above¡¡her¡£
'You¡¡will¡¡understand£»¡¡I¡¡dare¡¡say£»¡¡without¡¡my¡¡telling¡¡you£»¡¡that¡¡my
brother¡¡has¡¡e¡¡home¡¡to¡¡find¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡father's¡¡will£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡take
possession¡¡of¡¡his¡¡property¡£¡¡He¡¡says£»¡¡if¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡will£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡sure¡¡I
shall¡¡be¡¡left¡¡rich£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡there¡¡is¡¡none£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡will¡¡make¡¡me¡¡so¡£'
He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡spoken£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡put¡¡up¡¡her¡¡trembling¡¡hand¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡he
stopped¡£
'I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡use¡¡for¡¡money£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡wish¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡of¡¡no¡¡value
at¡¡all¡¡to¡¡me¡¡but¡¡for¡¡your¡¡sake¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡rich£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡here¡£¡¡I
must¡¡always¡¡be¡¡much¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡poor£»¡¡with¡¡you¡¡distressed¡£¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡let
me¡¡lend¡¡you¡¡all¡¡I¡¡have£¿¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡let¡¡me¡¡give¡¡it¡¡you£¿¡¡Will¡¡you¡¡let¡¡me
show¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡forgotten£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡never¡¡can¡¡forget£»¡¡your
protection¡¡of¡¡me¡¡when¡¡this¡¡was¡¡my¡¡home£¿¡¡Dear¡¡Mr¡¡Clennam£»¡¡make¡¡me¡¡of¡¡all
the¡¡world¡¡the¡¡happiest£»¡¡by¡¡saying¡¡Yes¡£¡¡Make¡¡me¡¡as¡¡happy¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡¡be¡¡in
leaving¡¡you¡¡here£»¡¡by¡¡saying¡¡nothing¡¡to¡night£»¡¡and¡¡letting¡¡me¡¡go
away¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡you¡¡will¡¡think¡¡of¡¡it¡¡kindly£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡for¡¡my
sake¡¡not¡¡for¡¡yours£»¡¡for¡¡mine£»¡¡for¡¡nobody's¡¡but¡¡mine£¡¡¡you¡¡will¡¡give¡¡me
the¡¡greatest¡¡joy¡¡I¡¡can¡¡experience¡¡on¡¡earth£»¡¡the¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡I
have¡¡been¡¡serviceable¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡paid¡¡some¡¡little¡¡of¡¡the
great¡¡debt¡¡of¡¡my¡¡affection¡¡and¡¡gratitude¡£¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡say¡¡what¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡to
say¡£¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡visit¡¡you¡¡here¡¡where¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lived¡¡so¡¡long£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡think¡¡of
you¡¡here¡¡where¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡so¡¡much£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡as¡¡calm¡¡and¡¡forting¡¡as¡¡I
ought¡£¡¡My¡¡tears¡¡will¡¡make¡¡their¡¡way¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡back¡£¡¡But
pray£»¡¡pray£»¡¡pray£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡from¡¡your¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit£»¡¡now£»¡¡in¡¡your
affliction£¡¡¡Pray£»¡¡pray£»¡¡pray£»¡¡I¡¡beg¡¡you¡¡and¡¡implore¡¡you¡¡with¡¡all¡¡my
grieving¡¡heart£»¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡my¡¡dear£¡¡¡take¡¡all¡¡I¡¡have£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡it¡¡a
Blessing¡¡to¡¡me£¡'
The¡¡star¡¡had¡¡shone¡¡on¡¡her¡¡face¡¡until¡¡now£»¡¡when¡¡her¡¡face¡¡sank¡¡upon¡¡his
hand¡¡and¡¡her¡¡own¡£
It¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡darker¡¡when¡¡he¡¡raised¡¡her¡¡in¡¡his¡¡encircling¡¡arm£»¡¡and¡¡softly
answered¡¡her¡£
'No£»¡¡darling¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡£¡¡No£»¡¡my¡¡child¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a
