Leaving  the  two  together,  under  the  scrap  of  vine  upon  the  causeway,
Gowan  idly  scattering  the  leaves  from  it  into  the  water,  and  Blandois
lighting  a  cigarette,  the  sisters  were  paddled  away  in  state  as  they  had
come.     They  had  not  glided  on  for  many  minutes,  when  Little  Dorrit


LITTLE   DORRIT.  371

became  aware  that  Fanny  was  more  sho^wy  in  manner  than  the  occa-
sion appeared  to  require,  and,  looking  about  for  the  cause,  through  the
window  and  through  the  open  door,  saw  another  gondola  evidently  in
waiting  on  them.
As  this  gondola  attended  their  progress  in  various  artful  ways  ;
sometimes  shooting  on  a-head,  and  stopping  to  let  them  pass ;  some-
times, when  the  way  was  broad  enough,  skimming  along  side  by
side  with  them ;  and  sometimes  following  close  astern ;  and  as  Fanny
gradually  made  no  disguise  that  she  was  playing  off  graces  upon  some-
body within  it,  of  whom  she  at  the  same  time  feigned  to  be  uncon-
scious ;  Little  Dorrit  at  length  asked  who  it  was  ?

To  which  Fanny  made  the  short  answer,  "  That  gaby."

"  Who  ?  "  said  Little  Dorrit.
"My  dear  child,"  returned  Fanny  (in  a  tone  suggesting  that  before
her  Uncle's  protest  she  might  have  said,  You  little  fool,  instead),
"how  slow  you  are  !     Young  Sparkler."

She  lowered  the  window  on  her  side,  and,  leaning  back  and  resting
her  elbow  on  it  negligently,  fanned  herself  with  a  rich  Spanish  fan  of
black  and  gold.  The  attendant  gondola,  having  skimmed  forward
again,  with  some  swift  trace  of  an  eye  in  the  window,  Fanny  laughed
coquettishly,  and  said,  "  Did  you  ever  see  such  a  fool,  my  love?"

"  Do  you  think  he  means  to  follow  you  all  the  way  ?"  asked  Little
Dorrit.
