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'Noble old boy； an't he？' said Mr Pancks； entering on a series of the
dryest snorts。 'Generous old buck。 Confiding old boy。 Philanthropic old
buck。 Benevolent old boy！ Twenty per cent。 I engaged to pay him； sir。
But we never do business for less at our shop。'
Arthur felt an awkward consciousness of having； in his exultant
condition； been a little premature。
'I said to that boiling…over old Christian；' Mr Pancks pursued；
appearing greatly to relish this descriptive epithet； 'that I had got a
little project on hand； a hopeful one； I told him a hopeful one； which
wanted a certain small capital。 I proposed to him to lend me the
money on my note。 Which he did； at twenty； sticking the twenty on in a
business…like way； and putting it into the note； to look like a part of
the principal。 If I had broken down after that； I should have been his
grubber for the next seven years at half wages and double grind。 But
he's a perfect Patriarch； and it would do a man good to serve him on
such terms……on any terms。'
Arthur for his life could not have said with confidence whether Pancks
really thought so or not。
'When that was gone； sir；' resumed Pancks； 'and it did go； though I
dribbled it out like so much blood； I had taken Mr Rugg into the secret。
I proposed to borrow of Mr Rugg （or of Miss Rugg； it's the same thing；
she made a little money by a speculation in the mon Pleas once）。 He
lent it at ten； and thought that pretty high。 But Mr Rugg's a red…haired
man； sir； and gets his hair cut。 And as to the crown of his hat； it's
high。 And as to the brim of his hat； it's narrow。 And there's no more
benevolence bubbling out of him； than out of a ninepin。'
'Your own repense for all this； Mr Pancks；' said Clennam； 'ought to
be a large one。'
'I don't mistrust getting it； sir；' said Pancks。 'I have made no
bargain。 I owed you one on that score； now I have paid it。 Money out of
pocket made good； time fairly allowed for； and Mr Rugg's bill settled；
a thousand pounds would be a fortune to me。 That matter I place in your
hands。 I authorize you now to break all this to the family in any way
you think best。 Miss Amy Dorrit will be with Mrs Finching this morning。
The sooner done the better。 Can't be done too soon。'
This conversation took place in Clennam's bed…room； while he was yet in
bed。 For Mr Pancks had knocked up the house and made his way in； very
early in the morning； and； without once sitting down or standing still；
had delivered himself of the whole of his details （illustrated with a
variety of documents） at the bedside。 He now said he would 'go and look
up Mr Rugg'； from whom his excited state of mind appeared to require
another back； and bundling up his papers； and exchanging one more hearty
shake of the hand with Clennam； he went at full speed down…stairs； and
steamed off。
Clennam； of course； resolved to go direct to Mr Casby's。 He dressed
and got out so quickly that he found himself at the corner of the
patriarchal street nearly an hour before her time； but he was not sorry
to have the opportunity of calming himself with a leisurely walk。
When he returned to the street； and had knocked at the bright brass
knocker； he was informed that she had e； and was shown up…stairs to
Flora's breakfast…room。 Little Dorrit was not there herself； but Flora
was； and testified the greatest amazement at seeing him。
'Good gracious； Arthur……Doyce and Clennam！' cried that lady； 'who would
have ever thought of seeing such a sight as this and pray excuse a
wrapper for upon my word I really never and a faded check too which
is worse but our little friend is making me； not that I need mind
mentioning it to you for you must know that there are such things a
skirt； and having arranged that a trying on should take place after
breakfast is the reason though I wish not so badly starched。'
'I ought to make an apology；' said Arthur； 'for so early and abrupt a
visit； but you will excuse it when I tell you the cause。'
'In times for ever fled Arthur；' returned Mrs Finching； 'pray excuse
me Doyce and Clennam infinitely more correct and though unquestionably
distant still 'tis distance lends enchantment to the view； at least I
don't mean that and if I did I suppose it would depend considerably on
the nature of the view； but I'm running on again and you put it all out
of my head。'
She glanced at him tenderly； and resumed：
'In times for ever fled I was going to say it would have sounded
strange indeed for Arthur Clennam……Doyce and Clennam naturally quite
different……to make apologies for ing here at any time； but that is
