’Stopamoment，Amy，andletthemgetawaybeforeus，’whisperedFanny。Theyweresoonleftalone；nothingmoreimportanthappening，inthemeantime，thantheboylookingroundhisoldbeam，andsaying，’Everybodyatelevento-morrow，ladies!’andthegentlemanwiththeblackhairlookingroundhisoldbeam，andsaying，’Everybodyatelevento-morrow，darlings!’eachinhisownaccustomedmanner。
　　Whentheywerealone，somethingwasrolleduporbyothermeansgotoutoftheway，andtherewasagreatemptywellbeforethem，lookingdownintothedepthsofwhichFannysaid，’Now，uncle!’
　　LittleDorrit，ashereyesbecameusedtothedarkness，faintlymadehimoutatthebottomofthewell，inanobscurecornerbyhimself，withhisinstrumentinitsraggedcaseunderhisarm。
　　Theoldmanlookedasiftheremotehighgallerywindows，withtheirlittlestripofsky，mighthavebeenthepointofhisbetterfortunes，fromwhichhehaddescended，untilhehadgraduallysunkdownbelowtheretothebottom。Hehadbeeninthatplacesixnightsaweekformanyyears，buthadneverbeenobservedtoraisehiseyesabovehismusic-book，andwasconfidentlybelievedtohaveneverseenaplay。Therewerelegendsintheplacethathedidnotsomuchasknowthepopularheroesandheroinesbysight，andthatthelowcomedianhad’mugged’athiminhisrichestmannerfiftynightsforawager，andhehadshownnotraceofconsciousness。
　　Thecarpentershadajoketotheeffectthathewasdeadwithoutbeingawareofit；andthefrequentersofthepitsupposedhimtopasshiswholelife，nightandday，andSundayandall，intheorchestra。Theyhadtriedhimafewtimeswithpinchesofsnuffofferedovertherails，andhehadalwaysrespondedtothisattentionwithamomentarywakingupofmannerthathadthepalephantomofagentlemaninit：beyondthishenever，onanyoccasion，hadanyotherpartinwhatwasgoingonthanthepartwrittenoutfortheclarionet；inprivatelife，wheretherewasnopartfortheclarionet，hehadnopartatall。Somesaidhewaspoor，somesaidhewasawealthymiser；buthesaidnothing，neverlifteduphisbowedhead，nevervariedhisshufflinggaitbygettinghisspringlessfootfromtheground。Thoughexpectingnowtobesummonedbyhisniece，hedidnothearheruntilshehadspokentohimthreeorfourtimes；norwasheatallsurprisedbythepresenceoftwoniecesinsteadofone，butmerelysaidinhistremulousvoice，’Iamcoming，Iamcoming!’andcreptforthbysomeundergroundwaywhichemittedacellaroussmell。
　　’Andso，Amy，’saidhersister，whenthethreetogetherpassedoutatthedoorthathadsuchashame-facedconsciousnessofbeingdifferentfromotherdoors：theuncleinstinctivelytakingAmy’sarmasthearmtobereliedon：’so，Amy，youarecuriousaboutme？’
　　Shewaspretty，andconscious，andratherflaunting；andthecondescensionwithwhichsheputasidethesuperiorityofhercharms，andofherworldlyexperience，andaddressedhersisteronalmostequalterms，hadavastdealofthefamilyinit。
　　’Iaminterested，Fanny，andconcernedinanythingthatconcernsyou。’
　　’Soyouare，soyouare，andyouarethebestofAmys。IfIameveralittleprovoking，Iamsureyou’llconsiderwhatathingitistooccupymypositionandfeelaconsciousnessofbeingsuperiortoit。Ishouldn’tcare，’saidtheDaughteroftheFatheroftheMarshalsea，’iftheotherswerenotsocommon。Noneofthemhavecomedownintheworldaswehave。Theyareallontheirownlevel。Common。’
　　LittleDorritmildlylookedatthespeaker，butdidnotinterrupther。Fannytookoutherhandkerchief，andratherangrilywipedhereyes。’Iwasnotbornwhereyouwere，youknow，Amy，andperhapsthatmakesadifference。Mydearchild，whenwegetridofUncle，youshallknowallaboutit。We’lldrophimatthecook’sshopwhereheisgoingtodine。’
