could or would have committed but for the delight he
took in exposing us; and then we are to be demeaned for the service of his
friends! Why, I don't wonder at this Mr. Gowan's conduct towards you. What else
was to be expected when he was enjoying our past misfortunes - gloating over
them at the moment!«
    »Father - Edward - no indeed!« pleaded Little Dorrit. »Neither Mr. nor Mrs.
Gowan had ever heard our name. They were, and they are, quite ignorant of our
history.«
    »So much the worse,« retorted Fanny, determined not to admit anything in
extenuation, »for then you have no excuse. If they had known about us, you might
have felt yourself called upon to conciliate them. That would have been a weak
and ridiculous mistake, but I can respect a mistake, whereas I can't respect a
wilful and deliberate abasing of those who should be nearest and dearest to us.
No. I can't respect that. I can do nothing but denounce that.«
    »I never offend you wilfully, Fanny,« said Little Dorrit, »though you are so
hard with me.«
    »Then you should be more careful, Amy,« returned her sister. »If you do such
things by accident, you should be more careful. If I happened to have been born
in a peculiar place, and under peculiar circumstances that blunted my knowledge
of propriety, I fancy I should think myself bound to consider at every step, Am
I going, ignorantly, to compromise any near and dear relations? That is what I
fancy I should do, if it was my case.«
    Mr. Dorrit now interposed, at once to stop these painful subjects by his
authority, and to point their moral by his wisdom.
    »My dear,« said he to his younger daughter, »I beg you to - ha - to say no
more. Your sister Fanny expresses herself strongly, but not without considerable
reason. You have now a - hum - a great position to support. That great position
is not occupied by yourself alone, but by - ha - by me, and - ha hum - by us.
Us. Now, it is incumbent upon all people in an exalted position, but it is
particularly so on this family, for reasons which I - ha - will not dwell upon,
to make themselves respected. To be vigilant in making themselves respected.
Dependants, to respect us, must be - ha - kept at a distance and -