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him。 He could only stare； and sometimes weakly mutter that it wouldn't
be believed down Bleeding Heart Yard that this was Pancks； but he never
said a word more； or made a sign more； even to Little Dorrit。
Mr Pancks crowned his mysteries by making himself acquainted with Tip
in some unknown manner； and taking a Sunday saunter into the College
on that gentleman's arm。 Throughout he never took any notice of Little
Dorrit； save once or twice when he happened to e close to her and
there was no one very near； on which occasions； he said in passing；
with a friendly look and a puff of encouragement； 'Pancks the
gipsy……fortune…telling。'
Little Dorrit worked and strove as usual； wondering at all this； but
keeping her wonder； as she had from her earliest years kept many heavier
loads； in her own breast。 A change had stolen； and was stealing yet；
over the patient heart。 Every day found her something more retiring
than the day before。 To pass in and out of the prison unnoticed； and
elsewhere to be overlooked and forgotten； were； for herself； her chief
desires。
To her own room too； strangely assorted room for her delicate youth
and character； she was glad to retreat as often as she could without
desertion of any duty。 There were afternoon times when she was
unemployed； when visitors dropped in to play a hand at cards with her
father； when she could be spared and was better away。 Then she would
flit along the yard； climb the scores of stairs that led to her room；
and take her seat at the window。 Many binations did those spikes
upon the wall assume； many light shapes did the strong iron weave itself
into； many golden touches fell upon the rust； while Little Dorrit sat
there musing。 New zig…zags sprung into the cruel pattern sometimes； when
she saw it through a burst of tears； but beautified or hardened still；
always over it and under it and through it； she was fain to look in her
solitude； seeing everything with that ineffaceable brand。
A garret； and a Marshalsea garret without promise； was Little
Dorrit's room。 Beautifully kept； it was ugly in itself； and had little
but cleanliness and air to set it off； for what embellishment she had
ever been able to buy； had gone to her father's room。 Howbeit； for this
poor place she showed an increasing love； and to sit in it alone became
her favourite rest。
Insomuch； that on a certain afternoon during the Pancks mysteries； when
she was seated at her window； and heard Maggy's well…known step ing
up the stairs； she was very much disturbed by the apprehension of being
summoned away。 As Maggy's step came higher up and nearer； she trembled
and faltered； and it was as much as she could do to speak； when Maggy at
length appeared。
'Please； Little Mother；' said Maggy； panting for breath； 'you must e
down and see him。 He's here。'
'Who； Maggy？'
'Who； o' course Mr Clennam。 He's in your father's room； and he says to
me； Maggy； will you be so kind and go and say it's only me。'
'I am not very well； Maggy。 I had better not go。 I am going to lie down。
See！ I lie down now； to ease my head。 Say； with my grateful regard； that
you left me so； or I would have e。'
'Well； it an't very polite though； Little Mother；' said the staring
Maggy； 'to turn your face away； neither！'
Maggy was very susceptible to personal slights； and very ingenious in
inventing them。 'Putting both your hands afore your face too！' she went
on。 'If you can't bear the looks of a poor thing； it would be better to
tell her so at once； and not go and shut her out like that； hurting her
feelings and breaking her heart at ten year old； poor thing！'
'It's to ease my head； Maggy。'
'Well； and if you cry to ease your head； Little Mother； let me cry too。
Don't go and have all the crying to yourself；' expostulated Maggy； 'that
an't not being greedy。' And immediately began to blubber。
It was with some difficulty that she could be induced to go back with
the excuse； but the promise of being told a story……of old her great
delight……on condition that she concentrated her faculties upon the
errand and left her little mistress to herself for an hour longer；
bined with a misgiving on Maggy's part that she had left her good
temper at the bottom of the staircase； prevailed。 So away she went；
muttering her message all the way to keep it in her mind； and； at the
appointed time； came back。
'He was very sorry； I can tell you；' she announced； 'and wanted to send
a doctor。 And he's ing again to…morrow he is and I don't think he'll
have a good sleep to…night along o' hearing about your head； Little