sacrifice¡£¡¡Liberty¡¡and¡¡hope¡¡would¡¡be¡¡so¡¡dear£»¡¡bought¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡price£»
that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡never¡¡support¡¡their¡¡weight£»¡¡never¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡reproach¡¡of
possessing¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡with¡¡what¡¡ardent¡¡thankfulness¡¡and¡¡love¡¡I¡¡say¡¡this£»
I¡¡may¡¡call¡¡Heaven¡¡to¡¡witness£¡'
'And¡¡yet¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡let¡¡me¡¡be¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡you¡¡in¡¡your¡¡affliction£¿'
'Say£»¡¡dearest¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡will¡¡try¡¡to¡¡be¡¡faithful¡¡to¡¡you¡£
If£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bygone¡¡days¡¡when¡¡this¡¡was¡¡your¡¡home¡¡and¡¡when¡¡this¡¡was¡¡your
dress£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡understood¡¡myself¡¡£¨I¡¡speak¡¡only¡¡of¡¡myself£©¡¡better£»¡¡and
had¡¡read¡¡the¡¡secrets¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡breast¡¡more¡¡distinctly£»¡¡if£»¡¡through¡¡my
reserve¡¡and¡¡self¡mistrust£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡discerned¡¡a¡¡light¡¡that¡¡I¡¡see¡¡brightly
now¡¡when¡¡it¡¡has¡¡passed¡¡far¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡weak¡¡footsteps¡¡can¡¡never
overtake¡¡it£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡then¡¡known£»¡¡and¡¡told¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡loved¡¡and¡¡honoured
you£»¡¡not¡¡as¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡child¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡call¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡whose
true¡¡hand¡¡would¡¡raise¡¡me¡¡high¡¡above¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡make¡¡me¡¡a¡¡far¡¡happier¡¡and
better¡¡man£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡so¡¡used¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡recalling¡¡as
I¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡had£»¡¡O¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡had£¡¡¡and¡¡if¡¡something¡¡had¡¡kept¡¡us¡¡apart¡¡then£»
when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡moderately¡¡thriving£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡you¡¡were¡¡poor£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡met
your¡¡noble¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡your¡¡fortune£»¡¡dearest¡¡girl£»¡¡with¡¡other¡¡words¡¡than
these£»¡¡and¡¡still¡¡have¡¡blushed¡¡to¡¡touch¡¡it¡£¡¡But£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡I¡¡must¡¡never
touch¡¡it£»¡¡never£¡'
She¡¡besought¡¡him£»¡¡more¡¡pathetically¡¡and¡¡earnestly£»¡¡with¡¡her¡¡little
supplicatory¡¡hand£»¡¡than¡¡she¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done¡¡in¡¡any¡¡words¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡disgraced¡¡enough£»¡¡my¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡not¡¡descend¡¡so¡¡low¡¡as
that£»¡¡and¡¡carry¡¡you¡¡so¡¡dear£»¡¡so¡¡generous£»¡¡so¡¡good¡¡down¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡GOD
bless¡¡you£»¡¡GOD¡¡reward¡¡you£¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡past¡£'¡¡He¡¡took¡¡her¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms£»¡¡as¡¡if
she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡his¡¡daughter¡£
'Always¡¡so¡¡much¡¡older£»¡¡so¡¡much¡¡rougher£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡much¡¡less¡¡worthy£»¡¡even
what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡must¡¡be¡¡dismissed¡¡by¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡must¡¡see¡¡me¡¡only¡¡as
I¡¡am¡£¡¡I¡¡put¡¡this¡¡parting¡¡kiss¡¡upon¡¡your¡¡cheek£»¡¡my¡¡child¡¡who¡¡might¡¡have
been¡¡more¡¡near¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡who¡¡never¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡more¡¡dear¡¡a¡¡ruined¡¡man
