and among those flapping articles was sitting in a chair； like the
last mariner left alive on the deck of a damp ship without the power of
furling the sails； a little woe…begone young man。
'Our John；' said Mrs Chivery。
Not to be deficient in interest； Clennam asked what he might be doing
there？
'It's the only change he takes；' said Mrs Chivery； shaking her head
afresh。 'He won't go out； even in the back…yard； when there's no linen；
but when there's linen to keep the neighbours' eyes off； he'll sit
there； hours。 Hours he will。 Says he feels as if it was groves！' Mrs
Chivery shook her head again； put her apron in a motherly way to her
eyes； and reconducted her visitor into the regions of the business。
'Please to take a seat； sir；' said Mrs Chivery。 'Miss Dorrit is the
matter with Our John； sir； he's a breaking his heart for her； and I
would wish to take the liberty to ask how it's to be made good to his
parents when bust？'
Mrs Chivery； who was a fortable…looking woman much respected about
Horsemonger Lane for her feelings and her conversation； uttered this
speech with fell posure； and immediately afterwards began again to
shake her head and dry her eyes。
'Sir；' said she in continuation； 'you are acquainted with the family；
and have interested yourself with the family； and are influential with
the family。 If you can promote views calculated to make two young people
happy； let me； for Our john's sake； and for both their sakes； implore
you so to do！'
'I have been so habituated；' returned Arthur； at a loss； 'during
the short time I have known her； to consider Little……I have been so
habituated to consider Miss Dorrit in a light altogether removed from
that in which you present her to me； that you quite take me by surprise。
Does she know your son？'
'Brought up together； sir；' said Mrs Chivery。 'Played together。'
'Does she know your son as her admirer？'
'Oh！ bless you； sir；' said Mrs Chivery； with a sort of triumphant
shiver； 'she never could have seen him on a Sunday without knowing he
was that。 His cane alone would have told it long ago； if nothing else
had。 Young men like John don't take to ivory hands a pinting； for
nothing。 How did I first know it myself？ Similarly。'
'Perhaps Miss Dorrit may not be so ready as you； you see。'
'Then she knows it； sir；' said Mrs Chivery； 'by word of mouth。'
'Are you sure？'
'Sir；' said Mrs Chivery； 'sure and certain as in this house I am。 I see
my son go out with my own eyes when in this house I was； and I see my
son e in with my own eyes when in this house I was； and I know he
done it！' Mrs Chivery derived a surprising force of emphasis from the
foregoing circumstantiality and repetition。
'May I ask you how he came to fall into the desponding state which
causes you so much uneasiness？'
'That；' said Mrs Chivery； 'took place on that same day when to this
house I see that John with these eyes return。 Never been himself in this
house since。 Never was like what he has been since； not from the hour
when to this house seven year ago me and his father； as tenants by the
quarter； came！' An effect in the nature of an affidavit was gained from
this speech by Mrs Chivery's peculiar power of construction。 'May I
venture to inquire what is your version of the matter？'
'You may；' said Mrs Chivery； 'and I will give it to you in honour and in
word as true as in this shop I stand。 Our John has every one's good word
and every one's good wish。 He played with her as a child when in that
yard a child she played。 He has known her ever since。 He went out upon
the Sunday afternoon when in this very parlour he had dined； and met
her； with appointment or without appointment； which； I do not pretend to
say。 He made his offer to her。 Her brother and sister is high in their
views； and against Our John。 Her father is all for himself in his views
and against sharing her with any one。 Under which circumstances she
has answered Our John； 〃No； John； I cannot have you； I cannot have
any husband； it is not my intentions ever to bee a wife； it is my
intentions to be always a sacrifice； farewell； find another worthy of
you； and forget me！〃 This is the way in which she is doomed to be a
constant slave to them that are not worthy that a constant slave she
unto them should be。 This is the way in which Our John has e to find
no pleasure but in taking cold among the linen； and in showing in that
yard； as in that yard I have myself shown you； a broken…down ruin that
goes home to his mother's heart！' Here the good woman pointed to the
little window； whence her son might be seen sitting disconsolate in
the tuneless groves； and again shook her head and wiped her eyes； and
besought him； for the united sakes of both the young people； to exercise
his influence towards the bright reversal of these dismal events。
She was so confident in her exposition of the case； and it was so
undeniably founded on correct premises in so far as the relative
positions of Little Dorrit and her family were concerned； that Clennam
could not feel positive on the other side。 He had e to attach to
Little Dorrit an interest so peculiar……an interest that removed her
from； while it grew out of； the mon and coarse things surrounding
her……that he found it disappointing； disagreeable； almost painful； to
suppose her in love with young Mr Chivery in the back…yard； or any such
person。 On the other hand； he reasoned with himself that she was just
as good and just as true in love with him； as not in love with him；
and that to make a kind of domesticated fairy of her； on the penalty
of isolation at heart from the only people she knew； would be but a
weakness of his own fancy； and not a kind one。 Still； her youthful and
ethereal appearance； her timid manner； the charm of her sensitive voice
and eyes； the very many respects in which she had interested him out
of her own individuality； and the strong difference between herself and
those about her； were not in unison； and were determined not to be in
unison； with this newly presented idea。
He told the worthy Mrs Chivery； after turning these things over in his
mind……he did that； indeed； while she was yet speaking……that he might be
relied upon to do his utmost at all times to promote the happiness of
Miss Dorrit； and to further the wishes of her heart if it were in his
power to do so； and if he could discover what they were。 At the same
time he cautioned her against assumptions and appearances； enjoined
strict silence and secrecy； lest Miss Dorrit should be made unhappy； and
particularly advised her to endeavour to win her son's confidence and so
to make quite sure of the state of the case。 Mrs Chivery considered the
latter precaution superfluous； but said she would try。 She shook her
head as if she had not derived all the fort she had fondly expected
from this interview； but thanked him nevertheless for the trouble he had
kindly taken。 They then parted good friends； and Arthur walked away。
The crowd in the street jostling the crowd in his mind； and the two
crowds making a confusion； he avoided London Bridge； and turned off in
the quieter direction of the Iron Bridge。 He had scarcely set foot upon
it； when he saw Little Dorrit walking on before him。 It was a pleasant
day； with a light breeze blowing； and she seemed to have that minute
e there for air。 He had left her in her father's room within an hour。
It was a timely chance； favourable to his wish of observing her face
and manner when no one else was by。 He quickened his pace； but before he
reached her； she turned her head。
'Have I startled you？' he asked。
'I thought I knew the step；' she answered； hesitating。
'And did you know it； Little Dorrit？ You could hardly have expected
mine。'
'I did not expect any。 But when I heard a step； I thought it……sounded
like yours。'
'Are you going further？'
'No； sir； I am only walking her for a little change。'
They walked together； and she recovered her confiding manner with him；
and looked up in his face as she said； after glancing around：
'It is so strange。 Perhaps you can hardly understand it。 I sometimes
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