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； I am glad you
can contemplate such an escape； my dear； and I am glad that you can take
this for the present with sufficient coolness to think of such a chance。
It makes me hope that you may be able to bear the connection。 I should
not be able to bear it； and I should not try。
I'd marry young Sparkler first。'
'O； you would never marry him； Fanny； under any circumstances。'
'Upon my word； my dear；' rejoined that young lady with exceeding
indifference； 'I wouldn't positively answer even for that。 There's
no knowing what might happen。 Especially as I should have many
opportunities； afterwards； of treating that woman； his mother； in her
own style。 Which I most decidedly should not be slow to avail myself of；
Amy。'
No more passed between the sisters then； but what had passed gave the
two subjects of Mrs General and Mr Sparkler great prominence in Little
Dorrit's mind； and thenceforth she thought very much of both。
Mrs General； having long ago formed her own surface to such perfection
that it hid whatever was below it （if anything）； no observation was to
be made in that quarter。 Mr Dorrit was undeniably very polite to her
and had a high opinion of her； but Fanny； impetuous at most times； might
easily be wrong for all that。
Whereas； the Sparkler question was on the different footing that any one
could see what was going on there； and Little Dorrit saw it and pondered
on it with many doubts and wonderings。
The devotion of Mr Sparkler was only to be equalled by the caprice
and cruelty of his enslaver。 Sometimes she would prefer him to such
distinction of notice； that he would chuckle aloud with joy； next day；
or next hour； she would overlook him so pletely； and drop him into
such an abyss of obscurity； that he would groan under a weak pretence of
coughing。 The constancy of his attendance never touched Fanny： though he
was so inseparable from Edward； that； when that gentleman wished for
a change of society； he was under the irksome necessity of gliding out
like a conspirator in disguised boats and by secret doors and back ways；
though he was so solicitous to know how Mr Dorrit was； that he called
every other day to inquire； as if Mr Dorrit were the prey of an
intermittent fever； though he was so constantly being paddled up and
down before the principal windows； that he might have been supposed to
have made a wager for a large stake to be paddled a thousand miles in
a thousand hours； though whenever the gondola of his mistress left the
gate； the gondola of Mr Sparkler shot out from some watery ambush
and gave chase； as if she were a fair smuggler and he a custom…house
officer。 It was probably owing to this fortification of the natural
strength of his constitution with so much exposure to the air； and the
salt sea； that Mr Sparkler did not pine outwardly； but； whatever the
cause； he was so far from having any prospect of moving his mistress by
a languishing state of health； that he grew bluffer every day； and that
peculiarity in his appearance of seeming rather a swelled boy than
a young man； became developed to an extraordinary degree of ruddy
puffiness。
Blandois calling to pay his respects； Mr Dorrit received him with
affability as the friend of Mr Gowan； and mentioned to him his idea of
missioning Mr Gowan to transmit him to posterity。 Blandois highly
extolling it； it occurred to Mr Dorrit that it might be agreeable to
Blandois to municate to his friend the great opportunity reserved
for him。 Blandois accepted the mission with his own free elegance of
manner； and swore he would discharge it before he was an hour older。 On
his imparting the news to Gowan； that Master gave Mr Dorrit to the
Devil with great liberality some round dozen of times （for he resented
patronage almost as much as he resented the want of it）； and was
inclined to quarrel with his friend for bringing him the message。
'It may be a defect in my mental vision； Blandois；' said he； 'but may I
die if I see what you have to do with this。'
'Death of my life；' replied Blandois； 'nor I neither； except that I
thou