Raisinghiseyesthusoneday，hewassurprisedtoseeabonnetlabouringupthestep-ladder。Theunusualapparitionwasfollowedbyanotherbonnet。HethenperceivedthatthefirstbonnetwasontheheadofMrF。’sAunt，andthatthesecondbonnetwasontheheadofFlora，whoseemedtohavepropelledherlegacyupthesteepascentwithconsiderabledifficulty。
Thoughnotaltogetherenrapturedatthesightofthesevisitors，Clennamlostnotimeinopeningthecounting-housedoor，andextricatingthemfromtheworkshop；arescuewhichwasrenderedthemorenecessarybyMrF。’sAuntalreadystumblingoversomeimpediment，andmenacingsteampowerasanInstitutionwithastonyreticuleshecarried。
’Goodgracious，Arthur，——IshouldsayMrClennam，farmoreproper——
theclimbwehavehadtogetuphereandhowevertogetdownagainwithoutafire-escapeandMrF。’sAuntslippingthroughthestepsandbruisedalloverandyouinthemachineryandfoundrywaytooonlythink，andnevertoldus!’
Thus，Flora，outofbreath。Meanwhile，MrF。’sAuntrubbedheresteemedinstepswithherumbrella，andvindictivelyglared。
’Mostunkindnevertohavecomebacktoseeussincethatday，thoughnaturallyitwasnottobeexpectedthatthereshouldbeanyattractionatourhouseandyouweremuchmorepleasantlyengaged，that’sprettycertain，andisshefairordarkblueeyesorblackIwonder，notthatIexpectthatsheshouldbeanythingbutaperfectcontrasttomeinallparticularsforIamadisappointmentasIverywellknowandyouarequiterighttobedevotednodoubtthoughwhatIamsayingArthurnevermindIhardlyknowmyselfGoodgracious!’
Bythistimehehadplacedchairsfortheminthecounting-house。
AsFloradroppedintohers，shebestowedtheoldlookuponhim。
’AndtothinkofDoyceandClennam，andwhoDoycecanbe，’saidFlora；’delightfulmannodoubtandmarriedperhapsorperhapsadaughter，nowhashereally？thenoneunderstandsthepartnershipandseesitall，don’ttellmeanythingaboutitforIknowIhavenoclaimtoaskthequestionthegoldenchainthatoncewasforgedbeingsnappedandveryproper。’
Floraputherhandtenderlyonhis，andgavehimanotheroftheyouthfulglances。
’DearArthur——forceofhabit，MrClennameverywaymoredelicateandadaptedtoexistingcircumstances——ImustbegtobeexcusedfortakingthelibertyofthisintrusionbutIthoughtImightsofarpresumeuponoldtimesforeverfadednevermoretobloomastocallwithMrF。’sAunttocongratulateandofferbestwishes，A
greatdealsuperiortoChinanottobedeniedandmuchnearerthoughhigherup!’
’Iamveryhappytoseeyou，’saidClennam，’andIthankyou，Flora，verymuchforyourkindremembrance。’
’MorethanIcansaymyselfatanyrate，’returnedFlora，’forI
mighthavebeendeadandburiedtwentydistincttimesoverandnodoubtwhatevershouldhavebeenbeforeyouhadgenuinelyrememberedMeoranythinglikeitinspiteofwhichonelastremarkIwishtomake，onelastexplanationIwishtooffer——’
’MydearMrsFinching，’Arthurremonstratedinalarm。
’Ohnotthatdisagreeablename，sayFlora!’
’Flora，isitworthtroublingyourselfafreshtoenterintoexplanations？Iassureyounoneareneeded。Iamsatisfied——Iamperfectlysatisfied。’
Adiversionwasoccasionedhere，byMrF。’sAuntmakingthefollowinginexorableandawfulstatement：
’There’smile-stonesontheDoverroad!’
