’Beasrichasyoucan，sir，’Pancksadjuredhimwithapowerfulconcentrationofallhisenergiesontheadvice。’Beasrichasyouhonestlycan。It’syourduty。Notforyoursake，butforthesakeofothers。Taketimebytheforelock。PoorMrDoycewhoreallyisgrowingolddependsuponyou。Yourrelativedependsuponyou。Youdon’tknowwhatdependsuponyou。’
　　’Well，well，well!’returnedArthur。’Enoughforto-night。’
　　’Onewordmore，MrClennam，’retortedPancks，’andthenenoughforto-night。Whyshouldyouleaveallthegainstothegluttons，knaves，andimpostors？Whyshouldyouleaveallthegainsthataretobegottomyproprietorandthelikeofhim？Yetyou’realwaysdoingit。WhenIsayyou，Imeansuchmenasyou。Youknowyouare。Why，Iseeiteverydayofmylife。Iseenothingelse。
　　It’smybusinesstoseeit。ThereforeIsay，’urgedPancks，’Goinandwin!’
　　’ButwhatofGoinandlose？’saidArthur。
　　’Can’tbedone，sir，’returnedPancks。’Ihavelookedintoit。
　　Nameupeverywhere——immenseresources——enormouscapital——greatposition——highconnection——governmentinfluence。Can’tbedone!’
　　Gradually，afterthisclosingexposition，MrPanckssubsided；
　　allowedhishairtodroopasmuchasiteverwoulddroopontheutmostpersuasion；reclaimedthepipefromthefire-irons，filleditanew，andsmokeditout。Theysaidlittlemore；butwerecompanytooneanotherinsilentlypursuingthesamesubjects，anddidnotpartuntilmidnight。Ontakinghisleave，MrPancks，whenhehadshakenhandswithClennam，workedcompletelyroundhimbeforehesteamedoutatthedoor。This，ArthurreceivedasanassurancethathemightimplicitlyrelyonPancks，ifheevershouldcometoneedassistance；eitherinanyofthemattersofwhichtheyhadspokenthatnight，oranyothersubjectthatcouldinanywayaffecthimself。
　　Atintervalsallnextday，andevenwhilehisattentionwasfixedonotherthings，hethoughtofMrPancks’sinvestmentofhisthousandpounds，andofhishaving’lookedintoit。’HethoughtofMrPancks’sbeingsosanguineinthismatter，andofhisnotbeingusuallyofasanguinecharacter。HethoughtofthegreatNationalDepartment，andofthedelightitwouldbetohimtoseeDoycebetteroff。HethoughtofthedarklythreateningplacethatwentbythenameofHomeinhisremembrance，andofthegatheringshadowswhichmadeityetmoredarklythreateningthanofold。Heobservedanewthatwhereverhewent，hesaw，orheard，ortouched，thecelebratednameofMerdle；hefounditdifficulteventoremainathisdeskacoupleofhours，withouthavingitpresentedtooneofhisbodilysensesthroughsomeagencyorother。Hebegantothinkitwascurioustoothatitshouldbeeverywhere，andthatnobodybutheshouldseemtohaveanymistrustofit。Thoughindeedhebegantoremember，whenhegottothis，evenhedidnotmistrustit；hehadonlyhappenedtokeepalooffromit。
　　Suchsymptoms，whenadiseaseofthekindisrife，areusuallythesignsofsickening。
　　TakingAdviceWhenitbecameknowntotheBritonsontheshoreoftheyellowTiberthattheirintelligentcompatriot，MrSparkler，wasmadeoneoftheLordsoftheirCircumlocutionOffice，theytookitasapieceofnewswithwhichtheyhadnonearerconcernthanwithanyotherpieceofnews——anyotherAccidentorOffence——intheEnglishpapers。Somelaughed；somesaid，bywayofcompleteexcuse，thatthepostwasvirtuallyasinecure，andanyfoolwhocouldspellhisnamewasgoodenoughforit；some，andthesethemoresolemnpoliticaloracles，saidthatDecimusdidwiselytostrengthenhimself，andthatthesoleconstitutionalpurposeofallplaceswithinthegiftofDecimus，was，thatDecimusshouldstrengthenhimself。AfewbiliousBritonstherewerewhowouldnotsubscribetothisarticleoffaith；buttheirobjectionwaspurelytheoretical。Inapracticalpointofview，theylistlesslyabandonedthematter，asbeingthebusinessofsomeotherBritonsunknown，somewhere，ornowhere。Inlikemanner，athome，greatnumbersofBritonsmaintained，foraslongasfour-and-twentyconsecutivehours，thatthoseinvisibleandanonymousBritons’oughttotakeitup；’andthatiftheyquietlyacquiescedinit，theydeservedit。ButofwhatclasstheremissBritonswerecomposed，andwheretheunluckycreatureshidthemselves，andwhytheyhidthemselves，andhowitconstantlyhappenedthattheyneglectedtheirinterests，whensomanyotherBritonswerequiteatalosstoaccountfortheirnotlookingafterthoseinterests，wasnot，eitherupontheshoreoftheyellowTiberortheshoreoftheblackThames，madeapparenttomen。
