第87章

’Mine？’Helookedfirstathisownfigure，andthenathisbrother’s，andthen，drawingalongbreath，cried，’Hah，tobesure!Yes，yes，yes。’

’Yourposition，mydearFrederick，isnowafineone。Yourposition，asmybrother，isaveryfineone。AndIknowthatitbelongstoyourconscientiousnaturetotrytobecomeworthyofit，mydearFrederick，andtotrytoadornit。Tobenodiscredittoit，buttoadornit。’

’William，’saidtheotherweakly，andwithasigh，’Iwilldoanythingyouwish，mybrother，provideditliesinmypower。Praybesokindastorecollectwhatalimitedpowermineis。Whatwouldyouwishmetodoto-day，brother？Saywhatitis，onlysaywhatitis。’

’MydearestFrederick，nothing。Itisnotworthtroublingsogoodaheartasyourswith。’

’Praytroubleit，’returnedtheother。’Itfindsitnotrouble，William，todoanythingitcanforyou。’

Williampassedhishandacrosshiseyes，andmurmuredwithaugustsatisfaction，’Blessingsonyourattachment，mypoordearfellow!’

Thenhesaidaloud，’Well，mydearFrederick，ifyouwillonlytry，aswewalkout，toshowthatyouarealivetotheoccasion——thatyouthinkaboutit——’

’Whatwouldyouadvisemetothinkaboutit？’returnedhissubmissivebrother。

’Oh!mydearFrederick，howcanIansweryou？Icanonlysaywhat，inleavingthesegoodpeople，Ithinkmyself。’

’That’sit!’criedhisbrother。’Thatwillhelpme。’

’IfindthatIthink，mydearFrederick，andwithmixedemotionsinwhichasoftenedcompassionpredominates，Whatwilltheydowithoutme!’

’True，’returnedhisbrother。’Yes，yes，yes，yes。I’llthinkthataswego，Whatwilltheydowithoutmybrother!Poorthings!

Whatwilltheydowithouthim!’

Twelveo’clockhavingjuststruck，andthecarriagebeingreportedreadyintheoutercourt-yard，thebrothersproceededdown-stairsarm-in-arm。EdwardDorrit，Esquire(onceTip)，andhissisterFannyfollowed，alsoarm-in-arm；MrPlornishandMaggy，towhomhadbeenentrustedtheremovalofsuchofthefamilyeffectsaswereconsideredworthremoving，followed，bearingbundlesandburdenstobepackedinacart。

Intheyard，weretheCollegiansandturnkeys。Intheyard，wereMrPancksandMrRugg，cometoseethelasttouchgiventotheirwork。Intheyard，wasYoungJohnmakinganewepitaphforhimself，ontheoccasionofhisdyingofabrokenheart。Intheyard，wasthePatriarchalCasby，lookingsotremendouslybenevolentthatmanyenthusiasticCollegiansgraspedhimferventlybythehand，andthewivesandfemalerelativesofmanymoreCollegianskissedhishand，nothingdoubtingthathehaddoneitall。Intheyard，wasthemanwiththeshadowygrievancerespectingtheFundwhichtheMarshalembezzled，whohadgotupatfiveinthemorningtocompletethecopyingofaperfectlyunintelligiblehistoryofthattransaction，whichhehadcommittedtoMrDorrit’scare，asadocumentofthelastimportance，calculatedtostuntheGovernmentandeffecttheMarshal’sdownfall。Intheyard，wastheinsolventwhoseutmostenergieswerealwayssetongettingintodebt，whobrokeintoprisonwithasmuchpainsasothermenhavebrokenoutofit，andwhowasalwaysbeingclearedandcomplimented；whiletheinsolventathiselbow——amerelittle，snivelling，strivingtradesman，halfdeadofanxiouseffortstokeepoutofdebt——founditahardmatter，indeed，togetaCommissionertoreleasehimwithmuchreproofandreproach。Intheyard，wasthemanofmanychildrenandmanyburdens，whosefailureastonishedeverybody；intheyard，wasthemanofnochildrenandlargeresources，whosefailureastonishednobody。There，werethepeoplewhowerealwaysgoingoutto-morrow，andalwaysputtingitoff；there，werethepeoplewhohadcomeinyesterday，andwhoweremuchmorejealousandresentfulofthisfreakoffortunethantheseasonedbirds。

There，weresomewho，inpuremeannessofspirit，cringedandbowedbeforetheenrichedCollegianandhisfami