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wish it。'
'I……hum……ha……I confess I could have desired； Amy my dear；' he said；
jogging about in a more feverish flutter than before； 'to have made some
change in my dress first； and to have bought a……hum……a watch and chain。
But if it must be done as it is； it……ha……it must be done。 Fasten the
collar of my shirt； my dear。 Mr Clennam； would you oblige me……hum……with
a blue neckcloth you will find in that drawer at your elbow。 Button
my coat across at the chest； my love。 It looks……ha……it looks broader；
buttoned。'
With his trembling hand he pushed his grey hair up； and then； taking
Clennam and his daughter for supporters； appeared at the window leaning
on an arm of each。 The Collegians cheered him very heartily； and he
kissed his hand to them with great urbanity and protection。 When he
withdrew into the room again； he said 'Poor creatures！' in a tone of
much pity for their miserable condition。
Little Dorrit was deeply anxious that he should lie down to pose
himself。 On Arthur's speaking to her of his going to inform Pancks that
he might now appear as soon as he would； and pursue the joyful business
to its close； she entreated him in a whisper to stay with her until her
father should be quite calm and at rest。 He needed no second entreaty；
and she prepared her father's bed； and begged him to lie down。 For
another half…hour or more he would be persuaded to do nothing but
go about the room； discussing with himself the probabilities for and
against the Marshal's allowing the whole of the prisoners to go to the
windows of the official residence which manded the street； to see
himself and family depart for ever in a carriage……which； he said； he
thought would be a Sight for them。 But gradually he began to droop and
tire； and at last stretched himself upon the bed。
She took her faithful place beside him； fanning him and cooling his
forehead； and he seemed to be falling asleep （always with the money in
his hand）； when he unexpectedly sat up and said：
'Mr Clennam； I beg your pardon。 Am I to understand； my dear sir； that I
could……ha……could pass through the Lodge at this moment； and……hum……take a
walk？'
'I think not； Mr Dorrit；' was the unwilling reply。 'There are certain
forms to be pleted； and although your detention here is now in itself
a form； I fear it is one that for a little longer has to be observed
too。'
At this he shed tears again。
'It is but a few hours； sir；' Clennam cheerfully urged upon him。
'A few hours； sir；' he returned in a sudden passion。 'You talk very
easily of hours； sir！ How long do you suppose； sir； that an hour is to a
man who is choking for want of air？'
It was his last demonstration for that time； as； after shedding some
more tears and querulously plaining that he couldn't breathe； he
slowly fell into a slumber。 Clennam had abundant occupation for his
thoughts； as he sat in the quiet room watching the father on his bed；
and the daughter fanning his face。 Little Dorrit had been thinking too。
After softly putting his grey hair aside； and touching his forehead with
her lips； she looked towards Arthur； who came nearer to her； and pursued
in a low whisper the subject of her thoughts。
'Mr Clennam； will he pay all his debts before he leaves here？'
'No doubt。 All。'
'All the debts for which he had been imprisoned here； all my life and
longer？'
'No doubt。'
There was something of uncertainty and remonstrance in her look；
something that was not all satisfaction。 He wondered to detect it； and
said：
'You are glad that he should do so？'
'Are you？' asked Little Dorrit； wistfully。
'Am I？ Most heartily glad！'
'Then I know I ought to be。'
'And are you not？'
'It seems to me hard；' said Little Dorrit； 'that he should have lost so
many years and suffered so much； and at last pay all the debts as well。
It seems to me hard that he should pay in life and money both。'
'My dear child……' Clennam was beginning。
'Yes； I know I am wrong；' she pleaded timidly； 'don't think any worse of
me； it has grown up with me here。'
The prison； which could spoil so many things； had tainted Little
Dorrit's mind no more than this。 Engendered as the confusion was； in
passion for the poor prisoner； her father； it was the first speck
Clennam had ever seen； it was the last speck Clennam ever saw； of the
prison atmosphere upon her。
He thought this； and forebore to say another word。 With the thought； her
purity and goodness came before him in their brightest light。 The little
spot made them the more beautiful。
Worn out with her own emotions； and yielding to the silence of the room；
her hand slowly slackened and failed in its fanning movement； and her
head dropped down on the pillow at her father's side。 Clennam rose
softly； opened and closed the door without a sound； and passed from the
prison； carrying the quiet with him into the turbulent streets。
CHAPTER 36。 The Marshalsea bees an Orphan
And now the day arrived when Mr Dorrit and his family were to leave the
prison for ever； and the stones of its much…trodden pavement were to
know them no more。
The interval had been short； but he had greatly plained of its
length； and had been imperious with Mr Rugg touching the delay。 He had
been high with Mr Rugg； and had threatened to employ some one else。 He
had requested Mr Rugg not to presume upon the place in which he found
him； but to do his duty； sir； and to do it with promptitude。 He had told
Mr Rugg that he knew what lawyers and agents were； and that he would not
submit to imposition。 On that gentleman's humbly representing that
he exerted himself to the utmost； Miss Fanny was very short with him；
desiring to know what less he could do； when he had been told a dozen
times that money was no object； and expressing her suspicion that he
forgot whom he talked to。
Towards the Marshal； who was a Marshal of many years' standing； and
with whom he had never had any previous difference； Mr Dorrit ported
himself with severity。 That officer； on personally tendering his
congratulations； offered the free use of two rooms in his house for Mr
Dorrit's occupation until his departure。 Mr Dorrit thanked him at the
moment； an