Mother。 Oh my！ Ain't you been a…crying！'
'I think I have； a little； Maggy。'
'A little！ Oh！'
'But it's all over now……all over for good； Maggy。 And my head is much
better and cooler； and I am quite fortable。 I am very glad I did not
go down。'
Her great staring child tenderly embraced her； and having smoothed her
hair； and bathed her forehead and eyes with cold water （offices in which
her awkward hands became skilful）； hugged her again； exulted in her
brighter looks； and stationed her in her chair by the window。 Over
against this chair； Maggy； with apoplectic exertions that were not
at all required； dragged the box which was her seat on story…telling
occasions； sat down upon it； hugged her own knees； and said； with a
voracious appetite for stories； and with widely…opened eyes：
'Now； Little Mother； let's have a good 'un！'
'What shall it be about； Maggy？'
'Oh； let's have a princess；' said Maggy； 'and let her be a reg'lar one。
Beyond all belief； you know！'
Little Dorrit considered for a moment； and with a rather sad smile upon
her face； which was flushed by the sunset； began：
'Maggy； there was once upon a time a fine King； and he had everything he
could wish for； and a great deal more。 He had gold and silver； diamonds
and rubies； riches of every kind。 He had palaces； and he had……'
'Hospitals；' interposed Maggy； still nursing her knees。 'Let him have
hospitals； because they're so fortable。 Hospitals with lots of
Chicking。'
'Yes； he had plenty of them； and he had plenty of everything。'
'Plenty of baked potatoes； for instance？' said Maggy。
'Plenty of everything。'
'Lor！' chuckled Maggy； giving her knees a hug。 'Wasn't it prime！'
'This King had a daughter； who was the wisest and most beautiful
Princess that ever was seen。 When she was a child she understood all her
lessons before her masters taught them to her； and when she was grown
up； she was the wonder of the world。 Now； near the Palace where this
Princess lived； there was a cottage in which there was a poor little
tiny woman； who lived all alone by herself。'
'An old woman；' said Maggy； with an unctuous smack of her lips。
'No； not an old woman。 Quite a young one。'
'I wonder she warn't afraid；' said Maggy。 'Go on； please。'
'The Princess passed the cottage nearly every day； and whenever she went
by in her beautiful carriage； she saw the poor tiny woman spinning at
her wheel； and she looked at the tiny woman； and the tiny woman looked
at her。 So； one day she stopped the coachman a little way from the
cottage； and got out and walked on and peeped in at the door； and there；
as usual； was the tiny woman spinning at her wheel； and she looked at
the Princess； and the Princess looked at her。'
'Like trying to stare one another out；' said Maggy。 'Please go on；
Little Mother。'
'The Princess was such a wonderful Princess that she had the power of
knowing secrets； and she said to the tiny woman； Why do you keep it
there？ This showed her directly that the Princess knew why she lived
all alone by herself spinning at her wheel； and she kneeled down at
the Princess's feet； and asked her never to betray her。 So the Princess
said； I never will betray you。 Let me see it。 So the tiny woman closed
the shutter of the cottage window and fastened the door； and trembling
from head to foot for fear that any one should suspect her； opened a
very secret place and showed the Princess a shadow。'
'Lor！' said Maggy。 'It was the shadow of Some one who had gone by long
before： of Some one who had gone on far away quite out of reach； never；
never to e back。 It was bright to look at； and when the tiny woman
showed it to the Princess； she was proud of it with all her heart； as
a great； great treasure。 When the Princess had considered it a little
while； she said to the tiny woman； And you keep watch over this every
day？ And she cast down her eyes； and whispered； Yes。 Then the Princess
said； Remind me why。 To which the other replied； that no one so good and
kind had ever passed that way； and that was why in the beginning。 She
said； too； that nobody missed it； that nobody was the worse for it； that
Some one had gone on； to those who were expecting him……'
'Some one was a man then？' interposed Maggy。
Little Dorrit timidly said Yes； she believed so； and resumed：
'……Had gone on to those who were expecting him； and that this
remembrance was stolen or kept back from nobody。 The Princess made
answer； Ah！ But when the cottager died it would be discovered there。 The
tiny woman told her No； when that time came； it would sink quietly into
her own grave； and would never be found。'
'Well