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English road abounding in interest for him who had been so long away；
he sent his valise on by the coach； and set out to walk。 A walk was in
itself a new enjoyment to him； and one that had rarely diversified his
life afar off。
He went by Fulham and Putney； for the pleasure of strolling over the
heath。 It was bright and shining there； and when he found himself so far
on his road to Twickenham； he found himself a long way on his road to
a number of airier and less substantial destinations。 They had risen
before him fast； in the healthful exercise and the pleasant road。 It is
not easy to walk alone in the country without musing upon something。 And
he had plenty of unsettled subjects to meditate upon； though he had been
walking to the Land's End。
First； there was the subject seldom absent from his mind； the question；
what he was to do henceforth in life； to what occupation he should
devote himself； and in what direction he had best seek it。 He was far
from rich； and every day of indecision and inaction made his inheritance
a source of greater anxiety to him。 As often as he began to consider how
to increase this inheritance； or to lay it by； so often his misgiving
that there was some one with an unsatisfied claim upon his justice；
returned； and that alone was a subject to outlast the longest walk。
Again； there was the subject of his relations with his mother； which
were now upon an equable and peaceful but never confidential footing；
and whom he saw several times a week。 Little Dorrit was a leading and a
constant subject： for the circumstances of his life； united to those of
her own story； presented the little creature to him as the only person
between whom and himself there were ties of innocent reliance on one
hand； and affectionate protection on the other； ties of passion；
respect； unselfish interest； gratitude； and pity。 Thinking of her； and
of the possibility of her father's release from prison by the unbarring
hand of death……the only change of circumstance he could foresee that
might enable him to be such a friend to her as he wished to be； by
altering her whole manner of life； smoothing her rough road； and
giving her a home……he regarded her； in that perspective； as his adopted
daughter； his poor child of the Marshalsea hushed to rest。 If there were
a last subject in his thoughts； and it lay towards Twickenham； its form
was so indefinite that it was little more than the pervading atmosphere
in which these other subjects floated before him。
He had crossed the heath and was leaving it behind when he gained upon a
figure which had been in advance of him for some time； and which； as
he gained upon it； he thought he knew。 He derived this impression
from something in the turn of the head； and in the figure's action of
consideration； as it went on at a sufficiently sturdy walk。 But when
the man……for it was a man's figure……pushed his hat up at the back of his
head； and stopped to consider some object before him； he knew it to be
Daniel Doyce。
'How do you do； Mr Doyce？' said Clennam； overtaking him。 'I am glad to
see you again； and in a healthier place than the Circumlocution Office。'
'Ha！ Mr Meagles's friend！' exclaimed that public criminal； ing out of
some mental binations he had been making； and offering his hand。 'I
am glad to see you； sir。 Will you excuse me if I forget your name？'
'Readily。 It's not a celebrated name。 It's not Barnacle。' 'No； no；' said
Daniel； laughing。 'And now I know what it is。 It's Clennam。 How do you
do； Mr Clennam？'
'I have some hope；' said Arthur； as they walked on together； 'that we
may be going to the same place； Mr Doyce。'
'Meaning Twickenham？' returned Daniel。 'I am glad to hear it。'
They ate； and lightened the way with a variety of
conversation。 The ingenious culprit was a man of great modesty and good
sense； and； though a plain man； had been too much accustomed to bine
what was original and daring in conception with what was patient and
minute in execution； to be by any means an ordinary man。 It was at first
difficult to lead him to speak about himself； and he put off Arthur's
advances in that direction by admitting slightly； oh yes； he had done
this； and he had done that； and such a thing was of his making； and
such another thing was his discovery； but it was his trade； you see； his
trade； until； as he gradually became assured that his panion had a
real interest in his account of himself； he frankly yielded to it。 Then
it appeared that he was the son of a north…country blacksmith； and had
originally been apprenticed by his widowed mother to a lock…maker； that
