 Chapter 22 Book the First of Little Dorit Read for LibriVox.org by Alice Christoff Little Dorit by Charles Dickens Book the First Chapter 22 A Puzzle Mr. Clenham did not increase in favour with the father of the Marshall Sea in the ratio of his increasing visits. His obtuseness on the great testimonial question was not calculated to awake an admiration in the paternal breast, but had rather a tendency to give offence in that sensitive quarter and to be regarded as a positive shortcoming in point of gentlemanly feeling. An impression of disappointment occasioned by the discovery that Mr. Clenham scarcely possessed that delicacy for which, in the confidence of his nature, he had been inclined to give him credit. Began to darken the fatherly mind in connection with that gentleman. The father went so far as to say, in his private family circle, that he feared Mr. Clenham was not a man of high instincts. He was happy, he observed, in his public capacity as leader and representative of the college, to receive Mr. Clenham when he called to pay his respects, but he didn't find that he got on with him personally. There appeared to be something, he didn't know what it was, wanting in him. How be it, the father did not fail in any outward show of politeness, but on the contrary, honoured him with much attention. Perhaps cherishing the hope that, although not a man of a sufficiently brilliant and spontaneous turn of mind to repeat his former testimonial and solicited, it might still be within the compass of his nature to bear the part of a responsive gentleman, in any correspondence that way tending. In the threefold capacity of the gentleman from outside who had been accidentally locked in on the night of his first appearance, of the gentleman from outside who had inquired into the affairs of the father of the Marshall Sea with the stupendous idea of getting him out, and of the gentleman from outside who took an interest in the child of the Marshall Sea, Clenham soon became a visitor of Mark. He was not surprised by the attentions he received from Mr Chivory when that officer was on the lock, for he made little distinction between Mr Chivory's politeness and that of the other turnkeys. It was on one particular afternoon that Mr Chivory surprised him all at once, and stood forth from his companions in bold relief. Mr Chivory, by some artful exercise of his power of clearing the lodge, had contrived to rid it of all sauntering collegians, so that Clenham, coming out of the prison, should find him on duty alone. Private, I ask your pardon, sir, said Mr Chivory in a secret manner, but which way might you be going? I am going over the bridge. He saw in Mr Chivory with some astonishment quite an allegory of silence, as he stood with his ski on his lips. Private, I ask your pardon again, said Mr Chivory, but could you go round by horse-monger lane? Could you by any means find time to look in at that address? Handing him a little card, printed for circulation among the connection of Chivory and Co., tobacconists, importers of pure Havana cigars, Bengal charoots, and fine-flavored cubas, dealers in fancy snuffs, etc., etc. Private, it aren't tobacco business, said Mr Chivory. The truth is, it's my wife. She is wishful to say a word to you, sir, upon a point respecting, yes, said Mr Chivory, answering Clenham's look of apprehension with a nod, respecting her. I will make a point of seeing your wife directly. Thank you, sir, much obliged. It turned above ten minutes out of your way, pleased to ask for Mrs Chivory. These instructions, Mr Chivory, who had already let him out, cautiously called through a little slide in the outer door, which he could draw back from within for the inspection of visitors when it pleased him. Arthur Clenham, with the card in his hand, betook himself to the address set forth upon it, and speedily arrived there. It was a very small establishment, wherein a decent woman sat behind the counter working at her needle, little jars of tobacco, little boxes of cigars, little assortment of pipes, a little jar or two of snuff, and a little instrument like a shooing horn for serving it out, composed the retail stock and trade. Arthur mentioned his name, and he's having promised to call on the solicitation of Mr Chivory, about something relating to Miss Dorit, he believed. Mrs Chivory at once laid aside her work, rose up from her seat behind the counter, and deploringly shook her head. You may see him now, said she, if you will condescend to take a peep. With these mysterious words, she preceded the visitor into a little parlor behind the shop, with a little window in it, commanding a very little dull backyard. In this yard a wash of sheets and tablecloth tried, in vain for want of air, to get itself dried on a line or two, and among these flapping articles was sitting in a chair, like the last mariner left alive on the deck of a dam ship without the power of furling the sails. A little woe-begone young man, our John, said Mrs Chivory. Not to be deficient in interest, Clenor masked what he might be doing there. It's the only change he takes, said Mrs Chivory, shaking her head afresh. He won't go out even in the backyard when there's no linen, but when there's linen to keep the neighbor's eyes off, he'll sit there hours, hours, he will, says he feels as if it was grooves. Mrs Chivory shook her head again, put her apron in a motherly way to her eyes, and reconducted her visitor into the regions of the business. Place to take a seat, sir, said Mrs Chivory. Miss Dorit is the matter with our John, sir. He is a break in his heart for her, and I would wish to take the liberty to ask how it's to be made good to his parents when bust. Mrs Chivory was a comfortable-looking woman much respected about horse-monger lane for her feelings and her conversation, uttered this speech with felcomposure, and immediately afterwards began again to shake her head and dry her eyes. Sir, said she in continuation, you are acquainted with the family and have interested yourself with the family and are influential with the family, if you can promote views calculated to make two young people happy, let me for our John's sake and for both their sakes implore you so to do. I have been so habituated, returned Arthur at a loss, during the short time I have known her to consider little, I have been so habituated to consider Miss Dorit in a light altogether removed from that in which you present her to me, that you quite take me by surprise. Does she know your son? Brought up together, sir, said Mrs Chivory, played together. Does she know your son as her admirer? Oh, bless you, sir, said Mrs Chivory with a sword of triumphant shiver. She never could have seen him on a Sunday without knowing he was that. His kind alone would have told it long ago, if nothing else had. Young men like John don't take to every hand a painting for nothing. How did I first know it myself? Similarly. Perhaps Miss Dorit may not be so ready as you, you see. Then she knows it, sir, said Mrs Chivory, by word of mouth. Are you sure? Sir, said Mrs Chivory, sure and certain as in this house I am. I see my son go out with my own eyes when in this house I was, and I see my son come in with my own eyes when in this house I was, and I know he done it. Mrs Chivory derived a surprising force of emphasis from the foregoing circumstantiality and repetition. May I ask you how he came to fall into the desponding state which causes you so much uneasiness? That, said Mrs Chivory, took place on that same day when to this house I see that John with these eyes return, never been himself in this house since, never was like what he has been since. Not from the hour when to this house seven years ago me and his father, as tenants by the quarter, came. An effect in the nature of an affidavit was gained from this speech by Mrs Chivory's peculiar power of construction. May I venture to inquire what is your version of the matter? You may, said Mrs Chivory, and I will give it to you in honor and in word as true as in this shop I stand. Our John has everyone's good word and everyone's good wish. He played with her as a child when in that yard a child she played. He has known her ever since. He went out upon the Sunday afternoon when in this very parlour he had dined and met her with appointment or without appointment, which I do not pretend to say. He made his offer to her. Her brother and sister is high in their views and against our John. Her father is over himself in his views and against chairing her with anyone. Under which circumstances she has answered our John, No John, I cannot have you. I cannot have any husband. It is not my intentions ever to become a wife. It is my intentions to be always a sacrifice. Farewell. Find another worthy of you and forget me. This is the way in which she is doomed to be a constant slave to them that are not worthy that a constant slave she unto them should be. This is the way in which our John has come to find no pleasure but in taking cold among the linen and in showing in that yard and in that yard I have myself shown you a broken down ring that goes home to his mother's heart. Here the good woman pointed to the little window whence her son might be seen sitting disconsolate in the tuneless groves and again shook her head and wiped her eyes and besought him for the united sakes of both young people to exercise his influence towards the bright reversal of these dismal events. She was so confident in her exposition of the case and it was so undeniably founded on correct premises insofar as the relative positions of little Dorit and her family were concerned that Clenum could not feel positive on the other side. He had come to attach to little Dorit an interest so peculiar, an interest that removed her from, while it grew out of, the common and coarse things surrounding her, that he found it disappointing, disagreeable, almost painful to suppose her in love with young Mr. Chivory in the backyard or any such person. On the other hand, he reasoned with himself that she was just as good and just as true in love with him as not in love with him and that to make a kind of domesticated fairy of her on the penalty of isolation at heart from the only people she knew would be but a weakness of his own fancy and not a kind one. Still, her youthful and ethereal