it refined more and more into a marked respect； very rarely shown by age
to youth； and still more rarely susceptible； one would have said； of the
fitness with which he invested it。 On those occasions when Miss Fanny
did declare once for all； he would take the next opportunity of baring
his grey head before his younger niece； and of helping her to alight；
or handing her to the carriage； or showing her any other attention； with
the profoundest deference。 Yet it never appeared misplaced or forced；
being always heartily simple； spontaneous； and genuine。 Neither would he
ever consent； even at his brother's request； to be helped to any place
before her； or to take precedence of her in anything。 So jealous was he
of her being respected； that； on this very journey down from the Great
Saint Bernard； he took sudden and violent umbrage at the footman's being
remiss to hold her stirrup； though standing near when she dismounted；
and unspeakably astonished the whole retinue by charging at him on a
hard…headed mule； riding him into a corner； and threatening to trample
him to death。
They were a goodly pany； and the Innkeepers all but worshipped them。
Wherever they went； their importance preceded them in the person of the
courier riding before； to see that the rooms of state were ready。 He was
the herald of the family procession。 The great travelling…carriage came
next： containing； inside； Mr Dorrit； Miss Dorrit； Miss Amy Dorrit；
and Mrs General； outside； some of the retainers； and （in fine weather）
Ed the box was reserved。 Then came
the chariot containing Frederick Dorrit； Esquire； and an empty place
occupied by Edward Dorrit； Esquire； in wet weather。 Then came the
fourgon with the rest of the retainers； the heavy baggage； and as much
as it could carry of the mud and dust which the other vehicles left
behind。
These equipages adorned the yard of the hotel at Martigny； on the return
of the family from their mountain excursion。 Other vehicles were there；
much pany being on the road； from the patched Italian Vettura……like
the body of a swing from an English fair put upon a wooden tray on
wheels； and having another wooden tray without wheels put atop of it……to
the trim English carriage。 But there was another adornment of the
hotel which Mr Dorrit had not bargained for。 Two strange travellers
embellished one of his rooms。
The Innkeeper； hat in hand in the yard； swore to the courier that he was
blighted； that he was desolated； that he was profoundly afflicted； that
he was the most miserable and unfortunate of beasts； that he had the
head of a wooden pig。 He ought never to have made the concession； he
said； but the very genteel lady had so passionately prayed him for the
acmodation of that room to dine in； only for a little half…hour； that
he had been vanquished。 The little half…hour was expired； the lady and
gentleman were taking their little dessert and half…cup of coffee； the
note was paid； the horses were ordered； they would depart immediately；
but； owing to an unhappy destiny and the curse of Heaven； they were not
yet gone。
Nothing could exceed Mr Dorrit's indignation； as he turned at the foot
of the staircase on hearing these apologies。 He felt that the family
dignity was struck at by an assassin's hand。 He had a sense of his
dignity； which was of the most exquisite nature。 He could detect a
design upon it when nobody else had any perception of the fact。 His
life was made an agony by the number of fine scalpels that he felt to be
incessantly engaged in dissecting his dignity。
'Is it possible； sir；' said Mr Dorrit； reddening excessively； 'that you
have……ha……had the audacity to place one of my rooms at the disposition
of any other person？'
Thousands of pardons！ It was the host's profound misfortune to have been
overe by that too genteel lady。 He besought Monseigneur not to enrage
himself。 He threw himself on Monseigneur for clemency。 If Monseigneur
would have the distinguished goodness to occupy the other salon
especially reserved for him； for but five minutes； all would go well。
'No； sir；' said Mr Dorrit。 'I will not occupy any salon。 I will leave
your house without eating or drinking； or setting foot in it。
How do you dare to act like this？ Who am I that you……ha……separate me
from other gentlemen？'
Alas！ The host called all the universe to witness that Monseigneur was
the most amiable of the whole body of nobility； the most important；
the most estimable； the most honoured。 If he separated Monseigneur from
others； it was only because he was more distinguished； more cherished；
more generous； more renowned。
'Don't tell me so； sir；' returned Mr Dorrit； in a mighty heat。 'You have
affronted me。 You have heaped insults upon me。 How dare you？ Explain
yourself。'
Ah； just Heaven； then； how could the host explain himself when he had
nothing more to explain； when he had only to apologise； and confide
himself to the so well…known magnanimity of Monseigneur！
'I tell you； sir；' said Mr Dorrit； panting with anger； 'that you
separate me……ha……from other gentlemen； that you make distinctions
between me and other gentlemen of fortune and station。 I demand of you；
why？ I wish to know on……ha……what authority； on whose authority。 Reply
sir。 Explain。 Answer why。'
Permit the landlord humbly to submit to Monsieur the Courier then； that
Monseigneur； ordinarily so gracious； enraged himself without cause。
There was no why。 Monsieur the Courier would represent to Monseigneur；
that he deceived himself in suspecting that there was any why； but the
why his devoted servant had already had the honour to present to him。
The very genteel lady……
'Silence！' cried Mr Dorrit。 'Hold your tongue！ I will hear no more
of the very genteel lady； I will hear no more of you。 Look at this
family……my family……a family more genteel than any lady。 You have treated
this family with disrespect； you have been insolent to this family。 I'll
ruin you。 Ha……send for the horses； pack the carriages； I'll not set foot
in this man's house again！'
No one had interfered in the dispute； which was beyond the French
colloquial powers of Edward Dorrit； Esquire； and scarcely within the
province of the ladies。 Miss Fanny； however； now supported her father
with great bitterness； declaring； in her native tongue； that it was
quite clear there was something special in this man's impertinence；
and that she considered it important that he should be； by some means；
forced to give up his authority for making distinctions between that
family and other wealthy families。 What the reasons of his presumption
could be； she was at a loss to imagine； but reasons he must have； and
they ought to be torn from him。
All the guides； mule…drivers； and idlers in the yard； had made
themselves parties to the angry conference； and were much impressed by
the courier's now bestirring himself to get the carriages out。 With the
aid of some dozen people to each wheel； this was done at a great cost of
noise； and then the loading was proceeded with； pending the arrival of
the horses from the post…house。
But the very genteel lady's English chariot being already horsed and at
the inn…door； the landlord had slipped