’Ihearyouareacquainted，MrSparkler，’saidhishostatdinner，’with——ha——MrGowan。MrHenryGowan？’
　　’Perfectly，sir，’returnedMrSparkler。’Hismotherandmymotherarecroniesinfact。’
　　’IfIhadthoughtofit，Amy，’saidMrDorrit，withapatronageasmagnificentasthatofLordDecimushimself，’youshouldhavedespatchedanotetothem，askingthemtodineto-day。Someofourpeoplecouldhave——ha——fetchedthem，andtakenthemhome。Wecouldhavespareda——hum——gondolaforthatpurpose。Iamsorrytohaveforgottenthis。Prayremindmeofthemto-morrow。’
　　LittleDorritwasnotwithoutdoubtshowMrHenryGowanmighttaketheirpatronage；butshepromisednottofailinthereminder。
　　’Pray，doesMrHenryGowanpaint——ha——Portraits？’inquiredMrDorrit。
　　MrSparkleropinedthathepaintedanything，ifhecouldgetthejob。
　　’Hehasnoparticularwalk？’saidMrDorrit。
　　MrSparkler，stimulatedbyLovetobrilliancy，repliedthatforaparticularwalkamanoughttohaveaparticularpairofshoes；as，forexample，shooting，shooting-shoes；cricket，cricket-shoes。
　　Whereas，hebelievedthatHenryGowanhadnoparticularpairofshoes。
　　’Nospeciality？’saidMrDorrit。
　　ThisbeingaverylongwordforMrSparkler，andhismindbeingexhaustedbyhislateeffort，hereplied，’No，thankyou。Iseldomtakeit。’
　　’Well!’saidMrDorrit。’Itwouldbeveryagreeabletometopresentagentlemansoconnected，withsome——ha——Testimonialofmydesiretofurtherhisinterests，anddevelopthe——hum——germsofhisgenius。IthinkImustengageMrGowantopaintmypicture。Iftheresultshouldbe——ha——mutuallysatisfactory，Imightafterwardsengagehimtotryhishanduponmyfamily。’
　　TheexquisitelyboldandoriginalthoughtpresenteditselftoMrSparkler，thattherewasanopeninghereforsayingthereweresomeofthefamilyemphasising’some’inamarkedmannertowhomnopaintercouldrenderjustice。But，forwantofaformofwordsinwhichtoexpresstheidea，itreturnedtotheskies。
　　ThiswasthemoretoberegrettedasMissFannygreatlyapplaudedthenotionoftheportrait，andurgedherpapatoactuponit。Shesurmised，shesaid，thatMrGowanhadlostbetterandhigheropportunitiesbymarryinghisprettywife；andLoveinacottage，paintingpicturesfordinner，wassodelightfullyinteresting，thatshebeggedherpapatogivehimthecommissionwhetherhecouldpaintalikenessornot：thoughindeedbothsheandAmyknewhecould，fromhavingseenaspeakinglikenessonhiseaselthatday，andhavinghadtheopportunityofcomparingitwiththeoriginal。
　　TheseremarksmadeMrSparklerasperhapstheywereintendedtodonearlydistracted；forwhileontheonehandtheyexpressedMissFanny’ssusceptibilityofthetenderpassion，sheherselfshowedsuchaninnocentunconsciousnessofhisadmirationthathiseyesgoggledinhisheadwithjealousyofanunknownrival。
　　Descendingintotheseaagainafterdinner，andascendingoutofitattheOperastaircase，precededbyoneoftheirgondoliers，likeanattendantMerman，withagreatlinenlantern，theyenteredtheirbox，andMrSparklerenteredonaneveningofagony。Thetheatrebeingdark，andtheboxlight，severalvisitorsloungedinduringtherepresentation；inwhomFannywassointerested，andinconversationwithwhomshefellintosuchcharmingattitudes，asshehadlittleconfidenceswiththem，andlittledisputesconcerningtheidentityofpeopleindistantboxes，thatthewretchedSparklerhatedallmankind。Buthehadtwoconsolationsatthecloseoftheperformance。Shegavehimherfantoholdwhilesheadjustedhercloak，anditwashisblessedprivilegetogiveherhisarmdown-stairsagain。Thesecrumbsofencouragement，MrSparklerthought，wouldjustkeephimgoing；anditisnotimpossiblethatMissDorritthoughtsotoo。
