第121章

Thewinterpassingontowardsthespringwhilethisconditionofaffairsprevailed，itbecamenecessaryforMrSparklertorepairtoEngland，andtakehisappointedpartintheexpressionanddirectionofitsgenius，learning，commerce，spirit，andsense。

ThelandofShakespeare，Milton，Bacon，Newton，Watt，thelandofahostofpastandpresentabstractphilosophers，naturalphilosophers，andsubduersofNatureandArtintheirmyriadforms，calledtoMrSparklertocomeandtakecareofit，lestitshouldperish。MrSparkler，unabletoresisttheagonisedcryfromthedepthsofhiscountry’ssoul，declaredthathemustgo。

Itfollowedthatthequestionwasrenderedpressingwhen，where，andhowMrSparklershouldbemarriedtotheforemostgirlinallthisworldwithnononsenseabouther。Itssolution，aftersomelittlemysteryandsecrecy，MissFannyherselfannouncedtohersister。

’Now，mychild，’saidshe，seekingheroutoneday，’Iamgoingtotellyousomething。Itisonlythismomentbroached；andnaturallyIhurrytoyouthemomentitISbroached。’

’Yourmarriage，Fanny？’

’Mypreciouschild，’saidFanny，’don’tanticipateme。Letmeimpartmyconfidencetoyou，youflurriedlittlething，inmyownway。Astoyourguess，ifIanswereditliterally，Ishouldanswerno。Forreallyitisnotmymarriagethatisinquestion，halfasmuchasitisEdmund’s。’

LittleDorritlooked，andperhapsnotaltogetherwithoutcause，somewhatatalosstounderstandthisfinedistinction。

’Iaminnodifficulty，’exclaimedFanny，’andinnohurry。Iamnotwantedatanypublicoffice，ortogiveanyvoteanywhereelse。

ButEdmundis。AndEdmundisdeeplydejectedattheideaofgoingawaybyhimself，and，indeed，Idon’tlikethatheshouldbetrustedbyhimself。For，ifit’spossible——anditgenerallyis——todoafoolishthing，heissuretodoit。’

Assheconcludedthisimpartialsummaryofthereliancethatmightbesafelyplaceduponherfuturehusband，shetookoff，withanairofbusiness，thebonnetshewore，anddangleditbyitsstringsupontheground。

’ItisfarmoreEdmund’squestion，therefore，thanmine。However，weneedsaynomoreaboutthat。Thatisself-evidentonthefaceofit。Well，mydearestAmy!Thepointarising，ishetogobyhimself，orishenottogobyhimself，thisotherpointarises，arewetobemarriedhereandshortly，orarewetobemarriedathomemonthshence？’

’IseeIamgoingtoloseyou，Fanny。’

’Whatalittlethingyouare，’criedFanny，halftolerantandhalfimpatient，’foranticipatingone!Pray，mydarling，hearmeout。

Thatwoman，’shespokeofMrsMerdle，ofcourse，’remainshereuntilafterEaster；so，inthecaseofmybeingmarriedhereandgoingtoLondonwithEdmund，Ishouldhavethestartofher。Thatissomething。Further，Amy。Thatwomanbeingoutoftheway，I

don’tknowthatIgreatlyobjecttoMrMerdle’sproposaltoPathatEdmundandIshouldtakeupourabodeinthathouse。youknow——

whereyouoncewentwithadancer，mydear，untilourownhousecanbechosenandfittedup。Furtherstill，Amy。Papahavingalwaysintendedtogototownhimself，inthespring，——yousee，ifEdmundandIweremarriedhere，wemightgoofftoFlorence，wherepapamightjoinus，andwemightallthreetravelhometogether。MrMerdlehasentreatedPatostaywithhiminthatsamemansionI

havementioned，andIsupposehewill。Butheismasterofhisownactions；anduponthatpoint(whichisnotatallmaterial)Ican’tspeakpositively。’

Thedifferencebetweenpapa’sbeingmasterofhisownactionsandMrSparkler’sbeingnothingofthesort，wasforciblyexpressedbyFannyinhermannerofstatingthecase。N