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CHAPTER 14。 Taking Advice
When it became known to the Britons on the shore of the yellow Tiber
that their intelligent patriot； Mr Sparkler； was made one of the
Lords of their Circumlocution Office； they took it as a piece of news
with which they had no nearer concern than with any other piece of
news……any other Accident or Offence……in the English papers。 Some
laughed； some said； by way of plete excuse； that the post was
virtually a sinecure； and any fool who could spell his name was good
enough for it； some； and these the more solemn political oracles；
said that Decimus did wisely to strengthen himself； and that the sole
constitutional purpose of all places within the gift of Decimus； was；
that Decimus should strengthen himself。 A few bilious Britons there were
who would not subscribe to this article of faith； but their objection
was purely theoretical。 In a practical point of view； they listlessly
abandoned the matter； as being the business of some other Britons
unknown； somewhere； or nowhere。 In like manner； at home； great numbers
of Britons maintained； for as long as four…and…twenty consecutive hours；
that those invisible and anonymous Britons 'ought to take it up；' and
that if they quietly acquiesced in it； they deserved it。 But of what
class the remiss Britons were posed； and where the unlucky creatures
hid themselves； and why they hid themselves； and how it constantly
happened that they neglected their interests； when so many other Britons
were quite at a loss to account for their not looking after those
interests； was not； either upon the shore of the yellow Tiber or the
shore of the black Thames； made apparent to men。
Mrs Merdle circulated the news； as she received congratulations on it；
with a careless grace that displayed it to advantage； as the setting
displays the jewel。 Yes； she said； Edmund had taken the place。 Mr Merdle
wished him to take it； and he had taken it。 She hoped Edmund might like
it； but really she didn't know。 It would keep him in town a good
deal； and he preferred the country。 Still； it was not a disagreeable
position……and it was a position。 There was no denying that the thing
was a pliment to Mr Merdle； and was not a bad thing for Edmund if he
liked it。 It was just as well that he should have something to do； and
it was just as well that he should have something for doing it。 Whether
it would be more agreeable to Edmund than the army； remained to be seen。
Thus the Bosom； acplished in the art of seeming to make things of
small account； and really enhancing them in the process。 While Henry
Gowan； whom Decimus had thrown away； went through the whole round of
his acquaintance between the Gate of the People and the town of Albano；
vowing； almost （but not quite） with tears in his eyes； that Sparkler was
the sweetest…tempered； simplest…hearted； altogether most lovable jackass
that ever grazed on the public mon； and that only one circumstance
could have delighted him （Gowan） more； than his （the beloved jackass's）
getting this post； and that would have been his （Gowan's） getting it
himself。 He said it was the very thing for Sparkler。 There was nothing
to do； and he would do it charmingly； there was a handsome salary to
draw； and he would draw it charmingly； it was a delightful； appropriate；
capital appointment； and he almost forgave the donor his slight of
himself； in his joy that the dear donkey for whom he had so great an
affection was so admirably stabled。 Nor did his benevolence stop here。
He took pains； on all social occasions； to draw Mr Sparkler out； and
make him conspicuous before the pany； and； although the considerate
action always resulted in that young gentleman's making a dreary and
forlorn mental spectacle of himself； the friendly intention was not to
be doubted。
Unless； indeed； it chanced to be doubted by the object of Mr Sparkler's
affections。 Miss Fanny was now in the difficult situation of being
universally known in that light； and of not having dismissed Mr
Sparkler； however capriciously she used him。 Hence； she was sufficiently
identified with the gentleman to feel promised by his being more than
usually ridiculous； and hence； being by no means deficient in quickness；
she sometimes came to his rescue against Gowan； and did him very good
service。 But； while doing this； she was ashamed of him； undetermined
whether to get rid of him or more decidedly encourage him； distracted
with apprehensions that she was every day being more and more
immeshed in her uncertainties； and tortured by misgivings that Mrs
Merdle triumphed in her distress。 With this tumult in her mind； it is no
subject for surprise that Miss Fanny came home one night in a state
of agitation from a concert and ball at Mrs Merdle's house； and on her
sister affectionately trying to soothe her； pushed that sister away from
the toilette…table at which she sat angrily trying to cry； and declared
with a heaving bosom that she detested everybody； and she wished she was
dead。
'Dear Fanny； what is the matter？ Tell me。'
'Matter； you little Mole；' said Fanny。 'If you were not the blindest of
the blind； you would have no occasion to ask me。 The idea of daring to
pretend to assert that you have eyes in your head； and yet ask me what's
the matter！'
'Is it Mr Sparkler； dear？' 'Mis…ter Spark…ler！' repeated Fanny； with
unbounded scorn； as if he were the last subject in the Solar system that
could possibly be near her mind。 'No； Miss Bat； it is not。'
Immediately afterwards； she became remorseful for having called her
sister names； declaring with sobs that she knew she made herself
hateful； but that everybody drove her to it。
'I don't think you are well to…night； dear Fanny。'
'Stuff and nonsense！' replied the young lady； turning angry again； 'I am
as well as you are。 Perhaps I might say better； and yet make no boast of
it。'
Poor Little Dorrit； not seeing her way to the offering of any soothing
words that would escape repudiation； deemed it best to remain quiet。 At
first； Fanny took this ill； too； protesting to her looking…glass； that