appearance, her timid manner, the charm of her sensitive voice and eyes, the very many respects in which she had interested him out of her own individuality and the strong difference between herself and those about her were not in unison and were determined not to be in unison with this newly presented idea. He told the worthy Mrs. Chivory, after turning these things over in his mind, he did that indeed while she was yet speaking, that he might be relied upon to do his utmost at all times to promote the happiness of Ms. Dorit and to further the wishes of her heart if it were in his power to do so and if he could discover what they were. At the same time, he cautioned her against assumptions and appearances, enjoined strict silence and secrecy, lest Ms. Dorit should be made unhappy, and particularly advised her to endeavor to win her son's confidence and so to make quite sure of the state of the case. Mrs. Chivory considered the latter precaution superfluous but said she would try. She shook her head as if she had not derived all the comfort she had fondly expected from this interview but thanked him nevertheless for the trouble he had kindly taken. They then parted good friends and Arthur walked away. The crowd in the street jostling the crowd in his mind and the two crowds making a confusion, he avoided London Bridge and turned in the quieter direction of the Iron Bridge. He had scarcely set foot upon it when he saw little Dorit walking on before him. It was a pleasant day with a light breeze blowing and she seemed to have that minute come there for air. He had left her in her father's room within an hour. It was a timely chance, favorable to his wish of observing her face and manner when no one else was by. He quickened his pace but before he reached her she turned her head. Have I startled you? He asked. I thought I knew the step. She answered hesitating. And did you know it little Dorit? You could hardly have expected mine. I did not expect any but when I heard a step I thought it sounded like yours. Are you going further? No sir. I am only walking here for a little change. They walked together and she recovered her confiding manner with him and looked up in his face as she said after glancing around. It is so strange. Perhaps you can hardly understand it. I sometimes have a sensation as if it was almost unfeeling to walk here. Unfeeling? To see the river and so much sky and so many objects and such change and motion, then to go back, you know, and find him in the same cramped place. Oh yes, but going back you must remember that you take with you the spirit and influence of such things to cheer him. Do I? I hope I may. I am afraid you fancy too much, sir, and make me out too powerful. If you were in prison, could I bring such comfort to you? Yes, little Dorit. I am sure of it. We gathered from a tremor on her lip and a passing shadow of great agitation on her face, that her mind was with her father. He remained silent for a few moments, that she might regain her composure. The little Dorit, trembling on his arm, was less in unison than ever with Mrs. Chivary's theory, and yet was not in reconcilable with a new fancy which sprung up within him, that there might be someone else in the hopeless, newer fancies still, in the hopeless unattainable distance. They turned, and Clenum said, here was Maggie coming. Little Dorit looked up, surprised as they confronted Maggie, who brought herself outside of them to a dead stop. She had been trotting along, so preoccupied and busy, that she had not recognized them until they turned upon her. She was now in a moment so conscience-tricken, that her very basket patook of the change. Maggie, you promised me to stop near father. So I would, little mother, only he wouldn't let me. If he takes and sends me out, I must go. If he takes and says, Maggie, you hurry away and back with that letter, and you shall have a sixpence if the answer is a good one. I must take it. Lord, little mother, what's the poor thing of ten-year-old to do? And if miss a tip, if he happens to be a coming-in as I come out, and if he says, where are you going, Maggie? And if I says, I am going so and so, and if he says, I'll have a try to, and if he goes into the George and writes a letter, and if he gives it me and says, take that one to the same place, and if the answer is a good one, I'll give you a shilling. It ain't my fault, mother. Arthur read, in little Dorit's downcast eyes, to whom she foresaw that the letters were addressed. I'm a going so and so. There, that's where I'm a going to, said Maggie. I'm a going so and so. It ain't you, little mother, that's got anything to do with it. It's you, you know, said Maggie addressing Arthur. You better come, so and so, and let me take and give him to you. We will not be so particular as that, Maggie. Give them me here, said Clenham in a low voice. Well, then, come across the road, and said Maggie in a very loud whisper. Little mother wasn't to know nothing of it, and she would never have known nothing of it if you had only gone so and so, instead of bothering and loitering about. It ain't my fault. I must do what I am told. They ought to be ashamed of themselves for telling me. Clenham crossed the other side and hurriedly opened the letters. That from the father mentioned that most unexpectedly finding himself in the novel position of having been disappointed over remittance from the city on which he had confidently counted. He took up his pen, being restrained by the unhappy circumstance of his incarceration during three and twenty years, doubly underlined, from coming himself as he would otherwise certainly have done, took up his pen to entreat Mr. Clenham to advance him the sum of three pounds ten shillings upon his IOU, which he begged to enclose. That from the son said forth that Mr. Clenham would, he knew, be gratified to hear that he had at length obtained permanent employment of a highly satisfactory nature, accompanied with every prospect of complete success in life, but that the temporary inability of his employer to pay him his rears of salary to that date, in which condition said employer had appealed to that generous forbearance, in which he trusted he should never be wanting towards a fellow creature, combined with the fraudulent conduct of a false friend and the present high price of provisions, had reduced him to the verge of ruin, unless he could buy a quarter before six that evening raise the sum of eight pounds. This sum Mr. Clenham would be happy to learn, he had, through the promptitude of several friends who had lively confidence in his probity, already raised, with the exception of a trifling balance of one pound seventeen and four pounds, the loan of which balance for the period of one month would be fraught with the usual beneficent consequences. These letters Clenham answered with the aid of his pencil and pocketbook on the spot, sending the father what he asked for, and excusing himself from compliance with the demand of the son. He then commissioned Maggie to return with his replies, and gave her the shilling of which the failure of her supplemental enterprise would have disappointed her otherwise. When he rejoined little Dorit, and they had begun walking as before, she said all at once, I think I had better go, I had better go home. Don't be distressed, said Clenham, I have answered the letters, they were nothing, you know what they were, they were nothing. But I am afraid, she returned, to leave him, I am afraid to leave any of them, when I am gone they pervert, but they don't mean it, even Maggie. It was a very innocent commission that she undertook poor thing, and in keeping it secret from you, she supposed no doubt that she was only saving your uneasiness. Yes, I hope so, I hope so, but I had better go home. It was but the other day that my sister told me that I had become so used to the prison that I had its tone and character. It must be so, I am sure it must be when I see these things. My place is there, I am better there, it is unfeeling in me to be here, when I can do the least thing there, goodbye, I get far better stay at home. The agonized way in which she poured this out, as if it burst of itself from her suppressed heart, made it difficult for Clenham to keep the tears from his eyes, as he saw and heard her. Don't call it home, my child, he entreated. It is always painful to me to hear you call it home. But it is home. What else can I call home? Why should I ever forget it for a single moment? You never do, dear little Dorit, in any good and true service. I hope not, oh I hope not. But it is better for me to stay there, much better, much more dutiful, much happier. Please, don't go with me, let me go by myself. Goodbye, God bless you, thank you, thank you. He felt that it was better to respect her in treaty, and did not move while her slight form went quickly away from him. When it had fluttered out of sight, he turned his face towards the water and stood thinking. She would have been distressed at any time by this discovery of the letters, but so much so, and in that unrestrainable way? No. When she had seen her father begging with his threadbare disguise on, when she had entreated him not to give her father money, she had been distressed but not like this. Something had made her keenly and additionally sensitive just now. Now, was there someone in the hopeless, unattainable distance? Or had the suspicion been brought into his mind by his own associations of the troubled river running beneath the bridge, with the same river higher up, its changeless tune upon the prow of the ferry boat, so many miles an hour the peaceful flowing of the stream, hear the rushes, there the lilies, nothing uncertain or unquiet? He thought of his poor child, little Dorrid, for a long time there. He thought of her going home. He thought of her in the night. He thought of her when the day came round again. And the poor child, little Dorrid thought of him too faithfully, too faithfully, in the shadow of the Marshall Sea Wall. End of chapter the 22nd, book the first. This recording is in the public domain. Chapter the 23rd, book the first of little Dorrid. Read for LibriVox.org by Ellis Christoff. Little Dorrid by Charles Dickens. Book the first. Chapter the 23rd, machinery in motion. Mr. Meagles bestowed himself with such