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，havinglongagoformedherownsurfacetosuchperfectionthatithidwhateverwasbelowitifanything，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，thatMastergaveMrDorrittotheDevilwithgreatliberalitysomerounddozenoftimesforheresentedpatronagealmostasmuchasheresentedthewantofit，andwasinclinedtoquarrelwithhisfriendforbringinghimthemessage。
’Itmaybeadefectinmymentalvision，Blandois，’saidhe，’butmayIdieifIseewhatyouhavetodowiththis。’
’Deathofmylife，’repliedBlandois，’norIneither，exceptthatIthoughtIwasservingmyfriend。’
’Byputtinganupstart’shireinhispocket？’saidGowan，frowning。
’Doyoumeanthat？Tellyourotherfriendtogethisheadpaintedforthesignofsomepublic-house，andtogetitdonebyasign-
painter。WhoamI，andwhoishe？’
’Professore，’returnedtheambassador，’andwhoisBlandois？’
Withoutappearingatallinterestedinthelatterquestion，GowanangrilywhistledMrDorritaway。But，nextday，heresumedthesubjectbysayinginhisoff-handmannerandwithaslightinglaugh，’Well，Blandois，whenshallwegotothisMaecenasofyours？
Wejourneymenmusttakejobswhenwecangetthem。Whenshallwegoandlookafterthisjob？’
’Whenyouwill，’saidtheinjuredBlandois，’asyouplease。WhathaveItodowithit？Whatisittome？’
’Icantellyouwhatitistome，’saidGowan。’Breadandcheese。
Onemusteat!Socomealong，myBlandois。’
MrDorritreceivedtheminthepresenceofhisdaughtersandofMrSparkler，whohappened，bysomesurprisingaccident，tobecallingthere。’Howareyou，Sparkler？’saidGowancarelessly。’Whenyouhavetolivebyyourmotherwit，oldboy，IhopeyoumaygetonbetterthanIdo。’
MrDorritthenmentionedhisproposal。’Sir，’saidGowan，laughing，afterreceivingitgracefullyenough，’Iamnewtothetrade，andnotexpertatitsmysteries。IbelieveIoughttolookatyouinvariouslights，tellyouyouareacapitalsubject，andconsiderwhenIshallbesufficientlydisengagedtodevotemyselfwiththenecessaryenthusiasmtothefinepictureImeantomakeofyou。Iassureyou，’andhelaughedagain，’Ifeelquiteatraitorinthecampofthosedear，gifted，good，noblefellows，mybrotherartists，bynotdoingthehocus-pocusbetter。ButIhavenotbeenbroughtuptoit，andit’stoolatetolearnit。Now，thefactis，Iamaverybadpainter，butnotmuchworsethanthegenerality。
Ifyouaregoingtothrowawayahundredguineasorso，Iamaspoorasapoorrelationofgreatpeopleusuallyis，andIshallbeverymuchobligedtoyou，ifyou’llthrowthemawayuponme。I’lldothebestIcanforthemoney；andifthebestshouldbebad，whyeventhen，youmayprobablyhaveabadpicturewithasmallnametoit，insteadofabadpicturewithalargenametoit。’
Thistone，thoughnotwhathehadexpected，onthewholesuitedMrDorritremarkablywell。Itshowedthatthegentleman，highlyconnected，andnotamereworkman，wouldbeunderanobligationtohim。HeexpressedhissatisfactioninplacinghimselfinMrGowan’shands，andtrustedthathewouldhavethepleasure，intheircharactersofprivategentlemen，ofimprovinghisacquaintance。
’Youareverygood，’saidGowan。’IhavenotforswornsocietysinceIjoinedthebrotherhoodofthebrushthemostdelightfulfellowsonthefaceoftheearth，andamgladenoughtosmelltheoldfinegunpowdernowandthen，thoughitdidblowmeintomid-airandmypresentcalling。You’llnotthink，MrDorrit，’andherehelaughedagainintheeasiestway，’thatIamlapsingintothefreemasonryofthecraft——forit’snotso；uponmylifeIcan’thelpbetrayingitwhereverIgo，though，byJupiter，Iloveandhonourthecraftwithallmymight——ifIproposeastipulationastotimeandplace？’
Ha!MrDorritcoulderectno——hum——suspicionofthatkindonMrGowan’sfrankness。
’Againyouareverygood，’saidGowan。’MrDorrit，IhearyouaregoingtoRome。IamgoingtoRome，havingfriendsthere。LetmebegintodoyoutheinjusticeIhaveconspiredtodoyou，there——
nothere。Weshallallbehurriedduringtherestofourstayhere；andthoughthere’snotapoorermanwithwholeelbowsinVenice，thanmyself，IhavenotquitegotalltheAmateuroutofmeyet——comprisingthetradeagain，yousee!——andcan’tfallontoorder，inahurry，forthemeresakeofthesixpences。’
