第118章

’PoorEdward!’sighedLittleDorrit，withthewholefamilyhistoryinthesigh。

’Yes。Andpooryouandme，too，’returnedFanny，rathersharply。

’Verytrue!Then，mydear，wehavenomother，andwehaveaMrsGeneral。AndItellyouagain，darling，thatMrsGeneral，ifImayreverseacommonproverbandadaptittoher，isacatingloveswhoWILLcatchmice。Thatwoman，Iamquitesureandconfident，willbeourmother-in-law。’

’Icanhardlythink，Fanny-’Fannystoppedher。

’Now，don’targuewithmeaboutit，Amy，’saidshe，’becauseIknowbetter。’Feelingthatshehadbeensharpagain，shedabbedhersister’sforeheadagain，andblewuponitagain。’Toresumeoncemore，mydear。Itthenbecomesaquestionwithme(Iamproudandspirited，Amy，asyouverywellknow：toomuchso，Idaresay)

whetherIshallmakeupmymindtotakeituponmyselftocarrythefamilythrough。’

’How？’askedhersister，anxiously。

’Iwillnot，’saidFanny，withoutansweringthequestion，’submittobemother-in-lawedbyMrsGeneral；andIwillnotsubmittobe，inanyrespectwhatever，eitherpatronisedortormentedbyMrsMerdle。’

LittleDorritlaidherhanduponthehandthatheldthebottleofsweetwater，withastillmoreanxiouslook。Fanny，quitepunishingherownforeheadwiththevehementdabsshenowbegantogiveit，fitfullywenton。

’Thathehassomehoworother，andhowisofnoconsequence，attainedaverygoodposition，noonecandeny。Thatitisaverygoodconnection，noonecandeny。Andastothequestionofcleverornotclever，Idoubtverymuchwhetheracleverhusbandwouldbesuitabletome。Icannotsubmit。Ishouldnotbeabletodefertohimenough。’

’O，mydearFanny!’expostulatedLittleDorrit，uponwhomakindofterrorhadbeenstealingassheperceivedwhathersistermeant。

’Ifyoulovedanyone，allthisfeelingwouldchange。Ifyoulovedanyone，youwouldnomorebeyourself，butyouwouldquiteloseandforgetyourselfinyourdevotiontohim。Ifyoulovedhim，Fanny——’Fannyhadstoppedthedabbinghand，andwaslookingatherfixedly。

’O，indeed!’criedFanny。’Really？Blessme，howmuchsomepeopleknowofsomesubjects!Theysayeveryonehasasubject，andI

certainlyseemtohavehituponyours，Amy。There，youlittlething，Iwasonlyinfun，’dabbinghersister’sforehead；’butdon’tyoubeasillypuss，anddon’tyouthinkflightilyandeloquentlyaboutdegenerateimpossibilities。There!Now，I’llgobacktomyself。’

’DearFanny，letmesayfirst，thatIwouldfarratherweworkedforascantylivingagainthanIwouldseeyourichandmarriedtoMrSparkler。’

’Letyousay，mydear？’retortedFanny。’Why，ofcourse，Iwillletyousayanything。Thereisnoconstraintuponyou，Ihope。Wearetogethertotalkitover。AndastomarryingMrSparkler，I

havenottheslightestintentionofdoingsoto-night，mydear，orto-morrowmorningeither。’

’Butatsometime？’

’Atnotime，foranythingIknowatpresent，’answeredFanny，withindifference。Then，suddenlychangingherindifferenceintoaburningrestlessness，sheadded，’Youtalkabouttheclevermen，youlittlething!It’sallveryfineandeasytotalkabouttheclevermen；butwherearethey？Idon’tseethemanywherenearme!’

’MydearFanny，soshortatime——’

’Shorttimeorlongtime，’interruptedFanny。’Iamimpatientofoursituation。Idon’tlikeoursituation，andverylittlewouldinducemetochangeit。Othergirls，differentlyrearedanddifferentlycircumstancedaltogether，mightwonderatwhatIsayormaydo。Letthem。Theyaredrivenbytheirlivesandcharacters；

Iamdrivenbymine。’

’Fanny，mydearFanny，youknowthatyouhavequalitiestomakeyouthewifeofoneverysuperi