acknowledgewiththegreatestesteem。’MrDorritpositivelytrembledinaddressingthegreatman。
MrMerdleuttered，inhissubdued，inward，hesitatingvoice，afewsoundsthatweretonopurposewhatever；andfinallysaid，’Iamgladtoseeyou，sir。’
’Youareverykind，’saidMrDorrit。’Trulykind。’Bythistimethevisitorwasseated，andwaspassinghisgreathandoverhisexhaustedforehead。’Youarewell，Ihope，MrMerdle？’
’IamaswellasI——yes，IamaswellasIusuallyam，’saidMrMerdle。
’Youroccupationsmustbeimmense。’
’Tolerablyso。But——Ohdearno，there’snotmuchthematterwithme，’saidMrMerdle，lookingroundtheroom。
’Alittledyspeptic？’MrDorrithinted。
’Verylikely。ButI——Oh，Iamwellenough，’saidMrMerdle。
Therewereblacktracesonhislipswheretheymet，asifalittletrainofgunpowderhadbeenfiredthere；andhelookedlikeamanwho，ifhisnaturaltemperamenthadbeenquicker，wouldhavebeenveryfeverishthatmorning。This，andhisheavywayofpassinghishandoverhisforehead，hadpromptedMrDorrit’ssolicitousinquiries。
’MrsMerdle，’MrDorritinsinuatinglypursued，’Ileft，asyouwillbepreparedtohear，the——ha——observedofallobservers，the——hum——
admiredofalladmirers，theleadingfascinationandcharmofSocietyinRome。ShewaslookingwonderfullywellwhenIquittedit。’
’MrsMerdle，’saidMrMerdle，’isgenerallyconsideredaveryattractivewoman。Andsheis，nodoubt。IamsensibleofherbeingSO。’
’Whocanbeotherwise？’respondedMrDorrit。
MrMerdleturnedhistongueinhisclosedmouth——itseemedratherastiffandunmanageabletongue——moistenedhislips，passedhishandoverhisforeheadagain，andlookedallroundtheroomagain，principallyunderthechairs。
’But，’hesaid，lookingMrDorritinthefaceforthefirsttime，andimmediatelyafterwardsdroppinghiseyestothebuttonsofMrDorrit’swaistcoat；’ifwespeakofattractions，yourdaughteroughttobethesubjectofourconversation。Sheisextremelybeautiful。Bothinfaceandfigure，sheisquiteuncommon。Whentheyoungpeoplearrivedlastnight，Iwasreallysurprisedtoseesuchcharms。’
MrDorrit’sgratificationwassuchthathesaid——ha——hecouldnotrefrainfromtellingMrMerdleverbally，ashehadalreadydonebyletter，whathonourandhappinesshefeltinthisunionoftheirfamilies。Andheofferedhishand。MrMerdlelookedatthehandforalittlewhile，tookitonhisforamomentasifhiswereayellowsalverorfish-slice，andthenreturnedittoMrDorrit。
’IthoughtIwoulddriveroundthefirstthing，’saidMrMerdle，’tooffermyservices，incaseIcandoanythingforyou；andtosaythatIhopeyouwillatleastdomethehonourofdiningwithmeto-day，andeverydaywhenyouarenotbetterengagedduringyourstayintown。’
MrDorritwasenrapturedbytheseattentions。
’Doyoustaylong，sir？’
’Ihavenotatpresenttheintention，’saidMrDorrit，’of——ha——
exceedingafortnight。’
’That’saveryshortstay，aftersolongajourney，’returnedMrMerdle。
’Hum。Yes，’saidMrDorrit。’Butthetruthis——ha——mydearMrMerdle，thatIfindaforeignlifesowellsuitedtomyhealthandtaste，thatI——hum——havebuttwoobjectsinmypresentvisittoLondon。First，the——ha——thedistinguishedhappinessand——ha——
privilegewhichInowenjoyandappreciate；secondly，thearrangement——hum——thelayingout，thatistosay，inthebestway，of——ha，hum——mymoney。’
’Well，sir，’saidMrMerdle，afterturninghistongueagain，’ifI
canbeofanyusetoyouinthatrespect，youmaycommandme。’
MrDorrit’sspeechhadhadmorehesitationinitthanusual，asheapproachedtheticklishtopic，forhewasnotperfectlyclearhowsoexaltedapotentatemighttakeit。Hehaddoubtswhetherreferencetoanyindividualcapital，orfortune，mightnotseemawretchedlyretailaffairtosowholesaleadealer。GreatlyrelievedbyMrMerdle’saffableofferofassistance，hecaughtatitdirectly，andheapedacknowledgmentsuponhim。
’Iscarcely——ha——dared，’saidMrDorrit，’Iassureyou，tohopeforso——hum——vastanadvantageasyourdirectadviceandassistance。
ThoughofcourseIshould，underanycircumstances，likethe——ha，hum——restofthecivilisedworld，havefollowedinMrMerdle’strain。’
’Youknowwemayalmostsaywearerelated，sir，’saidMrMerdle，curiouslyinterestedinthepatternofthecarpet，’and，therefore，youmayconsidermeatyourservice。’
’Ha。Veryhandsome，indeed!’criedMrDorrit。’Ha。Mosthandsome!’
