 CHAPTER XIV BOOK THE SECOND OF LITTLE DORRIT RETVOLIBRIVOX.ORG BY ELISE CHRISTOF LITTLE DORRIT BY CHARLES DICKINS BOOK THE SECOND CHAPTER XIV TAKING ADVICE When it became known to the Britons on the shore of the Yellow Tiber that their intelligent compatriot Mr. Sparkler was made one of the lords of their circumlocution office, they took it as a piece of news with which they had no nearer concern than with any other piece of news, any other accident or offence in the English papers. Some laughed, some said by way of complete excuse that the post was virtually a sinecure and any fool who could spell his name was good enough for it. Some, and these were the more solemn political oracles, said that Decimus did wisely to strengthen himself and that the sole constitutional purpose of all places within the gift of Decimus was that Decimus should strengthen himself. A few billiards Britons there were who would not subscribe to this article of faith, but their objection was purely theoretical. In a practical point of view, they listlessly abandoned the matter as being the business of some other Britons unknown somewhere or nowhere. In like manner, at home, great number of Britons maintained for as long as four and twenty consecutive hours that those invisible and anonymous Britons ought to take it up and that if they quietly acquiesced in it, they deserved it. But of what class the remiss Britons were composed and where the unlucky creatures hid themselves and why they hid themselves and how it constantly happened that they neglected their interests when so many other Britons were quite at a loss to account for their not looking after those interests was not, either upon the shore of the Yellow Tiber or the shore of the Black Thames made apparent to men. Mrs. Murdell circulated the news as she received congratulations on it with a careless grace that displayed it to advantage as the setting displays the dual. Yes, she said, Edmund had taken the place. Mr. Murdell wished him to take it and he had taken it. She hoped Edmund might like it, but really she didn't know. It would keep him in town a good deal and he preferred the country. Still it was not a disagreeable position and it was a position. There was no denying that the thing was a compliment to Mr. Murdell and was not a bad thing for Edmund if he liked it. It was just as well that he should have something to do and it was just as well that he should have something for doing it, whether it would be more agreeable to Edmund than the army remained to be seen. Thus the bosom accomplished in the art of seaming to make things of small account and really enhancing them in the process. While Henry Gowan, whom Decimus had thrown away, went through the whole round of his acquaintance between the gate of the people and the town of Albano, vowing almost, but not quite with tears in his eyes, that sparkler was the sweetest tempered, simplest hearted, altogether most lovable jackass that ever graced on the public common, and that only one circumstance could have delighted him, Gowan, more than his, the beloved jackass, is, getting disposed and that would have been his, Gowan's, getting it himself. He said it was the very thing for sparkler. There was nothing to do and he would do it charmingly. There was a handsome salary to draw and he would draw it charmingly. It was a delightful, appropriate, capital appointment and he almost forgave the donor his sleight of himself in his joy that the dear donkey for whom he had so great an affection was so admirably stabled. Nor did his benevolence stop here. He took pains on all social occasions to draw Mr. Sparkler out and make him conspicuous before the company and although the considerate action always resulted in that young gentlemen's making a dreary and full-on mental spectacle of himself, the friendly intention was not to be doubted. Unless indeed, it chanced to be doubted by the object of Mr. Sparkler's affections. Miss Fanny was now in the difficult situation of being universally known in that light and of not having dismissed Mr. Sparkler however capriciously she used him. Hence, she was sufficiently identified with the gentleman to feel compromised by his being more than usually ridiculous. And hence, being by no means deficient in quickness, she sometimes came to his rescue against Gowan and did him very good service. But while doing this, she was ashamed of him. Undetermined whether to get rid of him or more decidedly encourage him, distracted with apprehensions that she was every day becoming more and more enmeshed in her uncertainties and tortured by misgivings that Mrs. Murdell triumphed in her distress. With this tumult in her mind, it is no subject for surprise that Miss Fanny came home one night in a state of agitation from a concert and ball at Mrs. Murdell's house and on her sister affectionately trying to soothe her, pushed that sister away from the toilet table at which she sat angrily trying to cry and declared with a heaving bosom that she detested everybody and she wished she was dead. Dear Fanny, what is the matter? Tell me. Matter, you little mole, said Fanny, if you were not the blindest of the blind, you would have no occasion to ask me. The idea of daring to pretend to assert that you have eyes in your head and yet ask me what's the matter? Is it Mr. Sparkler, dear? Mr. Sparkler, repeated Fanny, with unbounded scorn, as if he were the last subject in the solar system that could possibly be near her mind. No, Miss Bette, it is not. Immediately afterwards she became remorseful for having called her sister names, declaring with sobs that she knew she made herself hateful and that everybody drove her to it. I don't think you are well tonight, dear Fanny. Staff and nonsense, replied the young lady, turning angry again, I am as well as you are, perhaps I might say better and yet make no boast of it. Poor little Dorit, not seeing her way to the offering of any soothing words that would escape repudiation, deemed it best to remain quiet. At first, Fanny took this ill too, protesting to her looking glass that of all the trying sisters a girl could have, she did think the most trying sister was a flat sister, that she knew she was at times a wretched temper, that she knew she made herself hateful, that when she made herself hateful, nothing would do her half the good as being told so, but that, being afflicted with a flat sister, she never was told so, and the consequence resulted that she was absolutely tempted and goaded into making herself disagreeable. Besides, she angrily told her looking glass she didn't want to be forgiven, it was not her right example that she should be constantly stooping to be forgiven by younger sister. And this was the art of it, that she was always being placed in the position of being forgiven, whether she liked it or not. Finally she burst into violent weeping, and when her sister came and sat close at her side to comfort her, said, Amy, you're an angel. But I tell you what, my pet, said Fanny when her sister's gentleness had calmed her, it now comes to this, that things cannot and shall not go on as they are at present going on, and that there must be an end of this, one way or another. As the announcement was vague, though very peremptory, little Dorrid returned. Let us talk about it. Quite so, my dear, ascended Fanny as she dried her eyes. Let us talk about it. I am rational again now, and you shall advise me. Will you advise me, my sweet child? Even Amy smiled at this notion, but she said, I will Fanny as well as I can. Thank you, dearest Amy. Returned Fanny kissing her. You're my anchor. Having embraced her anchor with great affection, Fanny took a bottle of sweet toilet water from the table, and called to her mate for a fine handkerchief. She then dismissed that attendant for the night, and went on to be advised, dubbing her eyes and forehead from time to time to cool them. My love! Fanny began, our characters and points of view are sufficiently different. Kiss me again, my darling, to make it very probable that I shall surprise you by what I am going to say. What I am going to say, my dear, is that, notwithstanding our property, we labour, socially speaking, under disadvantages. You don't quite understand what I mean, Amy. I have no doubt I shall, said Amy mildly, after a few words more. Well, my dear, what I mean is that we are, after all, newcomers into fashionable life. I am sure Fanny, little Dorrid interposed in her zealous admiration. No one need find that out in you. Well, my dear child, perhaps not, said Fanny, though it's most kind and most affectionate in you, you precious girl to say so. Here she dubbed her sisters for it, and blew upon it a little. But you are, resumed Fanny, as is well known the dearest little thing that ever was. To resume my child. Parr is extremely gentle manly and extremely well informed, but he is, in some trifling respects, a little different from other gentlemen of his fortune. Partly on account of what he was gone through, poor dear, partly I fancy on account of its often running in his mind that other people are thinking about that, while he is talking to them. Uncle my love is, altogether, unpresentable, though a dear creature to whom I am tenderly attached here is, socially speaking, shocking. Edward is frightfully expensive and dissipated. I don't mean that there is anything ungential in that itself, far from it, but I do mean that he doesn't do it well, and that he doesn't, if I may so express myself, get the money's worth in the sort of dissipated reputation that attaches to him. Poor Edward, sighed little Dorit, with the whole family history in the sigh. Yes, and poor you and me too, returned Fanny rather sharply. Very true. Then my dear, we have no mother and we have a Mrs. General, and I tell you again, darling, that Mrs. General, if I may reverse a common proverb and adapt it to her, is a cat in gloves who will catch mice. That woman, I am quite sure and confident, will be our mother-in-law. I can hardly think Fanny. Fanny stopped her. Now don't argue with me about it, Amy, said she, because I know better. Feeling that she had been sharp again, she dubbed her sisters for it again and blew upon it again. To resume once more, my dear, it then becomes a question with me. I am proud and spirited, Amy, as you very well know, too much so, I dare say, whether I shall make up my mind to take it upon myself to carry the family through. How? asked her sister anxiously. I will not, said Fanny, without answering the question. Submit to be mother-in-lawed by Mrs. General, and I will not submit to be, in any respect, whatever, either patronised or tormented by Mrs. Murdoch. Little Dorrid laid her hand upon the hand that held the bottle of sweet water, with a still more anxious look. Fanny, quite punishing her own for it with the vehement dabs she now began to give it, fitfully went on. That he has somehow or other and how is of no consequence attained a very good position no one can deny, that it is a very good connection no one can deny. And as to the question of clever or not clever, I doubt very much whether a clever husband would be suitable to me. I cannot submit. I should not be able to defer to him enough. Oh, my dear Fanny, expostulated little Dorrid, upon whom a kind of terror had been stealing as she perceived what her sister meant. If you loved anyone, all this feeling would change. If you loved anyone, you would no more be yourself, but you would quite lose and forget yourself in your devotion to him. If you loved him, Fanny, Fanny had stopped the dabbing hand and was looking at her fixidly. Oh, indeed, cried Fanny, really, bless me, how much some people know of some subjects. They say everyone has a subject and I certainly seem to have hit upon yours, Amy. There, you little thing, I was only in fun. Dabbing her sisters for it. But don't you be a silly pus and don't you think flightily and eloquently about