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LittleDorrithadbeenthinkingtoo。Aftersoftlyputtinghisgreyhairaside，andtouchinghisforeheadwithherlips，shelookedtowardsArthur，whocamenearertoher，andpursuedinalowwhisperthesubjectofherthoughts。

’MrClennam，willhepayallhisdebtsbeforeheleaveshere？’

’Nodoubt。All。’

’Allthedebtsforwhichhehadbeenimprisonedhere，allmylifeandlonger？’

’Nodoubt。’

Therewassomethingofuncertaintyandremonstranceinherlook；

somethingthatwasnotallsatisfaction。Hewonderedtodetectit，andsaid：

’Youaregladthatheshoulddoso？’

’Areyou？’askedLittleDorrit，wistfully。

’AmI？Mostheartilyglad!’

’ThenIknowIoughttobe。’

’Andareyounot？’

’Itseemstomehard，’saidLittleDorrit，’thatheshouldhavelostsomanyyearsandsufferedsomuch，andatlastpayallthedebtsaswell。Itseemstomehardthatheshouldpayinlifeandmoneyboth。’

’Mydearchild——’Clennamwasbeginning。

’Yes，IknowIamwrong，’shepleadedtimidly，’don’tthinkanyworseofme；ithasgrownupwithmehere。’

Theprison，whichcouldspoilsomanythings，hadtaintedLittleDorrit’smindnomorethanthis。Engenderedastheconfusionwas，incompassionforthepoorprisoner，herfather，itwasthefirstspeckClennamhadeverseen，itwasthelastspeckClennameversaw，oftheprisonatmosphereuponher。

Hethoughtthis，andforeboretosayanotherword。Withthethought，herpurityandgoodnesscamebeforehimintheirbrightestlight。Thelittlespotmadethemthemorebeautiful。

Wornoutwithherownemotions，andyieldingtothesilenceoftheroom，herhandslowlyslackenedandfailedinitsfanningmovement，andherheaddroppeddownonthepillowatherfather’sside。

Clennamrosesoftly，openedandclosedthedoorwithoutasound，andpassedfromtheprison，carryingthequietwithhimintotheturbulentstreets。

TheMarshalseabecomesanOrphanAndnowthedayarrivedwhenMrDorritandhisfamilyweretoleavetheprisonforever，andthestonesofitsmuch-troddenpavementweretoknowthemnomore。

Theintervalhadbeenshort，buthehadgreatlycomplainedofitslength，andhadbeenimperiouswithMrRuggtouchingthedelay。HehadbeenhighwithMrRugg，andhadthreatenedtoemploysomeoneelse。HehadrequestedMrRuggnottopresumeupontheplaceinwhichhefoundhim，buttodohisduty，sir，andtodoitwithpromptitude。HehadtoldMrRuggthatheknewwhatlawyersandagentswere，andthathewouldnotsubmittoimposition。Onthatgentleman’shumblyrepresentingthatheexertedhimselftotheutmost，MissFannywasveryshortwithhim；desiringtoknowwhatlesshecoulddo，whenhehadbeentoldadozentimesthatmoneywasnoobject，andexpressinghersuspicionthatheforgotwhomhetalkedto。

TowardstheMarshal，whowasaMarshalofmanyyears’standing，andwithwhomhehadneverhadanypreviousdifference，MrDorritcomportedhimselfwithseverity。Thatofficer，onpersonallytenderinghiscongratulations，offeredthefreeuseoftworoomsinhishouseforMrDorrit’soccupationuntilhisdeparture。MrDorritthankedhimatthemoment，andrepliedthathewouldthinkofit；buttheMarshalwasnosoonergonethanhesatdownandwrotehimacuttingnote，inwhichheremarkedthathehadneveronanyformeroccasionhadthehonourofreceivinghiscongratulations(whichwastrue，thoughindeedtherehadnotbeenanythingparticulartocongratulatehimupon)，andthathebegged，onbehalfofhimselfandfamily，torepudiatetheMarshal’soffer，withallthosethankswhichitsdisinterestedcharacteranditsperfectindependenceofallworldlyconsiderationsdemanded。

Althoughhisbro