’itwouldnot，’saidMrMerdle，’beatthepresentmomenteasyforwhatImaycallamereoutsidertocomeintoanyofthegoodthings——ofcourseIspeakofmyowngoodthings——’
’Ofcourse，ofcourse!’criedMrDorrit，inatoneimplyingthattherewerenoothergoodthings。
’——Unlessatahighprice。Atwhatweareaccustomedtotermaverylongfigure。’
MrDorritlaughedinthebuoyancyofhisspirit。Ha，ha，ha!Longfigure。Good。Ha。Veryexpressivetobesure!
’However，’saidMrMerdle，’Idogenerallyretaininmyownhandsthepowerofexercisingsomepreference——peopleingeneralwouldbepleasedtocallitfavour——asasortofcomplimentformycareandtrouble。’
’Andpublicspiritandgenius，’MrDorritsuggested。
MrMerdle，withadry，swallowingaction，seemedtodisposeofthosequalitieslikeabolus；thenadded，’Asasortofreturnforit。Iwillsee，ifyouplease，howIcanexertthislimitedpowerforpeoplearejealous，anditislimited，toyouradvantage。’
’Youareverygood，’repliedMrDorrit。’Youareverygood。’
’Ofcourse，’saidMrMerdle，’theremustbethestrictestintegrityanduprightnessinthesetransactions；theremustbethepurestfaithbetweenmanandman；theremustbeunimpeachedandunimpeachableconfidence；orbusinesscouldnotbecarriedon。’
MrDorrithailedthesegeneroussentimentswithfervour。
’Therefore，’saidMrMerdle，’Icanonlygiveyouapreferencetoacertainextent。’
’Iperceive。Toadefinedextent，’observedMrDorrit。
’Definedextent。Andperfectlyabove-board。Astomyadvice，however，’saidMrMerdle，’thatisanothermatter。That，suchasitis——’
Oh!Suchasitwas!MrDorritcouldnotbearthefaintestappearanceofitsbeingdepreciated，evenbyMrMerdlehimself。
’——That，thereisnothinginthebondsofspotlesshonourbetweenmyselfandmyfellow-mantopreventmypartingwith，ifIchoose。
Andthat，’saidMrMerdle，nowdeeplyintentuponadust-cartthatwaspassingthewindows，’shallbeatyourcommandwheneveryouthinkproper。’
NewacknowledgmentsfromMrDorrit。NewpassagesofMrMerdle’shandoverhisforehead。Calmandsilence。ContemplationofMrDorrit’swaistcoatbuttonsbyMrMerdle。
’Mytimebeingratherprecious，’saidMrMerdle，suddenlygettingup，asifhehadbeenwaitingintheintervalforhislegsandtheyhadjustcome，’ImustbemovingtowardstheCity。CanItakeyouanywhere，sir？Ishallbehappytosetyoudown，orsendyouon。
Mycarriageisatyourdisposal。’
MrDorritbethoughthimselfthathehadbusinessathisbanker’s。
Hisbanker’swasintheCity。Thatwasfortunate；MrMerdlewouldtakehimintotheCity。But，surely，hemightnotdetainMrMerdlewhileheassumedhiscoat？Yes，hemightandmust；MrMerdleinsistedonit。SoMrDorrit，retiringintothenextroom，puthimselfunderthehandsofhisvalet，andinfiveminutescamebackglorious。
