have a sensation as if it was almost unfeeling to walk here。'
'Unfeeling？'
'To see the river； and so much sky； and so many objects； and such change
and motion。 Then to go back； you know； and find him in the same cramped
place。'
'Ah yes！ But going back； you must remember that you take with you the
spirit and influence of such things to cheer him。'
'Do I？ I hope I may！ I am afraid you fancy too much； sir； and make me
out too powerful。 If you were in prison； could I bring such fort to
you？' 'Yes； Little Dorrit； I am sure of it。'
He gathered from a tremor on her lip； and a passing shadow of great
agitation on her face； that her mind was with her father。 He remained
silent for a few moments； that she might regain her posure。 The
Little Dorrit； trembling on his arm； was less in unison than ever with
Mrs Chivery's theory； and yet was not irreconcilable with a new fancy
which sprung up within him； that there might be some one else in the
hopeless……newer fancy still……in the hopeless unattainable distance。
They turned； and Clennam said； Here was Maggy ing！ Little Dorrit
looked up； surprised； and they confronted Maggy； who brought herself
at sight of them to a dead stop。 She had been trotting along； so
preoccupied and busy that she had not recognised them until they turned
upon her。 She was now in a moment so conscience…stricken that her very
basket partook of the change。
'Maggy； you promised me to stop near father。'
'So I would； Little Mother； only he wouldn't let me。 If he takes and
sends me out I must go。 If he takes and says； 〃Maggy； you hurry away and
back with that letter； and you shall have a sixpence if the answer's a
good 'un；〃 I must take it。 Lor； Little Mother； what's a poor thing of
ten year old to do？ And if Mr Tip……if he happens to be a ing in as
I e out； and if he says 〃Where are you going； Maggy？〃 and if I says；
〃I'm a going So and So；〃 and if he says； 〃I'll have a Try too；〃 and if
he goes into the George and writes a letter and if he gives it me and
says； 〃Take that one to the same place； and if the answer's a good 'un
I'll give you a shilling；〃 it ain't my fault； mother！'
Arthur read； in Little Dorrit's downcast eyes； to whom she foresaw that
the letters were addressed。
'I'm a going So and So。 There！ That's where I am a going to；' said
Maggy。 'I'm a going So and So。 It ain't you； Little Mother； that's got
anything to do with it……it's you； you know；' said Maggy； addressing
Arthur。 'You'd better e； So and So； and let me take and give 'em to
you。'
'We will not be so particular as that； Maggy。 Give them me here；' said
Clennam in a low voice。
'Well； then； e across the road；' answered Maggy in a very loud
whisper。 'Little Mother wasn't to know nothing of it； and she would
never have known nothing of it if you had only gone So and So； instead
of bothering and loitering about。 It ain't my fault。 I must do what I am
told。 They ought to be ashamed of themselves for telling me。'
Clennam crossed to the other side； and hurriedly opened the letters。
That from the father mentioned that most unexpectedly finding himself in
the novel position of having been disappointed of a remittance from
the City on which he had confidently counted； he took up his pen； being
restrained by the unhappy circumstance of his incarceration during
three…and…twenty years （doubly underlined）； from ing himself； as
he would otherwise certainly have done……took up his pen to entreat Mr
Clennam to advance him the sum of Three Pounds Ten Shillings upon his
I。O。U。； which he begged to enclose。 That from the son set forth that
Mr Clennam would； he knew； be gratified to hear that he had at
length obtained permanent employment of a highly satisfactory nature；
acpanied with every prospect of plete success in life； but that
the temporary inability of his employer to pay him his arrears of salary
to that date （in which condition said employer had appealed to that
generous forbearance in which he trusted he should never be wanting
towards a fellow…creature）； bined with the fraudulent conduct of a
false friend and the present high price of provisions； had reduced
him to the verge of ruin； unless he could by a quarter before six that
evening raise the sum of eight pounds。 This sum； Mr Clennam would be
happy to learn； he had； through the promptitude of several friends
who had a lively confidence in his probity； already raised； with the
exception of a trifling balance of one pound seventeen and fourpence；
the loan of which balance； for the period of one month； would be fraught
with the usual beneficent consequences。
These letters Clennam answered with the aid of his pencil and
pocket…book； on the spot； sending the father what he asked for； and
excusing himself from pliance with the demand of the son。 He then
missioned Maggy to return with his replies； and gave her the
shilling of which the failure of her supplemental enterprise would have
disappointed her otherwise。
When he rejoined Little Dorrit； and they had begun walking as before；
she said all at once：
'I think I had better go。 I had better go home。'
'Don't be distressed；' said Clennam； 'I have answered the letters。 They
were nothing。 You know what they were。 They were nothing。'
'But I am afraid；' she returned； 'to leave him； I am afraid to leave
any of them。 When I am gone； they pervert……but they don't mean it……even
Maggy。'
'It was a very innocent mission that she undertook； poor thing。 And
in keeping it secret from you； she supposed； no doubt； that she was only
saving you uneasiness。'
'Yes； I hope so； I hope so。 But I had better go home！ It was but the
other day that my sister told me I had bee so used to the prison that
I had its tone and character。 It must be so。 I am sure it must be when I
see these things。 My place is there。 I am better there； it is unfeeling
in me to be here； when I can do the least thing there。 Good…bye。 I had
far better stay at home！'
The agonised way in which she poured this out； as if it burst of itself
from her suppressed heart； made it difficult for Clennam to keep the
tears from his eyes as he saw and heard her。
'Don't call it home； my child！' he entreated。 'It is always painful to
me to hear you call it home。'
'But it is home！ What else can I call home？ Why should I ever forget it
for a single moment？'
'You never do； dear Little Dorrit； in any good and true service。'
'I hope not； O I hope not！ But it is better for me to stay there； much
better； much more dutiful； much happier。 Please don't go with me； let me
go by myself。 Good…bye； God bless you。 Thank you； thank you。'
He felt that it was better to respect her entreaty； and did not move
while her slight form 。 When it had fluttered
out of sight； he turned his face towards the water and stood thinking。
She would have been distressed at any time by this discovery of the
letters； but so much so； and in that unrestrainable way？
No。
When she had seen her father begging with his threadbare disguise on；
when she had entreated him not to give her father money； she had
been distressed； but not like this。 Something had made her keenly and
additionally sensitive just now。 Now； was there