第21章

Hefelt，fromthetoneinwhichshespoke，thatshewasglancingupathimwiththosepartedlips；thereforehelookedbeforehim，ratherthanmakeherheartbeatquickerstillbyembarrassingherafresh。

ThustheyemergedupontheIronBridge，whichwasasquietaftertheroaringstreetsasthoughithadbeenopencountry。Thewindblewroughly，thewetsquallscamerattlingpastthem，skimmingthepoolsontheroadandpavement，andrainingthemdownintotheriver。Thecloudsracedonfuriouslyinthelead-Colouredsky，thesmokeandmistracedafterthem，thedarktideranfierceandstronginthesamedirection。LittleDorritseemedtheleast，thequietest，andweakestofHeaven’screatures。

’Letmeputyouinacoach，’saidClennam，verynearlyadding’mypoorchild。’

Shehurriedlydeclined，sayingthatwetordrymadelittledifferencetoher；shewasusedtogoaboutinallweathers。Heknewittobeso，andwastouchedwithmorepity；thinkingoftheslightfigureathisside，makingitsnightlywaythroughthedampdarkboisterousstreetstosuchaplaceofrest。

’Youspokesofeelinglytomelastnight，sir，andIfoundafterwardsthatyouhadbeensogeneroustomyfather，thatIcouldnotresistyourmessage，ifitwasonlytothankyou；especiallyasIwishedverymuchtosaytoyou——’shehesitatedandtrembled，andtearsroseinhereyes，butdidnotfall。

’Tosaytome——？’

’ThatIhopeyouwillnotmisunderstandmyfather。Don’tjudgehim，sir，asyouwouldjudgeothersoutsidethegates。Hehasbeentheresolong!Ineversawhimoutside，butIcanunderstandthathemusthavegrowndifferentinsomethingssince。’

’Mythoughtswillneverbeunjustorharshtowardshim，believeme。’

’Not，’shesaid，withaprouderair，asthemisgivingevidentlycreptuponherthatshemightseemtobeabandoninghim，’notthathehasanythingtobeashamedofforhimself，orthatIhaveanythingtobeashamedofforhim。Heonlyrequirestobeunderstood。Ionlyaskforhimthathislifemaybefairlyremembered。Allthathesaidwasquitetrue。Itallhappenedjustasherelatedit。Heisverymuchrespected。Everybodywhocomesin，isgladtoknowhim。Heismorecourtedthananyoneelse。HeisfarmorethoughtofthantheMarshalis。’

Ifeverpridewereinnocent，itwasinnocentinLittleDorritwhenshegrewboastfulofherfather。

’Itisoftensaidthathismannersareatruegentleman’s，andquiteastudy。Iseenoneliketheminthatplace，butheisadmittedtobesuperiortoalltherest。Thisisquiteasmuchwhytheymakehimpresents，asbecausetheyknowhimtobeneedy。Heisnottobeblamedforbeinginneed，poorlove。Whocouldbeinprisonaquarterofacentury，andbeprosperous!’

Whataffectioninherwords，whatcompassioninherrepressedtears，whatagreatsouloffidelitywithinher，howtruethelightthatshedfalsebrightnessroundhim!

’IfIhavefounditbesttoconcealwheremyhomeis，itisnotbecauseIamashamedofhim。Godforbid!NoramIsomuchashamedoftheplaceitselfasmightbesupposed。Peoplearenotbadbecausetheycomethere。Ihaveknownnumbersofgood，persevering，honestpeoplecometherethroughmisfortune。Theyarealmostallkind-heartedtooneanother。Anditwouldbeungratefulindeedinme，toforgetthatIhavehadmanyquiet，comfortablehoursthere；thatIhadanexcellentfriendtherewhenIwasquiteababy，whowasveryveryfondofme；thatIhavebeentaughtthere，andhaveworkedthere，andhavesleptsoundlythere。I

thinkitwouldbealmostcowardlyandcruelnottohavesomelittleattachmentforit，afterallthis。’

Shehadrelievedthefaithfulfulnessofherheart，andmodestlysaid，raisinghereyesappealinglytohernewfriend’s，’Ididnotmeantosaysomuch，norhaveIeverbutoncespokenaboutthisbefore。Butitseemst