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'I shall make him fetch and carry； my dear； and I shall make him subject
to me。 And if I don't make his mother subject to me； too； it shall not
be my fault。'
'Do you think……dear Fanny； don't be offended； we are so fortable
together now……that you can quite see the end of that course？'
'I can't say I have so much as looked for it yet； my dear；' answered
Fanny； with supreme indifference； 'all in good time。 Such are my
intentions。 And really they have taken me so long to develop； that here
we are at home。 And Young Sparkler at the door； inquiring who is within。
By the merest accident； of course！'
In effect； the swain was standing up in his gondola； card…case in
hand； affecting to put the question to a servant。 This conjunction
of circumstances led to his immediately afterwards presenting himself
before the young ladies in a posture； which in ancient times would not
have been considered one of favourable augury for his suit； since the
gondoliers of the young ladies； having been put to some inconvenience
by the chase； so neatly brought their own boat in the gentlest collision
with the bark of Mr Sparkler； as to tip that gentleman over like a
larger species of ninepin； and cause him to exhibit the soles of his
shoes to the object of his dearest wishes： while the nobler portions of
his anatomy struggled at the bottom of his boat in the arms of one of
his men。
However； as Miss Fanny called out with much concern； Was the gentleman
hurt； Mr Sparkler rose more restored than might have been expected； and
stammered for himself with blushes； 'Not at all so。' Miss Fanny had no
recollection of having ever seen him before； and was passing on； with a
distant inclination of her head； when he announced himself by name。 Even
then she was in a difficulty from being unable to call it to mind； until
he explained that he had had the honour of seeing her at Martigny。 Then
she remembered him； and hoped his lady…mother was well。
'Thank you；' stammered Mr Sparkler； 'she's unmonly well……at least；
poorly。'
'In Venice？' said Miss Fanny。
'In Rome；' Mr Sparkler answered。 'I am here by myself； myself。 I came to
call upon Mr Edward Dorrit myself。 Indeed； upon Mr Dorrit likewise。 In
fact； upon the family。'
Turning graciously to the attendants； Miss Fanny inquired whether her
papa or brother was within？ The reply being that they were both within；
Mr Sparkler humbly offered his arm。 Miss Fanny accepting it； was squired
up the great staircase by Mr Sparkler； who； if he still believed （which
there is not any reason to doubt） that she had no nonsense about her；
rather deceived himself。
Arrived in a mouldering reception…room； where the faded hangings； of a
sad sea…green； had worn and withered until they looked as if they
might have claimed kindred with the waifs of seaweed drifting under
the windows； or clinging to the walls and weeping for their imprisoned
relations； Miss Fanny despatched emissaries for her father and brother。
Pending whose appearance； she showed to great advantage on a sofa；
pleting Mr Sparkler's conquest with some remarks upon Dante……known
to that gentleman as an eccentric man in the nature of an Old File；
who used to put leaves round his head； and sit upon a stool for some
unaccountable purpose； outside the cathedral at Florence。
Mr Dorrit weled the visitor with the highest urbanity； and most
courtly manners。 He inquired particularly after Mrs Merdle。 He inquired
particularly after Mr Merdle。 Mr Sparkler said； or rather twitched out
of himself in small pieces by the shirt…collar； that Mrs Merdle having
pletely used up her place in the country； and also her house at
Brighton； and being； of course； unable； don't you see； to remain in
London when there wasn't a soul there； and not feeling herself this year
quite up to visiting about at people's places； had resolved to have
a touch at Rome； where a woman like herself； with a proverbially fine
appearance； and with no nonsense about her； couldn't fail to be a great
acquisition。 As to Mr Merdle； he was so much wanted by the men in the
City and the rest of those places； and was such a doosed extraordinary
phenomenon in Buying and Banking and that； that Mr Sparkler doubted if
the moary system of the country would be able to spare him； though
that his work was occasionally one too many for him； and that he would
be all the better for a temporary shy at an entirely new scene and
climate； Mr Sparkler did not conceal。 As to himself； Mr Sparkler
conveyed to the Dorrit family that he was going； on rather particular
business； wherever they were going。
This immense conversational achievement required time； but was effected。
Being effected； Mr Dorrit expressed his hope that Mr Sparkler would
shortly dine with them。 Mr Sparkler received the idea so kindly that Mr
Dorrit asked what he was going to do that day； for instance？ As he was
going to do nothing that day （his usual occupation； and one for which he
was particularly qualified）； he was secured without postponement； being
further bound over to acpany the ladies to the Opera in the evening。
At dinner…time Mr Sparkler rose out of the sea； like Venus's son taking
after his mother； and made a splendid appearance ascending the great
staircase。 If Fanny had been charming in the morning； she was now thrice
charming； very beingly dressed in her most suitable colours； and with
an air of negligence upon her that doubled Mr Sparkler's fetters； and
riveted them。
'I hear you are acquainted； Mr Sparkler；' said his host at dinner；
'with……ha……Mr Gowan。 Mr Henry Gowan？'
'Perfectly； sir；' returned Mr Sparkler。 'His mother and my mother are
cronies in fact。'
'If I had thought of it； Amy；' said Mr Dorrit； with a patronage as
magnificent as that of Lord Decimus himself； 'you should have despatched
a note to them； asking them to dine to…day。 Some of our people could
have……ha……fetched them； and taken them home。 We could have spared
a……hum……gondola for that purpose。 I am sorry to have forgotten this。
Pray remind me of them to…morrow。'
Little Dorrit was not without doubts how Mr Henry Gowan might take their
patronage； but she promised not to fail in the reminder。
'Pray； does Mr Henry Gowan paint……ha……Portraits？' inquired Mr Dorrit。
Mr Sparkler opined that he painted anything； if he could get the job。
'He has no particular walk？' said Mr Dorrit。
Mr Sparkler； stimulated by Love to brilliancy； replied that for a
particular walk a man ought to have a particular pair of shoes； as； for
example； shooting； shooting…shoes； cricket； cricket…shoes。 Whereas； he
believed that Henry Gowan had no particular pair of shoes。
'No speciality？' said Mr Dorrit。
This being a very long word for Mr Sparkler； and his mind being
exhausted by his late effort； he replied； 'No； thank you。 I seldom take
it。'
'Well！' said Mr Dorrit。 'It would be very agreeable to me to present
a gentleman so connected； with some……ha……Testimonial of my desire to
further his interests； and develop the……hum……germs of his genius。 I
think I must engage Mr Gowan to paint my picture。 If the result should
be……ha……mutually satisfactory； I might afterwards engage him to try his
hand upon my family。'
The exquisitely bold and original thought presented itself to Mr
Sparkler； that there was an opening here for saying there were some of
the family （emphasising 'some' in a marked manner） to whom no painter
could render justice。 But； for want of a form of words in which to
express the idea； it returned to the skies。
This was the more to be regretted as Miss Fanny greatly applauded the
notion of the portrait； and urged her papa to act upon it。 She surmised；
she said； that Mr Gowan had lost better and higher opportunities by
marrying his pretty wife； and Love in a cottage； painting pictures for
dinner； was so delightfully interesting； that she begged her papa to
give him the mission whether he could paint a likeness or not： though
indeed both she and Amy knew he could； from having seen a speaking
likeness on his easel that day； and having had the opportunity of
paring it with the original。 These remarks made Mr Sparkler （as
perhaps they were intended to do） nearly distracted； for while