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'Blandois！ How can you be such a fool as to provoke him！ By Heaven； and
the other place too； he'll tear you to bits！ Lie down！
Lion！ Do you hear my voice； you rebel！
'The great dog； regardless of being half…choked by his collar； was
obdurately pulling with his dead weight against his master； resolved to
get across the room。 He had been crouching for a spring at the moment
when his master caught him。
'Lion！ Lion！' He was up on his hind legs； and it was a wrestle between
master and dog。 'Get back！ Down； Lion！ Get out of his sight； Blandois！
What devil have you conjured into the dog？'
'I have done nothing to him。'
'Get out of his sight or I can't hold the wild beast！ Get out of the
room！ By my soul； he'll kill you！'
The dog； with a ferocious bark； made one other struggle as Blandois
vanished； then； in the moment of the dog's submission； the master；
little less angry than the dog； felled him with a blow on the head； and
standing over him； struck him many times severely with the heel of his
boot； so that his mouth was presently bloody。
'Now get you into that corner and lie down；' said Gowan； 'or I'll take
you out and shoot you。'
Lion did as he was ordered； and lay down licking his mouth and chest。
Lion's master stopped for a moment to take breath； and then； recovering
his usual coolness of manner； turned to speak to his frightened wife
and her visitors。 Probably the whole occurrence had not occupied two
minutes。
'e； e； Minnie！ You know he is always good…humoured and tractable。
Blandois must have irritated him；……made faces at him。 The dog has his
likings and dislikings； and Blandois is no great favourite of his； but
I am sure you will give him a character； Minnie； for never having been
like this before。'
Minnie was too much disturbed to say anything connected in reply； Little
Dorrit was already occupied in soothing her； Fanny； who had cried out
twice or thrice； held Gowan's arm for protection； Lion； deeply ashamed
of having caused them this alarm； came trailing himself along the ground
to the feet of his mistress。
'You furious brute；' said Gowan； striking him with his foot again。 'You
shall do penance for this。' And he struck him again； and yet again。
'O； pray don't punish him any more；' cried Little Dorrit。 'Don't hurt
him。 See how gentle he is！' At her entreaty； Gowan spared him； and he
deserved her intercession； for truly he was as submissive； and as sorry；
and as wretched as a dog could be。
It was not easy to recover this shock and make the visit unrestrained；
even though Fanny had not been； under the best of circumstances； the
least trifle in the way。 In such further munication as passed among
them before the sisters took their departure； Little Dorrit fancied it
was revealed to her that Mr Gowan treated his wife； even in his very
fondness； too much like a beautiful child。 He seemed so unsuspicious of
the depths of feeling which she knew must lie below that surface； that
she doubted if there could be any such depths in himself。 She wondered
whether his want of earnestness might be the natural result of his want
of such qualities； and whether it was with people as with ships； that；
in too shallow and rocky waters； their anchors had no hold； and they
drifted anywhere。
He attended them down the staircase； jocosely apologising for the
poor quarters to which such poor fellows as himself were limited； and
remarking that when the high and mighty Barnacles； his relatives； who
would be dreadfully ashamed of them； presented him with better； he would
live in better to oblige them。 At the water's edge they were saluted by
Blandois； who looked white enough after his late adventure； but who made
very light of it notwithstanding；……laughing at the mention of Lion。
Leaving the two together under the scrap of vine upon the causeway；
Gowan idly scattering the leaves from it into the water； and Blandois
lighting a cigarette； the sisters were paddled away in state as they had
e。 They had not glided on for many minutes； when Little Dorrit became
aware that Fanny was more showy in manner than the occasion appeared to
require； and； looking about for the cause through the window and through
the open door； saw another gondola evidently in waiting on them。
As this gondola attended their progress in various artful ways；
sometimes shooting on a…head； and stopping to let them pass； sometimes；
when the way was broad enough； skimming along side by side with them；
and sometimes following close astern； and as Fanny gradually made no
disguise that she was playing off graces upon somebody within it； of
whom she at the same time feigned to be unconscious； Little Dorrit at
length asked who it was？
To which Fanny made the short answer； 'That gaby。'
'Who？' said Little Dorrit。
'My dear child；' returned Fanny （in a tone suggesting that before her
Uncle's protest she might have said； You little fool； instead）； 'how
slow you are！ Young Sparkler。'
She lowered the window on her side； and； leaning back and resting her
elbow on it negligently； fanned herself with a rich Spanish fan of black
and gold。 The attendant gondola； having skimmed forward again； with some
swift trace of an eye in the window； Fanny laughed coquettishly and
said； 'Did you ever see such a fool； my love？'
'Do you think he means to follow you all the way？' asked Little Dorrit。
'My precious child；' returned Fanny； 'I can't possibly answer for what
an idiot in a state of desperation may do； but I should think it highly
probable。 It's not such an enormous distance。 All Venice would scarcely
be that； I imagine； if he's dying for a glimpse of me。'
'And is he？' asked Little Dorrit in perfect simplicity。
'Well； my love； that really is an ae to answer；'
said her sister。 'I believe he is。 You had better ask Edward。 He tells
Edward he is； I believe。 I understand he makes a perfect spectacle of
himself at the Casino； and that sort of places； by going on about me。
But you had better ask Edward if you want to know。'
'I wonder he doesn't call；' said Little Dorrit after thinking a moment。
'My dear Amy； your wonder will soon cease； if I am rightly informed。
I should not b