ambition to retain the prison…lock in the family。 While the succession
was yet in abeyance； he assisted his mother in the conduct of a snug
tobacco business round the corner of Horsemonger Lane （his father being
a non…resident turnkey）； which could usually mand a neat connection
within the College walls。
Years agone； when the object of his affections was wont to sit in her
little arm…chair by the high Lodge…fender； Young John （family name；
Chivery）； a year older than herself； had eyed her with admiring wonder。
When he had played with her in the yard； his favourite game had been to
counterfeit locking her up in corners； and to counterfeit letting
her out for real kisses。 When he grew tall enough to peep through the
keyhole of the great lock of the main door； he had divers times set down
his father's dinner； or supper； to get on as it might on the outer side
thereof； while he stood taking cold in one eye by dint of peeping at her
through that airy perspective。
If Young John had ever slackened in his truth in the less perable
days of his boyhood； when youth is prone to wear its boots unlaced and
is happily unconscious of digestive organs； he had soon strung it up
again and screwed it tight。 At nieen； his hand had inscribed in chalk
on that part of the wall which fronted her lodgings； on the occasion of
her birthday； 'Wele sweet nursling of the Fairies！' At twenty…three；
the same hand falteringly presented cigars on Sundays to the Father of
the Marshalsea； and Father of the queen of his soul。
Young John was small of stature； with rather weak legs and very weak
light hair。 One of his eyes （perhaps the eye that used to peep through
the keyhole） was also weak； and looked larger than the other； as if
it couldn't collect itself。 Young John was gentle likewise。 But he was
great of soul。 Poetical； expansive； faithful。
Though too humble before the ruler of his heart to be sanguine； Young
John had considered the object of his attachment in all its lights and
shades。 Following it out to blissful results； he had descried； without
self…mendation； a fitness in it。 Say things prospered； and they were
united。 She； the child of the Marshalsea； he； the lock…keeper。 There
was a fitness in that。 Say he became a resident turnkey。 She would
officially succeed to the chamber she had rented so long。 There was a
beautiful propriety in that。 It looked over the wall； if you stood on
tip…toe； and； with a trellis…work of scarlet beans and a canary or so；
would bee a very Arbour。 There was a charming idea in that。 Then；
being all in all to one another； there was even an appropriate grace in
the lock。 With the world shut out （except that part of it which would
be shut in）； with its troubles and disturbances only known to them by
hearsay； as they would be described by the pilgrims tarrying with them
on their way to the Insolvent Shrine； with the Arbour above； and the
Lodge below； they would glide down the stream of time； in pastoral
domestic happiness。 Young John drew tears from his eyes by finishing the
picture with a tombstone in the adjoining churchyard； close against the
prison wall； bearing the following touching inscription： 'Sacred to
the Memory Of JOHN CHIVERY； Sixty years Turnkey； and fifty years
Head Turnkey； Of the neighbouring Marshalsea； Who departed this life；
universally respected； on the thirty…first of December； One thousand
eight hundred and eighty…six； Aged eighty…three years。 Also of his truly
beloved and truly loving wife； AMY； whose maiden name was DORRIT； Who
survived his loss not quite forty…eight hours； And who breathed her last
in the Marshalsea aforesaid。 There she was born； There she lived； There
she died。'
The Chivery parents were not ignorant of their son's attachment……indeed
it had； on some exceptional occasions； thrown him into a state of mind
that had impelled him to conduct himself with irascibility towards the
customers； and damage the business……but they； in their turns； had worked
it out to desirable conclusions。 Mrs Chivery； a prudent woman； had
desired her husband to take notice that their john's prospects of the
Lock would certainly be strengthened by an alliance with Miss Dorrit；
who had herself a kind of claim upon the College and was much respected
there。 Mrs Chivery had desired her husband to take notice that if； on
the one hand； their John had means and a post of trust； on the other
hand； Miss Dorrit had family； and that her （Mrs Chivery's） sentiment
was； that two halves made a whole。 Mrs Chivery； speaking as a mother and
not as a diplomatist； had then； from a different point of view； desired
her husband to recollect that their John had never been strong； and
that his love had fretted and worrited him enough as it was； without
his being driven to do himself a mischief； as nobody couldn't say
he wouldn't be if he was crossed。 These arguments had so powerfully
influenced the mind of Mr Chivery； who was a man of few words； that he
had on sundry Sunday mornings； given his boy what he termed 'a lucky
touch；' signifying that he considered such mendation of him to Good
Fortune； preparatory to his that day declaring his passion and
being triumphant。 But Young John had never taken courage to make
the declaration； and it was principally on these occasions that he had
returned excited to the tobacco shop； and flown at the customers。 In
this affair； as in every other； Little Dorrit herself was the last
person considered。 Her brother and sister were aware of it； and attained
a sort of station by making a peg of it on which to air the miserably
ragged old fiction of the family gentility。 Her sister asserted the
family gentility by flouting the poor swain as he loitered about the
prison for glimpses of his dear。 Tip asserted the family gentility； and
his own； by ing out in the character of the aristocratic brother； and
loftily swaggering in the little skittle ground respecting seizures by
the scruff of the neck； which there were looming probabilities of some
gentleman unknown executing on some little puppy not mentioned。 These
were not the only members of the Dorrit family who turned it to account。
No； no。 The Father of the Marshalsea was supposed to know nothing about
the matter； of course： his poor dignity could not see so low。
But he took the cigars； on Sundays； and was glad to get them； and
sometimes even condescended to walk up and down the yard with the donor
（who was proud and hopeful then）； and benignantly to smoke one in
his society。 With no less readiness and condescension did he receive
attentions from Chivery Senior； …chair
and newspaper to him； when he came into the Lodge during one of his
spells of duty； and who had even mentioned to him； that； if he would
like at any time after dusk quietly to step out into the fore…court and
take a look at the street； there was not much to prevent him。 If he did
not avail himself of this latter civility； it was only because he had
lost the relish for it； inasmuch as he took everything else he could
get； and would say at times； 'Extremely civil person； Chivery； very
attentive man and very respectful。 Young Chivery； too； really almost
with a delicate perception of one's po