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that……ha……superior woman was poorly。
Little Dorrit； in her watchful love； would have remembered the lightest
thing he said or did that night； though she had had no subsequent reason
to recall that night。 She always remembered that； when he looked about
him under the strong influence of the old association； he tried to
keep it out of her mind； and perhaps out of his own too； by immediately
expatiating on the great riches and great pany that had enpassed
him in his absence； and on the lofty position he and his family had to
sustain。 Nor did she fail to recall that there were two under…currents；
side by side； pervading all his discourse and all his manner； one
showing her how well he had got on without her； and how independent
he was of her； the other； in a fitful and unintelligible way almost
plaining of her； as if it had been possible that she had neglected
him while he was away。
His telling her of the glorious state that Mr Merdle kept； and of the
court that bowed before him； naturally brought him to Mrs Merdle。 So
naturally indeed； that although there was an unusual want of sequence in
the greater part of his remarks； he passed to her at once； and asked how
she was。
'She is very well。 She is going away next week。'
'Home？' asked Mr Dorrit。
'After a few weeks' stay upon the road。'
'She will be a vast loss here；' said Mr Dorrit。 'A vast……ha……acquisition
at home。 To Fanny； and to……hum……the rest of the……ha……great world。'
Little Dorrit thought of the petition that was to be entered upon；
and assented very softly。
'Mrs Merdle is going to have a great farewell Assembly； dear； and a
dinner before it。 She has been expressing her anxiety that you should
return in time。 She has invited both you and me to her dinner。'
'She is……ha……very kind。 When is the day？'
'The day after to…morrow。'
'Write round in the morning； and say that I have returned； and
shall……hum……be delighted。'
'May I walk with you up the stairs to your room； dear？'
'No！' he answered； looking angrily round； for he was moving away； as if
forgetful of leave…taking。 'You may not； Amy。 I want no help。 I am your
father； not your infirm uncle！' He checked himself； as abruptly as he
had broken into this reply； and said； 'You have not kissed me； Amy。 Good
night； my dear！ We must marry……ha……we must marry YOU； now。' With that
he went； more slowly and more tired； up the staircase to his rooms； and；
almost as soon as he got there； dismissed his valet。 His next care was
to look about him for his Paris purchases； and； after opening their
cases and carefully surveying them； to put them away under lock and
key。 After that； what with dozing and what with castle…building； he lost
himself for a long time； so that there was a touch of morning on the
eastward rim of the desolate Campagna when he crept to bed。
Mrs General sent up her pliments in good time next day； and hoped
he had rested well after this fatiguing journey。 He sent down his
pliments； and begged to inform Mrs General that he had rested very
well indeed； and was in high condition。 Nevertheless； he did not e
forth from his own rooms until late in the afternoon； and； although he
then caused himself to be magnificently arrayed for a drive with
Mrs General and his daughter； his appearance was scarcely up to his
description of himself。 As the family had no visitors that day； its four
members dined alone together。 He conducted Mrs General to the seat at
his right hand with immense ceremony； and Little Dorrit could not
but notice as she followed with her uncle； both that he was again
elaborately dressed； and that his manner towards Mrs General was very
particular。 The perfect formation of that acplished lady's surface
rendered it difficult to displace an atom of its genteel glaze； but
Little Dorrit thought she descried a slight thaw of triumph in a corner
of her frosty eye。
Notwithstanding what may be called in these pages the Pruney and
Prismatic nature of the family banquet； Mr Dorrit several times fell
asleep while it was in progress。 His fits of dozing were as sudden as
they had been overnight； and were as short and profound。 When the first
of these slumberings seized him； Mrs General looked almost amazed： but；
on each recurrence of the symptoms； she told her polite beads； Papa；
Potatoes； Poultry； Prunes； and Prism； and； by dint of going through that
infallible performance very slowly； appeared to finish her rosary at
about the same time as Mr Dorrit started from his sleep。
He was again painfully aware of a somnolent tendency in Frederick （which