far¡¡removed¡¡from¡¡you£»¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡separated¡¡from¡¡you£»¡¡whose¡¡course¡¡is
run¡¡while¡¡yours¡¡is¡¡but¡¡beginning¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡the¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡to¡¡be
forgotten¡¡by¡¡you¡¡in¡¡my¡¡humiliation£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡to¡¡be¡¡remembered¡¡only¡¡as¡¡I
am¡£'
The¡¡bell¡¡began¡¡to¡¡ring£»¡¡warning¡¡visitors¡¡to¡¡depart¡£¡¡He¡¡took¡¡her¡¡mantle
from¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡tenderly¡¡wrapped¡¡it¡¡round¡¡her¡£
'One¡¡other¡¡word£»¡¡my¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡£¡¡A¡¡hard¡¡one¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a
necessary¡¡one¡£¡¡The¡¡time¡¡when¡¡you¡¡and¡¡this¡¡prison¡¡had¡¡anything¡¡in¡¡mon
has¡¡long¡¡gone¡¡by¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡understand£¿'
'O£¡¡¡you¡¡will¡¡never¡¡say¡¡to¡¡me£»'¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡weeping¡¡bitterly£»¡¡and¡¡holding
up¡¡her¡¡clasped¡¡hands¡¡in¡¡entreaty£»¡¡'that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡to¡¡e¡¡back¡¡any¡¡more£¡
You¡¡will¡¡surely¡¡not¡¡desert¡¡me¡¡so£¡'
'I¡¡would¡¡say¡¡it£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡could£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡the¡¡courage¡¡quite¡¡to¡¡shut
out¡¡this¡¡dear¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡abandon¡¡all¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡its¡¡return¡£¡¡But¡¡do¡¡not¡¡e
soon£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡e¡¡often£¡¡¡This¡¡is¡¡now¡¡a¡¡tainted¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡well¡¡know
the¡¡taint¡¡of¡¡it¡¡clings¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡You¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡much¡¡brighter¡¡and¡¡better
scenes¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡not¡¡to¡¡look¡¡back¡¡here£»¡¡my¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡to¡¡look
away¡¡to¡¡very¡¡different¡¡and¡¡much¡¡happier¡¡paths¡£¡¡Again£»¡¡GOD¡¡bless¡¡you¡¡in
them£¡¡¡GOD¡¡reward¡¡you£¡'
Maggy£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡very¡¡low¡¡spirits£»¡¡here¡¡cried£»¡¡'Oh¡¡get¡¡him
into¡¡a¡¡hospital£»¡¡do¡¡get¡¡him¡¡into¡¡a¡¡hospital£»¡¡Mother£¡¡¡He'll¡¡never¡¡look
like¡¡hisself¡¡again£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡an't¡¡got¡¡into¡¡a¡¡hospital¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡the¡¡little
woman¡¡as¡¡was¡¡always¡¡a¡¡spinning¡¡at¡¡her¡¡wheel£»¡¡she¡¡can¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cupboard
with¡¡the¡¡Princess£»¡¡and¡¡say£»¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡Chicking¡¡there¡¡for£¿¡¡and
then¡¡they¡¡can¡¡take¡¡it¡¡out¡¡and¡¡give¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡all¡¡be¡¡happy£¡'
The¡¡interruption¡¡was¡¡seasonable£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bell¡¡had¡¡nearly¡¡rung¡¡itself
out¡£¡¡Again¡¡tenderly¡¡wrapping¡¡her¡¡mantle¡¡about¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡her¡¡on¡¡his
arm¡¡£¨though£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡her¡¡visit£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡too¡¡weak¡¡to¡¡walk£©£»¡¡Arthur
led¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡down¡stairs¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡visitor¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡out¡¡at
the¡¡Lodge£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡jarred¡¡heavily¡¡and¡¡hopelessly¡¡upon¡¡her¡£
With¡¡the¡¡funeral¡¡clang¡¡that¡¡it¡¡sounded¡¡into¡¡Arthur's¡¡heart£»¡¡his¡¡sense¡¡of
weakness¡¡returned¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡toilsome¡¡journey¡¡up¡stairs¡¡to¡¡his¡¡room£»¡¡and
he¡¡re¡entered¡¡its¡¡dark¡¡solitary¡¡precincts¡¡in¡¡unutterable¡¡misery¡£
