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of his exalted relations； and had had much ado to prevail on them to
countenance her。 He never made the representation； on the contrary
seemed to laugh the idea to scorn； but it did happen that； with all his
pains to depreciate himself； he was always in the superior position。
From the days of their honeymoon； Minnie Gowan felt sensible of being
usually regarded as the wife of a man who had made a descent in marrying
her； but whose chivalrous love for her had cancelled that inequality。
To Venice they had been acpanied by Monsieur Blandois of Paris； and
at Venice Monsieur Blandois of Paris was very much in the society of
Gowan。 When they had first met this gallant gentleman at Geneva；
Gowan had been undecided whether to kick him or encourage him； and had
remained for about four…and…twenty hours； so troubled to settle
the point to his satisfaction； that he had thought of tossing up a
five…franc piece on the terms； 'Tails； kick； heads； encourage；' and
abiding by the voice of the oracle。 It chanced； however； that his wife
expressed a dislike to the engaging Blandois； and that the balance
of feeling in the hotel was against him。 Upon it； Gowan resolved to
encourage him。
Why this perversity； if it were not in a generous fit？……which it was
not。 Why should Gowan； very much the superior of Blandois of Paris； and
very well able to pull that prepossessing gentleman to pieces and find
out the stuff he was made of； take up with such a man？ In the first
place； he opposed the first separate wish he observed in his wife；
because her father had paid his debts and it was desirable to take an
early opportunity of asserting his independence。 In the second place；
he opposed the prevalent feeling； because with many capacities of
being otherwise； he was an ill…conditioned man。 He found a pleasure in
declaring that a courtier with the refined manners of Blandois ought
to rise to the greatest distinction in any polished country。 He found a
pleasure in setting up Blandois as the type of elegance； and making
him a satire upon others selves on personal graces。
He seriously protested that the bow of Blandois was perfect； that the
address of Blandois was irresistible； and that the picturesque ease
of Blandois would be cheaply purchased （if it were not a gift； and
unpurchasable） for a hundred thousand francs。 That exaggeration in the
manner of the man which has been noticed as appertaining to him and to
every such man； whatever his original breeding； as certainly as the sun
belongs to this system； was acceptable to Gowan as a caricature； which
he found it a humorous resource to have at hand for the ridiculing of
numbers of people who necessarily did more or less of what Blandois
overdid。 Thus he had taken up with him； and thus； negligently
strengthening these inclinations with habit； and idly deriving some
amusement from his talk； he had glided into a way of having him for
a panion。 This； though he supposed him to live by his wits at
play…tables and the like； though he suspected him to be a coward； while
he himself was daring and courageous； though he thoroughly knew him to
be disliked by Minnie； and though he cared so little for him； after all；
that if he had given her any tangible personal cause to regard him with
aversion； he would have had no punction whatever in flinging him out
of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city。
Little Dorrit would have been glad to make her visit to Mrs Gowan；
alone； but as Fanny； who had not yet recovered from her Uncle's protest；
though it was four…and…twenty hours of age； pressingly offered her
pany； the two sisters stepped together into one of the gondolas under
Mr Dorrit's window； and； with the courier in attendance； were taken in
high state to Mrs Gowan's lodging。 In truth； their state was rather too
high for the lodging； which was； as Fanny plained； 'fearfully out of
the way；' and which took them through a plexity of narrow streets of
water； which the same lady disparaged as 'mere ditches。'
The house； on a little desert island； looked as if it had broken
away from somewhere else； and had floated by chance into its present
anchorage in pany with a vine almost as much in want of training as
the poor wretches who were lying under its leaves。 The features of the
surrounding picture were； a church with hoarding and scaffolding about
it； which had been under suppositious repair so long that the means of
repair looked a hundred years old； and had themselves fallen into decay；
a quantity of washed linen； spread to dry in the sun； a number of houses
