Little Dorrit Manuscript: Chapters 1 to 4

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The autograph manuscript of Little Dorrit is now bound in 8 volumes (V&A MSL/1876/Forster/165/1 to 8).

The first volume is currently included in this transcription project.

Pages

Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.034 recto
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.034 recto

25

Arthur followed him [???? ??? ??????? the ????] up the staircase, which was pannelled pannelled off into spaces like so many mourning tablets, [in the ??? ??] into a [?????????? ??] dim [?????] bed-chamber bedchamber the floor of which had gradually so sunk and settled, that the fire-place was in a dell. On a [????.] black bier-like sofa [??? a ???] in this hollow, propped up with {??? ????] [???? and ??????] behind with one great angular black bolster [???? ????] bolster, like the block at a state execution in the good old times, sat his mother [?????] in a widow’s dress.

She and his father had been at variance from his earliest remembrance. To sit speechless himself in the midst of rigid silence, glancing in dread from the one averted face to the other, had been the peacefullest occupation of his childhood.

She kissed him [????] gave him one glassy kiss, and four stiff fingers muffled in [?????] worsted [???]. This embrace concluded, he sat down on the [???] opposite side of her little table. [*] There was a fire in the grate, as there had been night and day for fifteen years. There was a [????] kettle on the hob, as there had been night and day for [????] fifteen years. There was a mess [???] little mound of damped ashes on the top of the fire, and another little mound swept together [??? the back of under the grate, as there had been night and day for fifteen years. There was a smell suffocating of black dye in the airless room, which the fire had been drawing out of the crape and stuff of the [????] widow’s [????]dress for fifteen months, and out of the bier-like sofa for fifteen years.

“Mother, this is a change from your old active habits.”

“The world has narrowed to these dimensions, Arthur,” she replied, glancing round the room. “It is well for me that I never set my heart upon its hollow vanities.”

The old influence of her presence and her stern strong voice, so gathered about her son, that he felt conscious of a renewal of the timid chill and reserve of his childhood.

“Do you never leave your room, mother?”

“What with my rheumatic affection, and what with its attendant debility or nervous weakness—names are of no matter now—I have lost the use of my limbs. I never leave my room. I have not been outside this door for—tell him for how long,” she said, speaking over her shoulder.

“A dozen year next Christmas,” returned a cracked voice out of the dimness behind.

“Is that Affery?” said Arthur, looking towards it.

The cracked voice replied that it was Affery: and an old woman came forward into what doubtful light there was, and kissed her hand once; then subsided again into the dimness.

“I am able,” said Mrs Clennam, with a slight motion of her worsted-muffled right hand toward a chair on wheels, standing before a tall writing cabinet close shut up, “I am able to attend to my business duties, and I am thankful for the privilege. It is a great privilege. But no more of business on this day. It is a bad night, is it not?”

“Yes, mother.”

“Does it snow?”

“Snow, mother? And we only yet in September?”

“All seasons are alike to me,” she returned, with a grim kind of luxuriousness. “I know nothing of summer and winter, shut up here. The Lord has been pleased to put me beyond all that.” With her cold grey eyes and her cold grey hair, and

Last edit over 3 years ago by dh21
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.035 recto

her immovable face, as stiff rigid and stoney as the folds of her stoney [???b???s] head-dress, her being beyond the [works] of the reach of the seasons ??? seemed but an af??? a fit sequence to ?pp??o???? of her having been so long h??ng?????? being beyond the reach of all ???????????????????????????????????????? changing emotions.

On her little table lay the old ?? book two or three books, ??her handkerchief, a pair of steel spectacles newly taken off, and ????t?lan old-fashioned gold watch in a ?i??y heavy double- case. Upon this last object ???her son’s eyes and her own now rested together.

I see that you received the not??ask????youthe packet I sent you on my father’s death , safely, mother.”

“You see.”

“I never ???knew my father ?????????? to show so much anxiety on any subject, as that ???????his ?????watch should ?? be sent straight to you.”

