Even Flora's commas seemed to have fled on this occasion; she was so

much more disjointed and voluble than in the preceding interview.

'Though indeed,' she hurried on, 'nothing else is to be expected and why

should it be expected and if it's not to be expected why should it be,

and I am far from blaming you or any one, When your mama and my papa

worried us to death and severed the golden bowl--I mean bond but I dare

say you know what I mean and if you don't you don't lose much and care

just as little I will venture to add--when they severed the golden bond

that bound us and threw us into fits of crying on the sofa nearly choked

at least myself everything was changed and in giving my hand to Mr F. I

know I did so with my eyes open but he was so very unsettled and in such

low spirits that he had distractedly alluded to the river if not oil of

something from the chemist's and I did it for the best.'

'My good Flora, we settled that before. It was all quite right.'

'It's perfectly clear you think so,' returned Flora, 'for you take it

very coolly, if I hadn't known it to be China I should have guessed

myself the Polar regions, dear Mr Clennam you are right however and I

cannot blame you but as to Doyce and Clennam papa's property being about

here we heard it from Pancks and but for him we never should have heard

one word about it I am satisfied.' 'No, no, don't say that.'

'What nonsense not to say it Arthur--Doyce and Clennam--easier and less

trying to me than Mr Clennam--when I know it and you know it too and

can't deny it.' 'But I do deny it, Flora. I should soon have made you a friendly visit.'

'Ah!' said Flora, tossing her head. 'I dare say!' and she gave him

another of the old looks. 'However when Pancks told us I made up my mind

that Mr F.'s Aunt and I would come and call because when papa--which was

before that--happened to mention her name to me and to say that you were

interested in her I said at the moment Good gracious why not have her

here then when there's anything to do instead of putting it out.'

'When you say Her,' observed Clennam, by this time pretty well

bewildered, 'do you mean Mr F.'s--'

'My goodness, Arthur--Doyce and Clennam really easier to me with old

remembrances--who ever heard of Mr F.'s Aunt doing needlework and going

out by the day?' 'Going out by the day! Do you speak of Little Dorrit?' 'Why yes of

course,' returned Flora; 'and of all the strangest names I ever heard

the strangest, like a place down in the country with a turnpike, or a

favourite pony or a puppy or a bird or something from a seed-shop to be

put in a garden or a flower-pot and come up speckled.'




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