Little Dorrit - Page 186/462

If Clennam had not decided against falling in love with Pet; if he

had had the weakness to do it; if he had, little by little, persuaded

himself to set all the earnestness of his nature, all the might of his

hope, and all the wealth of his matured character, on that cast; if

he had done this and found that all was lost; he would have been,

that night, unutterably miserable. As it was--As it was, the rain fell

heavily, drearily.