Крошка Доррит

           ForherIwithmyownhandsleftapacketattheprison,onmywayhere,withaletterofinstructions,“forhissake”—shewilldoanythingforhissake—tokeepitwithoutbreakingtheseal,incaseofitsbeingreclaimedbeforethehourofshuttingupto-night—ifitshouldnotbereclaimedbeforetheringingoftheprisonbell,togiveittohim;anditenclosesasecondcopyforherself,whichhemustgivetoher.What!Idon’ttrustmyselfamongyou,nowwehavegotsofar,withoutgivingmysecretasecondlife.Andastoitsnotbringingme,elsewhere,thepriceitwillbringhere,saythen,madame,haveyoulimitedandsettledthepricethelittleniecewillgive—forhissake—tohushitup?OncemoreIsay,timepresses.Thepacketnotreclaimedbeforetheringingofthebellto-night,youcannotbuy.Isell,then,tothelittlegirl!’

           Oncemorethestirandstruggleinher,andsherantoacloset,torethedooropen,tookdownahoodorshawl,andwrappeditoverherhead.Affery,whohadwatchedherinterror,dartedtoherinthemiddleoftheroom,caughtholdofherdress,andwentonherkneestoher.

           ‘Don’t,don’t,don’t!Whatareyoudoing?Whereareyougoing?You’reafearfulwoman,butIdon’tbearyounoill-will.IcandopoorArthurnogoodnow,thatIsee;andyouneedn’tbeafraidofme.I’llkeepyoursecret.Don’tgoout,you’llfalldeadinthestreet.Onlypromiseme,that,ifit’sthepoorthingthat’skeptheresecretly,you’llletmetakechargeofherandbehernurse.Onlypromisemethat,andneverbeafraidofme.