　　MrsMerdlecirculatedthenews，asshereceivedcongratulationsonit，withacarelessgracethatdisplayedittoadvantage，asthesettingdisplaysthejewel。Yes，shesaid，Edmundhadtakentheplace。MrMerdlewishedhimtotakeit，andhehadtakenit。ShehopedEdmundmightlikeit，butreallyshedidn’tknow。Itwouldkeephimintownagooddeal，andhepreferredthecountry。Still，itwasnotadisagreeableposition——anditwasaposition。TherewasnodenyingthatthethingwasacomplimenttoMrMerdle，andwasnotabadthingforEdmundifhelikedit。Itwasjustaswellthatheshouldhavesomethingtodo，anditwasjustaswellthatheshouldhavesomethingfordoingit。WhetheritwouldbemoreagreeabletoEdmundthanthearmy，remainedtobeseen。
　　ThustheBosom；accomplishedintheartofseemingtomakethingsofsmallaccount，andreallyenhancingthemintheprocess。WhileHenryGowan，whomDecimushadthrownaway，wentthroughthewholeroundofhisacquaintancebetweentheGateofthePeopleandthetownofAlbano，vowing，almostbutnotquitewithtearsinhiseyes，thatSparklerwasthesweetest-tempered，simplest-hearted，altogethermostlovablejackassthatevergrazedonthepubliccommon；andthatonlyonecircumstancecouldhavedelightedhimGowanmore，thanhisthebelovedjackass’sgettingthispost，andthatwouldhavebeenhisGowan’sgettingithimself。HesaiditwastheverythingforSparkler。Therewasnothingtodo，andhewoulddoitcharmingly；therewasahandsomesalarytodraw，andhewoulddrawitcharmingly；itwasadelightful，appropriate，capitalappointment；andhealmostforgavethedonorhisslightofhimself，inhisjoythatthedeardonkeyforwhomhehadsogreatanaffectionwassoadmirablystabled。Nordidhisbenevolencestophere。Hetookpains，onallsocialoccasions，todrawMrSparklerout，andmakehimconspicuousbeforethecompany；and，althoughtheconsiderateactionalwaysresultedinthatyounggentleman’smakingadrearyandforlornmentalspectacleofhimself，thefriendlyintentionwasnottobedoubted。
　　Unless，indeed，itchancedtobedoubtedbytheobjectofMrSparkler’saffections。MissFannywasnowinthedifficultsituationofbeinguniversallyknowninthatlight，andofnothavingdismissedMrSparkler，howevercapriciouslysheusedhim。
　　Hence，shewassufficientlyidentifiedwiththegentlemantofeelcompromisedbyhisbeingmorethanusuallyridiculous；andhence，beingbynomeansdeficientinquickness，shesometimescametohisrescueagainstGowan，anddidhimverygoodservice。But，whiledoingthis，shewasashamedofhim，undeterminedwhethertogetridofhimormoredecidedlyencouragehim，distractedwithapprehensionsthatshewaseverydaybecomingmoreandmoreimmeshedinheruncertainties，andtorturedbymisgivingsthatMrsMerdletriumphedinherdistress。Withthistumultinhermind，itisnosubjectforsurprisethatMissFannycamehomeonenightinastateofagitationfromaconcertandballatMrsMerdle’shouse，andonhersisteraffectionatelytryingtosootheher，pushedthatsisterawayfromthetoilette-tableatwhichshesatangrilytryingtocry，anddeclaredwithaheavingbosomthatshedetestedeverybody，andshewishedshewasdead。
　　’DearFanny，whatisthematter？Tellme。’
　　’Matter，youlittleMole，’saidFanny。’Ifyouwerenottheblindestoftheblind，youwouldhavenooccasiontoaskme。Theideaofdaringtopretendtoassertthatyouhaveeyesinyourhead，andyetaskmewhat’sthematter!’
