第159章

GoneOnahealthyautumnday，theMarshalseaprisoner，weakbutotherwiserestored，satlisteningtoavoicethatreadtohim。Onahealthyautumnday；whenthegoldenfieldshadbeenreapedandploughedagain，whenthesummerfruitshadripenedandwaned，whenthegreenperspectivesofhopshadbeenlaidlowbythebusypickers，whentheapplesclusteringintheorchardswererusset，andtheberriesofthemountainashwerecrimsonamongtheyellowingfoliage。Alreadyinthewoods，glimpsesofthehardywinterthatwascomingweretobecaughtthroughunaccustomedopeningsamongtheboughswheretheprospectshonedefinedandclear，freefromthebloomofthedrowsysummerweather，whichhadrestedonitasthebloomliesontheplum。So，fromtheseashoretheoceanwasnolongertobeseenlyingasleepintheheat，butitsthousandsparklingeyeswereopen，anditswholebreadthwasinjoyfulanimation，fromthecoolsandonthebeachtothelittlesailsonthehorizon，driftingawaylikeautumn-tintedleavesthathaddriftedfromthetrees。

Changelessandbarren，lookingignorantlyatalltheseasonswithitsfixed，pinchedfaceofpovertyandcare，theprisonhadnotatouchofanyofthesebeautiesonit。Blossomwhatwould，itsbricksandbarsboreuniformlythesamedeadcrop。YetClennam，listeningtothevoiceasitreadtohim，heardinitallthatgreatNaturewasdoing，heardinitallthesoothingsongsshesingstoman。AtnoMother’skneebuthershadheeverdweltinhisyouthonhopefulpromises，onplayfulfancies，ontheharvestsoftendernessandhumilitythatliehiddenintheearly-fosteredseedsoftheimagination；ontheoaksofretreatfromblightingwinds，thathavethegermsoftheirstrongrootsinnurseryacorns。

But，inthetonesofthevoicethatreadtohim，therewerememoriesofanoldfeelingofsuchthings，andechoesofeverymercifulandlovingwhisperthathadeverstolentohiminhislife。

Whenthevoicestopped，heputhishandoverhiseyes，murmuringthatthelightwasstronguponthem。

LittleDorritputthebookby，andpresentlyarosequietlytoshadethewindow。Maggysatatherneedleworkinheroldplace。Thelightsoftened，LittleDorritbroughtherchairclosertohisside。

’Thiswillsoonbeovernow，dearMrClennam。NotonlyareMrDoyce’sletterstoyousofulloffriendshipandencouragement，butMrRuggsayshisletterstohimaresofullofhelp，andthateverybody(nowalittleangerispast)issoconsiderate，andspeakssowellofyou，thatitwillsoonbeovernow。’

’Deargirl。Dearheart。Goodangel!’

’Youpraisemefartoomuch。Andyetitissuchanexquisitepleasuretometohearyouspeaksofeelingly，andto——andtosee，’

saidLittleDorrit，raisinghereyestohis，’howdeeplyyoumeanit，thatIcannotsayDon’t。’

Heliftedherhandtohislips。

’Youhavebeenheremany，manytimes，whenIhavenotseenyou，LittleDorrit？’

’Yes，IhavebeenheresometimeswhenIhavenotcomeintotheroom。’

’Veryoften？’

’Ratheroften，’saidLittleDorrit，timidly。

’Everyday？’

’Ithink，’saidLittleDorrit，afterhesitating，’thatIhavebeenhereatleasttwiceeveryday。’

Hemighthavereleasedthelittlelighthandafterferventlykissingitagain；butthat，withaverygentlelingeringwhereitwas，itseemedtocourtbeingretained。Hetookitinbothofhis，anditlaysoftlyonhisbreast。

’DearLittleDorrit，itisnotmyimprisonmentonlythatwillsoonbeover。Thissacrificeofyoumustbeended。Wemustlearntopartagain，andtotakeourdifferentwayssowideasunder。Youhavenotforgottenwhatwesaidtogether，whenyoucameback？’

’Ono，Ihavenotforgottenit。Butsomethinghasbeen——Youfeelquitestrongto-day，don’tyou？’

’Quitestrong。’

Thehandheheldcreptupalittlenearerhisface。

’DoyoufeelquitestrongenoughtoknowwhatagreatfortuneI

havegot？’

’Ishallbeverygladtobetold。NofortunecanbetoogreatorgoodforLittleDorrit。’

’Ihavebeenanxiouslywaitingtotellyou。Ihavebeenlongingandlongingtotellyou。Youaresureyouwillnottakeit？’

’Never!’

’Youarequitesureyouwillnottakehalfofit？’

’Never，dearLittleDorrit!’

Asshelookedathimsilently，therewassomethinginheraffectionatefacethathedidnotquitecomprehend：somethingthatcouldhavebrokenintotearsinamoment，andyetthatwashappyandproud。

’YouwillbesorrytohearwhatIhavetotellyouaboutFanny。

PoorFannyhaslosteverything。Shehasnothingleftbutherhusband’sincome。Allthatpapagaveherwhenshemarriedwaslostasyourmone