TheDreamsofMrsFlintwinchthickenTheshadywaiting-roomsoftheCircumlocutionOffice，wherehepassedagooddealoftimeincompanywithvarioustroublesomeConvictswhowereundersentencetobebrokenaliveonthatwheel，hadaffordedArthurClennamampleleisure，inthreeorfoursuccessivedays，toexhaustthesubjectofhislateglimpseofMissWadeandTattycoram。Hehadbeenabletomakenomoreofitandnolessofit，andinthisunsatisfactoryconditionhewasfaintoleaveit。
Duringthisspacehehadnotbeentohismother’sdismaloldhouse。
Oneofhiscustomaryeveningsforrepairingthithernowcominground，helefthisdwellingandhispartneratnearlynineo’clock，andslowlywalkedinthedirectionofthatgrimhomeofhisyouth。
Italwaysaffectedhisimaginationaswrathful，mysterious，andsad；andhisimaginationwassufficientlyimpressibletoseethewholeneighbourhoodundersometingeofitsdarkshadow。Ashewentalong，uponadrearynight，thedimstreetsbywhichhewent，seemedalldepositoriesofoppressivesecrets。Thedesertedcounting-houses，withtheirsecretsofbooksandpaperslockedupinchestsandsafes；thebanking-houses，withtheirsecretsofstrongroomsandwells，thekeysofwhichwereinaveryfewsecretpocketsandaveryfewsecretbreasts；thesecretsofallthedispersedgrindersinthevastmill，amongwhomthereweredoubtlessplunderers，forgers，andtrust-betrayersofmanysorts，whomthelightofanydaythatdawnedmightreveal；hecouldhavefanciedthatthesethings，inhiding，impartedaheavinesstotheair。Theshadowthickeningandthickeningasheapproacheditssource，hethoughtofthesecretsofthelonelychurch-vaults，wherethepeoplewhohadhoardedandsecretedinironcofferswereintheirturnsimilarlyhoarded，notyetatrestfromdoingharm；
andthenofthesecretsoftheriver，asitrolleditsturbidtidebetweentwofrowningwildernessesofsecrets，extending，thickanddense，formanymiles，andwardingoffthefreeairandthefreecountrysweptbywindsandwingsofbirds。
Theshadowstilldarkeningashedrewnearthehouse，themelancholyroomwhichhisfatherhadonceoccupied，hauntedbytheappealingfacehehadhimselfseenfadeawaywithhimwhentherewasnootherwatcherbythebed，arosebeforehismind。Itscloseairwassecret。Thegloom，andmust，anddustofthewholetenement，weresecret。Attheheartofithismotherpresided，inflexibleofface，indomitableofwill，firmlyholdingallthesecretsofherownandhisfather’slife，andausterelyopposingherself，fronttofront，tothegreatfinalsecretofalllife。
Hehadturnedintothenarrowandsteepstreetfromwhichthecourtofenclosurewhereinthehousestoodopened，whenanotherfootstepturnedintoitbehindhim，andsocloseuponhisownthathewasjostledtothewall。Ashismindwasteemingwiththesethoughts，theencountertookhimaltogetherunprepared，sothattheotherpassengerhadhadtimetosay，boisterously，’Pardon!Notmyfault!’andtopassonbeforetheinstanthadelapsedwhichwasrequisitetohisrecoveryoftherealitiesabouthim。
Whenthatmomenthadflashedaway，hesawthatthemanstridingonbeforehimwasthemanwhohadbeensomuchinhismindduringthelastfewdays。Itwasnocasualresemblance，helpedoutbytheforceoftheimpressionthemanmadeuponhim。Itwastheman；themanhehadfollowedincompanywiththegirl，andwhomhehadoverheardtalkingtoMissWade。
Thestreetwasasharpdescentandwascrookedtoo，andthemanwhoalthoughnotdrunkhadtheairofbeingflushedwithsomestrongdrinkwentdownitsofastthatClennamlosthimashelookedathim。Withnodefinedintentionoffollowinghim，butwithanimpulsetokeepthefigureinviewalittlelonger，Clennamquickenedhispacetopassthetwistinthestreetwhichhidhimfromhissight。Onturningit，hesawthemannomore。
