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.042 recto
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.042 recto

But now came the [???] most remarkable part of [her ????] the dream. She felt so afraid of her husband, [?that ?????? ?] that [?standing?] [?standing?] being on the staircase, she had not the power to retreat to her room but stood there (which she [?could have?] might easily have done [???? he ????] before he had fastened the door), but stood there staring. Consequently when he came up the staircase to bed, candle in hand, he came full upon her. He looked astonished, but said not a word. He kept his eyes upon her, and kept advancing; and she, completely under his influence, kept retiring before him [?backward?]. Thus, she walking backward and he walking forward, they came into their own room. [????] They [?no?] sooner did were no sooner shut in there, than Mr Flintwinch took her by the throat, and shook her until she was black in the face.

“Why, Affery, woman—Affery!” said Mr Flintwinch. “What have you been dreaming of? Wake up, wake up! What’s the matter?”

“The—the matter, Jeremiah?” gasped Mrs Flintwinch, [?? looking about her ??] rolling her eyes.

“Why, Affery, woman—Affery! [???] You have been getting out of bed in your sleep, my dear! I come up, after falling having fallen asleep myself, below, and find you in your wrapper here, [?dreaming of some??] with the nightmare. [what was ??????] Affery, woman, [???? of?]” said Mr Flintwinch, with a [??????? ???? ??????] ?fr????? friendly grin on his expressive countenance [????], “if you [????] ever have a dream of this sort again, [?I must give you?] it’ll be a sign of your being in want of physic. And I’ll give you such a dose, old woman—such a dose!”

Mrs Flintwinch thanked him and crept into bed.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by elc502
Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.043 recto
Needs Review

Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.043 recto

A 34 presented to his wife; the sleeping Flintwinch was in profile. The waking Flintwinch became impatient while Affery [????] was the mad old original; the sleeping Flintwinch was the double. Just as she [?????] might have [????] the [?????] distinguished between a [?????] the [????] a tangible object and a reflection of its reflection in a glass, Affery made out this [?distinction?] difference with her head going round and round.

[????] Mr. Flintwinch [?? ??? ???? ?? ????] If she had had any [?lingering?] [??????? ?????????] doubt which was her own particular Flintwinch Jeremiah, she was it would have been resolved by his impatience. He looked about him for an offensive weapon, caught up the snuffers, and before applying them to the cabbage-headed candle lunged at the sleeper as though he would have run him through the body. if he had kept [?????]

[D?]“Who’s that? What’s the matter?” cried the sleeper, starting.

Mr Flintwinch upon this Upon this made a sudden Mr Flintwinch [?? ?????] this made a movement with the snuffers, as if he would have enforced enforced [??????] silence on [??? ?????????] his companion by putting them down his throat; and upon that, his the companion [????] came to himself, and said, rubbing his eyes, “I forgot where I was.”

“You have been asleep,” said snarled Jeremiah, "[????] mo[???] referring to his watch, “two hours. You said you [???? ???] yourself would be sufficiently rested enough if you had a short nap.”

“I have had a short nap," said the double returned said Double.

[?][????] Half-past two o’clock in the morning,” muttered [?????] muttered Jeremiah. “[??? ????? ??? ????] Where’s your hat? Where’s your coat? Where’s the box?”

Here they are All here,” said Double, tying himself up his throat with a sleepy carefulness in a shawl. “Stop a minute. Now give me the sleeve—not that sleeve, the other one. Ha! ?? I’m not as young as I was.” Mr Flintwinch had in the mean time pulled him into his coat with a [??????????] vehement viciousness. “You promised a me second glass after I was rested.”

Jeremiah“Drink it!” said returned Jeremiah, “and go." at the same time he produced the [????? ??? ??] he spoke choke yourself, I was going to say—

remainder of [??????] but go, I mean.” as [?? ???] at the same time he produced the identical port-wine bottle, and poured out filled a glassful wine-glass.

“Her port-wine, I believe?” said Double, tasting it as if he were in the Docks, with hours to spare. “Her health.”

He took a sip.

“Your health!”

He took another sip.

“His health!”

He [?took another sip?] took another sip.

“And all friends round St Paul’s. not forgetting the - the Trunkmaker at the corner ” He emptied and put down the wine-glass half-way through this ancient civic toast, and took up the box [?and ???? ???] as an illustration of the remaining clause. It was not a trunk, however, but an It was an iron box some two feet square, which he carried under his arms pretty easily. Jeremiah watched his manner of adjusting it, with jealous eyes; tried it with his hands, to be sure that he had [?it firmly in?] a firm hold of it; bade him for his life be careful what he was about; and then stole out on tiptoe to open the door for him. Mrs Flint- Affery, antici-pating the last movement, was on the staircase. The sequence of things in her dream was so [???] ordinary and natural, that, standing there, she could hear the door open and ??? open, feel the night air, and see the stars outside.

Last edit almost 3 years ago by elc502
Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.043 verso (End of No. I)
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Little Dorrit Vol.1 f.043 verso (End of No. I)

Little Dorrit Nobody's Fault No. I. [Double Underline]

Last edit almost 5 years ago by Douglas Dodds
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23 Chapter XXIX. Mrs Flintwinch ??? ??? ????? goes on dreaming.

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