WhenIgoabouthereinagondola，IsurprisemyselflookingintoothergondolasasifIhopedtoseethem。Itwouldovercomemewithjoytoseethem，butIdon’tthinkitwouldsurprisememuch，atfirst。Inmyfancifultimes，Ifancythattheymightbeanywhere；andIalmostexpecttoseetheirdearfacesonthebridgesorthequays。
　　AnotherdifficultythatIhavewillseemverystrangetoyou。Itmustseemverystrangetoanyonebutme，anddoeseventome：I
　　oftenfeeltheoldsadpityfor——Ineednotwritetheword——forhim。Changedasheis，andinexpressiblyblestandthankfulasI
　　alwaysamtoknowit，theoldsorrowfulfeelingofcompassioncomesuponmesometimeswithsuchstrengththatIwanttoputmyarmsroundhisneck，tellhimhowIlovehim，andcryalittleonhisbreast。Ishouldbegladafterthat，andproudandhappy。ButI
　　knowthatImustnotdothis；thathewouldnotlikeit，thatFannywouldbeangry，thatMrsGeneralwouldbeamazed；andsoIquietmyself。Yetindoingso，IstrugglewiththefeelingthatIhavecometobeatadistancefromhim；andthateveninthemidstofalltheservantsandattendants，heisdeserted，andinwantofme。
　　DearMrClennam，Ihavewrittenagreatdealaboutmyself，butI
　　mustwritealittlemorestill，orwhatIwantedmostofalltosayinthisweakletterwouldbeleftoutofit。Inallthesefoolishthoughtsofmine，whichIhavebeensohardyastoconfesstoyoubecauseIknowyouwillunderstandmeifanybodycan，andwillmakemoreallowanceformethananybodyelsewouldifyoucannot——inallthesethoughts，thereisonethoughtscarcelyever——never——outofmymemory，andthatisthatIhopeyousometimes，inaquietmoment，haveathoughtforme。Imusttellyouthatastothis，I
　　havefelt，eversinceIhavebeenaway，ananxietywhichIamveryanxioustorelieve。Ihavebeenafraidthatyoumaythinkofmeinanewlight，oranewcharacter。Don’tdothat，Icouldnotbearthat——itwouldmakememoreunhappythanyoucansuppose。ItwouldbreakmyhearttobelievethatyouthoughtofmeinanywaythatwouldmakemestrangertoyouthanIwaswhenyouweresogoodtome。WhatIhavetoprayandentreatofyouis，thatyouwillneverthinkofmeasthedaughterofarichperson；thatyouwillneverthinkofmeasdressinganybetter，orlivinganybetter，thanwhenyoufirstknewme。Thatyouwillremembermeonlyasthelittleshabbygirlyouprotectedwithsomuchtenderness，fromwhosethreadbaredressyouhavekeptawaytherain，andwhosewetfeetyouhavedriedatyourfire。Thatyouwillthinkofmewhenyouthinkofmeatall，andofmytrueaffectionanddevotedgratitude，alwayswithoutchange，asofyourpoorchild，LITTLEDORRIT。
　　P。S——ParticularlyrememberthatyouarenottobeuneasyaboutMrsGowan。Herwordswere，’Verywellandveryhappy。’Andshelookedmostbeautiful。
　　SomethingWrongSomewhereThefamilyhadbeenamonthortwoatVenice，whenMrDorrit，whowasmuchamongCountsandMarquises，andhadbutscantleisure，setanhourofonedayapart，beforehand，forthepurposeofholdingsomeconferencewithMrsGeneral。
　　Thetimehehadreservedinhismindarriving，hesentMrTinkler，hisvalet，toMrsGeneral’sapartmentwhichwouldhaveabsorbedaboutathirdoftheareaoftheMarshalsea，topresenthiscomplimentstothatlady，andrepresenthimasdesiringthefavourofaninterview。Itbeingthatperiodoftheforenoonwhenthevariousmembersofthefamilyhadcoffeeintheirownchambers，somecoupleofhoursbeforeassemblingatbreakfastinafadedhallwhichhadoncebeensumptuous，butwasnowthepreyofwateryvapoursandasettledmelancholy，MrsGeneralwasaccessibletothevalet。Thatenvoyfoundheronalittlesquareofcarpet，soextremelydiminutiveinreferencetothesizeofherstoneandmarblefloorthatshelookedasifshemighthavehaditspreadforthetryingonofaready-madepairofshoes；orasifshehadcomeintopossessionoftheenchantedpieceofcarpet，boughtforfortypursesbyoneofthethreeprincesintheArabianNights，andhadthatmomentbeentransportedonit，atawish，intoapalatialsaloonwithwhichithadnoconnection。
