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of the superiority of your son's standing in Society； it was barely
possible that you rather deceived yourself in your suppositions about my
origin； and that my father's standing； even in the Society in which
he now moved （what that was； was best known to myself）； was eminently
superior； and was acknowledged by every one。'
'Quite accurate；' rejoined Mrs Merdle。 'A most admirable memory。'
'Thank you； ma'am。 Perhaps you will be so kind as to tell my sister the
rest。'
'There is very little to tell；' said Mrs Merdle； reviewing the breadth
of bosom which seemed essential to her having room enough to be
unfeeling in； 'but it is to your sister's credit。 I pointed out to your
sister the plain state of the case； the impossibility of the Society
in which we moved recognising the Society in which she moved……though
charming； I have no doubt； the immense disadvantage at which she would
consequently place the family she had so high an opinion of； upon which
we should find ourselves pelled to look down with contempt； and
from which （socially speaking） we should feel obliged to recoil with
abhorrence。 In short； I made an appeal to that laudable pride in your
sister。'
'Let my sister know； if you please； Mrs Merdle；' Fanny pouted； with a
toss of her gauzy bon； 'that I had already had the honour of telling
your son that I wished to have nothing whatever to say to him。'
'Well； Miss Dorrit；' assented Mrs Merdle； 'perhaps I might have
mentioned that before。 If I did not think of it； perhaps it was because
my mind reverted to the apprehensions I had at the time that he might
persevere and you might have something to say to him。
I also mentioned to your sister……I again address the non…professional
Miss Dorrit……that my son would have nothing in the event of such a
marriage； and would be an absolute beggar。 （I mention that merely as
a fact which is part of the narrative； and not as supposing it to have
influenced your sister； except in the prudent and legitimate way
in which； constituted as our artificial system is； we must all be
influenced by such considerations。） Finally； after some high words
and high spirit on the part of your sister； we came to the plete
understanding that there was no danger； and your sister was so obliging
as to allow me to present her with a mark or two of my appreciation at
my dressmaker's。'
Little Dorrit looked sorry； and glanced at Fanny with a troubled face。
'Also；' said Mrs Merdle； 'as to promise to give me the present pleasure
of a closing interview； and of parting with her on the best of terms。
On which occasion；' added Mrs Merdle； quitting her nest； and putting
something in Fanny's hand； 'Miss Dorrit will permit me to say Farewell
with best wishes in my own dull manner。'
The sisters rose at the same time； and they all stood near the cage of
the parrot； as he tore at a claw…full of biscuit and spat it out； seemed
to mock them with a pompous dance of his body without moving his feet；
and suddenly turned himself upside down and trailed himself all over
the outside of his golden cage； with the aid of his cruel beak and black
tongue。
'Adieu； Miss Dorrit； with best wishes；' said Mrs Merdle。 'If we could
only e to a Millennium； or something of that sort； I for one might
have the pleasure of knowing a number of charming and talented persons
from whom I am at present excluded。 A more primitive state of society
would be delicious to me。 There used to be a poem when I learnt lessons；
something about Lo the poor Indians whose something mind！ If a few
thousand persons moving in Society； could only go and be Indians； I
would put my name down directly； but as； moving in Society； we can't be
Indians； unfortunately……Good morning！'
They came down…stairs with powder before them and powder behind； the
elder sister haughty and the younger sister humbled； and were shut out
into unpowdered Harley Street； Cavendish Square。
'Well？' said Fanny； when they had gone a little way without speaking。
'Have you nothing to say； Amy？'
'Oh； I don't know what to say！' she answered； distressed。 'You didn't
like this young man； Fanny？'
'Like him？ He is almost an idiot。'
'I am so sorry……don't be hurt……but； since you ask me what I have to
say； I am so very sorry； Fanny； that you suffered this lady to give you
anything。'
'You little Fool！' returned her sister； shaking her with the sharp pull
she gave her arm。 'Have you no spirit at all？ But that's just the way！
You have no self…respect； you have no being pride； just as you allow
yourself to be followed about by a contemptible little Chivery of a
thing；' with the scornfullest emphasis； 'you would let your family be
trodden on； and never turn。'
'Don't say that； dear Fanny。 I do what I can for them。'
'You do what you can for them！' repeated Fanny； walking her on very
fast。 'Would you let a woman like this； whom you could see； if you had
any experience of anything； to be as false and insolent as a woman can
be……would you let her put her foot upon your family； and thank her for
it？'
'No； Fanny； I am sure。' 'Then make her pay for it； you mean little
thing。 What else can you make her do？ Make her pay for it； you stupid
child； and do your family some credit with the money！'
They spoke no more all the way back to the lodging where Fanny and her
uncle lived。 When they arrived there； they found the old man practising
his clario in the dolefullest manner in a corner of the room。
Fanny had a posite meal to make； of chops； and porter； and tea； and
indignantly pretended to prepare it for herself； though her sister did
all that in quiet reality。 When at last Fanny sat down to eat and drink；
she threw the table implements about and was angry with her bread； much
as her father had been last night。
'If you despise me；' she said； bursting into vehement tears； 'because I
am a dancer； why did you put me in the way of being one？
It was your doing。 You would have me stoop as low as the ground before
this Mrs Merdle； and let her say what she liked and do what she liked；
and hold us all in contempt； and tell me so to my face。 Because I am a
dancer！'
'O Fanny！'
'And Tip； too； poor fellow。 She is to disparage him just as much as she
likes； without any check……I suppose because he has been in the law； and
the docks； and different things。 Why； it was your doing； Amy。 You might
at least approve of his being defended。'
All this time the uncle was dolefully blowing his clario in the
corner； sometimes taking it an inch or so from his mouth for a moment
while he stopped to gaze at them； with a vague impression that somebody
had said something。
'And your father； your poor father； Amy。 Because he is not free to show
himself and to speak for himself； you would let such people insult him
with impunity。 If you don't feel for yourself because you go out to
work； you might at least feel for him； I should think； knowing what he
has undergone so long。'
Poor Little Dorrit felt the injustice of this taunt rather sharply。
The remembrance of last night added a barbed point to it。 She said
nothing in reply； but turned her chair from the table towards the fire。
Uncle； after making one more pause