Thus delegated on her mission, as it were by Church and State, Mrs

General, who had always occupied high ground, felt in a condition to

keep it, and began by putting herself up at a very high figure. An

interval of some duration elapsed, in which there was no bid for Mrs

General. At length a county-widower, with a daughter of fourteen, opened

negotiations with the lady; and as it was a part either of the native

dignity or of the artificial policy of Mrs General (but certainly one

or the other) to comport herself as if she were much more sought than

seeking, the widower pursued Mrs General until he prevailed upon her to

form his daughter's mind and manners.

The execution of this trust occupied Mrs General about seven years, in

the course of which time she made the tour of Europe, and saw most of

that extensive miscellany of objects which it is essential that all

persons of polite cultivation should see with other people's eyes,

and never with their own. When her charge was at length formed, the

marriage, not only of the young lady, but likewise of her father, the

widower, was resolved on. The widower then finding Mrs General both

inconvenient and expensive, became of a sudden almost as much affected

by her merits as the archdeacon had been, and circulated such praises

of her surpassing worth, in all quarters where he thought an opportunity

might arise of transferring the blessing to somebody else, that Mrs

General was a name more honourable than ever.

The phoenix was to let, on this elevated perch, when Mr Dorrit, who

had lately succeeded to his property, mentioned to his bankers that he

wished to discover a lady, well-bred, accomplished, well connected, well

accustomed to good society, who was qualified at once to complete the

education of his daughters, and to be their matron or chaperon. Mr

Dorrit's bankers, as bankers of the county-widower, instantly said, 'Mrs

General.' Pursuing the light so fortunately hit upon, and finding the concurrent

testimony of the whole of Mrs General's acquaintance to be of the

pathetic nature already recorded, Mr Dorrit took the trouble of going

down to the county of the county-widower to see Mrs General, in whom he

found a lady of a quality superior to his highest expectations.

'Might I be excused,' said Mr Dorrit, 'if I inquired--ha--what remune--'

'Why, indeed,' returned Mrs General, stopping the word, 'it is a subject

on which I prefer to avoid entering. I have never entered on it with my

friends here; and I cannot overcome the delicacy, Mr Dorrit, with

which I have always regarded it. I am not, as I hope you are aware, a

governess--' 'O dear no!' said Mr Dorrit. 'Pray, madam, do not imagine for a moment

that I think so.' He really blushed to be suspected of it.




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