　　MrsGeneral，replyingtotheenvoy，asshesetdownheremptycoffee-cup，thatshewaswillingatoncetoproceedtoMrDorrit’sapartment，andsparehimthetroubleofcomingtoherwhich，inhisgallantry，hehadproposed，theenvoythrewopenthedoor，andescortedMrsGeneraltothepresence。Itwasquiteawalk，bymysteriousstaircasesandcorridors，fromMrsGeneral’sapartment，——hoodwinkedbyanarrowsidestreetwithalowgloomybridgeinit，anddungeon-likeoppositetenements，theirwallsbesmearedwithathousanddownwardstainsandstreaks，asifeverycrazyapertureinthemhadbeenweepingtearsofrustintotheAdriaticforcenturies——toMrDorrit’sapartment：withawholeEnglishhouse-
　　frontofwindow，aprospectofbeautifulchurch-domesrisingintotheblueskysheeroutofthewaterwhichreflectedthem，andahushedmurmuroftheGrandCanallavingthedoorwaysbelow，wherehisgondolasandgondoliersattendedhispleasure，drowsilyswinginginalittleforestofpiles。
　　MrDorrit，inaresplendentdressing-gownandcap——thedormantgrubthathadsolongbideditstimeamongtheCollegianshadburstintoararebutterfly——rosetoreceiveMrsGeneral。AchairtoMrsGeneral。Aneasierchair，sir；whatareyoudoing，whatareyouabout，whatdoyoumean？Now，leaveus!
　　’MrsGeneral，’saidMrDorrit，’Itooktheliberty——’
　　’Bynomeans，’MrsGeneralinterposed。’Iwasquiteatyourdisposition。Ihadhadmycoffee。’
　　’——Itooktheliberty，’saidMrDorritagain，withthemagnificentplacidityofonewhowasabovecorrection，’tosolicitthefavourofalittleprivateconversationwithyou，becauseIfeelratherworriedrespectingmy——ha——myyoungerdaughter。Youwillhaveobservedagreatdifferenceoftemperament，madam，betweenmytwodaughters？’
　　SaidMrsGeneralinresponse，crossingherglovedhandsshewasneverwithoutgloves，andtheynevercreasedandalwaysfitted，’Thereisagreatdifference。’
　　’MayIasktobefavouredwithyourviewofit？’saidMrDorrit，withadeferencenotincompatiblewithmajesticserenity。
　　’Fanny，’returnedMrsGeneral，’hasforceofcharacterandself-
　　reliance。Amy，none。’
　　None？OMrsGeneral，asktheMarshalseastonesandbars。OMrsGeneral，askthemillinerwhotaughthertowork，andthedancing-
　　masterwhotaughthersistertodance。OMrsGeneral，MrsGeneral，askme，herfather，whatIoweher；andhearmytestimonytouchingthelifeofthisslightedlittlecreaturefromherchildhoodup!
　　NosuchadjurationenteredMr。Dorrit’shead。HelookedatMrsGeneral，seatedinherusualerectattitudeonhercoach-boxbehindtheproprieties，andhesaidinathoughtfulmanner，’True，madam。’
　　’Iwouldnot，’saidMrsGeneral，’beunderstoodtosay，observe，thatthereisnothingtoimproveinFanny。Butthereismaterialthere——perhaps，indeed，alittletoomuch。’
　　’Willyoubekindenough，madam，’saidMrDorrit，’tobe——ha——moreexplicit？Idonotquiteunderstandmyelderdaughter’shaving——
　　hum——toomuchmaterial。Whatmaterial？’
　　’Fanny，’returnedMrsGeneral，’atpresentformstoomanyopinions。
　　Perfectbreedingformsnone，andisneverdemonstrative。’
　　Lesthehimselfshouldbefounddeficientinperfectbreeding，MrDorrithastenedtoreply，’Unquestionably，madam，youareright。’
　　MrsGeneralreturned，inheremotionlessandexpressionlessmanner，’Ibelieveso。’
　　’Butyouareaware，mydearmadam，’saidMrDorrit，’thatmydaughtershadthemisfortunetolosetheirlamentedmotherwhentheywereveryyoung；andthat，inconsequenceofmynothavingbeenuntillatelytherecognisedheirtomyproperty，theyhavelivedwithmeasacomparativelypoor，thoughalwaysproud，gentleman，in——hahum——retirement!’
