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Chapter 6. The Father of the Marshalsea

           Withthisprofessionoffaith,thedoctor,whowasanoldjail-bird,andwasmoresoddenthanusual,andhadtheadditionalandunusualstimulusofmoneyinhispocket,returnedtohisassociateandchuminhoarseness,puffiness,red-facedness,all-fours,tobacco,dirt,andbrandy.

           Now,thedebtorwasaverydifferentmanfromthedoctor,buthehadalreadybeguntotravel,byhisoppositesegmentofthecircle,tothesamepoint.Crushedatfirstbyhisimprisonment,hehadsoonfoundadullreliefinit.Hewasunderlockandkey;butthelockandkeythatkepthimin,keptnumbersofhistroublesout.Ifhehadbeenamanwithstrengthofpurposetofacethosetroublesandfightthem,hemighthavebrokenthenetthatheldhim,orbrokenhisheart;butbeingwhathewas,helanguidlyslippedintothissmoothdescent,andnevermoretookonestepupward.

           Whenhewasrelievedoftheperplexedaffairsthatnothingwouldmakeplain,throughhavingthemreturneduponhishandsbyadozenagentsinsuccessionwhocouldmakeneitherbeginning,middle,norendofthemorhim,hefoundhismiserableplaceofrefugeaquieterrefugethanithadbeenbefore.Hehadunpackedtheportmanteaulongago;andhiselderchildrennowplayedregularlyabouttheyard,andeverybodyknewthebaby,andclaimedakindofproprietorshipinher.

           ‘Why,I’mgettingproudofyou,’saidhisfriendtheturnkey,oneday.‘You’llbetheoldestinhabitantsoon.TheMarshalseawouldn’tbeliketheMarshalseanow,withoutyouandyourfamily.’

           Theturnkeyreallywasproudofhim.

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