第35章

Andthissavedhimstillfromthewhimperingweaknessandcruelselfishnessofholdingthatbecausesuchahappinessorsuchavirtuehadnotcomeintohislittlepath，orworkedwellforhim，thereforeitwasnotinthegreatscheme，butwasreducible，whenfoundinappearance，tothebasestelements。Adisappointedmindhehad，butamindtoofirmandhealthyforsuchunwholesomeair。

Leavinghimselfinthedark，itcouldriseintothelight，seeingitshineonothersandhailingit。

Therefore，hesatbeforehisdyingfire，sorrowfultothinkuponthewaybywhichhehadcometothatnight，yetnotstrewingpoisononthewaybywhichothermenhadcometoit。Thatheshouldhavemissedsomuch，andathistimeoflifeshouldlooksofarabouthimforanystafftobearhimcompanyuponhisdownwardjourneyandcheerit，wasajustregret。Helookedatthefirefromwhichtheblazedeparted，fromwhichtheafterglowsubsided，inwhichtheashesturnedgrey，fromwhichtheydroppedtodust，andthought，’HowsoonItooshallpassthroughsuchchanges，andbegone!’

Toreviewhislifewaslikedescendingagreentreeinfruitandflower，andseeingallthebrancheswitheranddropoff，onebyone，ashecamedowntowardsthem。

’Fromtheunhappysuppressionofmyyoungestdays，throughtherigidandunlovinghomethatfollowedthem，throughmydeparture，mylongexile，myreturn，mymother’swelcome，myintercoursewithhersince，downtotheafternoonofthisdaywithpoorFlora，’saidArthurClennam，’whathaveIfound!’

Hisdoorwassoftlyopened，andthesespokenwordsstartledhim，andcameasiftheywereananswer：

’LittleDorrit。’

LittleDorrit’sPartyArthurClennamrosehastily，andsawherstandingatthedoor。

ThishistorymustsometimesseewithLittleDorrit’seyes，andshallbeginthatcoursebyseeinghim。

LittleDorritlookedintoadimroom，whichseemedaspaciousonetoher，andgrandlyfurnished。CourtlyideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewithfamouscoffee-houses，wheregentlemenwearinggold-

lacedcoatsandswordshadquarrelledandfoughtduels；costlyideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewheretherewereflowersinwinteratguineasa-piece，pine-applesatguineasapound，andpeasatguineasapint；picturesqueideasofCoventGarden，asaplacewheretherewasamightytheatre，showingwonderfulandbeautifulsightstorichly-dressedladiesandgentlemen，andwhichwasforeverfarbeyondthereachofpoorFannyorpooruncle；desolateideasofCoventGarden，ashavingallthosearchesinit，wherethemiserablechildreninragsamongwhomshehadjustnowpassed，likeyoungrats，slunkandhid，fedonoffal，huddledtogetherforwarmth，andwerehuntedabout(looktotheratsyoungandold，allyeBarnacles，forbeforeGodtheyareeatingawayourfoundations，andwillbringtheroofsonourheads!)；teemingideasofCoventGarden，asaplaceofpastandpresentmystery，romance，abundance，want，beauty，ugliness，faircountrygardens，andfoulstreetgutters；allconfusedtogether，——madetheroomdimmerthanitwasinLittleDorrit’seyes，astheytimidlysawitfromthedoor。

Atfirstinthechairbeforethegone-outfire，andthenturnedroundwonderingtoseeher，wasthegentlemanwhomshesought。Thebrown，gravegentleman，whosmiledsopleasantly，whowassofrankandconsiderateinhismanner，andyetinwhoseearnestnesstherewassomethingthatremindedherofhismother，withthegreatdifferencethatshewasearnestinasperityandheingentleness。

Nowheregardedherwiththatattentiveandinquiringlookbeforew