“I ??????????keep it ??his tabl? ? ?e here ??h???? here, as a ?????l remembrance of your father.”

“It was ?? not until the ??? last, that he expressed the wish.; When he could only put his hand upon it, and ????very indistinctly say to me “your mother.” A moment before, I thought him wandering in his mind —, as he had been for many hours; ??????????phize h?? illnes?????I think he had no consciousness of pain in his pro?? short illness—when I saw him turn himself in his bed and try to open open it.”

“Was ??el?di?dyour father, then, ????not t?? ???y????????????? wandering wandering in his ????mind when he tried to open it.?

“No. He was quite sensible when ???? what ??? ?????? at that time.”

?????????? which ??????????? ????d Mrs Clennam shook her head; whether in ?????? dismissal of the departed deceased or in disp??le of her ??????????????? opposing herself to her son’s opinion, was not fully clearly expressed.

“After my father’s my ?? father’s death, andI opened t???????????? it myself, thinking there might be, for anything I knew, some ????? memorandum there. He was ohwever, working However, ???u? as I need not tell you, mother, there was nothing but the ofthe old silk watch-paper worked in beads, which you found (no doubt) [?????]in its place between the cases, where I found and left it.”

Mrs Clennam signified [???????????????????????]assent; then added, “[D????no]No more of business on this day,” ???? and then added, “[????]Affery, it is halfpast nine o’clock.”

Upon this, the old woman cleared the little table, ?????????????????went out of the room, and quickly returned with a tray on which was a dish of little rusks and a small precise pat of butter, cool, symmetrical, white, and plump. The old man who had been standing by the door in one attitude during the whole interview, looking at the mother up-stairs as he had looked at the son down-stairs, went out at the same time, and, after a longer absence, returned with another tray on which was the greater part of a bottle of port wine (which, to judge by his panting, he had brought from the cellar), a lemon, a sugar-basin, and a spice box. With these materials and the aid of the kettle, he filled a tumbler with a hot and odorous mixture, measured out and compounded with as much nicety as a physician’s prescription. Into this mixture Mrs Clennam dipped certain of the rusks, and ate them; while the old woman buttered certain other of the rusks, which were to be eaten alone. When the invalid had eaten all the rusks and drunk all the mixture, the two trays were removed; and the books and

Last edit almost 5 years ago by Douglas Dodds
Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.036 recto
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.036 recto

the candle , watch, handkerchief, and spectacles were replaced upon ??? the table. She then put on her the spectacles and read certain chapter passages aloud from the a ?????? book ??ld st??? as the u?d?u??? as ??????, ???? ???????? ????? sternly, ?????? ???????? ??????? ??????? ????? fiercely, wrathfully ??den??i?????ph d?? d???? of the old ????? ???? ???? falling from her ??? c?ke??? ???? of ??? praying that her enemies (she made them by her tone and manner expressly hers) might be put to the edge of the sword, consumed by fire, smitten by plagues and leprosy, that their bones might be ground to dead dust, and that they might be ??o? utterly ???????? [h?k??] exterminated. As she read on, years seemed to fall away from her son like the imaginings ??????? ????? ????? of a dream, and all the old ? dark horrors of his usual ???? ????? preparation for the sleep of an innocent child ????????? to overshadow? him again.

????? shut the book ???? ????? ????? She shut the book and remained for a little time with her face shaded by her hand. So did the old man, ????e otherwise still ??????? unchanged in ???? attitude; so, probably, did the old woman in h?? ?????? her dimmer part of the room. Then the sick woman was ready for bed.

“Good night, Arthur. ????? Affery will see to your ????????????????? accommodation. ?????? ????? ?????? of ???????? Only touch me, for my hand is tender.” ?? ??????? He touched the worsted muffling of her hand—?????? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? it ???????that was nothing; if his mother had been sheathed in brass there would have been no new barrier between them—and followed the old man and di??????le woman down-stairs ?he?ake sh?d me d????? - d??.

The latter asked him, when they were alone together ?????????? among the heavy shadows of the dining-room, would he have some supper?

