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'It is a curious chance which at last brings us together； under this
covering in which you have wrapped me；' said the visitor after a
pause；'for do you know； I think I have been looking for you some time。'
'Looking for me？'
'I believe I have a little note here； which I was to give to you
whenever I found you。 This is it。 Unless I greatly mistake； it is
addressed to you？ Is it not？'
The lady took it； and said yes； and read it。 Her visitor watched her as
she did so。 It was very short。 She flushed a little as she put her lips
to her visitor's cheek； and pressed her hand。
'The dear young friend to whom he presents me； may be a fort to me
at some time； he says。 She is truly a fort to me the first time I see
her。'
'Perhaps you don't；' said the visitor； hesitating……'perhaps you don't
know my story？ Perhaps he never told you my story？'
'No。'
'Oh no； why should he！ I have scarcely the right to tell it myself at
present； because I have been entreated not to do so。 There is not much
in it； but it might account to you for my asking you not to say anything
about the letter here。 You saw my family with me； perhaps？ Some of
them……I only say this to you……are a little proud； a little prejudiced。'
'You shall take it back again；' said the other； 'and then my husband is
sure not to see it。 He might see it and speak of it； otherwise； by some
accident。 Will you put it in your bosom again； to be certain？'
She did so with great care。 Her small； slight hand was still upon the
letter； when they heard some one in the gallery outside。
'I promised；' said the visitor； rising； 'that I would write to him after
seeing you （I could hardly fail to see you sooner or later）； and tell
him if you were well and happy。 I had better say you were well and
happy。'
'Yes； yes； yes！ Say I was very well and very happy。 And that I thanked
him affectionately； and would never forget him。'
'I shall see you in the morning。 After that we are sure to meet again
before very long。 Good night！'
'Good night。 Thank you； thank you。 Good night； my dear！'
Both of them were hurried and fluttered as they exchanged this parting；
and as the visitor came out of the door。 She had expected to meet the
lady's husband approaching it； but the person in the gallery was not
he： it was the traveller who had wiped the wine…drops from his moustache
with the piece of bread。 When he heard the step behind him； he turned
round……for he was walking away in the dark。 His politeness； which
was extreme； would not allow of the young lady's lighting herself
down…stairs； or going down alone。 He took her lamp； held it so as to
throw the best light on the stone steps； and followed her all the way
to the supper…room。 She went down； not easily hiding how much she was
inclined to shrink and tremble； for the appearance of this traveller was
particularly disagreeable to her。 She had sat in her quiet corner before
supper imagining what he would have been in the scenes and places within
her experience； until he inspired her with an aversion that made him
little less than terrific。
He followed her down with his smiling politeness； followed her in；
and resumed his seat in the best place in the hearth。 There with the
wood…fire； which was beginning to burn low； rising and falling upon him
in the dark room； he sat with his legs thrust out to warm； drinking the
hot wine down to the lees； with a monstrous shadow imitating him on the
wall and ceiling。
The tired pany had broken up； and all the rest were gone to bed
except the young lady's father； who dozed in his chair by the fire。
The traveller had been at the pains of going a long way up…stairs to his
sleeping…room to fetch his pocket…flask of brandy。 He told them so； as
he poured its contents into what was left of the wine； and drank with a
new relish。
'May I ask； sir； if you are on your way to Italy？'
The grey…haired gentleman had roused himself； and was preparing to
withdraw。 He answered in the affirmative。
'I also！' said the traveller。 'I shall hope to have the honour
of offering my pliments in fairer scenes； and under softer
circumstances； than on this dismal mountain。'
The gentleman bowed； distantly enough； and said he was obliged to him。
'We poor gentlemen； sir；' said the traveller； pulling his moustache dry
with his hand； for he had dipped it in the wine and brandy； 'we poor
gentlemen do not travel like princes； but the courtesies and graces of
life are precious to us。 To your health； sir！'
'Sir； I thank you。'
