to my feelings； and conversed not only with great politeness； but with
great……ahem……information。' All this time； though he had finished his
supper； he was nervously going about his plate with his knife and
fork； as if some of it were still before him。 'It appeared from his
conversation that he had a garden； though he was delicate of mentioning
it at first； as gardens are……hem……are not accessible to me。 But it came
out； through my admiring a very fine cluster of geranium……beautiful
cluster of geranium to be sure……which he had brought from his
conservatory。 On my taking notice of its rich colour； he showed me a
piece of paper round it； on which was written； 〃For the Father of the
Marshalsea；〃 and presented it to me。 But this was……hem……not all。 He made
a particular request； on taking leave； that I would remove the paper in
half an hour。 I……ha……I did so； and I found that it contained……ahem……two
guineas。 I assure you； Mr Clennam； I have received……hem……Testimonials
in many ways； and of many degrees of value； and they have always
been……ha……unfortunately acceptable； but I never was more pleased than
with this……ahem……this particular Testimonial。' Arthur was in the act
of saying the little he could say on such a theme； when a bell began to
ring； and footsteps approached the door。 A pretty girl of a far better
figure and much more developed than Little Dorrit； though looking much
younger in the face when the two were observed together； stopped in the
doorway on seeing a stranger； and a young man who was with her； stopped
too。
'Mr Clennam； Fanny。 My eldest daughter and my son； Mr Clennam。 The bell
is a signal for visitors to retire； and so they have e to say good
night； but there is plenty of time； plenty of time。 Girls； Mr Clennam
will excuse any household business you may have together。 He knows； I
dare say； that I have but one room here。'
'I only want my clean dress from Amy； father；' said the second girl。
'And I my clothes；' said Tip。
Amy opened a drawer in an old piece of furniture that was a chest of
drawers above and a bedstead below； and produced two little bundles；
which she handed to her brother and sister。 'Mended and made up？'
Clennam heard the sister ask in a whisper。 To which Amy answered 'Yes。'
He had risen now； and took the opportunity of glancing round the room。
The bare walls had been coloured green； evidently by an unskilled hand；
and were poorly decorated with a few prints。 The window was curtained；
and the floor carpeted； and there were shelves and pegs； and other such
conveniences； that had accumulated in the course of years。 It was a
close； confined room； poorly furnished； and the chimney smoked to boot；
or the tin screen at the top of the fireplace was superfluous； but
constant pains and care had made it neat； and even； after its kind；
fortable。 All the while the bell was ringing； and the uncle was
anxious to go。 'e； Fanny； e； Fanny；' he said； with his ragged
clario case under his arm； 'the lock； child； the lock！'
Fanny bade her father good night； and whisked off airily。 Tip had
already clattered down…stairs。 'Now； Mr Clennam；' said the uncle；
looking back as he shuffled out after them； 'the lock； sir； the lock。'
Mr Clennam had two things to do before he followed； one； to offer his
testimonial to the Father of the Marshalsea； without giving pain to his
child； the other to say something to that child； though it were but a
word； in explanation of his having e there。
'Allow me；' said the Father； 'to see you down…stairs。'
She had slipped out after the rest； and they were alone。 'Not on any
account；' said the visitor； hurriedly。 'Pray allow me to……' chink；
chink； chink。
'Mr Clennam；' said the Father； 'I am deeply； deeply……' But his visitor
had shut up his hand to stop the clinking； and had gone down…stairs with
great speed。
He saw no Little Dorrit on his way down； or in the yard。 The last two or
three stragglers were hurrying to the lodge； and he was following；
when he caught sight of her in the doorway of the first house from the
entrance。 He turned back hastily。
'Pray forgive me；' he said； 'for speaking to you here； pray forgive me
for ing here at all！ I followed you to…night。 I did so； that I might
endeavour to render you and your family some service。 You know the
terms on which I and my mother are； and may not be surprised that I
have preserved our distant relations at her house； lest I should
unintentionally make her jealous； or resentful； or do you any injury in
her estimation。 What I have seen here； in this short time； has greatly
increased my heartfelt wish to be a friend to you。 It would repense
me for much disappointment if I could hope to gain your confidence。'
She was scared at first； but seemed to take courage while he spoke to
her。
'You are very good； sir。 You speak very earnestly to me。 But I……but I
wish you had not watched me。'
He understood the emotion with which she said it； to arise in her
father's behalf； and he respected it； and was silent。
'Mrs Clennam has been of great service to me； I don't know what we
should have done without the employment she has given me； I am afraid
it may not be a good return to bee secret with her； I can say no more
to…night； sir。 I am sure you mean to be kind to us。 Thank you； thank
you。' 'Let me ask you one question before I leave。 Have you known my
mother long？'
'I think two years； sir；……The bell has stopped。'
'How did you know her first？ Did she send here for you？'
'No。 She does not even know that I live here。 We have a friend； father
and I……a poor labouring man； but the best of friends……and I wrote out
that I wished to do needlework； and gave his address。 And he got what
I wrote out displayed at a few places where it cost nothing； and Mrs
Clennam found me that way； and sent for me。 The gate will be locked；
sir！'
She was so tremulous and agitated； and he was so moved by passion for
her； and by deep interest in her story as it dawned upon him； that he
could scarcely tear himself away。 But the stoppage of the bell； and the
quiet in the prison； were a warning to depart； and with a few hurried
words of kindness he left her gliding back to her father。
But he remained too late。 The inner gate was locked； and the lodge
closed。 After a little fruitless knocking with his hand； he was standing
there with the disagreeable conviction upon him that he had got to get
through the night； when a voice accosted him from behind。
'Caught； eh？' said the voice。 'You won't go home till morning。 Oh！ It's
you； is it； Mr Clennam？'
The voice was Tip's； and they stood looking at one another in the
prison…yard； as it began to rain。
'You've done it；' observed Tip； 'you must be sharper than that next
time。'
'But you are locked in too；' said Arthur。
'I believe I am！' said Tip； sarcastically。 'About！ But not in your way。
I belong to the shop； only my sister has a theory that our governor must
never know it。 I don't see why； myself。'
'Can I get any shelter？' asked Arthur。 'What had I better do？'
'We had better get hold of Amy first of all；' said Tip； referring any
difficulty to her as a matter of course。
'I would rather walk about all n