Withsuchmortalhostilitytowardsthehumanracedidshedischargethismissile，thatClennamwasquiteatalosshowtodefendhimself；theratherashehadbeenalreadyperplexedinhismindbythehonourofavisitfromthisvenerablelady，whenitwasplainsheheldhimintheutmostabhorrence。Hecouldnotbutlookatherwithdisconcertment，asshesatbreathingbitternessandscorn，andstaringleaguesaway。Flora，however，receivedtheremarkasifithadbeenofamostappositeandagreeablenature；approvinglyobservingaloudthatMrF。’sAunthadagreatdealofspirit。
Stimulatedeitherbythiscompliment，orbyherburningindignation，thatillustriouswomanthenadded，’Lethimmeetitifhecan!’And，witharigidmovementofherstonyreticuleanappendageofgreatsizeandofafossilappearance，indicatedthatClennamwastheunfortunatepersonatwhomthechallengewashurled。
’Onelastremark，’resumedFlora，’IwasgoingtosayIwishtomakeonelastexplanationIwishtooffer，MrF。’sAuntandmyselfwouldnothaveintrudedonbusinesshoursMrF。havingbeeninbusinessandthoughthewinetradestillbusinessisequallybusinesscallitwhatyouwillandbusinesshabitsarejustthesameaswitnessMrF。himselfwhohadhisslippersalwaysonthematattenminutesbeforesixintheafternoonandhisbootsinsidethefenderattenminutesbeforeeightinthemorningtothemomentinallweatherslightordark——wouldnotthereforehaveintrudedwithoutamotivewhichbeingkindlymeantitmaybehopedwillbekindlytakenArthur，MrClennamfarmoreproper，evenDoyceandClennamprobablymorebusiness-like。’
’Praysaynothinginthewayofapology，’Arthurentreated。’Youarealwayswelcome。’
’VerypoliteofyoutosaysoArthur——cannotrememberMrClennamuntilthewordisout，suchisthehabitoftimesforeverfled，andsotrueitisthatoftinthestillynightereslumber’schainhasboundpeople，fondmemorybringsthelightofotherdaysaroundpeople——verypolitebutmorepolitethantrueIamafraid，fortogointothemachinerybusinesswithoutsomuchassendingalineoracardtopapa——Idon’tsaymethoughtherewasatimebutthatispastandsternrealityhasnowmygraciousnevermind——doesnotlooklikeityoumustconfess。’
EvenFlora’scommasseemedtohavefledonthisoccasion；shewassomuchmoredisjointedandvolublethanintheprecedinginterview。
’Thoughindeed，’shehurriedon，’nothingelseistobeexpectedandwhyshoulditbeexpectedandifit’snottobeexpectedwhyshoulditbe，andIamfarfromblamingyouoranyone，Whenyourmamaandmypapaworriedustodeathandseveredthegoldenbowl——I
meanbondbutIdaresayyouknowwhatImeanandifyoudon’tyoudon’tlosemuchandcarejustaslittleIwillventuretoadd——whentheyseveredthegoldenbondthatboundusandthrewusintofitsofcryingonthesofanearlychokedatleastmyselfeverythingwaschangedandingivingmyhandtoMrF。IknowIdidsowithmyeyesopenbuthewassoveryunsettledandinsuchlowspiritsthathehaddistractedlyalludedtotheriverifnotoilofsomethingfromthechemist’sandIdiditforthebest。’
’MygoodFlora，wesettledthatbefore。Itwasallquiteright。’
’It’sperfectlyclearyouthinkso，’returnedFlora，’foryoutakeitverycoolly，ifIhadn’tknownittobeChinaIshouldhaveguessedmyselfthePolarregions，dearMrClennamyouarerighthoweverandIcannotblameyoubutastoDoyceandClennampapa’spropertybeingaboutherewehearditfromPancksandbutforhimwenevershouldhaveheardonewordaboutitIamsatisfied。’
’No，no，don’tsaythat。’
’WhatnonsensenottosayitArthur——DoyceandClennam——easierandlesstryingtomethanMrClennam——whenIknowitandyouknowittooandcan’tdenyit。’
’ButIdodenyit，Flora。Ishouldsoonhavemadeyouafriendlyvisit。’