past and what is past can never be recalled except in his own case as
poor Mr F。 said when he was in spirits Cucumber and therefore never ate
it。'
She was making the tea when Arthur came in； and now hastily finished
that operation。
'Papa；' she said； all mystery and whisper； as she shut down the tea…pot
lid； 'is sitting prosingly breaking his new laid egg in the back parlour
over the City article exactly like the Woodpecker Tapping and need never
know that you are here； and our little friend you are well aware may be
fully trusted when she es down from cutting out on the large table
overhead。'
Arthur then told her； in the fewest words； that it was their little
friend he came to see； and what he had to announce to their little
friend。 At which astounding intelligence； Flora clasped her hands；
fell into a tremble； and shed tears of sympathy and pleasure； like the
good…natured creature she really was。
'For goodness sake let me get out of the way first；' said Flora； putting
her hands to her ears and moving towards the door； 'or I know I shall
go off dead and screaming and make everybody worse； and the dear little
thing only this morning looking so nice and neat and good and yet so
poor and now a fortune is she really and deserves it too！ and might I
mention it to Mr F。's Aunt Arthur not Doyce and Clennam for this once or
if objectionable not on any account。'
Arthur nodded his free permission； since Flora shut out all verbal
munication。 Flora nodded in return to thank him； and hurried out of
the room。
Little Dorrit's step was already on the stairs； and in another moment
she was at the door。 Do what he could to pose his face； he could not
convey so much of an ordinary expression into it； but that the moment
she saw it she dropped her work； and cried； 'Mr Clennam！ What's the
matter？'
'Nothing； nothing。 That is； no misfortune has happened。 I have e
to tell you something； but it is a piece of great good…fortune。'
'Good…fortune？'
'Wonderful fortune！'
They stood in a window； and her eyes； full of light； were fixed upon his
face。 He put an arm about her； seeing her likely to sink down。 She put
a hand upon that arm； partly to rest upon it； and partly so to preserve
their relative positions as that her intent look at him should be shaken
by no change of attitude in either of them。 Her lips seemed to repeat
'Wonderful fortune？' He repeated it again； aloud。
'Dear Little Dorrit！ Your father。'
The ice of the pale face broke at the word； and little lights and shoots
of expression passed all over it。 They were all expressions of pain。 Her
breath was faint and hurried。 Her heart beat fast。 He would have clasped
the little figure closer； but he saw that the eyes appealed to him not
to be moved。
'Your father can be free within this week。 He does not know it； we must
go to him from here； to tell him of it。 Your father will be free within
a few days。 Your father will be free within a few hours。 Remember we
must go to him from here； to tell him of it！'
That brought her back。 Her eyes were closing； but they opened again。
'This is not all the good…fortune。 This is not all the wonderful
good…fortune； my dear Little Dorrit。 Shall I tell you more？'
Her lips shaped 'Yes。'
'Your father will be no beggar when he is free。 He will want for
nothing。 Shall I tell you more？ Remember！ He knows nothing of it； we
must go to him； from here； to tell him of it！'
She seemed to entreat him for a little time。 He held her in his arm；
and； after a pause； bent down his ear to listen。
'Did you ask me to go on？'
'Yes。'
'He will be a rich man。 He is a rich man。 A great sum of money
is waiting to be paid over to him as his inheritance； you are all
henceforth very wealthy。 Bravest and best of children； I thank Heaven
that you are rewarded！'
As he kissed her； she turned her head towards his shoulder； and raised
her arm towards his neck； cried out 'Father！ Father！ Father！' and
swooned away。
Upon which Flora returned to take care of her； and hovered about her on
a sofa； intermingling kind offices and incoherent scraps of conversation
in a manner so confounding； that whether she pressed the Marshalsea to
take a spoonful of unclaimed dividends； for it would do her good；
or whether she congratulated Little Dorrit's father on ing into
possession of a hundred thousand smelling…bottles； or whether she
explained that she put seventy…five thousand drops of spirits of
lavender on fifty thousand pounds of lump sugar； and that she entreated
Little Dorrit to take that gentle restorative； or whether she bathed the
foreheads of Doyce and