’Butthisisnot，’sheadded，withthequieteffortagain，’whatI
havecometotroubleyouwith，sir。Mysister’shavingfoundafriend，aladyshehastoldmeofandmademeratheranxiousabout，wasthefirstcauseofmycomingawayfromhome。Andbeingaway，andcomingonpurposeroundbywhereyoulivedandseeingalightinthewindow——’
Notforthefirsttime。No，notforthefirsttime。InLittleDorrit’seyes，theoutsideofthatwindowhadbeenadistantstaronothernightsthanthis。Shehadtoiledoutofherway，tiredandtroubled，tolookupatit，andwonderaboutthegrave，browngentlemanfromsofaroff，whohadspokentoherasafriendandprotector。
’Therewerethreethings，’saidLittleDorrit，’thatIthoughtI
wouldliketosay，ifyouwerealoneandImightcomeup-stairs。