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have gone the same road； before and since。
If Little Dorrit found herself left a little lonely and a little low
that night； nothing would have done so much against her feeling of
depression as the being able to sit at work by her father； as in the old
time； and help him to his supper and his rest。 But that was not to be
thought of now； when they sat in the state…equipage with Mrs General on
the coach…box。 And as to supper！ If Mr Dorrit had wanted supper； there
was an Italian cook and there was a Swiss confectioner； who must
have put on caps as high as the Pope's Mitre； and have performed the
mysteries of Alchemists in a copper…saucepaned laboratory below； before
he could have got it。
He was sententious and didactic that night。 If he had been simply
loving； he would have done Little Dorrit more good； but she accepted him
as he was……when had she not accepted him as he was！……and made the most
and best of him。 Mrs General at length retired。 Her retirement for the
night was always her frostiest ceremony； as if she felt it necessary
that the human imagination should be chilled into stone to prevent
its following her。 When she had gone through her rigid preliminaries；
amounting to a sort of genteel platoon…exercise； she withdrew。 Little
Dorrit then put her arm round her father's neck； to bid him good night。
'Amy； my dear；' said Mr Dorrit； taking her by the hand； 'this is the
close of a day； that has……ha……greatly impressed and gratified me。' 'A
little tired you； dear； too？'
'No；' said Mr Dorrit； 'no： I am not sensible of fatigue when it arises
from an occasion so……hum……replete with gratification of the purest
kind。'
Little Dorrit was glad to find him in such heart； and smiled from her
own heart。
'My dear；' he continued； 'this is an occasion……ha……teeming with a good
example。 With a good example； my favourite and attached child……hum……to
you。'
Little Dorrit； fluttered by his words； did not know what to say； though
he stopped as if he expected her to say something。
'Amy；' he resumed； 'your dear sister； our Fanny； has contracted
ha hum……a marriage； eminently calculated to extend the basis of
our……ha……connection； and to……hum……consolidate our social relations。 My
love； I trust that the time is not far distant when some……ha……eligible
partner may be found for you。'
'Oh no！ Let me stay with you。 I beg and pray that I may stay with you！ I
want nothing but to stay and take care of you！' She said it like one in
sudden alarm。
'Nay； Amy； Amy；' said Mr Dorrit。 'This is weak and foolish； weak
and foolish。 You have a……ha……responsibility imposed upon you by your
position。 It is to develop that position； and be……hum……worthy of that
position。 As to taking care of me； I can……ha……take care of myself。
Or；' he added after a moment； 'if I should need to be taken care of；
I……hum……can； with the……ha……blessing of Providence； be taken care of；
I……ha hum……I cannot； my dear child； think of engrossing； and……ha……as it
were； sacrificing you。'
O what a time of day at which to begin that profession of self…denial；
at which to make it； with an air of taking credit for it； at which to
believe it； if such a thing could be！
'Don't speak； Amy。 I positively say I cannot do it。 I……ha……must not do
it。 My……hum……conscience would not allow it。 I therefore； my love； take
the opportunity afforded by this gratifying and impressive occasion
of……ha……solemnly remarking； that it is now a cherished wish and purpose
of mine to see you……ha……eligibly （I repeat eligibly） married。'
'Oh no； dear！ Pray！'
'Amy；' said Mr Dorrit； 'I am well persuaded that if the topic were
referred to any person of superior social knowledge； of superior
delicacy and sense……let us say； for instance； to……ha……Mrs General……that
there would not be two opinions as to the……hum……affectionate character
and propriety of my sentiments。 But； as I know your loving and dutiful
nature from……hum……from experience； I am quite satisfied that it is
necessary to say no more。 I have……hum……no husband to propose at
present； my dear： I have not even one in view。 I merely wish that we
should……ha……understand each other。 Hum。 Good night； my dear and sole
remaining daughter。 Good night。
God bless you！'
If the thought ever entered Little Dorrit's head that night； that he
could give her up lightly now in his prosperity； and when he had it in
his mind to replace her with a second wife； she drove it away。 Faithful
to him still； as in the worst times through which she had borne him
single…handed； she drove the thought away； and entertained no harder
reflection； in her tearful unrest； than that he now saw everything
through their wealth； and through the care he always had upon him that
they should continue rich； and grow richer。
They sat in their equipage of state； with Mrs General on the box； for
three weeks longer； and then he started for Florence to join Fanny。
Little Dorrit would have been glad to bear him pany so far； only for
the sake of her own love； and then to have turned back alone； thinking
of dear England。 But； though the Courier had gone on with the Bride； the
Valet was next in the line； and the succession would not have e to
her； as long as any one could be got for money。
Mrs General took life easily……as easily； that is； as she could
take anything……when the Roman establishment remained in their sole
occupation； and Little Dorrit would often ride out in a hired carriage
that was left them； and alight alone and wander among the ruins of old
Rome。 The ruins of the vast old Amphitheatre； of the old Temples； of the
old memorative Arches； of the old trodden highways； of the old
tombs； besides being what they were； to her were ruins of the old
Marshalsea……ruins of her own old life……ruins of the faces and forms
that of old peopled it……ruins of its loves； hopes； cares； and joys。 Two
ruined spheres of action and suffering were before the solitary girl
often sitting on some broken fragment； and in the lonely places； under
the blue sky； she saw them both together。
Up； then； would e Mrs General； taking all the colour out of
everything； as Nature and Art had taken it out of herself； writing
Prunes and Prism； in Mr Eustace's text； wherever she could lay a hand；
looking everywhere for Mr Eustace and pany； and seeing nothing else；
scratching up the driest little bones of antiquity； and bolting them
whole without any human visitings……like a Ghoule in gloves。
CHAPTER 16。 Getting on
The newly married pair； on their arrival in Harley Street； Cavendish
Square； London； were received by the Chief Butler。 That great man was
not interested in them； but on the whole endured them。 People must
continue to be married and given in marriage； or Chief Butlers would not
be wanted。 As nations are made to be taxed； so families are made to
be butlered。 The Chief Butler； no doubt； reflected that the course of
nature required the wealthy population to be kept up； on his account。
He therefore condescended to look at the carriage from the Hall…door
without frowning at it； and said； in a very handsome way； to one of
his men； 'Thomas； help with the luggage。' He even escorted the Bride
up…stairs into Mr Merdle's presence； but this must be considered as an
act of homage to the sex （of which he was an admirer； being notoriously
captivated by the charms of a certain Duchess）； and not as a mittal
of himself with the family。
Mr Merdle was slinking about the hearthrug； waiting to wele Mrs
Sparkler。 His hand seemed to retreat up his sleeve as he advanced to
do so； and he gave her such a superfluity of coat…cuff that it was like
being received by the popular conception of Guy Fawkes。 When he put his
lips to hers； besides； he took himself into custody by the wrists； and
backed himself among the ottomans and chairs and tables as if he were
his own Police officer； saying to himself； 'Now； none of that！ e！
I've got you； you knoe！'
Mrs Sparkler； installed in the rooms of state……the innermost sanctuary
of down； silk； chintz； and fine linen……felt that so far her triumph was
good； and her way made； step by step。 On the day before her marriage；
she had bestowed on Mrs Merdle's maid with an air of gracious
indifference； in Mrs