degenerate impossibilities. There. Now I'll go back to myself. Dear Fanny, let me say first that I would far rather we worked for a scanty living again than I would see you rich and married Let you say, my dear, retorted Fanny, why, of course, I will let you say anything. There is no constraint upon you, I hope. We are together to talk it over. And as to marrying Mr. Sparkler, I have not the slightest intention of doing so tonight, my dear, or tomorrow morning either. But at some time, at no time for anything I know at present, answered Fanny with indifference, then suddenly changing her indifference into a burning restlessness, she added. You talk about the clever men, you little thing. It's all very fine and easy to talk about the clever men, but where are they? I don't see them anywhere near me. My dear Fanny, so short a time, short time or long time, interrupted Fanny, I am impatient of our situation. I don't like our situation and very little would induce me to change it. Other girls differently reared and differently circumstance altogether might wonder at what I say or may do. Let them. They're driven by their lives and characters. I am driven by mine. Fanny, my dear Fanny, you know that you have qualities to make you the wife of one very superior to Mr. Sparkler. Amy, my dear Amy, retorted Fanny parodying her words. I know that I wish to have a more defined and distinct position in which I can assert myself with greater effect against that insolent woman. Would you therefore, forgive my asking Fanny, therefore marry her son? Why, perhaps, said Fanny with a triumphant smile, there may be many less promising ways of arriving at an end than that. My dear, that piece of insolence may think now that it would be a great success to get her son off upon me and shelve me, but little thinks how I would retort upon her if I married her son. I would oppose her in everything and compete with her. I would make it the business of my life. Fanny sat down the bottle when she came to this and walked about the room, always stopping and standing still while she spoke. One thing I could certainly do, my child, I could make her older and I would. This was followed by another walk. I would talk of her as an old woman. I would pretend to know if I didn't, but I should from her son, all about her age. And she should hear me say, Amy, affectionately, quite dutifully and affectionately, how well she looked considering her time of life. I could make her seem older at once by being myself so much younger. I may not be as handsome as she is. I am not a fair judge of that question, I suppose, but I know I am handsome enough to be a thorn in her side and I would be. My dear sister, would you condemn yourself to an unhappy life for this? It wouldn't be an unhappy life, Amy. It would be the life I am fitted for, whether by disposition or whether by circumstances is no matter. I am better fitted for such a life than for almost any other. There was something of a desolate tone in those words, but with a short, proud laugh she took another walk and after passing a great-looking glass came to another stop. Figure, figure, Amy! Well, the woman has a good figure. I will give her her due and not denied. But is it so far beyond all others that it is altogether unapproachable? Upon my word I am not so sure of it. Give some much younger woman the latitude as to dress that she has being married. And we would see about that, my dear. Something in the thought that was agreeable and flattering brought her back to her seat in a gear-temper. She took her sister's hands in hers and clapped all four hands above her head as she looked in her sister's face, laughing. And the dancer, Amy, that she has quite forgotten, the dancer who bore no sort of resemblance to me and of whom I never remind her, oh, dear, no! I am alive and dance in her way to such a tune as would disturb her insolent placidity a little. Just a little, my dear, Amy. Just a little. Meeting an earnest and imploring look in Amy's face, she brought the four hands down and laid only one on Amy's lips. Now, don't argue with me, child. She said in a stern away. Because it is of no use. I understand these subjects much better than you do. I have not nearly made up my mind, but it may be. Now we have talked this over comfortably and may go to bed. You best and dearest little mouse, good night. With those words vanuate her anchor and, having taken so much advice, left off being advised for that occasion. Thence forward, Amy observed Mr. Sparkles' treatment by his enslave, with new reasons for attaching importance to all that pass between them. There were times when Fanny appeared quite unable to endure his mental feebleness, and when she became so sharply impatient of it, that she would all but dismiss him for good. There were other times when she got on much better with him. When he amused her, and when her sense of superiority seemed to counterbalance that opposite side of the scale. If Mr. Sparkle had been other than he was sufficiently hard-pressed to have fled from the scene of his trials and have said at least the whole distance from Rome to London between himself and his enchantress. But he had no greater will of his own than a boat has when it is stowed by a steamship. And he followed his cruel mistress through rough and smooth on equally strong compulsion. Mrs. Myrtle, during these passages said little to Fanny, but said more about her. She was, as it were, forced to look at her through her eyeglass and in general conversation to allow commendations of her beauty to be wrung from her by its irresistible demands. The defined character it assumed when Fanny heard these extollings, as it generally happened that she did, was not expressive of concessions to the impartial bosom, but the utmost revenge the bosom took was to say audibly, a spoiled beauty, but with that face and shape who could wonder. It might have been about a month or six weeks after the night of the new advice, when little Dorit began to think, she detected some new understanding between Mr. Sparkler and Fanny. Mr. Sparkler, as if in attendance to some compact, scarcely ever spoke without first looking towards Fanny for leave. That young lady was too discreet ever to look back again, but if Mr. Sparkler had permission to speak, she remained silent. If he had not, she herself spoke. Moreover, it became plain whenever Henry Gowan attempted to perform the friendly office of drawing him out, that he was not to be drawn. And not only that, but Fanny would presently, without any pointed application in the world, chance to say something with such a sting in it, that Gowan would draw back as if standing to a beehive. There was yet another circumstance which went a long way to confirm little Dorit in her fears, though it was not a great circumstance in itself. Mr. Sparkler's demeanor towards herself changed. It became fraternal. Sometimes, when she was in the outer circle of assemblies, at their own residence, at Mrs. Murdell's or elsewhere, she would find herself sturdily supported round the waist by Mr. Sparkler's arm. Mr. Sparkler never offered the slightest explanation of this attention, but merely smiled with an air of blundering, contented, good-natured proprietorship, which, in so heavy a gentleman, was ominously expressive. Little Dorit was at home one day thinking about Fanny with a heavy heart. They had a room at one end of their drawing room suite, nearly all irregular bay window projecting over the street and commanding all the picturesque life and variety of the Corso, both up and down. At three or four o'clock in the afternoon, English time, the view from this window was very bright and peculiar, and little Dorit used to sit and muse here, much as she had been used to while away the time in her balcony at Venice. Seated thus one day, she was softly touched on the shoulder, and Fanny said, and took her seat at her side. Their seat was a part of the window. When there was anything in the way of a procession going on, they used to have bright draperies hung out of the window and used to kneel or sit on this seat and look out at it, leaning on the brilliant color. But there was no procession that day, and little Dorit was rather surprised by Fanny's being at home at that hour, as she was generally out on horseback then. Well, Amy, said Fanny, what are you thinking of, little one? I was thinking of you, Fanny. No, what a coincidence! I declare here someone else. You are not thinking of this someone else too, were you, Amy? Amy had been thinking of this someone else too, for it was Mr. Sparkler. She did not say so, however, as she gave him her hand. Mr. Sparkler came and sat down on the other side of her, and she felt the fraternal railing come behind her, and apparently stretched on to include Fanny. Well, my little sister, said Fanny with a sigh, I suppose you know what this means. She's as beautiful as she's doted on, stammered Mr. Sparkler, and there's no nonsense about her. It's arranged. You needn't explain, Edmund, said Fanny. No, my love, said Mr. Sparkler. In short, pet, proceeded Fanny. On the whole we are engaged. We must tell Papa about it, either tonight or tomorrow, according to the opportunities. Then it's done and very little more need be said. My dear Fanny, said Mr. Sparkler with deference, I should like to say a word to Amy. Well, well, say it for goodness' sake, returned the young lady. I am convinced, my dear Amy, said Mr. Sparkler, that if ever there was a girl next to your highly endowed and beautiful sister who had no nonsense about her, we know all about that, Edmund, interposed Miss Fanny. Never mind that, pray go on to something else besides our having no nonsense about us. Yes, my love, said Mr. Sparkler, and I assure you, Amy, that nothing can be a greater happiness to myself, myself, next to the happiness of being so highly honoured with the choice of a glorious girl who hasn't an atom of pray, Edmund, pray, interupted Fanny with a slight pat of her pretty foot upon the floor. My love, you're quite right, said Mr. Sparkler, and I know I have a habit of it. What I wish to declare was that nothing can be a greater happiness to myself, myself, next to the happiness of being united to preeminently the most glorious of girls than to have the happiness of cultivating the affectionate acquaintance of Amy. I may not myself, said Mr. Sparkler manfully, be up to the mark on some other subjects, at a short notice, and I am aware that if you were to pull society the general opinion would be that I am not, but on the subject of Amy I am up to the mark. Mr. Sparkler kissed her off. A knife and fork and an apartment proceeded Mr. Sparkler, growing in comparison with his oratorical antecedents, quite diffuse, will ever be at Amy's disposal. My governor, I am sure, will always be proud to entertain one whom I so much esteem and regarding my mother, said Mr. Sparkler, who is a remarkably fine woman with Edmund, cried Miss Fanny as before, with submission my soul, pleaded Mr. Sparkler, I know I have a habit of it and I thank you very much, my adorable girl, for taking the trouble to correct it, but my mother is admitted on all sides to be a remarkably fine woman and she really hasn't any. That may be or may be not, returned Fanny, but pray don't mention it any more. I will not, my love, said Mr. Sparkler. Then, in fact, you have nothing more to say, Edmund, have you? In quiet Fanny. So far from it, my adorable girl, answered Mr. Sparkler, I apologize for having said so much. Mr. Sparkler perceived by a kind of inspiration that the question implied had he not better go, he therefore withdrew the fraternal railing and neatly said that he thought he would with submission, take his leave. He did not go without being congratulated by Amy, as well as she could discharge that office in the flatter and distress of her spirits. When he was gone, she said, Oh Fanny, Fanny, and turned to her sister in