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’sspeechhadhadmorehesitationinitthanusual，asheapproachedtheticklishtopic，forhewasnotperfectlyclearhowsoexaltedapotentatemighttakeit。Hehaddoubtswhetherreferencetoanyindividualcapital，orfortune，mightnotseemawretchedlyretailaffairtosowholesaleadealer。GreatlyrelievedbyMrMerdle’saffableofferofassistance，hecaughtatitdirectly，andheapedacknowledgmentsuponhim。
　　’Iscarcely——ha——dared，’saidMrDorrit，’Iassureyou，tohopeforso——hum——vastanadvantageasyourdirectadviceandassistance。
　　ThoughofcourseIshould，underanycircumstances，likethe——ha，hum——restofthecivilisedworld，havefollowedinMrMerdle’strain。’
　　’Youknowwemayalmostsaywearerelated，sir，’saidMrMerdle，curiouslyinterestedinthepatternofthecarpet，’and，therefore，youmayconsidermeatyourservice。’
　　’Ha。Veryhandsome，indeed!’criedMrDorrit。’Ha。Mosthandsome!’
　　’itwouldnot，’saidMrMerdle，’beatthepresentmomenteasyforwhatImaycallamereoutsidertocomeintoanyofthegoodthings——ofcourseIspeakofmyowngoodthings——’
　　’Ofcourse，ofcourse!’criedMrDorrit，inatoneimplyingthattherewerenoothergoodthings。
　　’——Unlessatahighprice。Atwhatweareaccustomedtotermaverylongfigure。’
　　MrDorritlaughedinthebuoyancyofhisspirit。Ha，ha，ha!Longfigure。Good。Ha。Veryexpressivetobesure!
　　’However，’saidMrMerdle，’Idogenerallyretaininmyownhandsthepowerofexercisingsomepreference——peopleingeneralwouldbepleasedtocallitfavour——asasortofcomplimentformycareandtrouble。’
　　’Andpublicspiritandgenius，’MrDorritsuggested。
　　MrMerdle，withadry，swallowingaction，seemedtodisposeofthosequalitieslikeabolus；thenadded，’Asasortofreturnforit。Iwillsee，ifyouplease，howIcanexertthislimitedpowerforpeoplearejealous，anditislimited，toyouradvantage。’
　　’Youareverygood，’repliedMrDorrit。’Youareverygood。’
　　’Ofcourse，’saidMrMerdle，’theremustbethestrictestintegrityanduprightnessinthesetransactions；theremustbethepurestfaithbetweenmanandman；theremustbeunimpeachedandunimpeachableconfidence；orbusinesscouldnotbecarriedon。’
　　MrDorrithailedthesegeneroussentimentswithfervour。
　　’Therefore，’saidMrMerdle，’Icanonlygiveyouapreferencetoacertainextent。’
　　’Iperceive。Toadefinedextent，’observedMrDorrit。
　　’Definedextent。Andperfectlyabove-board。Astomyadvice，however，’saidMrMerdle，’thatisanothermatter。That，suchasitis——’
　　Oh!Suchasitwas!MrDorritcouldnotbearthefaintestappearanceofitsbeingdepreciated，evenbyMrMerdlehimself。
　　’——That，thereisnothinginthebondsofspotlesshonourbetweenmyselfandmyfellow-mantopreventmypartingwith，ifIchoose。
　　Andthat，’saidMrMerdle，nowdeeplyintentuponadust-cartthatwaspassingthewindows，’shallbeatyourcommandwheneveryouthinkproper。’
　　NewacknowledgmentsfromMrDorrit。NewpassagesofMrMerdle’shandoverhisforehead。Calmandsilence。ContemplationofMrDorrit’swaistcoatbuttonsbyMrMerdle。
　　’Mytimebeingratherprecious，’saidMrMerdle，suddenlygettingup，asifhehadbeenwaitingintheintervalforhislegsandtheyhadjustcome，’ImustbemovingtowardstheCity。CanItakeyouanywhere，sir？Ishallbehappytosetyoudown，orsendyouon。
　　Mycarriageisatyourdisposal。’
　　MrDorritbethoughthimselfthathehadbusinessathisbanker’s。
