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.'