第52章

Surelythegoodsofthisworld，itoccurredinanaccidentalwaytoBishoptoremark，couldscarcelybedirectedintohappierchannelsthanwhentheyaccumulatedunderthemagictouchofthewiseandsagacious，who，whiletheyknewthejustvalueofriches(Bishoptriedheretolookasifhewereratherpoorhimself)，wereawareoftheirimportance，judiciouslygovernedandrightlydistributed，tothewelfareofourbrethrenatlarge。

MrMerdlewithhumilityexpressedhisconvictionthatBishopcouldn’tmeanhim，andwithinconsistencyexpressedhishighgratificationinBishop’sgoodopinion。

Bishopthen——jauntilysteppingoutalittlewithhiswell-shapedrightleg，asthoughhesaidtoMrMerdle’don’tmindtheapron；amereform!’putthiscasetohisgoodfriend：

Whetherithadoccurredtohisgoodfriend，thatSocietymightnotunreasonablyhopethatonesoblestinhisundertakings，andwhoseexampleonhispedestalwassoinfluentialwithit，wouldshedalittlemoneyinthedirectionofamissionorsotoAfrica？

MrMerdlesignifyingthattheideashouldhavehisbestattention，Bishopputanothercase：

WhetherhisgoodfriendhadatallinterestedhimselfintheproceedingsofourCombinedAdditionalEndowedDignitariesCommittee，andwhetherithadoccurredtohimthattoshedalittlemoneyinthatdirectionmightbeagreatconceptionfinelyexecuted？

MrMerdlemadeasimilarreply，andBishopexplainedhisreasonforinquiring。

Societylookedtosuchmenashisgoodfriendtodosuchthings。

ItwasnotthatHElookedtothem，butthatSocietylookedtothem。

justasitwasnotOurCommitteewhowantedtheAdditionalEndowedDignitaries，butitwasSocietythatwasinastateofthemostagonisinguneasinessofminduntilitgotthem。Hebeggedtoassurehisgoodfriendthathewasextremelysensibleofhisgoodfriend’sregardonalloccasionsforthebestinterestsofSociety；

andheconsideredthathewasatonceconsultingthoseinterestsandexpressingthefeelingofSociety，whenhewishedhimcontinuedprosperity，continuedincreaseofriches，andcontinuedthingsingeneral。

Bishopthenbetookhimselfup-stairs，andtheothermagnatesgraduallyfloatedupafterhimuntiltherewasnooneleftbelowbutMrMerdle。Thatgentleman，afterlookingatthetable-clothuntilthesoulofthechiefbutlerglowedwithanobleresentment，wentslowlyupaftertherest，andbecameofnoaccountinthestreamofpeopleonthegrandstaircase。MrsMerdlewasathome，thebestofthejewelswerehungouttobeseen，Societygotwhatitcamefor，MrMerdledranktwopennyworthofteainacornerandgotmorethanhewanted。

Amongtheeveningmagnateswasafamousphysician，whokneweverybody，andwhomeverybodyknew。Onenteringatthedoor，hecameuponMrMerdledrinkinghisteainacorner，andtouchedhimonthearm。

MrMerdlestarted。’Oh!It’syou!’

’Anybetterto-day？’

’No，’saidMrMerdle，’Iamnobetter。’

’ApityIdidn’tseeyouthismorning。Praycometometo-morrow，orletmecometoyou。’

’Well!’hereplied。’Iwillcometo-morrowasIdriveby。’

BarandBishophadbothbeenbystandersduringthisshortdialogue，andasMrMerdlewassweptawaybythecrowd，theymadetheirremarksuponittothePhysician。Barsaid，therewasacertainpointofmentalstrainbeyondwhichnomancouldgo；thatthepointvariedwithvarioustexturesofbrainandpeculiaritiesofconstitution，ashehadhadoccasiontonoticeinseveralofhislearnedbrothers；butthepointofendurancepassedbyaline’sbreadth，depressionanddyspepsiaensued。Nottointrudeonthesacredmysteriesofmedicine，hetookit，now(withthejurydr