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the afternoon； and his dinners now came in from the hotel at six）； but
his son was so good as to take the head of the principal table； and to
be very free and engaging。 He himself went about among the pany； and
took notice of individuals； and saw that the viands were of the quality
he had ordered； and that all were served。 On the whole； he was like a
baron of the olden time in a rare good humour。 At the conclusion of the
repast； he pledged his guests in a bumper of old Madeira； and told them
that he hoped they had enjoyed themselves； and what was more； that they
would enjoy themselves for the rest of the evening； that he wished them
well； and that he bade them wele。
His health being drunk with acclamations； he was not so baronial after
all but that in trying to return thanks he broke down； in the manner of
a mere serf with a heart in his breast； and wept before them all。 After
this great success； which he supposed to be a failure； he gave them 'Mr
Chivery and his brother officers；' whom he had beforehand presented with
ten pounds each； and who were all in attendance。 Mr Chivery spoke to the
toast； saying； What you undertake to lock up； lock up； but remember that
you are； in the words of the fettered African； a man and a brother ever。
The list of toasts disposed of； Mr Dorrit urbanely went through the
motions of playing a game of skittles with the Collegian who was the
next oldest inhabitant to himself； and left the tenantry to their
diversions。
But all these occurrences preceded the final day。 And now the day
arrived when he and his family were to leave the prison for ever； and
when the stones of its much…trodden pavement were to know them no more。
Noon was the hour appointed for the departure。 As it approached； there
was not a Collegian within doors； nor a turnkey absent。 The latter class
of gentlemen appeared in their Sunday clothes； and the greater part of
the Collegians were brightened up as much as circumstances allowed。 Two
or three flags were even displayed； and the children put on odds and
ends of ribbon。 Mr Dorrit himself； at this trying time； preserved a
serious but graceful dignity。 Much of his great attention was given to
his brother； as to whose bearing on the great occasion he felt anxious。
'My dear Frederick；' said he； 'if you will give me your arm we will pass
among our friends together。 I think it is right that we should go out
arm in arm； my dear Frederick。'
'Hah！' said Frederick。 'Yes； yes； yes； yes。'
'And if； my dear Frederick……if you could； without putting any great
constraint upon yourself； throw a little （pray excuse me； Frederick）； a
little Polish into your usual demeanour……'
'William； William；' said the other； shaking his head； 'it's for you to
do all that。 I don't know how。 All forgotten； forgotten！'
'But； my dear fellow；' returned William； 'for that very reason； if
for no other； you must positively try to rouse yourself。 What you
have forgotten you must now begin to recall； my dear Frederick。 Your
position……'
'Eh？' said Frederick。
'Your position； my dear Frederick。'
'Mine？' He looked first at his own figure； and then at his brother's；
and then； drawing a long breath； cried； 'Hah； to be sure！ Yes； yes；
yes。' 'Your position； my dear Frederick； is now a fine one。 Your
position； as my brother； is a very fine one。 And I know that it belongs
to your conscientious nature to try to bee worthy of it； my dear
Frederick； and to try to adorn it。 To be no discredit to it； but to
adorn it。'
'William；' said the other weakly； and with a sigh； 'I will do anything
you wish； my brother； provided it lies in my power。 Pray be so kind as
to recollect what a limited power mine is。 What would you wish me to do
to…day； brother？ Say what it is； only say what it is。'
'My dearest Frederick； nothing。 It is not worth troubling so good a
heart as yours with。'
'Pray trouble it；' returned the other。 'It finds it no trouble； William；
to do anything it can for you。'
William passed his hand across his eyes； and murmured with august
satisfaction； 'Blessings on your attachment； my poor dear fellow！' Then
he said aloud； 'Well； my dear Frederick； if you will only try； as we
walk out； to show that you are alive to the occasion……that you think
about it……'
'What would you advise me to think about it？' returned his submissive
brother。
'Oh！ my dear Frederick； how can I answer you？ I can only say what； in
leaving these good people； I think myself。'
'That's it！' cried his brother。 'That will help me。'
'I find that I think； my dear Frederick； and with mixed emotions in
which a softened passion predominates； What will they do without me！'
'True；' returned his brother。 'Yes； yes； yes； yes。 I'll think that as we
go； What will they do without my brother！ Poor things！ What will they do
without him！'
Twelve o'clock having just struck； and the carriage being reported ready
in the outer court…yard； the brothers proceeded down…stairs arm…in…arm。
Edward Dorrit； Esquire （once Tip）； and his sister Fanny followed；
also arm…in…arm； Mr Plornish and Maggy； to whom had been entrusted the
removal of such of the family effects as were considered worth removing；
followed； bearing bundles and burdens to be packed in a cart。
In the yard； were the Collegians and turnkeys。 In the yard； were Mr
Pancks and Mr Rugg； e to see the last touch given to their work。
In the yard； was Young John making a new epitaph for himself； on
the occasion of his dying of a broken heart。 In the yard； was the
Patriarchal Casby； looking so tremendously benevolent that many
enthusiastic Collegians grasped him fervently by the hand； and the wives
and female relatives of many more Collegians kissed his hand； nothing
doubting that he had done it all。 In the yard； was the man with the
shadowy grievance respecting the Fund which the Marshal embezzled； who
had got up at five in the morning to plete the copying of a perfectly
unintelligible history of that transaction； which he had mitted to Mr
Dorrit's care； as a document of the last importance； calculated to stun
the Government and effect the Marshal's downfall。 In the yard； was the
insolvent whose utmost energies were always set on getting into debt；
who broke into prison with as much pains as other men have broken out
of it； and who was always being cleared and plimented； while the
insolvent at his elbow……a mere little； snivelling； striving tradesman；
half dead of anxious efforts to keep out of debt……found it a hard
matter； indeed； to get a missioner to release him with much reproof
and reproach。 In the yard； was the man of many children and many
burdens； whose failure astonished everybody； in the yard； was the man of
no children and large resources； whose failure astonished nobody。 There；
were the people who were always going out to…morrow； and always putting
it off； there； were the people who had e in yesterday； and who
were much more jealous and resentful of this freak of fortune than
the seasoned birds。 There； were some who； in pure meanness of spirit；
cringed and bowed before the enriched Collegian and his family； there；
were others who did so really because their eyes； accustomed to the
gloom o