at odds with one another and grotesquely out of the perpendicular； like
rotten pre…Adamite cheeses cut into fantastic shapes and full of mites；
and a feverish bewilderment of windows； with their lattice…blinds all
hanging askew； and something draggled and dirty dangling out of most of
them。
On the first…floor of the house was a Bank……a surprising experience for
any gentleman of mercial pursuits bringing laws for all mankind from
a British city……where two spare clerks； like dried dragoons； in green
velvet caps adorned with golden tassels； stood； bearded； behind a small
counter in a small room； containing no other visible objects than an
empty iron…safe with the door open； a jug of water； and a papering of
garland of roses； but erely dipping
their hands out of sight； could produce exhaustless mounds of five…franc
pieces。 Below the Bank was a suite of three or four rooms with barred
windows； which had the appearance of a jail for criminal rats。 Above the
Bank was Mrs Gowan's residence。
Notwithstanding that its walls were blotched； as if missionary maps were
bursting out of them to impart geographical knowledge； notwithstanding
that its weird furniture was forlornly faded and musty； and that the
prevailing Veian odour of bilge water and an ebb tide on a weedy
shore was very strong； the place was better within； than it promised。
The door was opened by a smiling man like a reformed assassin……a
temporary servant……who ushered them into the room where Mrs Gowan sat；
with the announcement that two beautiful English ladies were e to see
the mistress。
Mrs Gowan； who was engaged in needlework； put her work aside in a
covered basket； and rose； a little hurriedly。 Miss Fanny was excessively
courteous to her； and said the usual nothings with the skill of a
veteran。
'Papa was extremely sorry；' proceeded Fanny； 'to be engaged to…day （he
is so much engaged here； our acquaintance being so wretchedly large！）；
and particularly requested me to bring his card for Mr Gowan。 That I may
be sure to acquit myself of a mission which he impressed upon me at
least a dozen times； allow me to relieve my conscience by placing it on
the table at once。'
Which she did with veteran ease。
'We have been；' said Fanny； 'charmed to understand that you know the
Merdles。 We hope it may be another means of bringing us together。'
'They are friends；' said Mrs Gowan； 'of Mr Gowan's family。 I have not
yet had the pleasure of a personal introduction to Mrs Merdle； but I
suppose I shall be presented to her at Rome。'
'Indeed？' returned Fanny； with an appearance of amiably quenching her
own superiority。 'I think you'll like her。'
'You know her very well？'
'Why； you see；' said Fanny； with a frank action of her pretty shoulders；
'in London one knows every one。 We met her on our way here； and； to say
the truth； papa was at first rather cross with her for taking one of the
rooms that our people had ordered for us。
However； of course； that soon blew over； and we were all good friends
again。'
Although the visit had as yet given Little Dorrit no opportunity of
conversing with Mrs Gowan； there was a silent understanding between
them； which did as well。 She looked at Mrs Gowan with keen and unabated
interest； the sound of her voice was thrilling to her； nothing that was
near her； or about her； or at all concerned her； escaped Little Dorrit。
She was quicker to perceive the slightest matter here； than in any other
case……but one。
'You have been quite well；' she now said； 'since that night？'
'Quite； my dear。 And you？' 'Oh！ I am always well；' said Little Dorrit；
timidly。 'I……yes； thank you。'
There was no reason for her faltering and breaking off； other than that
Mrs Gowan had touched her hand in speaking to her； and their looks had
met。 Something thoughtfully apprehensive in the large； soft eyes； had
checked Little Dorrit in an instant。
'You don't know that you are a favourite of my husband's； and that I am
almost bound to be jealous of you？' said Mrs Gowan。
Little Dorrit； blushing； shook her head。
'He will tell you； if he tells you what he tells me； that you are
quieter and quicker of resource than any one he ever saw。'
'He speaks far too well of me；' said Little Dorrit。
'I doubt that； but I don't at all doubt that I must tell him you
are here。 I should never be forgiven； if I were to let you……and Miss
Dorrit……go； without doing so。 May I？ You can excuse the disorder and
disfort of a painter's studio？'
The inquiries were addressed to Miss Fanny； who graciously replied that
she would be beyond anything interested and enchanted。 Mrs Gowan went to
a do