prompt activity in the matter of the negotiation with Daniel Dois, which Clenham had entrusted to him, that he soon brought it into business train, and called on Clenham at nine o'clock one morning to make his report. Dois is highly gratified by your good opinion. He opened the business by saying, and desires nothing so much as that you should examine the affairs of the works for yourself, and entirely understand them. He has handed me the keys of all his books and papers. Here they are jingling in his pocket. And the only charge he has given me is, let Mr. Clenham have the means of putting himself on a perfect equality with me as to knowing whatever I know. If it should come to nothing after all, he will respect my confidence. Unless I was sure of that to begin with, I should have nothing to do with him. And there you see, said Mr. Meagles, you have Daniel Dois all over. A very honourable character. Oh yes, to be sure. Not a doubt of it. Odd but very honourable. Very odd, though. Now would you believe, Clenham? Said Mr. Meagles, with the heart of enjoyment of his friend's eccentricity, that I had a whole morning in, what's his name, yard? Bleeding heart. A whole morning in Bleeding heart yard, before I could induce him to pursue the subject at all. How was that? How was that, my friend? I know sooner mentioned your name in connection with it than he declared off. Declared off on my account? I know sooner mentioned your name, Clenham, than he said, That will never do. What did he mean by that? I asked him. No matter, Meagles, that would never do. Why would it never do? You'll hardly believe it, Clenham, said Mr. Meagles, laughing within himself. But it came out that it would never do, because you and he, walking down to Twickenham together, had glided into a friendly conversation in the course of which he had referred to his intention of taking a partner, supposing at the time that you were as firmly and finally settled as St. Paul's Cathedral. Whereas, says he, Mr. Clenham might now believe, if I entertained his proposition that I had a sinister and designing motive in what was open free speech, which I can't bear, says he, which I really am too proud to bear, I should as soon suspect. Of course you would, interrupted Mr. Meagles, and so I told him, but it took a morning to scale that wall, and I doubt if any other man than myself, he likes me of old, could have got his leg over it. Well, Clenham, this business-like obstacle surmounted, he then stipulated that before resuming with you, I should look over the books and form my own opinion. I looked over the books and formed my own opinion. Is it on the whole for or against? says he. For, says I. Then, says he, you may now, my good friend, give Mr. Clenham the means of forming his opinion. To enable him to do which, without bias and with perfect freedom, I shall go out of town for a week. And he's gone, said Mr. Meagles. That's the rich conclusion of the thing. Leaving me, said Clenham, with a high sense, I must say, of his candour and his oddity. Mr. Meagles struck in, I should think so. It was not exactly the word on Clenham's lips, but he forbore to interrupt his good-humoured friend. And now, added Mr. Meagles, you can begin to look into matters as soon as you think proper. I have undertaken to explain where you may want explanation, but to be strictly impartial and to do nothing more. They began their perquisitions in bleeding hard yard that same forenoon. Little peculiarities were easily to be detected by experienced eyes in Mr. Dois's way of managing his affairs, but they almost always involved some ingenious simplification of a difficulty, and some plain road to the desired end. That his papers were in a rear, and that he stood in need of assistance to develop the capacity of his business, was clear enough. But all the results of his undertakings during many years were distinctly set forth, and were ascertainable with ease. Nothing had been done for the purposes of the pending investigation. Everything was in its genuine working dress, and in a certain honest ragged order. The calculations and entries, in his own hand, of which there were many, were bluntly written, and with no very neat precision, but were always plain and directed straight to the purpose. It occurred to Arthur that a far more elaborate and taking show of business, such as the records of the circumlocution office made perhaps, might be far less serviceable, as being meant to be far less intelligible. Three or four days of steady application tended him master of all the facts it was essential to become acquainted with. Mr. Meagles was at hand the whole time, always ready to illuminate any dim place with a bright little safety lamp belonging to the scales and scoop. Between them, they agreed upon the sum it would be fair to offer for the purchase of a half share in the business, and then Mr. Meagles unsealed a paper in which Daniel Doyce had noted the amount at which he valued it, which was even something less. Thus, when Daniel came back, he found the affair as good as concluded. And I may now avow, Mr. Clenham, said he, with a cordial shake of the hand, that if I had looked high and low for a partner, I believe I could not have found one more to my mind. I say the same, said Clenham, and I say of both of you, added Mr. Meagles, that you are well matched. You keep him in check, Clenham, with your common sense, and you stick to the works done with your... uncommon sense, suggested Daniel with his quiet smile. You may call it so, if you like, and each of you will be a right hand to the other. Here is my own right hand upon it, as a practical man to both of you. The purchase was completed within a month. It left Arthur in possession of private personal means, not exceeding a few hundred pounds, but it opened to him an active and promising career. The three friends dined together on the auspicious occasion. The factory and the factory wives and children made holiday and dined, too. Even Bleeding Heart Yard dined, and was full of meat. Two months had barely gone by in all. When Bleeding Heart Yard had become so familiar with short commons again, that the treat was forgotten there. When nothing seemed new in the partnership, but the paint of the inscription on the doorposts, Dois and Clenham, when it appeared even to Clenham 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 communication of great trapdoors in the floor and roof, with the workshop above and the workshop below, made a shaft of light in this perspective which brought to Clenham'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 stepladder from the outer yard below, where it served as a shelter for the large grindstone where tools were sharpened. The hole had at once a fanciful and practical air in Clenham's eyes, which was a welcome 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 bonnet laboring up the stepladder. The unusual apparition was followed by another bonnet. He then perceived that the first bonnet was on the head of Mr. Efsant, and that the second bonnet was on the head of Flora, who seemed to have propelled her legacy up the steeper scent with considerable difficulty. Though not altogether enraptured at the sight of these visitors, Clenham 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. Efsant already stumbling over some impediment, and menacing steam power as an institution with the stony reticule she carried. Good gracious, Arthur! I should say Mr. Clenham far more proper. The climb we have had to get up here and however to get down again, without a fire escape, and Mr. Efsant slipping through the steps and bruised alova, and you in the machinery and foundry way too only think and never told us. Thus Flora, out of breath, meanwhile Mr. Efsant rubbed her esteemed in steps with her umbrella, and vindictively glared. Most and kind never to have come back to see her 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 Dois and Clenham, and who Dois can be, said Flora, delightful man no doubt and married perhaps or perhaps a daughter, now has he really, the 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. Clenham 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 forever faded never more to bloom as to call with Mr. F. Sound 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 Clenham, 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 demonstrated an 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. Sound making the following inexorable and awful statement. There's milestones on the Dover Road. With such mortal hostility towards the human race did she discharge this missile that Clenham 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 opposite and agreeable nature, approvingly observing aloud that Mr. F. Sound had a great deal of spirit. Stimulated either by this compliment 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 Clenham was the unfortunate person at whom the challenge was held. One last remark resumed Flora. I was going to say I wished to make one last explanation I wished to offer. Mr. F. Sound 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, but Mr. Clenham far more proper, even Joyce and Clenham probably more business like. Pray say nothing in the way of apology. Arthur entreated. You're always welcome. Very polite of you to say so Arthur. Cannot remember Mr. Clenham until the word is out. Such is the habit of times forever fled and so true it is that often the stilly night air slumber's chain has bound people. Font memory brings the light of other days around people. Very polite but more polite than true I am afraid for to go into the machinery business without so much as sending a line or a car to papa. I don't say me though there was a time, but that's past and stern reality has now my gracious never mind. Does not look like it you must confess. Even Flora's commerce seemed to have fled on this occasion. She was so much more disjointed and valuable 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 anyone. When your mama and my papa worried as to death and severed the golden bow, 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 chemists 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 coldly. If I hadn't known it to be China I should have guessed myself the polar regions, dear Mr. Clenham, you are right however and I cannot