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ago。 You are very feeble。'
'Hah！' said the old man； who had no wish but to please him。 'Well； well；
well！ I dare say I am。'
'My dear Frederick；' returned Mr Dorrit； with an astonishing superiority
to his brother's failing powers； 'there can be no doubt of it。 It is
painful to me to see you so weak。 Ha。 It distresses me。 Hum。 I don't
find you looking at all well。 You are not fit for this sort of thing。
You should be more careful； you should be very careful。'
'Shall I go to bed？' asked Frederick。
'Dear Frederick；' said Mr Dorrit； 'do； I adjure you！ Good night；
brother。 I hope you will be stronger to…morrow。 I am not at all pleased
with your looks。 Good night； dear fellow。' After dismissing his brother
in this gracious way； he fell into a doze again before the old man was
well out of the room： and he would have stumbled forward upon the logs；
but for his daughter's restraining hold。
'Your uncle wanders very much； Amy；' he said； when he was thus roused。
'He is less……ha……coherent； and his conversation is more……hum……broken；
than I have……ha； hum……ever known。 Has he had any illness since I have
been gone？' 'No； father。'
'You……ha……see a great change in him； Amy？'
'I have not observed it； dear。'
'Greatly broken；' said Mr Dorrit。 'Greatly broken。 My poor；
affectionate； failing Frederick！ Ha。 Even taking into account what he
was before； he is……hum……sadly broken！'
His supper； which was brought to him there； and spread upon the little
table where he had seen her working； diverted his attention。
She sat at his side as in the days that were gone； for the first time
since those days ended。 They were alone； and she helped him to his meat
and poured out his drink for him； as she had been used to do in the
prison。 All this happened now； for the first time since their accession
to wealth。 She was afraid to look at him much； after the offence he had
taken； but she noticed two occasions in the course of his meal； when
he all of a sudden looked at her； and looked about him； as if the
association were so strong that he needed assurance from his sense of
sight that they were not in the old prison…room。 Both times； he put his
hand to his head as if he missed his old black cap……though it had been
ignominiously given away in the Marshalsea； and had never got free
to that hour； but still hovered about the yards on the head of his
successor。
He took very little supper； but was a long time over it； and often
reverted to his brother's declining state。 Though he expressed the
greatest pity for him； he was almost bitter upon him。 He said that poor
Frederick……ha hum……drivelled。 There was no other word to express it；
drivelled。 Poor fellow！ It was melancholy to reflect what Amy must have
undergone from the excessive tediousness of his Society……wandering and
babbling on； poor dear estimable creature； wandering and babbling on……if
it had not been for the relief she had had in Mrs General。
Extremely sorry； he then repeated with his former satisfaction； that
that……ha……superior woman was poorly。
Little Dorrit； in her watchful love； would have remembered the lightest
thing he said or did that night； though she had had no subsequent reason
to recall that night。 She always remembered that； when he looked about
him under the strong influence of the old association； he tried to
keep it out of her mind； and perhaps out of his own too； by immediately
expatiating on the great riches and great pany that had enpassed
him in his absence； and on the lofty position he and his family had to
sustain。 Nor did she fail to recall that there were two under…currents；
side by side； pervading all his discourse and all his manner； one
showing her how well he had got on without her； and how independent
he was of her； the other； in a fitful and unintelligible way almost
plaining of her； as if it had been possible that she had neglected
him while he was away。
His telling her of the glorious state that Mr Merdle kept； and of the
court that bowed before him； naturally brought him to Mrs Merdle。 So
naturally indeed； that although there was an unusual want of sequence in
the greater part of his remarks； he passed to her at once； and asked how
she was。
'She is very well。 She is going away next week。'
'Home？' asked Mr Dorrit。
'After a few weeks' stay upon the road。'
'She will be a vast loss here；' said Mr Dorrit。 'A vast……ha……acquisition
at home。 To Fanny； and to……hum……the rest of the……ha……great world。'
Little Dorrit thought of the petition that was to be entered upon；
and assented very softly。
'Mrs Merdle is going to have a great farewell Assembly； dear； and a
dinner before it。 She has been expressing her anxiety that you should
return in time。 She has invited both you and me to her dinner。'
'She is……ha……very kind。 When is the day？'
'The day after to…morrow。'
'Write round in the morning； and say that I have returned； and
shall……hum……be delighted。'
'May I walk with you up the stairs to your room； dear？'
'No！' he answered； looking angrily round； for he was moving away； as if
forgetful of leave…taking。 'You may not； Amy。 I want no help。 I am your
father； not your infirm uncle！' He checked himself； as abruptly as he
had broken into this reply； and said； 'You have not kissed me； Amy。 Good
night； my dear！ We must marry……ha……we must marry YOU； now。' With that
he went； more slowly and more tired； up the staircase to his rooms； and；
almost as soon as he got there； dismissed his valet。 His next care was
to look about him for his Paris purchases； and； after opening their
cases and carefully surveying them； to put them away under lock and
key。 After that； what with dozing and what with castle…building； he lost
himself for a long time； so that there was a touch of morning on the
eastward rim of the desolate Campagna when he crept to bed。
Mrs General sent up her pliments in good time next day； and hoped
he had rested well after this fatiguing journey。 He sent down his
pliments； and begged to inform Mrs General that he had rested very
well indeed； and was in high condition。 Nevertheless； he did not e
forth from his own rooms until late in the afternoon； and； although