a-days。Themurderous-headedstatuesofthewickedEmperorsoftheSoldiery，whomsculptorshadnotbeenabletoflatteroutoftheirvillainoushideousness，mighthavecomeofftheirpedestalstorunawaywiththeBride。Thechokedoldfountain，whereerstthegladiatorswashed，mighthaveleapedintolifeagaintohonourtheceremony。TheTempleofVestamighthavesprungupanewfromitsruins，expresslytolenditscountenancetotheoccasion。Mighthavedone；butdidnot。Likesentientthings——evenlikethelordsandladiesofcreationsometimes——mighthavedonemuch，butdidnothing。Thecelebrationwentoffwithadmirablepomp；monksinblackrobes，whiterobes，andrussetrobesstoppedtolookafterthecarriages；wanderingpeasantsinfleecesofsheep，beggedandpipedunderthehouse-windows；theEnglishvolunteersdefiled；thedayworeontothehourofvespers；thefestivalworeaway；thethousandchurchesrangtheirbellswithoutanyreferencetoit；andStPeterdeniedthathehadanythingtodowithit。
ButbythattimetheBridewasneartheendofthefirstday’sjourneytowardsFlorence。ItwasthepeculiarityofthenuptialsthattheywereallBride。NobodynoticedtheBridegroom。NobodynoticedthefirstBridesmaid。FewcouldhaveseenLittleDorritwhoheldthatpostfortheglare，evensupposingmanytohavesoughther。So，theBridehadmountedintoherhandsomechariot，incidentallyaccompaniedbytheBridegroom；andafterrollingforafewminutessmoothlyoverafairpavement，hadbeguntojoltthroughaSloughofDespond，andthroughalong，longavenueofwrackandruin。Othernuptialcarriagesaresaidtohavegonethesameroad，beforeandsince。
IfLittleDorritfoundherselfleftalittlelonelyandalittlelowthatnight，nothingwouldhavedonesomuchagainstherfeelingofdepressionasthebeingabletositatworkbyherfather，asintheoldtime，andhelphimtohissupperandhisrest。Butthatwasnottobethoughtofnow，whentheysatinthestate-equipagewithMrsGeneralonthecoach-box。Andastosupper!IfMrDorrithadwantedsupper，therewasanItaliancookandtherewasaSwissconfectioner，whomusthaveputoncapsashighasthePope’sMitre，andhaveperformedthemysteriesofAlchemistsinacopper-
saucepanedlaboratorybelow，beforehecouldhavegotit。
Hewassententiousanddidacticthatnight。Ifhehadbeensimplyloving，hewouldhavedoneLittleDorritmoregood；butsheacceptedhimashewas——whenhadshenotacceptedhimashewas!——