blame you but as to Dois and Clenham Papa's property being about here we heard it from Pangs 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 to Arthur, Dois and Clenham easier and less trying to me than Mr. Clenham 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 Pangs told us I made up my mind that Mr. Ev'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 Clenham by this time pretty well bewildered do you mean Mr. Ev's my goodness Arthur Dois and Clenham really easier to me with all remembrances whoever heard of Mr. Ev's aunt doing needlework and going out by the day going out by the day do you speak of little Dorit why yes of course return Flora and of all the strangest names I ever heard the strangest like a place down in the country with the turnpike or a favorite pony or a puppy or a bird or something from a sea chop to be put in a garden or a flower pot and come up speckled then Flora said Arthur with a sudden interest in the conversation Mr. Caspi was so kind as to mention little Dorit to you was he what did he say oh you know what papar is rejoined Flora and how aggravatingly he sits looking beautiful and turning his thumbs over and over one another till he makes one giddy if one keeps one's eyes upon him he said when we were talking of you I don't know who began the subject Arthur but Dois and Clenham but I am sure it wasn't me at least I hope not but you really must excuse my confessing more on that point certainly said Arthur by all means you are very ready pouted Flora coming to a sudden stop in a captivating bashfulness that I must admit papar said you had spoken of her in an earnest way and I said what I have told you and that's all that's all said Arthur a little disappointed except that when Panks told us of your having embarked in this business and with difficulty persuaded us that it was really you I said to Mr. Reff's aunt then we would come and ask you if it would be agreeable to all parties that she should be engaged at our house when required for I know she often goes to your mama's and I know that your mama has a very touchy temper Arthur Dois and Clenham or I never might have married Mr. Reff and might have been at this hour but I am running into nonsense it was very kind of you Flora to think of this poor Flora rejoined with a plain sincerity which became her better than her youngest glances that she was glad he thought so she said it with so much heart that Clenham would have given a great deal to buy his old character of her on the spot and throw it and the mermaid away forever I think Flora he said that the employment you can give little Dorid and the kindness you can show her yes and I will said Flora quickly I'm sure of it will be a great assistance and support to her I do not feel that I have the right to tell you what I know of her for I acquired the knowledge confidentially and under circumstances that bind me to silence but I have an interest in the little creature and a respect for her that I cannot express to you her life has been one of such trial and devotion and such quiet goodness as you can scarcely imagine I can hardly think of her far less speak of her without feeling moved let that feeling represent what I could tell you and commit her to your friendliness with my thanks once more he put out his hand frankly to poor Flora once more poor Flora couldn't accept it frankly found it worth nothing openly must make the old intrigue and mystery of it as much to her own enjoyment as to his dismay she covered it with a corner of her shawl as she took it then looking towards the glass front of the counting house and seeing two figures approaching she cried with infinite relish papa ha shah the vomers is sake and tottered back to her chair with an amazing imitation of being in danger of swooning in the dread surprise and maiden leaf latter of her spirits the patriarch meanwhile came in a newly beaming towards the counting house in the wake of panks panks open the door for him told him in and retired to his own moorings in a corner I heard from flora said the patriarch with his benevolent smile that she was coming to call coming to call and being out I thought I'd come also thought I'd come also the benign wisdom he infused into this declaration not of itself profound by means of his blue eyes his shining head and his long white hair was most impressive it seemed worth putting down among the noblest sentiments enunciated by the best of men also when he said to clenum seating himself in the preferred chair and you're in a new business mr. clenum I wish you well sir I wish you well he seemed to have done benevolent wonders mrs. finching has been telling me sir said Arthur after making his acknowledgments the relict of the late mr. F meanwhile protesting with a gesture against his use of that respectable name that she hopes occasionally to employ the young needle woman you recommended to my mother for which I have been thanking her the patriarch turning his head in a lumbering way towards banks that assistant put up the notebook in which he had been absorbed and took him in tow you didn't recommend her you know said banks how could you you knew nothing about her you didn't the name was mentioned to you and you passed it on that's what you did well said clenum as she justifies any recommendation it is much the same thing you are a glut she turns out well said banks but it wouldn't have been your fault if she had turned out ill the credit's not yours as it is and a blame wouldn't have been yours as it might have been you gave no guarantee you knew nothing about her you are not acquainted then said Arthur hazarding a random question with any of her family acquainted with any of her family returned banks how should you be acquainted with any of her family you never heard of them you can't be acquainted with people you never heard of can you you should think not all this time the patriarch said serenely smiling nodding or shaking his head benevolently as the case required as to being a reference said banks you know in a general way what being a reference means it's all your right that is look at your tenants down the yard here they'd all be references for one another if you'd let them what would be the good of letting them it's no satisfaction to be done by two men instead of one once enough a person who can't pay gets another person who can't pay to guarantee that he can't pay like a person with two wooden legs getting another person with two wooden legs to guarantee that he has two natural legs it don't make either of them able to do a walking match and four wooden legs are more troublesome to you than two when you don't want any mr. panks concluded by blowing off that steam of his a momentary silence that ensued was broken by mr. red sand who had been sitting upright in a cataleptic state since her last public remark she now underwent a violent twitch calculated to produce a startling effect on the nerves of the uninitiated and with a deadliest animosity observed you can't make a head and brains out of a brass knob with nothing in it you couldn't do it when your uncle george was living much less when he's dead mr. panks was not slow to reply with his usual calmness indeed mom bless my soul i'm surprised to hear it despite his presence of mind however the speech of mr. ref's aunt produced a depressing effect on the little assembly firstly because it was impossible to disguise that clenum's unoffending head was the particular temple of reason depreciated and secondly because nobody ever knew on these occasions whose uncle george was referred to or what spectral presence might be invoked under that appellation therefore flora said though still not without a certain boastfulness and triumph in her legacy that mr. ref's aunt was very lively today and she thought they had better go but mr. ref's aunt proved so lively as to take the suggestion in unexpected dodging and declare that she would not go adding with several injurious expressions that if he to evidently meaning clenum wanted to get rid of her let him chuck her out of winter and urgently expressing her desire to see him perform that ceremony in this dilemma mr. panks whose resources appeared equal to any emergency in the patriarchal waters slipped on his head slipped out of the counting house door and slipped in again a moment afterwards with an artificial freshness upon him as if he had been in the country for some weeks why bless my heart mom said mr. panks rubbing up his care in great astonishment is that you how do you do mom you're looking charming today i'm delighted to see you favor me with your arm mom we'll have a little walk together you and me if you'll honor me with your company and so escorted mr. ref's aunt down the private staircase of the counting house with great gallantry and success the patriarchal mr. kasby then rose with the air of having done it himself and blindly followed leaving his daughter as she followed in her turn to remark to her former lover in a distracted whisper which she very much enjoyed that they had drained the cup of life to the dregs and further to hint mysteriously that the late mr. f was at the bottom of it alone again clenum became a prey to his old doubts in reference to his mother and little dorit and revolved the old thoughts and suspicions they were all in his mind blending themselves with the duties he was mechanically discharging when a shadow on his papers caused him to look up for the cause the cause was mr. panks with his head thrown back upon his ears as if his wiry prongs of hair had darted up like springs and cast it off with his jet black beads of eyes inquisitively sharp with the fingers of his right hand in his mouth that he might bite the nails and with the fingers of his left hand in reserve in his pocket for another cause mr. panks cast his shadow through the glass upon the books and papers mr. panks asked with a little inquiring twist of his head if he might come in again clenum replied with a nod of his head in the affirmative mr. panks worked his way in came alongside the desk made himself fast by leaning his arms upon it and started conversation with a puff and a snot mr. ref santa is a piece i hope said clenum all right sir said panks i'm so unfortunate as to have awakened a strong animosity in the breast of that lady said clenum do you know