hum - kept
down. Down. Therefore, your not exposing yourself to the remarks of our
attendants, by appearing to have at any time dispensed with their services and
performed them for yourself, is - ha - highly important.«
    »Why, who can doubt it?« cried Miss Fanny. »It's the essence of everything.«
    »Fanny,« returned her father, grandiloquently, »give me leave, my dear. We
then come to - ha - to Mr. Clennam. I am free to say that I do not, Amy, share
your sister's sentiments - that is to say altogether - hum - altogether - in
reference to Mr. Clennam. I am content to regard that individual in the light of
- ha - generally - a well-behaved person. Hum. A well-behaved person. Nor will I
inquire whether Mr. Clennam did, at any time, obtrude himself on - ha - my
society. He knew my society to be - hum - sought, and his plea might be that he
regarded me in the light of a public character. But there were circumstances
attending my - ha - slight knowledge of Mr. Clennam (it was very slight),
which,« here Mr. Dorrit became extremely grave and impressive, »would render it
highly indelicate in Mr. Clennam to - ha - to seek to renew communication with
me or with any member of my family under existing circumstances. If Mr. Clennam
has sufficient delicacy to perceive the impropriety of any such attempt, I am
bound as a responsible gentleman to - ha - defer to that delicacy on his part.
If, on the other hand, Mr. Clennam has not that delicacy, I cannot for a moment
- ha - hold any correspondence with so - hum - coarse a mind. In either case, it
would appear that Mr. Clennam is put altogether out of the question, and that we
have nothing to do with him or he with us. Ha - Mrs. General!«
    The entrance of the lady whom he announced, to take her place at the
breakfast-table, terminated the discussion. Shortly afterwards, the courier
announced that the valet, and the footman, and the two maids, and the four
guides, and the fourteen mules, were in readiness; so the breakfast party went
out to the convent door to join the cavalcade.
    Mr. Gowan stood aloof with his cigar and pencil, but Mr. Blandois was on the
spot to pay his respects to the ladies. When he gallantly pulled off his
slouched hat to Little