Little Dorrit - Page 226/462

There was no shadow of Mr Merdle's complaint on the bosom now displaying

precious stones in rivalry with many similar superb jewel-stands; there

was no shadow of Mr Merdle's complaint on young Sparkler hovering about

the rooms, monomaniacally seeking any sufficiently ineligible young lady

with no nonsense about her; there was no shadow of Mr Merdle's complaint

on the Barnacles and Stiltstalkings, of whom whole colonies were

present; or on any of the company. Even on himself, its shadow was faint

enough as he moved about among the throng, receiving homage.

Mr Merdle's complaint. Society and he had so much to do with one another

in all things else, that it is hard to imagine his complaint, if he

had one, being solely his own affair. Had he that deep-seated recondite

complaint, and did any doctor find it out? Patience, in the meantime,

the shadow of the Marshalsea wall was a real darkening influence, and

could be seen on the Dorrit Family at any stage of the sun's course.