　　Theywalkedonwithhimuntiltheycametoadirtyshopwindowinadirtystreet，whichwasmadealmostopaquebythesteamofhotmeats，vegetables，andpuddings。Butglimpsesweretobecaughtofaroastlegofporkburstingintotearsofsageandonioninametalreservoirfullofgravy，ofanunctuouspieceofroastbeefandblisterousYorkshirepudding，bubblinghotinasimilarreceptacle，ofastuffedfilletofvealinrapidcut，ofahaminaperspirationwiththepaceitwasgoingat，ofashallowtankofbakedpotatoesgluedtogetherbytheirownrichness，ofatrussortwoofboiledgreens，andothersubstantialdelicacies。Within，wereafewwoodenpartitions，behindwhichsuchcustomersasfounditmoreconvenienttotakeawaytheirdinnersinstomachsthanintheirhands，Packedtheirpurchasesinsolitude。Fannyopeningherreticule，astheysurveyedthesethings，producedfromthatrepositoryashillingandhandedittoUncle。Uncle，afternotlookingatitalittlewhile，divineditsobject，andmuttering’Dinner？Ha!Yes，yes，yes!’slowlyvanishedfromthemintothemist。
　　’Now，Amy，’saidhersister，’comewithme，ifyouarenottootiredtowalktoHarleyStreet，CavendishSquare。’
　　Theairwithwhichshethrewoffthisdistinguishedaddressandthetossshegavetohernewbonnetwhichwasmoregauzythanserviceable，madehersisterwonder；however，sheexpressedherreadinesstogotoHarleyStreet，andthithertheydirectedtheirsteps。Arrivedatthatgranddestination，Fannysingledoutthehandsomesthouse，andknockingatthedoor，inquiredforMrsMerdle。Thefootmanwhoopenedthedoor，althoughhehadpowderonhisheadandwasbackedupbytwootherfootmenlikewisepowdered，notonlyadmittedMrsMerdletobeathome，butaskedFannytowalkin。Fannywalkedin，takinghersisterwithher；andtheywentup-
　　stairswithpowdergoingbeforeandpowderstoppingbehind，andwereleftinaspacioussemicirculardrawing-room，oneofseveraldrawing-rooms，wheretherewasaparrotontheoutsideofagoldencageholdingonbyitsbeak，withitsscalylegsintheair，andputtingitselfintomanystrangeupside-downpostures。Thispeculiarityhasbeenobservedinbirdsofquiteanotherfeather，climbingupongoldenwires。
　　TheroomwasfarmoresplendidthananythingLittleDorrithadeverimagined，andwouldhavebeensplendidandcostlyinanyeyes。Shelookedinamazementathersisterandwouldhaveaskedaquestion，butthatFannywithawarningfrownpointedtoacurtaineddoorwayofcommunicationwithanotherroom。Thecurtainshooknextmoment，andalady，raisingitwithaheavilyringedhand，droppeditbehindheragainassheentered。
　　TheladywasnotyoungandfreshfromthehandofNature，butwasyoungandfreshfromthehandofhermaid。Shehadlargeunfeelinghandsomeeyes，anddarkunfeelinghandsomehair，andabroadunfeelinghandsomebosom，andwasmadethemostofineveryparticular。Eitherbecauseshehadacold，orbecauseitsuitedherface，sheworearichwhitefillettiedoverherheadandunderherchin。Andifevertherewereanunfeelinghandsomechinthatlookedasif，forcertain，ithadneverbeen，infamiliarparlance，’chucked’bythehandofman，itwasthechincurbedupsotightandclosebythatlacedbridle。
　　’MrsMerdle，’saidFanny。’Mysister，ma’am。’
　　’Iamgladtoseeyoursister，MissDorrit。Ididnotrememberthatyouhadasister。’
　　’IdidnotmentionthatIhad，’saidFanny。
　　’Ah!’MrsMerdlecurledthelittlefingerofherlefthandaswhoshouldsay，’Ihavecaughtyou。Iknowyoudidn’t!’Allheractionwasusuallywithherlefthandbecauseherhandswerenotapair；andleftbeingmuchthewhiterandplumperofthetwo。Thensheadded：’Sitdown，’andcomposedherselfvoluptuously，inanestofcrimsonandgoldcushions，onanottomanneartheparrot。
　　’Alsoprofessional？’saidMrsMerdle，lookingatLittleDorritthroughaneye-glass。
　　FannyansweredNo。’No，’saidMrsMerdle，droppingherglass。
　　’Hasnotaprofessionalair。Verypleasant；butnotprofessional。’
　　’Mysister，ma’am，’saidFanny，inwhomtherewasasingularmixtureofdeferenceandhardihood，’hasbeenaskingmetotellher，asbetweensisters，howIcametohavethehonourofknowingyou。AndasIhadengagedtocalluponyouoncemore，IthoughtI
　　mighttakethelibertyofbringingherwithme，whenperhapsyouwouldtellher。Iwishhertoknow，andperhapsyouwilltellher？’
　　’Doyouthink，atyoursister’sage——’hintedMrsMerdle。
　　’Sheismucholderthanshelooks，’saidFanny；’almostasoldasIam。’
　　’Society，’saidMrsMerdle，withanothercurveofherlittlefinger，’issodifficulttoexplaintoyoungpersonsindeedissodifficulttoexplaintomostpersons，thatIamgladtohearthat。
　　IwishSocietywasnotsoarbitrary，Iwishitwasnotsoexacting——Bird，bequiet!’
