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'We had better get hold of Amy first of all；' said Tip； referring any
difficulty to her as a matter of course。
'I would rather walk about all night……it's not much to do……than give
that trouble。'
'You needn't do that； if you don't mind paying for a bed。 If you don't
mind paying； they'll make you up one on the Snuggery table； under the
circumstances。 If you'll e along； I'll introduce you there。'
As they passed down the yard； Arthur looked up at the window of the room
he had lately left； where the light was still burning。 'Yes； sir；' said
Tip； following his glance。 'That's the governor's。 She'll sit with him
for another hour reading yesterday's paper to him； or something of that
sort； and then she'll e out like a little ghost； and vanish away
without a sound。'
'I don't understand you。'
'The governor sleeps up in the room； and she has a lodging at the
turnkey's。 First house there；' said Tip； pointing out the doorway into
which she had retired。 'First house； sky parlour。 She pays twice as much
for it as she would for one twice as good outside。 But she stands by the
governor； poor dear girl； day and night。'
This brought them to the tavern…establishment at the upper end of the
prison； where the collegians had just vacated their social evening club。
The apartment on the ground…floor in which it was held； was the Snuggery
in question； the presidential tribune of the chairman； the pewter…pots；
glasses； pipes； tobacco…ashes； and general flavour of members； were
still as that convivial institution had left them on its adjournment。
The Snuggery had two of the qualities popularly held to be essential to
grog for ladies； in respect that it was hot and strong； but in the third
point of analogy； requiring plenty of it； the Snuggery was defective；
being but a cooped…up apartment。
The unaccustomed visitor from outside； naturally assumed everybody here
to be prisoners……landlord； waiter； barmaid； potboy； and all。 Whether
they were or not； did not appear； but they all had a weedy look。 The
keeper of a chandler's shop in a front parlour； who took in gentlemen
boarders； lent his assistance in making the bed。 He had been a tailor in
his time； and had kept a phaeton； he said。 He boasted that he stood up
litigiously for the interests of the college； and he had undefined and
undefinable ideas that the marshal intercepted a 'Fund；' which ought to
e to the collegians。 He liked to believe this； and always impressed
the shadowy grievance on new…ers and strangers； though he could not；
for his life； have explained what Fund he meant； or how the notion had
got rooted in his soul。 He had fully convinced himself； notwithstanding；
that his own proper share of the Fund was three and ninepence a week；
and that in this amount he； as an individual collegian； was swindled by
the marshal； regularly every Monday。 Apparently； he helped to make the
bed； that he might not lose an opportunity of stating this case； after
which unloading of his mind； and after announcing （as it seemed he
always did； without anything ing of it） that he was going to write a
letter to the papers and show the marshal up； he fell into miscellaneous
conversation with the rest。 It was evident from the general tone of the
whole party； that they had e to regard insolvency as the normal state
of mankind； and the payment of debts as a disease that occasionally
broke out。 In this strange scene； and with these strange spectres
flitting about him； Arthur Clennam looked on at the preparations as if
they were part of a dream。 Pending which； the long…initiated Tip； with
an awful enjoyment of the Snuggery's resources； pointed out the mon
kitchen fire maintained by subscription of collegians； the boiler for
hot water supported in like manner； and other premises generally tending
to the deduction that the way to be healthy； wealthy； and wise； was to
e to the Marshalsea。
The two tables put together in a corner； were； at length； converted into
a very fair bed； and the stranger was left to the Windsor chairs；
the presidential tribune； the beery atmosphere； sawdust； pipe…lights；
spittoons and repose。 But the last item was long； long； long； in linking
itself to the rest。 The novelty of the place； the ing upon it without
preparation； the sense of being locked up； the remembrance of that room
up…stairs； of the two brothers； and above all of the retiring childish
form； and the face in which he now saw years of insufficient food； if
not of want； kept him waking and unhappy。
Speculations； too； bearing the strangest relations towards the prison；
but always concerning the prison； ran like nightmares through his mind
while he lay awake。 Whether coffins were kept ready for people who might
die there； where they were kept； how they were kept； where people who
died in the prison were buried； how they were taken out； what forms were
observed； whether an implacable creditor could arrest the dead？ As to
escaping； what chances there were of escape？ Whether a prisoner could
scale the walls with a cord and grapple； how he would descend upon
the other side？ whether he could alight on a housetop； steal down a
staircase； let himself out at a door； and get lost in the crowd？ As to
Fire in the prison； if one were to break out while he lay there？
And these involuntary starts of fancy were； after all； but the setting
of a picture in which three people kept before him。 His father； with the
steadfast look with which he had died； prophetically darkened forth in
the portrait； his mother； with her arm up； warding off his suspicion；
Little Dorrit； with her hand on the degraded arm； and her drooping head
turned away。
What if his mother had an old reason she well knew for softening to
this poor girl！ What if the prisoner now sleeping quietly……Heaven grant
it！……by the light of the great Day of judgment should trace back his
fall to her。 What if any act of hers and of his father's； should have
even remotely brought the grey heads of those two brothers so low！
A swift thought shot into his mind。 In that long imprisonment here； and
in her own long confinement to her room； did his mother find a balance
to be struck？ 'I admit that I was accessory to that man's captivity。 I
have suffered for it in kind。 He has decayed in his prison： I in mine。 I
have paid the penalty。'
When all the other thoughts had faded out； this one held possession
of him。 When he fell asleep； she came before him in her wheeled chair；
warding him off with this justification。 When he awoke； and sprang up
causelessly frightened； the words were in his ears； as if her voice had
slowly spoken them at his pillow； to break his rest： 'He withers away in
his prison； I wither away in mine； inexorable justice is done； what do I
owe on this score！'
CHAPTER 9。 Little Mother
The morning light was in no hurry to climb the prison wall and look in
at the Snuggery windows； and when it did e； it would have been more
wele if it had e alone； instead of bringing a rush of rain with
it。 But the equinoctial gales were blowing out at sea； and the impartial
south…west wind； in its flight； would not neglect even the narrow
Marshalsea。 While it roared through the steeple