第92章

’Oh!angry!’returnedthatyoungladywithaflounce。’Ihavenopatience’(whichindeedwasthetruth)。

’Pray，Fanny，’saidMrDorrit，raisinghiseyebrows，’whatdoyoumean？Explainyourself。’

’Oh!Nevermind，Pa，’repliedMissFanny，’it’snogreatmatter。

Amywillunderstandme。Sheknew，orknewof，thisMrsGowanbeforeyesterday，andshemayaswelladmitthatshedid。’

’Mychild，’saidMrDorrit，turningtohisyoungerdaughter，’hasyoursister——any——ha——authorityforthiscuriousstatement？’

’Howevermeekweare，’MissFannystruckinbeforeshecouldanswer，’wedon’tgocreepingintopeople’sroomsonthetopsofcoldmountains，andsittingperishinginthefrostwithpeople，unlessweknowsomethingaboutthembeforehand。It’snotveryhardtodivinewhosefriendMrsGowanis。’

’Whosefriend？’inquiredherfather。

’Pa，Iamsorrytosay，’returnedMissFanny，whohadbythistimesucceededingoadingherselfintoastateofmuchill-usageandgrievance，whichshewasoftenatgreatpainstodo：’thatI

believehertobeafriendofthatveryobjectionableandunpleasantperson，who，withatotalabsenceofalldelicacy，whichourexperiencemighthaveledustoexpectfromhim，insultedusandoutragedourfeelingsinsopublicandwilfulamanneronanoccasiontowhichitisunderstoodamongusthatwewillnotmorepointedlyallude。’

’Amy，mychild，’saidMrDorrit，temperingablandseveritywithadignifiedaffection，’isthisthecase？’

LittleDorritmildlyanswered，yesitwas。

’Yesitis!’criedMissFanny。’Ofcourse!Isaidso!Andnow，Pa，Idodeclareonceforall’——thisyoungladywasinthehabitofdeclaringthesamethingonceforalleverydayofherlife，andevenseveraltimesinaday——’thatthisisshameful!Idodeclareonceforallthatitoughttobeputastopto。Isitnotenoughthatwehavegonethroughwhatisonlyknowntoourselves，butarewetohaveitthrowninourfaces，perseveringlyandsystematically，bytheverypersonwhoshouldspareourfeelingsmost？Arewetobeexposedtothisunnaturalconducteverymomentofourlives？Arewenevertobepermittedtoforget？Isayagain，itisabsolutelyinfamous!’

’Well，Amy，’observedherbrother，shakinghishead，’youknowI

standbyyouwheneverIcan，andonmostoccasions。ButImustsay，that，uponmysoul，Idoconsideritratheranunaccountablemodeofshowingyoursisterlyaffection，thatyoushouldbackupamanwhotreatedmeinthemostungentlemanlywayinwhichonemancantreatanother。Andwho，’headdedconvincingly，mustbealow-

mindedthief，youknow，orhenevercouldhaveconductedhimselfashedid。’

’Andsee，’saidMissFanny，’seewhatisinvolvedinthis!Canweeverhopetoberespectedbyourservants？Never。Hereareourtwowomen，andPa’svalet，andafootman，andacourier，andallsortsofdependents，andyetinthemidstofthese，wearetohaveoneofourselvesrushingaboutwithtumblersofcoldwater，likeamenial!Why，apoliceman，’saidMissFanny，’ifabeggarhadafitinthestreet，couldbutgoplungingaboutwithtumblers，asthisveryAmydidinthisveryroombeforeourveryeyeslastnight!’

’Idon’tsomuchmindthat，onceinaway，’remarkedMrEdward；

’butyourClennam，ashethinkspropertocallhimself，isanotherthing。’

’Heispartofthesamething，’returnedMissFanny，’andofapiecewithalltherest。Heobtrudedhimselfuponusinthefirstinstance。Weneverwantedhim。Ialwaysshowedhim，forone，thatIcouldhavedispensedwithhiscompanywiththegreatestpleasure。

Hethencommitsthatgrossoutrageuponourfeelings，whichhenevercouldorwouldhavecommittedbutforthedelighthetookinexposingus；andthenwearetobedemeanedfortheserviceofhisfriends!Why，Idon’twonderatthisMrGowan’sconducttowardsyou。Whatelsewastobeexpectedwhenhewasenjoyingourpastmisfortunes——gloatingoverthematthemoment!’

’Father——Edward——noindeed!’pleadedLittleDorrit。’NeitherMrnorMrsGowanhadeverheardourname。Theywere，andtheyare，quiteignorantofourhistory。’

’Somuchtheworse，’retortedFanny，determinednottoadmitanythinginextenuation，’forthenyouhavenoexcuse。Iftheyhadknownaboutus，youmighthavefeltyourselfcalledupontoconcil