　　TheMermanwithhislightwasreadyatthebox-door，andotherMermenwithotherlightswerereadyatmanyofthedoors。TheDorritMermanheldhislanternlow，toshowthesteps，andMrSparklerputonanotherheavysetoffettersoverhisformerset，ashewatchedherradiantfeettwinklingdownthestairsbesidehim。Amongtheloiterershere，wasBlandoisofParis。Hespoke，andmovedforwardbesideFanny。
　　LittleDorritwasinfrontwithherbrotherandMrsGeneralMrDorrithadremainedathome，butonthebrinkofthequaytheyallcametogether。ShestartedagaintofindBlandoisclosetoher，handingFannyintotheboat。
　　’Gowanhashadaloss，’hesaid，’sincehewasmadehappyto-daybyavisitfromfairladies。’
　　’Aloss？’repeatedFanny，relinquishedbythebereavedSparkler，andtakingherseat。
　　’Aloss，’saidBlandois。’HisdogLion。’
　　LittleDorrit’shandwasinhis，ashespoke。
　　’Heisdead，’saidBlandois。
　　’Dead？’echoedLittleDorrit。’Thatnobledog？’
　　’Faith，dearladies!’saidBlandois，smilingandshrugginghisshoulders，’somebodyhaspoisonedthatnobledog。HeisasdeadastheDoges!’
　　Mostly，PrunesandPrismMrsGeneral，alwaysonhercoach-boxkeepingtheproprietieswelltogether，tookpainstoformasurfaceonherverydearyoungfriend，andMrsGeneral’sverydearyoungfriendtriedhardtoreceiveit。Hardasshehadtriedinherlaboriouslifetoattainmanyends，shehadnevertriedharderthanshedidnow，tobevarnishedbyMrsGeneral。Itmadeheranxiousandillateasetobeoperateduponbythatsmoothinghand，itistrue；butshesubmittedherselftothefamilywantinitsgreatnessasshehadsubmittedherselftothefamilywantinitslittleness，andyieldedtoherowninclinationsinthisthingnomorethanshehadyieldedtoherhungeritself，inthedayswhenshehadsavedherdinnerthatherfathermighthavehissupper。
　　OnecomfortthatshehadundertheOrdealbyGeneralwasmoresustainingtoher，andmadehermoregratefulthantoalessdevotedandaffectionatespirit，nothabituatedtoherstrugglesandsacrifices，mightappearquitereasonable；and，indeed，itmayoftenbeobservedinlife，thatspiritslikeLittleDorritdonotappeartoreasonhalfascarefullyasthefolkswhogetthebetterofthem。ThecontinuedkindnessofhersisterwasthiscomforttoLittleDorrit。Itwasnothingtoherthatthekindnesstooktheformoftolerantpatronage；shewasusedtothat。Itwasnothingtoherthatitkeptherinatributaryposition，andshowedherinattendanceontheflamingcarinwhichMissFannysatonanelevatedseat，exactinghomage；shesoughtnobetterplace。AlwaysadmiringFanny’sbeauty，andgrace，andreadiness，andnotnowaskingherselfhowmuchofherdispositiontobestronglyattachedtoFannywasduetoherownheart，andhowmuchtoFanny’s，shegaveherallthesisterlyfondnesshergreatheartcontained。
　　ThewholesaleamountofPrunesandPrismwhichMrsGeneralinfusedintothefamilylife，combinedwiththeperpetualplungesmadebyFannyintosociety，leftbutaverysmallresidueofanynaturaldepositatthebottomofthemixture。ThisrenderedconfidenceswithFannydoublyprecioustoLittleDorrit，andheightenedtherelieftheyaffordedher。
　　’Amy，’saidFannytoheronenightwhentheywerealone，afteradaysotiringthatLittleDorritwasquitewornout，thoughFannywouldhavetakenanotherdipintosocietywiththegreatestpleasureinlife，’Iamgoingtoputsomethingintoyourlittlehead。Youwon’tguesswhatitis，Isuspect。’