had no existence out of his own imagination）； and after dinner； when
Frederick had withdrawn； privately apologised to Mrs General for the
poor man。 'The most estimable and affectionate of brothers；' he said；
'but……ha； hum……broken up altogether。 Unhappily； declining fast。'
'Mr Frederick； sir；' quoth Mrs General； 'is habitually absent and
drooping； but let us hope it is not so bad as that。'
Mr Dorrit； however； was determined not to let him off。 'Fast declining；
madam。 A wreck。 A ruin。 Mouldering away before our eyes。 Hum。 Good
Frederick！'
'You left Mrs Sparkler quite well and happy； I trust？' said Mrs General；
after heaving a cool sigh for Frederick。
'Surrounded；' replied Mr Dorrit； 'by……ha……all that can charm the taste；
and……hum……elevate the mind。 Happy； my dear madam； in a……hum……husband。'
Mrs General was a little fluttered； seeming delicately to put the word
away with her gloves； as if there were no knowing what it might lead to。
'Fanny；' Mr Dorrit continued。 'Fanny； Mrs General； has high
qualities。 Ha。 Ambition……hum……purpose； consciousness of……ha……position；
determination to support that position……ha； hum……grace； beauty； and
native nobility。'
'No doubt；' said Mrs General （with a little extra stiffness）。
'bined ；' said Mr Dorrit； 'Fanny
has……ha……manifested one blemish which has made me……hum……made me uneasy；
and……ha……I must add； angry； but which I trust may now be considered
at an end； even as to herself； and which is undoubtedly at an end as
to……ha……others。'
'To what； Mr Dorrit；' returned Mrs General； with her gloves again
somewhat excited； 'can you allude？ I am at a loss to……'
'Do not say that； my dear madam；' interrupted Mr Dorrit。
Mrs General's voice； as it died away； pronounced the words； 'at a loss
to imagine。'
After which Mr Dorrit was seized with a doze for about a minute； out of
which he sprang with spasmodic nimbleness。
'I refer； Mrs General； to that……ha……strong spirit of opposition；
or……hum……I might say……ha……jealousy in Fanny； which has occasionally
risen against the……ha……sense I entertain of……hum……the claims of……ha……the
lady with whom I have now the honour of muning。'
'Mr Dorrit；' returned Mrs General； 'is ever but too obliging； ever but
too appreciative。 If there have been moments when I have imagined that
Miss Dorrit has indeed resented the favourable opinion Mr Dorrit has
formed of my services； I have found； in that only too high opinion； my
consolation and repense。'
'Opinion of your services； madam？' said Mr Dorrit。
'Of；' Mrs General repeated； in an elegantly impressive manner； 'my
services。'
'Of your services alone； dear madam？' said Mr Dorrit。
'I presume；' retorted Mrs General； in her former impressive manner； 'of
my services alone。 For； to what else；' said Mrs General； with a slightly
interrogative action of her gloves； 'could I impute……'
'To……ha……yourself； Mrs General。 Ha； hum。 To yourself and your merits；'
was Mr Dorrit's rejoinder。
'Mr Dorrit will pardon me；' said Mrs General； 'if I remark that this
is not a time or place for the pursuit of the present conversation。
Mr Dorrit will excuse me if I remind him that Miss Dorrit is in the
adjoining room； and is visible to myself while I utter her name。 Mr
Dorrit will forgive me if I observe that I am agitated； and that I find
there are moments when weaknesses I supposed myself to have subdued；
return with redoubled power。 Mr Dorrit will allow me to withdraw。'
'Hum。 Perhaps we may resume this……ha……interesting conversation；' said
Mr Dorrit； 'at another time； unless it should be； what I hope it is
not……hum……in any way disagreeable to……ah……Mrs General。' 'Mr Dorrit；'
said Mrs General； casting down her eyes as she rose with a bend； 'must
ever claim my homage and obedience。'
Mrs General then took herself off in a stately way； and not with that
amount of trepidation upon her which might have been expected in a less
remarkable woman。 Mr Dorrit； who had conducted his part of the dialogue
with a certain majestic and admiring condescension……much as some people
may be seen to conduct themselves in Church； and to perform their part
in the service……appeared； on the whole； very well satisfied with himself
and with Mrs General too。 On the return of that lady to tea； she had
touched herself up with a little powder and pomatum； and was not without
moral enchantment likewise： the latter showing itself in much sweet
patronage of manner towards Miss Dorrit； and in an air of as tender
interest in Mr Dorrit as was consistent with rigid propriety。 At the
close of the evening； when she rose to retire； Mr Dorrit took her by the
hand as if he were goi