thank you；' returned Arthur。 'Not a morsel。'
He felt himself quite lost in wonder at the manner of the man； and that
the probability of his daughter's having had a reserve as to her family
history； should be so far out of his mind。
She filled his glass； put all the little matters on the table ready to
his hand； and then sat beside him while he ate his supper。 Evidently in
observance of their nightly custom； she put some bread before herself；
and touched his glass with her lips； but Arthur saw she was troubled
and took nothing。 Her look at her father； half admiring him and proud
of him； half ashamed for him； all devoted and loving； went to his inmost
heart。
The Father of the Marshalsea condescended towards his brother as an
amiable； well…meaning man； a private character； who had not arrived at
distinction。 'Frederick；' said he； 'you and Fanny sup at your lodgings
to…night； I know。 What have you done with Fanny； Frederick？' 'She is
walking with Tip。'
'Tip……as you may know……is my son； Mr Clennam。 He has been a little
wild； and difficult to settle； but his introduction to the world was
rather'……he shrugged his shoulders with a faint sigh； and looked round
the room……'a little adverse。 Your first visit here； sir？'
'My first。'
'You could hardly have been here since your boyhood without my
knowledge。 It very seldom happens that anybody……of any pretensions…any
pretensions……es here without being presented to me。'
'As many as forty or fifty in a day have been introduced to my brother；'
said Frederick； faintly lighting up with a ray of pride。
'Yes！' the Father of the Marshalsea assented。 'We have even exceeded
that number。 On a fine Sunday in term time； it is quite a Levee……quite
a Levee。 Amy； my dear； I have been trying half the day to remember the
name of the gentleman from Camberwell who was introduced to me last
Christmas week by that agreeable coal…merchant who was remanded for six
months。'
'I don't remember his name； father。'
'Frederick； do you remember his name？' Frederick doubted if he had ever
heard it。 No one could doubt that Frederick was the last person upon
earth to put such a question to； with any hope of information。
'I mean；' said his brother； 'the gentleman who did that handsome action
with so much delicacy。 Ha！ Tush！ The name has quite escaped me。 Mr
Clennam； as I have happened to mention handsome and delicate action； you
may like； perhaps； to know what it was。'
'Very much；' said Arthur； withdrawing his eyes from the delicate head
beginning to droop and the pale face with a new solicitude stealing over
it。
'It is so generous； and shows so much fine feeling； that it is almost a
duty to mention it。 I said at the time that I always would mention it
on every suitable occasion； without regard to personal sensitiveness。
A……well……a……it's of no use to disguise the fact……you must know； Mr
Clennam； that it does sometimes occur that people who e here desire
to offer some little……Testimonial……to the Father of the place。'
To see her hand upon his arm in mute entreaty half…repressed； and her
timid little shrinking figure turning away； was to see a sad； sad sight。
'Sometimes；' he went on in a low； soft voice； agitated； and clearing
his throat every now and then； 'sometimes……hem……it takes one shape and
sometimes another； but it is generally……ha……Money。 And it is； I cannot
but confess it； it is too often……hem……acceptable。 This gentleman that I
refer to； was presented to me； Mr Clennam； in a manner highly gratifying
to my feelings； and conversed