Little Dorrit2008

[Fanny and Edmund discuss the impact of Mr Merdle's suicide and the collapse of his bank]

Fanny Dorrit:
What a dreadful thing, Sparkler.

Sparkler:
[ineffectually] Horrid. Horrid.

Fanny Dorrit:
And with our mother-of-pearl penknife, too.

Sparkler:
I know, my love - shocking.

Fanny Dorrit:
If I had known what he wanted it for I might not have lent it to him. And now the Coroner's got it, I suppose, and heaven knows when I shall get it back.

Sparkler:
I know, dear heart. It's very... vexing.

Fanny Dorrit:
Are you fearfully cut-up about it, Sparkler? Was you very close to him?

Sparkler:
Well I am a *bit* cut-up about it, Fanny. Of course it's not as if he was my *real* papa, but he wasn't a bad stick. The mater found him fearfully annoying, but I didn't. I think the *bird* was rather fond of him.

[Sparkler walks over to Merdle's parrot]

Sparkler:
I know *he* was fond of *it*.

Fanny Dorrit:
Sparkler?

Sparkler:
Yes, my dearest love.

Fanny Dorrit:
What is to become of us now? Are we rich or are we poor?

Sparkler:
We may have to tighten our belts a little. Perhaps find a smaller place in a less expensive part of town.

Fanny Dorrit:
[coldly] Such as where?

Sparkler:
[diffidently] Erm... Fulham?

Fanny Dorrit:
[shouts] Fulham?