the bright window and fell upon her bosom and cried there. Fanny laughed at first, but soon laid her face against her sisters and cried too, a little. It was the last time Fanny ever showed that there was any hidden, suppressed or conquered feeling in her on the matter. From that hour, the way she had chosen lay before her, and she trod it with her own imperious self-willed step. End of chapter the 14th, book the second of Little Dorit. This recording is in the public domain. Chapter the 15th, book the second of Little Dorit. Read for LibriVox.org by Ellis Christoff. Little Dorit by Charles Dickens Book the second, chapter the 15th. No just cause or impediment why these two persons should not be joined together. Mr. Dorit, on being informed by his elder daughter that she had accepted matrimonial overtures from Mr. Sparkler, to whom she had blighted her truth, received the communication at once with great dignity and with a large display of parental pride. His dignity dilating with the widened prospect of advantageous ground from which to make acquaintances and his parental pride being developed by Miss Fanny's ready sympathy with that great object of his existence. He gave her to understand that her noble ambition found harmonious echoes in his heart and bestowed his blessing on her as a child brimful of duty and good principle, self-devoted to the aggrandizement of the family name. To Mr. Sparkler, when Miss Fanny permitted him to appear, Mr. Dorit said he would not disguise that the alliance Mr. Sparkler did him the honor to propose was highly congenial to his feelings, both as being in unison with the spontaneous affections of his daughter Fanny and as a family connection of a gratifying nature with Mr. Myrtle, the master spirit of the age. Mrs. Myrtle also, as a leading lady rich in distinction, elegance, grace and beauty, he mentioned in very laudatory terms. He felt it his duty to remark he was sure a gentleman of Mr. Sparkler's fine sense would interpret him with all delicacy that he could not consider this proposal definitely determined on until he should have had the privilege of holding some correspondence with Mr. Myrtle, and of ascertaining it to be so far accordant with the views of that eminent gentleman as that his Mr. Dorit's daughter would be received on that footing which her station in life and her dowry and expectations warranted him in requiring that she should maintain in what he trusted he might be allowed, without the appearance of being mercenary, to call a great world. While saying this, which his character as a gentleman of some little station and his character as a father equally demanded of him, he would not be so diplomatic as to conceal that the proposal remained in hopeful abeyance and under conditional acceptance and that he thanked Mr. Sparkler for the compliment rendered to himself and to his family. He concluded with some further and more general observations on the character of an independent gentleman and the character of a possibly too partial and admiring parent. To sum the whole up shortly, he received Mr. Sparkler's offer very much as he would have received three or four half crowns from him in the days that were gone. Mr. Sparkler, finding himself stunned by the words that skipped upon his inoffensive head, made a brief though pertinent rejoinder. The same being neither more nor less, than that he had long perceived Miss Fanny to have no nonsense about her and that he had no doubt of its being all right with his governor. At that point the object of his affections shut him up like a box with a spring lid and sent him away. Proceeding shortly afterwards to pay his respects to the bosom, Mr. Dorit was received by it with great consideration. Mrs. Myrtle had heard of this affair from Edmund. She had been surprised at first because she had not thought Edmund a marrying man. Society had not thought Edmund a marrying man. Still, of course, she had seen as a woman, we women did instinctively see these things Mr. Dorit, that Edmund had been immensely captivated by Miss Dorit and she had openly said that Mr. Dorit had much to answer for in bringing so charming a girl abroad to turn the heads of countrymen. Have I the honour to conclude, madam, said Mr. Dorit, that the direction which Mr. sparkless affections have taken is approved of by you? I assure you, Mr. Dorit, returned the lady, that personally I am charmed. That was very gratifying to Mr. Dorit. Personally, repeated Mrs. Myrtle, charmed. The casual repetition of the word personally moved Mr. Dorit to express his hope that Mr. Myrtle's approval, too, would not be wanting. I cannot, said Mrs. Myrtle, take upon myself to answer positively for Mr. Myrtle. Gentlemen, especially gentlemen who are what society calls capitalists having their own ideas of these matters. But I should think, merely giving an opinion, Mr. Dorit, I think Mr. Myrtle would be upon the whole. Here she held a review of herself before adding, at her leisure, quite charmed. At the mention of gentlemen whom society called capitalists, Mr. Dorit had coughed as if some internal demure were breaking out of him. Mrs. Myrtle had observed it and went on to take up the queue. Though indeed, Mr. Dorit, it is scarcely necessary for me to make that remark, except in the mere openness of saying what is uppermost to one whom I so highly regard and with whom I hope I may have the pleasure of being brought into still more agreeable relations. For one cannot but see the great probability of your considering such things from Mr. Myrtle's own point of view, except indeed that circumstances have made it Mr. Myrtle's accidental fortune or misfortune to be engaged in business transactions and that they, however vast, may a little cramp his horizons. I am a very childish to having any notion of business, said Mrs. Myrtle, but I am afraid, Mr. Dorit, it may have that tendency. This skilful sea saw of Mr. Dorit and Mrs. Myrtle saw that each of them sent the other up and each of them sent the other down and neither had the advantage acted as a sedative on Mr. Dorit's cough. He remarked with his utmost politeness that he must beg to protest against its being supposed even by Mrs. Myrtle, the accomplished and graceful to which compliment she bent herself, that such enterprises as Mr. Myrtle's are part as they were from the puny undertakings of the rest of men had any lower tendency than to enlarge and expand the genius in which they were conceived. You are generosity itself, said Mrs. Myrtle in return, smiling her best smile. Let us hope so, but I confess I am almost superstitious in my ideas about business. Mr. Dorit threw in another compliment here to the effect that business like the time which was precious in it was made for slaves and that it was not for Mrs. Myrtle who ruled all hearts at her supreme pleasure to have anything to do with it. Mrs. Myrtle laughed and conveyed to Mr. Dorit an idea that the bosom flushed which was one of her best effects. I say so much, she then explained, merely because Mr. Myrtle has always taken the greatest interest in Edmund and has always expressed the strongest desire to advance his prospects. Edmund's public position I think you know. His private position rests solely with Mr. Myrtle. In my foolishing capacity for business I assure you I know no more. Mr. Dorit again expressed in his own way the sentiment that business was below the ken of enslavers and enchantresses. He then mentioned his intention as a gentleman and a parent of writing to Mr. Myrtle. Mrs. Myrtle concurred with all her heart or with all her art which was exactly the same thing and herself dispatched a preparatory letter by the next post to the eighth wonder of the world. In his epistolary communication as in his dialogues and discourses on the great question to which it related, Mr. Dorit surrounded the subject with flourishes as writing masters embellish copy books and savoring books where the titles of the elementary rules of arithmetic diverge into swans, eagles, griffins and other calligraphic recreations and where the capital letters go out of their minds and bodies into ecstasies of pen and ink. Nevertheless, he did render the purport of his letter sufficiently clear to enable Mr. Myrtle to make a decent pretense of having learned it from that source. Mr. Myrtle replied to it accordingly. Mr. Dorit replied to Mr. Myrtle. Mr. Myrtle replied to Mr. Dorit and it was soon announced that the corresponding powers had come to a satisfactory understanding. Now and not before Ms. Fanny burst upon the scene completely arrayed for her own part. Now and not before she wholly absorbed Mr. Sparkler in her light and shone for both and twenty more. No longer feeling that want of a defined place and character which had caused her so much trouble this fair ship began to steer steadily on a shaped course and to swim with a weight and balance that developed her sailing qualities. The preliminaries being so satisfactorily arranged I think I will now my dear said Mr. Dorit announced formally to Mrs. General. Papa! returned Fanny taking him up short upon that name I don't see what Mrs. General has got to do with it. My dear said Mr. Dorit it will be an act of courtesy to a lady well bred and refined. Oh I am sick of Mrs. General's good breeding and refinement Papa. Said Fanny I am tired of Mrs. General. Tired? repeated Mr. Dorit in reproachful astonishment of Mrs. General. Quietly disgusted with her Papa said Fanny I really don't see what she has to do with my marriage let her keep to her own matrimonial projects if she has any. Fanny returned Mr. Dorit with a grave and weighty slowness upon him contrasting strongly with his daughter's levity. I beg the favour of your explaining her what it is you mean. I mean Papa said Fanny that if Mrs. General should happen to have any matrimonial projects of her own I dare say they are quite enough to occupy her spare time and that if she has not so much the better but still I don't wish to have the honour of making announcements to her. Permit me to ask you Fanny said Mr. Dorit why not? because she can find my engagement out for herself Papa retorted Fanny she is watchful enough I dare say I think I have seen her so let her find it out for herself if she should not find it out for herself she will know it when I am married and I hope you will not consider me wanting an affection for you Papa if I say it strikes me that will be quite enough for Mrs. General. Fanny returned Mr. Dorit I am amazed I am displeased by this this capricious and unintelligible display of animosity towards her Mrs. General Do not if you please Papa urged Fanny call it animosity because I assure you I do not consider Mrs. General worth my animosity but this Mr. Dorit rose from his chair with a fixed look of severe reproof and remained standing in his dignity before his daughter turning the bracelet on her arm and now looking at him and now looking from him said very well Papa I am truly sorry if you don't like it but I can't help it I am not a child and I am not Amy and I must speak Fanny gasped Mr. Dorit after a majestic silence if I request you to remain here while I formally announced to Mrs. General as an exemplary lady who is a trusted member of this family the change that is contemplated among us if I not only requested but insist upon it Papa Fanny broke in with pointed significance if you make so much of it as that I have in duty nothing to do but comply I hope I may have my thoughts upon the subject however for I really cannot help it under the circumstances so Fanny sat down with a meekness which in the junction of extremes became defiance and her father either not deigning to answer or not knowing what to answer summoned Mr. Tinkler into his presence Mrs. General Mr. Tinkler unused to receive such short orders in connection with the fair varnisher paused Mr. Dorit seeing the whole martial sea and all its testimonials in the pause instantly