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been engaged to Arthur Clennam……Mr Clennam in public where reserve is
necessary Arthur here……we were all in all to one another it was the
morning of life it was bliss it was frenzy it was everything else of
that sort in the highest degree； when rent asunder we turned to stone in
which capacity Arthur went to China and I became the statue bride of the
late Mr F。'
Flora； uttering these words in a deep voice； enjoyed herself immensely。
'To paint；' said she； 'the emotions of that morning when all was marble
within and Mr F。's Aunt followed in a glass…coach which it stands to
reason must have been in shameful repair or it never could have broken
down two streets from the house and Mr F。's Aunt brought home like the
fifth of November in a rush…bottomed chair I will not attempt；
suffice it to say that the hollow form of breakfast took place in the
dining…room downstairs that papa partaking too freely of pickled salmon
was ill for weeks and that Mr F。 and myself went upon a continental
tour to Calais where the people fought for us on the pier until they
separated us though not for ever that was not yet to be。'
The statue bride； hardly pausing for breath； went on； with the greatest
placency； in a rambling manner sometimes incidental to flesh and
blood。
'I will draw a veil over that dreamy life； Mr F。 was in good spirits his
appetite was good he liked the cookery he considered the wine weak but
palatable and all was well； we returned to the immediate neighbourhood
of Number Thirty Little Gosling Street London Docks and settled down；
ere we had yet fully detected the housemaid in selling the feathers
out of the spare bed Gout flying upwards soared with Mr F。 to another
sphere。'
His relict； with a glance at his portrait； shook her head and wiped her
eyes。
'I revere the memory of Mr F。 as an estimable man and most indulgent
husband； only necessary to mention Asparagus and it appeared or to hint
at any little delicate thing to drink and it came like magic in a pint
bottle it was not ecstasy but it was fort； I returned to papa's roof
and lived secluded if not happy during some years until one day papa
came smoothly blundering in and said that Arthur Clennam awaited me
below； I went below and found him ask me not what I found him except
that he was still unmarried still unchanged！'
The dark mystery with which Flora now enshrouded herself might have
stopped other fingers than the nimble fingers that worked near her。
They worked on without pause； and the busy head bent over them watching
the stitches。
'Ask me not；' said Flora； 'if I love him still or if he still loves me
or what the end is to be or when； we are surrounded by watchful eyes and
it may be that we are destined to pine asunder it may be never more to
be reunited not a word not a breath not a look to betray us all must
be secret as the tomb wonder not therefore that even if I should seem
paratively cold to Arthur or Arthur should seem paratively cold to
me we have fatal reasons it is enough if we understand them hush！'
All of which Flora said with so much headlong vehemence as if she really
believed it。 There is not much doubt that when she worked herself into
full mermaid condition； she did actually believe whatever she said in
it。
'Hush！' repeated Flora； 'I have now told you all； confidence is
established between us hush； for Arthur's sake I will always be a friend
to you my dear girl and in Arthur's name you may always rely upon me。'
The nimble fingers laid aside the work； and the little figure rose and
kissed her hand。 'You are very cold；' said Flora； changing to her own
natural kind…hearted manner； and gaining greatly by the change。 'Don't
work to…day。 I am sure you are not well I am sure you are not strong。'
'It is only that I feel a little overe by your kindness； and by Mr
Clennam's kindness in confiding me to one he has known and loved so
long。'
'Well really my dear；' said Flora； who had a decided tendency to be
always honest when she gave herself time to think about it； 'it's as
well to leave that alone now； for I couldn't undertake to say after all；
but it doesn't signify lie down a little！'
'I have always been strong enough to do what I want to do； and I shall
be quite well directly；' returned Little Dorrit； with a faint smile。
'You have overpowered me with gratitude； that's all。 If I keep near the
window for a moment I shall be quite myself。'
Flora opened a window； sat her in a chair by it； and considerately
retired to her former place。 It was a windy day； and the air stirring
on Little Dorrit's face soon brightened it。 In a very few minutes she
returned to her basket of work； and her nimble fingers were as nimble as
ever。
Quietly pursuing her task； she asked Flora if Mr Clennam had told her
where she lived？ When Flora replied in the negative； Little Dorrit said
that she understood why he had been so delicate； but that she felt sure
he would approve of her confiding her secret to Flora； and that
she would therefore do so now with Flora's permission。 Receiving an
encouraging answer； she condensed the narrative of her life into a few
scanty words about herself and a glowing eulogy upon her father； and
Flora took it all in with a natural tenderness that quite understood it；
and in which there was no incoherence。
When dinner…time came； Flora drew the arm of her new charge through
hers； and led her down…stairs； and presented her to the Patriarch and Mr
Pancks； who were already in the dining…room waiting to begin。 （Mr F。's
Aunt was； for the time； laid up in ordinary in her chamber。） By those
gentlemen she was received according to their characters； the Patriarch
appearing to do her some inestimable service in saying that he was glad
to see her； glad to see her； and Mr Pancks blowing off his favourite
sound as a salute。
In that new presence she would have been bashful enough under any
circumstances； and particularly under Flora's insisting on her
drinking a glass of wine and eating of the best that was there； but her
constraint was greatly increased by Mr Pancks。 The demeanour of that
gentleman at first suggested to her mind that he might be a taker of
likenesses； so intently did he look at her； and so frequently did he
glance at the little note…book by his side。 Observing that he made no
sketch； however； and that he talked about business only； she began to
have suspicions that he represented some creditor of her father's； the
balance due to whom was noted in that pocket volume。 Regarded from this
point of view Mr Pancks's puffings expressed injury and impatience； and
each of his louder snorts became a demand for payment。
But here again she was undeceived by anomalous and incongruous conduct
on the part of Mr Pancks himself。 She had left the table half an hour；
and was at work alone。 Flora had 'gone to lie down' in the next room；
concurrently with which retirement a smell of something to drink
had broken out in the house。 The Patriarch was fast asleep； with his
philanthropic mouth open under a yellow pocket…handkerchief in the
dining…room。 At this quiet time； Mr Pancks softly appeared before her；
urbanely nodding。
'Find it a little