第46章

TheFatheroftheMarshalseaintwoorthreeRelationsThebrothersWilliamandFrederickDorrit，walkingupanddowntheCollege-yard——ofcourseonthearistocraticorPumpside，fortheFathermadeitapointofhisstatetobecharyofgoingamonghischildrenonthePoorside，exceptonSundaymornings，ChristmasDays，andotheroccasionsofceremony，intheobservancewhereofhewasverypunctual，andatwhichtimeshelaidhishandupontheheadsoftheirinfants，andblessedthoseyounginsolventswithabenignitythatwashighlyedifying——thebrothers，walkingupanddowntheCollege-yardtogether，wereamemorablesight。Frederickthefree，wassohumbled，bowed，withered，andfaded；Williamthebond，wassocourtly，condescending，andbenevolentlyconsciousofaposition；thatinthisregardonly，ifinnoother，thebrotherswereaspectacletowonderat。

TheywalkedupanddowntheyardontheeveningofLittleDorrit’sSundayinterviewwithherloverontheIronBridge。Thecaresofstatewereoverforthatday，theDrawingRoomhadbeenwellattended，severalnewpresentationshadtakenplace，thethree-and-

sixpenceaccidentallyleftonthetablehadaccidentallyincreasedtotwelveshillings，andtheFatheroftheMarshalsearefreshedhimselfwithawhiffofcigar。Ashewalkedupanddown，affablyaccommodatinghissteptotheshuffleofhisbrother，notproudinhissuperiority，butconsiderateofthatpoorcreature，bearingwithhim，andbreathingtolerationofhisinfirmitiesineverylittlepuffofsmokethatissuedfromhislipsandaspiredtogetoverthespikedwall，hewasasighttowonderat。

HisbrotherFrederickofthedimeye，palsiedhand，bentform，andgropingmind，submissivelyshuffledathisside，acceptinghispatronageasheacceptedeveryincidentofthelabyrinthianworldinwhichhehadgotlost。Heheldtheusualscrewedbitofwhitey-

brownpaperinhishand，fromwhichheeverandagainunscrewedasparepinchofsnuff。Thatfalteringlytaken，hewouldglanceathisbrothernotunadmiringly，puthishandsbehindhim，andshuffleonsoathissideuntilhetookanotherpinch，orstoodstilltolookabouthim——perchancesuddenlymissinghisclarionet。

TheCollegevisitorsweremeltingawayastheshadesofnightdrewon，buttheyardwasstillprettyfull，theCollegiansbeingmostlyout，seeingtheirfriendstotheLodge。Asthebrotherspacedtheyard，Williamthebondlookedabouthimtoreceivesalutes，returnedthembygraciouslyliftingoffhishat，and，withanengagingair，preventedFrederickthefreefromrunningagainstthecompany，orbeingjostledagainstthewall。TheCollegiansasabodywerenoteasilyimpressible，buteventhey，accordingtotheirvariouswaysofwondering，appearedtofindinthetwobrothersasighttowonderat。

’Youarealittlelowthisevening，Frederick，’saidtheFatheroftheMarshalsea。’Anythingthematter？’

’Thematter？’Hestaredforamoment，andthendroppedhisheadandeyesagain。’No，William，no。Nothingisthematter。’

’Ifyoucouldbepersuadedtosmartenyourselfupalittle，Frederick——’

’Aye，aye!’saidtheoldmanhurriedly。’ButIcan’tbe。Ican’tbe。Don’ttalkso。That’sallover。’

TheFatheroftheMarshalseaglancedatapassingCollegianwithwhomhewasonfriendlyterms，aswhoshouldsay，’Anenfeebledoldman，this；butheismybrother，sir，mybrother，andthevoiceofNatureispotent!’andsteeredhisbrotherclearofthehandleofthepumpbythethreadbaresleeve。Nothingwouldhavebeenwantingtotheperfectionofhischaracterasafraternalguide，philosopherandfriend，ifhehadonlysteeredhisbrotherclearofruin，insteadofbringingituponhim。

’Ithink，Will