Крошка Доррит

Chapter 16. Getting on

           

           ‘Iscarcely—ha—dared,’saidMrDorrit,‘Iassureyou,tohopeforso—hum—vastanadvantageasyourdirectadviceandassistance.ThoughofcourseIshould,underanycircumstances,likethe—ha,hum—restofthecivilisedworld,havefollowedinMrMerdle’strain.’

           ‘Youknowwemayalmostsaywearerelated,sir,’saidMrMerdle,curiouslyinterestedinthepatternofthecarpet,‘and,therefore,youmayconsidermeatyourservice.’

           ‘Ha.Veryhandsome,indeed!’criedMrDorrit.‘Ha.Mosthandsome!’

           ‘Itwouldnot,’saidMrMerdle,‘beatthepresentmomenteasyforwhatImaycallamereoutsidertocomeintoanyofthegoodthings—ofcourseIspeakofmyowngoodthings—’

           ‘Ofcourse,ofcourse!’criedMrDorrit,inatoneimplyingthattherewerenoothergoodthings.

           ‘—Unlessatahighprice.Atwhatweareaccustomedtotermaverylongfigure.’

           MrDorritlaughedinthebuoyancyofhisspirit.Ha,ha,ha!Longfigure.Good.Ha.Veryexpressivetobesure!

           ‘However,’saidMrMerdle,‘Idogenerallyretaininmyownhandsthepowerofexercisingsomepreference—peopleingeneralwouldbepleasedtocallitfavour—asasortofcomplimentformycareandtrouble.’

           ‘Andpublicspiritandgenius,’MrDorritsuggested.

           MrMerdle,withadry,swallowingaction,seemedtodisposeofthosequalitieslikeabolus;thenadded,‘Asasortofreturnforit.Iwillsee,ifyouplease,howIcanexertthislimitedpower(forpeoplearejealous,anditislimited),toyouradvantage.’

           ‘Youareverygood,’repliedMrDorrit.‘Youareverygood.

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