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.' ; I"'LITTLE'.l)0RRIT.1’: “ . ' 895
-ingworse thania funeral procession, which . cam'e'.me-
chanically: chauriting’ by, with .an indistinct ‘show of
dirty vestments, lurid torches,‘ swinging‘ censers; and:a
great cross borne before a priest... He was an ugly priest
by torchlight ; of aylmvering aspect,.with an:overhang-
-ing brow ; and 'as:his eyes ‘met those of Mr. Dorrit;vlook-
ing bareheaded out‘ of the carriage,’ his lips,’ -moving as
.they chaunted, . seemed to zthreaten ithat . important='trav-
eller ; likewise the action of his hand, which was in fact
his manner of returning the traveller’s salntation; seemed
"rto home-in" aid of .that mena‘ce.. So thought Mr.:Dorrit,
made fanciful by the’ weariness of building . and travel-
'ling, as the priest drifted past him,'and .the ‘procession
'straggled‘mvay, taking its dead: along with itp: Upon
their so-different ‘ way -went’ Mr.‘ Dorrit’s . companv too ;
and soon, with their coach-load of luxuries from t e two
rgreatcapitals of Europe, they were (like the Goths re-
versed) beating at.the gates of Rome. ' I ’ H . 2 u = It-
:,i Mr..Dorrit was not expected by his own people that
‘night: - ‘He had been';‘ but they had given him up until
.to-marrow’, not doubting that it was later than he would
-care; infthosc parts, to be out. = Thus, when his‘equip-
age’ stopped at .his own gate, noronebut the porter ap-
eareda to receive‘ him. ; XVas. Miss vDorritifromr home? .
e asked. No. She was within.- Good, said.Mr.' Dorrit
'to'the ‘assembling servants; let‘ them keep where they
iwere; let them help to: unload the carriage; he would
‘find Miss Dorrit for himself. ‘ " V ' " ' "
4-1;: So, he went up his. grand staircase, slowly, and tired, 1 -
5 and: looked -into various chambers which were empty,
. till he saw a light: in a small anteroom. = It was arcur-
’ tained nook, like a tent, within two other rooms ; and it
looked warm, and bright in colour, asihe approached it
through the dark avenue they made. , , ,g V ’
There was a draped doorway, but no door ;' and as he
> stopped here, looking in unseen,-he felt a pang.‘ ‘Surely
not like jealousy?" For why like jealousy? .There were
’ only his daugliterhnd his brother, there :. he, with his
‘chair drawn-to7the hearth, enjoying thewarrnth of 'the
evening wood fire ;'she‘ seated at azlittle tablefbusied
with ‘some embroidery-work. -‘Allowing for the? great
‘difference in the still-lifeof the picture, the figures were
- much the same as of old ; his brother being‘ sufliciently
like himself torepresent himself,’for a moment, in I. the
composition; So hadhe sat many a ni ht, over a-'coal
fire faraway"; so had he sat, devoted to im. .‘ Yet sure-
. ly there was nothinglto be jealous of in the old miserable
overt . lVl1en'ce,‘ then, the ang inlhis heart? ' = .
, P Y P .
“ Do you know, uncle,’ I think you are growing young
‘ain?”‘ ‘ :“,-1:: v.
uglier uncle shook his head," and said, “Since when my
.dear;sincowhen?”dIL D . - 11. V
“ I think,”. retnrne itt e orrit, p ying er nee e,
“that you have been growing younger ‘for weeks past.
So cheerful, uncle, and so ready, and so mterested.” .
vr.“Mydearchild--allyou.’’-= ‘‘ ‘ I w’ W" 4:
'‘sAllme,unc1el’’ H ' , ..
,3‘? Yes, yes.r' ‘You have done rneaworld of good.‘ You
have been so considcrateof me,‘ and sotender with Eme,
‘and so delicate’in t ing'to:hide yourvattentionsufrom
me, that I-w‘i=,ll,.we l, well i ‘ lt’s treasured up, my dar-
lin ,.trea.sure up.”‘ ' ‘W ' ‘ g - - ' ‘
- ‘ ‘$'I‘here is nothing’ in it but your own fresh fancy, un-
cle,” said Little Dorrittcheerfiilly. ‘ ' - r ’ ':. -
5 '‘ ‘‘-VVe1l, well, well?” murmured the old man.: ‘.‘ Thank
1Godl’.’r . I I , ' - .
She paused for an instant in her work to look at him,
taurlv-'her look revived that former painm her fathgfs
breast; in. his poorweak breast, so full of contra ic-
gtions, vacillations, inconsistencies; the little peevish per-
iplexities of, this ignorant life, mists which-the morning
without a. nightonlyrcan clear away. . . I. I. -
“I have been freer with yoili), you lsee, my love,’.’1said
‘the old man i ‘F since we have can a one. ,"‘ say, a one,
for.I don‘t ccirint Mrs. General ; I don't care for her ;‘she
has nothing to dowith me. I But I lrnowVFanny was im-
‘- patient of me. And I don't wonder at it, or complain of
- it, for I am sensible thatgl must be in “the way, though
I try to keep out of it as well as I-can.‘ lknow I am not
-fit company for your'company.' hfliy brother.lVf'illiam,”
.said the old man adiniringly, “is t com any or mon-
archs ; but not so your uncle, my dcar.4 Frederick Dor-
rit is no credit to -W'illiam Dorrit, and he knows it quite
well. ..Ah I‘ :'.VVhy,'here’s your father,‘ Amy 1-. My dear
VVil1iam, welcome back 1 My beloved brother,"I’ am re-
joicedtoseeyou!.’.’. .. r . ‘ ...