flew at him with how dare you sir what do you mean I beg your pardon sir pleaded Mr. Tinkler I was wishful to know you wish to know nothing sir cried Mr. Dorit highly flushed don't tell me you did ha you didn't you are guilty of mockery sir I assure you sir Mr. Tinkler began don't assure me said Mr. Dorit I will not be assured by a domestic you are guilty of mockery you shall leave me the whole establishment shall leave me what are you waiting for only for my order sir it's false said Mr. Dorit you have your orders my compliments to Mrs. General and I beg the favor of her coming to me if quite convenient for a few minutes those are your orders in his execution of this mission Mr. Tinkler perhaps expressed that Mr. Dorit was in a raging fume however that was Mrs. General's skirts were very speedily heard outside coming along one might almost have said bouncing along with unusual expedition albeit they settled down at the door and swept into the room with their customary coolness Mrs. General said Mr. Dorit take a chair Mrs. General with a graceful curve of acknowledgement descended into the chair which Mr. Dorit offered madam pursued that gentleman as you have had the kindness to undertake the formation of my daughters and as I am persuaded that nothing nearly affecting them can be indifferent to you holy possible said Mrs. General in the calmest of ways I therefore wish to announce to you madam that my daughter now present Mrs. General made a slight inclination of her head to Fanny who made a very low inclination of her head to Mrs. General and came loftily upright again that my daughter Fanny is contracted to be married to Mr. Sparkler with whom you are acquainted hence madam you will be relieved of half your difficult charge difficult charge Mr. Dorit repeated it with his angry eye on Fanny but not I hope to the diminution of any other portion direct or indirect of the footing you have at present the kindness to occupy in my family Mr. Dorit returned Mrs. General with her gloved hands resting on one another in exemplary repose is ever considerate and ever but too appreciative of my friendly services Mrs. Fanny coved as matters to say you are right Mr. Dorit has no doubt exercised the soundest discretion of which the circumstances admitted and I trust will allow me to offer her my sincere congratulations when free from the trammels of passion Mrs. General closed her eyes at the word as if she could not utter it and see anybody when occurring with the approbation of near relatives and when cementing the proud structure of a family edifice these are usually auspicious events I trust Mrs. Dorit will allow me to offer her my best congratulations Here Mrs. General stopped and added eternally for the setting of her face papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes and prison Mr. Dorit she super-rided aloud is ever most obliging and for the attention and I will add distinction and this confidence imparted to me by himself and Mr. Dorit at this early time I beg to offer the tribute of my thanks my thanks and my congratulations are equally the mead of Mr. Dorit and of Mrs. Dorit To me, observed Mrs. Fanny they are excessively gratifying inexpressibly so the relief of finding that you have no objection to make Mrs. General quite takes a load of my mind I am sure I hardly know what I should have done said Fanny, if you had interposed any objection Mrs. General Mrs. General changed her gloves as to the right glove being uppermost and the left undermost with a prunes and prism smile To preserve your approbation Mrs. General said Fanny, returning the smile with one in which there was no trace of those ingredients will of course be the highest object of my married life to use it would of course be perfect wretchedness I am sure your great kindness will not object and I hope papa will not object to my correcting a small mistake you have made however the best of us are so liable to mistakes that even you Mrs. General have fallen into a little error the attention and distinction you have so impressively mentioned Mrs. General as attaching to this confidence are I have no doubt of the most complimentary and gratifying description but they don't at all proceed from me the merit of having consulted you on the subject would have been so great in me that I feel I must not lay claim to it when it really is not mine it's holy papas I am deeply obliged to you for your encouragement and patronage but it was papa who asked for it I have to thank you Mrs. General for leaving my breast of a great weight by so handsomely giving your consent to my engagement you have really nothing to thank me for I hope you will always approve of my proceedings after I have left home and that my sister also may long remain the favoured object of your condescension Mrs. General with this address which was delivered in her politest manner Fanny left the room with an elegant and cheerful air to tear upstairs with a flushed face as soon as she was out of hearing pounce it upon her sister call her a little door mouse ask her for the better opening of her eyes tell her what had passed below and ask her what she thought of Pa now towards Mrs. Murdell the young lady comported herself with great independence and self-possession but not as yet with any more decided opening of hostilities occasionally they had a slight skirmish as when Fanny considered herself patted on the back by that lady or as when Mrs. Murdell looked particularly young and well but Mrs. Murdell always soon terminated those passages of arms by sinking among her cushions with the gracefulest indifference and finding her attention otherwise engaged society for that mysterious creature set upon the seven hills too found Mrs. Fanny vastly improved by her engagement she was much more accessible much more free and engaging much less exacting in so much that she now entertained a host of followers and admirers to the bitter indignation of ladies with daughters to marry who were to be regarded as having revolted from society on the Miss Dorit grievance and erected a rebellious standard enjoying the flutter she caused Miss Dorit not only hortily moved through it in her own proper person but hortily even ostentatiously let Mr. Sparkler through it too seeming to say to them all if I think proper to march among you in triumphal procession attended by this weak captive in bonds rather than a stronger one that is my business enough that I choose to do it Mr. Sparkler for his part questioned nothing but when wherever he was taken did whatever he was told felt that for his bright elect to be distinguished was for him to be distinguished on the easiest terms and was truly grateful for being so openly acknowledged the winter passing on towards the spring while this condition of affairs prevailed it became necessary for Mr. Sparkler to repair to England and take his appointed part in the expression and direction of its genius learning, commas, spirit and sense the land of Shakespeare Milton Bacon, Newton, what the land of a host of past and present abstract philosophers natural philosophers and subduers of nature and art in their myriad forms called to Mr. Sparkler to come and take care of it lest it should perish Mr. Sparkler unable to resist the agonized cry from the depths of his country's soul declared that he must go it followed that the question was rendered pressing when, where and how Mr. Sparkler should be married to the most girl in all this world with no nonsense about her its solution, after some little mystery and secrecy, Miss Fanny herself announced to her sister now my child said she, seeking her out one day I'm going to tell you something it is only this moment broached and naturally I hurry to you the moment it is broached your marriage Fanny my precious child said Fanny, don't anticipate me let me impart my confidence to you you flurry little thing in my own way as to your guess, if I answered it literally I should answer no for really it is not my marriage that is in question half as much as it is Edmund's little Dorrit looked and perhaps not altogether without cause somewhat at a loss to understand this fine distinction I am in no difficulty exclaimed Fanny and in no hurry I am not wanted at any public office or to give any vote anywhere else but Edmund is and Edmund is deeply dejected at the idea of going away by himself and indeed I don't like that he should be trusted by himself for if it's possible and it generally is to do a foolish thing he is sure to do it as she concluded this impartial summary of the reliance that might be safely placed upon her future husband she took off with an air of business the bonnet she wore and dangled it by its strings upon the ground it is far more Edmund's question therefore than mine however we need say no more about that that is self evident on the face of it well my dearest Amy the point arising is he to go by himself or is he not to go by himself this other point arises are we to be married here and shortly ends I see I'm going to lose you Fanny what a little thing you are cried Fanny half tolerant and half impatient for anticipating one pray my darling hear me out that woman she spoke of mrs. muddle of course remains here until after Easter so in the case of my being married here and going to London with Edmund I should have the start of her that is something further Amy that woman being out of the way I don't know that I greatly object to mr. muddle's proposal to par that Edmund and I should take up our abode in that house you know where you once went with the dancer my dear until our own house can be chosen and fitted up further still Amy papa having always intended to go to town himself in the spring you see if Edmund and I were married here we might go after Florence where papa might join us and we might all three travel home together mr. muddle Mr. muddle has entreated par to stay with him in that same mansion I have mentioned and I suppose he will but he is master of his own actions and upon that point which is not at all material I can't speak positively the difference between papas being master of his own actions and mr. sparklers being nothing of the sword was forcibly expressed by Fanny in her manner of stating the case not that her sister noticed it for she was divided between regret at the coming separation and a lingering wish that she had been included in the plans for visiting England and these are the arrangements Fanny dear arrangements repeated Fanny now really child you are a little trying you know I particularly guarded myself against laying my words open to any such construction what I said was that certain questions present themselves and these are the questions little Dorit's thoughtful eyes met hers tenderly and quietly now my own sweet girl said Fanny weighing her bonnet by the strings with considerable impatience it's no use staring a little owl could stare I look to you for advice Amy what do you advise me to do do you think asked little Dorit persuasively after a short hesitation do you think Fanny that if you were to put it off for a few months it might be considering all things best no little tortoise retorted Fanny with exceeding sharpness I don't think anything of the kind here she threw her bonnet from her all together and flounced into a chair but becoming affectionate almost immediately she flounced out of it again and kneeled down on the floor to take her sister chair and owl in her arms don't suppose I am hasty or unkind darling because I really am not but you're such a little oddity you make one bite your head off when one wants to be soothing beyond everything didn't I tell you, you dearest baby that Edmund can't be trusted by himself and don't you know that he can't yes, yes Fanny you said so I know and you know it I know retorted Fanny well my precious child if he is not to be trusted by himself it follows I suppose that I should go with him it seems so love said little