Крихітка Дорріт

Chapter 22. A Puzzle

           ThatfromthesonsetforththatMrClennamwould,heknew,begratifiedtohearthathehadatlengthobtainedpermanentemploymentofahighlysatisfactorynature,accompaniedwitheveryprospectofcompletesuccessinlife;butthatthetemporaryinabilityofhisemployertopayhimhisarrearsofsalarytothatdate(inwhichconditionsaidemployerhadappealedtothatgenerousforbearanceinwhichhetrustedheshouldneverbewantingtowardsafellow-creature),combinedwiththefraudulentconductofafalsefriendandthepresenthighpriceofprovisions,hadreducedhimtothevergeofruin,unlesshecouldbyaquarterbeforesixthateveningraisethesumofeightpounds.Thissum,MrClennamwouldbehappytolearn,hehad,throughthepromptitudeofseveralfriendswhohadalivelyconfidenceinhisprobity,alreadyraised,withtheexceptionofatriflingbalanceofonepoundseventeenandfourpence;theloanofwhichbalance,fortheperiodofonemonth,wouldbefraughtwiththeusualbeneficentconsequences.

           TheselettersClennamansweredwiththeaidofhispencilandpocket-book,onthespot;sendingthefatherwhatheaskedfor,andexcusinghimselffromcompliancewiththedemandoftheson.HethencommissionedMaggytoreturnwithhisreplies,andgavehertheshillingofwhichthefailureofhersupplementalenterprisewouldhavedisappointedherotherwise.

           WhenherejoinedLittleDorrit,andtheyhadbegunwalkingasbefore,shesaidallatonce:

           ‘IthinkIhadbettergo.Ihadbettergohome.’

           ‘Don’tbedistressed,’saidClennam,‘Ihaveansweredtheletters.Theywerenothing.

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