第76章

Withthis，shebouncedacrosstotheoppositepavement。Theolddisgrace，whohadbeendeferentiallybowingapaceortwooff(forLittleDorrithadlethisarmgoinherwonder，whenFannybegan)，andwhohadbeenhustledandcursedbyimpatientpassengersforstoppingtheway，rejoinedhiscompanion，rathergiddy，andsaid，’Ihopenothing’swrongwithyourhonouredfather，Miss？Ihopethere’snothingthematterinthehonouredfamily？’

’No，no，’returnedLittleDorrit。’No，thankyou。Givemeyourarmagain，MrNandy。Weshallsoonbetherenow。’

Soshetalkedtohimasshehadtalkedbefore，andtheycametotheLodgeandfoundMrChiveryonthelock，andwentin。Now，ithappenedthattheFatheroftheMarshalseawassaunteringtowardstheLodgeatthemomentwhentheywerecomingoutofit，enteringtheprisonarminarm。Asthespectacleoftheirapproachmethisview，hedisplayedtheutmostagitationanddespondencyofmind；

and——altogetherregardlessofOldNandy，who，makinghisreverence，stoodwithhishatinhishand，ashealwaysdidinthatgraciouspresence——turnedabout，andhurriedinathisowndoorwayandupthestaircase。

Leavingtheoldunfortunate，whominanevilhourshehadtakenunderherprotection，withahurriedpromisetoreturntohimdirectly，LittleDorrithastenedafterherfather，and，onthestaircase，foundFannyfollowingher，andflouncingupwithoffendeddignity。Thethreecameintotheroomalmosttogether；

andtheFathersatdowninhischair，buriedhisfaceinhishands，andutteredagroan。

’Ofcourse，’saidFanny。’Veryproper。Poor，afflictedPa!Now，Ihopeyoubelieveme，Miss？’

’Whatisit，father？’criedLittleDorrit，bendingoverhim。’HaveImadeyouunhappy，father？NotI，Ihope!’

’Youhope，indeed!Idaresay!Oh，you’——Fannypausedforasufficientlystrongexpression——’youCommon-mindedlittleAmy!Youcompleteprison-child!’

Hestoppedtheseangryreproacheswithawaveofhishand，andsobbedout，raisinghisfaceandshakinghismelancholyheadathisyoungerdaughter，’Amy，Iknowthatyouareinnocentinintention。

Butyouhavecutmetothesoul。’

’Innocentinintention!’theimplacableFannystruckin。’Stuffinintention!Lowinintention!Loweringofthefamilyinintention!’

’Father!’criedLittleDorrit，paleandtrembling。’Iamverysorry。Prayforgiveme。Tellmehowitis，thatImaynotdoitagain!’

’Howitis，youprevaricatinglittlepieceofgoods!’criedFanny。

’Youknowhowitis。Ihavetoldyoualready，sodon’tflyinthefaceofProvidencebyattemptingtodenyit!’

’Hush!Amy，’saidthefather，passinghispocket-handkerchiefseveraltimesacrosshisface，andthengraspingitconvulsivelyinthehandthatdroppedacrosshisknee，’IhavedonewhatIcouldtokeepyouselecthere；IhavedonewhatIcouldtoretainyouapositionhere。Imayhavesucceeded；Imaynot。Youmayknowit；

youmaynot。Igivenoopinion。Ihaveenduredeverythingherebuthumiliation。ThatIhavehappilybeenspared——untilthisday。’

Herehisconvulsivegraspuncloseditself，andheputhispocket-

handkerchieftohiseyesagain。LittleDorrit，onthegroundbesidehim，withherimploringhanduponhisarm，watchedhimremorsefully。Comingoutofhisfitofgrief，heclenchedhispocket-handkerchiefoncemore。

’HumiliationIhavehappilybeenspareduntilthisday。Throughallmytroublestherehasbeenthat——Spiritinmyself，andthat——

thatsubmissiontoit，ifImayusetheterm，inthoseaboutme，whichhassparedme——ha——humiliation。Butthisday，thisminute，Ihavekeenlyfeltit。’

’Ofcourse!Howcoulditbeotherwise？’exclaimedtheirrepressibleFanny。’CareeringandprancingaboutwithaPauper!’

(air-gunagain)。

’But，dearfather，’criedLittleDorrit，’Idon’tjustifymyselfforhavingwoundedyourdearheart——no!HeavenknowsIdon’t!’

Sheclaspedherh