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dignified affection； 'is this the case？'
Little Dorrit mildly answered； yes it was。
'Yes it is！' cried Miss Fanny。 'Of course！ I said so！ And now； Pa； I do
declare once for all'……this young lady was in the habit of declaring the
same thing once for all every day of her life； and even several times in
a day……'that this is shameful！ I do declare once for all that it ought
to be put a stop to。 Is it not enough that we have gone through what
is only known to ourselves； but are we to have it thrown in our faces；
perseveringly and systematically； by the very person who should spare
our feelings most？ Are we to be exposed to this unnatural conduct every
moment of our lives？ Are we never to be permitted to forget？ I say
again； it is absolutely infamous！'
'Well； Amy；' observed her brother； shaking his head； 'you know I stand
by you whenever I can； and on most occasions。 But I must say； that； upon
my soul； I do consider it rather an unaccountable mode of showing your
sisterly affection； that you should back up a man who treated me in the
most ungentlemanly way in which one man can treat another。 And who；' he
added convincingly； must be a low…minded thief； you know； or he never
could have conducted himself as he did。'
'And see；' said Miss Fanny； 'see what is involved in this！ Can we ever
hope to be respected by our servants？ Never。 Here are our two women； and
Pa's valet； and a footman； and a courier； and all sorts of dependents；
and yet in the midst of these； we are to have one of ourselves rushing
about with tumblers of cold water； like a menial！ Why； a policeman；'
said Miss Fanny； 'if a beggar had a fit in the street； could but go
plunging about with tumblers； as this very Amy did in this very room
before our very eyes last night！'
'I don't so much mind that； once in a way；' remarked Mr Edward； 'but
your Clennam； as he thinks proper to call himself； is another thing。'
'He is part of the same thing；' returned Miss Fanny； 'and of a piece
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。