'To the health of your distinguished family……of the fair ladies； your
daughters！'
'Sir； I thank you again； I wish you good night。 My dear； are
our……ha……our people in attendance？'
'They are close by； father。'
'Permit me！' said the traveller； rising and holding the door open； as
the gentleman crossed the room towards it with his arm drawn through his
daughter's。 'Good repose！ To the pleasure of seeing you once more！ To
to…morrow！'
As he kissed his hand； with his best manner and his daintiest smile；
the young lady drew a little nearer to her father； and passed him with a
dread of touching him。
'Humph！' said the insinuating traveller； whose manner shrunk； and whose
voice dropped when he was left alone。 'If they all go to bed； why I must
go。 They are in a devil of a hurry。 One would think the night would be
long enough； in this freezing silence and solitude； if one went to bed
two hours hence。'
Throwing back his head in emptying his glass； he cast his eyes upon the
travellers' book； which lay on the piano； open； with pens and ink beside
it； as if the night's names had been registered when he was absent。
Taking it in his hand； he read these entries。
William Dorrit； Esquire
Frederick Dorrit； Esquire
Edward Dorrit； Esquire
Miss Dorrit
Miss Amy Dorrit
Mrs General
and Suite。
From France to Italy。
Mr and Mrs Henry Gowan。
From France to Italy。
To which he added； in a small plicated hand； ending with a long lean
flourish； not unlike a lasso thrown at all the rest of the names：
Blandois。 Paris。
From France to Italy。
And then； with his nose ing down over his moustache and his moustache
going up and under his nose； repaired to his allotted cell。
CHAPTER 2。 Mrs General
It is indispensable to present the acplished lady who was of
sufficient importance in the suite of the Dorrit Family to have a line
to herself in the Travellers' Book。
Mrs General was the daughter of a clerical dignitary in a cathedral
town； where she had led the fashion until she was as near forty…five as
a single lady can be。 A stiff missariat officer of sixty； famous as a
marti； had then bee enamoured of the gravity with which she drove
the proprieties four…in…hand through the cathedral town society； and
had solicited to be taken beside her on the box of the cool coach of
ceremony to which that team was harnessed。 His proposal of marriage
being accepted by the lady； the missary took his seat behind
the proprieties with great decorum； and Mrs General drove until the
missary died。 In the course of their united journey； they ran over
several people who came in the way of the proprieties； but always in a
high style and with posure。
The missary having been buried with all the decorations suitable to
the service （the whole team of proprieties were harnessed to his hearse；
and they all had feathers and black velvet housings with his coat of
arms in the corner）； Mrs General began to inquire what quantity of dust
and ashes was deposited at the bankers'。 It then transpired that the
missary had so far stolen a march on Mrs General as to have bought
himself an annuity some years before his marriage； and to have reserved
that circumstance in mentioning； at the period of his proposal； that
his ine was derived from the interest of his money。 Mrs General
consequently found her means so much diminished； that； but for the
perfect regulation of her mind； she might have felt disposed to question
the accuracy of that portion of the late service which had declared that
the missary could take nothing away with him。
In this state of affairs it occurred to Mrs General； that she might
'form the mind；' and eke the manners of some young lady of distinction。
Or； that she might harness the proprieties to the carriage of some rich
young heiress or widow； and bee at once the driver and guard of such
vehicle through the social mazes。 Mrs General's munication of this
idea to her clerical and missariat connection was so warmly applauded
that； but for the lady's undoubted merit； it might have appeared as
though they wanted to get rid of her。 Testimonials representing Mrs
General as a prodigy of piety； learning； virtue； and gentility； were
lavishly contributed from influential quarters； and one venerable
archdeacon even shed tears in recording his testimony to her perfections
（described to him by persons on whom he could rely）； though he had never
had the honour and moral gratification of setting eyes on Mrs General in
all his life。
Thus delegated on her mission； as it were by Church and State； Mrs
General； who had always occupied high ground； felt in a co