第129章

NotwithstandingwhatmaybecalledinthesepagesthePruneyandPrismaticnatureofthefamilybanquet，MrDorritseveraltimesfellasleepwhileitwasinprogress。Hisfitsofdozingwereassuddenastheyhadbeenovernight，andwereasshortandprofound。

Whenthefirstoftheseslumberingsseizedhim，MrsGenerallookedalmostamazed：but，oneachrecurrenceofthesymptoms，shetoldherpolitebeads，Papa，Potatoes，Poultry，Prunes，andPrism；and，bydintofgoingthroughthatinfallibleperformanceveryslowly，appearedtofinishherrosaryataboutthesametimeasMrDorritstartedfromhissleep。

HewasagainpainfullyawareofasomnolenttendencyinFrederick(whichhadnoexistenceoutofhisownimagination)，andafterdinner，whenFrederickhadwithdrawn，privatelyapologisedtoMrsGeneralforthepoorman。’Themostestimableandaffectionateofbrothers，’hesaid，’but——ha，hum——brokenupaltogether。

Unhappily，decliningfast。’

’MrFrederick，sir，’quothMrsGeneral，’ishabituallyabsentanddrooping，butletushopeitisnotsobadasthat。’

MrDorrit，however，wasdeterminednottolethimoff。’Fastdeclining，madam。Awreck。Aruin。Moulderingawaybeforeoureyes。Hum。GoodFrederick!’

’YouleftMrsSparklerquitewellandhappy，Itrust？’saidMrsGeneral，afterheavingacoolsighforFrederick。

’Surrounded，’repliedMrDorrit，’by——ha——allthatcancharmthetaste，and——hum——elevatethemind。Happy，mydearmadam，ina——hum——husband。’

MrsGeneralwasalittlefluttered；seemingdelicatelytoputthewordawaywithhergloves，asiftherewerenoknowingwhatitmightleadto。

’Fanny，’MrDorritcontinued。’Fanny，MrsGeneral，hashighqualities。Ha。Ambition——hum——purpose，consciousnessof——ha——

position，determinationtosupportthatposition——ha，hum——grace，beauty，andnativenobility。’

’Nodoubt，’saidMrsGeneral(withalittleextrastiffness)。

’Combinedwiththesequalities，madam，’saidMrDorrit，’Fannyhas——ha——manifestedoneblemishwhichhasmademe——hum——mademeuneasy，and——ha——Imustadd，angry；butwhichItrustmaynowbeconsideredatanend，evenastoherself，andwhichisundoubtedlyatanendasto——ha——others。’

’Towhat，MrDorrit，’returnedMrsGeneral，withherglovesagainsomewhatexcited，’canyouallude？Iamatalossto——’

’Donotsaythat，mydearmadam，’interruptedMrDorrit。

MrsGeneral’svoice，asitdiedaway，pronouncedthewords，’atalosstoimagine。’

AfterwhichMrDorritwasseizedwithadozeforaboutaminute，outofwhichhesprangwithspasmodicnimbleness。

’Irefer，MrsGeneral，tothat——ha——strongspiritofopposition，or——hum——Imightsay——ha——jealousyinFanny，whichhasoccasionallyrisenagainstthe——ha——senseIentertainof——hum——theclaimsof——

ha——theladywithwhomIhavenowthehonourofcommuning。’

’MrDorrit，’returnedMrsGeneral，’iseverbuttooobliging，everbuttooappreciative。IftherehavebeenmomentswhenIhaveimaginedthatMissDorrithasindeedresentedthefavourableopinionMrDorrithasformedofmyservices，Ihavefound，inthatonlytoohighopinion，myconsolationandrecompense。’

’Opinionofyourservices，madam？’saidMrDorrit。

’Of，’MrsGeneralrepeated，inanelegantlyimpressivemanner，’myservices。’

’Ofyourservicesalone，dearmadam？’saidMrDorrit。

’Ipresume，’retortedMrsGeneral，inherformerimpressivemanner，’ofmyservicesalone。For，towhatelse，’saidMrsGeneral，withaslightlyinterrogativeactionofhergloves，’couldIimpute——’

’To——ha——yourself，MrsGeneral。Ha，hum。Toyourselfandyourmerits，’wasMr