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railing； and neatly said that he thought he would； with submission； take
his leave。 He did not go without being congratulated by Amy； as well
as she could discharge that office in the flutter and distress of her
spirits。
When he was gone； she said； 'O Fanny； Fanny！' and turned to her sister
in the bright window； and fell upon her bosom and cried there。 Fanny
laughed at first； but soon laid her face against her sister's and cried
too……a little。 It was the last time Fanny ever showed that there was any
hidden； suppressed； or conquered feeling in her on the matter。 From that
hour the way she had chosen lay before her； and she trod it with her own
imperious self…willed step。
CHAPTER 15。 No just Cause or Impediment why these Two Persons
should not be joined together
Mr Dorrit； on being informed by his elder daughter that she had accepted
matrimonial overtures from Mr Sparkler； to whom she had plighted her
troth； received the munication at once with great dignity and with a
large display of parental pride； his dignity dilating with the widened
prospect of advantageous ground from which to make acquaintances； and
his parental pride being developed by Miss Fanny's ready sympathy with
that great object of his existence。 He gave her to understand that her
noble ambition found harmonious echoes in his heart； and bestowed
his blessing on her； as a child brimful of duty and good principle；
self…devoted to the aggrandisement of the family name。
To Mr Sparkler； when Miss Fanny permitted him to appear； Mr Dorrit said；
he would not disguise that the alliance Mr Sparkler did him the honour
to propose was highly congenial to his feelings； both as being in unison
with the spontaneous affections of his daughter Fanny； and as opening
a family connection of a gratifying nature with Mr Merdle； the
master spirit of the age。 Mrs Merdle also； as a leading lady rich in
distinction； elegance； grace； and beauty； he mentioned in very laudatory
terms。 He felt it his duty to remark （he was sure a gentleman of Mr
Sparkler's fine sense would interpret him with all delicacy）； that he
could not consider this proposal definitely determined on； until he
should have had the privilege of holding some correspondence with Mr
Merdle； and of ascertaining it to be so far accordant with the views
of that eminent gentleman as that his （Mr Dorrit's） daughter would be
received on that footing which her station in life and her dowry and
expectations warranted him in requiring that she should maintain in
what he trusted he might be allowed； without the appearance of being
mercenary； to call the Eye of the Great World。 While saying this； which
his character as a gentleman of some little station； and his character
as a father； equally demanded of him； he would not be so diplomatic
as to conceal that the proposal remained in hopeful abeyance and
under conditional acceptance； and that he thanked Mr Sparkler for the
pliment rendered to himself and to his family。 He concluded with
some further and more general observations on the……ha……character of an
independent gentleman； and the……hum……character of a possibly too
partial and admiring parent。 To sum the whole up shortly； he received
Mr Sparkler's offer very much as he would have received three or four
half…crowns from him in the days that were gone。
Mr Sparkler； finding himself stunned by the words thus heaped upon his
inoffensive head； made a brief though pertinent rejoinder； the same
being neither more nor less than that he had long perceived Miss Fanny
to have no nonsense about her； and that he had no doubt of its being all
right with his Governor。 At that point the object of his affections shut
him up like a box with a spring lid； and sent him away。
Proceeding shortly afterwards to pay his respects to the Bosom； Mr
Dorrit was received by it with great consideration。 Mrs Merdle had heard
of this affair from Edmund。 She had been surprised at first； because she
had not thought Edmund a marrying man。 Society had not thought Edmund
a marrying man。 Still； of course she had seen； as a woman （we women
did instinctively see these things； Mr Dorrit！）； that Edmund had been
immensely captivated by Miss Dorrit； and she had openly said that Mr
Dorrit had much to answer for in bringing so charming a girl abroad to
turn the heads of his countrymen。
'Have I the honour to conclude； madam；' said Mr Dorrit； 'that the
direction which Mr Sparkler's affections have taken； is……ha…approved of
by you？'
'I assure you； Mr Dorrit；' returned the lady； 'that； personally； I am
charmed。'
That was very gratifying to Mr Dorrit。
'Personally；' repeated Mrs Merdle； 'charmed。'
This casual repetition of the word 'personally；' moved Mr Dorrit to
express his hope that Mr Merdle's approval； too； would not be wanting？
'I cannot；' said Mrs Merdle； 'take upon myself to answer positively for
Mr Merdle； gentlemen； especially gentlemen who are what Society calls
capitalists； having their own ideas of these matters。 But I should
think……merely giving an opinion； Mr Dorrit……I should think Mr Merdle
would be upon the whole；' here she held a review of herself before
adding at her leisure； 'quite charmed。'
At the mention of gentlemen whom Society called capitalists； Mr Dorrit
had coughed； as if some internal demur were breaking out of him。 Mrs
Merdle had observed it； and went on to take up the cue。
'Though； indeed； Mr Dorrit； it is scarcely necessary for me to make that
remark； except in the mere openness of saying what is uppermost to one
whom I so highly regard； and with whom I hope I may have the pleasure
of being brought into still more agreeable relations。 For one cannot
but see the great probability of your considering such things from Mr
Merdle's own point of view； except indeed that circumstances have made
it Mr Merdle's accidental fortune； or misfortune； to be engaged in
business transactions； and that they； however vast； may a little cramp
his horizons。 I am a very child as to having any notion of business；'
said Mrs Merdle； 'but I am afraid； Mr Dorrit； it may have that