TheseremarkswerenotlessfavourablyreceivedbyMrDorritthantheirpredecessors。TheywerethepreludetothefirstreceptionofMrandMrsGowanatdinner，andtheyskilfullyplacedGowanonhisusualgroundinthenewfamily。
Hiswife，too，theyplacedonherusualground。MissFannyunderstood，withparticulardistinctness，thatMrsGowan’sgoodlookshadcostherhusbandverydear；thattherehadbeenagreatdisturbanceaboutherintheBarnaclefamily；andthattheDowagerMrsGowan，nearlyheart-broken，hadresolutelysetherfaceagainstthemarriageuntiloverpoweredbyhermaternalfeelings。MrsGenerallikewiseclearlyunderstoodthattheattachmenthadoccasionedmuchfamilygriefanddissension。OfhonestMrMeaglesnomentionwasmade；exceptthatitwasnaturalenoughthatapersonofthatsortshouldwishtoraisehisdaughteroutofhisownobscurity，andthatnoonecouldblamehimfortryinghisbesttodoso。
LittleDorrit’sinterestinthefairsubjectofthiseasilyacceptedbeliefwastooearnestandwatchfultofailinaccurateobservation。ShecouldseethatithaditspartinthrowinguponMrsGowanthetouchofashadowunderwhichshelived，andsheevenhadaninstinctiveknowledgethattherewasnottheleasttruthinit。ButithadaninfluenceinplacingobstaclesinthewayofherassociationwithMrsGowanbymakingthePrunesandPrismschoolexcessivelypolitetoher，butnotveryintimatewithher；andLittleDorrit，asanenforcedsizarofthatcollege，wasobligedtosubmitherselfhumblytoitsordinances。
Nevertheless，therewasasympatheticunderstandingalreadyestablishedbetweenthetwo，whichwouldhavecarriedthemovergreaterdifficulties，andmadeafriendshipoutofamorerestrictedintercourse。Asthoughaccidentsweredeterminedtobefavourabletoit，theyhadanewassuranceofcongenialityintheaversionwhicheachperceivedthattheotherfelttowardsBlandoisofParis；anaversionamountingtotherepugnanceandhorrorofanaturalantipathytowardsanodiouscreatureofthereptilekind。
Andtherewasapassivecongenialitybetweenthem，besidesthisactiveone。Tobothofthem，Blandoisbehavedinexactlythesamemanner；andtobothofthemhismannerhaduniformlysomethinginit，whichtheybothknewtobedifferentfromhisbearingtowardsothers。Thedifferencewastoominuteinitsexpressiontobeperceivedbyothers，buttheyknewittobethere。Ameretrickofhisevileyes，amereturnofhissmoothwhitehand，amerehair’s-
breadthofadditiontothefallofhisnoseandtheriseofthemoustacheinthemostfrequentmovementofhisface，conveyedtobothofthem，equally，aswaggerpersonaltothemselves。Itwasasifhehadsaid，’Ihaveasecretpowerinthisquarter。IknowwhatIknow。’
Thishadneverbeenfeltbythembothinsogreatadegree，andneverbyeachsoperfectlytotheknowledgeoftheother，asonadaywhenhecametoMrDorrit’stotakehisleavebeforequittingVenice。MrsGowanwasherselfthereforthesamepurpose，andhecameuponthetwotogether；therestofthefamilybeingout。Thetwohadnotbeentogetherfiveminutes，andthepeculiarmannerseemedtoconveytothem，’Youweregoingtotalkaboutme。Ha!
Beholdmeheretopreventit!’
’Gowaniscominghere？’saidBlandois，withasmile。
MrsGowanrepliedhewasnotcoming。
’Notcoming!’saidBlandois。’Permityourdevotedservant，whenyouleavehere，toescortyouhome。’
’Thankyou：Iamnotgoinghome。’
’Notgoinghome!’saidBlandois。’ThenIamforlorn。’
Thathemightbe；buthewasnotsoforlornastoroamawayandleavethemtogether。Hesatentertainingthemwithhisfinestcompliments，andhischoicestconversation；butheconveyedtothem，allthetime，’No，no，no，dearladies。Beholdmehereexpresslytopreventit!’
Heconveyedittothemwithsomuchmeaning，andhehadsuchadiabolicalpersistencyinhim，thatatlength，MrsGowanrosetodepart。OnhisofferinghishandtoMrsGowantoleadherdownthestaircase，sheretainedLittleDorrit’shandinhers，withacautiouspressure，andsaid，’No，thankyou。But，ifyouwillpleasetoseeifmyboatmanisthere，Ishallbeobligedtoyou。’
Itlefthimnochoicebuttogodownbeforethem。Ashedidso，hatinhand，MrsGowanwhispered：
’Hekilledthedog。’
’DoesMrGowanknowit？’LittleDorritwhispered。