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by himself； and； indeed； I don't like that he should be trusted by
himself。 For； if it's possible……and it generally is……to do a foolish
thing； he is sure to do it。'
As she concluded this impartial summary of the reliance that might be
safely placed upon her future husband； she took off； with an air of
business； the bon she wore； and dangled it by its strings upon the
ground。
'It is far more Edmund's question； therefore； than mine。 However； we
need say no more about that。 That is self…evident on the face of it。
Well； my dearest Amy！ The point arising； is he to go by himself； or is
he not to go by himself； this other point arises； are we to be married
here and shortly； or are we to be married at home months hence？'
'I see I am going to lose you； Fanny。'
'What a little thing you are；' cried Fanny； half tolerant and half
impatient； 'for anticipating one！ Pray； my darling； hear me out。 That
woman；' she spoke of Mrs Merdle； of course； 'remains here until after
Easter； so； in the case of my being married here and going to London
with Edmund； I should have the start of her。 That is something。 Further；
Amy。 That woman being out of the way； I don't know that I greatly object
to Mr Merdle's proposal to Pa that Edmund and I should take up our abode
in that house……you know……where you once went with a dancer； my dear；
until our own house can be chosen and fitted up。 Further still； Amy。
Papa having always intended to go to town himself； in the spring；……you
see； if Edmund and I were married here； we might go off to Florence；
where papa might join us； and we might all three travel home together。
Mr Merdle has entreated Pa to stay with him in that same mansion I have
mentioned； and I suppose he will。 But he is master of his own actions；
and upon that point （which is not at all material） I can't speak
positively。' The difference between papa's being master of his own
actions and Mr Sparkler's being nothing of the sort； was forcibly
expressed by Fanny in her manner of stating the case。 Not that her
sister noticed it； for she was divided between regret at the ing
separation； and a lingering wish that she had been included in the plans
for visiting England。
'And these are the arrangements； Fanny dear？'
'Arrangements！' repeated Fanny。 'Now； really； child； you are a little
trying。 You know I particularly guarded myself against laying my words
open to any such construction。 What I said was； that certain questions
present themselves； and these are the questions。'
Little Dorrit's thoughtful eyes met hers； tenderly and quietly。
'Now； my own sweet girl；' said Fanny； weighing her bon by the strings
with considerable impatience； 'it's no use staring。 A little owl could
stare。 I look to you for advice； Amy。 What do you advise me to do？'
'Do you think；' asked Little Dorrit； persuasively； after a short
hesitation； 'do you think； Fanny； that if you were to put it off for a
few months； it might be； considering all things； best？'
'No； little Tortoise；' retorted Fanny； with exceeding sharpness。 'I
don't think anything of the kind。'
Here； she threw her bon from her altogether； and flounced into a
chair。 But； being affectionate almost immediately； she flounced out
of it again； and kneeled down on the floor to take her sister； chair and
all； in her arms。
'Don't suppose I am hasty or unkind； darling； because I really am not。
But you are such a little oddity！ You make one bite your head off；
when one wants to be soothing beyond everything。 Didn't I tell you； you
dearest baby； that Edmund can't be trusted by himself？ And don't you
know that he can't？'
'Yes； yes； Fanny。 You said so； I know。'
'And you know it； I know；' retorted Fanny。 'Well； my precious child！ If
he is not to be trusted by himself； it follows； I suppose； that I should
go with him？'
'It……seems so； love；' said Little Dorrit。
'Therefore； having heard the arrangements that are feasible to carry
out that object； am I to understand； dearest Amy； that on the whole you
advise me to make them？'
'It……seems so； love；' said Little Dorrit again。
'Very well；' cried Fanny with an air of resignation； 'then I suppose it
must be done！ I came to you； my sweet； the moment I saw the doubt； and
the necessity of deciding。 I have now decided。 So let it be。'
After yielding herself up； in this pattern manner； to sisterly advice
and the force of circumstances； Fanny became quite benignant： as one
who had laid her own inclinations at the feet of her dearest friend； and
felt a glow of conscience in having made the sacrifice。 'After all； my
Amy；' she said to her sister； 'you are the best of small creatures； and
full of good sense； and I don't know what I shall ever do without you！'
With which words she folded her in a closer embrace； and a really fond
one。
'Not that I contemplate doing without You； Amy； by any means； for I hope
we shall ever be next to inseparable。 And now； my pet； I am going
to give you a word of advice。 When you are left alone here with Mrs
General……'
'I am to be left alone here with Mrs General？' said Little Dorrit；
quietly。
'Why； of course； my precious； till papa es back！ Unless you call
Edward pany； which he certainly is not； even when he is here； and
still more certainly is not when he is away at Naples or in Sicily。 I
was going to say……but you are such a beloved little Marplot for putting
one out……when you are left alone here with Mrs General； Amy； don't you
let her slide into any sort of artful understanding with you that she is
looking after Pa； or that Pa is looking after her。 She will if she can。
I know her sly manner of feeling her way with those gloves of hers。 But
don't you prehend her on any account。 And if Pa should tell you when
he es back； that he has it in contemplation to make Mrs General your
mama （which is not the less likely because I am going away）； my advice
to you is； that you say at once； 〃Papa； I beg to object most strongly。
Fanny cautioned me about this； and she objected； and I object。〃 I don't
mean to say that any objection from you； Amy； is likely to be of the
smallest effect； or that I think you likely to make it with any degree
of firmness。 But there is a principle involved……a filial principle……and
I implore you not to submit to be mother…in…lawed by Mrs General；
without asserting it in making every one about you as unfortable as
possible。 I don't expect you to stand by it……indeed； I know you won't；
Pa being concerned……but I wish to rouse you to a sense of duty。 As to
any help from me； or as to any opposition that I can offer to such a
match； you shall not be left in the lurch； my love。 Whatever weight
I may derive from my position as a married girl not wholly devoid of
attractions……used； as that position always shall be； to oppose that
woman……I will bring to bear； you May depend upon it； on the head and
false hair （for I am confident it's not all real； ugly as it is and
unlikely as it appears that any One in their Senses would go to the
expense of buying it） of Mrs General！' Little Dorrit received this
counsel without venturing to oppose it but without giving Fanny any
reason to believe that she intended to act upon it。 Having now； a