why does she know why said panks i suppose not i suppose not said panks he took out his notebook opened it shattered dropped it into his head which was beside him on the desk and looked in at it as it lay at the bottom of the hat all with a great appearance of consideration mr. clenum he then began i am in want of information sir connected with this firm asked clenum no said panks with what then mr. panks that is to say assuming that you wanted of me yes sir yes i wanted a view said panks if i can persuade you to furnish it a b c d d a d e d i d o her dictionary order dorot that's the name sir mr. panks blew off his peculiar noise again and failed to add his right hand nails Arthur looked searching at him he returned the look i don't understand you mr. panks that's the name that i want to know about and what do you want to know whatever you can and will tell me this comprehensive summary of his desires was not discharged without some heavy laboring on the part of mr. panks machinery this is a singular visit mr. panks it strikes me as rather extraordinary that you should come with such an object to me it may be all extraordinary together returned panks it may be out of the ordinary cause and yet be business in short it is business i am a man of business what business have i in this present world except to stick to business no business with his former doubt whether this dry hard personage were quite an earnest clenum again turned his eyes attentively upon his face it was a scrubby and dingy as ever and as eager and quick as ever and he could see nothing lurking in it that was at all expressive of a latent mockery that had seemed to strike upon his ear in the voice now said panks to put this business on its own footing it's not my proprietors do you refer to mr. casby as your proprietor banks noted my proprietor put a case say at my proprietors i hear name name of young person mr clenum wants to serve say name first mentioned to my proprietor by plonish in the yard say i go to plonish say i ask plonish as a matter of business for information say plonish those six weeks in a rear to my proprietor declines say mrs plonish declines say both refer to mr clenum put the case well well sir returned panks say i come to him say here i am with those prongs of hair sticking up all over his head and his breath coming and going very hard and short the busy panks fell back a step in tag metaphor took half a turn a stern as if to show his dingy hull complete then forged ahead again and directed his quick glance by turns into his cat where his notebook was and into clenum's face mr panks not to trespass on your grounds of mystery i will be as plain with you as i can let me ask two questions first all right said panks holding up his dirty forefinger with his broken nail i see what's your motive exactly motive said panks good nothing to do with my proprietor not stateable at present ridiculous to state at present but good desiring to serve young person name of dorit said panks with his forefinger still up as a caution better admit motive to be good secondly and lastly what do you want to know mr panks fished up his notebook before the question was put and buttoning it with care in an inner breast pocket and looking straight at clenum all the time replied with a pause and a puff i want supplementary information of any sort clenum could not withhold a smile as the panting little steam tug so useful to that unwieldy ship a casby waited on and watched him as if it were seeking an opportunity of running in and rifling him of all he wanted before he could resist its maneuvers though there was that in mr panks's eagerness too which awakened many wondering speculations in his mind after a little consideration he resolved to supply mr panks with such leading information as it was in his power to impart him well knowing that mr panks if he failed in his present research was pretty sure to find other means of getting it he therefore first requesting mr panks to remember his voluntary declaration that his proprietor had no part in the disclosure and that his own intentions were good two declarations which that coley little gentleman with the greatest ardor repeated openly told him that as to the dorrid lineage or form a place of habitation he had no information to communicate and that his knowledge of the family did not extend beyond the fact that it appeared to be now reduced to five members namely to two brothers of whom one was single and one a widower with three children the ages of the whole family he made known to mr panks as nearly as he could guess at them and finally he described to him the position of the father of the marshall sea and the cause of time and events through which he had become invested with that character to all this mr panks snorting and blowing in a more and more portentous manner as he became more interested listened with great attention appearing to derive the most agreeable sensations from the painfulest parts of the narrative and particularly to be quite charmed by the account of william dorrid's long imprisonment in conclusion mr panks said arthur i have but to say this i have reasons beyond the personal regard for speaking as little as i can of the dorrid family particularly at my mother's house mr panks noted and for knowing as much as i can so devoted a man of business as you are a for mr panks had suddenly made that blowing effort with an usual force it's nothing said panks so devoted a man of business as yourself has a perfect understanding of a fair bargain i wish to make a fair bargain with you that you shall enlighten me concerning the dorrid family when you have it in your power as i have enlightened you it may not give you a very flattering idea of my business habits that i failed to make my terms beforehand continued clenum but i prefer to make them a point of honor i have seen so much business done on sharp principles that to tell you the truth mr panks i am tired of them mr panks laughed it's a bargain sir said he you shall find me stick to it after that he stood a little while looking at clenum and biting his 10 nails all round evidently while he fixed in his mind what he had been told and went over it carefully before the means of supplying a gap in his memory should be no longer at hand it's all right he said at last and now i'll wish you good day as it's collecting day in the yard by the by though a lame foreigner with a stick i i you do take a reference sometimes i see said clenum when he can pay sir replied panks take all you can get and keep back all you can't be forced to give up that's business the lame foreigner with a stick wants a top room down the yard is he good for it i am said clenum and i will answer for him that's enough what i must have a bleeding hard yard said banks making a note of the case in his book is my bond i want my bond you see pay up or produce your property that's the watchword down the yard the lame foreigner with a stick represented that you sent him but he could represent as far as that goes that the great mogul sent him he has been in the hospital i believe yes through having met with an accident he's only just now discharged it's properizing a man sir i have been shown to let him into a hospital said panks and again blew off that remarkable sound i have been shown so too said clenum coldly mr panks being by that time quite ready for a start got under steam in a moment and without any other signal or ceremony was snorting down the step ladder and working into bleeding hard yard before he seemed to be well out of the counting house throughout the remainder of the day bleeding hard yard was in consternation as the grim panks cruised in it haranguing the inhabitants on their backslidings and respective payment demanding his bond breathing notices to quit and executions running down defaulters sending a swell of terror on before him and leaving it in his wake knots of people impelled by a fatal attraction lurked outside any house in which he was known to be listening for fragments of his discourses to the inmates and when he was rumoured to be coming down the stairs often could not disperse so quickly but that he would be prematurely in among them demanding their own areas and rooting them to the spot throughout the remainder of the day mr panks is what were they up to and what did they mean by it sounded all over the yard mr panks wouldn't hear of excuses wouldn't hear of complaints wouldn't hear of repairs wouldn't hear of anything but unconditional money down perspiring and puffing and darting about in eccentric directions and becoming hotter and dingier every moment he lashed the tide of the yard into a most agitated and turbid state it had not settled down into calm water again for two hours after he had been seen fuming away on the horizon at the top of the steps there were several small assemblages of the bleeding hearts at the popular points of meeting in the yard that night among whom it was universally agreed that mr panks was a hard man to have to do with and that it was much to be regretted so it was that a gentleman like mr caspie should put his rents in his hands and never know him in his true light for said the bleeding hearts if a gentleman with that head of hair and the mice took his rent into his own hands ma'am there would be none of this warring and wearing and things would be very different at which identical evening hour and minute the patriarch who had floated serenely through the yard in the forenoon before the harrying began with the express design of getting up this trustfulness in his shining bumps and silken locks at which identical hour and minute that first rate humbug of a thousand guns was heavily floundering in the little dock of his exhausted target home and was seeing as he turned his thumbs a very bad day's work pangs very bad day's work it seems to me sir and i must insist on making this observation forcibly injustice to myself that you ought to have got much more money much more money end of chapter the 23rd book the first this recording is in the public domain chapter the 24th book the first of little dorrit red for LibriVox.org by Alice Christoff little dorrit by Charles Dickens book the first chapter the 24th fortune telling little dorrit received a call that same evening from mr plournage who having intimated