, our Amy, our Amy!« said Fanny. »What a timid little goose our Amy is!
But this is nothing to laugh at. On the contrary, I am very cross, my dear.«
    »As it is not with me, Fanny, I don't mind,« returned her sister, smiling.
    »Ah! But I do mind,« said Fanny, »and so will you, Pet, when I enlighten
you. Amy, has it never struck you that somebody is monstrously polite to Mrs.
General?«
    »Everybody is polite to Mrs. General,« said Little Dorrit. »Because -«
    »Because she freezes them into it?« interrupted Fanny. »I don't mean that;
quite different from that. Come! Has it never struck you, Amy, that Pa is
monstrously polite to Mrs. General?«
    Amy, murmuring »No,« looked quite confounded.
    »No; I dare say not. But he is,« said Fanny. »He is, Amy. And remember my
words. Mrs. General has designs on Pa!«
    »Dear Fanny, do you think it possible that Mrs. General has designs on any
one?«
    »Do I think it possible?« retorted Fanny. »My love, I know it. I tell you
she has designs on Pa. And more than that, I tell you, Pa considers her such a
wonder, such a paragon of accomplishment, and such an acquisition to our family,
that he is ready to get himself into a state of perfect infatuation with her at
any moment. And that opens a pretty picture of things, I hope! Think of me with
Mrs. General for a Mama!«
    Little Dorrit did not reply, »Think of me with Mrs. General for a Mama;« but
she looked anxious, and seriously inquired what had led Fanny to these
conclusions.
    »Lord, my darling,« said Fanny, tartly. »You might as well ask me how I know
when a man is struck with myself! But, of course I do know. It happens pretty
often; but I always know it. I know this, in much the same way, I suppose. At
all events, I know it.«
    »You never heard Papa say anything?«
    »Say anything?« repeated Fanny. »My dearest, darling child, what necessity
has he had, yet awhile, to say anything?«
    »And you have never heard Mrs. General say anything?«
    »My goodness