When¡¡it¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡midnight£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prison¡¡had¡¡long¡¡been¡¡quiet£»¡¡a
cautious¡¡creak¡¡came¡¡up¡¡the¡¡stairs£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cautious¡¡tap¡¡of¡¡a¡¡key¡¡was¡¡given
at¡¡his¡¡door¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Young¡¡John¡£¡¡He¡¡glided¡¡in£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡stockings£»¡¡and¡¡held
the¡¡door¡¡closed£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡a¡¡whisper¡£
'It's¡¡against¡¡all¡¡rules£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡mind¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡e
through£»¡¡and¡¡e¡¡to¡¡you¡£'
'What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡matter£¿'
'Nothing's¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡court¡yard¡¡for¡¡Miss
Dorrit¡¡when¡¡she¡¡came¡¡out¡£¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡you'd¡¡like¡¡some¡¡one¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡she
was¡¡safe¡£'
'Thank¡¡you£»¡¡thank¡¡you£¡¡¡You¡¡took¡¡her¡¡home£»¡¡John£¿'
'I¡¡saw¡¡her¡¡to¡¡her¡¡hotel¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡that¡¡Mr¡¡Dorrit¡¡was¡¡at¡£¡¡Miss¡¡Dorrit
walked¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡talked¡¡to¡¡me¡¡so¡¡kind£»¡¡it¡¡quite¡¡knocked¡¡me¡¡over¡£
Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡she¡¡walked¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡riding£¿'
'I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¡John¡£'
'To¡¡talk¡¡about¡¡you¡£¡¡She¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡¡¨John£»¡¡you¡¡was¡¡always¡¡honourable£»
and¡¡if¡¡you'll¡¡promise¡¡me¡¡that¡¡you¡¡will¡¡take¡¡care¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡let
him¡¡want¡¡for¡¡help¡¡and¡¡fort¡¡when¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡there£»¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡will¡¡be¡¡at
rest¡¡so¡¡far¡£¡¨¡¡I¡¡promised¡¡her¡£¡¡And¡¡I'll¡¡stand¡¡by¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡John¡¡Chivery£»
'for¡¡ever£¡'
Clennam£»¡¡much¡¡affected£»¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡this¡¡honest¡¡spirit¡£
'Before¡¡I¡¡take¡¡it£»'¡¡said¡¡John£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡it£»¡¡without¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡the
door£»¡¡'guess¡¡what¡¡message¡¡Miss¡¡Dorrit¡¡gave¡¡me¡£'
Clennam¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£
'¡¨Tell¡¡him£»¡¨'¡¡repeated¡¡John£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡distinct£»¡¡though¡¡quavering¡¡voice£»
'¡¨that¡¡his¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡her¡¡undying¡¡love¡£¡¨¡¡Now¡¡it's¡¡delivered¡£
Have¡¡I¡¡been¡¡honourable£»¡¡sir£¿'
'Very£»¡¡very£¡'
'Will¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡Miss¡¡Dorrit¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡honourable£»¡¡sir£¿'
'I¡¡will¡¡indeed¡£'
'There's¡¡my¡¡hand£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡said¡¡john£»¡¡'and¡¡I'll¡¡stand¡¡by¡¡you¡¡forever£¡'
After¡¡a¡¡hearty¡¡squeeze£»¡¡he¡¡disappeared¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡cautious¡¡creak¡¡upon
the¡¡stair£»¡¡crept¡¡shoeless¡¡over¡¡the¡¡pavement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡yard£»¡¡and£»¡¡locking
the¡¡gates¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡passed¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡front¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡his
shoes¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡¡had¡¡been¡¡paved¡¡with¡¡burning¡¡ploughshares£»¡¡it¡¡is
not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡improbable¡¡that¡¡John¡¡would¡¡have¡¡traversed¡¡it¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same
devotion£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡same¡¡purpose¡£
