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'My name, sir,' replied the old man most unexpectedly, 'is Dorrit'

Arthur pulled off his hat to him 'Grant me the favour of half-a-dozen

words I holly unprepared for your announcey for having taken the liberty of

addressing you I have recently co

absence I have seen atat her needle, whom I have only heard addressed or spoken

of as Little Dorrit I have felt sincerely interested in her, and have

had a great desire to know so more about her I saw her, not a

minute before you came up, pass in at that door'

The old man looked at him attentively 'Are you a sailor, sir?' he

asked He seemed a little disappointed by the shake of the head that

replied to hied froht be Are you in earnest, sir?'

'I do assure you that I am, and do entreat you to believe that I am, in

plain earnest' 'I know very little of the world, sir,' returned the other, who had a

weak and quavering voice 'I a on, like the shadow over

the sun-dial It would be worth no man's while to mislead me; it would