'I had anticipated your suggestion, madam,' said Mr Dorrit,

'but--ha--was not sure that I might--hum--not encroach on--'

'On my province, Mr Dorrit?' said Mrs General, graciously. 'Do not

mention it.' 'Then, with your leave, madam,' resumed Mr Dorrit, ringing his little

bell to summon his valet, 'I will send for her at once.'

'Does Mr Dorrit wish me to remain?'

'Perhaps, if you have no other engagement, you would not object for a

minute or two--' 'Not at all.'

So, Tinkler the valet was instructed to find Miss Amy's maid, and to

request that subordinate to inform Miss Amy that Mr Dorrit wished to

see her in his own room. In delivering this charge to Tinkler, Mr Dorrit

looked severely at him, and also kept a jealous eye upon him until he

went out at the door, mistrusting that he might have something in his

mind prejudicial to the family dignity; that he might have even got wind

of some Collegiate joke before he came into the service, and might be

derisively reviving its remembrance at the present moment. If Tinkler

had happened to smile, however faintly and innocently, nothing would

have persuaded Mr Dorrit, to the hour of his death, but that this was

the case.

As Tinkler happened, however, very fortunately for himself, to

be of a serious and composed countenance, he escaped the secret danger

that threatened him. And as on his return--when Mr Dorrit eyed him

again--he announced Miss Amy as if she had come to a funeral, he left a

vague impression on Mr Dorrit's mind that he was a well-conducted young

fellow, who had been brought up in the study of his Catechism by a

widowed mother. 'Amy,' said Mr Dorrit, 'you have just now been the subject of some

conversation between myself and Mrs General. We agree that you scarcely

seem at home here. Ha--how is this?' A pause.

'I think, father, I require a little time.' 'Papa is a preferable mode of address,' observed Mrs General. 'Father is

rather vulgar, my dear. The word Papa, besides, gives a pretty form to

the lips. Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes, and prism are all very

good words for the lips: especially prunes and prism. You will find it

serviceable, in the formation of a demeanour, if you sometimes say to

yourself in company--on entering a room, for instance--Papa, potatoes,

poultry, prunes and prism, prunes and prism.'

'Pray, my child,' said Mr Dorrit, 'attend to the--hum--precepts of Mrs

General.' Poor Little Dorrit, with a rather forlorn glance at that eminent

varnisher, promised to try. 'You say, Amy,' pursued Mr Dorrit, 'that you think you require time.

Time for what?' Another pause.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024