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keeper of a chandler's shop in a front parlour； who took in gentlemen
boarders； lent his assistance in making the bed。 He had been a tailor in
his time； and had kept a phaeton； he said。 He boasted that he stood up
litigiously for the interests of the college； and he had undefined and
undefinable ideas that the marshal intercepted a 'Fund；' which ought to
e to the collegians。 He liked to believe this； and always impressed
the shadowy grievance on new…ers and strangers； though he could not；
for his life； have explained what Fund he meant； or how the notion had
got rooted in his soul。 He had fully convinced himself； notwithstanding；
that his own proper share of the Fund was three and ninepence a week；
and that in this amount he； as an individual collegian； was swindled by
the marshal； regularly every Monday。 Apparently； he helped to make the
bed； that he might not lose an opportunity of stating this case； after
which unloading of his mind； and after announcing （as it seemed he
always did； without anything ing of it） that he was going to write a
letter to the papers and show the marshal up； he fell into miscellaneous
conversation with the rest。 It was evident from the general tone of the
whole party； that they had e to regard insolvency as the normal state
of mankind； and the payment of debts as a disease that occasionally
broke out。 In this strange scene； and with these strange spectres
flitting about him； Arthur Clennam looked on at the preparations as if
they were part of a dream。 Pending which； the long…initiated Tip； with
an awful enjoyment of the Snuggery's resources； pointed out the mon
kitchen fire maintained by subscription of collegians； the boiler for
hot water supported in like manner； and other premises generally tending
to the deduction that the way to be healthy； wealthy； and wise； was to
e to the Marshalsea。
The two tables put together in a corner； were； at length； converted into
a very fair bed； and the stranger was left to the Windsor chairs；
the presidential tribune； the beery atmosphere； sawdust； pipe…lights；
spittoons and repose。 But the last item was long； long； long； in linking
itself to the rest。 The novelty of the place； the ing upon it without
preparation； the sense of being locked up； the remembrance of that room
up…stairs； of the two brothers； and above all of the retiring childish
form； and the face in which he now saw years of insufficient food； if
not of want； kept him waking and unhappy。
Speculations； too； bearing the strangest relations towards the prison；
but always concerning the prison； ran like nightmares through his mind
while he lay awake。 Whether coffins were kept ready for people who might
die there； where they were kept； how they were kept； where people who
died in the prison were buried； how they were taken out； what forms were
observed； whether an implacable creditor could arrest the dead？ As to
escaping； what chances there were of escape？ Whether a prisoner could
scale the walls with a cord and grapple； how he would descend upon
the other side？ whether he could alight on a housetop； steal down a
staircase； let himself out at a door； and get lost in the crowd？ As to
Fire in the prison； if one were to break out while he lay there？
And these involuntary starts of fancy were； after all； but the setting
of a picture in which three people kept before him。 His father； with the
steadfast look with which he had died； prophetically darkened forth in
the portrait； his mother； with her arm up； warding off his suspicion；
Little Dorrit； with her hand on the degraded arm； and her drooping head
turned away。
What if his mother had an old reason she well knew for softening to
this poor girl！ What if the prisoner now sleeping quietly……Heaven grant
it！……by the light of the great Day of judgment should trace back his
fall to her。 What if any act of hers and of his father's； should have
even remotely brought the grey heads of those two brothers so low！
A swift thought shot into his mind。 In that long imprisonment here； and
in her own long confinement to her room； did his mother find a balance
to be struck？ 'I admit that I was accessory to that man's captivity。 I
have suffered for it in kind。 He has decayed in his prison： I in mine。 I
have paid the penalty。'
When all the other thoughts had faded out； this one held possession
of him。 When he fell asleep； she came before him in her wheeled chair；
warding him off with this justification。 When he awoke； and sprang up
causelessly frightened； the words were in his ears； as if her voice had
slowly spoken them at his pillow； to break his rest： 'He withers away in
his prison； I wither away in mine； inexorable justice is done； what do I
owe on this score！'
CHAPTER 9。 Little Mother
The morning light was in no hurry to climb the prison wall and look in
at the Snuggery windows； and when it did e； it would have been more
wele if it had e alone； instead of bringing a rush of rain with
it。 But the equinoctial gales were blowing out at sea； and the impartial
south…west wind； in its flight； would not neglect even the narrow
Marshalsea。 While it roared through the steeple of St George's Church；
and twirled all the cowls in the neighbourhood； it made a swoop to beat
the Southwark smoke into the jail； and； plunging down the chimneys
of the few early collegians who were yet lighting their fires； half
suffocated them。 Arthur Clennam would have been little disposed to
linger in bed； though his bed had been in a more private situation； and
less affected by the raking out of yesterday's fire； the kindling of
to…day's under the collegiate boiler； the filling of that Spartan vessel
at the pump； the sweeping and sawdusting of the mon room； and other
such preparations。 Heartily glad to see the morning； though little
rested by the night； he turned out as soon as he could distinguish
objects about him； and paced the yard for two heavy hours before the
gate was opened。
The walls were so near to one another； and the wild clouds hurried
over them so fast； that it gave him a sensation like the beginning of
sea…sickness to look up at the gusty sky。 The rain； carried aslant by
fla