Dorit therefore having heard the arrangements that are feasible to carry out that object am I to understand dearest Amy but on the whole you advise me to make them it seems so love said little Dorit again very well cried Fanny with an air of resignation then I suppose it must be done I came to you my sweet the moment I saw the doubt and the necessity of deciding I have now decided so let it be after yielding herself up in this pattern manner to sisterly advice and the force of circumstances Fanny became quite benignant as one who had laid her own inclinations at the feet of her dearest friend and felt a glow of conscience in having made the sacrifice after all my Amy she said to her sister you are the best of small creatures of good sense and I don't know what I shall ever do without you with which words she folded her in a closer embrace and the really fond one not that I contemplate doing without you Amy by any means for I hope we shall ever be next doing separable and now my pet I am going to give you a word of advice when you are left alone here with Mrs. General I am to be left alone here with Mrs. General and I will go to the little door quietly I of course my precious til papa comes back unless you call Edward company which he certainly is not even when he is here and still more certainly is not when he is away at Naples or in Sicily I was going to say but you are such a beloved little marplot for putting one out when you are left alone here with Mrs. General Amy don't you let her slide into any sort of artful understanding with you that she is looking after Pa looking after her she will if she can I know her sly manner of feeling her way with those gloves of hers but don't you comprehend her on any account and if Pa should tell you when he comes back that he has it in contemplation to make Mrs. General your mama which is not the less likely because I am going away my advice to you is that you say at once Papa I beg to object most strongly Fanny cautioned me about this and I object I don't mean to say that any objection from your Amy is likely to be of the smallest effect or that I think you are likely to make it with any degree of firmness but there is a principle involved a filial principle and I implore you not to submit to be mother in Lord by Mrs. General without asserting it in making everyone about you as uncomfortable as possible I don't expect you to stand by it indeed I know you won't Pa being concerned which to rouse you to a sense of duty as to any help from me or as to any opposition that I can offer to such a match you shall not be left in the lurch my love whatever weight I may derive from my position as a married girl not wholly devoid of attractions used as that position always shall be to oppose that woman I will bring to bear you may depend upon it on the head and false hair for I am confident it's not all real ugly as it is and unlikely as it appears that anyone in their senses would go to the expense of buying it of Mrs. General little Dorrid received this council without venturing to oppose it but without giving Fanny any reason to believe that she intended to act upon it having now as it were formally wound up her single life and arranged her worldly affairs Fanny proceeded with characteristic ardour to prepare for the serious change in her condition this preparation consisted in the dispatch of her maid to Paris under the protection of the Courier for the purchase of that outfit for a bride on which it would be extremely low in the present narrative to bestow an English name but to which, on a vulgar principle it observes of adhering to the language in which it professes to be written it declines to give a French one the rich and beautiful wardrobe purchased by these agents in the course of a few weeks made its way through the intervening country bristling with custom houses garrisoned by an immense army of shabby mendicans in uniform who incessantly repeated the beggars' petition over it as if every individual warrior among them were the ancient Belisarius and of whom there were so many legions that unless the Courier had expended just one bushel and a half of silver money relieving their distresses they would have worn the wardrobe out before it got to Rome by turning it over and over through all such dangers however it was triumphantly brought inch by inch and arrived at its journey's end in fine condition there it was exhibited to select companies of female viewers in whose gentle bosoms it awakened implacable feelings concurrently active preparations were made for the day on which some of its treasures were to be publicly displayed cards of breakfast invitation were sent to healthy English in the city of Romulus the other half made arrangements to be under arms as criticizing volunteers at various outer points of the solemnity the most high and illustrious English senior Edgar Dodorit came posed through the deep mud and ruts from forming a surface under the improving Neapolitan nobility to grace the occasion the best hotel and all its culinary murmidons were set to work to prepare the feast the draughts of Mr. Dodorit almost constituted a run on the Tolonia bank the British consul hadn't had such a marriage in the whole of his consularity the day came and the she-wolf in the capital might have snarled with envy to see how the island savages contrived these things nowadays the murderous headed statutes of the wicked emperors of the soldiery whom sculptors had not been able to flatter out of their hideousness might have come off their pedestals to run away with the bride the choked old fountain whereas the gladiators washed might have leaped into life again to honor the ceremony the temple of Vesta might have sprung up anew from its ruins expressly to lend its countenance to the occasion might have done but did not like sentient things even like the lords and ladies of creation sometimes might have done much but did nothing the celebration went off with admirable pomp monks in black robes white robes and russet robes stopped to look after the carriages wandering peasants in fleeces of sheep begged and piped under the house windows the English volunteers defiled the day wore on to the hour of Vespers the festival wore away the thousand churches rang their bells without any reference to it and St. Peter denied that he had anything to do with it but by that time the bride was near the end of the first day's journey towards Florence it was the peculiarity of the nuptials that they were all bride nobody noticed the bridegroom nobody noticed the first bride's maid few could have seen little Dorid who held that post for the glare even supposing many to have sought her the bride had mounted into her handsome chariot incidentally accompanied by the bridegroom and after rolling for a few minutes smoothly over a fair pavement had begun to jolt through a slough of despond and through a long long avenue of rack and ruin other nuptial carriages are said to have gone the same road before and since if little Dorid 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. Dorid had wanted supper there was an Italian cook and there was a Swiss confectioner who must have put on caps as high cups mighter and have performed the mysteries of alchemists in a copper saucepan 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 Dorid 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 and for the night was always her frostiest ceremony as if she felt it necessary that the human imagination should be chilled into a stone to prevent its following her when she had gone through her rigid preliminaries amounting to a sort of gentle platoon exercise she withdrew little Dorid then put her arm round her father's neck to bid him good night Amy my dear said Mr. Dorid taking her by the hand this is the close of a day that has greatly impressed and gratified me a little tired you dear too no said Mr. Dorid no I am not sensible of fatigue when it arises from an occasion so replete with gratification of the purest kind little Dorid was glad to find him in such heart and smiled from her own heart dear he continued this is an occasion teeming with a good example with a good example my favorite and attached child to you little Dorid flattered 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 her marriage eminently calculated to extend the basis of our connection and to consolidate our social relations my love I trust that the time is not far distant when some 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 like one in sudden alarm nay Amy Amy said Mr. Dorid this is weak and foolish weak and foolish you have a responsibility imposed upon you by your position it is to develop that position and be worthy of that position as to taking care of me I can take care of myself or after a moment if I should need to be taken care of I can with the blessing of providence be taken care of I cannot my dear child think of engrossing and her as it were sacrificing you oh 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 must not do it my conscience would not allow it I therefore my love take the opportunity afforded by this gratifying and impressive occasion of solemnly remarking that it is now a cherished wish and a purpose of mine to see you eligibility I repeat eligibility married oh no dear pray Amy said Mr. Dorrid 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 Mrs. General that there would not be two opinions as to the affectionate character and propriety of my sentiments but as I know your loving and beautiful nature from her from experience I am quite satisfied that it is necessary to say no more I have her no husband to propose at present my dear I have not even one in view I merely wish that we should her understand each other hmm good night my dear and soul remaining daughter good night God bless you if the thought ever entered little Dorrid'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 born 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 they 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 Dorrid would have been glad to bear him company 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 the valet was next in the line and the succession would not have come to her as long as anyone could be god 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 Dorrid would often ride out in a hired carriage that was left them and the light alone and wonder among the ruins of old Rome the ruins of the vast old amphitheater of the old temples of the old commemorative arches of the old trodden highways of the old tombs besides being what they were to her were ruins of the old marshal sea ruins of her own old life ruins of the faces and forms that of old people did ruins of its loves hopes, cares and joys two ruined spheres of action 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 come Mrs. General taking all the color 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 in the company and seeing nothing else scratching up the driest little bones of antiquity and bolting them whole without any human visitings like a ghoul in gloves end of chapter the 15th book the second of Little Dorit this recording is in the public domain chapter the 16th book the second of Little Dorit read for LibriVox.org by Ellis Christoff Little Dorit by Charles Dickens book the second chapter the 16th 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 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 cause of nature required the wealthy population to be kept up on his account he therefore condescended to look at the carriage from the whole 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 upstairs into Mr. Myrtle'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 committal of himself with the family Mr. Myrtle was slinking about the hearth rug waiting to welcome Mrs. Parkler his hand seemed to retreat up his sleeve as he advanced to do so and he gave her such a super fluidity of