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to the right and to the left； very little altered if at all； except that
the walls were lowered when the place got free； will look upon rooms
in which the debtors lived； and will stand among the crowding ghosts of
many miserable years。
In the Preface to Bleak House I remarked that I had never had so many
readers。 In the Preface to its next successor； Little Dorrit； I have
still to repeat the same words。 Deeply sensible of the affection and
confidence that have grown up between us； I add to this Preface； as I
added to that； May we meet again！
London May 1857
BOOK THE FIRST： POVERTY
CHAPTER 1。 Sun and Shadow
Thirty years ago； Marseilles lay burning in the sun； one day。
A blazing sun upon a fierce August day was no greater rarity in southern
France then； than at any other time； before or since。 Everything in
Marseilles； and about Marseilles； had stared at the fervid sky； and been
stared at in return； until a staring habit had bee universal there。
Strangers were stared out of countenance by staring white houses；
staring white walls； staring white streets； staring tracts of arid road；
staring hills from which verdure was burnt away。 The only things to be
seen not fixedly staring and glaring were the vines drooping under their
load of grapes。 These did occasionally wink a little； as the hot air
barely moved their faint leaves。
There was no wind to make a ripple on the foul water within the harbour；
or on the beautiful sea without。 The line of demarcation between the two
colours； black and blue； showed the point which the pure sea would not
pass； but it lay as quiet as the abominable pool； with which it never
mixed。 Boats without awnings were too hot to touch； ships blistered at
their moorings； the stones of the quays had not cooled； night or
day； for months。 Hindoos； Russians； Chinese； Spaniards； Portuguese；
Englishmen； Frenchmen； Genoese； Neapolitans； Veians； Greeks； Turks；
descendants from all the builders of Babel； e to trade at Marseilles；
sought the shade alike……taking refuge in any hiding…place from a sea too
intensely blue to be looked at； and a sky of purple； set with one great
flaming jewel of fire。
The universal stare made the eyes ache。 Towards the distant line of
Italian coast； indeed； it was a little relieved by light clouds of mist；
slowly rising from the evaporation of the sea； but it softened nowhere
else。 Far away the staring roads； deep in dust； stared from the
hill…side； stared from the hollow； stared from the interminable
plain。 Far away the dusty vines overhanging wayside cottages； and the
monotonous wayside avenues of parched trees without shade； drooped
beneath the stare of earth and sky。 So did the horses with drowsy bells；
in long files of carts； creeping slowly towards the interior； so did
their recumbent drivers； when they were awake； which rarely happened；
so did the exhausted labourers in the fields。 Everything that lived or
grew； was oppressed by the glare； except the lizard； passing swiftly
over rough stone walls； and the cicala； chirping his dry hot chirp； like
a rattle。 The very dust was scorched brown； and something quivered in
the atmosphere as if the air itself were panting。
Blinds； shutters； curtains； awnings； were all closed and drawn to keep
out the stare。 Grant it but a chink or keyhole； and it shot in like a
white…hot arrow。 The churches were the freest from it。 To e out of
the twilight of pillars and arches……dreamily dotted with winking lamps；
dreamily peopled with ugly old shadows piously dozing； spitting； and
begging……was to plunge into a fiery river； and swim for life to the
nearest strip of shade。 So； with people lounging and lying wherever
shade was； with but little hum of tongues or barking of dogs； with
occasional jangling of discordant church bells and rattling of vicious
drums； Marseilles； a fact to be strongly smelt and tasted； lay broiling
in the sun one day。 In Marseilles that day there was a villainous
prison。 In one of its chambers； so repulsive a place that even the
obtrusive stare blinked at it； and left it to such refuse of reflected
light as it could find for itself； were two men。 Besides the two men；
a notched and disfigured bench； immovable from the wall； with a
draught…board rudely hacked upon it with a knife； a set of draughts；
made of old buttons and soup bones； a set of dominoes； two mats； and two
or three wine bottles。 That was all the chamber held； exclusive of rats
and other unseen vermin； in addition to the seen vermin； the two men。
It received such light as it got through a grating of iron bars
fashioned like a pretty large window； by means of which it could be
always inspected from the gloomy staircase on which the grating gave。
There was a broad strong ledge of stone to this grating where the bottom
of it was let into the masonry； three or four feet above the ground。
Upon it； one of the two men lolled； half sitting and half lying； with
his knees drawn up； and his feet and shoulders planted against the
opposite sides of the aperture。 The bars were wide enough apart to
admit of his thrusting his arm through to the elbow； and so he held on
negligently； for his greater ease。
A prison taint was on everything there。 The imprisoned air； the
imprisoned light； the imprisoned damps； the imprisoned men； were all
deteriorated by confinement。 As the captive men were faded and haggard；
so the iron was rusty； the stone was slimy； the wood was rotten； the air
was faint； the light was dim。 Like a well； like a vault； like a tomb；
the prison had no knowledge of the brightness outside； and would have
kept its polluted atmosphere intact in one of the spice islands of the
Indian ocean。
The man who lay on the ledge of the grating was even chilled。 He jerked
his great cloak more heavily upon him by an impatient movement of one
shoulder； and growled； 'To the devil with this Brigand of a Sun that
never shines in here！'
He was waiting to be fed； looking sideways through the bars that he
might see the further down the stairs； with much of the expression of
a wild beast in similar expectation。 But his eyes； too close together；
were not so nobly set in his head