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ill……'
He paused again； and again she was silent。
'……that you had some knowledge of one Blandois； lately killed in London
by a violent accident。 Now； don't mistake me！ I know it was a slight
knowledge；' said Mr Meagles； dexterously forestalling an angry
interruption which he saw about to break。 'I am fully aware of that。 It
was a slight knowledge； I knoeagles's voice
here became fortable again； 'did he； on his way to England last time；
leave a box of papers； or a bundle of papers； or some papers or other in
some receptacle or other……any papers……with you： begging you to allow him
to leave them here for a short time； until he wanted them？'
'The question is？' she repeated。 'Whose question is？'
'Mine；' said Mr Meagles。 'And not only mine but Clennam's question； and
other people's question。 Now； I am sure；' continued Mr Meagles； whose
heart was overflowing with Pet； 'that you can't have any unkind feeling
towards my daughter； it's impossible。 Well！ It's her question； too；
being one in which a particular friend of hers is nearly interested。
So here I am； frankly to say that is the question； and to ask； Now； did
he？'
'Upon my word；' she returned； 'I seem to be a mark for everybody who
knew anything of a man I once in my life hired； and paid； and dismissed；
to aim their questions at！'
'Now； don't；' remonstrated Mr Meagles； 'don't！ Don't take offence；
because it's the plainest question in the world； and might be asked
of any one。 The documents I refer to were not his own； were wrongfully
obtained； might at some time or other be troublesome to an innocent
person to have in keeping； and are sought by the people to whom they
really belong。 He passed through Calais going to London； and there were
reasons why he should not take them with him then； why he should wish
to be able to put his hand upon them readily； and why he should distrust
leaving them with people of his own sort。 Did he leave them here？ I
declare if I knew how to avoid giving you offence； I would take any
pains to do it。 I put the question personally； but there's nothing
personal in it。 I might put it to any one； I have put it already to many
people。 Did he leave them here？ Did he leave anything here？'
'No。'
'Then unfortunately； Miss Wade； you know nothing about them？'
'I know nothing about them。 I have now answered your unaccountable
question。 He did not leave them here； and I know nothing about them。'
'There！' said Mr Meagles rising。 'I am sorry for it； that's over； and I
hope there is not much harm done。……Tattycoram well； Miss Wade？'
'Harriet well？ O yes！'
'I have put my foot in it again；' said Mr Meagles； thus corrected。 'I
can't keep my foot out of it here； it seems。 Perhaps； if I had thought
twice about it； I might never have given her the jingling name。 But；
when one means to be good…natured and sportive with young people； one
doesn't think twice。 Her old friend leaves a kind word for her； Miss
Wade； if you should think proper to deliver it。'
She said nothing as to that； and Mr Meagles； taking his honest face out
of the dull room； where it shone like a sun； took it to the Hotel where
he had left Mrs Meagles； and where he made the Report： 'Beaten； Mother；
no effects！' He took it next to the London Steam Packet； which sailed in
the night； and next to the Marshalsea。
The faithful John was on duty when Father and Mother Meagles presented
themselves at the wicket towards nightfall。 Miss Dorrit was not there
then； he said； but she had been there in the morning； and invariably
came in the evening。 Mr Clennam was slowly mending； and Maggy and Mrs
Plornish and Mr Baptist took care of him by turns。 Miss Dorrit was sure
to e back that evening before the bell rang。 There was the room the
Marshal had lent her； up…stairs； in which they could wait for her； if
they pleased。 Mistrustful that it might be hazardous to Arthur to see
him without preparation； Mr Meagles accepted the offer； and they were
left shut up in the room； looking down through its barred window into
the jail。
The cramped area of the prison had such an effect on Mrs Meagles that
she began to weep； and such an effect on Mr Meagles that he began to
gasp for air。 He was walking up and down the room； panting； and making
himself worse by laboriously fanning himself with her handkerchief； when
he turned towards the opening door。
'Eh？ Good gracious！' said Mr Meagles； 'this is not Miss Dorrit！ Why；
Mother； look！ Tattycoram！'
No other。 And in Tattycoram's arms was an iron box some two feet square。
Such a box had Affery Flintwinch seen； in the first of her dreams； going
out of the old house in the dead of the night under Double's arm。 This；
Tattycoram put on the ground at her old master's feet： this； Tattycoram
fell on her knees by； and beat her hands upon； crying half in exultation
and half in despair； half in laughter and half in tears； 'Pardon； dear
Master； take me back； dear Mistress； here it is！'
'Tatty！' exclaimed Mr Meagles。
'What you wanted！' said Tattycoram。 'Here it is！ I was put in the next
room not to see you。 I heard you ask her about it； I heard her say she
hadn't got it； I was there when he left it； and I took it at bedtime and
brought it away。 Here it is！'
'Why； my girl；' cried Mr Meagles； more breathless than before； 'how did
you e over？'
'I came in the boat with you。 I was sitting wrapped up at the other end。
When you took a coach at the wharf； I took another coach and followed
you here。 She never would have given it up after what you had said to
her about its being wanted； she would sooner have sunk it in the sea； or
burnt it。 But； here it is！'
The glow and rapture that the girl was in； with her 'Here it is！'
'She never wanted it to be left； I must say that for her； but he left
it； and I knew well that after what you said； and after her denying
it； she never would have given it up。 But here it is！ Dear Master； dear
Mistress； take me back again； and give me back the dear old name！ Let
this intercede for me。 Here it is！'
Father and Mother Meagles never deserved their names better than when
they took the headstrong foundling…girl into their protection again。
'Oh！ I have been so wretched；' cried Tattycoram； weeping much more；
'always so unhappy； and so repentant！ I was afraid of her from the first
time I saw her。 I knew she had got a power over me through understanding
what was bad in me so well。 It was a madness in me； and she could raise
it whenever she liked。 I used to think； when I got into that state； that
people were all against me because of my first beginning； and the kinder
they were to me； the worse fault I found in them。 I made it out that
they triumphed above me； and that they wanted to make me envy them； when
I know……when I even knew then……that they never thought of such a thing。
And my beautiful young mistress not so happy as she ought to have been；
and I gone away from her！ Such a brute and a wretch as she must think
me！ But you'll say a word to her for me； and ask her to be as forgiving
as you two are？ For I am not so bad as I was；' pleaded Tattycoram； 'I am
bad enough； but not so bad as I was； indeed。 I have had Miss Wade
before me all this time； as if it was my own self grown ripe……turning
everything the wrong way； and twisting all good into evil。 I have had
her before me all this time； finding no pleasure in anything but keeping
me as miserable； suspicious； and tormenting as herself。 Not that she had
much to do； to do that；' cried Tattycoram； in a closing great burst of
distress； 'for I was as bad as bad could be。 I only mean to say； that；
after what I have gone through； I hope I shall never be quite so bad
again； and that I shall get better by very slow degrees。 I'll try very
hard。 I won't stop at five…and…twenty； sir； I'll count five…and…twenty
hundred； five…and…twenty thousand！'
Another opening of the door； and Tattycoram subsided； and Little Dorrit
came in； and Mr Meagles with pride and joy produced the box； and her
gentle face was lighted up with grateful happiness and joy。
The secret was safe now！ She could keep her own part of it from him； he
should never know of her loss； in time to e he should know all that
was of i