goat 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 come I've got you you know and you go quietly along with me Mrs. Parkler installed into the rooms of state the innermost sanctuary of down, silk, chins and fine linen felt that so far her triumph was good and her weight made step by step on the day before her marriage she had bestowed on Mrs. Myrtle's made with an air of gracious indifference in Mrs. Myrtle's presence a trifling little keepsake bracelet, bonnet and two dresses all new about four times as valuable as the present formerly made by Mrs. Myrtle to her she was now established in Mrs. Myrtle's own rooms to which some extra touches had been given to render them more worthy of her occupation in her mind's eye, as she lounged there surrounded by every luxurious accessory that wealth could obtain or invention devise she saw the fair bosom that beat in unison with the exaltation of her thoughts competing with the bosom that had been famous so long outshining it and deposing it Happy? Funny must have been happy no more wishing one's self dead now the courier had not approved of Mr. Dorit staying in the house of a friend and had preferred to take him to a hotel in Brook Street Grovener Square Mr. Myrtle ordered his carriage to be ready early in the morning that he might wait upon Mr. Dorit immediately after breakfast bright the carriage looked sleek the horses looked gleaming the harness looked luscious and lasting deliveries looked a rich responsible turnout an equipage for a Myrtle early people looked after it as it rattled along the street and said with awe in their breath there he goes there he went until Brook Street stopped him then both from its magnificent case came the jewel not lastress in itself but quite the contrary commotion in the office of the hotel Myrtle the landlord though a gentleman of a haughty spirit who had just driven a pair of thoroughbred horses into town turned out to show him upstairs the clerks and servants cut him off by back passages and were found accidentally hovering at certain angles that they might look upon him Myrtle O ye son, moon and stars the great man the rich man who had in a manner revised the New Testament and already entered into the kingdom of heaven the man who could have anyone he chose to dine with him and who had made the money as he went up the stairs people were already posted on the lower stairs that his shadow might fall upon them when he came down so were the sick brought out and laid in the track of the apostles who had not got into the good society and had not made the money Mr. Dorit dressing down the newspaper was at his breakfast the courier with agitation in his voice announced Miss Myrtle Mr. Dorit's overwrought heart bounded as he leaped up Mr. Myrtle this is indeed an honour permit me to express the sense the high sense I entertain of this highly gratifying act of attention I am well aware sir of the many demands upon your time and its enormous value Mr. Dorit could not say enormous roundly even for his own satisfaction that you should her at this early hour bestow any of your priceless time upon me is a complement that I acknowledge with the greatest esteem Mr. Dorit positively trembled in addressing the great man Mr. Myrtle uttered in his subdued inward hesitating voice a few sounds that were to no purpose whatever and finally said I'm glad to see you sir you are very kind said Mr. Dorit truly kind by this time the visitor was seated and was passing his great handle where he's exhausted for it you are well I hope Mr. Myrtle I am as well as I yes I am as well as I usually am said Mr. Myrtle your occupations must be immense tolerably so but oh dear no there's not much the matter with me said Mr. Myrtle looking round the room a little dispeptic Mr. Dorit hinted very likely but I oh I am well enough said Mr. Myrtle there were black traces on his lips where they met as if a little train of gunpowder had been fired there and he looked like a man who if his natural temperament had been quicker would have been very feverish that morning this and his heavy way of passing his hand over his forehead had prompted Mr. Dorit's solicitous inquiries Mrs. Myrtle Mr. Dorit insinuatingly pursued I left as you will be prepared to hear the observed of all observers the admired of all admirers the leading fascination and charm of society in Rome she was looking wonderfully well when I acquitted it Mrs. Myrtle said Mr. Myrtle is generally considered a very attractive woman and she is no doubt I am sensible of her being so who can be otherwise responded Mr. Dorit Mr. Myrtle turned his tongue in his closed mouth it seemed rather a stiff and unmanageable tongue moistened his lips passed his hand over his forehead again and looked all round the room again principally under the chairs but he said looking Mr. Dorit in the face for the first time and immediately afterwards dropping his eyes to the button of Mr. Dorit's waistcoat if we speak of attractions your daughter ought to be the subject of our conversation she is extremely beautiful both in face and figure she is quite beautiful when the young people arrived last night I was really surprised to see such charms Mr. Dorit's gratification was such that he said he could not refrain from telling Mr. Myrtle verbally as he had already done by letter what honour and happiness he felt in this union of their families and he offered his hand Mr. Myrtle looked at the hand for a little while took it on his for a moment this wore a yellow salver or fish slice and then returned it to Mr. Dorit I thought I would drive round the first thing said Mr. Myrtle to offer my services in case I can do anything for you and to say that I hope you will at least do me the honour of dining with me today and every day when you are not better engaged during your stay in town Mr. Dorit was enraptured by these attentions do you stay long sir I have not at present the intention said Mr. Dorit of exceeding a fortnight that's a very short stay after so long a journey returned Mr. Myrtle yes said Mr. Dorit but the truth is my dear Mr. Myrtle that I find a foreign life so well suited to my health and taste that I have but two objects in my present visit to London first the distinguished happiness and privilege which I now enjoy and appreciate secondly the arrangement the laying out that is to say in the best way of my money well sir said Mr. Myrtle after turning his tongue again if I can be of any use to you in that respect you may command me Mr. Dorit's speech had had more hesitation in it than usual as he approached the ticklish topic for he was not perfectly clear how so exalted a potentate might take it. He had doubts whether reference to any individual capital or fortune might not seem a wretchedly retail affair to so wholesale a dealer greatly relieved by Mr. Myrtle's avable offer of assistance he cordoned it directly and heaped acknowledgments upon him I scarcely have dared said Mr. Dorit I assure you to hope for so vast an advantage as your direct advice and assistance though of course I should under any circumstances like the rest of the civilized world have followed in Mr. Myrtle's train you know we may almost say we are related sir said Mr. Myrtle curiously interested in the pattern of the carpet and therefore you may consider me at your service very handsome indeed cried Mr. Dorit most handsome it would not said Mr. Myrtle be at the present moment easy for what I may call a mere outsider to come into any of the good things of course I speak of my own good things of course of course cried Mr. Dorit in a tone implying that there were no other good things unless at a high price at what we are accustomed to term a very long figure Mr. Dorit laughed in the buoyancy of his spirit long figure good very expressive to be sure however said Mr. Myrtle I do generally retain in my own hands the power of exercising some preference people in general would be pleased to call it favor as a sort of compliment for my care and trouble and public spirit and genius Mr. Dorit suggested Mr. Myrtle with a dry swallowing action seemed to dispose of those qualities like a bolus then added as a sort of return for it I will see if you please how I can exert this limited power for people are jealous and it is limited to your advantage you are very good of course said Mr. Myrtle there must be the strictest integrity and uprightness in these transactions there must be the purest faith between man and man there must be an impeached and unimpeachable confidence or business could not be carried on Mr. Dorit hailed these generous sentiments with fervor therefore said Mr. Myrtle your preference to a certain extent I perceive to a defined extent observed Mr. Dorit defined extent and perfectly above board as to my advice however said Mr. Myrtle that is another matter that such as it is oh such as it was Mr. Dorit could not bear the faintest appearance of its being depreciated by Mr. Myrtle himself that there is nothing in the bonds of spotless honour between myself and my fellow man to prevent my parting with if I choose and that said Mr. Myrtle now deeply intent upon a dust card that was passing the windows shall be at your command whenever you think proper new acknowledgments from Mr. Dorit new passages of Mr. Myrtle scanned over his forehead in silence contemplation of Mr. Dorit's whiskered buttons by Mr. Myrtle my time being rather precious said Mr. Myrtle suddenly getting up as if he had been waiting in the interval for his legs and they had just come I must be moving towards the city can I take you anywhere sir I shall be happy to sit you down or send you on my carriage is at your disposal Mr. Dorit be thought himself the business at his bankers his bankers was in the city that was fortunate Mr. Myrtle would take him into the city but surely he might not detain Mr. Myrtle while he assumed his coat yes he might and must Mr. Myrtle insisted on it so Mr. Dorit retiring into the next room put himself under the hands of his valet and in five minutes came back glorious then said Mr. Myrtle allow me sir take my arm then leaning on Mr. Myrtle's arm did Mr. Dorit descend the staircase seeing the worshippers on the steps and feeling that the light of Mr. Myrtle is shown by reflection in himself then the carriage and the ride into the city and the people who looked at them and the hats that flew off grey heads and the general bowing and crouching before this wonderful mortal the like of which prostration of spirit was not to be seen no by high heaven no it may be worth thinking of by foreigners of all denominations in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral put together on any Sunday in the year it was a rapturous dream to Mr. Dorit to find himself set aloft in this public car of triumph making a magnificent progress to that befitting destination the golden street of the Lombards there Mr. Myrtle insisted on a lighting and going his way of foot and leaving his poor equipage at Mr. Dorit's disposition so the dream increased in rapture when Mr. Dorit came out of the bank alone and people looked at him in default of Mr. Myrtle and when, with the years of his mind he heard the frequent exclamation as he rolled glibly along a wonderful man to be Mr. Myrtle's friend at dinner that day although the occasion was not foreseen and provided for a brilliant company of such as are not made of the dust of the earth but of some superior article for the present unknown shed the elastrous benediction upon Mr. Dorit's daughter's marriage at Mr. Dorit's daughter that day began in earnest her competition with that woman not present and began it so well that Mr. Dorit could all but speak in his affidavit if required that Mrs. Sparkler had all her life being lying at full length in the lap of luxury and had never heard of such a rough word in the English tongue as Marshall see next day and the day after and every day all graced by more dinner company cards