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apartment； and spare him the trouble of ing to her （which； in his
gallantry； he had proposed）； the envoy threw open the door； and
escorted Mrs General to the presence。 It ysterious
staircases and corridors； from Mrs General's apartment；……hoodwinked by
a narrow side street with a low gloomy bridge in it； and dungeon…like
opposite tenements； their walls besmeared with a thousand downward
stains and streaks； as if every crazy aperture in them had been weeping
tears of rust into the Adriatic for centuries……to Mr Dorrit's apartment：
with a whole English house…front of window； a prospect of beautiful
church…domes rising into the blue sky sheer out of the water which
reflected them； and a hushed murmur of the Grand Canal laving the
doorways below； where his gondolas and gondoliers attended his pleasure；
drowsily swinging in a little forest of piles。
Mr Dorrit； in a resplendent dressing…gown and cap……the dormant grub that
had so long bided its time among the Collegians had burst into a rare
butterfly……rose to receive Mrs General。 A chair to Mrs General。 An
easier chair； sir； what are you doing； what are you about； what do you
mean？ Now； leave us！
'Mrs General；' said Mr Dorrit； 'I took the liberty……'
'By no means；' Mrs General interposed。 'I was quite at your disposition。
I had had my coffee。'
'……I took the liberty；' said Mr Dorrit again； with the magnificent
placidity of one who was above correction； 'to solicit the favour of
a little private conversation with you； because I feel rather worried
respecting my……ha……my younger daughter。 You will have observed a great
difference of temperament； madam； between my two daughters？'
Said Mrs General in response； crossing her gloved hands （she was never
without gloves； and they never creased and always fitted）； 'There is a
great difference。'
'May I ask to be favoured with your view of it？' said Mr Dorrit； with a
deference not inpatible with majestic serenity。
'Fanny；' returned Mrs General； 'has force of character and
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