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of the truth never dawned upon his mind。 No。 He saw the devoted little
creature with her worn shoes； in her mon dress； in her jail…home； a
slender child in body； a strong heroine in soul； and the light of her
domestic story made all else dark to him。
'For those reasons assuredly； Little Dorrit； but for another too。 So
far removed； so different； and so much older； I am the better fitted for
your friend and adviser。 I mean； I am the more easily to be trusted；
and any little constraint that you might feel with another； may vanish
before me。 Why have you kept so retired from me？ Tell me。'
'I am better here。 My place and use are here。 I am much better here；'
said Little Dorrit； faintly。
'So you said that day upon the bridge。 I thought of it much afterwards。
Have you no secret you could entrust to me； with hope and fort； if
you would！'
'Secret？ No； I have no secret；' said Little Dorrit in some trouble。
They had been speaking in low voices； more because it was natural to
what they said to adopt that tone； than with any care to reserve it from
Maggy at her work。 All of a sudden Maggy stared again； and this time
spoke：
'I say！ Little Mother！'
'Yes； Maggy。'
'If you an't got no secret of your own to tell him； tell him that about
the Princess。 She had a secret； you know。'
'The Princess had a secret？' said Clennam； in some surprise。 'What
Princess was that； Maggy？'
'Lor！ How you do go and bother a gal of ten；' said Maggy； 'catching the
poor thing up in that way。 Whoever said the Princess had a secret？ _I_
never said so。'
'I beg your pardon。 I thought you did。'
'No； I didn't。 How could I； when it was her as wanted to find it out？ It
was the little woman as had the secret； and she was always a spinning at
her wheel。 And so she says to her； why do you keep it there？ And so the
t'other one says to her； no I don't； and so the t'other one says to her；
yes you do； and then they both goes to the cupboard； and there it is。
And she wouldn't go into the Hospital； and so she died。 You know； Little
Mother； tell him that。
For it was a reg'lar good secret； that was！' cried Maggy； hugging
herself。
Arthur looked at Little Dorrit for help to prehend this； and was
struck by seeing her so timid and red。 But； when she told him that it
was only a Fairy Tale she had one day made up for Maggy； and that there
was nothing in it which she wouldn't be ashamed to tell again to anybody
else； even if she could remember it； he left the subject where it was。
However； he returned to his own subject by first entreating her to see
him oftener； and to remember that it was impossible to have a stronger
interest in her welfare than he had； or to be more set upon promoting it
than he was。 When she answered fervently； she well knew that； she never
forgot it； he touched upon his second and more delicate point……the
suspicion he had formed。
'Little Dorrit；' he said； taking her hand again； and speaking lower than
he had spoken yet； so that even Maggy in the small room could not hear
him； 'another word。 I have wanted very much to say this to you； I have
tried for opportunities。 Don't mind me； who； for the matter of years；
might be your father or your uncle。 Always think of me as quite an
old man。 I know that all your devotion centres in this room； and
that nothing to the last will ever tempt you away from the duties you
discharge here。 If I were not sure of it； I should； before now； have
implored you； and implored your father； to let me make some provision
for you in a more suitable place。 But you may have an interest……I will
not say； now； though even that might be……may have； at another time；
an interest in some one else； an interest not inpatible with your
affection here。'
She was very； very pale； and silently shook her head。
'It may be； dear Little Dorrit。'
'No。 No。 No。' She shook her head； after each slow repetition of
the word； with an air of quiet desolation that he remembered long
afterwards。 The time came when he remembered it well； long afterwards；
within those prison walls； within that very room。
'But； if it ever should be； tell me so； my dear child。 Entrust the truth
to me； point out the object of such an interest to me； and I will try
with all the zeal； and honour； and friendship and respect that I feel
for you； good Little Dorrit of my heart； to do you a lasting service。'
'O thank you； thank you！ But； O no； O no； O no！' She said this； looking
at him with her work…worn hands folded together； and in the same
resigned accents as before。
'I press for no confidence now。 I only ask you to repose unhesitating
trust in me。'
'Can I do less than that； when you are so good！'
'Then you will trust me fully？ Will have no secret unhappiness； or
anxiety； concealed from me？'
'Almost none。'
'And you have none now？'
She shook her head。 But she was very pale。
'When I lie down to…night； and my thoughts e back……as they will； for
they do every night； even when I have not seen you……to this sad place； I
may believe that there is no grief beyond this room； now； and its usual
occupants； which preys on Little Dorrit's mind？'
She seemed to catch at these words……that he remembered； too； long
afterwards……and said； more brightly； 'Yes； Mr Clennam； yes； you may！'
The crazy staircase； usually not slow to give notice when any one was
ing up or down； here creaked under a quick tread； and a further sound
was heard upon it； as if a little steam…engine with more steam than it
knew what to do with； were working towards the room。 As it approached；
which it did very rapidly； it laboured with increased energy； and；
after knocking at the door； it sounded as if it were stooping down and
snorting in at the keyhole。
Before Maggy could open the door； Mr Pancks； opening it from without；
stood without a hat and with his bare head in the wildest condition；
looking at Clennam and Little Dorrit； over her shoulder。
He had a lighted cigar in his hand； and brought with him airs of ale and
tobacco smoke。
'Pancks the gipsy；' he observed out of breath； 'fortune…telling。' He
stood dingily smiling； and breathing hard at them； with a most curious
air； as if； instead o