of all the trying sisters a girl could have； she did think the most
trying sister was a flat sister。 That she knew she was at times a
wretched temper； that she knew she made herself hateful； that when she
made herself hateful； nothing would do her half the good as being told
so； but that； being afflicted with a flat sister； she never WAS told so；
and the consequence resulted that she was absolutely tempted and
goaded into making herself disagreeable。 Besides （she angrily told
her looking…glass）； she didn't want to be forgiven。 It was not a right
example； that she should be constantly stooping to be forgiven by a
younger sister。 And this was the Art of it……that she was always being
placed in the position of being forgiven； whether she liked it or not。
Finally she burst into violent weeping； and； when her sister came and
sat close at her side to fort her； said； 'Amy； you're an Angel！'
'But； I tell you what； my Pet；' said Fanny； when her sister's gentleness
had calmed her； 'it now es to this； that things cannot and shall not
go on as they are at present going on； and that there must be an end of
this； one way or another。'
As the announcement was vague； though very peremptory； Little Dorrit
returned； 'Let us talk about it。'
'Quite so； my dear；' assented Fanny； as she dried her eyes。 'Let us talk
about it。 I am rational again now； and you shall advise me。 Will you
advise me； my sweet child？'
Even Amy smiled at this notion； but she said； 'I will； Fanny； as well as
I can。'
'Thank you； dearest Amy；' returned Fanny； kissing her。 'You are my
anchor。'
Having embraced her Anchor with great affection； Fanny took a bottle of
sweet toilette water from the table； and called to her maid for a fine
handkerchief。 She then dismissed that attendant for the night； and went
on to be advised； dabbing her eyes and forehead from time to time to
cool them。
'My love；' Fanny began； 'our characters and points of view are
sufficiently different （kiss me again； my darling）； to make it very
probable that I shall surprise you by what I am going to say。 What I am
going to say； my dear； is； that notwithstanding our property； we labour；
socially speaking； under disadvantages。 You don't quite understand what
I mean； Amy？'
'I have no doubt I shall；' said Amy； mildly； 'after a few words more。'
'Well； my dear； what I mean is； that we are； after all； newers into
fashionable life。'
'I am sure； Fanny；' Little Dorrit interposed in her zealous admiration；
'no one need find that out in you。'
'Well； my dear child； perhaps not；' said Fanny； 'though it's most kind
and most affectionate in you； you precious girl； to say so。' Here she
dabbed her sister's forehead； and blew upon it a little。 'But you are；'
resumed Fanny； 'as is well known； the dearest little thing that ever
was！ To resume； my child。 Pa is extremely gentlemanly and extremely well
informed； but he is； in some trifling respects； a little different from
other gentlemen of his fortune： partly on account of what he has gone
through； poor dear： partly； I fancy； on account of its often running in
his mind that other people are thinking about that； while he is talking
to them。 Uncle； my love； is altogether unpresentable。 Though a dear
creature to whom I am tenderly attached； he is； socially speaking；
shocking。 Edward is frightfully expensive and dissipated。 I don't mean
that there is anything ungenteel in that itself……far from it……but I
do mean that he doesn't do it well； and that he doesn't； if I may
so express myself； get the money's…worth in the sort of dissipated
reputation that attaches to him。'
'Poor Edward！' sighed Little Dorrit； with the whole family history in
the sigh。
'Yes。 And poor you and me； too；' returned Fanny； rather sharply。
'Very true！ Then； my dear； we have no mother； and we have a Mrs General。
And I tell you again； darling； that Mrs General； if I may reverse a
mon proverb and adapt it to her； is a cat in gloves who WILL
catch mice。 That woman； I am quite sure and confident； will be our
mother…in…law。'
'I can hardly think； Fanny…' Fanny stopped her。
'Now； don't argue with me about it； Amy；' said she； 'because I know
better。' Feeling that she had been sharp again； she dabbed her sister's
forehead again； and blew upon it again。 'To resume once more； my dear。
It then bees a question with me （I am proud and spirited； Amy； as you
very well know： too much so； I dare say） whether I shall make up my mind
to take it upon myself to carry the family through。' 'How？' asked her
sister； anxiously。
'I will not；' said Fanny； without ansit to
be mother…in…lawed by Mrs General； and I will not submit to be； in any
respect whatever； either patronised or tormented by Mrs Merdle。'
Little Dorrit laid her hand upon the hand that held the bottle of sweet
water； with a still more anxious look。 Fanny； quite punishing her own
forehead with the vehement dabs she now began to give it； fitfully went
on。
'That he has somehow or other； and how is of no consequence； attained a
very good position； no one can deny。 That it is a very good connection；
no one can deny。 And as to the question of clever or not clever； I doubt
very much whether a clever husband would be suitable to me。 I cannot
submit。 I should not be able to defer to him enough。'
'O； my dear Fanny！' expostulated Little Dorrit； upon whom a kind of
terror had been stealing as she perceived what her sister meant。 'If you
loved any one； all this feeling would change。 If you loved any one； you
would no more be yourself； but you would quite lose and forget yourself
in your devotion to him。 If you loved him； Fanny……' Fanny had stopped
the dabbing hand； and was looking at her fixedly。
'O； indeed！' cried Fanny。 'Really？ Bless me； how much some people know
of some subjects！ They say every one has a subject； and I certainly
seem to have hit upon yours； Amy。 There； you little thing； I was only in
fun；' dabbing her sister's forehead； 'but don't you be a silly puss；
and don't you think flightily and eloquently about degenerate
impossibilities。 There！ Now； I'll go back to myself。'
'Dear Fanny； let me say first； that I would far rather we w