Vol.1 f.071 recto

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[???????] offer his testimonial to the Father of the Marshalsea, [????????????????] without giving pain to his child; the other to
say something to that child, though it were but a word, in explanation of his having come there.

“Allow me,” said the Father, “to see you down-stairs.” [?and to the Lodge?]

She had slipped out after the rest, and they were alone. “Not on any account,” said the visitor, hurriedly.
“Pray allow me a to—” chink, chink, chink.

[?Thank you ???] Mr Clennam,” said the Father, “I am deeply, deeply— [?obliged ???????????????????] But his visitor [????] had shut
[?shutting?] up his hand to stop the clinking, and [?was at the bottom of?] had gone down-stairs with great speed.

He saw no Little Dorrit on his way down, or in the yard. The last two or three stragglers were hurrying
to the lodge, and he was following, when he caught sight of her, hiding in the doorway of the first house
from the entrance. He turned back [???????she was t?????ing and ?????????? ?? ??????] hastily.

“Pray forgive me,” he said, “for speaking to you here; pray forgive me for coming here at all! I followed watched
you to-night. I [?had ?????] did so, that I might [?have an opportunity?] endeavour to render you and your
family some service. You know the terms on which I and my mother are, and may not be surprised that I have [?been afraid?]
[??? ???????? ?????? ??? ???????? ???????? ????????? ??????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? I have?] preserved our distant relations at her house, lest I should unintentionally [????????????????] make her
jealous, or resentful, or do you any injury in her [?opinion?] estimation.[??I am very ???? ?????? ?? do?]What I have seen
here, in this short time,[????????????????]has greatly ???????? increased my [interest in you and my wish] heartfelt wish to be a friend
to you. It would recompense me for much disappointment if I could hope to gain your confidence.”

She [?stood ?shaking? and trembling while he spoke?] was scared and trembled at first, but seemed to take courage while he spoke to her.

“You are very good, sir. You speak very earnestly to me. But I—but I [???] wish you had not watched me.”

[????????????????????]He understood the emotion with which she said it, to arise [????????????????]
[????????????????]in her father’s [????] behalf; and he respected it, and was silent.

“Mrs Clennam has [??] been very good to me of great service to me; I [??????] don’t know what we
should have done without the employment she has given me; I am afraid it may not be
a good return to become secret with her; I can say no more to-night, sir. I am sure you mean to be kind to us. Thank you, thank you.” [????]

[????????????????]“Let me ask you [????????????????] one question before I leave.[??????]Have you known my mother long?”

“I think [????????????] two years, sir,—The bell[?????????????] has stopped.”

“How did you know her first? Did she send here for you?”

[????]“No.[????] She does not[????]even know that I live here. We have a friend, father and I—
a poor labouring man, but the best of friends—and I wrote out that I wished to do needlework,
and gave his address. And he got what I wrote out displayed at a few places
where it cost nothing, and Mrs Clennam found me that way, and sent for me. The
[???]gate will be locked, sir!” [????????????????]

[???????????]She was so tremulous and [???????????]agitated, and he was so [????????????????]
moved by[???]compassion [????????????????] for her, and by [??????????] deep interest in [????]
her story as it dawned upon him, that he could scarcely tear himself away. But the
stoppage of the bell, and the quiet in the prison, were a warning[?????????] to depart; and [?????]with a few hurried
words of kindness he left her gliding back to her father.

But [???????????????????????????????]he remained too late. The inner gate was
locked, and the lodge closed. After a[????????????????]little fruitless knocking with his hand, he was standing
there[??????] with the disagreeable conviction upon him that he had got to get through the night when a voice accosted him
from behind.