Bored Ramblings {Fanny Thornton}

  I am quite bored. I can't go shopping because it's raining and I've used up most of the small pittance that John calls an allowance. I played the piano all afternoon until Mother suggested I do something else, and for lack of anything better to do I decided to write a blog post about whatever comes to mind.

  I brought such a pretty dress yesterday! It's bright pink with blue, orange, and green ruffles. Mother gave a sort of groan when she saw it. I suppose she thought it was too showy. Really, the lack of taste in my family is quite astounding! But of course, I more than make up for any lack on Mother or John's part. 

  I also recently ordered a water mattress. They're supposed to be very comfortable. I'm not actually ill, but I am very delicate and I think it best to be prepared just in case.

  I'm going to re-trim one of my bonnets, but I can't decide whether to do pink ribbons or purple. Perhaps I'll ask Miss Latimer when I see her again. That reminds me, I'll have to lend her The Tales of the Alhambra. I think she would like it.

  I read Miss Dorrit's first post, and I quite envy her. I wish I could go to Europe! And from looking at the picture, her brother seems much nicer than mine. Milton is such a dull, smoky place, and I never get to go anywhere. How pleasant it would be if we discovered that John was the heir to a great fortune! Then we could buy an estate in the country, instead of living next to this noisy mill, and I could marry a member of Parliament, or an earl, or something.

  John just came home. I wonder if he's going to read with Mr. Hale this evening. I don't see why anyone, even someone as boring as John, would want  to take lessons. Especially on Aristotole and Plato. I tried reading Plato once, but I didn't get past the table of contents

  It's time for dinner now, so I'll have to stop writing.

On our way out of this horrid place {Fanny Dorrit}

Well! I've finally purchased a laptop of my own, after wanting one for ever so long.  We get terrible Internet access here at the Marshalsea, and I'm hoping that will change once we arrive in Venice.

My family has recently come into a large sum of money, and we're finally able to leave nasty London and travel the continent just as I've always dreamed of doing.  Of course I have to leave behind my dancing friends, which is too bad, but at least I won't have to bother with that annoying Edmund Sparkler anymore.

It's been such fun purchasing new clothes at last, and I must say my father and Tip look quite dashing in their outfits.  Amy, however, is plaguing the whole family to no end.  She's always cramped my style, but now that we actually have the means to truly dress well, she insists on still wearing her old gowns!  I do believe the silly little mouse likes being poor as a beggar!

Dear me, I've just realized that you don't know how my family looks, do you?  Let me introduce you to them.

First there is my father, William Dorrit, who once called himself the Father of the Marshalsea, but has (I'm glad to say) left behind all that nonsense now his fortune's come in.  This picture was taken before we got the inheritance, of course.

Then there is my brother Edward, whom we once called Tip (I can't seem to get out of the habit, but of course I simply have to) when we were... living lower, you might say.  But now, of course, he must be referred to as Edward.

Edward and Papa are really the only members of my family who can see sense about anything.   Amy, now... ugh.  Sometimes she's the best and dearest little mouse, and sometimes she's downright vexing.  I don't know if she'll ever grasp what it is to be a fine lady!

Then there's Uncle Frederick, who's nearly as bad as Amy, but thank heavens he doesn't give us as much trouble.  (Amy, on the other hand, thinks of no one but herself and her silly pauper friends.)  I doubt he'll ever become such a fine figure of a man as Papa, but one can always hope.

Ugh, my Internet connection is horrid here! I'm afraid I'll have to sign off for now until we get going on our journey. The inn we're staying at on the first night supposedly has wi-fi, so I'll check in then.

Horrors! An update before I leave-- Papa has gone ahead and engaged a companion for Amy and me as we travel! Some horrid old buzzard named Mrs. General-- I do not need a governess, thank you very much, and this woman, from what I've seen of her, seems perfectly dreadful.  But perhaps she will do Amy some good and at least halfway teach her how to be a lady.

Oh, dear, my laptop's running out of batt---

Visit To The Hales

  Mother and I called on the Hales yesterday, as we had planned. Their house was so small and dingy! Why, our staircases are wider then the drawing room. Miss Hale and her mother were very polite and ladylike, but Miss Hale is not musical, and they had no piano. I wonder how they can exsist without one. It seems to me to be a necessary of life. Miss Hale has been to London, however; indeed, she lived there for several years. Oh, how I long to go to London! It must be so delightful to be able to hear all the newest music and see all the new fashions as soon as they come out. She had not read Tales of the Alhambra, which I found disappointing. She probably doesn't have much taste in literature.
  It turns out that the Hales left their vicarage in Helstub(it was something like that) because of a matter of conscience. I'm not quite sure what that means, but I think it was rather foolish of Mr. Hale to give up his living and come here. I can't imagine how anyone could trade a nice country home for a dirty, smoky place like Milton. But then, it's none of my business.
  Of course, Mother had to brag about John before we left. Why does she always do that? It's not as if he's anything out of the ordinary. She seems to think that just because he worked his way up from poverty and paid off all Father's debts and started Marlborough Mills and became a magistrate that he's something special. She never brags about ME. And there's far more reason to brag about me than about John. It's not as if he's a musical prodigy. Oh, well. I think I'll go play the piano.

Family Pictures

  Hello everyone! I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of my family.

  My father died when I was a child, and the only picture we have of him is this one John drew when he was four.
                                         
                                              

                                                               
                                                               This is my mother.

                                             
                           
                     
       This is my brother, John. He is the muddiest stick in the mud I ever saw.
                                         
                                              
 

                                                    

                     And this, of course, is me. I am by far the prettiest person in my family.                          
                                               

  Mother and I are going to visit the Hales tomorrow. I wonder if Miss Hale is musical. Of course, she probably isn't as good as me, but then I have special talent. Mother said once that she had never heard anyone play the way I do. I wonder why the Hales came to Milton. I can't see why anyone would want to live here. Dirty, smoky hole that it is, I can't wait to leave.

Welcome to our wonderful blog!

Welcome to The Victorian Fans! This blog is owned and operated by two young ladies who share the same Christian name.  I (Fanny Dorrit) came up with the idea, by the way.

Yes, yes, we know.  Being the expert on fashion that I am, I suggested the title.


We're looking forward to hearing lots and lots of comments from all of you! (Except Sparkler.  Sparkler, be quiet.) 

And John had better not comment and tell me to stop playing the piano.

Ooh, Fanny, remind me to teach you how to do high kicks!

Oh, that's great.  Then I can kick John when he irritates me! (Which is often.)  

Ugh.  Tip says my computer time is up.  Do write to me soon, Miss Thornton!

Heehee, John hardly ever uses the laptop, so I get it all day long.  Bye, Miss Dorrit!
Now, let's see, what shall I talk about.  I've been reading Tales of the Alhambra, and I've always wanted to see the Alhambra.  But instead I'm stuck (in the mud) in this dirty, smoky hole of a town with my stick-in-the-mud brother.  Things might be getting a little more interesting soon because a new family has moved to Milton... the Hales, they call themselves.  I'm looking forward to calling upon them, but I am sure Miss Hale cannot possibly play such pretty angel music as I do myself.  Oh dear, I have to go visit Miss Ann Latimer now... it is most tedious, as she never opens her mouth.  I have to do all the talking.  Which is not difficult.