that he wished to speak to her privately in a series of coughs so very noticeable as to favor the idea that her father has regarded her seamstress occupation was an illustration of the axiom that there are no such stone blind men as those who will not see obtained an audience with her on the common staircase outside the door there's been a lady at our place today mr dorrit plournage growled and another one along with her as is a old wick soon if ever i met with such the way she snapped a person's head off dear me the mild plournage was at first quite unable to get his mind away from mr f's aunt for said he to excuse himself she is i do assure you the winner gary's party at length by a great effort he detached himself from the subject sufficiently to observe but she's neither here nor there just at present the other lady she's mr casby's daughter and if mr casby aren't well off none better it ain't through any fault of panks or as to panks he does he really does he does indeed mr plournage after his usual manner was a little obscure but conscientiously emphatic and what she come to our place for he pursued was to leave word that if miss dorrit would step up to that card which it's mr casby's house that is and panks he has her office at the back where he really does beyond belief she would be glad for to engage her she was a old and a dear friend she said particular of mr clenum and hoped for to prove herself a useful friend to his friend then was her words wishing to know whether miss dorrit could come tomorrow morning i said i would see you miss and inquire and look around there tonight to say yes or if you was engaged tomorrow when i can go tomorrow thank you said little dorrit this is very kind of you but you're always kind mr plournage with a modest disavowal of his merits opened the room door for her readmission and followed her in with such an exceedingly bold pretence of not having been out at all that her father might have observed it without being very suspicious in his avable unconsciousness however he took no heed plournage after a little conversation in which he blended his former duty as a collegian with his present privilege as a humble outside friend qualified again by his low estate as a plasterer took his leave making the tour of the prison before he left and looking on at a game of skittles with the mixed feelings of an old inhabitant who had his private reasons for believing that it might be his destiny to come back again early in the morning little dorrit leaving mage in high domestic trust set off for the patriarchal tent she went by the iron bridge though it cost her a penny and walked more slowly in that part of her journey than in any other at five minutes before eight her hand was on the patriarchal knocker which was quite a sky as she could reach she gave mrs finchings card to the young woman who opened the door and the young woman told her that miss flora flora having on her return to the parental roof reinvested herself with the title under which she had lived there was not yet out of her bedroom but she was too pleased to walk up into miss flora's sitting room she walked up into miss flora's sitting room as in duty bound and there found a breakfast table comfortably laid for two with a supplementary tray upon it laid for one the young woman disappearing for a few moments returned to say that she was too pleased to take a chair by the fire and to take off her bonnet and make herself at home but little dorrit being bashful and not used to make herself at home on such occasions felt at a loss how to do it so she was still sitting near the door with her bonnet on when flora came in in a hurry half an hour afterwards flora was so sorry to have kept her waiting and good gracious why did she sit out there in the cold when she had expected to find her by the fire reading the paper and had done that heedless girl given her the message then and had she really been in her bonnet all this time and pray for goodness sake let flora take it off flora taking it off in the best natured manner in the world was so struck with the face disclosed that she said why what a good little thing you are my dear and pressed her face between her hands like the gentlest of women it was the word and the action of a moment little dorrit had hardly time to think how kind it was when flora dashed at the breakfast table full of business and plunged overhead into loquacity really so sorry that i should happen to be late on this morning of all mornings because my intention and my wish was to be ready to meet you when you came in and to say that anyone that interested Arthur clenham half so much must interest me and that i gave you the heartiest welcome and was so glad instead of which they never called me and there i still am snoring i dare say if the truth was known and if you don't like either cold foul or hot boiled ham which many people don't i dare say besides jews and theirs are scruples of conscience which we must all respect though i must say wish they had them equally strong when they sell us false articles for real that certainly ain't worth the money i shall be quite vexed said flora little dorrit thanked her and said shyly bread and butter and tea was all she usually oh nonsense my dear child i can never hear of that said flora turning on the urn in the most reckless manner and making herself wink by splashing hot water into her eyes as she bent down to look into the teapot you are coming here on the footing of a friend and companion you know if you will let me take that liberty and i should be ashamed of myself indeed if you could come here upon any other besides which Arthur clenham spoke in such terms you are tired my dear no ma'am you turn so pale you have walked too far before breakfast and i dare say you live a great way off and ought to have had a ride said flora dear dear is there anything that would do you good indeed i am quite well ma'am i thank you again and again but i am quite well then take your tea at once i beg said flora and this swing of foul and bitter ham don't mind me or wait for me because i always carry in this tray myself to mr f sound who breakfasts in bed and a charming old lady too and very clever portrait of mr f behind the door and very like though too much for it and as to a pillar with a marble pavement and balustrades and a mountain i never saw him near it no not likely in the wine trade excellent man but not at all in that way little dorrid glanced at the portrait very imperfectly following the references to that work of art mr f was so devoted to me that he never could bear me out of his sight said flora though of course i am unable to say how long that might have lasted if he hadn't been cut short while i was a new broom worthy man but not poetical manly prose but not romance little dorrid glanced at the portrait again the artist had given it a head that would have been in an intellectual point of view top heavy for shakespeare romance however flora went on busily arranging mr f's aunts toast as i openly said to mr f when he proposed to me and you will be surprised to hear that he proposed seven times once in a hackney coach once in a boat once in a pew once on a donkey at tumbridge wells and the rest on his knees romance was fled with the early days of father clenham our parents tore us asunder we became marble and stern realities of the throne mr f said very much to his credit that he was perfectly aware of it and even preferred that state of things accordingly the word was spoken at the fire went forth and such is life you see my dear and yet we do not break but bend pray make a good breakfast when i go in with the tray she disappeared leaving little dorrid to ponder over the meaning of her scattered words she soon came back again and at last began to take her own breakfast talking all the while you see my dear said flora measuring out a spoonful or two of some brown liquid that smelled like brandy and putting it into her tea i am obliged to be careful to follow the directions of my medical man though the flavor is anything but agreeable being a poor creature and it may be have never recovered the shock received in youth from too much giving way to crying in the next room and separated from Arthur have you known him long as soon as little dorrid comprehended that she had been asked this question for which time was necessary the galloping pace of her new patroness having left her far behind she answered that she had known mr clenham ever since his return to be sure you couldn't have known him before unless you had been in china or had corresponded neither of which is likely returned flora for traveling people usually get more or less mahogany and you're not at all so and as to corresponding what about that's very true and less tea so it was at his mother's was it really that you knew him first highly sensible and firm but dreadfully severe ought to be the mother of the man in the iron mask mrs clenham has been kind to me said little dorrid really i am sure i'm glad to hear it because as Arthur's mother it's naturally pleasant to my feelings to have a better opinion of her than i had before though what she thinks of me when i run on as i am certain to do and she sits glowering at me like fate in a go card shocking comparison really invalid and not her fault i never know or can imagine shall i find my work anywhere ma'am ask little dorrid looking timidly about can i get it you industrious little fairy returned flora taking in another cup of tea another of the doses prescribed by her medical man there's not the slightest hurry and it's better that we should begin by being confidential about our mutual friend too cold a word for me at least i don't mean that very proper expression mutual friend then become through mere formalities not you but me like the spartan boy with the fox biting him which i hope you'll excuse my bringing up for all the tiresome boys that will go tumbling into every sort of company that boys the tire semest little dorrid her face very pale sat down again to listen hadn't i better work the while she asked i can work and attend too i would rather if i may her earnestness was so expressive of her being uneasy without her work that flora answered well my dear whatever you like best and produced a basket of white handkerchiefs little dorrid