第128章

Shepausedforaninstantinherworktolookathim，andherlookrevivedthatformerpaininherfather’sbreast；inhispoorweakbreast，sofullofcontradictions，vacillations，inconsistencies，thelittlepeevishperplexitiesofthisignorantlife，mistswhichthemorningwithoutanightonlycanclearaway。

’Ihavebeenfreerwithyou，yousee，mydove，’saidtheoldman，’sincewehavebeenalone。Isay，alone，forIdon’tcountMrsGeneral；Idon’tcareforher；shehasnothingtodowithme。ButIknowFannywasimpatientofme。AndIdon’twonderatit，orcomplainofit，forIamsensiblethatImustbeintheway，thoughItrytokeepoutofitaswellasIcan。IknowIamnotfitcompanyforourcompany。MybrotherWilliam，’saidtheoldmanadmiringly，’isfitcompanyformonarchs；butnotsoyouruncle，mydear。FrederickDorritisnocredittoWilliamDorrit，andheknowsitquitewell。Ah!Why，here’syourfather，Amy!MydearWilliam，welcomeback!Mybelovedbrother，Iamrejoicedtoseeyou!’

(Turninghisheadinspeaking，hehadcaughtsightofhimashestoodinthedoorway。)

LittleDorritwithacryofpleasureputherarmsaboutherfather’sneck，andkissedhimagainandagain。Herfatherwasalittleimpatient，andalittlequerulous。’Iamgladtofindyouatlast，Amy，’hesaid。’Ha。ReallyIamgladtofind——hum——anyonetoreceivemeatlast。Iappeartohavebeen——ha——solittleexpected，thatuponmywordIbegan——hahum——tothinkitmightberighttoofferanapologyfor——ha——takingthelibertyofcomingbackatall。’

’Itwassolate，mydearWilliam，’saidhisbrother，’thatwehadgivenyouupforto-night。’

’Iamstrongerthanyou，dearFrederick，’returnedhisbrotherwithanelaborationoffraternityinwhichtherewasseverity；’andI

hopeIcantravelwithoutdetrimentat——ha——anyhourIchoose。’

’Surely，surely，’returnedtheother，withamisgivingthathehadgivenoffence。’Surely，William。’

’Thankyou，Amy，’pursuedMrDorrit，asshehelpedhimtoputoffhiswrappers。’Icandoitwithoutassistance。I——ha——neednottroubleyou，Amy。CouldIhaveamorselofbreadandaglassofwine，or——hum——woulditcausetoomuchinconvenience？’

’Dearfather，youshallhavesupperinaveryfewminutes。’

’Thankyou，mylove，’saidMrDorrit，withareproachfulfrostuponhim；’I——ha——amafraidIamcausinginconvenience。Hum。MrsGeneralprettywell？’

’MrsGeneralcomplainedofaheadache，andofbeingfatigued；andso，whenwegaveyouup，shewenttobed，dear。’

PerhapsMrDorritthoughtthatMrsGeneralhaddonewellinbeingovercomebythedisappointmentofhisnotarriving。Atanyrate，hisfacerelaxed，andhesaidwithobvioussatisfaction，’ExtremelysorrytohearthatMrsGeneralisnotwell。’

Duringthisshortdialogue，hisdaughterhadbeenobservantofhim，withsomethingmorethanherusualinterest。Itwouldseemasthoughhehadachangedorwornappearanceinhereyes，andheperceivedandresentedit；forhesaidwithrenewedpeevishness，whenhehaddivestedhimselfofhistravelling-cloak，andhadcometothefire：

’Amy，whatareyoulookingat？Whatdoyouseeinmethatcausesyouto——ha——concentrateyoursolicitudeonmeinthat——hum——veryparticularmanner？’

’Ididnotknowit，father；Ibegyourpardon。Itgladdensmyeyestoseeyouagain；that’sall。’

’Don’tsaythat’sall，because——ha——that’snotall。You——hum——youthink，’saidMrDorrit，withanaccusatoryemphasis，’thatIamnotlookingwell。’

’Ithoughtyoulookedalittletired，love。’

’Thenyouaremistaken，’saidMrDorrit。’Ha，Iamnottired。Ha，hum。IamverymuchfresherthanIwaswhenIwentaway