第123章

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’sspeechhadh