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perhaps they were intended to do） nearly distracted； for while on
the one hand they expressed Miss Fanny's susceptibility of the tender
passion； she herself showed such an innocent unconsciousness of his
admiration that his eyes goggled in his head with jealousy of an unknown
rival。
Descending into the sea again after dinner； and ascending out of it
at the Opera staircase； preceded by one of their gondoliers； like an
attendant Merman； with a great linen lantern； they entered their box；
and Mr Sparkler entered on an evening of agony。 The theatre being
dark； and the box light； several visitors lounged in during the
representation； in whom Fanny was so interested； and in conversation
with whom she fell into such charming attitudes； as she had little
confidences with them； and little disputes concerning the identity of
people in distant boxes； that the wretched Sparkler hated all mankind。
But he had two consolations at the close of the performance。 She gave
him her fan to hold while she adjusted her cloak； and it was his
blessed privilege to give her his arm down…stairs again。 These crumbs of
encouragement； Mr Sparkler thought； would just keep him going； and it is
not impossible that Miss Dorrit thought so too。
The Merman with his light was ready at the box…door； and other Mermen
with other lights were ready at many of the doors。 The Dorrit Merman
held his lantern low； to show the steps； and Mr Sparkler put on another
heavy set of fetters over his former set； as he watched her radiant
feet twinkling down the stairs beside him。 Among the loiterers here； was
Blandois of Paris。 He spoke； and moved forward beside Fanny。
Little Dorrit was in front with her brother and Mrs General （Mr Dorrit
had remained at home）； but on the brink of the quay they all came
together。 She started again to find Blandois close to her； handing Fanny
into the boat。
'Gowan has had a loss；' he said； 'since he was made happy to…day by a
visit from fair ladies。'
'A loss？' repeated Fanny； relinquished by the bereaved Sparkler； and
taking her seat。
'A loss；' said Blandois。 'His dog Lion。'
Little Dorrit's hand was in his； as he spoke。
'He is dead；' said Blandois。
'Dead？' echoed Little Dorrit。 'That noble dog？'
'Faith； dear ladies！' said Blandois； smiling and shrugging his
shoulders； 'somebody has poisoned that noble dog。 He is as dead as the
Doges！'
CHAPTER 7。 Mostly； Prunes and Prism
Mrs General； always on her coach…box keeping the proprieties well
together； took pains to form a surface on her very dear young friend；
and Mrs General's very dear young friend tried hard to receive it。 Hard
as she had tried in her laborious life to attain many ends； she had
never tried harder than she did now； to be varnished by Mrs General。 It
made her anxious and ill at ease to be operated upon by that smoothing
hand； it is true； but she submitted herself to the family want in
its greatness as she had submitted herself to the family want in its
littleness； and yielded to her own inclinations in this thing no more
than she had yielded to her hunger itself； in the days when she had
saved her dinner that her father might have his supper。
One fort that she had under the Ordeal by General was more
sustaining to her； and made her more grateful than to a less devoted
and affectionate spirit； not habituated to her struggles and sacrifices；
might appear quite reasonable； and； indeed； it may often be observed in
life； that spirits like Little Dorrit do not appear to reason half
as carefully as the folks who get the better of them。 The continued
kindness of her sister was this fort to Little Dorrit。 It was nothing
to her that the kindness took the form of tolerant patronage； she was
used to that。 It was nothing to her that it kept her in a tributary
position； and showed her in attendance on the flaming car in which Miss
Fanny sat on an elevated seat； exacting homage； she sought no better
place。 Always admiring Fanny's beauty； and grace； and readiness； and not
now asking herself how much of her disposition to be strongly attached
to Fanny was due to her own heart； and how much to Fanny's； she gave her
all the sisterly fondness her great heart contained。
The wholesale amount of Prunes and Prism which Mrs General infused into
the family life； bined with the perpetual plunges made by Fanny into
society； left but a very small residue of any natural deposit at the
bottom of the mixture。 This rendered confidences with Fanny doubly
precious to Little Dorrit； and heightened the relief they afforded her。
'Amy；' said Fanny to her one night when they were alone； after a day so
tiring that Little Dorrit was quite worn out； though Fanny would have
taken another dip into society with the greatest pleasure in life； 'I
am going to put something into your little head。 You won't guess what it
is； I suspect。'
'I don't think that's likely； dear；' said Little Dorrit。
'e； I'll give you a clue； child；' said Fanny。 'Mrs General。'
Prunes and Prism； in a thousand binations； having been wearily in the
ascendant all day……everything having been surface and varnish and show
without substance……Little Dorrit looked as if she had hoped that Mrs
General was safely tucked up in bed for some hours。
'Now； can you guess； Amy？' said Fanny。
'No； dear。 Unless I have done anything；' said Little Dorrit； rather
alarmed； and meaning anything calculated to crack varnish and ruffle
surface。
Fanny was so very much amused by the misgiving； that she took up her
favourite fan （being then seated at her dressing…table with her armoury
of cruel instruments about her； most of them reeking from the heart
of Sparkler）； and tapped her sister frequently on the nose with it；
laughing all the time。
'Oh； our Amy； our Amy！' said Fanny。 'What a timid little goose our Amy
is！ But this is nothing to laugh at。 On the contrary； I am very cross；
my dear。'
'As it is not with me； Fanny； I don't mind；' returned her sister；
smiling。
'Ah！ But I do mind；' said Fanny； 'and so will you； Pet； when I enlighten
you。 Amy； has it never struck you that somebody is monstrously polite to
Mrs General？'
'Everybody is polite to Mrs General；' said Little Dorrit。 'Because……'
'Because she freezes them into it？' interrupted Fanny。 'I don't mean
that； quite different from that。 e！ Has it never struck you； Amy；
that Pa is monstrously polite to Mrs General。'
Amy； murmuring 'No；' looked quite confounded。 'No； I dare say not。 But
he is；' said Fanny。 'He is； Amy。 And remember my words。 Mrs General has
designs on Pa！'
'Dear Fanny； do you think it possible that Mrs General has designs on
any one？'
'Do I think it possible？' retorted Fanny。 'My love； I know it。 I tell
you she has designs on Pa。 And more than that； I tell you Pa considers
her such a wonder； such a paragon of acplishment； and such an
acquisition to our family； that he is ready to get himself into a state
of perfect infatuation with her at any moment。 And that opens a pretty
picture of things； I hope？ Think of me with Mrs General for a Mama！'
Little Dorrit did not reply； 'Think of me with Mrs General for a Mama；'
but she looked anxious； and seriously inquired what had led Fanny to
these conclusions。
'Lord； my darling；' said Fanny； tartly。 'You might as well ask me how
I know when a man is struck with myself！ But； of course I do know。 It
happens pretty often： but I always know it。 I know this in much the same
way； I suppose。 At all events； I know it。'
'You never heard Papa say anything？'
'Say anything？' repeated Fanny。 'My dearest； darling child； what
necessity has he had； yet awhile； to say anything？'
'And you have never heard Mrs General say anything？' 'My goodness me；
Amy；' returned Fanny； 'is she the sort of woman to say anything？ Isn't
it perfectly plain and clear that she has nothing to do at present but
to hold herself upright； keep her aggravating gloves on； and go sweeping
about？ Say anything！ If she had the ace of trumps in her hand at whist；
she wouldn't say anything； child。 It would e out when she played it。'
'At least； you may be mistaken； Fanny。 Now； may you not？'
'O yes； I MAY be；' said Fanny； 'but I am not。 However；