Chapter 34 - Page 2

pleasure to me to hear you speak so feelingly, and to--and to see,'
said Little Dorrit, raising her eyes to his, 'how deeply you mean
it, that I cannot say Don't.'

He lifted her hand to his lips.

'You have been here many, many times, when I have not seen you,
Little Dorrit?'

'Yes, I have been here sometimes when I have not come into the
room.'

'Very often?'

'Rather often,' said Little Dorrit, timidly.

'Every day?'

'I think,' said Little Dorrit, after hesitating, 'that I have been
here at least twice every day.'
He might have released the little light hand after fervently
kissing it again; but that, with a very gentle lingering where it
was, it seemed to court being retained. He took it in both of his,
and it lay softly on his breast.

'Dear Little Dorrit, it is not my imprisonment only that will soon
be over. This sacrifice of you must be ended. We must learn to
part again, and to take our different ways so wide asunder. You
have not forgotten what we said together, when you came back?'

'O no, I have not forgotten it. But something has been--You feel
quite strong to-day, don't you?'

'Quite strong.'

The hand he held crept up a little nearer his face.

'Do you feel quite strong enough to know what a great fortune I
have got?'

'I shall be very glad to be told. No fortune can be too great or
good for Little Dorrit.'

'I have been anxiously waiting to tell you. I have been longing
and longing to tell you. You are sure you will not take it?'

'Never!'

'You are quite sure you will not take half of it?'

'Never, dear Little Dorrit!'

As she looked at him silently, there was something in her
affectionate face that he did not quite comprehend: something that
could have broken into tears in a moment, and yet that was happy
and proud.

'You will be sorry to hear what I have to tell you about Fanny.
Poor Fanny has lost everything. She has nothing left but her
husband's income. All that papa gave her when she married was lost
as your money was lost. It was in the same hands, and it is all
gone.'

Arthur was more shocked than surprised to hear it. 'I had hoped it
might not be so bad,' he said: 'but I had feared a heavy loss
there, knowing the connection between her husband and the
defaulter.'

'Yes. It is all gone. I am very sorry for Fanny; very, very, very
sorry for poor Fanny. My poor brother too!'
'Had he property in the same hands?'

'Yes! And it's all gone.--How much do you think my own great
fortune is?'

As Arthur looked at her inquiringly, with a new apprehension on
him, she withdrew her hand, and laid her face down on the spot