　　Hisbanker’swasintheCity。Thatwasfortunate；MrMerdlewouldtakehimintotheCity。But，surely，hemightnotdetainMrMerdlewhileheassumedhiscoat？Yes，hemightandmust；MrMerdleinsistedonit。SoMrDorrit，retiringintothenextroom，puthimselfunderthehandsofhisvalet，andinfiveminutescamebackglorious。
　　ThensaidMrMerdle，’Allowme，sir。Takemyarm!’ThenleaningonMrMerdle’sarm，didMrDorritdescendthestaircase，seeingtheworshippersonthesteps，andfeelingthatthelightofMrMerdleshonebyreflectioninhimself。Thenthecarriage，andtherideintotheCity；andthepeoplewholookedatthem；andthehatsthatflewoffgreyheads；andthegeneralbowingandcrouchingbeforethiswonderfulmortalthelikeofwhichprostrationofspiritwasnottobeseen——no，byhighHeaven，no!ItmaybeworththinkingofbyFawnersofalldenominations——inWestminsterAbbeyandSaintPaul’sCathedralputtogether，onanySundayintheyear。ItwasarapturousdreamtoMrDorrittofindhimselfsetaloftinthispubliccaroftriumph，makingamagnificentprogresstothatbefittingdestination，thegoldenStreetoftheLombards。
　　ThereMrMerdleinsistedonalightingandgoinghiswaya-foot，andleavinghispoorequipageatMrDorrit’sdisposition。SothedreamincreasedinrapturewhenMrDorritcameoutofthebankalone，andpeoplelookedathimindefaultofMrMerdle，andwhen，withtheearsofhismind，heheardthefrequentexclamationasherolledgliblyalong，’AwonderfulmantobeMrMerdle’sfriend!’
　　Atdinnerthatday，althoughtheoccasionwasnotforeseenandprovidedfor，abrilliantcompanyofsuchasarenotmadeofthedustoftheearth，butofsomesuperiorarticleforthepresentunknown，shedtheirlustrousbenedictionuponMrDorrit’sdaughter’smarriage。AndMrDorrit’sdaughterthatdaybegan，inearnest，hercompetitionwiththatwomannotpresent；andbeganitsowellthatMrDorritcouldallbuthavetakenhisaffidavit，ifrequired，thatMrsSparklerhadallherlifebeenlyingatfulllengthinthelapofluxury，andhadneverheardofsucharoughwordintheEnglishtongueasMarshalsea。
　　Nextday，andthedayafter，andeveryday，allgracedbymoredinnercompany，cardsdescendedonMrDorritliketheatricalsnow。
　　AsthefriendandrelativebymarriageoftheillustriousMerdle，Bar，Bishop，Treasury，Chorus，Everybody，wantedtomakeorimproveMrDorrit’sacquaintance。InMrMerdle’sheapofofficesintheCity，whenMrDorritappearedatanyofthemonhisbusinesstakinghimEastwardwhichitfrequentlydid，foritthroveamazingly，thenameofDorritwasalwaysapassporttothegreatpresenceofMerdle。Sothedreamincreasedinraptureeveryhour，asMrDorritfeltincreasinglysensiblethatthisconnectionhadbroughthimforwardindeed。
　　Onlyonethingsatotherwisethanauriferously，andatthesametimelightly，onMrDorrit’smind。ItwastheChiefButler。Thatstupendouscharacterlookedathim，inthecourseofhisofficiallookingatthedinners，inamannerthatMrDorritconsideredquestionable。Helookedathim，ashepassedthroughthehallandupthestaircase，goingtodinner，withaglazedfixednessthatMrDorritdidnotlike。Seatedattableintheactofdrinking，MrDorritstillsawhimthroughhiswine-glass，regardinghimwithacoldandghostlyeye。ItmisgavehimthattheChiefButlermusthaveknownaCollegian，andmusthaveseenhimintheCollege——
　　perhapshadbeenpresentedtohim。HelookedascloselyattheChiefButlerassuchamancouldbelookedat，andyethedidnotrecallthathehadeverseenhimelsewhere。Ultimatelyhewasinclinedtothinkthattherewasnoreverenceintheman，nosentimentinthegreatcreature。Buthewasnotrelievedbythat；