第96章

So，TinklerthevaletwasinstructedtofindMissAmy’smaid，andtorequestthatsubordinatetoinformMissAmythatMrDorritwishedtoseeherinhisownroom。IndeliveringthischargetoTinkler，MrDorritlookedseverelyathim，andalsokeptajealouseyeuponhimuntilhewentoutatthedoor，mistrustingthathemighthavesomethinginhismindprejudicialtothefamilydignity；

thathemighthaveevengotwindofsomeCollegiatejokebeforehecameintotheservice，andmightbederisivelyrevivingitsremembranceatthepresentmoment。IfTinklerhadhappenedtosmile，howeverfaintlyandinnocently，nothingwouldhavepersuadedMrDorrit，tothehourofhisdeath，butthatthiswasthecase。

AsTinklerhappened，however，veryfortunatelyforhimself，tobeofaseriousandcomposedcountenance，heescapedthesecretdangerthatthreatenedhim。Andasonhisreturn——whenMrDorriteyedhimagain——heannouncedMissAmyasifshehadcometoafuneral，heleftavagueimpressiononMrDorrit’smindthathewasawell-

conductedyoungfellow，whohadbeenbroughtupinthestudyofhisCatechismbyawidowedmother。

’Amy，’saidMrDorrit，’youhavejustnowbeenthesubjectofsomeconversationbetweenmyselfandMrsGeneral。Weagreethatyouscarcelyseemathomehere。Ha——howisthis？’

Apause。

’Ithink，father，Irequirealittletime。’

’Papaisapreferablemodeofaddress，’observedMrsGeneral。

’Fatherisrathervulgar，mydear。ThewordPapa，besides，givesaprettyformtothelips。Papa，potatoes，poultry，prunes，andprismareallverygoodwordsforthelips：especiallyprunesandprism。Youwillfinditserviceable，intheformationofademeanour，ifyousometimessaytoyourselfincompany——onenteringaroom，forinstance——Papa，potatoes，poultry，prunesandprism，prunesandprism。’

’Pray，mychild，’saidMrDorrit，’attendtothe——hum——preceptsofMrsGeneral。’

PoorLittleDorrit，witharatherforlornglanceatthateminentvarnisher，promisedtotry。

’Yousay，Amy，’pursuedMrDorrit，’thatyouthinkyourequiretime。Timeforwhat？’

Anotherpause。

’Tobecomeaccustomedtothenoveltyofmylife，wasallImeant，’

saidLittleDorrit，withherlovingeyesuponherfather；whomshehadverynearlyaddressedaspoultry，ifnotprunesandprismtoo，inherdesiretosubmitherselftoMrsGeneralandpleasehim。

MrDorritfrowned，andlookedanythingbutpleased。’Amy，’hereturned，’itappearstome，Imustsay，thatyouhavehadabundanceoftimeforthat。Ha——yousurpriseme。Youdisappointme。Fannyhasconqueredanysuchlittledifficulties，and——hum——

whynotyou？’

’IhopeIshalldobettersoon，’saidLittleDorrit。

’Ihopeso，’returnedherfather。’I——ha——Imostdevoutlyhopeso，Amy。Isentforyou，inorderthatImightsay——hum——impressivelysay，inthepresenceofMrsGeneral，towhomweareallsomuchindebtedforobliginglybeingpresentamongus，on——ha——onthisoranyotheroccasion，’MrsGeneralshuthereyes，’thatI——hahum——amnotpleasedwithyou。YoumakeMrsGeneral’sathanklesstask。

You——ha——embarrassmeverymuch。Youhavealways(asIhaveinformedMrsGeneral)beenmyfavouritechild；Ihavealwaysmadeyoua——hum——afriendandcompanion；inreturn，Ibeg——I——ha——Idobeg，thatyouaccommodateyourselfbetterto——hum——circumstances，andd