should be nearest and dearest to us。 No。 I can't respect that。 I can do
nothing but denounce that。'
'I never offend you wilfully； Fanny；' said Little Dorrit； 'though you
are so hard with me。'
'Then you should be more careful； Amy；' returned her sister。 'If you do
such things by accident； you should be more careful。 If I happened to
have been born in a peculiar place； and under peculiar circumstances
that blunted my knowledge of propriety； I fancy I should think myself
bound to consider at every step； 〃Am I going； ignorantly； to promise
any near and dear relations？〃 That is what I fancy I should do； if it
was my case。'
Mr Dorrit now interposed； at once to stop these painful subjects by his
authority； and to point their moral by his wisdom。
'My dear；' said he to his younger daughter； 'I beg you to……ha……to say
no more。 Your sister Fanny expresses herself strongly； but not without
considerable reason。 You have now a……hum……a great position to support。
That great position is not occupied by yourself alone； but by……ha……by
me； and……ha hum……by us。 Us。 Now； it is incumbent upon all people in an
exalted position； but it is particularly so on this family； for reasons
which I……ha……will not dwell upon； to make themselves respected。 To be
vigilant in making themselves respected。 Dependants； to respect us； must
be……ha……kept at a distance and……hum……kept down。 Down。 Therefore； your
not exposing yourself to the remarks of our attendants by appearing to
have at any time dispensed with their services and performed them for
yourself； is……ha……highly important。'
'Why； who can doubt it？' cried Miss Fanny。 'It's the essence of
everything。' 'Fanny；' returned her father； grandiloquently； 'give me
leave； my dear。 We then e to……ha……to Mr Clennam。 I am free to say
that I do not； Amy； share your sister's sentiments……that is to say
altogether……hum……altogether……in reference to Mr Clennam。 I am content
to regard that individual in the light of……ha……generally……a well…behaved
person。 Hum。 A well…behaved person。 Nor r
Clennam did； at any time； obtrude himself on……ha……my society。 He knew my
society to be……hum……sought； and his plea might be that he regarded me in
the light of a public character。 But there were circumstances attending
my……ha……slight knowledge of Mr Clennam （it was very slight）； which；'
here Mr Dorrit became extremely grave and impressive； 'would render it
highly indelicate in Mr Clennam to……ha……to seek to renew munication
with me or with any member of my family under existing circumstances。
If Mr Clennam has sufficient delicacy to perceive the impropriety of
any such attempt； I am bound as a responsible gentleman to……ha……defer
to that delicacy on his part。 If； on the other hand； Mr Clennam has not
that delicacy； I cannot for a moment……ha……hold any correspondence with
so……hum……coarse a mind。 In either case； it would appear that Mr Clennam
is put altogether out of the question； and that we have nothing to do
with him or he with us。 Ha……Mrs General！'
The entrance of the lady whom he announced； to take her place at the
breakfast…table； terminated the discussion。 Shortly afterwards； the
courier announced that the valet； and the footman； and the two maids；
and the four guides； and the fourteen mules； were in readiness； so the
breakfast party went out to the convent door to join the cavalcade。
Mr Gowan stood aloof with his cigar and pencil； but Mr Blandois was on
the spot to pay his respects to the ladies。 When he gallantly pulled
off his slouched hat to Little Dorrit； she thought he had even a more
sinister look； standing swart and cloaked in the snow； than he had
in the fire…light over…night。 But； as both her father and her sister
received his homage with some favour； she refrained from expressing any
distrust of him； lest it should prove to be a new blemish derived from
her prison birth。
Nevertheless； as they wound down the rugged way while the convent was
yet in sight； she more than once looked round； and descried Mr Blandois；
backed by the convent smoke which rose straight and high from the
chimneys in a golden film； always standing on one jutting point looking
down after them。 Long after he was a mere black stick in the snow； she
felt as though she could yet see that smile of his； that high nose； and
those eyes that were too near it。 And even after that； when the convent
was gone and some light morning clouds veiled the pass below it； the
ghastly skeleton arms by the wayside seemed to be all pointing up at
him。
More treacherous than snow； perhaps； colder at heart； and harder to
melt； Blandois of Paris by degrees passed out of her mind； as they came
down into the softer regions。 Again the sun was warm； again the streams
descending from glaciers and snowy caverns were refreshing to drink at；
again they came among the pine…trees； the rocky rivulets； the verdant
heights and dales； the wooden chalets and rough zigzag fences of Swiss
country。 Sometimes the way so widened that she and her father could
ride abreast。 And then to look at him； handsomely clothed in his fur and
broadcloths； rich； free； numerously served and attended； his eyes roving
far away among the glories of the landscape； no miserable screen before
them to darken his sight and cast its shadow on him； was enough。
Her uncle was so far rescued from that shadow of old； that he wore the
clothes they gave him； and performed some ablutions as a sacrifice to
the family credit； and went where he was taken； with a certain patient
animal enjoyment； which seemed to express that the air and change did
him good。 In all other respects； save one； he shone with no light but