“No, ????? Affery, ?? ????? ???? ??a ?????????? no supper.”

“You shall if you like,” said ????? Affery. “There’s ??f??? her tomorrow’s partridge in the larder— ???? ????? her first this year; say the word and I’ll ????? cook it.”

No ?, ???? ?? ? ??? ???????????he had not long dined, and could [eat] nothing.

“Have something to drink, then,”; you came here ??? ?? ???? if you like said ??? ????????? Affery; “you shall have some of her bottle of port, if you like. I’ll tell ?????? Jeremiah ???????? that ????? you ???? you ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????ordered me to bring it you.”

No; nor ???? ??? ????would he have that, either.

“It’s no reason, Arthur,” said ?????the old woman, in a ???? ????? bending over ?? him to whisper,no t????? g????? ???? ????that because I am afeared of my life of “em, you should be. You’ve got half the ?????? and half ??? ???? property, haven’t you?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Well then, d??? you? ????? ??? said the old woman” Yiy ????don’t you be cowed ???????????. You’re clever, Arthur, an’t you?”

????????? ??said????? I ??nt ????? yo?? if you ???? ?????? ???????? ?? if you like? He nodded ????t p???? and ?????????? He nodded, as she seemed to expect an answer in the affirmative.

“Then stand up against them! She’s ?????????awful clever, ?and none but a clever one ???? ??????? ???? ????? durst say a word to her. He’s a clever one—oh, he’s a clever one!—and he gives it her when he has a mind ???. ??????? ?? ? ?????? to’t, he does!”

“Your husband does?”

??? ???? when does Does? It makes me shake from head to foot, to hear him give it her. ??????? My husband, Jeremiah H????????Flintwinch My husband Mathew ?as????? ? Did ?, ??????her ????? ??? ???can ???? ??conquer ???? even your mother. ?????? ?????? ????? she ????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? LetWhat can he be but a clever one to do that!”

His ???? shuffling footstep coming towards them ???? ????? caused her to retreat to the other end of the room. Though ????? ??? was a tall, ???? ????hard-favoured, sinewy old woman, who ???? ???? ????in her youth might have enlisted in the Foot Guards without much ????? ?? fear of discovery, she collapsed before the little keen-eyed crab-like old man.

“Now, ???? ???Affery,” said he, “now, ?????woman, what are you doing? ? ???? you ????? ???? ??????? ??? Can’t you find Master Arthur something or another to pick at?”

Master Arthur repeated his ??? ?????recent refusal to ???? ???? ???? ??????

Last edit almost 5 years ago by Douglas Dodds
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.037 recto

pick at anything.

“Ver y well, then,” said the old man; “make [??] his bed. Stir yourself.!

His [?????] neck was so twisted , that the knot of his coat frayed white cravat [????] frayed white settled half ??????????under one ear; His ??????? ??????? His his [???????? ????] natural ?????acerbity [??????] and energy, always [????????] contending with a second nature of [?????? habitual] habitual when ire gave [????? suffused] his features a swollen and and suffused look; and altogether, he had a [??????] appearance [????????] of having gone of having hanged himself up at [????] [???????] one time or other, and of having gone [???????] about ever since, halter and all, [????? ???????? ??????? ???????] exactly as some timely hand had cut him down.

Yule Yullhave bitter some bitter words on the yon together tomorrow, [?????] Arthur [????]; you and your mother,” said the ??? ???? ?????? Jeremiah. “Your having given up the business on your father’s death—which she suspects, though [?????." ???? ????? ??????? ?????] we have left it to you to tell her—won’t go off smoothly.”

“I have given up everything in life for [?????] the business, and the time [has come when ????,] came for me to give up that. [?????].” [???? ?????? ?????????? ????]

“Good!” [???????????? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????????? ????????] cried Jeremiah, evidently meaning [????] Bad. “Very good! only don’t expect me to stand between your mother and you, Arthur. I stood between your mother and your father, fending off this, and fending off that, and getting crushed and pounded betwixt em; and I’ve done with such work.”