ThensaidMrMerdle，’Allowme，sir。Takemyarm!’ThenleaningonMrMerdle’sarm，didMrDorritdescendthestaircase，seeingtheworshippersonthesteps，andfeelingthatthelightofMrMerdleshonebyreflectioninhimself。Thenthecarriage，andtherideintotheCity；andthepeoplewholookedatthem；andthehatsthatflewoffgreyheads；andthegeneralbowingandcrouchingbeforethiswonderfulmortalthelikeofwhichprostrationofspiritwasnottobeseen——no，byhighHeaven，no!ItmaybeworththinkingofbyFawnersofalldenominations——inWestminsterAbbeyandSaintPaul’sCathedralputtogether，onanySundayintheyear。ItwasarapturousdreamtoMrDorrittofindhimselfsetaloftinthispubliccaroftriumph，makingamagnificentprogresstothatbefittingdestination，thegoldenStreetoftheLombards。
ThereMrMerdleinsistedonalightingandgoinghiswaya-foot，andleavinghispoorequipageatMrDorrit’sdisposition。SothedreamincreasedinrapturewhenMrDorritcameoutofthebankalone，andpeoplelookedathimindefaultofMrMerdle，andwhen，withtheearsofhismind，heheardthefrequentexclamationasherolledgliblyalong，’AwonderfulmantobeMrMerdle’sfriend!’
Atdinnerthatday，althoughtheoccasionwasnotforeseenandprovidedfor，abrilliantcompanyofsuchasarenotmadeofthedustoftheearth，butofsomesuperiorarticleforthepresentunknown，shedtheirlustrousbenedictionuponMrDorrit’sdaughter’smarriage。AndMrDorrit’sdaughterthatdaybegan，inearnest，hercompetitionwiththatwomannotpresent；andbeganitsowellthatMrDorritcouldallbuthavetakenhisaffidavit，ifrequired，thatMrsSparklerhadallherlifebeenlyingatfulllengthinthelapofluxury，andhadneverheardofsucharoughwordintheEnglishtongueasMarshalsea。
Nextday，andthedayafter，andeveryday，allgracedbymoredinnercompany，cardsdescendedonMrDorritliketheatricalsnow。
AsthefriendandrelativebymarriageoftheillustriousMerdle，Bar，Bishop，Treasury，Chorus，Everybody，wantedtomakeorimproveMrDorrit’sacquaintance。InMrMerdle’sheapofofficesintheCity，whenMrDorritappearedatanyofthemonhisbusinesstakinghimEastwardwhichitfrequentlydid，foritthroveamazingly，thenameofDorritwasalwaysapassporttothegreatpresenceofMerdle。Sothedreamincreasedinraptureeveryhour，asMrDorritfeltincreasinglysensiblethatthisconnectionhadbroughthimforwardindeed。
Onlyonethingsatotherwisethanauriferously，andatthesametimelightly，onMrDorrit’smind。ItwastheChiefButler。Thatstupendouscharacterlookedathim，inthecourseofhisofficiallookingatthedinners，inamannerthatMrDorritconsideredquestionable。Helookedathim，ashepassedthroughthehallandupthestaircase，goingtodinner，withaglazedfixednessthatMrDorritdidnotlike。Seatedattableintheactofdrinking，MrDorritstillsawhimthroughhiswine-glass，regardinghimwithacoldandghostlyeye。ItmisgavehimthattheChiefButlermusthaveknownaCollegian，andmusthaveseenhimintheCollege——
perhapshadbeenpresentedtohim。HelookedascloselyattheChiefButlerassuchamancouldbelookedat，andyethedidnotrecallthathehadeverseenhimelsewhere。Ultimatelyhewasinclinedtothinkthattherewasnoreverenceintheman，nosentimentinthegreatcreature。Buthewasnotrelievedbythat；