’Ah!’saidFlora，tossingherhead。’Idaresay!’andshegavehimanotheroftheoldlooks。’HoweverwhenPanckstoldusImadeupmymindthatMrF。’sAuntandIwouldcomeandcallbecausewhenpapa——whichwasbeforethat——happenedtomentionhernametomeandtosaythatyouwereinterestedinherIsaidatthemomentGoodgraciouswhynothaveherherethenwhenthere’sanythingtodoinsteadofputtingitout。’
’WhenyousayHer，’observedClennam，bythistimeprettywellbewildered，’doyoumeanMrF。’s——’
’Mygoodness，Arthur——DoyceandClennamreallyeasiertomewitholdremembrances——whoeverheardofMrF。’sAuntdoingneedleworkandgoingoutbytheday？’
’Goingoutbytheday!DoyouspeakofLittleDorrit？’
’Whyyesofcourse，’returnedFlora；’andofallthestrangestnamesIeverheardthestrangest，likeaplacedowninthecountrywithaturnpike，orafavouriteponyorapuppyorabirdorsomethingfromaseed-shoptobeputinagardenoraflower-potandcomeupspeckled。’
’Then，Flora，’saidArthur，withasuddeninterestintheconversation，’MrCasbywassokindastomentionLittleDorrittoyou，washe？Whatdidhesay？’
’Ohyouknowwhatpapais，’rejoinedFlora，’andhowaggravatinglyhesitslookingbeautifulandturninghisthumbsoverandoveroneanothertillhemakesonegiddyifonekeepsone’seyesuponhim，hesaidwhenweweretalkingofyou——Idon’tknowwhobeganthesubjectArthurDoyceandClennambutIamsureitwasn’tme，atleastIhopenotbutyoureallymustexcusemyconfessingmoreonthatpoint。’
’Certainly，’saidArthur。’Byallmeans。’
’Youareveryready，’poutedFlora，comingtoasuddenstopinacaptivatingbashfulness，’thatImustadmit，PapasaidyouhadspokenofherinanearnestwayandIsaidwhatIhavetoldyouandthat’sall。’
’That’sall？’saidArthur，alittledisappointed。
’ExceptthatwhenPanckstoldusofyourhavingembarkedinthisbusinessandwithdifficultypersuadedusthatitwasreallyyouI
saidtoMrF。’sAuntthenwewouldcomeandaskyouifitwouldbeagreeabletoallpartiesthatsheshouldbeengagedatourhousewhenrequiredforIknowsheoftengoestoyourmama’sandIknowthatyourmamahasaverytouchytemperArthur——DoyceandClennam——
orInevermighthavemarriedMrF。andmighthavebeenatthishourbutIamrunningintononsense。’
’Itwasverykindofyou，Flora，tothinkofthis。’
PoorFlorarejoinedwithaplainsinceritywhichbecameherbetterthanheryoungestglances，thatshewasgladhethoughtso。ShesaiditwithsomuchheartthatClennamwouldhavegivenagreatdealtobuyhisoldcharacterofheronthespot，andthrowitandthemermaidawayforever。
’Ithink，Flora，’hesaid，’thattheemploymentyoucangiveLittleDorrit，andthekindnessyoucanshowher——’
’YesandIwill，’saidFlora，quickly。
’Iamsureofit——willbeagreatassistanceandsupporttoher。
IdonotfeelthatIhavetherighttotellyouwhatIknowofher，forIacquiredtheknowledgeconfidentially，andundercircumstancesthatbindmetosilence。ButIhaveaninterestinthelittlecreature，andarespectforherthatIcannotexpresstoyou。Herlifehasbeenoneofsuchtrialanddevotion，andsuchquietgoodness，asyoucanscarcelyimagine。Icanhardlythinkofher，farlessspeakofher，withoutfeelingmoved。LetthatfeelingrepresentwhatIcouldtellyou，andcommithertoyourfriendlinesswithmythanks。’
OncemoreheputouthishandfranklytopoorFlora；oncemorepoorFloracouldn’tacceptitfrankly，founditworthnothingopenly，mustmaketheoldintrigueandmysteryofit。Asmuchtoherownenjoymentastohisdismay，shecovereditwithacornerofhershawlasshetookit。Then，lookingtowardstheglassfrontofthecounting-house，andseeingtwofiguresapproaching，shecriedwithinfiniterelish，’Papa!Hush，Arthur，forMercy’ssake!’andtotteredbacktoherchairwithanamazingimitationofbeingindangerofswooning，inthedreadsurpriseandmaidenlyflutterofherspirits。