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interested in Arthur since his reverses than formerly； now regarding him
as one who was true to the place and had taken up his freedom。 Many of
them came out to look after him； and to observe to one another； with
great unctuousness； that he was 'pulled down by it。' Mrs Plornish
and her father stood at the top of the steps at their own end； much
depressed and shaking their heads。
There was nobody visibly in waiting when Arthur and Mr Rugg arrived
at the Counting…house。 But an elderly member of the Jewish persuasion；
preserved in rum； followed them close； and looked in at the glass before
Mr Rugg had opened one of the day's letters。
'Oh！' said Mr Rugg； looking up。 'How do you do？ Step in……Mr Clennam； I
think this is the gentleman I was mentioning。'
This gentleman explained the object of his visit to be 'a tyfling madder
ob bithznithz；' and executed his legal function。
'Shall I acpany you； Mr Clennam？' asked Mr Rugg politely； rubbing his
hands。
'I would rather go alone； thank you。 Be so good as send me my clothes。'
Mr Rugg in a light airy way replied in the affirmative； and shook hands
with him。 He and his attendant then went down…stairs； got into the first
conveyance they found； and drove to the old gates。
'Where I little thought； Heaven forgive me；' said Clennam to himself；
'that I should ever enter thus！'
Mr Chivery was on the Lock； and Young John was in the Lodge： either
newly released from it； or waiting to take his own spell of duty。 Both
were more astonished on seeing who the prisoner was； than one might have
thought turnkeys would have been。 The elder Mr Chivery shook hands with
him in a shame…faced kind of way； and said； 'I don't call to mind；
sir； as I was ever less glad to see you。' The younger Mr Chivery； more
distant； did not shake hands with him at all； he stood looking at him
in a state of indecision so observable that it even came within the
observation of Clennam with his heavy eyes and heavy heart。 Presently
afterwards； Young John disappeared into the jail。
As Clennam knew enough of the place to know that he was required to
remain in the Lodge a certain time； he took a seat in a corner； and
feigned to be occupied with the perusal of letters from his pocket。
They did not so engross his attention； but that he saw； with gratitude；
how the elder Mr Chivery kept the Lodge clear of prisoners； how he
signed to some； with his keys； not to e in； how he nudged others with
his elbows to go out； and how he made his misery as easy to him as he
could。
Arthur was sitting with his eyes fixed on the floor； recalling the past；
brooding over the present； and not attending to either； when he felt
himself touched upon the shoulder。 It was by Young John； and he said；
'You can e now。'
He got up and followed Young John。 When they had gone a step or two
within the inner iron…gate； Young John turned and said to him：
'You want a room。 I have got you one。'
'I thank you heartily。'
Young John turned again； and took him in at the old doorway； up the old
staircase； into the old room。 Arthur stretched out his hand。 Young John
looked at it； looked at him……sternly……swelled； choked； and said：
'I don't know as I can。 No； I find I can't。 But I thought you'd like the
room； and here it is for you。'
Surprise at this inconsistent behaviour yielded when he was gone （he
went away directly） to the feelings which the empty room awakened in
Clennam's wounded breast； and to the crowding associations with the
one good and gentle creature who had sanctified it。 Her absence in his
altered fortunes made it； and him in it； so very desolate and so much in
need of such a face of love and truth； that he turned against the
wall to weep； sobbing out； as his heart relieved itself； 'O my Little
Dorrit！'
CHAPTER 27。 The Pupil of the Marshalsea
The day was sunny； and the Marshalsea； with the hot noon striking
upon it； dropped into a solitary
arm…chair； itself as faded as any debtor in the jail； and yielded
himself to his thoughts。
In the unnatural peace of having gone through the dreaded arrest； and
got there；……the first change of feeling which the prison most monly
induced； and from which dangerous resting…place so many men had slipped
down to the depths of degradation and disgrace by so many ways；……he
could think of some passages in his life； almost as if he were removed
from them into another state of existence。 Taking into account where he
was； the interest that had first brought him there when he had been free
to keep away； and the gentle presence that was equally inseparable from
the walls and bars about him and from the impalpable remembrances of his
later life which no walls or bars could imprison； it was not remarkable
that everything his memory turned upon should bring him round again to
Little Dorrit。 Yet it was remarkable to him； not because of the fact
itself； but because of the reminder it brought with it； how much the
dear little creature had influenced his better resolutions。
None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise；
until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right
perception with it。 It es with sickness； it es with sorrow； it
es with the loss of the dearly loved； it is one of the most frequent
uses of adversity。 It came to Clennam in his adversity； strongly and
tenderly。 'When I first gathered myself together；' he thought； 'and
set something like purpose before my jaded eyes； whom had I before me；
toiling on； for a good object's sake； without encouragement； without
notice； against ignoble obstacles that would have turned an army of
received heroes and heroines？ One weak girl！ When I tried to conquer
my misplaced love； and to be generous to the man who was more fortunate
than I； though he should never know it or repay me with a gracious word；
in whom had I watched patience； self…denial； self…subdual； charitable
construction； the noblest generosity of the affections？ In the same poor
girl！ If I； a man； with a man's advantages and means and energies； had
slighted the whisper in my heart； that if my father had erred； it was my
first duty to conceal the fault and to r