gladly put it by her side took out her little pocket housewife graded the needle and began to hem what nimble fingers you have said flora but are you sure you're well oh yes indeed flora put her feet upon the fender and settled herself for a thorough good romantic disclosure she started offered score tossing her head sighing in the most demonstrative manner making a great deal of use of her eyebrows and occasionally but not often glancing at the quiet face that bent over the work you must know my dear said flora but that i have no doubt you know already not only because i have already thrown it out in a general way but because i feel i carry it stamped in burning what's his name upon my brow that before i was introduced to the late mr f i had been engaged to arthur clenum mr clenum 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 render sunday 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 sound 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 sand brought home like the fifth of november in a rush bottom chair i will not attempt suffice it to say that the hollow form of breakfast took place in the dining room downstairs that papa taking two freely of pickled salmon was ill for weeks and that mr f and myself went upon a continental tour to calay where the people fought for us on the pier until they separated as though not forever that was not yet to be the statue bride hardly pausing for breath went on with the greatest complacency 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 week but palatable and all was well we returned to the immediate neighborhood of number 30 little gosling street london dogs and settled down air we had yet fully detected the housemaid in selling the feathers out of the spare bed gout flying upward sort with mr f to another sphere is reliqued 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 that any little delicate thing to drink and it came like magic in a pint bottle it was not ecstasy but it was comfort 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 clenum 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 comparatively cold to arthur or rather should seem comparatively 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 others sake i will always be a friend to you my dear girl and in others 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 today i'm sure you're not well i'm sure you're not strong it is only that i feel a little overcome by your kindness and by mr clenum'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 or 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 dorrid 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 the window sat her in a chair by it and considerably retired to her former place it was a windy day and the air stirring on little dorrid'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 clenum had taught her where she lived when flora replied in the negative little dorrid 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 flora took it all in with the 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 downstairs and presented her to the patriarch and mr panks who are already in the dining room waiting to begin mr ref'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 panks blowing off his favorite 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 panks the demeanor 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 notebook 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 balance due to whom was noted in that pocket volume regarded from this point of view mr panks's puffings expressed injury and impatience and each of his loudest notes became a demand for payment but here again she was undecieved by anomalous and incongruous conduct on the part of mr panks 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 panks softly appeared before her are vainly nodding find it a little dull miss dorot inquired panks in a low voice no thank you sir said little dorot busy i see observed mr panks stealing into the room by inches what are those now miss dorot pank achieves are they though said panks i shouldn't have thought it not in the least looking at them but looking at little dorot perhaps you wonder who i am shall i tell you i'm a fortune teller little dorot now began to think he was mad i belong body and soul to my proprietor said panks you saw my proprietor having his dinner below but i do a little in the other way sometimes privately very privately miss dorot little dorot looked at him doubtfully and not without alarm i wish you'd show me the palm of your hand said panks i should like to have a look at it don't let me be troublesome he was so far troublesome that he was not at all wanted there but she laid her work in her lap for a moment and held out her left hand with her thimble on it years of toil i said panks softly touching it with his blunt forefinger but what else are we made for nothing hello looking into the lines what's this with bars it's a college and what's this with a gray gown and a black velvet cap it's a father and what's this with a clarionet it's an uncle and what's this in dancing shoes it's a sister and what's this struggling about in an idle sort of a way it's a brother and what's this thinking for a mole why this is you miss dorot her eyes met his as she looked up wandering lean to his face and she thought that although his were sharp eyes he was a brighter and gentler-looking man that she had supposed a dinner his eyes were on her hand again directly and her opportunity of confirming or correcting the impression was gone now the juices in it muttered panks tracing out a line in her hand with his clumsy finger if this isn't me in the corner here what do i want here what's behind me he carried his finger slowly down to the wrist and around the wrist and affected to look at the back of the hand for what was behind him is it any harm ask little dorot smiling juice a bit said panks what do you think it's worth i ought to ask you that i am not the fortune teller true said panks what's it worth you shall live to see miss dorot releasing the hand by slow degrees he drew all his fingers through his prongs of hair so that they stood up in their most portentous manner and repeated slowly remember what i say miss dorot you shall live to see she could not help showing that she was much surprised if it were only by his knowing so much about her ah that's it said panks pointing at her miss dorot not that ever more surprised than before and a little more frightened she looked to him for an explanation of his last words not that said panks making with great seriousness an imitation of a surprised look and manner that appeared to be unintentionally grotesque don't do that never unseeing me no matter when no matter where i am nobody don't take on to mind me don't mention me take no notice will you agree miss dorot i hardly know what to say returned little dorot quite astounded why because i'm a fortune teller panks the gypsy i haven't told you so much of your fortune yet miss dorot as to tell you what's behind me on that little hand i have told you you shall live to see is it agreed miss dorot agreed that i am too to take no notice of me away from here unless i take on first not to mind me when i come and go it's very easy i am no loss i am not handsome i am not good company i am only my proprietors grubber you need to know more than think ah panks the gypsy at his fortune telling you'll tell the rest of my fortune one day i shall live to know it is it agreed miss dorot yes faltered little dorot whom he greatly confused i suppose so while you do no harm good mr panks glanced at the wall of the adjoining room and stooped forward honest creature woman of capital points but heedless and a loose talker miss dorot with that he rubbed his hands as if the interview had been very satisfactory to him panted away to the door and urbainly nodded himself out again if little dorot were beyond measure perplexed by this curious conduct on the part of her new acquaintance and by finding herself involved in this singular treaty her perplexity was not diminished by ensuing circumstances besides that mr panks took every opportunity afforded him in mr casby's house of significantly glancing at her and snorting at her which was not much after what he had done already he began to pervade her daily life she saw him in the street constantly when she went to mr casby's he was always there when she went to mrs clenum's he came there on any pretense as if to keep her in his sight a week had not gone by when she found him to her astonishment in the lodge one night conversing with the turn kion duty and to all appearance one of his familiar companions her next surprise was to find him equally at his ease within the prison to hear of his presenting himself among the visitors at her father's sunday levy to see him arm in arm with a collegiate friend about the yard to learn from fame that he had greatly distinguished himself one evening at the social club that held its meetings in the snaggery by addressing a speech to the members of the institution singing a song and treating the company to five gallons of ale report madly added a bushel of shrimps the effect on mr plonish of such of these phenomena as he became an eyewitness of in his faithful visits made an impression on little dorit only second to that produced by the phenomena themselves they seemed to gag and bind him he could only stare and sometimes weakly matter that it wouldn't be believed down bleeding heart yard that this was panks but he never said a word more or made a sign more even to little dorit mr panks crowned his mysteries by making himself acquainted with tip in some unknown manner and taking a sunday saunter into the college on that gentleman's arm throughout he never took any notice of little dorit say once or twice when he happened to come close to her and there was no one very near on which occasions he said in passing with a friendly look and a puff of encouragement panks the gypsy fortune telling little dorit worked and strove as usual wondering at all this but keeping her wonder as she had from her earliest ears kept many heavier loads in her own breast a change had stolen and was stealing yet over the patient heart every day found her something more retiring than the day before to pass in and out of the prison and