　　Theparrothadgivenamostpiercingshriek，asifitsnamewereSocietyanditasserteditsrighttoitsexactions。
　　’But，’resumedMrsMerdle，’wemusttakeitaswefindit。Weknowitishollowandconventionalandworldlyandveryshocking，butunlessweareSavagesintheTropicalseasIshouldhavebeencharmedtobeonemyself——mostdelightfullifeandperfectclimate，Iamtold，wemustconsultit。Itisthecommonlot。MrMerdleisamostextensivemerchant，histransactionsareonthevastestscale，hiswealthandinfluenceareverygreat，butevenhe——Bird，bequiet!’
　　Theparrothadshriekedanothershriek；anditfilledupthesentencesoexpressivelythatMrsMerdlewasundernonecessitytoendit。
　　’SinceyoursisterbegsthatIwouldterminateourpersonalacquaintance，’shebeganagain，addressingLittleDorrit，’byrelatingthecircumstancesthataremuchtohercredit，Icannotobjecttocomplywithherrequest，Iamsure。IhaveasonIwasfirstmarriedextremelyyoungoftwoorthree-and-twenty。’
　　Fannysetherlips，andhereyeslookedhalftriumphantlyathersister。
　　’Asonoftwoorthree-and-twenty。Heisalittlegay，athingSocietyisaccustomedtoinyoungmen，andheisveryimpressible。
　　Perhapsheinheritsthatmisfortune。Iamveryimpressiblemyself，bynature。Theweakestofcreatures——myfeelingsaretouchedinamoment。’
　　Shesaidallthis，andeverythingelse，ascoldlyasawomanofsnow；quiteforgettingthesistersexceptatoddtimes，andapparentlyaddressingsomeabstractionofSociety；forwhosebehoof，too，sheoccasionallyarrangedherdress，orthecompositionofherfigureupontheottoman。
　　’Soheisveryimpressible。NotamisfortuneinournaturalstateIdaresay，butwearenotinanaturalstate。Muchtobelamented，nodoubt，particularlybymyself，whoamachildofnatureifIcouldbutshowit；butsoitis。Societysuppressesusanddominatesus——Bird，bequiet!’
　　Theparrothadbrokenintoaviolentfitoflaughter，aftertwistingdiversbarsofhiscagewithhiscrookedbill，andlickingthemwithhisblacktongue。
　　’Itisquiteunnecessarytosaytoapersonofyourgoodsense，widerangeofexperience，andcultivatedfeeling，’saidMrsMerdlefromhernestofcrimsonandgold——andthereputupherglasstorefreshhermemoryastowhomshewasaddressing，——’thatthestagesometimeshasafascinationforyoungmenofthatclassofcharacter。Insayingthestage，Imeanthepeopleonitofthefemalesex。Therefore，whenIheardthatmysonwassupposedtobefascinatedbyadancer，IknewwhatthatusuallymeantinSociety，andconfidedinherbeingadancerattheOpera，whereyoungmenmovinginSocietyareusuallyfascinated。’
　　Shepassedherwhitehandsoveroneanother，observantofthesistersnow；andtheringsuponherfingersgratedagainsteachotherwithahardsound。
　　’Asyoursisterwilltellyou，whenIfoundwhatthetheatrewasI
　　wasmuchsurprisedandmuchdistressed。ButwhenIfoundthatyoursister，byrejectingmyson’sadvancesImustadd，inanunexpectedmanner，hadbroughthimtothepointofproposingmarriage，myfeelingswereoftheprofoundestanguish——acute。’Shetracedtheoutlineofherlefteyebrow，andputitright。
　　’Inadistractedcondition，whichonlyamother——movinginSociety——canbesusceptibleof，Ideterminedtogomyselftothetheatre，andrepresentmystateofmindtothedancer。Imademyselfknowntoyoursister。Ifoundher，tomysurprise，inmanyrespectsdifferentfrommyexpectations；andcertainlyinnonemoreso，thaninmeetingmewith——whatshallIsay——asortoffamilyassertiononherownpart？’MrsMerdlesmiled。
　　’Itoldyou，ma’am，’saidFanny，withaheighteningcolour，’thatalthoughyoufoundmeinthatsituation，Iwassofarabovetherest，thatIconsideredmyfamilyasgoodasyourson’s；andthatIhadabrotherwho，knowingthecircumstances，wouldbeofthesameopinion，andwouldnotconsidersuchaconnectionanyhonour。’