descended on Mr. Dorit like theatrical snow as the friend and relative by marriage of the illustrious Myrtle bar, bishop, treasury chorus, everybody wanted to make or improve Mr. Dorit's acquaintance in Mr. Myrtle's heap of offices in the city when Mr. Dorit appeared at any of them on his business taking him eastward which it frequently did for it throw amazingly the name of Dorit was always a passport to the great presence of Myrtle so the dream increased in rapture every hour as Mr. Dorit felt increasingly sensible that this connection had brought him forward indeed only one thing sat otherwise than oriferously and at the same time lightly on Mr. Dorit's mind it was the chief butler that stupendous character looked at him in the course of his official looking at the dinners in a manner that Mr. Dorit considered questionable he looked at him as he passed through and up the staircase going to dinner with a glazed fixedness that Mr. Dorit did not like seated at the table in the act of drinking Mr. Dorit still saw him through his wine glass regarding him with a cold and ghostly eye it misgave him that the chief butler must have known a collegian and must have seen him in the college perhaps had been presented to him he looked as closely at the chief butler as such a man could be looked at and yet he did not recall that he had ever seen him elsewhere ultimately, he was inclined to think that there was no reverence in the man no sentiment in the great creature but he was not relieved by that poor, let him think what he would the chief butler had him in his supercilious eye even when that eye was on the plate and other table garniture made him out of it to hint to him that this confinement in his eye was disagreeable or to ask him what he meant was an act too daring to venture upon his severity with his employers and their visitors being terrific and he never permitted himself to be approached with the slightest liberty End of chapter the 16th book the second of little Dorit this recording is in the public domain chapter the 17th book the second of little Dorit read for LibriVox.org by Alice Christoff Little Dorit by Charles Dickens book the second chapter the 17th missing the term of Mr. Dorit's visit was within two days of being out and he was about to dress for another inspection by the chief butler whose victims were always dressed expressly for him when one of the servants of the hotel presented himself bearing a card Mr. Dorit taking it read Mrs. Finching the servant waited in speechless deference man, man said Mr. Dorit turning upon him with grievous indignation explain your motive in bringing me this ridiculous name I'm wholly unacquainted with it Finching sir said Mr. Dorit perhaps avenging himself on the chief butler by substitute ha! what do you mean by Finching the man, man seemed to mean flinching as much as anything else for he backed away from Mr. Dorit's severe regard as he replied a lady sir I know no such lady sir said Mr. Dorit take this card away I know no Finching of either sex ask your pardon sir the lady said she was aware she might be unknown by name but she begged me to say sir that she had formally the honour of being acquainted with Mr. Dorit the lady said sir the youngest Mr. Dorit Mr. Dorit needed his browse and rejoined after a moment or two inform Mrs. Finching sir emphasising the name as if the innocent man was solely responsible for it the chicken come up he had reflected in his momentary pause that unless she were admitted she might leave some message or might say something below having a disgraceful reference to that former state of existence hence the concession and hence the appearance of flora piloted in by the man, man I have not the pleasure said Mr. Dorit standing with the card in his hand and with an air which imported that it would scarcely have been a first class pleasure if he had had it of knowing either this name or yourself madam plays a chair sir the responsible man with the start obeyed and went out on tiptoe flora putting aside her veil with a bashful tremor upon her proceeded to introduce herself at the same time a singular combination of perfumes was diffused through the room as if some brandy had been put by mistake in a lavender water bottle or as if some lavender water had been put by mistake in a brandy bottle I picked Mr. Dorit to offer a thousand apologies and indeed they would be far too few for such an intrusion which I know must appear extremely bold in a lady and alone too but I thought it best upon the whole however difficult and even apparently improper though Mr. F. Sound would have willingly accompanied me and as a character of great force and spirit would probably have struck one possessed of such a knowledge of life as no doubt with so many changes must have been acquired for Mr. F. himself said frequently that although well educated in the neighbourhood of Blackheath at as high as 80 guineas which is a good deal for parents and the plate kept back too on going away but that is more a meanness than its value that he had learned more in his first years as a commercial traveller with a large commission on the sale of an article that nobody would hear of much less by which preceded the wine trade a long time than in the whole six years in that academy conducted by a college bachelor though why a bachelor more clever than a married man I do not see and never did but pray excuse me that is not the point Mr. Dorit stood rooted to the carpet a statue of mystification I must openly admit that I have no pretensions said Flora but having known the dear little thing which under altered circumstances appears a liberty but is not so intended and goodness knows there was no favour in half a crown a day to such a needle as herself but quite the other way and as to anything lowering in it far from it the labourer is worthy of his hire and I am sure I only wish he got it oftener and more animal food and less criticism in the back and legs poor soul Madam said Mr. Dorit recovering his breath by a great effort as the relict of the late Mr. Finching stopped to take hers Madam said Mr. Dorit very red in the face if I understand you to refer to to anything in the antecedents of a daughter of mine involving her daily compensation madam I beg to observe that the fact assuming it had to be fact never was within my knowledge I should not have permitted it her never never unnecessary to pursue the subject returned Flora and would not have mentioned it on any account except supposing it a favourable and only letter of introduction but as to being fact no doubt whatever and you may set your mind at rest for the very dress I have on now can prove it and sweetly made though there is no denying that it would tell better on a better figure for my own is much too fat though how to bring it down I know not pray excuse me I am roving off again Mr. Dorit back to his chair in a stony way and seated himself as Flora gave him a softening look and played with her parasol the dear little thing said Flora having gone off perfectly limp and white and cold in my own house or at least by pass although not a freehold still a lonely set of peppercorn on the morning when Arthur foolish habit of our youthful days and Mr. Clenum far more adapted to existing circumstances particularly addressing a stranger and that stranger a gentleman in an elevated station communicated the glad tidings imparted by a person of a name of Pank Simboldons me at the mention of these two names Mr. Dorit frowned stared frowned again hesitated with his fingers at his lips as he had hesitated long ago and said do me a favor to state your pleasure madam Mr. Dorit said Flora you are very kind in giving me permission and highly natural it seems to me that you should be kind for though more stately I perceive a likeness filled out of course but a likeness still the object of my intruding is my own without the slightest consultation with any human being and most decidedly not with Arthur bray excuse me doys and clenum I don't know what I am saying Mr. clenum solus for to put that individual linked by a golden chain to a purple time when always ethereal out of any anxiety would be worth to me the ransom of a monarch not that I have the least idea how much that would come to but using it as the total of all that I have in the world and more Mr. Dorit without greatly regarding the earnestness of these latter words repeated state your pleasure madam it's not likely I will know said Flora but it's possible and being possible when I had the gratification of reading in the papers that you had arrived from Italy and were going back I made up my mind to try it for you might come across him or hear something of him and if so what a blessing to all allow me to ask madam said Mr. Dorit with his ideas in wild confusion to whom to whom he repeated it with a raised voice in mere desperation you at present allude to the foreigner from Italy who disappeared in the city has no doubt you have read in the papers equally with myself said Flora not referring to private sources by the name of pangs from which one gathers what a dreadfully ill natured things some people are wicked enough to whisper most likely judging others by themselves and what the uneasiness and indignation of Arthur quite unable to overcome it doys and clenum cannot fail to be it happened fortunately for the elucidation of any intelligible result that Mr. Dorit had heard or read nothing about the matter this caused Mrs. Finchin with many apologies for being in great practical difficulties as to finding the way to her pocket among the stripes of her dress at length to produce a police handbill setting forth that a foreign gentleman of the name of Blandois last from Venice had unaccountably disappeared on such a night in such a part of the city of London that he was known to have entered such a house at such an hour that he was stated by the inmates of the house to have left it about so many minutes before midnight and that he had never been beheld since this with exact particulars of time and locality and with a good detailed description of the foreign gentleman who had so mysteriously vanished Mr. Dorit read at large Blandois? said Mr. Dorit, Venice and this description I know this gentleman he has been in my house he is intimately acquainted with the gentleman of good family but in different circumstances of whom I am a... patron then my humble and pressing entreaty is the more said Flora that in travelling back you will have the kindness to look for this foreign gentleman along all the roads and up and down all the turnings and to make inquiries for him at all the hotels and orange trees and vineyards and volcanoes and places for he must be somewhere and why doesn't he come forward and say he's there and the party's up? Pray madam said Mr. Dorit referring to the hand-bill again who is Clenamand Company I see the name mentioned here in connection with the occupation of the house which must you Blandois was seen to enter who is Clenamand Company is it the individual of whom I had formerly some slight transitory knowledge and to whom I believe you have referred is it a... that person it's a very different person indeed replied Flora with no limbs and wheels instead and the grimiest of women though his mother Clenamand Company he... a mother exclaimed Mr. Dorit and an old man besides said Flora Mr. Dorit looked as if he must immediately be driven out of his mind by this account neither was it rendered more favourable to sanity by Flora's dashing into a rapid analysis of Mr. Flinto in Skravart and describing him without the lightest boundary line of separation between his identity and Mrs. Clenam's as a rusty screw in Gators which compound of man and woman no limbs, wheels rusty screw, grimness and Gators so completely stupefied Mr. Dorit that he was a spectacle to be pitied but I would not detain you one moment longer said Flora upon whom his condition