If you will put it in the fire with your
own hand, just as it is, my fancy will be gratified.'
'Superstitious, darling Little Dorrit? Is it a charm?'
'It is anything you like best, my own,' she answered, laughing with
glistening eyes and standing on tiptoe to kiss him, 'if you will
only humour me when the fire burns up.'
So they stood before the fire, waiting: Clennam with his arm about
her waist, and the fire shining, as fire in that same place had
often shone, in Little Dorrit's eyes. 'Is it bright enough now?'
said Arthur. 'Quite bright enough now,' said Little Dorrit. 'Does
the charm want any words to be said?' asked Arthur, as he held the
paper over the flame. 'You can say (if you don't mind) "I love
you!' answered Little Dorrit. So he said it, and the paper burned
away.
They passed very quietly along the yard; for no one was there,
though many heads were stealthily peeping from the windows.
Only one face, familiar of old, was in the Lodge. When they had
both accosted it, and spoken many kind words, Little Dorrit turned
back one last time with her hand stretched out, saying, 'Good-bye,
good John! I hope you will live very happy, dear!'
Then they went up the steps of the neighbouring Saint George's
Church, and went up to the altar, where Daniel Doyce was waiting in
his paternal character. And there was Little Dorrit's old friend
who had given her the Burial Register for a pillow; full of
admiration that she should come back to them to be married, after
all.
And they were married with the sun shining on them through the
painted figure of Our Saviour on the window. And they went into
the very room where Little Dorrit had slumbered after her party, to
sign the Marriage Register. And there, Mr Pancks, (destined to be
chief clerk to Doyce and Clennam, and afterwards partner in the
house), sinking the Incendiary in the peaceful friend, looked in at
the door to see it done, with Flora gallantly supported on one arm
and Maggy on the other, and a back-ground of John Chivery and
father and other turnkeys who had run round for the moment,
deserting the parent Marshalsea for its happy child. Nor had Flora
the least signs of seclusion upon her, notwithstanding her recent
declaration; but, on the contrary, was wonderfully smart, and
enjoyed the ceremonies mightily, though in a fluttered way.
Little Dorrit's old friend held the inkstand as she signed her
name, and the clerk paused in taking off the good clergyman's
surplice, and all the witnesses looked on with special interest.
'For, you see,' said Little Dorrit's old friend, 'this young lady
is one of our curiosities, and has come now to the third volume of
our Registers. Her birth is in what I call the first volume; she
lay asleep, on this very floor, with her pretty head on what I call
the second volume; and she's now a-writing her little name as a
bride in what I call the third volume.'
They all gave place when the signing was done, and Little Dorrit
and her husband walked out of the church alone. They paused for a
moment on the steps of the portico, looking at the fresh
perspective of the street in the autumn morning sun's bright rays,
and then went down.
Went down into a modest life of usefulness and happiness. Went
down to give a mother's care, in the fulness of time, to Fanny's
neglected children no less than to their own, and to leave that
lady going into Society for ever and a day.
