第50章

’MissDorrit，’saidMrsMerdle，afterfrostilylookingatherthroughherglass，’preciselywhatIwasonthepointoftellingyoursister，inpursuanceofyourrequest。Muchobligedtoyouforrecallingitsoaccuratelyandanticipatingme。Iimmediately，’

addressingLittleDorrit，’(forIamthecreatureofimpulse)，tookabraceletfrommyarm，andbeggedyoursistertoletmeclaspitonhers，intokenofthedelightIhadinourbeingabletoapproachthesubjectsofaronacommonfooting。’(Thiswasperfectlytrue，theladyhavingboughtacheapandshowyarticleonherwaytotheinterview，withageneraleyetobribery。)

’AndItoldyou，MrsMerdle，’saidFanny，’thatwemightbeunfortunate，butwearenotcommon。’

’Ithink，theverywords，MissDorrit，’assentedMrsMerdle。

’AndItoldyou，MrsMerdle，’saidFanny，’thatifyouspoketomeofthesuperiorityofyourson’sstandinginSociety，itwasbarelypossiblethatyouratherdeceivedyourselfinyoursuppositionsaboutmyorigin；andthatmyfather’sstanding，evenintheSocietyinwhichhenowmoved(whatthatwas，wasbestknowntomyself)，waseminentlysuperior，andwasacknowledgedbyeveryone。’

’Quiteaccurate，’rejoinedMrsMerdle。’Amostadmirablememory。’

’Thankyou，ma’am。Perhapsyouwillbesokindastotellmysistertherest。’

’Thereisverylittletotell，’saidMrsMerdle，reviewingthebreadthofbosomwhichseemedessentialtoherhavingroomenoughtobeunfeelingin，’butitistoyoursister’scredit。Ipointedouttoyoursistertheplainstateofthecase；theimpossibilityoftheSocietyinwhichwemovedrecognisingtheSocietyinwhichshemoved——thoughcharming，Ihavenodoubt；theimmensedisadvantageatwhichshewouldconsequentlyplacethefamilyshehadsohighanopinionof，uponwhichweshouldfindourselvescompelledtolookdownwithcontempt，andfromwhich(sociallyspeaking)weshouldfeelobligedtorecoilwithabhorrence。Inshort，Imadeanappealtothatlaudableprideinyoursister。’

’Letmysisterknow，ifyouplease，MrsMerdle，’Fannypouted，withatossofhergauzybonnet，’thatIhadalreadyhadthehonouroftellingyoursonthatIwishedtohavenothingwhatevertosaytohim。’

’Well，MissDorrit，’assentedMrsMerdle，’perhapsImighthavementionedthatbefore。IfIdidnotthinkofit，perhapsitwasbecausemymindrevertedtotheapprehensionsIhadatthetimethathemightpersevereandyoumighthavesomethingtosaytohim。

Ialsomentionedtoyoursister——Iagainaddressthenon-

professionalMissDorrit——thatmysonwouldhavenothingintheeventofsuchamarriage，andwouldbeanabsolutebeggar。(I

mentionthatmerelyasafactwhichispartofthenarrative，andnotassupposingittohaveinfluencedyoursister，exceptintheprudentandlegitimatewayinwhich，constitutedasourartificialsystemis，wemustallbeinfluencedbysuchconsiderations。)

Finally，aftersomehighwordsandhighspiritonthepartofyoursister，wecametothecompleteunderstandingthattherewasnodanger；andyoursisterwassoobligingastoallowmetopresentherwithamarkortwoofmyappreciationatmydressmaker’s。’

LittleDorritlookedsorry，andglancedatFannywithatroubledface。

’Also，’saidMrsMerdle，’astopromisetogivemethepresentpleasureofaclosinginterview，andofpartingwithheronthebestofterms。Onwhichoccasion，’adde