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laws； tumbled and rolled from its glorious multitude of fountains。
Here it seemed to Little Dorrit that a change came over the Marshalsea
spirit of their society； and that Prunes and Prism got the upper hand。
Everybody was walking about St Peter's and the Vatican on somebody
else's cork legs； and straining every visible object through somebody
else's sieve。 Nobody said what anything was； but everybody said what the
Mrs Generals； Mr Eustace； or somebody else said it was。 The whole body
of travellers seemed to be a collection of voluntary human sacrifices；
bound hand and foot； and delivered over to Mr Eustace and his
attendants； to have the entrails of their intellects arranged according
to the taste of that sacred priesthood。 Through the rugged remains
of temples and tombs and palaces and senate halls and theatres and
amphitheatres of ancient days； hosts of tongue…tied and blindfolded
moderns were carefully feeling their way； incessantly repeating Prunes
and Prism in the endeavour to set their lips according to the received
form。 Mrs General was in her pure element。 Nobody had an opinion。 There
was a formation of surface going on around her on an amazing scale； and
it had not a flaw of courage or honest free speech in it。
Another modification of Prunes and Prism insinuated itself on Little
Dorrit's notice very shortly after their arrival。 They received an early
visit from Mrs Merdle； who led that extensive department of life in the
Eternal City that winter； and the skilful manner in which she and Fanny
fenced with one another on the occasion； almost made her quiet sister
wink； like the glittering of small…swords。
'So delighted；' said Mrs Merdle； 'to resume an acquaintance so
inauspiciously begun at Martigny。'
'At Martigny； of course；' said Fanny。 'Charmed； I am sure！'
'I understand；' said Mrs Merdle； 'from my son Edmund Sparkler； that
he has already improved that chance occasion。 He has returned quite
transported with Venice。'
'Indeed？' returned the careless Fanny。 'Was he there long？'
'I might refer that question to Mr Dorrit；' said Mrs Merdle； turning the
bosom towards that gentleman； 'Edmund having been so much indebted to
him for rendering his stay agreeable。'
'Oh； pray don't speak of it；' returned Fanny。 'I believe Papa had the
pleasure of inviting Mr Sparkler twice or thrice；……but it was nothing。
We had so many people about us； and kept such open house； that if he had
that pleasure； it was less than nothing。'
'Except； my dear；' said Mr Dorrit； 'except……ha……as it afforded me
unusual gratification to……hum……show by any means； however slight and
worthless； the……ha； hum……high estimation in which； in……ha……mon with
the rest of the world； I hold so distinguished and princely a character
as Mr Merdle's。'
The bosom received this tribute in its most engaging manner。 'Mr
Merdle；' observed Fanny； as a means of dismissing Mr Sparkler into the
background； 'is quite a theme of Papa's； you must know； Mrs Merdle。'
'I have been……ha……disappointed； madam；' said Mr Dorrit； 'to understand
from Mr Sparkler that there is no great……hum……probability of Mr Merdle's
ing abroad。'
'Why； indeed；' said Mrs Merdle； 'he is so much engaged and in such
request； that I fear not。 He has not been able to get abroad for years。
You； Miss Dorrit； I believe have been almost continually abroad for a
long time。'
'Oh dear yes；' drawled Fanny； with the greatest hardihood。 'An immense
number of years。'
'So I should have inferred；' said Mrs Merdle。
'Exactly；' said Fanny。
'I trust； however；' resumed Mr Dorrit； 'that if I have not
the……hum……great advantage of being known to Mr Merdle on this side
of the Alps or Mediterranean； I shall have that honour on returning to
England。 It is an honour I particularly desire and shall particularly
esteem。' 'Mr Merdle；' said Mrs Merdle； who had been looking admiringly
at Fanny through her eye…glass； 'will esteem it； I am sure； no less。'
Little Dorrit； still habitually thoughtful and solitary though no longer
alone； at first supposed this to be mere Prunes and Prism。 But as her
father when they had been to a brilliant reception at Mrs Merdle's；
harped at their own family breakfast…table on his wish to know Mr
Merdle； with the contingent view of benefiting by the advice of that
wonderful man in the disposal of his fortune； she began to think it had
a real meaning； and to entertain a curiosity on her own part to see the
shining light of the time。
CHAPTER 8。 The Dowager Mrs Gowan is reminded that 'It Never Does'
While the waters of Venice and the ruins of Rome were sunning themselves
for the pleasure of the Dorrit family； and were daily being sketched
out of all earthly proportion； lineament； and likeness； by travelling
pencils innumerable； the firm of Doyce and Clennam hammered away in
Bleeding Heart Yard； and the vigorous clink of iron upon iron was heard
there through the working hours。
The younger partner had； by this time； brought the business into sound
trim； and the elder； left free to follow his own ingenious devices； had
done much to enhance the character of the factory。 As an ingenious man；
he had necessarily to encounter every discouragement that the ruling
powers for a length of time had been able by any means to put in the way
of this class of culprits； but that was only reasonable self…defence in
the powers； since How to do it must obviously be regarded as the natural
and mortal enemy of How not to do it。 In this was to be found the basis
of the wise system； by tooth and nail upheld by the Circumlocution
Office； of warning every ingenious British subject to be ingenious
at his peril： of harassing him； obstructing him； inviting robbers （by
making his remedy uncertain； and expensive） to plunder him； and at the
best of confiscating his property after a short term of enjoyment； as
though invention were on a par with felony。 The system had uniformly
found great favour with the Barnacles； and that was only reasonable；
too； for one who worthily invents must be in earnest； and the Barnacles
abhorred and dreaded nothing half so much。 That again was very
reasonable； since in a country suffering under the affliction of a great
amount of earnestness； there might； in an exceeding short space of time；
be not a single Barnacle left sticking to a post。
Daniel Doyce faced his condition with its pains and penalties attached
to it； and soberly worked on for the work's sake。 Clennam cheering him
with a hearty co…operation； was a moral support to him； besides doing
good service in his business relation。 The concern prospered； and the
partners were fast friends。 But Daniel could not forget the old design
of so many years。 It was not in reason to be expected that he should； if
he could have lightly forgotten it； he could never have conceived it；
or had the patience and perseverance to work it out。 So Clennam thought；
when he sometimes observed him of an evening looking over the models and
drawings； and consoling himself by muttering with a sigh as he put them
away again； that the thing was as true as it ever was。
To show no sympathy with so much endeavour； and so much disappointment；
would have been to fail in what Clennam regarded as among the implied
obligations of his partnership。 A revival of the passing interest in
the subject which had been by chance awakened at the door of the
Circumlocution Office； originated in this feeling。 He asked his partner
to explain the invention to him； 'having a lenient consideration；' he
stipulated； 'for my being no workman； Doyce。'
'No workman？' said Doyce。 'You would have been a thorough workman if you
had given yourself to it。 You have as good a head for understanding such
things as I have met with。'
'A totally uneducated one； I am sorry to add；' said Clennam。
'I don't know that；' returned Doyce； 'and I wouldn't have you say
that。 No man of sense who has been generally improved； and has improved
himself； can be called quite uneducated as to anything。 I don't
particularly favour mysteries。 I would as soon； on a fair and clear
explanation； be judged by one class of man as another； provided he had
the qualification I have named。'
'At a