Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Getting on

The newly married pair, on their arrival in Harley Street,
Cavendish Square, London, were received by the Chief Butler. That
great man was not interested in them, but on the whole endured
them. People must continue to be married and given in marriage, or
Chief Butlers would not be wanted. As nations are made to be
taxed, so families are made to be butlered. The Chief Butler, no
doubt, reflected that the course of nature required the wealthy
population to be kept up, on his account.

He therefore condescended to look at the carriage from the Hall-
door without frowning at it, and said, in a very handsome way, to
one of his men, 'Thomas, help with the luggage.' He even escorted
the Bride up-stairs into Mr Merdle's presence; but this must be
considered as an act of homage to the sex (of which he was an
admirer, being notoriously captivated by the charms of a certain
Duchess), and not as a committal of himself with the family.

Mr Merdle was slinking about the hearthrug, waiting to welcome Mrs
Sparkler. His hand seemed to retreat up his sleeve as he advanced
to do so, and he gave her such a superfluity of coat-cuff that it
was like being received by the popular conception of Guy Fawkes.
When he put his lips to hers, besides, he took himself into custody
by the wrists, and backed himself among the ottomans and chairs and
tables as if he were his own Police officer, saying to himself,
'Now, none of that! Come! I've got you, you know, and you go
quietly along with me!'

Mrs Sparkler, installed in the rooms of state--the innermost
sanctuary of down, silk, chintz, and fine linen--felt that so far
her triumph was good, and her way made, step by step. On the day
before her marriage, she had bestowed on Mrs Merdle's maid with an
air of gracious indifference, in Mrs Merdle's presence, a trifling
little keepsake (bracelet, bonnet, and two dresses, all new) about
four times as valuable as the present formerly made by Mrs Merdle
to her. She was now established in Mrs Merdle's own rooms, to
which some extra touches had been given to render them more worthy
of her occupation. In her mind's eye, as she lounged there,
surrounded by every luxurious accessory that wealth could obtain or
invention devise, she saw the fair bosom that beat in unison with
the exultation of her thoughts, competing with the bosom that had
been famous so long, outshining it, and deposing it. Happy? Fanny
must have been happy. No more wishing one's self dead now.

The Courier had not approved of Mr Dorrit's staying in the house of
a friend, and had preferred to take him to an hotel in Brook
Street, Grosvenor Square. Mr Merdle ordered his carriage to be
ready early in the morning that