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sea…sickness to look up at the gusty sky。 The rain； carried aslant by
flaws of wind； blackened that side of the central building which he had
visited last night； but left a narrow dry trough under the lee of the
wall； where he walked up and down among the waits of straw and dust
and paper； the waste droppings of the pump； and the stray leaves of
yesterday's greens。 It was as haggard a view of life as a man need look
upon。
Nor was it relieved by any glimpse of the little creature who had
brought him there。 Perhaps she glided out of her doorway and in at that
where her father lived； while his face was turned from both； but he saw
nothing of her。 It was too early for her brother； to have seen him once；
was to have seen enough of him to know that he would be sluggish to
leave whatever frowsy bed he occupied at night； so； as Arthur Clennam
walked up and down； waiting for the gate to open； he cast about in
his mind for future rather than for present means of pursuing his
discoveries。
At last the lodge…gate turned； and the turnkey； standing on the step；
taking an early b at his hair； was ready to let him out。 With a
joyful sense of release he passed through the lodge； and found himself
again in the little outer court…yard where he had spoken to the brother
last night。
There was a string of people already straggling in； whom it was not
difficult to identify as the nondescript messengers； go…betweens； and
errand…bearers of the place。 Some of them had been lounging in the rain
until the gate should open； others； who had timed their arrival
with greater nicety； were ing up now； and passing in with damp
whitey…brown paper bags from the grocers； loaves of bread； lumps of
butter； eggs； milk； and the like。 The shabbiness of these attendants
upon shabbiness； the poverty of these insolvent waiters upon insolvency；
was a sight to see。 Such threadbare coats and trousers； such fusty gowns
and shawls； such squashed hats and bons； such boots and shoes； such
umbrellas and walking…sticks； never were seen in Rag Fair。 All of
them wore the cast…off clothes of other men and women； were made up of
patches and pieces of other people's individuality； and had no sartorial
existence of their own proper。 Their walk was the walk of a race apart。
They had a peculiar way of doggedly slinking round the corner； as if
they were eternally going to the pawnbroker's。 When they coughed； they
coughed like people accustomed to be forgotten on doorsteps and in
draughty passages； waiting for answers to letters in faded ink； which
gave the recipients of those manuscripts great mental disturbance and no
satisfaction。 As they eyed the stranger in passing； they eyed him with
borrowing eyes……hungry； sharp； speculative as to his softness if they
were accredited to him； and the likelihood of his standing something
handsome。 Mendicity on mission stooped in their high shoulders；
shambled in their unsteady legs； buttoned and pinned and darned and
dragged their clothes； frayed their button…holes； leaked out of their
figures in dirty little ends of tape； and issued from their mouths in
alcoholic breathings。
As these people passed him standing still in the court…yard； and one of
them turned back to inquire if he could assist him with his services；
it came into Arthur Clennam's mind that he would speak to Little Dorrit
again before he went away。 She would have recovered her first surprise；
and might feel easier with him。 He asked this member of the fraternity
（who had two red herrings in his hand； and a loaf and a blacking brush
under his arm）； where was the nearest place to get a cup of coffee
at。 The nondescript replied in encouraging terms； and brought him to a
coffee…shop in the street within a stone's throw。
'Do you know Miss Dorrit？' asked the new client。
The nondescript knew two Miss Dorrits； one who was born inside……That was
the one！ That was the one？ The nondescript had known her many years。
In regard of the other Miss Dorrit； the nondescript lodged in the same
house with herself and uncle。
This changed the client's half…formed design of remaining at the
coffee…shop until the nondescript should bring him word that Dorrit
had issued forth into the street。 He entrusted the nondescript with a
confidential message to her； importing that the visitor who had waited
on her father last night； begged the favour of a few words with her at
her uncle's lodging； he obtained from the same source full directions to
the house； which was very near； dismissed the nondescript gratified with
half…a…crown； and having hastily refreshed himself at the coffee…shop；
repaired with all speed to the clario…player's dwelling。
There were so many lodgers in this house that the doorpost seemed to be
as full of bell…handles as a cathedral organ is of stops。 Doubtful
which might be the clario…stop； he was considering the point； when a
shuttlecock flew out of the parlour window； and alighted on his hat。
He then observed that in the parlour window was a blind with the
inscription； MR CRIPPLES's ACADEMY； also in another line； EVENING
TUITION； and behind the blind was a little white…faced boy； with a slice
of bread…and…butter and a battledore。
The window being accessible from the footway； he looked in over the
blind； returned the shuttlecock； and put his question。
'Dorrit？' said the little white…faced boy （Master Cripples in fact）。 'Mr
Dorrit？ Third bell and one knock。' The pupils of Mr Cripples appeared to
have been making a copy…book of the street…door； it was so extensively
scribbled over in pencil。
The frequency of the inscriptions； 'Old Dorrit；' and 'Dirty Dick；'
in bination； suggested intentions of personality on the part Of
Mr Cripples's pupils。 There was ample time to make these observations
before the door was opened by the poor old man himself。
'Ha！' said he； very slowly remembering Arthur； 'you were shut in last
night？'
'Yes； Mr Dorrit。 I hope to meet your niece here presently。'
'Oh！' said he； pondering。 'Out of my brother's way？ True。 Would you e
up…stairs and wait for her？'
'Thank you。'
Turning himself as slowly as he turned in his mind whatever he heard or
said； he led the wa