superiority seemed to counterbalance that opposite side of the scale。 If
Mr Sparkler had been other than the faithfullest and most submissive of
swains； he was sufficiently hard pressed to have fled from the scene of
his trials； and have set at least the whole distance from Rome to London
between himself and his enchantress。 But he had no greater will of his
own than a boat has when it is towed by a steam…ship； and he followed
his cruel mistress through rough and smooth； on equally strong
pulsion。
Mrs Merdle； during these passages； said little to Fanny； but said
more about her。 She was； as it were； forced to look at her through her
eye…glass； and in general conversation to allow mendations of her
beauty to be wrung from her by its irresistible demands。 The defiant
character it assumed when Fanny heard these extollings （as it generally
happened that she did）； was not expressive of concessions to the
impartial bosom； but the utmost revenge the bosom took was； to say
audibly； 'A spoilt beauty……but with that face and shape； who could
wonder？'
It might have been about a month or six weeks after the night of the
new advice； when Little Dorrit began to think she detected some new
understanding between Mr Sparkler and Fanny。 Mr Sparkler； as if in
attendance to some pact； scarcely ever spoke without first looking
towards Fanny for leave。 That young lady was too discreet ever to look
back again； but； if Mr Sparkler had permission to speak； she remained
silent； if he had not； she herself spoke。 Moreover； it became plain
whenever Henry Gowan attempted to perform the friendly office of drawing
him out； that he was not to be drawn。 And not only that； but Fanny would
presently； without any pointed application in the world； chance to say
something with such a sting in it that Gowan would draw back as if he
had put his hand into a bee…hive。
There was yet another circumstance which went a long way to confirm
Little Dorrit in her fears； though it was not a great circumstance
in itself。 Mr Sparkler's demeanour towards herself changed。 It became
fraternal。 Sometimes； when she was in the outer circle of assemblies……at
their own residence； at Mrs Merdle's； or elsewhere……she would find
herself stealthily supported round the waist by Mr Sparkler's arm。 Mr
Sparkler never offered the slightest explanation of this attention；
but merely smiled with an air of blundering； contented； good…natured
proprietorship； which； in so heavy a gentleman； was ominously
expressive。
Little Dorrit was at home one day； thinking about Fanny with a heavy
heart。 They had a room at one end of their drawing…room suite； nearly
all irregular bay…window； projecting over the street； and manding
all the picturesque life and variety of the Corso； both up and down。 At
three or four o'clock in the afternoon； English time； the view from this
window was very bright and peculiar； and Little Dorrit used to sit
and muse here； much as she had been used to while away the time in her
balcony at Venice。 Seated thus one day； she was softly touched on the
shoulder； and Fanny said； 'Well； Amy dear；' and took her seat at her
side。 Their seat was a part of the window； when there was anything in
the way of a procession going on； they used to have bright draperies
hung out of the window； and used to kneel or sit on this seat； and look
out at it； leaning on the brilliant colour。 But there was no procession
that day； and Little Dorrit was rather surprised by Fanny's being at
home at that hour； as she was generally out on horseback then。
'Well； Amy；' said Fanny； 'what are you thinking of； little one？' 'I was
thinking of you； Fanny。'
'No？ What a coincidence！ I declare here's some one else。 You were not
thinking of this some one else too； were you； Amy？'
Amy HAD been thinking of this some one else too； for it was Mr Sparkler。
She did not say so； however； as she gave him her hand。 Mr Sparkler
came and sat down on the other side of her； and she felt the fraternal
railing e behind her； and apparently stretch on to include Fanny。
'Well； my little sister；' said Fanny with a sigh； 'I suppose you know
what this means？'
'She's as beautiful as she's doated on；' stammered Mr Sparkler……'and
there's no nonsense about her……it's arranged……'
'You needn't explain； Edmund；' said Fanny。
'No； my love；' said Mr Sparkler。
'In short； pet；' proceeded Fanny； 'on the whole； we are engaged。 We
must tell papa about it either to…night or to…morrow； according to the
opportunities。 Then it's done； and very little more need be said。'
'My dear Fanny；' said Mr Sparkler； with deference； 'I should like to say
a word to Amy。'
'Well； well！ Say it for goodness' sake；' returned the young lady。
'I am convinced； my dear Amy；' said Mr Sparkler； 'that if ever there
was a girl； next to your highly endowed and beautiful sister； who had no
nonsense about her……'
'We know all about that； Edmund；' interposed Miss Fanny。 'Never mind
that。 Pray go on to something else besides our having no nonsense about
us。'
'Yes； my love；' said Mr Sparkler。 'And I assure you； Amy； that nothing
can be a greater happiness to myself； myself……next to the happiness of
being so highly honoured with the choice of a glorious girl who hasn't
an atom of……'
'Pray； Edmund； pray！' interrupted Fanny； with a slight pat of her pretty
foot upon the floor。
'My love； you're quite right；' said Mr Sparkler； 'and I know I have a
habit of it。 What I wished to declare was； that nothing can be a greater
happiness to myself； myself…next to the happiness of being united to
pre…eminently the most glorious of girls……than to have the happiness
of cultivating the affectionate acquaintance of Amy。 I may not myself；'
said Mr Sparkler manfully； 'be up to the mark on some other subjects
at a short notice； and I am aware that if you were to poll Society the
general opinion would be that I am not； but on the subject of Amy I am
up to the mark！'
Mr Sparkler kissed her； in witness thereof。
'A knife and fork and an apartment；' proceeded Mr Sparkler； growing； in
parison with his oratorical antecedents； quite diffuse； 'will ever
be at Amy's disposal。 My Governor； I am sure； will always be proud to
entertain one whom I so much esteem。 And regarding my mother；' said Mr
Sparkler； 'who is a remarkably fine woman； with……'
'Edmund； Edmund！' cried Miss Fanny； as before。
'With submission； my soul；' pleaded Mr Sparkler。 'I know I have a habit
of it； and I thank you very much； my adorable girl； for taking the
trouble to correct it； but my mother is admitted on all sides to be a
remarkably fine woman； and she really hasn't any。'
'That may be； or may not be；' returned Fanny； 'but pray don't mention it
any more。'
'I will not； my love；' said Mr Sparkler。
'Then； in fact； you have nothing more to say； Edmund； have you？'
inquired Fanny。
'So far from it； my adorable girl；' answered Mr Sparkler； 'I apologise
for having said so much。'
Mr Sparkler perceived； by a kind of inspiration； that the question
implied had he not better go？ He therefore withdrew the fraternal
railing； and neatly said that he thought he would； with submission； take
his leave。 He did not go withou