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should……ha……understand each other。 Hum。 Good night； my dear and sole
remaining daughter。 Good night。
God bless you！'
If the thought ever entered Little Dorrit's head that night； that he
could give her up lightly now in his prosperity； and when he had it in
his mind to replace her with a second wife； she drove it away。 Faithful
to him still； as in the worst times through which she had borne him
single…handed； she drove the thought away； and entertained no harder
reflection； in her tearful unrest； than that he now saw everything
through their wealth； and through the care he always had upon him that
they should continue rich； and grow richer。
They sat in their equipage of state； with Mrs General on the box； for
three weeks longer； and then he started for Florence to join Fanny。
Little Dorrit would have been glad to bear him pany so far； only for
the sake of her own love； and then to have turned back alone； thinking
of dear England。 But； though the Courier had gone on with the Bride； the
Valet was next in the line； and the succession would not have e to
her； as long as any one could be got for money。
Mrs General took life easily……as easily； that is； as she could
take anything……when the Roman establishment remained in their sole
occupation； and Little Dorrit would often ride out in a hired carriage
that was left them； and alight alone and wander among the ruins of old
Rome。 The ruins of the vast old Amphitheatre； of the old Temples； of the
old memorative Arches； of the old trodden highways； of the old
tombs； besides being what they were； to her were ruins of the old
Marshalsea……ruins of her own old life……ruins of the faces and forms
that of old peopled it……ruins of its loves； hopes； cares； and joys。 Two
ruined spheres of action and suffering were before the solitary girl
often sitting on some broken fragment； and in the lonely places； under
the blue sky； she saw them both together。
Up； then； would e Mrs General； taking all the colour out of
everything； as Nature and Art had taken it out of herself； writing
Prunes and Prism； in Mr Eustace's text； wherever she could lay a hand；
looking everywhere for Mr Eustace and pany； and seeing nothing else；
scratching up the driest little bones of antiquity； and bolting them
whole without any human visitings……like a Ghoule in gloves。
CHAPTER 16。 Getting on
The newly married pair； on their arrival in Harley Street； Cavendish
Square； London； were received by the Chief Butler。 That great man was
not interested in them； but on the whole endured them。 People must
continue to be married and given in marriage； or Chief Butlers would not
be wanted。 As nations are made to be taxed； so families are made to
be butlered。 The Chief Butler； no doubt； reflected that the course of
nature required the wealthy population to be kept up； on his account。
He therefore condescended to look at the carriage from the Hall…door
without frowning at it； and said； in a very handsome way； to one of
his men； 'Thomas； help with the luggage。' He even escorted the Bride
up…stairs into Mr Merdle's presence； but this must be considered as an
act of homage to the sex （of which he was an admirer； being notoriously
captivated by the charms of a certain Duchess）； and not as a mittal
of himself with the family。
Mr Merdle was slinking about the hearthrug； waiting to wele Mrs
Sparkler。 His hand seemed to retreat up his sleeve as he advanced to
do so； and he gave her such a superfluity of coat…cuff that it was like
being received by the popular conception of Guy Fawkes。 When he put his
lips to hers； besides； he took himself into custody by the wrists； and
backed himself among the ottomans and chairs and tables as if he were
his own Police officer； saying to himself； 'Now； none of that！ e！
I've got you； you knoe！'
Mrs Sparkler； installed in the rooms of state……the innermost sanctuary
of down； silk； chintz； and fine linen……felt that so far her triumph was
good； and her way made； step by step。 On the day before her marriage；
she had bestowed on Mrs Merdle's maid with an air of gracious
indifference； in Mrs Merdle's presence； a trifling little keepsake
（bracelet； bon； and two dresses； all new） about four times as
valuable as the present formerly made by Mrs Merdle to her。 She was now
established in Mrs Merdle's own rooms； to which some extra touches had
been given to render them more worthy of her occupation。 In her mind's
eye； as she lounged there； surrounded by every luxurious accessory that
wealth could obtain or invention devise； she saw the fair bosom that
beat in unison with the exultation of her thoughts； peting with the
bosom that had been famous so long； outshining it； and deposing it。
Happy？ Fanny must have been happy。 No more wishing one's self dead now。
The Courier had not approved of Mr Dorrit's staying in the house of
a friend； and had preferred to take him to an hotel in Brook Street；
Grosvenor Square。 Mr Merdle ordered his carriage to be ready early
in the morning that he might wait upon Mr Dorrit immediately after
breakfast。 Bright the carriage looked； sleek the horses looked； gleaming
the harness looked； luscious and lasting the liveries looked。 A rich；
responsible turn…out。 An equipage for a Merdle。 Early people looked
after it as it rattled along the streets； and said； with awe in their
breath； 'There he goes！'
There he went； until Brook Street stopped him。 Then； forth from its
magnificent case came the jewel； not lustrous in itself； but quite the
contrary。
motion in the office of the hotel。 Merdle！ The landlord； though
a gentleman of a haughty spirit who had just driven a pair of
thorough…bred horses into town； turned out to show him up…stairs。
The clerks and servants cut him off by back…passages； and were found
accidentally hovering in doorways and angles； that they might look upon
him。 Merdle！ O ye sun； moon； and stars； the great man！ The rich man； who
had in a manner revised the New Testament； and already entered into the
kingdom of Heaven。 The man who could have any one he chose to dine with
him； and who had made the money！
As he went up the stairs； people were already posted on the lower
sta