of course,« said Fanny. »Charmed, I am sure!«
    »I understand,« said Mrs. Merdle, »from my son Edmund Sparkler, that he has
already improved that chance occasion. He has returned quite transported with
Venice.«
    »Indeed?« returned the careless Fanny. »Was he there long?«
    »I might refer that question to Mr. Dorrit,« said Mrs. Merdle, turning the
bosom towards that gentleman; »Edmund having been so much indebted to him for
rendering his stay agreeable.«
    »Oh, pray don't speak of it,« returned Fanny. »I believe Papa had the
pleasure of inviting Mr. Sparkler twice or thrice, - but it was nothing. We had
so many people about us, and kept such open house, that if he had that pleasure,
it was less than nothing.«
    »Except, my dear,« said Mr. Dorrit, »except - ha - as it afforded me unusual
gratification to - hum - show by any means, however slight and worthless, the -
ha, hum - high estimation in which, in - ha - common with the rest of the world,
I hold so distinguished and princely a character as Mr. Merdle's.«
    The bosom received this tribute in its most engaging manner. »Mr. Merdle,«
observed Fanny, as a means of dismissing Mr. Sparkler into the background, »is
quite a theme of Papa's, you must know, Mrs. Merdle.«
    »I have been - ha - disappointed, madam,« said Mr. Dorrit, »to understand
from Mr. Sparkler that there is no great - hum - probability of Mr. Merdle's
coming abroad.«
    »Why, indeed,« said Mrs. Merdle, »he is so much engaged, and in such
request, that I fear not. He has not been able to get abroad for years. You,
Miss Dorrit, I believe have been almost continually abroad for a long time.«
    »Oh dear yes,« drawled Fanny, with the greatest hardihood. »An immense
number of years.«
    »So I should have inferred,« said Mrs. Merdle.
    »Exactly,« said Fanny.
    »I trust, however,« resumed Mr. Dorrit, »that if I have not the - hum -
great advantage of becoming known to Mr. Merdle on this side of the Alps or
Mediterranean, I shall have that honour on returning to England. It is an honour
I particularly desire and shall particularly