such as was reflected from his brother。 His brother's greatness； wealth；
freedom； and grandeur； pleased him without any reference to himself。
Silent and retiring； he had no use for speech when he could hear his
brother speak； no desire to be waited on； so that the servants devoted
themselves to his brother。 The only noticeable change he originated in
himself； was an alteration in his manner to his younger niece。 Every day
it refined more and more into a marked respect； very rarely shown by age
to youth； and still more rarely susceptible； one would have said； of the
fitness with which he invested it。 On those occasions when Miss Fanny
did declare once for all； he would take the next opportunity of baring
his grey head before his younger niece； and of helping her to alight；
or handing her to the carriage； or showing her any other attention； with
the profoundest deference。 Yet it never appeared misplaced or forced；
being always heartily simple； spontaneous； and genuine。 Neither would he
ever consent； even at his brother's request； to be helped to any place
before her； or to take precedence of her in anything。 So jealous was he
of her being respected； that； on this very journey down from the Great
Saint Bernard； he took sudden and violent umbrage at the footman's being
remiss to hold her stirrup； though standing near when she dismounted；
and unspeakably astonished the whole retinue by charging at him on a
hard…headed mule； riding him into a corner； and threatening to trample
him to death。
They were a goodly pany； and the Innkeepers all but worshipped them。
Wherever they went； their importance preceded them in the person of the
courier riding before； to see that the rooms of state were ready。 He was
the herald of the family procession。 The great travelling…carriage came
next： containing； inside； Mr Dorrit； Miss Dorrit； Miss Amy Dorrit；
and Mrs General； outside； some of the retainers； and （in fine weather）
Ed the box was reserved。 Then came
the chariot containing Frederick Dorrit； Esquire； and an empty place
occupied by Edward Dorrit； Esquire； in wet weather。 Then came the
fourgon with the rest of the retainers； the heavy baggage； and as much
as it could carry of the mud and dust which the other vehicles left
behind。
These equipages adorned the yard of the hotel at Martigny； on the return
of the family from their mountain excursion。 Other vehicles were there；
much pany being on the road； from the patched Italian Vettura……like
the body of a swing from an English fair put upon a wooden tray on
wheels； and having another wooden tray without wheels put atop of it……to
the trim English carriage。 But there was another adornment of the
hotel which Mr Dorrit had not bargained for。 Two strange travellers
embellished one of his rooms。
The Innkeeper； hat in hand in the yard； swore to the courier that he was
blighted； that he was desolated； that he was profoundly afflicted； that
he was the most miserable and unfortunate of beasts； that he had the
head of a wooden pig。 He ought never to have made the concession； he
said； but the very genteel lady had so passionately prayed him for the
acmodation of that room to dine in； only for a little half…hour； that
he had been vanquished。 The little half…hour was expired； the lady and
gentleman were taking their little dessert and half…cup of coffee； the
note was paid； the horses were ordered； they would depart immediately；
but； owing to an unhappy destiny and the curse of Heaven； they were not
yet gone。
Nothing could exceed Mr Dorrit's indignation； as he turned at the foot
of the staircase on hearing these apologies。 He felt that the family
dignity was struck at by an assassin's hand。 He had a sense of his
dignity； which was of the most exquisite nature。 He could detect a
design upon it when nobody else had any perception of the fact。 His
life was made an agony by the number of fine scalpels that he felt to be
incessantly engaged in dissecting his dignity。
'Is it possible； sir；' said Mr Dorrit； reddening excessively； 'that you
have……ha……had the audacity to place one of my rooms at the disposition
of any other person？'
Thousands of pardons！ It was the host's profound misfortune to have been
overe by that too genteel lady。 He besought Monseigneur not to enrage
himself。 He threw himself on Monseigneur for clemency。 If Monseigneur
would have the distinguished goodness to occupy the other salon
especially reserved for him； for but five minutes； all would go well。
'No； sir；' said Mr Dorrit。 'I will not occupy any salon。 I will leave
your house without eating or drinking； or setting foot in it。
How do you dare to act like this？ Who am I that you……ha……separate me
from other gentlemen？'
Alas！ The host called all the universe to witness that Monseigneur was
the most amiable of the whole body of nobility； the most important；
the most estimable； the most honoured。 If he separated Monseigneur from
others； it was only because he was more distinguished； more cherished；
more generous； more renowned。
'Don't tell me so； sir；' returned Mr Dorrit； in a mighty heat。 'You have
affronted me。 You have heaped insults upon me。 How dare you？ Explain
yourself。'
Ah； just Heaven； then； how could the host explain himself when he had
nothing more to explain； when he had only to apologise； and confide
himself to the so well…known magnanimity of Monseigneur！
'I tell you； sir；' said Mr Dorrit； panting with anger； 'that you
separate me……ha……from other gentlemen； that you make distinctions
between me and other gentlemen of fortune and station。 I demand of you；
why