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them！ GOD reward you！'
Maggy； who had fallen into very low spirits； here cried； 'Oh get him
into a hospital； do get him into a hospital； Mother！ He'll never look
like hisself again； if he an't got into a hospital。 And then the little
woman as was always a spinning at her wheel； she can go to the cupboard
with the Princess； and say； what do you keep the Chicking there for？ and
then they can take it out and give it to him； and then all be happy！'
The interruption was seasonable； for the bell had nearly rung itself
out。 Again tenderly wrapping her mantle about her； and taking her on his
arm （though； but for her visit； he was almost too weak to walk）； Arthur
led Little Dorrit down…stairs。 She was the last visitor to pass out at
the Lodge； and the gate jarred heavily and hopelessly upon her。
With the funeral clang that it sounded into Arthur's heart； his sense of
weakness returned。 It was a toilsome journey up…stairs to his room； and
he re…entered its dark solitary precincts in unutterable misery。
When it was almost midnight； and the prison had long been quiet； a
cautious creak came up the stairs； and a cautious tap of a key was given
at his door。 It was Young John。 He glided in； in his stockings； and held
the door closed； while he spoke in a whisper。
'It's against all rules； but I don't mind。 I was determined to e
through； and e to you。'
'What is the matter？'
'Nothing's the matter； sir。 I was waiting in the court…yard for Miss
Dorrit when she came out。 I thought you'd like some one to see that she
was safe。'
'Thank you； thank you！ You took her home； John？'
'I saw her to her hotel。 The same that Mr Dorrit was at。 Miss Dorrit
walked all the way； and talked to me so kind； it quite knocked me over。
Why do you think she walked instead of riding？'
'I don't know； John。'
'To talk about you。 She said to me； 〃John； you was always honourable；
and if you'll promise me that you will take care of him； and never let
him want for help and fort when I am not there； my mind will be at
rest so far。〃 I promised her。 And I'll stand by you；' said John Chivery；
'for ever！'
Clennam； much affected； stretched out his hand to this honest spirit。
'Before I take it；' said John； looking at it； without ing from the
door； 'guess what message Miss Dorrit gave me。'
Clennam shook his head。
'〃Tell him；〃' repeated John； in a distinct； though quavering voice；
'〃that his Little Dorrit sent him her undying love。〃 Now it's delivered。
Have I been honourable； sir？'
'Very； very！'
'Will you tell Miss Dorrit I've been honourable； sir？'
'I will indeed。'
'There's my hand； sir；' said john； 'and I'll stand by you forever！'
After a hearty squeeze； he disappeared with the same cautious creak upon
the stair； crept shoeless over the pavement of the yard； and； locking
the gates behind him； passed out into the front where he had left his
shoes。 If the same way had been paved with burning ploughshares； it is
not at all improbable that John would have traversed it with the same
devotion； for the same purpose。
CHAPTER 30。 Closing in
The last day of the appointed week touched the bars of the Marshalsea
gate。 Black； all night； since the gate had clashed upon Little Dorrit；
its iron stripes were turned by the early…glowing sun into stripes of
gold。 Far aslant across the city； over its jumbled roofs； and through
the open tracery of its church towers； struck the long bright rays； bars
of the prison of this lower world。
Throughout the day the old house within the gateway remained untroubled
by any visitors。 But； when the sun was low； three men turned in at the
gateway and made for the dilapidated house。
Rigaud was the first； and walked by himself smoking。 Mr Baptist was
the second； and jogged close after him； looking at no other object。
Mr Pancks was the third； and carried his hat under his arm for the
liberation of his restive hair； the weather being extremely hot。 They
all came together at the door…steps。
'You pair of madmen！' said Rigaud； facing about。 'Don't go yet！'
'We don't mean to；' said Mr Pancks。 Giving him a dark glance in
acknowledgment of his answer； Rigaud knocked loudly。 He had charged
himself with drink； for the playing out of his game； and was impatient
to begin。 He had hardly finished one long resounding knock； when he
turned to the knocker again and began another。 That was not yet finished
when Jeremiah Flintwinch opened the door； and they all clanked into the
stone hall。 Rigaud； thrusting Mr Flintwinch aside； proceeded straight
up…stairs。 His two attendants followed him； Mr Flintwinch followed them；
and they all came trooping into Mrs Clennam's quiet room。 It was in its
usual state； except that one of the windows was wide open； and Affery
sat on its old…fashioned window…seat； mending a stocking。 The usual
articles were on the little table； the usual deadened fire was in the
grate； the bed had its usual pall upon it； and the mistress of all sat
on her black bier…like sofa； propped up by her black angular bolster
that was like the headsman's block。
Yet there was a nameless air of preparation in the room； as if it were
strung up for an occasion。 From what the room derived it……every one of
its small variety of objects being in the fixed spot it had occupied
for years……no one could have said without looking attentively at its
mistress； and that； too； with a previous knowledge of her face。 Although
her unchanging black dress was in every plait precisely as of old； and
her unchanging attitude was rigidly preserved； a very slight additional
setting of her features and contraction of her gloomy forehead was so
powerfully marked； that it marked everything about her。
'Who are these？' she said； wonderingly； as the two attendants entered。
'What do these people want here？'
'Who are these； dear madame； is it？' returned Rigaud。 'Faith； they are
friends of your son the prisoner。 And what do they want here； is it？
Death； madame； I don't know。 You will do well to ask them。'
'You know you told us at the door； not to go yet；' said Pancks。
'And you know you told me at the door； you didn't mean to go；' retorted
Rigaud。 'In a word； madame； permit me to present two spies of the
prisoner's……madmen； but spies。 If you wish them to remain here during
our little conversation； say the word。 It is nothing to me。'
'Why should I wish them to remain here？' said Mrs Clennam。 'What have I
to do with them？'
'Then； dearest madame；' said Rigaud； throwing himself into an arm…chair
so heavily that the old room trembled； 'you will do well to dismiss
them。 It is your affair。 They are not my spies； not my rascals。'
'Hark！ You Pancks；' said Mrs Clennam； bending her brows upon him
angrily； 'you Casby's clerk！ Attend to your employer's business and your
own。 Go。 And take that other man with you。' 'Thank you； ma'am；' returned
Mr Pancks； 'I am glad to say I see no objection to our both retiring。
We have done all we undertook to do for Mr Clennam。 His constant anxiety
has been （and it grew worse upon him when he became a prisoner）； that
this agreeable gentleman should be brought back here to the place from
which he slipped away。 Here he is……b