　　’Idonot，’saidMrsGeneral，’losesightofthecircumstance。’
　　’Madam，’pursuedMrDorrit，’ofmydaughterFanny，underherpresentguidanceandwithsuchanexampleconstantlybeforeher——’
　　MrsGeneralshuthereyes。——
　　’Ihavenomisgivings。ThereisadaptabilityofcharacterinFanny。Butmyyoungerdaughter，MrsGeneral，ratherworriesandvexesmythoughts。Imustinformyouthatshehasalwaysbeenmyfavourite。’
　　’Thereisnoaccounting，’saidMrsGeneral，’forthesepartialities。’
　　’Ha——no，’assentedMrDorrit。’No。Now，madam，IamtroubledbynoticingthatAmyisnot，sotospeak，oneofourselves。ShedoesnotCaretogoaboutwithus；sheislostinthesocietywehavehere；ourtastesareevidentlynothertastes。Which，’saidMrDorrit，summingupwithjudicialgravity，’istosay，inotherwords，thatthereissomethingwrongin——ha——Amy。’
　　’Mayweinclinetothesupposition，’saidMrsGeneral，withalittletouchofvarnish，’thatsomethingisreferabletothenoveltyoftheposition？’
　　’Excuseme，madam，’observedMrDorrit，ratherquickly。’Thedaughterofagentleman，though——ha——himselfatonetimecomparativelyfarfromaffluent——comparatively——andherselfrearedin——hum——retirement，neednotofnecessityfindthispositionsoverynovel。’
　　’True，’saidMrsGeneral，’true。’
　　’Therefore，madam，’saidMrDorrit，’Itooktheliberty’helaidanemphasisonthephraseandrepeatedit，asthoughhestipulated，withurbanefirmness，thathemustnotbecontradictedagain，’I
　　tookthelibertyofrequestingthisinterview，inorderthatI
　　mightmentionthetopictoyou，andinquirehowyouwouldadviseme？’
　　’MrDorrit，’returnedMrsGeneral，’IhaveconversedwithAmyseveraltimessincewehavebeenresidinghere，onthegeneralsubjectoftheformationofademeanour。ShehasexpressedherselftomeaswonderingexceedinglyatVenice。Ihavementionedtoherthatitisbetternottowonder。IhavepointedouttoherthatthecelebratedMrEustace，theclassicaltourist，didnotthinkmuchofit；andthathecomparedtheRialto，greatlytoitsdisadvantage，withWestminsterandBlackfriarsBridges。Ineednotadd，afterwhatyouhavesaid，thatIhavenotyetfoundmyargumentssuccessful。Youdomethehonourtoaskmewhattoadvise。Italwaysappearstomeifthisshouldprovetobeabaselessassumption，Ishallbepardoned，thatMrDorrithasbeenaccustomedtoexerciseinfluenceoverthemindsofothers。’
　　’Hum——madam，’saidMrDorrit，’Ihavebeenattheheadof——haofaconsiderablecommunity。YouarerightinsupposingthatIamnotunaccustomedto——aninfluentialposition。’
　　’Iamhappy，’returnedMrsGeneral，’tobesocorroborated。I
　　wouldthereforethemoreconfidentlyrecommendthatMrDorritshouldspeaktoAmyhimself，andmakehisobservationsandwishesknowntoher。Beinghisfavourite，besides，andnodoubtattachedtohim，sheisallthemorelikelytoyieldtohisinfluence。’
　　’Ihadanticipatedyoursuggestion，madam，’saidMrDorrit，’but——
　　ha——wasnotsurethatImight——hum——notencroachon——’
　　’Onmyprovince，MrDorrit？’saidMrsGeneral，graciously。’Donotmentionit。’
　　’Then，withyourleave，madam，’resumedMrDorrit，ringinghislittlebelltosummonhisvalet，’Iwillsendforheratonce。’
　　’DoesMrDorritwishmetoremain？’
　　’Perhaps，ifyouhavenootherengagement，youwouldnotobjectforaminuteortwo——’
　　’Notatall。’