noticed and elsewhere to be overlooked and forgotten were for herself her chief desires to her own room to strangely assorted room for her delicate youth and character she was glad to retreat as often as she could without desertion of any duty there were afternoon times when she was unemployed when visitors dropped in to play a hand at cards with her father when she could be spared and was better away then she would flit along the yard climb the scores of stairs that led to her room and take a seat at the window many combinations did those spikes upon the wall assume many light shapes did the strong iron weave itself into many golden touches fell upon the rust while little dorit sat there musing new zigzag sprung into the cruel patterns sometimes when she saw it through a burst of tears but beautified or hardened still always over it and under it and through it she was feigned to look in her solitude seeing everything with that in a faceable brand a garret and a marshal see garret without compromise was little dorit's room beautifully kept it was ugly in itself and had little but cleanliness and air to set it off for what embellishment she had ever been able to buy had gone to her father's room albeit for this poor place she showed an increasing love and to sit in it alone became her favorite rest in so much that on a certain afternoon during the pangs mysteries when she was seated at her window and heard Maggie's well-known step coming up the stairs she was very much disturbed by the apprehension of being summoned away as Maggie's step came higher up and nearer she trembled and faltered and it was as much as she could do to speak when Maggie at length appeared please little mother said Maggie panting for breath you must come down and see him he's here who Maggie who of course mr. Clannum is in your father's room and he says to me Maggie will it be so kind and go and say it's only me I am not very well Maggie I had better not go I'm going to lie down see I lie down now to ease my head say with my grateful regard that you left me so or I would have come well it aren't very polite though little mother said the staring Maggie to turn your face away neither Maggie was very susceptible to personal slides and very ingenious in inventing them putting both your hands before your face too she went on if you can't bear the looks of a poor thing it would be better to tell her so at once and not go and shut her out like that hurting her feelings and breaking her heart at 10 years old poor thing it's to ease my head Maggie well and if you cry to ease your head little mother let me cry too don't go and have all the crying to yourself expostulated Maggie but aren't not being greedy and immediately began to blubber it was with some difficulty that she could be induced to go back with the excuse but the promise of being told a story of old her great delight on condition that she concentrated her faculties upon the errand and left her little mistress to herself for an hour longer combined with a misgiving on Maggie's part that she had left her good temper at the bottom of the staircase prevailed so away she went muttering her message all the way to keep it in her mind and at the appointed time came back it was very sorry I can tell you she announced and wanted to send a doctor and he's coming again tomorrow he is and I don't think he'll have a good sleep tonight along or hearing about your head little mother oh my ain't you been a crying I think I have a little Maggie a little oh but it's all over now all over for good Maggie and my head is much better and cooler and I am quite comfortable I am very glad I did not go down her great staring child tenderly embraced her and having smoothed her hair and bathed her forehead and eyes with cold water offices in which her awkward hands became skillful hugged her again exalted in her brighter looks and stationed her in her chair by the window over against this chair Maggie with apoplectic exertions that were not at all required dragged the box which was her seat on storytelling locations sat down upon it hugged her own knees and said with a voracious appetite for stories and with widely opened eyes now little mother let's have a good one what shall it be about Maggie oh let's have a princess said Maggie and let her be a regular one beyond all belief you know little Dorrid considered for a moment and with a rather sad smile upon her face which was flushed by the sunset began Maggie there was once upon a time a fine king and he had everything he could wish for and a great deal more he had gold and silver diamonds and rubies riches of every kind he had palaces and he had hospitals interposed Maggie still nursing her knees let him have hospitals because they're so comfortable hospitals with lots of chicken yes he had plenty of them and he had plenty of everything plenty of baked potatoes for instance said Maggie plenty of everything Lord chuckled Maggie giving her knees a hug wasn't it prime this king had a daughter who was the wisest and most beautiful princess that ever was seen when she was a child she understood all her lessons before her master stored them to her and when she was grown up she was the wonder of the world now near the palace where this princess lived there was a cottage in which there was a poor little tiny woman who lived all alone by herself an old woman said Maggie with an anxious smack of her lips no not an old woman quite a young one I wonder she weren't afraid said Maggie go on please the princess passed the cottage nearly every day and whenever she went in by her beautiful carriage she saw the poor tiny woman spinning at her wheel and she looked at the tiny woman and the tiny woman looked at her so one day she stopped the coachman a little way from the cottage and got out and walked on and peeped in at the door and there as usual was the tiny woman spinning at her wheel and she looked at the princess and the princess looked at her like trying to stare one another out said Maggie please go a little mother the princess was such a wonderful princess that she had the power of knowing secrets and she said to the tiny woman why do you keep it there this showed her directly that the princess knew why she lived all alone by herself spinning at her wheel and she kneeled down at the princess feet and asked her never to betray her so the princess said I never will betray you let me see it so the tiny woman closed the shutter of the cottage window and fastened the door and trembling from head to foot for fear that anyone should suspect her opened a very secret place and showed the princess a shadow law said Maggie it was the shadow of someone who had gone by long before of someone who had gone on far away quite out of reach never never to come back it was bright to look at and when the tiny woman showed it to the princess she was proud of it with all her heart it's a great great treasure when the princess got considered it a little while she said to the tiny woman and you keep watch over this every day and she cast down her eyes and whispered yes then the princess said remind me why to which the other replied that no one so good and kind had ever passed that way and that was why in the beginning she said to that nobody missed it that nobody was the worst for it that someone had gone on to those who were expecting him someone was a man then interposed Maggie little Dorrit timidly said yes she believed so and resumed had gone on to those who were expecting him and that this remembrance was stolen or kept back from nobody the princess made answer ah but when the cottager died it would be discovered there the tiny woman told her no when that time came it would sink quietly into her own grave and would never be found well to be sure said Maggie go on please the princess was very much astonished to hear this as you may suppose Maggie and well she might be said Maggie so she resolved to watch the tiny woman and see what came of it every day she drove in her beautiful carriage by the cottage door and there she saw the tiny woman always alone by herself spinning at her wheel and she looked at the tiny woman and the tiny woman looked at her at last one day the wheel was still and the tiny woman was not to be seen when the princess made inquiries why the wheel had stopped and where the tiny woman was she was informed that the wheel had stopped because there was nobody to turn it the tiny woman being dead they ought to have took her to the hospital said Maggie and then she'd have got over it the princess after crying a very little for the loss of the tiny woman dried her eyes and got out of her carriage at the place where she had stopped it before and went to the cottage and peeped in at the door there was nobody to look at her now and nobody for her to look at so she went in at once to search for the treasured shadow that there was no sign of it to be found anywhere and then she knew that the tiny woman had told her the truth and that it would never give anybody any trouble and that it had sunk quietly into her own grave and that she and it were at rest together that's all Maggie the sunset flash was so bright on little Doritz face when she came thus to the end of her story that she interposed her hand to shade it had she got to be old Maggie asked the tiny woman ah I don't know said little Dorit but it would have been just the same if she had been ever so old would it really said Maggie well I suppose it would though and said staring and ruminating she sat so long with her eyes wide open that at length little Dorit enticed her from her box rose and looked out a window as she glanced down into the yard she saw pangs come in and leer up with the corner of his eye as he went by was he a little mother said Maggie she had joined her at the window and was leaning on her shoulder I see him coming and out often I have heard him called a fortune teller said little Dorit but I doubt if you could tell many people even their past or present fortunes couldn't have told the princess hers said Maggie little Dorit looking musingly down into the dark valley of the prison shook her head nor the tiny woman hers said Maggie no said little Dorit with the sunset very bright upon her but let us come away from the window end of chapter the 24th book the first this recording is in the public domain