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your mind？'
'Yes； I have。 What's the good of keeping on like that？'
'Because；' returned the Father； in a great heat； 'you had no right to
make up your mind to what is monstrous； to what is……ha……immoral； to what
is……hum……parricidal。 No； Mr Clennam； I beg； sir。 Don't ask me to desist；
there is a……hum……a general principle involved here； which rises even
above considerations of……ha……hospitality。 I object to the assertion made
by my son。 I……ha……I personally repel it。'
'Why； what is it to you； father？' returned the son； over his shoulder。
'What is it to me； sir？ I have a……hum……a spirit； sir； that will not
endure it。 I；' he took out his pocket…handkerchief again and dabbed his
face。 'I am outraged and insulted by it。 Let me suppose the case that I
myself may at a certain time……ha……or times； have made a……hum……an appeal；
and a properly…worded appeal； and a delicate appeal； and an urgent
appeal to some individual for a small temporary acmodation。 Let me
suppose that that acmodation could have been easily extended； and was
not extended； and that that individual informed me that he begged to
be excused。 Am I to be told by my own son； that I therefore received
treatment not due to a gentleman； and that I……ha……I submitted to it？'
His daughter Amy gently tried to calm him； but he would not on any
account be calmed。 He said his spirit was up； and wouldn't endure this。
Was he to be told that； he wished to know again； by his own son on his
own hearth； to his own face？ Was that humiliation to be put upon him by
his own blood？
'You are putting it on yourself； father； and getting into all this
injury of your own accord！' said the young gentleman morosely。 'What I
have made up my mind about has nothing to do with you。 What I said had
nothing to do with you。 Why need you go trying on other people's hats？'
'I reply it has everything to do with me；' returned the Father。 'I point
out to you； sir； with indignation； that……hum……the……ha……delicacy and
peculiarity of your father's position should strike you dumb； sir； if
nothing else should； in laying down such……ha……such unnatural principles。
Besides； if you are not filial； sir； if you discard that duty； you
are at least……hum……not a Christian？ Are you……ha……an Atheist？ And is it
Christian； let me ask you； to stigmatise and denounce an individual
for begging to be excused this time； when the same individual
may……ha……respond odation next time？ Is it the
part of a Christian not to……hum……not to try him again？' He had worked
himself into quite a religious glow and fervour。
'I see precious well；' said Mr Tip； rising； 'that I shall get no
sensible or fair argument here to…night； and so the best thing I can do
is to cut。 Good night； Amy。 Don't be vexed。 I am very sorry it happens
here； and you here； upon my soul I am； but I can't altogether part with
my spirit； even for your sake； old girl。'
With those words he put on his hat and went out； acpanied by Miss
Fanny； who did not consider it spirited on her part to take leave of
Clennam with any less opposing demonstration than a stare； importing
that she had always known him for one of the large body of conspirators。
When they were gone； the Father of the Marshalsea was at first inclined
to sink into despondency again； and would have done so； but that a
gentleman opportunely came up within a minute or two to attend him to
the Snuggery。 It was the gentleman Clennam had seen on the night of his
own accidental detention there； who had that impalpable grievance about
the misappropriated Fund on which the Marshal was supposed to batten。
He presented himself as deputation to escort the Father to the Chair； it
being an occasion on which he had promised to preside over the assembled
Collegians in the enjoyment of a little Harmony。
'Such； you see； Mr Clennam；' said the Father； 'are the incongruities
of my position here。 But a public duty！ No man； I am sure； would more
readily recognise a public duty than yourself。'
Clennam besought him not to delay a moment。 'Amy； my dear； if you can
persuade Mr Clennam to stay longer； I can leave the honours of our poor
apology for an establishment with confidence in your hands； and
perhaps you may do something towards erasing from Mr Clennam's mind
the……ha……untoward and unpleasant circumstance which has occurred since
tea…time。'
Clennam assured him that it had made no impression on his mind； and
therefore required no erasure。
'My dear sir；' said the Father； with a removal of his black cap and a
grasp of Clennam's hand； bining to express the safe receipt of his
note and enclosure that afternoon； 'Heaven ever bless you！'
So； at last； Clennam's purpose in remaining was attained； and he could
speak to Little Dorrit with nobody by。 Maggy counted as nobody； and she
was by。
CHAPTER 32。 More Fortune…Telling
Maggy sat at her work in her great white cap with its quantity of opaque
frilling hiding what profile she had （she had none to spare）； and her
serviceable eye brought to bear upon her occupation； on the window side
of the room。 What with her flapping cap； and what with her unserviceable
eye； she was quite partitioned off from her Little Mother； whose seat
was opposite the window。 The tread and shuffle of feet on the pavement
of the yard had much diminished since the taking of the Chair； the tide
of Collegians having set strongly in the direction of Harmony。 Some few
who had no music in their souls； or no money in their pockets； dawdled
about； and the old spectacle of the visitor…wife and the depressed
unseasoned prisoner still lingered in corners； as broken cobwebs and
such unsightly disforts draggle in corners of other places。 It was
the quietest time the College knew； saving the night hours when the
Collegians took the benefit of the act of sleep。 The occasional rattle
of applause upon the tables of the Snuggery； denoted the successful
termination of a morsel of Harmony； or the responsive acceptance； by
the united children； of some toast or sentiment offered to them by their
Father。 Occasionally； a vocal strain more sonorous than the generality
informed the listener that some boastful bass was in blue water； or i