'You have some extent of such property about the east and north-east

here, I believe?' said Clennam, doubtful which of the two to address. 'Oh, pretty well,' said Pancks. 'You're not particular to east or

north-east, any point of the compass will do for you. What you want is

a good investment and a quick return. You take it where you can find it.

You ain't nice as to situation--not you.'

There was a fourth and most original figure in the Patriarchal tent, who

also appeared before dinner. This was an amazing little old woman, with

a face like a staring wooden doll too cheap for expression, and a stiff

yellow wig perched unevenly on the top of her head, as if the child who

owned the doll had driven a tack through it anywhere, so that it only

got fastened on. Another remarkable thing in this little old woman was,

that the same child seemed to have damaged her face in two or three

places with some blunt instrument in the nature of a spoon; her

countenance, and particularly the tip of her nose, presenting the

phenomena of several dints, generally answering to the bowl of that

article. A further remarkable thing in this little old woman was, that

she had no name but Mr F.'s Aunt.

She broke upon the visitor's view under the following circumstances:

Flora said when the first dish was being put on the table, perhaps Mr

Clennam might not have heard that Mr F. had left her a legacy? Clennam

in return implied his hope that Mr F. had endowed the wife whom he

adored, with the greater part of his worldly substance, if not with all.

Flora said, oh yes, she didn't mean that, Mr F. had made a beautiful

will, but he had left her as a separate legacy, his Aunt. She then

went out of the room to fetch the legacy, and, on her return, rather

triumphantly presented 'Mr F.'s Aunt.'

The major characteristics discoverable by the stranger in Mr F.'s Aunt,

were extreme severity and grim taciturnity; sometimes interrupted by

a propensity to offer remarks in a deep warning voice, which, being

totally uncalled for by anything said by anybody, and traceable to no

association of ideas, confounded and terrified the Mind. Mr F.'s Aunt

may have thrown in these observations on some system of her own, and it

may have been ingenious, or even subtle: but the key to it was wanted.

The neatly-served and well-cooked dinner (for everything about the

Patriarchal household promoted quiet digestion) began with some soup,

some fried soles, a butter-boat of shrimp sauce, and a dish of potatoes.

The conversation still turned on the receipt of rents. Mr F.'s Aunt,

after regarding the company for ten minutes with a malevolent gaze,

delivered the following fearful remark:




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