“You will never be asked to begin it again for me, Jeremiah.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it; because I should have had to decline it, if I had been. That’s enough—as your mother says—and more than enough of such matters on a Sabbath night. Affery, woman, have you found what you want yet?”

She had been collecting sheets and blankets from a press, and hastened to gather them up, and to reply, “Yes, Jeremiah.” Arthur Clennam helped her by carrying the load himself, wished the old man good night, and went up-stairs with her to the top of the house.

They mounted up and up, through the musty smell of an old close house, little used, to a large garret bed-room. Meagre and spare, like all the other rooms, it was even uglier and grimmer than the rest, by being the place of banishment for the worn-out furniture. Its movables were ugly old chairs with worn-out seats, and ugly old chairs without any seats; a threadbare patternless carpet, a maimed table, a crippled wardrobe, a lean set of fire-irons like the skeleton of a set deceased, a washing-stand that looked as if it had stood for ages in a hail of dirty soapsuds, and a bedstead with four bare atomies of posts, each terminating in a spike, as if for the dismal accommodation of lodgers who might prefer to impale themselves. Arthur opened the long low window, and looked out upon the old blasted and blackened forest of chimneys, and the old red glare in the sky, which had seemed to him once upon a time but a nightly reflection of the fiery environment that was presented to his childish fancy in all directions, let it look where it would.

He drew in his head again, sat down at the bedside, and looked on at Affery Flintwinch making the bed.

“Affery, you were not married when I went away.”

She screwed her mouth into the form of saying “No,” shook her head, and proceeded

Last edit over 3 years ago by lcraig1
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.038 recto

to get a pillow into its case.

“How did it happen?”

Why, Jeremiah, of o' course,” said Affery, with an end of the pillow-case between her teeth.

“Of course he proposed it, but how did it all come about? I should have thought that neither of you would have married; least of all should I have thought of your marrying each other.”

“No more should I,” said AfferyMrs Flintwinch, tying the pillow tightly in its case.

“That’s what I mean. When did you begin to think otherwise?”

“Never begun to think otherwise at all,” said Mrs Flintwinch.

Seeing, as she patted the pillow into its place on the bolster, that he was still looking at her as if waiting for the rest of her reply, she gave it a great poke in the middle, and said asked, “How could I help myself?”

“How could you help yourself from being married!”

“O” course,” said Mrs Flintwinch. “It was no doing o” mine. I’d never thought of it. I’d got something to do, without thinking, indeed! indeed! She kept me to it (as well as he) when she could go about, and she could go about then.”

“Well?”

“Well?” echoed Mrs Flintwinch. “That’s what I said myself. Well! What’s the use of considering? If them two clever ones have made up their minds to it, what’s left for me to do? Nothing.”

“Was it my mother’s project, then?”

“The Lord bless you, Arthur, and forgive me the wish!” cried Affery, speaking always in a low tone. “If they hadn’t been both of a mind in it, how could it ever have been? Jeremiah never courted me; t’ant likely that he would, after living in the house with me and ordering me about for as many years as he’d done. He said to me one day, he said, “Affery,” he said, “now I am going to tell you something. What do you think of the name of Flintwinch?” “What do I think of it?” I says. “Yes,” he said, “because you’re going to take it,” he said. “Take it?” I says. “Jere-mi-ah?” Oh! he’s a clever one!”

Mrs Flintwinch went on to spread the upper sheet over the bed, and the blanket over that, and the counterpane over that, as if she had quite concluded her story.

“Well?” said Arthur again.

“Well?” echoed Mrs Flintwinch again. “How could I help myself? He said to me, “Affery, you and me must be married, and I’ll tell you why. She’s failing in health, and she’ll want pretty constant attendance up in her room, and we shall have to be much with her, and there’ll be nobody about now but ourselves when we’re away from her, and altogether it will be more convenient. She’s of my opinion,” he said, “so if you’ll put your bonnet on next Monday morning at eight, we’ll get it over.”” Mrs Flintwinch tucked up the bed.

Last edit almost 5 years ago by Douglas Dodds
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