　　’IsitMrSparkler，dear？’
　　’Mis-terSpark-ler!’repeatedFanny，withunboundedscorn，asifhewerethelastsubjectintheSolarsystemthatcouldpossiblybenearhermind。’No，MissBat，itisnot。’
　　Immediatelyafterwards，shebecameremorsefulforhavingcalledhersisternames；declaringwithsobsthatsheknewshemadeherselfhateful，butthateverybodydrovehertoit。
　　’Idon’tthinkyouarewellto-night，dearFanny。’
　　’Stuffandnonsense!’repliedtheyounglady，turningangryagain；
　　’Iamaswellasyouare。PerhapsImightsaybetter，andyetmakenoboastofit。’
　　PoorLittleDorrit，notseeingherwaytotheofferingofanysoothingwordsthatwouldescaperepudiation，deemeditbesttoremainquiet。Atfirst，Fannytookthisill，too；protestingtoherlooking-glass，thatofallthetryingsistersagirlcouldhave，shedidthinkthemosttryingsisterwasaflatsister。Thatsheknewshewasattimesawretchedtemper；thatsheknewshemadeherselfhateful；thatwhenshemadeherselfhateful，nothingwoulddoherhalfthegoodasbeingtoldso；butthat，beingafflictedwithaflatsister，sheneverWAStoldso，andtheconsequenceresultedthatshewasabsolutelytemptedandgoadedintomakingherselfdisagreeable。Besidessheangrilytoldherlooking-
　　glass，shedidn’twanttobeforgiven。Itwasnotarightexample，thatsheshouldbeconstantlystoopingtobeforgivenbyayoungersister。AndthiswastheArtofit——thatshewasalwaysbeingplacedinthepositionofbeingforgiven，whethershelikeditornot。Finallysheburstintoviolentweeping，and，whenhersistercameandsatcloseathersidetocomforther，said，’Amy，you’reanAngel!’
　　’But，Itellyouwhat，myPet，’saidFanny，whenhersister’sgentlenesshadcalmedher，’itnowcomestothis；thatthingscannotandshallnotgoonastheyareatpresentgoingon，andthattheremustbeanendofthis，onewayoranother。’
　　Astheannouncementwasvague，thoughveryperemptory，LittleDorritreturned，’Letustalkaboutit。’
　　’Quiteso，mydear，’assentedFanny，asshedriedhereyes。’Letustalkaboutit。Iamrationalagainnow，andyoushalladviseme。Willyouadviseme，mysweetchild？’
　　EvenAmysmiledatthisnotion，butshesaid，’Iwill，Fanny，aswellasIcan。’
　　’Thankyou，dearestAmy，’returnedFanny，kissingher。’Youaremyanchor。’
　　HavingembracedherAnchorwithgreataffection，Fannytookabottleofsweettoilettewaterfromthetable，andcalledtohermaidforafinehandkerchief。Shethendismissedthatattendantforthenight，andwentontobeadvised；dabbinghereyesandforeheadfromtimetotimetocoolthem。
　　’Mylove，’Fannybegan，’ourcharactersandpointsofviewaresufficientlydifferentkissmeagain，mydarling，tomakeitveryprobablethatIshallsurpriseyoubywhatIamgoingtosay。WhatIamgoingtosay，mydear，is，thatnotwithstandingourproperty，welabour，sociallyspeaking，underdisadvantages。Youdon’tquiteunderstandwhatImean，Amy？’
　　’IhavenodoubtIshall，’saidAmy，mildly，’afterafewwordsmore。’
　　’Well，mydear，whatImeanis，thatweare，afterall，newcomersintofashionablelife。’
　　’Iamsure，Fanny，’LittleDorritinterposedinherzealousadmiration，’nooneneedfindthatoutinyou。’
　　’Well，mydearchild，perhapsnot，’saidFanny，’thoughit’smostkindandmostaffectionateinyou，youpreciousgirl，tosayso。’
　　Hereshedabbedhersister’sforehead，andblewuponitalittle。
　　’Butyouare，’resumedFanny，’asiswellknown，thedearestlittlethingthateverwas!Toresume，mychild。Paisextremelygentlemanlyandextremelywellinformed，butheis，insometriflingrespects，alittledifferentfromothergentlemenofhisfortune：partlyonaccountofwhathehasgonethrough，poordear：
　　partly，Ifancy，onaccountofitsoftenrunninginhismindthatotherpeoplearethinkingaboutthat，whileheistalkingtothem。
　　Uncle，mylove，isaltogetherunpresentable。ThoughadearcreaturetowhomIamtenderlyattached，heis，sociallyspeaking，shocking。Edwardisfrightfullyexpensiveanddissipated。Idon’tmeanthatthereisanythingungenteelinthatitself——farfromit——
　　butIdomeanthathedoesn’tdoitwell，andthathedoesn’t，ifImaysoexpressmyself，getthemoney’s-worthinthesortofdissipatedreputationthatattachestohim。’