e,
'always so unhappy, and so repentant! I was afraid of her from the first
time I saw her. I knew she had got a power over me through understanding
what was bad in me so well. It was a madness in me, and she could raise
it whenever she liked. I used to think, when I got into that state, that
people were all against me because of my first beginning; and the kinder
they were to me, the worse fault I found in them. I made it out that
they triumphed above me, and that they wanted to make me envy them, when
I know--when I even knew then--that they never thought of such a thing.
And my beautiful young mistress not so happy as she ought to have been,
and I gone away from her! Such a brute and a wretch as she must think
me! But you'll say a word to her for me, and ask her to be as forgiving
as you two are? For I am not so bad as I was,' pleaded Tattycoram; 'I am
bad enough, but not so bad as I was, indeed. I have had Miss Wade
before me all this time, as if it was my own self grown ripe--turning
everything the wrong way, and twisting all good into evil. I have had
her before me all this time, finding no pleasure in anything but keeping
me as miserable, suspicious, and tormenting as herself. Not that she had
much to do, to do that,' cried Tattycoram, in a closing great burst of
distress, 'for I was as bad as bad could be. I only mean to say, that,
after what I have gone through, I hope I shall never be quite so bad
again, and that I shall get better by very slow degrees. I'll try very
hard. I won't stop at five-and-twenty, sir, I'll count five-and-twenty
hundred, five-and-twenty thousand!'

Another opening of the door, and Tattycoram subsided, and Little Dorrit
came in, and Mr Meagles with pride and joy produced the box, and her
gentle face was lighted up with grateful happiness and joy.

The secret was safe now! She could keep her own part of it from him; he
should never know of her loss; in time to come he should know all that
was of import to himself; but he should never know what concerned her
only. That was all passed, all forgiven, all forgotten.

'Now, my dear Miss Dorrit,' said Mr Meagles; 'I am a man of business--or
at least was--and I am going to take my measures promptly, in that
character. Had I better see Arthur to-night?'

'I think not to-night. I will go to his room and ascertain how he is.
But I think it will be better not to see him to-night.'

'I am much of your opinion, my dear,' said Mr Meagles, 'and the