Little Dorrit

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of animal cruelty.

Several small groups of travelers make their way through the Swiss Alps, stopping to stay the night at a convent. Though their identities are not revealed until the very end of the chapter, among these groups are the Dorrits, Pet and Henry Gowan, and Rigaud, who is still calling himself Blandois. The travelers discuss their plans to go from France to Italy, and Blandois attempts to get in the good graces of William Dorrit. Pet faints by the fire and Amy goes to see her, knowing she must be the person Clennam was in love with. Amy carries a letter from Clennam to Pet, which she gives the woman, and Pet asks her to write to Clennam saying she is well.

Among the company of the Dorrits is a dignified woman called Mrs. General, whom William has hired to be his daughters’ chaperone and educate them on society matters. Mrs. General is described as a woman who does not have an opinion on anything and she demands not to be told anything that could shock her.