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Putting the chair from which he had risen nearer to the grate； he made
her sit down in it； and hurriedly bringing wood and coal； heaped them
together and got a blaze。
'Your foot is like marble； my child；' he had happened to touch it； while
stooping on one knee at his work of kindling the fire； 'put it nearer
the warmth。' Little Dorrit thanked him hastily。 It ； it
was very warm！ It smote upon his heart to feel that she hid her thin；
worn shoe。
Little Dorrit was not ashamed of her poor shoes。 He knew her story； and
it was not that。 Little Dorrit had a misgiving that he might blame her
father； if he saw them； that he might think； 'why did he dine to…day；
and leave this little creature to the mercy of the cold stones！' She had
no belief that it would have been a just reflection； she simply knew；
by experience； that such delusions did sometimes present themselves to
people。 It was a part of her father's misfortunes that they did。
'Before I say anything else；' Little Dorrit began； sitting before
the pale fire； and raising her eyes again to the face which in its
harmonious look of interest； and pity； and protection； she felt to be a
mystery far above her in degree； and almost removed beyond her guessing
at； 'may I tell you something； sir？'
'Yes； my child。' A slight shade of distress fell upon her； at his so
often calling her a child。 She was surprised that he should see it； or
think of such a slight thing； but he said directly： 'I wanted a tender
word； and could think of no other。 As you just now gave yourself the
name they give you at my mother's； and as that is the name by which I
always think of you； let me call you Little Dorrit。'
'Thank you； sir； I should like it better than any name。'
'Little Dorrit。'
'Little mother；' Maggy （who had been falling asleep） put in； as a
correction。
'It's all the same； Maggy；' returned Little Dorrit； 'all the same。'
'Is it all the same； mother？'
'Just the same。'
Maggy laughed； and immediately snored。 In Little Dorrit's eyes and ears；
the uncouth figure and the uncouth sound were as pleasant as could be。
There was a glow of pride in her big child； overspreading her face； when
it again met the eyes of the grave brown gentleman。 She wondered what he
was thinking of； as he looked at Maggy and her。 She thought what a
good father he would be。 How； with some such look； he would counsel and
cherish his daughter。
'What I was going to tell you； sir；' said Little Dorrit； 'is； that MY
brother is at large。'
Arthur was rejoiced to hear it； and hoped he would do well。
'And what I was going to tell you； sir；' said Little Dorrit； trembling
in all her little figure and in her voice； 'is； that I am not to know
whose generosity released him……am never to ask； and am never to be told；
and am never to thank that gentleman with all MY grateful heart！'
He would probably need no thanks； Clennam said。 Very likely he would be
thankful himself （and with reason）； that he had had the means and chance
of doing a little service to her； who well deserved a great one。
'And what I was going to say； sir； is；' said Little Dorrit； trembling
more and more； 'that if I knew him； and I might； I would tell him that
he can never； never know how I feel his goodness； and how my good father
would feel it。 And what I was going to say； sir； is； that if I knew him；
and I might……but I don't know him and I must not……I know that！……I would
tell him that I shall never any more lie down to sleep without having
prayed to Heaven to bless him and reward him。 And if I knew him； and I
might； I would go down on my knees to him； and take his hand and kiss
it and ask him not to draw it away； but to leave it……O to leave it for a
moment……and let my thankful tears fall on it； for I have no other thanks
to give him！'
Little Dorrit had put his hand to her lips； and would have kneeled to
him； but he gently prevented her； and replaced her in her chair。
Her eyes； and the tones of her voice； had thanked him far better than
she thought。 He posedly as usual；
'There； Little Dorrit； there； there； there！ We will suppose that you did
know this person； and that you might do all this； and that it was all
done。 And now tell me； Who am quite another person……who am nothing
more than the friend who begged you to trust him……why you are out at
midnight； and what it is that brings you so far through the streets
at this late hour； my slight； delicate；' child was on his lips again；
'Little Dorrit！'
'Maggy and I have been to…night；' she answered； subduing herself with
