, Mrs. General. Ha, hum. To yourself and your merits,«
was Mr. Dorrit's rejoinder.
    »Mr. Dorrit will pardon me,« said Mrs. General, »if I remark that this is
not a time or place for the pursuit of the present conversation. Mr. Dorrit will
excuse me if I remind him that Miss Dorrit is in the adjoining room, and is
visible to myself while I utter her name. Mr. Dorrit will forgive me if I
observe that I am agitated, and that I find there are moments when weaknesses I
supposed myself to have subdued, return with redoubled power. Mr. Dorrit will
allow me to withdraw.«
    »Hum. Perhaps we may resume this - ha - interesting conversation,« said Mr.
Dorrit, »at another time; unless it should be, what I hope it is not - hum - in
any way disagreeable to - ha - Mrs. General.«
    »Mr. Dorrit,« said Mrs. General, casting down her eyes as she rose with a
bend, »must ever claim my homage and obedience.«
    Mrs. General then took herself off in a stately way, and not with that
amount of trepidation upon her which might have been expected in a less
remarkable woman. Mr. Dorrit, who had conducted his part of the dialogue with a
certain majestic and admiring condescension - much as some people may be seen to
conduct themselves in Church, and to perform their part in the service -
appeared, on the whole, very well satisfied with himself and with Mrs. General
too. On the return of that lady to tea, she had touched herself up with a little
powder and pomatum, and was not without moral enhancement likewise: the latter
showing itself in much sweet patronage of manner towards Miss Dorrit, and in an
air of as tender interest in Mr. Dorrit as was consistent with rigid propriety.
At the close of the evening when she rose to retire, Mr. Dorrit took her by the
hand, as if he were going to lead her out into the Piazza of the People to walk
a minuet by moonlight, and with great solemnity conducted her to the room door,
where he raised her knuckles to his lips. Having parted from her with what may
be conjectured to have been a rather bony kiss, of a cosmetic flavour, he gave
his daughter his blessing, graciously. And having thus hinted that there was
something remarkable in the wind, he again went to bed.
    He remained in the seclusion of his own chamber next morning; but, early in