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'pose yourself； sir；' said Clennam； 'and take a little time to think。
To think of the brightest and most fortunate accidents of life。 We have
all heard of great surprises of joy。 They are not at an end； sir。 They
are rare； but not at an end。'
'Mr Clennam？ Not at an end？ Not at an end for……' He touched himself upon
the breast； instead of saying 'me。'
'No；' returned Clennam。
'What surprise；' he asked； keeping his left hand over his heart； and
there stopping in his speech； while with his right hand he put his
glasses exactly level on the table： 'what such surprise can be in store
for me？'
'Let me ansr Dorrit； what surprise
would be the most unlooked for and the most acceptable to you。 Do not be
afraid to imagine it； or to say what it would be。'
He looked steadfastly at Clennam； and； so looking at him； seemed to
change into a very old haggard man。 The sun was bright upon the wall
beyond the window； and on the spikes at top。 He slowly stretched out the
hand that had been upon his heart； and pointed at the wall。
'It is down；' said Clennam。 'Gone！'
He remained in the same attitude； looking steadfastly at him。
'And in its place；' said Clennam； slowly and distinctly； 'are the means
to possess and enjoy the utmost that they have so long shut out。 Mr
Dorrit； there is not the smallest doubt that within a few days you will
be free； and highly prosperous。 I congratulate you with all my soul on
this change of fortune； and on the happy future into which you are soon
to carry the treasure you have been blest with here……the best of all the
riches you can have elsewhere……the treasure at your side。'
With those words； he pressed his hand and released it； and his daughter；
laying her face against his； encircled him in the hour of his prosperity
with her arms； as she had in the long years of his adversity encircled
him with her love and toil and truth； and poured out her full heart in
gratitude； hope； joy； blissful ecstasy； and all for him。
'I shall see him as I never saw him yet。 I shall see my dear love； with
the dark cloud cleared away。 I shall see him； as my poor mother saw him
long ago。 O my dear； my dear！ O father； father！ O thank God； thank God！'
He yielded himself to her kisses and caresses； but did not return them；
except that he put an arm about her。 Neither did he say one word。 His
steadfast look was now divided between her and Clennam； and he began to
shake as if he were very cold。 Explaining to Little Dorrit that he would
run to the coffee…house for a bottle of wine； Arthur fetched it with all
the haste he could use。 While it was being brought from the cellar to
the bar； a number of excited people asked him what had happened； when he
hurriedly informed them that Mr Dorrit had succeeded to a fortune。
On ing back with the wine in his hand； he found that she had placed
her father in his easy chair； and had loosened his shirt and neckcloth。
They filled a tumbler with wine； and held it to his lips。 When he had
swallowed a little； he took the glass himself and emptied it。 Soon
after that； he leaned back in his chair and cried； with his handkerchief
before his face。
After this had lasted a while Clennam thought it a good season for
diverting his attention from the main surprise； by relating its details。
Slowly； therefore； and in a quiet tone of voice； he explained them as
best he could； and enlarged on the nature of Pancks's service。
'He shall be……ha……he shall be handsomely repensed； sir；' said
the Father； starting up and moving hurriedly about the room。 'Assure
yourself； Mr Clennam； that everybody concerned shall be……ha……shall
be nobly rewarded。 No one； my dear sir； shall say that he has an
unsatisfied claim against me。 I shall repay the……hum……the advances I
have had from you； sir； with peculiar pleasure。 I beg to be informed at
your earliest convenience； what advances you have made my son。'
He had no purpose in going about the room； but he was not still a
moment。
'Everybody；' he said； 'shall be remembered。 I will not go away from
here in anybody's debt。 All the people who have been……ha……well behaved
towards myself and my family； shall be rewarded。 Chivery shall be
rewarded。 Young John shall be rewarded。 I particularly wish； and intend；
to act munificently； Mr Clennam。'
'Will you allow me；' said Arthur； laying his purse on the table； 'to
supply any present contingencies； Mr Dorrit？ I thought it best to bring
a sum of money for the purpose。'
'Thank you； sir； thank you。 I accept with readiness； at the present
moment； what I could not an hour ago have conscientiously taken。 I am
obliged to you for the temporary acmodation。 Exceedingly temporary；
but well timed……well timed。' His hand had closed upon the money； and
he carried it about with him。 'Be so kind； sir； as to add the amount to
those former advances to which I have already referred； being careful；
if you please； not to omit advances made to my son。 A mere verbal
statement of the gross amount is all I shall……ha……all I shall require。'
His eye fell upon his daughter at this point； and he stopped for a
moment to kiss her； and to pat her head。
'It will be necessary to find a milliner； my love； and to make a speedy
and plete change in your very plain dress。 Something must be done
with Maggy too； who at present is……ha……barely respectable； barely
respectable。 And your sister； Amy； and your brother。 And my brother；
your uncle……poor soul； I trust this will rouse him……messengers must be
despatched to fetch them。 They must be informed of this。 We must break
it to them cautiously； but they must be informed directly。 We owe it
as a duty to them and to ourselves； from this moment； not to let
them……hum……not to let them do anything。'
This was the first intimation he had ever given； that he was privy to
the fact that they did something for a livelihood。
He was still jogging about the room； with the purse clutched in his
hand； when a great cheering arose in the yard。 'The news has spread
already；' said Clennam； looking down from the window。 'Will you show
yourself to them； Mr Dorrit？ They are very earnest； and they evidently
wish it。'
'I……hum……ha……I confess I could h