Standingnow，closetothegatewayofhismother’shouse，helookeddownthestreet：butitwasempty。Therewasnoprojectingshadowlargeenoughtoobscuretheman；therewasnoturningnearthathecouldhavetaken；norhadtherebeenanyaudiblesoundoftheopeningandclosingofadoor。Nevertheless，heconcludedthatthemanmusthavehadakeyinhishand，andmusthaveopenedoneofthemanyhouse-doorsandgonein。
Ruminatingonthisstrangechanceandstrangeglimpse，heturnedintothecourt-yard。Ashelooked，bymerehabit，towardsthefeeblylightedwindowsofhismother’sroom，hiseyesencounteredthefigurehehadjustlost，standingagainsttheironrailingsofthelittlewasteenclosurelookingupatthosewindowsandlaughingtohimself。Someofthemanyvagrantcatswhowerealwaysprowlingabouttherebynight，andwhohadtakenfrightathim，appearedtohavestoppedwhenhehadstopped，andwerelookingathimwitheyesbynomeansunlikehisownfromtopsofwallsandporches，andothersafepointsofpause。Hehadonlyhaltedforamomenttoentertainhimselfthus；heimmediatelywentforward，throwingtheendofhiscloakoffhisshoulderashewent，ascendedtheunevenlysunkensteps，andknockedasoundingknockatthedoor。
Clennam’ssurprisewasnotsoabsorbingbutthathetookhisresolutionwithoutanyincertitude。Hewentuptothedoortoo，andascendedthestepstoo。Hisfriendlookedathimwithabraggartair，andsangtohimself。
’Whopassesbythisroadsolate？
CompagnondelaMajolaine；
Whopassesbythisroadsolate？
Alwaysgay!’
Afterwhichheknockedagain。
’Youareimpatient，sir，’saidArthur。
’Iam，sir。Deathofmylife，sir，’returnedthestranger，’it’smycharactertobeimpatient!’
ThesoundofMistressAfferycautiouslychainingthedoorbeforesheopenedit，causedthembothtolookthatway。Afferyopeneditaverylittle，withaflaringcandleinherhandsandaskedwhowasthat，atthattimeofnight，withthatknock!’Why，Arthur!’sheaddedwithastonishment，seeinghimfirst。’Notyousure？Ah，Lordsaveus!No，’shecriedout，seeingtheother。’Himagain!’
’It’strue!Himagain，dearMrsFlintwinch，’criedthestranger。
’Openthedoor，andletmetakemydearfriendJeremiahtomyarms!
Openthedoor，andletmehastenmyselftoembracemyFlintwinch!’
’He’snotathome，’criedAffery。
’Fetchhim!’criedthestranger。’FetchmyFlintwinch!TellhimthatitishisoldBlandois，whocomesfromarrivinginEngland；
tellhimthatitishislittleboywhoishere，hiscabbage，hiswell-beloved!Openthedoor，beautifulMrsFlintwinch，andinthemeantimeletmetopassupstairs，topresentmycompliments——
homageofBlandois——tomylady!Myladylivesalways？Itiswell。
Openthen!’
ToArthur’sincreasedsurprise，MistressAffery，stretchinghereyeswideathimself，asifinwarningthatthiswasnotagentlemanforhimtointerferewith，drewbackthechain，andopenedthedoor。Thestranger，withoutceremony，walkedintothehall，leavingArthurtofollowhim。
’Despatchthen!Achievethen!BringmyFlintwinch!Announcemetomylady!’criedthestranger，clankingaboutthestonefloor。
’Praytellme，Affery，’saidArthuraloudandsternly，ashesurveyedhimfromheadtofootwithindignation；’whoisthisgentleman？’
’Praytellme，Affery，’thestrangerrepeatedinhisturn，’who——
ha，ha，ha!——whoisthisgentleman？’
ThevoiceofMrsClennamopportunelycalledfromherchamberabove，’Affery，letthembothcomeup。Arthur，comestraighttome!’
’Arthur？’exclaimedBlandois，takingoffhishatatarm’slength，andbringinghisheelstogetherfromagreatstrideinmakinghimaflourishingbow。’Thesonofmylady？Iamtheall-devotedofthesonofmylady!’
