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work to prepare the feast。 The drafts of Mr Dorrit almost constituted a
run on the Torlonia Bank。 The British Consul hadn't had such a marriage
in the whole of his Consularity。
The day came； and the She…Wolf in the Capitol might have snarled with
envy to see how the Island Savages contrived these things now…a…days。
The murderous…headed statues of the wicked Emperors of the Soldiery；
whom sculptors had not been able to flatter out of their villainous
hideousness； might have e off their pedestals to run away with the
Bride。 The choked old fountain； where erst the gladiators washed； might
have leaped into life again to honour the ceremony。 The Temple of
Vesta might have sprung up anew from its ruins； expressly to lend its
countenance to the occasion。 Might have done； but did not。 Like sentient
things……even like the lords and ladies of creation sometimes……might
have done much； but did nothing。 The celebration went off with admirable
pomp； monks in black robes； white robes； and russet robes stopped to
look after the carriages； wandering peasants in fleeces of sheep； begged
and piped under the house…windows； the English volunteers defiled； the
day wore on to the hour of vespers； the festival wore away； the thousand
churches rang their bells without any reference to it； and St Peter
denied that he had anything to do with it。
But by that time the Bride was near the end of the first day's journey
towards Florence。 It was the peculiarity of the nuptials that they
were all Bride。 Nobody noticed the Bridegroom。 Nobody noticed the first
Bridesmaid。 Few could have seen Little Dorrit （who held that post） for
the glare； even supposing many to have sought her。 So； the Bride had
mounted into her handsome chariot； incidentally acpanied by the
Bridegroom； and after rolling for a few minutes smoothly over a fair
pavement； had begun to jolt through a Slough of Despond； and through a
long； long avenue of wrack and ruin。 Other nuptial carriages are said to
have gone the same road； before and since。
If Little Dorrit found herself left a little lonely and a little low
that night； nothing would have done so much against her feeling of
depression as the being able to sit at work by her father； as in the old
time； and help him to his supper and his rest。 But that was not to be
thought of now； when they sat in the state…equipage with Mrs General on
the coach…box。 And as to supper！ If Mr Dorrit had wanted supper； there
was an Italian cook and there was a Swiss confectioner； who must
have put on caps as high as the Pope's Mitre； and have performed the
mysteries of Alchemists in a copper…saucepaned laboratory below； before
he could have got it。
He was sententious and didactic that night。 If he had been simply
loving； he would have done Little Dorrit more good； but she accepted him
as he was……when had she not accepted him as he was！……and made the most
and best of him。 Mrs General at length retired。 Her retirement for the
night was always her frostiest ceremony； as if she felt it necessary
that the human imagination should be chilled into stone to prevent
its following her。 When she had gone through her rigid preliminaries；
amounting to a sort of genteel platoon…exercise； she withdrew。 Little
Dorrit then put her arm round her father's neck； to bid him good night。
'Amy； my dear；' said Mr Dorrit； taking her by the hand； 'this is the
close of a day； that has……ha……greatly impressed and gratified me。' 'A
little tired you； dear； too？'
'No；' said Mr Dorrit； 'no： I am not sensible of fatigue when it arises
from an occasion so……hum……replete with gratification of the purest
kind。'
Little Dorrit was glad to find him in such heart； and smiled from her
own heart。
'My dear；' he continued； 'this is an occasion……ha……teeming with a good
example。 With a good example； my favourite and attached child……hum……to
you。'
Little Dorrit； fluttered by his words； did not know what to say； though
he stopped as if he expected her to say something。
'Amy；' he resumed； 'your dear sister； our Fanny； has contracted
ha hum……a marriage； eminently calculated to extend the basis of
our……ha……connection； and to……hum……consolidate our social relations。 My
love； I trust that the time is not far distant when some……ha……eligible
partner may be found for you。'
'Oh no！ Let me stay with you。 I beg and pray that I may stay with you！ I
want nothing but to stay and take care of you！' She said it like one in
sudden alarm。
'Nay； Amy； Amy；' said Mr Dorrit。 'This is weak and foolish； weak
and foolish。 You have a……ha……responsibility imposed upon you by your
position。 It is to develop that position； and be……hum……worthy of that
position。 As to taking care of me； I can……ha……take care of myself。
Or；' he added after a moment； 'if I should need to be taken care of；
I……hum……can； with the……ha……blessing of Providence； be taken care of；
I……ha hum……I cannot； my dear child； think of engrossing； and……ha……as it
were； sacrificing you。'
O what a time of day at which to begin that profession of self…denial；
at which to make it； with an air of taking credit for it； at which to
believe it； if such a thing could be！
'Don't speak； Amy。 I positively say I cannot do it。 I……ha……must not do
it。 My……hum……conscience would not allow it。 I therefore； my love； take
the opportunity afforded by this gratifying and impressive occasion
of……ha……solemnly remarking； that it is now a cherished wish and purpose
of mine to see you……ha……eligibly （I repeat eligibly） married。'
'Oh no； dear！ Pray！'
'Amy；' said Mr Dorrit； 'I am well persuaded that if the topic were
referred to any person of superior social knowledge； of superior
delicacy and sense……let us say； for instance； to……ha……Mrs General……that
there would not be two opinions as to the……hum……affectionate character
and propriety of my sentiments。 But； as I know your loving and dutiful
nature from……hum……from experience； I am quite satisfied that it is
necessary to say no more。 I have……hum……no husband to propose at
present； my dear： I have not even one in view。 I merely wish that we
should……ha……understand each other。 Hum。 Good night； my dear and sole
remaining daughter。 Good night。
G