wrought its effect though she was quite unconscious of having produced it if you would have the goodness to give your promise as a gentleman that both in going back to Italy and in Italy too you would look for this Mr. Blandor high and low and if you found or heard of him make him come forward for the clearing of Gators by that time Mr. Dorit had so far recovered from his bewilderment as to be able to say in a tolerably connected manner that he should consider that his duty Flora was delighted with her success and rose to take her leave with a million thanks said she and my address upon my card in case of anything to be communicated personally I will not send my love to the dear little thing for it might not be acceptable and indeed there is no dear little thing left in the transformation so why do it but both myself and Mr. Evsandt ever wish her well and lay no claim to any favor on our side you may be sure of that but quite the other way for what she undertook to do she did and that is more than a great many of us do not to say anything of her doing it as well as it could be done and I myself am one of them for I have said ever since I began to recover of Mr. Evs death that I would learn the organ of which I am extremely fond but of which I am ashamed to say I do not yet know a note good evening when Mr. Dorit who attended her to the room door had had a little time to collect his senses he found that the interview had summoned back discarded reminiscences which jarred with the muddle dinner table he wrote and sent off a brief note excusing himself that day and ordered dinner presently in his own rooms at the hotel he had another reason for this his time in London was very nearly out and was anticipated by engagements his plans were made for returning and he thought it behoved his importance to pursue some direct inquiry into the bland wide disappearance and be in a condition to carry back to Mr. Henry Gowan the result of his own personal investigation he therefore resolved he would take advantage of that evening's freedom to go down to clenum and companies easily to be found by the direction set forth in the hand-bill and see the place and ask a question or two there himself having dined as plainly as the establishment and the courier would let him and having taken a short sleep by the fire for his better recovery from Mrs. Finching he set out in a hackney cabriolet alone the deep bell of St. Paul's was striking nine as he passed under the shadow of Temple Bar headless and forlorn in these degenerate days as he approached his destination through the by-street and water-side ways that part of London seemed to him an ugliest spot at such an hour than he had ever supposed it to be many long years had passed since he had seen it he had never known much of it and it wore a mysterious and dismal aspect in his eyes so powerful was his imagination impressed by it that when his driver stopped after having asked the way more than once and said to the best of his belief this was the gateway they wanted Mr. Doritz stood hesitating with the coach door in his hand half afraid of the dark look of the place truly it looked as gloomy that night as even it had ever looked two of the hand-bills were posted on the entrance wall one on either side and as the lamp flickered in the night air shadows passed over them not unlike the shadows of fingers following the lines a watch was evidently kept upon the place as Mr. Doritz paused a man passed in from over the way and another man passed out from some dark corner within and both looked at him in passing and both remained standing about as there was only one house in the enclosure there was no room for uncertainty so he went up the steps of that house and knocked there was a dim light in two windows on the first floor the door gave back a dreary vacant sound as though the house were empty but it was not for a light was visible and a step was audible almost directly as they both came to the door and a chain grated and a woman with her apron thrown over her face and head stood in the aperture oh is it said the woman Mr. Doritz much amazed by this appearance replied that he was from Italy and that he wished to ask a question relative to the missing person whom he knew hi cried the woman raising a cracking voice Jeremiah upon this a dry old man appeared whom Mr. Doritz thought he identified by his gaiters as the rustic crew the woman was under apprehensions of the dry old man for she whisked her apron away as he approached and disclosed a pale affrighted face open the door you fool said the old man and let the gentleman in Mr. Doritz not without a glance over his shoulder towards his driver and the cabriolet walked into the dim hall now sir said Mr. Flintwinch you can ask anything year you think proper there are no secrets here sir before a reply could be made a strong stern voice though a woman's called from above who is it return Jeremiah more inquiries a gentleman from Italy give him up here Mr. Flintwinch mattered as if he deemed that unnecessary but turning to Mr. Doritz said Mrs. Clenham she will do as she likes I'll show you the way he then proceeded Mr. Doritz up the black and staircase that gentleman not unnaturally looking behind him on the road saw the woman following with her apron thrown over her head again in her former ghastly manner Mrs. Clenham had her books open on her little table oh said she abruptly as she eyed her visitor with a steady look you are from Italy sir are you well Mr. Doritz was at a loss for any more distinct rejoinder at the moment then well where is the missing man have you come to give us information where he is I hope you have so far from it I have come to seek information unfortunately for us there is none to be got here Flintwinch show the gentleman the handbill give him several to take away hold the light for him and read it Mr. Flintwinch did as he was directed and Mr. Doritz read it through as if he had not previously seen it glad enough of the opportunity of collecting his presence of mind which the air of the house and of the people in it a little disturbed while his eyes were on the paper he felt that the eyes of Mr. Flintwinch and of Mrs. Clenum were on him found when he looked up that this sensation was not a fanciful one now you know as much said Mrs. Clenum as we know sir is Mr. Blandware a friend of yours no unacquaintance answered Mr. Doritz you have no commission for him perhaps I certainly not the searching looked turned gradually to the floor after taking Mr. Flintwinch's face in its way Mr. Doritz discomfited by finding that he was the questioned instead of the questioner applied himself to the reversal of that unexpected order of things I am a gentleman of property at present residing in Italy with my family my servants and my rather large establishment being in London for a short time on affairs connected with my estate and hearing of this strange disappearance I wished to make myself acquainted with the circumstances at first hand because there is an English gentleman in Italy whom I shall no doubt see on my return who has been in habits of close and daily intimacy with Mr. Blandware Mr. Henry Gowan you may know the name never heard of it Mrs. Glenham said it and Mr. Flintwinch echoed it wishing to make the narrative coherent and consecutive to him said Mr. Doritz may I ask say three questions thirty if you choose have you known Mr. Blandware long not a twelve month Mr. Flintwinch here will refer to the books and tell you when and by whom at Paris he was introduced to us if that Mrs. Glenham added should be any satisfaction to you it is poor satisfaction to us have you seen him often no twice once before and that once suggested Mr. Flintwinch and that once pray madam said Mr. Doritz with a growing fancy upon him as he recovered his importance that he was in some superior way in the commission of the peace pray madam may I inquire for the greater satisfaction of the gentlemen whom I have the honor to retain or protect or let me say to her no to no was Mr. Blandware here on business on the night indicated in this present sheet on what he called business returned Mrs. Glenham is excuse me is its nature to be communicated no it was evidently impracticable to pass the barrier of that reply the question has been asked before said Mrs. Glenham and the answer has been no we don't choose to publish our transactions however unimportant to all the town we say no I mean he took away no money with him for example said Mr. Dorit he took away none of ours sir and got none here I suppose observed Mr. Dorit glancing from Mrs. Glenham to Mr. Flintwinch and to Mr. Flintwinch from Mrs. Glenham you have no way of accounting to yourself for this mystery why do you suppose so rejoined Mrs. Glenham disconcerted by the cold and hard inquiry Mr. Dorit was unable to assign any reason for his supposing so I account for it sir she pursued after an awkward silence on Mr. Dorit's part by having no doubt that he is travelling somewhere or hiding somewhere do you know why he should hide anywhere no it was exactly the same no as before and put another barrier up you asked me if I accounted for the disappearance to myself Mrs. Glenham sternly reminded him not if I accounted for it to you I do not pretend to account for it to you sir I understand it to be no more my business to do that than it is yours to require that Mr. Dorit answered with an apologetic bend of his head as he stepped back preparatory to saying he had no more to ask he could not but observe how gloomily and fixedly she sat with her eyes fastened on the ground and a certain air upon her of resolute waiting also how exactly the self-same expression was reflected in Mr. Flintwinge standing at a little distance from her chair with his eyes also on the ground and his right hand softly rubbing his chin at that moment Mr. Saffery of course the woman with the apron dropped the candlestick she held and cried out there oh good lord there he is again oh Jeremiah now if there were any sound at all it was so slight that she must have fallen into a confirmed habit of listening for sounds but Mr. Dorit believed he did hear a something like the falling of dry leaves the woman's terror for a very short space seemed to touch the three and they all listened Mr. Flintwinge was the first to stir after in my womo he said sidling at her with his fists clenched and his elbows quivering with impatience to shake her you are at your old tricks you'll be walking in your sleep next my woman and playing the whole round of your distempered antics you must have some physique when I have shown this gentleman out I'll make you up such a comfortable dose my woman such a comfortable dose it did not appear altogether comfortable in expectation to Mr. Saffery but Jeremiah without further reference to his healing medicine took another candle from Mrs. Clenum's table and said now sir shall I light you down Mr. Dorit professed himself obliged and went down Mr. Flintwinge shut him out and chained him out without a moment's loss of time he was again passed by the two men one going out and the other coming in got into the vehicle he had left waiting and was driven away before he had gone far the driver stopped to let him know that he had given his name, number and address to the two men on their joint requisition and also the address at which he had taken Mr. Dorit up the hour at which he had been called from his stand and the way by which he had come this did not make the night's adventure run any less hotly in Mr. Dorit's mind either when he sat down by his fire again or when he went to bed all night he haunted the dismal house saw the two people resolutely waiting heard the woman with her apron over her face cry out about the noise and found the body of the missing Blandois now buried in the cellar and now bricked up in a wall End of chapter the 17th Book II of Little Dorit This recording is in the public domain