Arthurlookedathimagaininnomoreflatteringmannerthanbefore，and，turningonhisheelwithoutacknowledgment，wentup-
stairs。Thevisitorfollowedhimup-stairs。MistressAfferytookthekeyfrombehindthedoor，anddeftlyslippedouttofetchherlord。
Abystander，informedofthepreviousappearanceofMonsieurBlandoisinthatroom，wouldhaveobservedadifferenceinMrsClennam’spresentreceptionofhim。Herfacewasnotonetobetrayit；andhersuppressedmanner，andhersetvoice，wereequallyunderhercontrol。Itwhollyconsistedinhernevertakinghereyesoffhisfacefromthemomentofhisentrance，andinhertwiceorthrice，whenhewasbecomingnoisy，swayingherselfaverylittleforwardinthechairinwhichshesatupright，withherhandsimmovableuponitselbows；asifshegavehimtheassurancethatheshouldbepresentlyheardatanylengthhewould。Arthurdidnotfailtoobservethis；thoughthedifferencebetweenthepresentoccasionandtheformerwasnotwithinhispowerofobservation。
’Madame，’saidBlandois，’domethehonourtopresentmetoMonsieur，yourson。Itappearstome，madame，thatMonsieur，yourson，isdisposedtocomplainofme。Heisnotpolite。’
’Sir，’saidArthur，strikinginexpeditiously，’whoeveryouare，andhoweveryoucometobehere，ifIwerethemasterofthishouseIwouldlosenotimeinplacingyouontheoutsideofit。’
’Butyouarenot，’saidhismother，withoutlookingathim。
’Unfortunatelyforthegratificationofyourunreasonabletemper，youarenotthemaster，Arthur。’
’Imakenoclaimtobe，mother。IfIobjecttothisperson’smannerofconductinghimselfhere，andobjecttoitsomuch，thatifIhadanyauthorityhereIcertainlywouldnotsufferhimtoremainaminute，Iobjectonyouraccount。’
’Inthecaseofobjectionbeingnecessary，’shereturned，’Icouldobjectformyself。AndofcourseIshould。’
Thesubjectoftheirdispute，whohadseatedhimself，laughedaloud，andrappedhislegswithhishand。
’Youhavenoright，’saidMrsClennam，alwaysintentonBlandois，howeverdirectlysheaddressedherson，’tospeaktotheprejudiceofanygentlemanleastofallagentlemanfromanothercountry，becausehedoesnotconformtoyourstandard，orsquarehisbehaviourbyyourrules。Itispossiblethatthegentlemanmay，onsimilargrounds，objecttoyou。’
’Ihopeso，’returnedArthur。
’Thegentleman，’pursuedMrsClennam，’onaformeroccasionbroughtaletterofrecommendationtousfromhighlyesteemedandresponsiblecorrespondents。Iamperfectlyunacquaintedwiththegentleman’sobjectincominghereatpresent。Iamentirelyignorantofit，andcannotbesupposedlikelytobeabletoformtheremotestguessatitsnature；’herhabitualfrownbecamestronger，assheveryslowlyandweightilyemphasisedthosewords；
’but，whenthegentlemanproceedstoexplainhisobject，asIshallbeghimtohavethegoodnesstodotomyselfandFlintwinch，whenFlintwinchreturns，itwillprove，nodoubt，tobeonemoreorlessintheusualwayofourbusiness，whichitwillbebothourbusinessandourpleasuretoadvance。Itcanbenothingelse。’
’Weshallsee，madame!’saidthemanofbusiness。
’Weshallsee，’sheassented。’ThegentlemanisacquaintedwithFlintwinch；andwhenthegentlemanwasinLondonlast，IremembertohaveheardthatheandFlintwinchhadsomeentertainmentorgood-fellowshiptogether。Iamnotinthewayofknowingmuchthatpassesoutsidethisroom，andthejingleoflittleworldlythingsbeyonditdoesnotmuchinterestme；butIremembertohaveheardthat。’
’Right，madame。Itistrue。’Helaughedagain，andwhistledtheburdenofthetunehehadsungatthedoor。