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fingers busy at their old work……though she was not so absorbed in it；
but that her passionate eyes were often raised to his face； and； when
they drooped again had tears in them……to be so consoled and forted；
and to believe that all the devotion of this great nature was turned to
him in his adversity to pour out its inexhaustible wealth of goodness
upon him； did not steady Clennam's trembling voice or hand； or
strengthen him in his weakness。 Yet it inspired him with an inward
fortitude； that rose with his love。 And how dearly he loved her now；
what words can tell！
As they sat side by side in the shadow of the wall； the shadow fell like
light upon him。 She would not let him speak much； and he lay back in
his chair； looking at her。 Now and again she would rise and give him
the glass that he might drink； or would smooth the resting…place of his
head； then she would gently resume her seat by him； and bend over her
work again。
The shadow moved with the sun； but she never moved from his side； except
to wait upon him。 The sun went down and she was still there。 She had
done her work now； and her hand； faltering on the arm of his chair since
its last tending of him； was hesitating there yet。 He laid his hand upon
it； and it clasped him with a trembling supplication。
'Dear Mr Clennam； I must say something to you before I go。 I have put it
off from hour to hour； but I must say it。'
'I too； dear Little Dorrit。 I have put off what I must say。' She
nervously moved her hand towards his lips as if to stop him； then it
dropped； trembling； into its former place。
'I am not going abroad again。 My brother is； but I am not。 He was always
attached to me； and he is so grateful to me now……so much too grateful；
for it is only because I happened to be with him in his illness……that
he says I shall be free to stay where I like best； and to do what I like
best。 He only wishes me to be happy； he says。'
There was one bright star shining in the sky。 She looked up at it While
she spoke； as if it were the fervent purpose of her own heart shining
above her。
'You will understand； I dare say； without my telling you； that my
brother has e home to find my dear father's will； and to take
possession of his property。 He says； if there is a will； he is sure I
shall be left rich； and if there is none； that he will make me so。'
He would have spoken； but she put up her trembling hand again； and he
stopped。
'I have no use for money； I have no wish for it。 It would be of no value
at all to me but for your sake。 I could not be rich； and you here。 I
must always be much worse than poor； with you distressed。 Will you let
me lend you all I have？ Will you let me give it you？ Will you let me
show you that I have never forgotten； that I never can forget； your
protection of me when this was my home？ Dear Mr Clennam； make me of all
the world the happiest； by saying Yes。 Make me as happy as I can be in
leaving you here； by saying nothing to…night； and letting me go
away with the hope that you will think of it kindly； and that for my
sake……not for yours； for mine； for nobody's but mine！……you will give me
the greatest joy I can experience on earth； the joy of knowing that I
have been serviceable to you； and that I have paid some little of the
great debt of my affection and gratitude。 I can't say what I wish to
say。 I can't visit you here where I have lived so long； I can't think of
you here where I have seen so much； and be as calm and forting as I
ought。 My tears will make their way。 I cannot keep them back。 But
pray； pray； pray； do not turn from your Little Dorrit； now； in your
affliction！ Pray； pray； pray； I beg you and implore you with all my
grieving heart； my friend……my dear！……take all I have； and make it a
Blessing to me！'
The star had shone on her face until now； when her face sank upon his
hand and her own。
It had grown darker when he raised her in his encircling arm； and softly
answered her。
'No； darling Little Dorrit。 No； my child。 I must not hear of such a
sacrifice。 Liberty and hope would be so dear； bought at such a price；
that I could never support their weight； never bear the reproach of
possessing them。 But with what ardent thankfulness and love I say this；
I may call Heaven to witness！'
'And yet you will not let me be faithful to you in your affliction？'
'Say； dearest Little Dorrit； and yet I will try to be faithful to you。
If； in the bygone days when this was your home and when this was your
dress； I had understood myself （I speak only of myself） better； and
had read the secrets of my own breast more distinctly； if； through my
reserve and self…mistrust； I had discerned a light that I see brightly
now when it has passed far away； and my weak footsteps can never
overtake it； if I had then known； and told you that I loved and honoured
you； not as the poor child I used to call you； but as a woman whose
true hand would raise me high above myself and make me a far happier and
better man； if I had so used the opportunity there is no recalling……as
I wish I had； O I wish I had！……and if something had kept us apart then；
when I was moderately thriving； and when you were poor； I might have met
your noble offer of your fortune； dearest girl； with other words than
these； and still have blushed to touch it。 But； as it is； I must never
touch it； never！'
She besought him； more pathetically and earnestly； with her little
supplicatory hand； than she could have done in any words。
'I am disgraced enough； my Little Dorrit。 I must not descend so low as
that； and carry you……so dear； so generous； so good……down with me。 GOD
bless you； GOD reward you！ It is past。' He took her in his arms； as if
she had been his daughter。
'Always so much older； so much rougher； and so much less worthy； even
what I was must be dismissed by both of us； and you must see me only as
I am。 I put this parting kiss upon your cheek； my child……who might have
been more near to me； who never could have been more dear……a ruined man
far removed from you； for ever separated from you； whose course is
run while yours is but beginning。 I have not the courage to ask to be
forgotten by you in my humiliation； but I ask to be remembered only as I
am。'
The bell began to ring； warning visitors to depart。 He took her mantle
from the wall； and tenderly wrapped it round her。
'One other word； my Little Dorrit。 A hard one to me； but it is a
necessary one。 The time when you and this prison had anything in mon
has long gone by。 Do you understand？'
'O！ you will never say to me；' she cried； weeping bitterly； and holding
up her clasped hands in entreaty； 'that I am not to e back any more！
You will surely not desert me so！'
'I would say it； if I could； but I have not the courage quite to shut
out this dear face； and abandon all hope of its return。 But do not e
soon； do not e often！ This is now a tainted place； and I well know
the taint of it clings to me。 You belong to much brighter and better
scenes。 You are not to look back here； my Little Dorrit； you are to look
away to very different and much happier paths。 Again； GOD bless you in
them！ GOD reward you！'
Maggy； who had fallen into very low spi