　　’Idon’tthinkthat’slikely，dear，’saidLittleDorrit。
　　’Come，I’llgiveyouaclue，child，’saidFanny。’MrsGeneral。’
　　PrunesandPrism，inathousandcombinations，havingbeenwearilyintheascendantallday——everythinghavingbeensurfaceandvarnishandshowwithoutsubstance——LittleDorritlookedasifshehadhopedthatMrsGeneralwassafelytuckedupinbedforsomehours。
　　’Now，canyouguess，Amy？’saidFanny。
　　’No，dear。UnlessIhavedoneanything，’saidLittleDorrit，ratheralarmed，andmeaninganythingcalculatedtocrackvarnishandrufflesurface。
　　Fannywassoverymuchamusedbythemisgiving，thatshetookupherfavouritefanbeingthenseatedatherdressing-tablewithherarmouryofcruelinstrumentsabouther，mostofthemreekingfromtheheartofSparkler，andtappedhersisterfrequentlyonthenosewithit，laughingallthetime。
　　’Oh，ourAmy，ourAmy!’saidFanny。’WhatatimidlittlegooseourAmyis!Butthisisnothingtolaughat。Onthecontrary，Iamverycross，mydear。’
　　’Asitisnotwithme，Fanny，Idon’tmind，’returnedhersister，smiling。
　　’Ah!ButIdomind，’saidFanny，’andsowillyou，Pet，whenI
　　enlightenyou。Amy，hasitneverstruckyouthatsomebodyismonstrouslypolitetoMrsGeneral？’
　　’EverybodyispolitetoMrsGeneral，’saidLittleDorrit。
　　’Because——’
　　’Becauseshefreezesthemintoit？’interruptedFanny。’Idon’tmeanthat；quitedifferentfromthat。Come!Hasitneverstruckyou，Amy，thatPaismonstrouslypolitetoMrsGeneral。’
　　Amy，murmuring’No，’lookedquiteconfounded。
　　’No；Idaresaynot。Butheis，’saidFanny。’Heis，Amy。Andremembermywords。MrsGeneralhasdesignsonPa!’
　　’DearFanny，doyouthinkitpossiblethatMrsGeneralhasdesignsonanyone？’
　　’DoIthinkitpossible？’retortedFanny。’Mylove，Iknowit。I
　　tellyoushehasdesignsonPa。Andmorethanthat，ItellyouPaconsidershersuchawonder，suchaparagonofaccomplishment，andsuchanacquisitiontoourfamily，thatheisreadytogethimselfintoastateofperfectinfatuationwithheratanymoment。Andthatopensaprettypictureofthings，Ihope？ThinkofmewithMrsGeneralforaMama!’
　　LittleDorritdidnotreply，’ThinkofmewithMrsGeneralforaMama；’butshelookedanxious，andseriouslyinquiredwhathadledFannytotheseconclusions。
　　’Lord，mydarling，’saidFanny，tartly。’YoumightaswellaskmehowIknowwhenamanisstruckwithmyself!But，ofcourseIdoknow。Ithappensprettyoften：butIalwaysknowit。Iknowthisinmuchthesameway，Isuppose。Atallevents，Iknowit。’
　　’YouneverheardPapasayanything？’
　　’Sayanything？’repeatedFanny。’Mydearest，darlingchild，whatnecessityhashehad，yetawhile，tosayanything？’
　　’AndyouhaveneverheardMrsGeneralsayanything？’
　　’Mygoodnessme，Amy，’returnedFanny，’isshethesortofwomantosayanything？Isn’titperfectlyplainandclearthatshehasnothingtodoatpresentbuttoholdherselfupright，keepheraggravatinggloveson，andgosweepingabout？Sayanything!Ifshehadtheaceoftrumpsinherhandatwhist，shewouldn’tsayanything，child。Itwouldcomeoutwhensheplayedit。’
　　’Atleast，youmaybemistaken，Fanny。Now，mayyounot？’
　　’Oyes，IMAYbe，’saidFanny，’butIamnot。However，Iamgladyoucancontemplatesuchanescape，mydear，andIamgladthatyoucantakethisforthepresentwithsufficientcoolnesstothinkofsuchachance。Itmakesmehopethatyoumaybeabletobeartheconnection。Ishouldnotbeabletobearit，andIshouldnottry。