Then, because she was never to be more than ten years old, however long she lived--' 'However long she lived,' echoed Maggy.
'And because she was very weak; indeed was so weak that when she began to laugh she couldn't stop herself--which was a great pity--' (Maggy mighty grave of a sudden.) 'Her grandmother did not know what to do with her, and for some years was very unkind to her indeed.

At length, in course of time, Maggy began to take pains to improve herself, and to be very attentive and very industrious; and by degrees was allowed to come in and out as often as she liked, and got enough to do to support herself, and does support herself.

And that,' said Little Dorrit, clapping the two great hands together again, 'is Maggy's history, as Maggy knows!' Ah! But Arthur would have known what was wanting to its completeness, though he had never heard of the words Little mother; though he had never seen the fondling of the small spare hand; though he had had no sight for the tears now standing in the colourless eyes; though he had had no hearing for the sob that checked the clumsy laugh.

The dirty gateway with the wind and rain whistling through it, and the basket of muddy potatoes waiting to be spilt again or taken up, never seemed the common hole it really was, when he looked back to it by these lights.
Never, never! They were very near the end of their walk, and they now came out of the gateway to finish it.

Nothing would serve Maggy but that they must stop at a grocer's window, short of their destination, for her to show her learning.