with all the rest。 He obtruded himself upon us in the first instance。
We never wanted him。 I always showed him； for one； that I could have
dispensed with his pany with the greatest pleasure。
He then mits that gross outrage upon our feelings； which he never
could or would have mitted but for the delight he took in exposing
us； and then we are to be demeaned for the service of his friends！ Why；
I don't wonder at this Mr Gowan's conduct towards you。 What else was
to be expected when he was enjoying our past misfortunes……gloating over
them at the moment！' 'Father……Edward……no indeed！' pleaded Little Dorrit。
'Neither Mr nor Mrs Gowan had ever heard our name。 They were； and they
are； quite ignorant of our history。'
'So much the worse；' retorted Fanny； determined not to admit anything in
extenuation； 'for then you have no excuse。 If they had known about us；
you might have felt yourself called upon to conciliate them。 That would
have been a weak and ridiculous mistake； but I can respect a mistake；
whereas I can't respect a wilful and deliberate abasing of those who
should be nearest and dearest to us。 No。 I can't respect that。 I can do
nothing but denounce that。'
'I never offend you wilfully； Fanny；' said Little Dorrit； 'though you
are so hard with me。'
'Then you should be more careful； Amy；' returned her sister。 'If you do
such things by accident； you should be more careful。 If I happened to
have been born in a peculiar place； and under peculiar circumstances
that blunted my knowledge of propriety； I fancy I should think myself
bound to consider at every step； 〃Am I going； ignorantly； to promise
any near and dear relations？〃 That is what I fancy I should do； if it
was my case。'
Mr Dorrit now interposed； at once to stop these painful subjects by his
authority； and to point their moral by his wisdom。
'My dear；' said he to his younger daughter； 'I beg you to……ha……to say
no more。 Your sister Fanny expresses herself strongly； but not without
considerable reason。 You have now a……hum……a great position to support。
That great position is not occupied by yourself alone； but by……ha……by
me； and……ha hum……by us。 Us。 Now； it is incumbent upon all people in an
exalted position； but it is particularly so on this family； for reasons
which I……ha……will not dwell upon； to make themselves respected。 To be
vigilant in making themselves respected。 Dependants； to respect us； must
be……ha……kept at a distance and……hum……kept down。 Down。 Therefore； your
not exposing yourself to the remarks of our attendants by appearing to
have at any time dispensed with their services and performed them for
yourself； is……ha……highly important。'
'Why； who can doubt it？' cried Miss Fanny。 'It's the essence of
everything。' 'Fanny；' returned her father； grandiloquently； 'give me
leave； my dear。 We then e to……ha……to Mr Clennam。 I am free to say
that I do not； Amy； share your sister's sentiments……that is to say
altogether……hum……altogether……in reference to Mr Clennam。 I am content
to regard that individual in the light of……ha……generally……a well…behaved
person。 Hum。 A well…behaved person。 Nor r
Clennam did； at any time； obtrude himself on……ha……my society。 He knew my
society to be……hum……sought； and his plea might be that he regarded me in
the light of a public character。 But there were circumstances attending
my……ha……slight knowledge of Mr Clennam （it was very slight）； which；'
here Mr Dorrit became extremely grave and impressive； 'would render it
highly indelicate in Mr Clennam to……ha……to seek to renew munication
with me or with any member of my family under existing circumstances。
If Mr Clennam has sufficient delicacy to perceive the impropriety of
any such attempt； I am bound as a responsible gentleman to……ha……defer
to that delicacy on his part。 If； on the other hand； Mr Clennam has not
that delicacy； I cannot for a moment……ha……hold any correspondence with
so……hum……coarse a mind。 In either case； it would appear that Mr Clennam
is put altogether out of the question； and that we have nothing to do
with him or he with us。 Ha……Mrs General！'
The entrance of the lady whom he announced； to take her place at the
breakfast…table； terminated the discussion。 Shortly afterwards； the
courier announced that the valet； and the footman； and the two maids；
and the four guides； and the fourteen mules； were in readiness； so the
breakfast party went out to the convent door to join the cavalcade。
Mr Gowan stood aloof with his cigar and pencil； but Mr Blandois was on
the spot to pay his respects to the ladies。 When he gallantly pulled
off his slouched hat to Little Dorrit； she thought he had even a more
sinister look； standing swart and cloaked in the snow； than he had
in the fire…light over…night。 But； as both her father and her sister
received his homage with some favour； she refrained from expressing any
distrust of him； lest it should prove to be a new blemish derived from
her prison birth。
Nevertheless； as they wound down the rugged way while the convent was
yet in sight； she more than once looked round； and descried Mr Blandois；
backed by the convent smoke which rose straight and high from the
chimneys in a golden film； always standing on one jutting point looking
down after them。 Long after he was a mere black stick in the snow； she
felt as though she could yet see that smile of his； that high nose； and
those eyes that were too near it。 And even after that； when the convent
was gone and some light morning clouds veiled the pass below it； the
ghastly skeleton arms by the wayside seemed to be all pointing up at
him。
More treacherous than snow； perhaps； colder at heart； and harder to
melt； Blandois of Paris by degrees passed out of her mind； as they came
down into the softer regions。 Again the sun was warm； again the streams
descending from glaciers and snowy caverns were refreshing to drink at；
again they came among the pine…trees； the rocky rivulets； the verdant
heights and dales； the wooden chalets and rough zigzag fences of Swiss
country。 Sometimes the way so widened that she and her father could
ride abreast。 And then to look at him； handsomely clothed in his fur and
broadcloths； rich； free； numerously served and attended； his eyes roving
far away among the glories of the landscape； no miserable screen before
them to darken his sight and cast its shadow on him； was enough。
Her uncle was so far rescued from that shadow of old； that he wore the
clothes they gave him； and performed some ablutions as a sacrifice to
the family credit； and went where he was taken； with a certain patient
animal enjoyment； which seemed to express that the air and change did
him good。 In all other respects； save one； he shone with no light but
such as was reflected from his brother。 His brother's greatness； wealth；
freedom； and grandeur； pleased him without any reference to himself。
Silent and retiring； he had no use for speech when he could hear his
brother speak； no desire to be waited on； so that the servants devoted
themselves to his brother。 The only noticeable change he originated in
himself； was an alteration in his manner to his younger niece。 Every day
it refined more and more into a marked r