第102章

I’dmarryyoungSparklerfirst。’

’O，youwouldnevermarryhim，Fanny，underanycircumstances。’

’Uponmyword，mydear，’rejoinedthatyoungladywithexceedingindifference，’Iwouldn’tpositivelyanswerevenforthat。There’snoknowingwhatmighthappen。EspeciallyasIshouldhavemanyopportunities，afterwards，oftreatingthatwoman，hismother，inherownstyle。WhichImostdecidedlyshouldnotbeslowtoavailmyselfof，Amy。’

Nomorepassedbetweenthesistersthen；butwhathadpassedgavethetwosubjectsofMrsGeneralandMrSparklergreatprominenceinLittleDorrit’smind，andthenceforthshethoughtverymuchofboth。

MrsGeneral，havinglongagoformedherownsurfacetosuchperfectionthatithidwhateverwasbelowit(ifanything)，noobservationwastobemadeinthatquarter。MrDorritwasundeniablyverypolitetoherandhadahighopinionofher；butFanny，impetuousatmosttimes，mighteasilybewrongforallthat。

Whereas，theSparklerquestionwasonthedifferentfootingthatanyonecouldseewhatwasgoingonthere，andLittleDorritsawitandponderedonitwithmanydoubtsandwonderings。

ThedevotionofMrSparklerwasonlytobeequalledbythecapriceandcrueltyofhisenslaver。Sometimesshewouldpreferhimtosuchdistinctionofnotice，thathewouldchucklealoudwithjoy；

nextday，ornexthour，shewouldoverlookhimsocompletely，anddrophimintosuchanabyssofobscurity，thathewouldgroanunderaweakpretenceofcoughing。TheconstancyofhisattendancenevertouchedFanny：thoughhewassoinseparablefromEdward，that，whenthatgentlemanwishedforachangeofsociety，hewasundertheirksomenecessityofglidingoutlikeaconspiratorindisguisedboatsandbysecretdoorsandbackways；thoughhewassosolicitoustoknowhowMrDorritwas，thathecalledeveryotherdaytoinquire，asifMrDorritwerethepreyofanintermittentfever；thoughhewassoconstantlybeingpaddledupanddownbeforetheprincipalwindows，thathemighthavebeensupposedtohavemadeawagerforalargestaketobepaddledathousandmilesinathousandhours；thoughwheneverthegondolaofhismistressleftthegate，thegondolaofMrSparklershotoutfromsomewateryambushandgavechase，asifshewereafairsmugglerandheacustom-houseofficer。Itwasprobablyowingtothisfortificationofthenaturalstrengthofhisconstitutionwithsomuchexposuretotheair，andthesaltsea，thatMrSparklerdidnotpineoutwardly；but，whateverthecause，hewassofarfromhavinganyprospectofmovinghismistressbyalanguishingstateofhealth，thathegrewbluffereveryday，andthatpeculiarityinhisappearanceofseemingratheraswelledboythanayoungman，becamedevelopedtoanextraordinarydegreeofruddypuffiness。

Blandoiscallingtopayhisrespects，MrDorritreceivedhimwithaffabilityasthefriendofMrGowan，andmentionedtohimhisideaofcommissioningMrGowantotransmithimtoposterity。Blandoishighlyextollingit，itoccurredtoMrDorritthatitmightbeagreeabletoBlandoistocommunicatetohisfriendthegreatopportunityreservedforhim。Blandoisacceptedthecommissionwithhisownfreeeleganceofmanner，andsworehewoulddischargeitbeforehewasanhourolder。OnhisimpartingthenewstoGowan，thatMastergaveMrDorrittotheDevilwithgreatliberalitysomerounddozenoftimes(forheresentedpatronagealmostasmuchasheresentedthewantofit)，andwasinclinedtoquarrelwithhisfriendforbringinghimthemessage。

’Itmaybeadefectinmymentalvision，Blandois，’saidhe，’butmayIdieifIseewhatyouhavetodowiththis。’

’Deathofmylife，’repliedBlandois，’norIneither，exceptthatIthoughtIwasservingmyfriend。’

’Byputtinganupstart’shireinhispocket？’saidGowan，frowning。

’Doyoumeanthat？Tellyourotherfriendtogethisheadpaintedforthesignofsomepublic-house，andtogetitdonebyasign-

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