the quiet effort that had long been natural to her； 'to the theatre
where my sister is engaged。'
'And oh ain't it a Ev'nly place；' suddenly interrupted Maggy； who seemed
to have the power of going to sleep and waking up whenever she chose。
'Almost as good as a hospital。 Only there ain't no Chicking in it。'
Here she shook herself； and fell asleep again。
'We went there；' said Little Dorrit； glancing at her charge； 'because
I like sometimes to know； of my own knowledge； that my sister is doing
well； and like to see her there； with my own eyes； when neither she nor
Uncle is aware。 It is very seldom indeed that I can do that； because
when I am not out at work； I am with my father； and even when I am out
at work； I hurry home to him。 But I pretend to…night that I am at a
party。'
As she made the confession； timidly hesitating； she raised her eyes to
the face； and read its expression so plainly that she answered it。 'Oh
no； certainly！ I never was at a party in my life。' She paused a little
under his attentive look； and then said； 'I hope there is no harm in it。
I could never have been of any use； if I had not pretended a little。'
She feared that he was blaming her in his mind for so devising to
contrive for them； think for them； and watch over them； without their
knowledge or gratitude； perhaps even with their reproaches for supposed
neglect。 But what was really in his mind； was the weak figure with its
strong purpose； the thin worn shoes； the insufficient dress； and the
pretence of recreation and enjoyment。 He asked where the suppositious
party was？ At a place where she worked； answered Little Dorrit；
blushing。 She had said very little about it； only a few words to
make her father easy。 Her father did not believe it to be a grand
party……indeed he might suppose that。 And she glanced for an instant at
the shawl she wore。
'It is the first night；' said Little Dorrit； 'that I have ever been away
from home。 And London looks so large； so barren； and so wild。' In Little
Dorrit's eyes； its vastness under the black sky was awful； a tremor
passed over her as she said the words。
'But this is not；' she added； with the quiet effort again； 'what I have
e to trouble you with； sir。 My sister's having found a friend； a lady
she has told me of and made me rather anxious about； was the first cause
of my ing away from home。 And being away； and ing （on purpose）
round by where you lived and seeing a light in the window……'
Not for the first time。 No； not for the first time。 In Little Dorrit's
eyes； the outside of that window had been a distant star on other nights
than this。 She had toiled out of her way； tired and troubled； to look up
at it； and wonder about the grave； brown gentleman from so far off； who
had spoken to her as a friend and protector。
'There were three things；' said Little Dorrit； 'that I thought I would
like to say； if you were alone and I might e up…stairs。 First； what I
have tried to say； but never can……never shall……'
'Hush； hush！ That is done with； and disposed of。 Let us pass to the
second；' said Clennam； smiling her agitation away； making the blaze
shine upon her； and putting wine and cake and fruit towards her on the
table。
'I think；' said Little Dorrit……'this is the second thing； sir……I think
Mrs Clennam must have found out my secret； and must know where I e
from and where I go to。 Where I live； I mean。'
'Indeed！' returned Clennam quickly。 He asked her； after short
consideration； why she supposed so。
'I think；' replied Little Dorrit； 'that Mr Flintwinch must have watched
me。'
And why； Clennam asked； as he turned his eyes upon the fire； bent his
brows； and considered again； why did she suppose that？
'I have met him twice。 Both times near home。 Both times at night； when
I was going back。 Both times I thought （though that may easily be my
mistake）； that he hardly looked as if he had met me by accident。' 'Did
he say anything？'
'No； he only nodded and put his head on one side。'
'The devil take his head！' mused Clennam； still looking at the fire；
'it's always on one side。' He roused himself to persuade her to put some
wine to her lips； and to touch something to eat……it was very difficult；
she was so timid and shy……and then said； musing again： 'Is my mother at
all changed to you？'
'Oh； not at all。 She is just the same。 I wondered whether I had better
tell her my history。 I wondered whether I might……I mean； whether you
would like me to tell her。 I wondered；' said Little Dorrit； looking at
him in a suppliant way； and gradually withdrawing her eyes as he looked
at her； 'whether you would advise me what I ought to do。'
'Little Dorrit；