CHAPTER¡¡30¡£¡¡Closing¡¡in
The¡¡last¡¡day¡¡of¡¡the¡¡appointed¡¡week¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡bars¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Marshalsea
gate¡£¡¡Black£»¡¡all¡¡night£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡had¡¡clashed¡¡upon¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit£»
its¡¡iron¡¡stripes¡¡were¡¡turned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡early¡glowing¡¡sun¡¡into¡¡stripes¡¡of
gold¡£¡¡Far¡¡aslant¡¡across¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡over¡¡its¡¡jumbled¡¡roofs£»¡¡and¡¡through
the¡¡open¡¡tracery¡¡of¡¡its¡¡church¡¡towers£»¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡long¡¡bright¡¡rays£»¡¡bars
of¡¡the¡¡prison¡¡of¡¡this¡¡lower¡¡world¡£
Throughout¡¡the¡¡day¡¡the¡¡old¡¡house¡¡within¡¡the¡¡gateway¡¡remained¡¡untroubled
by¡¡any¡¡visitors¡£¡¡But£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡low£»¡¡three¡¡men¡¡turned¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the
gateway¡¡and¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dilapidated¡¡house¡£
Rigaud¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡by¡¡himself¡¡smoking¡£¡¡Mr¡¡Baptist¡¡was
the¡¡second£»¡¡and¡¡jogged¡¡close¡¡after¡¡him£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡no¡¡other¡¡object¡£
Mr¡¡Pancks¡¡was¡¡the¡¡third£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡under¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡for¡¡the
liberation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡restive¡¡hair£»¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡being¡¡extremely¡¡hot¡£¡¡They
all¡¡came¡¡together¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡steps¡£
'You¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡madmen£¡'¡¡said¡¡Rigaud£»¡¡facing¡¡about¡£¡¡'Don't¡¡go¡¡yet£¡'
'We¡¡don't¡¡mean¡¡to£»'¡¡said¡¡Mr¡¡Pancks¡£¡¡Giving¡¡him¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡glance¡¡in
acknowledgment¡¡of¡¡his¡¡answer£»¡¡Rigaud¡¡knocked¡¡loudly¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡charged
himself¡¡with¡¡drink£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡playing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡game£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡impatient
to¡¡begin¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡finished¡¡one¡¡long¡¡resounding¡¡knock£»¡¡when¡¡he
turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡knocker¡¡again¡¡and¡¡began¡¡another¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡finished
when¡¡Jeremiah¡¡Flintwinch¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡clanked¡¡into¡¡the
stone¡¡hall¡£¡¡Rigaud£»¡¡thrusting¡¡Mr¡¡Flintwinch¡¡aside£»¡¡proceeded¡¡straight
up¡stairs¡£¡¡His¡¡two¡¡attendants¡¡followed¡¡him£»¡¡Mr¡¡Flintwinch¡¡followed¡¡them£»
and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡came¡¡trooping¡¡into¡¡Mrs¡¡Clennam's¡¡quiet¡¡room¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡its
usual¡¡state£»¡¡except¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡was¡¡wide¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡Affery
sat¡¡on¡¡its¡¡old¡fashioned¡¡window¡seat£»¡¡mending¡¡a¡¡stocking¡£¡¡The¡¡usual
articles¡¡were¡¡on¡¡the¡¡little¡¡table£»¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡deadened¡¡fire¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the
grate£»¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡had¡¡its¡¡usual¡¡pall¡¡upon¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mistress¡¡of¡¡all¡¡sat
on¡¡her¡¡black¡¡bier¡like¡¡sofa£»¡¡propped¡¡up¡¡by¡¡her¡¡black¡¡angular¡¡bolster
that¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡headsman's¡¡block¡£
Yet¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡nameless¡¡air¡¡of¡¡preparation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were
strung¡¡up¡¡for¡¡an¡¡o