-5 (Turning his head in speaking, he hadcaught sight of
him as he stood.in the doorway.) ‘ I; . .- ' .
J: Little Dorrit witha cry of pleasure put her.'arms about
her father's neck, and kissed him again.and“again.T Her
father was a little impatient, and a little querulous.. “ I
am‘ glad-‘so ifind "you at ‘ last, Amy,’T he said;’. .“Ha.;
Really I ‘am glad find-hum-anyone to receive me at
last. ) I appear to have been-ha-so little expected,’ that
upon my word I began-ha hum-to think it might be
right to olier an apology for--ha-taking the liberty of
coming back at all.”. . .
“ It was so late, my dear ‘Villiam',” saidihis brother, V
.‘.‘ that we had givenyou up for to-night.”.. , : .1 ‘ I '
“ I am strongerithan you,’ dear Frederick,’.’ returned
his brother, with an elaborationof fraternity in which
‘there was severity; “and I hope I can’ travel without
detriment at-"ha-any hour I choose.” : - ’ ,:.
in“ Surely, surely,” returned the other,-with a misgiv-
ing that he had given oifence.‘ - ‘f Surely,.lVilliam.”;
“ Thank you, Amy,’.’ pursued Mr. Dorritt, as she helped
him to put.oii'his'W'rappers, “I canido it without us-
sistance. I-ha-need not trouble you, Amy.;T Could I
have a morsel of bread and :2. glass of: wine, or-hum--
wouldit cause too much inconvenience?”,. . . ;. .
" ear father; you shall have supper. in a very few
minutes.”.:.m . .
“ Thank you, .my love,” said Mr. Dorrit, with a re-
proachful frost upon him ; “ I-ha-am afraidl am caus.
ring inconveniencegi Hum. -Mrs. General pretty well?’.’
1 v“Mrs. General complained of a headnche,'and of being
fatigued ; and ‘so, when we gave you ‘up, she went to
bed,dear.”. I
WPcrhaps Mr.‘ Dorrit thought that Mrs. General had
done well in being overcome by the disappointment of
of ‘his notarriving; At any rate, his face relaxed, and
he said.with obvious satisfaction, ‘,‘ Extremely sorry to
hear that Mrs. General is not well.” ' i v i .. , -
During this shortdialogue, his daughter had been
observant of him, with somcthin more than her. usual
interest. It would seem as thong 1 he had a changed or
worn appearance in her: eyes, and he perceived and re-
sented it ’: for, he said with renewed peevisl1ness,.when
he’ had’ divested himself of his travelling-cloak,-' and
hadcometothefire: .- i ' u .‘i.w
“ Amy, what are you looking at? ' “’hat do you see in
me that causes you to-ha-concentratczyour solicitudc
on me in that--hum-very particular Inanner?” .
‘ “I did" not knowvit,'father: Ibeg your pardon. ; It
gladdens my eyes tosec you again ;.tlmt‘sall.” ., ‘
. " Don’t say that's all because--ha-that’s not all. :You
-hum-you think,” said Mr. Dorrit, with an accusatory
emphasis, “ that I am not looking well.” '5 , 1 . ,
.“ I thought you looked a little .tired, love.” . ’
' “ Then you are mistakcn,?’ said Mr. Dorrit.'. “Ha, I
am not tired.: :Ha, :hum., I am very 'much fresher. than
Iwas, whcnlwent away.” - .. :, i. I; ‘ 3 '..L.. J. ‘
':.lIe was so inclined to be angry, that; she‘ said’ nothing
more in her justification, but, remained" quietly [beside
him embracing his arm. 2‘ As he stoodithus; with his
brother on the other side, hclfellinto a heavy doze, of
not a minute’s'duration,'and awoke with a start. . . ‘.
- 1 “fFredcrick,’.’ he ‘said. turning on his brother: “ I
recommend you to o to bed immediately.” ' - "
“ No, “William. -. ’ll wait and see you slip”. .
c. -“ Frederick,” he retorted, “ I beg you to go to bed. I
-ho.-make it a personal request that .you go 1 to bed.
You ought to have been in bed long ago. ’ You are very ‘
'feeble."s I , . xi ’ .. .3. '
“Huh I ” said the old man, who had‘ no wish but to
please him; “. “fell, Well, well. I .I dare say I a.m.?-’
“ My dear Frederick,” returned Mr. Dorrit, with an as-
tonishing superiority to his brother's failing I’0“'01'S.
“there can be nodoubt of it.‘ It is painful to me to see
you so we3I;,- Ha,i- It distrcsses,n1e.I'Huxr1. I-don"t
find you looking at all well. ' Ion are not fit for this
sort of thing. 3' on should be more careful, you should
bcvery careful.” N w M w. '
" “Shall I go to bed 2.” asked Frederick.