第91章

InthisstateofaffairsitoccurredtoMrsGeneral，thatshemight’formthemind，’andekethemannersofsomeyoungladyofdistinction。Or，thatshemightharnesstheproprietiestothecarriageofsomerichyoungheiressorwidow，andbecomeatoncethedriverandguardofsuchvehiclethroughthesocialmazes。MrsGeneral’scommunicationofthisideatoherclericalandcommissariatconnectionwassowarmlyapplaudedthat，butforthelady’sundoubtedmerit，itmighthaveappearedasthoughtheywantedtogetridofher。TestimonialsrepresentingMrsGeneralasaprodigyofpiety，learning，virtue，andgentility，werelavishlycontributedfrominfluentialquarters；andonevenerablearchdeaconevenshedtearsinrecordinghistestimonytoherperfections(describedtohimbypersonsonwhomhecouldrely)，thoughhehadneverhadthehonourandmoralgratificationofsettingeyesonMrsGeneralinallhislife。

Thusdelegatedonhermission，asitwerebyChurchandState，MrsGeneral，whohadalwaysoccupiedhighground，feltinaconditiontokeepit，andbeganbyputtingherselfupataveryhighfigure。

Anintervalofsomedurationelapsed，inwhichtherewasnobidforMrsGeneral。Atlengthacounty-widower，withadaughteroffourteen，openednegotiationswiththelady；andasitwasaparteitherofthenativedignityoroftheartificialpolicyofMrsGeneral(butcertainlyoneortheother)tocomportherselfasifsheweremuchmoresoughtthanseeking，thewidowerpursuedMrsGeneraluntilheprevaileduponhertoformhisdaughter’smindandmanners。

TheexecutionofthistrustoccupiedMrsGeneralaboutsevenyears，inthecourseofwhichtimeshemadethetourofEurope，andsawmostofthatextensivemiscellanyofobjectswhichitisessentialthatallpersonsofpolitecultivationshouldseewithotherpeople’seyes，andneverwiththeirown。Whenherchargewasatlengthformed，themarriage，notonlyoftheyounglady，butlikewiseofherfather，thewidower，wasresolvedon。ThewidowerthenfindingMrsGeneralbothinconvenientandexpensive，becameofasuddenalmostasmuchaffectedbyhermeritsasthearchdeaconhadbeen，andcirculatedsuchpraisesofhersurpassingworth，inallquarterswherehethoughtanopportunitymightariseoftransferringtheblessingtosomebodyelse，thatMrsGeneralwasanamemorehonourablethanever。

Thephoenixwastolet，onthiselevatedperch，whenMrDorrit，whohadlatelysucceededtohisproperty，mentionedtohisbankersthathewishedtodiscoveralady，well-bred，accomplished，wellconnected，wellaccustomedtogoodsociety，whowasqualifiedatoncetocompletetheeducationofhisdaughters，andtobetheirmatronorchaperon。MrDorrit’sbankers，asbankersofthecounty-

widower，instantlysaid，’MrsGeneral。’

Pursuingthelightsofortunatelyhitupon，andfindingtheconcurrenttestimonyofthewholeofMrsGeneral’sacquaintancetobeofthepatheticnaturealreadyrecorded，MrDorrittookthetroubleofgoingdowntothecountyofthecounty-widowertoseeMrsGeneral，inwhomhefoundaladyofaqualitysuperiortohishighestexpectations。

’MightIbeexcused，’saidMrDorrit，’ifIinquired——ha——whatremune——’

’Why，indeed，’returnedMrsGeneral，stoppingtheword，’itisasubjectonwhichIprefertoavoidentering。Ihaveneverenteredonitwithmyfriendshere；andIcannotovercomethedelicacy，MrDorrit，withwhichIhavealwaysregardedit。Iamnot，asIhopeyouareaware，agoverness——’

’Odearno!’saidMrDorrit。’Pray，madam，donotimagineforamomentthatIthinkso。’Hereallyblushedtobesuspectedofit。

MrsGeneralgravelyinclinedherhead。’Icannot，therefore，putapriceuponserviceswhichitisapleasuretometorenderifI

canrenderthemspontaneously，b