self…reliance。 Amy； none。'
None？ O Mrs General； ask the Marshalsea stones and bars。 O Mrs General；
ask the milliner who taught her to work； and the dancing…master who
taught her sister to dance。 O Mrs General； Mrs General； ask me； her
father； what I owe her； and hear my testimony touching the life of this
slighted little creature from her childhood up！
No such adjuration entered Mr。 Dorrit's head。 He looked at Mrs
General； seated in her usual erect attitude on her coach…box behind the
proprieties； and he said in a thoughtful manner； 'True； madam。'
'I would not；' said Mrs General； 'be understood to say； observe；
that there is nothing to improve in Fanny。 But there is material
there……perhaps； indeed； a little too much。'
'Will you be kind enough； madam；' said Mr Dorrit； 'to be……ha……more
explicit？ I do not quite understand my elder daughter's having……hum……too
much material。 What material？'
'Fanny；' returned Mrs General； 'at present forms too many opinions。
Perfect breeding forms none； and is never demonstrative。'
Lest he himself should be found deficient in perfect breeding； Mr Dorrit
hastened to reply； 'Unquestionably； madam； you are right。' Mrs General
returned； in her emotionless and expressionless manner； 'I believe so。'
'But you are aware； my dear madam；' said Mr Dorrit； 'that my daughters
had the misfortune to lose their lamented mother when they were very
young； and that； in consequence of my not having been until lately
the recognised heir to my property； they have lived with me as
a paratively poor； though always proud； gentleman； in……ha
hum……retirement！'
'I do not；' said Mrs General； 'lose sight of the circumstance。'
'Madam；'pursued Mr Dorrit； 'of my daughter Fanny； under her present
guidance and with such an example constantly before her……'
（Mrs General shut her eyes。）……'I have no misgivings。 There is
adaptability of character in Fanny。 But my younger daughter； Mrs
General； rather worries and vexes my thoughts。 I must inform you that
she has always been my favourite。'
'There is no accounting；' said Mrs General； 'for these partialities。'
'Ha……no；' assented Mr Dorrit。 'No。 Now； madam； I am troubled by noticing
that Amy is not； so to speak； one of ourselves。 She does not Care to go
about with us； she is lost in the society we have here； our tastes
are evidently not her tastes。 Which；' said Mr Dorrit； summing up with
judicial gravity； 'is to say； in other words； that there is something
wrong in……ha……Amy。'
'May we incline to the supposition；' said Mrs General； with a little
touch of varnish； 'that something is referable to the novelty of the
position？'
'Excuse me； madam；' observed Mr Dorrit； rather quickly。 'The daughter
of a gentleman； though……ha……himself at one time paratively far from
affluent……paratively……and herself reared in……hum……retirement； need
not of necessity find this position so very novel。'
'True；' said Mrs General； 'true。'
'Therefore； madam；' said Mr Dorrit； 'I took the liberty' （he laid an
emphasis on the phrase and repeated it； as though he stipulated； with
urbane firmness； that he must not be contradicted again）； 'I took the
liberty of requesting this interview； in order that I might mention the
topic to you； and inquire how you would advise me？'
'Mr Dorrit；' returned Mrs General； 'I have conversed with Amy several
times since we have been residing here； on the general subject of the
formation of a demeanour。 She has expressed herself to me as wondering
exceedingly at Venice。 I have mentioned to her that it is better not to
wonder。 I have pointed out to her that the celebrated Mr Eustace； the
classical tourist； did not think much of it； and that he pared the
Rialto； greatly to its disadvantage； with Westminster and Blackfriars
Bridges。 I need not add； after what you have said； that I have not yet
found my arguments successful。 You do me the honour to ask me what to
advise。 It always appears to me （if this should prove to be a baseless
assumption； I shall be pardoned）； that Mr Dorrit has been accustomed to
exercise influence over the minds of others。'
'Hum……madam；' said Mr Dorrit； 'I have been at the head of……ha of
a considerable munity。 You are right in supposing that I am not
unaccustomed to……an influential position。'
'I am happy；' returned Mrs General； 'to be so corroborated。 I would
therefore the more confidently remend that Mr Dorrit should speak to
Amy himself； and make his observations and wishes known to her。 Being
his favourite； besides； and no doubt attached to him； she is all the
more likely to yield to his influence。'
'I had anticipated your suggestion； madam；' said Mr Dorrit；
'but……ha……was not sure that I might……hum……not encroach on……'
'On my province； Mr Dorrit？' said Mrs General； graciously。 'Do not
mention it。'
'Then； with your leave； madam；' resumed Mr Dorrit； ringing his little
bell to summon his valet； 'I will send for her at once。'
'Does Mr Dorrit wish me to remain？'
'Perhaps； if you have no other engagement； you would not object for a
minute or two……'
'Not at all。'
So； Tinkler the valet was instructed to find Miss Amy's maid； and to
request that subordinate to inform Miss Amy that Mr Dorrit wished to
see her in his own room。 In delivering this charge to Tinkler； Mr Dorrit
looked severely at him； and also kept a jealous eye upon him until he
went out at the door； mistrusting that he might have something in his
mind prejudicial to the family dignity； that he might have even got wind
of some Collegiate joke before he came into the service； and might be
derisively reviving its remembrance at the present moment。 If Tinkler
had happened to smile； however faintly and innocently； nothing would
have persuaded Mr Dorrit； to the hour of his death； but that this was
the case。 As Tinkler happened； however； very fortunately for himself； to
be of a serious and posed countenance； he escaped the secret danger
that threatened him。 And as on his return……when Mr Dorrit eyed him
again……he announced Miss Amy as if she had e to a funeral； he left a
vague impression on Mr Dorrit's mind that he was a well…conducted young
fellow； who had been brought up in the study of his Catechism by a
widowed mother。
'Amy；' said Mr Dorrit； 'you have just now been the subject of some
conversation between myself and Mrs General。 We agree that you scarcely
seem at home here。 Ha……how is this？'
A pause。
'I think； father； I require a little time。'
'Papa is a preferable mode of address；' observed Mrs General。 'Father is
rather vulgar； my dear。 The word Papa； besides； gives a pretty form to
the lips。 Papa； potatoes； poultry； prunes； and prism are all very
good words for the lips： especially prunes and prism。 You will find it
serviceable； in the formation of a demeanour； if you sometimes say to
yourself in pany……on entering a room； for instance……Papa； potatoes；
poultry； prunes and prism； prunes and prism。'
'Pray； my child；' said Mr Dorrit； 'attend to the……hum……precepts of Mrs
General。'
Poor Little Dorrit； with a rather forlorn glance at that eminent
varnisher； promised to try。
'You say； Amy；' pursued Mr Dorrit； 'that you think you require time。
Time for what？'