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has fallen on his legs； has Dan。 Where they don't want things done and
find a man to do 'em； that man's off his legs； but where they do want
things done and find a man to do 'em； that man's on his legs。 You won't
have occasion to trouble the Circumlocution Office any more。 Let me tell
you； Dan has done without 'em！'
'What a load you take from my mind！' cried Arthur。 'What happiness you
give me！'
'Happiness？' retorted Mr Meagles。 'Don't talk about happiness till you
see Dan。 I assure you Dan is directing works and executing labours over
yonder； that it would make your hair stand on end to look at。 He's no
public offender； bless you； now！ He's medalled and ribboned； and starred
and crossed； and I don't…know…what all'd； like a born nobleman。 But we
mustn't talk about that over here。'
'Why not？'
'Oh； egad！' said Mr Meagles； shaking his head very seriously； 'he must
hide all those things under lock and key when he es over here。 They
won't do over here。 In that particular； Britannia is a Britannia in the
Manger……won't give her children such distinctions herself； and won't
allow them to be seen when they are given by other countries。 No； no；
Dan！' said Mr Meagles； shaking his head again。 'That won't do here！'
'If you had brought me （except for Doyce's sake） twice what I have
lost；' cried Arthur； 'you would not have given me the pleasure that you
give me in this news。' 'Why； of course； of course；' assented Mr Meagles。
'Of course I know that； my good fellow； and therefore I e out with
it in the first burst。 Now； to go back； about catching Doyce。 I caught
Doyce。 Ran against him among a lot of those dirty brown dogs in women's
nightcaps a great deal too big for 'em； calling themselves Arabs and all
sorts of incoherent races。 YOU know 'em！ Well！ He was ing straight to
me； and I was going to him； and so we came back together。'
'Doyce in England！' exclaimed Arthur。
'There！' said Mr Meagles； throwing open his arms。 'I am the worst man
in the world to manage a thing of this sort。 I don't know what I should
have done if I had been in the diplomatic line……right； perhaps！ The long
and short of it is； Arthur； we have both been in England this fortnight。
And if you go on to ask where Doyce is at the present moment； why； my
plain answer is……here he is！ And now I can breathe again at last！'
Doyce darted in from behind the door； caught Arthur by both hands； and
said the rest for himself。
'There are only three branches of my subject； my dear Clennam；' said
Doyce； proceeding to mould them severally； with his plastic thumb； on
the palm of his hand； 'and they're soon disposed of。 First； not a word
more from you about the past。 There was an error in your calculations。
I know what that is。 It affects the whole machine； and failure is the
consequence。 You will profit by the failure； and will avoid it another
time。 I have done a similar thing myself； in construction； often。 Every
failure teaches a man something； if he will learn； and you are too
sensible a man not to learn from this failure。 So much for firstly。
Secondly。 I was sorry you should have taken it so heavily to heart； and
reproached yourself so severely； I was travelling home night and day
to put matters right； with the assistance of our friend； when I fell in
with our friend as he has informed you。 Thirdly。 We two agreed； that；
after what you had undergone； after your distress of mind； and after
your illness； it would be a pleasant surprise if we could so far keep
quiet as to get things perfectly arranged without your knowledge； and
then e and say that all the affairs were smooth； that everything was
right； that the business stood in greater want of you than ever it did；
and that a new and prosperous career was opened before you and me as
partners。 That's thirdly。 But you know we always make an allowance for
friction； and so I have reserved space to close in。 My dear Clennam；
I thoroughly confide in you； you have it in your power to be quite as
useful to me as I have； or have had； it in my power to be useful to you；
your old place awaits you； and wants you very much； there is nothing to
detain you here one half…hour longer。'
There was silence； which was not broken until Arthur had stood for some
time at the window with his back towards them； and until his little wife
that was to be had gone to him and stayed by him。
'I made a remark a little while ago；' said Daniel Doyce then； 'which I
am inclined to think was an incorrect one。 I said there was nothing
to detain you here； Clennam； half an hour longer。 Am I mistaken in
supposing that you would rather not leave here till to…morrow morning？
Do I know； without being very wise； where you would like to go； direct
from these walls and from this room？'
'You do；' returned Arthur。 'It has been our cherished purpose。'
'Very well！' said Doyce。 'Then； if this young lady will do me the honour
of regarding me for four…and…twenty hours in the light of a father； and
will take a ride with me now towards Saint Paul's Churchyard； I dare say
I know what we want to get there。'
Little Dorrit and he went out together soon afterwards； and Mr Meagles
lingered behind to say a word to his friend。
'I think； Arthur； you will not want Mother and me in the morning and
we will keep away。 It might set Mother thinking about Pet； she's a
soft…hearted woman。 She's best at the Cottage； and I'll stay there and
keep her pany。'
With that they parted for the time。 And the day ended； and the night
ended； and the morning came； and Little Dorrit； simply dressed as usual
and having no one with her but Maggy； came into the prison with the
sunshine。 The poor room was a happy room that morning。 Where in the
world was there a room so full of quiet joy！
'My dear love；' said Arthur。 'Why does Maggy light the fire？ We shall be
gone directly。'
'I asked her to do it。 I have taken such an odd fancy。 I want you to
burn something for me。'
'What？'
'Only this folded paper。 If you will put it in the fire with your own
hand； just as it is； my fancy will be gratified。'
'Superstitious； darling Little Dorrit？ Is it a charm？'
'It is anything you like best； my own；' she answ