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 company, 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)

Edward Dorrit, Esquire, for whom 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.




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