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Bleeding Heart Yard had bee so familiar with short…mons again；
that the treat was forgotten there； when nothing seemed new in the
partnership but the paint of the inscription on the door…posts； DOYCE
AND CLENNAM； when it appeared even to Clennam himself； that he had had
the affairs of the firm in his mind for years。
The little counting…house reserved for his own occupation； was a room of
wood and glass at the end of a long low workshop； filled with benches；
and vices； and tools； and straps； and wheels； which； when they were
in gear with the steam…engine； went tearing round as though they had a
suicidal mission to grind the business to dust and tear the factory to
pieces。 A munication of great trap…doors in the floor and roof with
the workshop above and the workshop below； made a shaft of light in
this perspective； which brought to Clennam's mind the child's old
picture…book； where similar rays were the witnesses of Abel's
murder。 The noises were sufficiently removed and shut out from the
counting…house to blend into a busy hum； interspersed with periodical
clinks and thumps。 The patient figures at work were swarthy with the
filings of iron and steel that danced on every bench and bubbled up
through every chink in the planking。 The workshop was arrived at by a
step…ladder from the outer yard below； where it served as a shelter for
the large grindstone where tools were sharpened。 The whole had at once
a fanciful and practical air in Clennam's eyes； which was a wele
change； and； as often as he raised them from his first work of getting
the array of business documents into perfect order； he glanced at these
things with a feeling of pleasure in his pursuit that was new to him。
Raising his eyes thus one day； he was surprised to see a bon
labouring up the step…ladder。 The unusual apparition was followed by
another bon。 He then perceived that the first bon was on the head
of Mr F。's Aunt； and that the second bon was on the head of Flora；
who seemed to have propelled her legacy up the steep ascent with
considerable difficulty。 Though not altogether enraptured at the sight
of these visitors； Clennam lost no time in opening the counting…house
door； and extricating them from the workshop； a rescue which was
rendered the more necessary by Mr F。's Aunt already stumbling over some
impediment； and menacing steam power as an Institution with a stony
reticule she carried。
'Good gracious； Arthur；……I should say Mr Clennam； far more proper……the
climb we have had to get up here and how ever to get down again without
a fire…escape and Mr F。's Aunt slipping through the steps and bruised
all over and you in the machinery and foundry way too only think； and
never told us！'
Thus； Flora； out of breath。 Meanwhile； Mr F。's Aunt rubbed her esteemed
insteps with her umbrella； and vindictively glared。
'Most unkind never to have e back to see us since that day； though
naturally it was not to be expected that there should be any attraction
at our house and you were much more pleasantly engaged； that's pretty
certain； and is she fair or dark blue eyes or black I wonder； not that
I expect that she should be anything but a perfect contrast to me in all
particulars for I am a disappointment as I very well know and you are
quite right to be devoted no doubt though what I am saying Arthur never
mind I hardly know myself Good gracious！'
By this time he had placed chairs for them in the counting…house。 As
Flora dropped into hers； she bestowed the old look upon him。
'And to think of Doyce and Clennam； and who Doyce can be；' said Flora；
'delightful man no doubt and married perhaps or perhaps a daughter； now
has he really？ then one understands the partnership and sees it all；
don't tell me anything about it for I know I have no claim to ask the
question the golden chain that once was forged being snapped and very
proper。'
Flora put her hand tenderly on his； and gave him another of the youthful
glances。
'Dear Arthur……force of habit； Mr Clennam every way more delicate and
adapted to existing circumstances……I must beg to be excused for taking
the liberty of this intrusion but I thought I might so far presume upon
old times for ever faded never more to bloom as to call with Mr F。's
Aunt to congratulate and offer best wishes； A great deal superior to
China not to be denied and much nearer though higher up！'
'I am very happy to see you；' said Clennam； 'and I thank you； Flora；
very much for your kind remembrance。'
'More than I can say myself at any rate；' returned Flora； 'for I might
have been dead and buried twenty distinct times over and no doubt
whatever should have been before you had genuinely remembered Me or
anything like it in spite of which one last remark I wish to make； one
last explanation I wish to offer……'
'My dear Mrs Finching；' Arthur remonstrated in alarm。
'Oh not that disagreeable name； say Flora！'
'Flora； is it worth troubling yourself afresh to enter into
explanations？ I assure you none are needed。 I am satisfied……I am
perfectly satisfied。'
A diversion was occasioned here； by Mr F。's Aunt making the following
inexorable and awful statement：
'There's mile…stones on the Dover road！'
With such mortal hostility towards the human race did she discharge this
missile； that Clennam was quite at a loss how to defend himself； the
rather as he had been already perplexed in his mind by the honour of a
visit from this venerable lady； when it was plain she held him in the
utmost abhorrence。 He could not but look at her with disconcertment； as
she sat breathing bitterness and scorn； and staring leagues away。 Flora；
however； received the remark as if it had been of a most apposite and
agreeable nature； approvingly observing aloud that Mr F。's Aunt had a
great deal of spirit。 Stimulated either by this pliment； or by her
burning indignation； that illustrious woman then added； 'Let him meet
it if he can！' And； with a rigid movement of her stony reticule （an
appendage of great size and of a fossil appearance）； indicated that
Clennam was the unfortunate person at whom the challenge was hurled。
'One last remark；' resumed Flora； 'I was going to say I wish to make one
last explanation I wish to offer； Mr F。's Aunt and myself would not have
intruded on business hours Mr F。 having been in business and though the
wine trade still business is equally business call it what you will and
business habits are just the same as witness Mr F。 himself who had his
slippers always on the mat at ten minutes before six in the afternoon
and his boots inside the fender at ten minutes before eight in the
morning to the moment in all weathers light or dark……would not therefore
have intruded without a motive which being kindly meant it may be hoped
will be kindly taken Arthur； Mr Clennam far more proper； even Doyce and
Clennam probably more business…like。'
'Pray say nothing in the way of apology；' Arthur entreated。 'You are
always wele。'
'Very polite of you to say so Arthur……cannot remember Mr Clennam until
the word is out； such is the habit of times for ever fled； and so true
it is that oft in the stilly night ere slumber's chain has bound people；
fond memory