he had 'struck out a few little things' at the lock…maker's； which had
led to his being released from his indentures with a present； which
present had enabled him to gratify his ardent wish to bind himself to
a working engineer； under whom he had laboured hard； learned hard； and
lived hard； seven years。 His time being out； he had 'worked in the shop'
at weekly wages seven or eight years more； and had then betaken
himself to the banks of the Clyde； where he had studied； and filed； and
hammered； and improved his knowledge； theoretical and practical； for six
or seven years more。 There he had had an offer to go to Lyons； which he
had accepted； and from Lyons had been engaged to go to Germany； and in
Germany had had an offer to go to St Petersburg； and there had done very
well indeed……never better。 However； he had naturally felt a preference
for his own country； and a wish to gain distinction there； and to do
whatever service he could do； there rather than elsewhere。 And so he had
e home。 And so at home he had established himself in business； and
had invented and executed； and worked his way on； until； after a dozen
years of constant suit and service； he had been enrolled in the
Great British Legion of Honour； the Legion of the Rebuffed of the
Circumlocution Office； and had been decorated with the Great British
Order of Merit； the Order of the Disorder of the Barnacles and
Stiltstalkings。
'It is much to be regretted；' said Clennam； 'that you ever turned your
thoughts that way； Mr Doyce。'
'True； sir； true to a certain extent。 But what is a man to do？ if he
has the misfortune to strike out something serviceable to the nation；
he must follow where it leads him。' 'Hadn't he better let it go？' said
Clennam。
'He can't do it；' said Doyce； shaking his head with a thoughtful smile。
'It's not put into his head to be buried。 It's put into his head to be
made useful。 You hold your life on the condition that to the last you
shall struggle hard for it。 Every man holds a discovery on the same
terms。'
'That is to say；' said Arthur； with a growing admiration of his quiet
panion； 'you are not finally discouraged even now？'
'I have no right to be； if I am；' returned the other。 'The thing is as
true as it ever was。'
When they had walked a little way in silence； Clennam； at once to
change the direct point of their conversation and not to change it
too abruptly； asked Mr Doyce if he had any partner in his business to
relieve him of a portion of its anxieties？
'No；' he returned； 'not at present。 I had when I first entered on it；
and a good man he was。 But he has been dead some years； and as I could
not easily take to the notion of another when I lost him； I bought
his share for myself and have gone on by myself ever since。 And here's
another thing；' he said； stopping for a moment with a good…humoured
laugh in his eyes； and laying his closed right hand； with its peculiar
suppleness of thumb； on Clennam's arm； 'no inventor can be a man of
business； you know。'
'No？' said Clennam。
'Why； so the men of business say；' he answered； resuming the walk and
laughing outright。 'I don't know why we unfortunate creatures should
be supposed to want mon sense； but it is generally taken for granted
that we do。 Even the best friend I have in the world； our excellent
friend over yonder；' said Doyce； nodding towards Twickenham； 'extends
a sort of protection to me； don't you know； as a man not quite able to
take care of himself？'
Arthur Clennam could not help joining in the good…humoured laugh； for he
recognised the truth of the description。
'So I find that I must have a partner who is a man of business and not
guilty of any inventions；' said Daniel Doyce； taking off his hat to pass
his hand over his forehead； 'if it's only in deference to the current
opinion； and to uphold the credit of the Works。 I don't think he'll find
that I have been very remiss or confused in my way of conducting them；
but that's for him to say……whoever he is……not for me。' 'You have not
chosen him yet； then？'
'No； sir； no。 I have only just e to a decision to take one。 The fact
is； there's more to do than there used to be； and the Works are enough
for me as I grow older。 What with the books and correspondence； and
foreign journeys for which a Principal is necessary； I can't do all。 I
am going to talk over the best way of negotiating the matter； if I find
a spare half…hour between this and Monday morning； with my……my Nurse and
protector；' said Doyce； with laughing eyes again。 'He is a sagacious man
in business； and has had a good apprenticeship to it。'