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reason to believe that she intended to act upon it。 Having now； as
it were； formally wound up her single life and arranged her worldly
affairs； Fanny proceeded with characteristic ardour to prepare for the
serious change in her condition。
The preparation consisted in the despatch of her maid to Paris under the
protection of the Courier； for the purchase of that outfit for a bride
on which it would be extremely low； in the present narrative； to bestow
an English name； but to which （on a vulgar principle it observes
of adhering to the language in which it professes to be written） it
declines to give a French one。 The rich and beautiful wardrobe purchased
by these agents； in the course of a few weeks made its way through the
intervening country； bristling with custom…houses； garrisoned by an
immense army of shabby mendicants in uniform who incessantly repeated
the Beggar's Petition over it； as if every individual warrior among them
were the ancient Belisarius： and of whom there were so many Legions；
that unless the Courier had expended just one bushel and a half of
silver money relieving their distresses； they would have worn the
wardrobe out before it got to Rome； by turning it over and over。 Through
all such dangers； however； it was triumphantly brought； inch by inch；
and arrived at its journey's end in fine condition。
There it was exhibited to select panies of female viewers； in whose
gentle bosoms it awakened implacable feelings。 Concurrently； active
preparations were made for the day on which some of its treasures were
to be publicly displayed。 Cards of breakfast…invitation were sent out
to half the English in the city of Romulus； the other half made
arrangements to be under arms； as criticising volunteers； at various
outer points of the solemnity。 The most high and illustrious English
Signor Edgardo Dorrit； came post through the deep mud and ruts （from
forming a surface under the improving Neapolitan nobility）； to grace
the occasion。 The best hotel and all its culinary myrmidons； were set to
work to prepare the feast。 The drafts of Mr Dorrit almost constituted a
run on the Torlonia Bank。 The British Consul hadn't had such a marriage
in the whole of his Consularity。
The day came； and the She…Wolf in the Capitol might have snarled with
envy to see how the Island Savages contrived these things now…a…days。
The murderous…headed statues of the wicked Emperors of the Soldiery；
whom sculptors had not been able to flatter out of their villainous
hideousness； might have e off their pedestals to run away with the
Bride。 The choked old fountain； where erst the gladiators washed； might
have leaped into life again to honour the ceremony。 The Temple of
Vesta might have sprung up anew from its ruins； expressly to lend its
countenance to the occasion。 Might have done； but did not。 Like sentient
things……even like the lords and ladies of creation sometimes……might
have done much； but did nothing。 The celebration went off with admirable
pomp； monks in black robes； white robes； and russet robes stopped to
look after the carriages； wandering peasants in fleeces of sheep； begged
and piped under the house…windows； the English volunteers defiled； the
day wore on to the hour of vespers； the festival wore away； the thousand
churches rang their bells without any reference to it； and St Peter
denied that he had anything to do with it。
But by that time the Bride was near the end of the first day's journey
towards Florence。 It was the peculiarity of the nuptials that they
were all Bride。 Nobody noticed the Bridegroom。 Nobody noticed the first
Bridesmaid。 Few could have seen Little Dorrit （who held that post） for
the glare； even supposing many to have sought her。 So； the Bride had
mounted into her handsome chariot； incidentally acpanied by the
Bridegroom； and after rolling for a few minutes smoothly over a fair
pavement； had begun to jolt through a Slough of Despond； and through a
long； long avenue of wrack and ruin。 Other nuptial carriages are said to
have gone the same road； before and since。
If Little Dorrit found herself left a little lonely and a little low
that night； nothing would have done so much against her feeling of
depression as the being able to sit at work by her father； as in the old
time； and help him to his supper and his rest。 But that was not to be
thought of now； when they sat in the state…equipage with Mrs General on
the coach…box。 And as to supper！ If Mr Dorrit had wanted supper； there
was an Italian cook and there was a Swiss confectioner； who must
have put on caps as high as the Pope's Mitre； and have performed the
mysteries of Alchemists in a copper…saucepaned laboratory below； before
he could have got it。
He was sententious and didactic that night。 If he had been simply
loving； he would have done Little Dorrit more good； but she accepted him
as he was……when had she not accepted him as he was！……and made the most
and best of him。 Mrs General at length retired。 Her retirement for the
night was always her frostiest ceremony； as if she felt it necessary
that the human imagination should be chilled into stone to prevent
its following her。 When she had gone through her rigid preliminaries；
amounting to a sort of genteel platoon…exercise； she withdrew。 Little
Dorrit then put her arm round her father's neck； to bid him good night。
'Amy； my dear；' said Mr Dorrit； taking her by the hand； 'this is the
close of a day； that has……ha……greatly impressed and gratified me。' 'A
little tired you； dear； too？'
'No；' said Mr Dorrit； 'no： I am not sensible of fatigue when it arises
from an occasion so……hum……replete with gratification of the purest
kind。'
Little Dorrit was glad to find him in such heart； and smiled from her
own heart。
'My dear；' he continued； 'this is an occasion……ha……teeming with a good
example。 With a good example； my favourite and attached child……hum……to
you。'
Little Dorrit； fluttered by his words； did not know what to say； though
he stopped as if he expected her to say something。
'Amy；' he resumed； 'your dear sister； our Fanny； has contracted
ha hum……a marriage； eminently calculated to extend the basis of
our……ha……connection； and to……hum……consolidate our social relations。 My
love； I trust that the time is not far distant when some……ha……eligible
partner may be found for you。'
'Oh no！ Let me stay with you。 I beg and pray that I may stay with you！ I
want nothing but to stay and take care of you！' She said it like one in
sudden alarm。
'Nay； Amy； Amy；' said Mr Dorrit。 'This is weak and foolish； weak
and foolish。 You have a……ha……responsibility imposed upon you by your
position。 It is to develop that position； and be……hum……worthy of that
position。 As to taking care of me； I can……ha……take care of myself。
Or；' he added after a moment； 'if I should need to be taken care of；
I……hum……can； with the……ha……blessing of Providence； be taken care of；
I……ha hum……I cannot； my dear child； think of engrossing； and……ha……as it
were； sacrificing you。'
O what a time of day at which to begin that profession of self…denial；
at which to make it； with an air of taking credit for it； at which to
believe it； if such a thing could be！