tendency。'
This skilful see…saw of Mr Dorrit and Mrs Merdle； so that each of them
sent the other up； and each of them sent the other down； and neither
had the advantage； acted as a sedative on Mr Dorrit's cough。 He remarked
with his utmost politeness； that he must beg to protest against its
being supposed； even by Mrs Merdle； the acplished and graceful
（to which pliment she bent herself）； that such enterprises as Mr
Merdle's； apart as they were from the puny undertakings of the rest of
men； had any lower tendency than to enlarge and expand the genius in
which they were conceived。 'You are generosity itself；' said Mrs Merdle
in return； smiling her best smile； 'let us hope so。 But I confess I am
almost superstitious in my ideas about business。'
Mr Dorrit threw in another pliment here； to the effect that business；
like the time which was precious in it； was made for slaves； and that it
was not for Mrs Merdle； who ruled all hearts at her supreme pleasure；
to have anything to do with it。 Mrs Merdle laughed； and conveyed to
Mr Dorrit an idea that the Bosom flushed……which was one of her best
effects。
'I say so much；' she then explained； 'merely because Mr Merdle has
always taken the greatest interest in Edmund； and has always expressed
the strongest desire to advance his prospects。 Edmund's public position；
I think you know。 His private position rests solely with Mr Merdle。 In
my foolish incapacity for business； I assure you I know no more。'
Mr Dorrit again expressed； in his own way； the sentiment that business
was below the ken of enslavers and enchantresses。 He then mentioned his
intention； as a gentleman and a parent； of writing to Mr Merdle。 Mrs
Merdle concurred with all her heart……or with all her art； which was
exactly the same thing……and herself despatched a preparatory letter by
the next post to the eighth wonder of the world。
In his epistolary munication； as in his dialogues and discourses on
the great question to which it related； Mr Dorrit surrounded the
subject with flourishes； as writing…masters embellish copy…books and
ciphering…books： where the titles of the elementary rules of
arithmetic diverge into swans； eagles； griffins； and other calligraphic
recreations； and where the capital letters go out of their minds and
bodies into ecstasies of pen and ink。 Nevertheless； he did render the
purport of his letter sufficiently clear； to enable Mr Merdle to make a
decent pretence of having learnt it from that source。 Mr Merdle replied
to it accordingly。 Mr Dorrit replied to Mr Merdle； Mr Merdle replied to
Mr Dorrit； and it was soon announced that the corresponding powers had
e to a satisfactory understanding。
Now； and not before； Miss Fanny burst upon the scene； pletely arrayed
for her new part。 Now and not before； she wholly absorbed Mr Sparkler in
her light； and shone for both； and twenty more。 No longer feeling that
want of a defined place and character which had caused her so much
trouble； this fair ship began to steer steadily on a shaped course； and
to swim with a weight and balance that developed her sailing qualities。
'The preliminaries being so satisfactorily arranged； I think I will now；
my dear；' said Mr Dorrit； 'announce……ha……formally； to Mrs General……'
'Papa；' returned Fanny； taking him up short upon that name； 'I don't see
what Mrs General has got to do with it。'
'My dear；' said Mr Dorrit； 'it will be an act of courtesy to……hum……a
lady； well bred and refined……'
'Oh！ I am sick of Mrs General's good breeding and refinement； papa；'
said Fanny。 'I am tired of Mrs General。'
'Tired；' repeated Mr Dorrit in reproachful astonishment； 'of……ha……Mrs
General。'
'Quite disgusted with her； papa；' said Fanny。 'I really don't see what
she has to do with my marriage。 Let her keep to her own matrimonial
projects……if she has any。'
'Fanny；' returned Mr Dorrit； with a grave and weighty slowness upon him；
contrasting strongly with his daughter's levity： 'I beg the favour of
your explaining……ha……what it is you mean。' 'I mean； papa；' said Fanny；
'that if Mrs General should happen to have any matrimonial projects of
her own； I dare say they are quite enough to occupy her spare time。 And
that if she has not； so much the better； but still I don't wish to have
the honour of making announcements to her。'
'Permit me to ask you； Fanny；' said Mr Dorrit； 'why not？'
'Because she can find my engagement out for herself； papa；' retorted
Fanny。 'She is watchful enough； I dare say。 I think I have seen her
so。 Let her find it out for herself。 If she should not find it out for
herself； she will know it when I am married。 And I hope you will not
consider me wanting in affection for you； papa； if I say it strikes me
that rs General。'
'Fanny；' returned Mr Dorrit； 'I am amazed； I am displeased by
this……hum……this capricious and unintelligible display of animosity
towards……ha……Mrs General。'
'Do not； if you please； papa；' urged Fanny； 'call it animosity； because
I assure you I do not consider Mrs General worth my animosity。'
At this； Mr Dorrit rose from his chair with a fixed look of severe
reproof； and remained standing in his dignity before his daughter。 His
daughter； turning the bracelet on her arm； and now looking at him； and
now looking from him； said； 'Very well； papa。 I am truly sorry if you
don't like it； but I can't help it。 I am not a child； and I am not Amy；
and I must speak。'
'Fanny；' gasped Mr Dorrit； after a majestic silence； 'if I request
you to remain here； while I formally announce to Mrs General； as
an exemplary lady； who is……hum……a trusted member of this family；
the……ha……the change that is contemplated among us； if I……ha……not only
request it； but……hum……insist upon it……'
'Oh； papa；' Fanny broke in with pointed significance； 'if you make so
much of it as that； I have in duty nothing to do but ply。 I hope I
may have my thoughts upon the subject； however； for I really cannot help
it under the circumstances。'So； Fanny sat down with a meekness which；
in the junction of extremes； became defiance； and her father； either not
deigning to answer； or not knowing what to answer； summoned Mr Tinkler
in