’Therefore，Arthur，’saidhismother，’thegentlemancomeshereasanacquaintance，andnostranger；anditismuchtoberegrettedthatyourunreasonabletempershouldhavefoundoffenceinhim。I
regretit。Isaysotothegentleman。Youwillnotsayso，I
know；thereforeIsayitformyselfandFlintwinch，sincewithustwothegentleman’sbusinesslies。’
Thekeyofthedoorbelowwasnowheardinthelock，andthedoorwasheardtoopenandclose。InduesequenceMrFlintwinchappeared；onwhoseentrancethevisitorrosefromhischair，laughingloud，andfoldedhiminacloseembrace。
’Howgoesit，mycherishedfriend!’saidhe。’Howgoestheworld，myFlintwinch？Rose-coloured？Somuchthebetter，somuchthebetter!Ah，butyoulookcharming!Ah，butyoulookyoungandfreshastheflowersofSpring!Ah，goodlittleboy!Bravechild，bravechild!’
WhileheapingthesecomplimentsonMrFlintwinch，herolledhimaboutwithahandoneachofhisshoulders，untilthestaggeringsofthatgentleman，whounderthecircumstanceswasdryerandmoretwistedthanever，werelikethoseofateetotumnearlyspent。
’Ihadapresentiment，lasttime，thatweshouldbebetterandmoreintimatelyacquainted。Isitcomingonyou，Flintwinch？Isityetcomingon？’
’Why，no，sir，’retortedMrFlintwinch。’Notunusually。Hadn’tyoubetterbeseated？Youhavebeencallingforsomemoreofthatport，sir，Iguess？’
’Ah，Littlejoker!Littlepig!’criedthevisitor。’Hahahaha!’
AndthrowingMrFlintwinchaway，asaclosingpieceofraillery，hesatdownagain。
Theamazement，suspicion，resentment，andshame，withwhichArthurlookedonatallthis，struckhimdumb。MrFlintwinch，whohadspunbackwardsometwoorthreeyardsundertheimpetuslastgiventohim，broughthimselfupwithafacecompletelyunchangedinitsstolidityexceptasitwasaffectedbyshortnessofbreath，andlookedhardatArthur。NotawhitlessreticentandwoodenwasMrFlintwinchoutwardly，thanintheusualcourseofthings：theonlyperceptibledifferenceinhimbeingthattheknotofcravatwhichwasgenerallyunderhisear，hadworkedroundtothebackofhishead：whereitformedanornamentalappendagenotunlikeabagwig，andgavehimsomethingofacourtlyappearance。
AsMrsClennamneverremovedhereyesfromBlandoisonwhomtheyhadsomeeffect，asasteadylookhasonalowersortofdog，soJeremiahneverremovedhisfromArthur。Itwasasiftheyhadtacitlyagreedtotaketheirdifferentprovinces。Thus，intheensuingsilence，JeremiahstoodscrapinghischinandlookingatArthurasthoughheweretryingtoscrewhisthoughtsoutofhimwithaninstrument。
Afteralittle，thevisitor，asifhefeltthesilenceirksome，rose，andimpatientlyputhimselfwithhisbacktothesacredfirewhichhadburnedthroughsomanyyears。ThereuponMrsClennamsaid，movingoneofherhandsforthefirsttime，andmovingitveryslightlywithanactionofdismissal：
’Pleasetoleaveustoourbusiness，Arthur。’
’Mother，Idosowithreluctance。’
’Nevermindwithwhat，’shereturned，’orwithwhatnot。Pleasetoleaveus。Comebackatanyothertimewhenyoumayconsideritadutytoburyhalfanhourwearilyhere。Goodnight。’
Shehelduphermuffledfingersthathemighttouchthemwithhis，accordingtotheirusualcustom，andhestoodoverherwheeledchairtotouchherfacewithhislips。Hethought，then，thathercheekwasmorestrainedthanusual，andthatitwascolder。Ashefollowedthedirectionofhereyes，inrisingagain，towardsMrFlintwinch’sgoodfriend，MrBlandois，MrBlandoissnappedhisfingerandthumbwithoneloudcontemptuoussnap。
’Ileaveyour——yourbusinessacquaintanceinmymother’sroom，MrFlintwinch，’saidClennam，’withagreatdealofsurpriseandagreatdealofunwillingness。’
Thepersonreferredtosnappedhisfingerandthumbagain。
’Goodnight，mother。’
’Goodnight。’
’Ihadafriendonce，mygoodcomradeFlintwinch，’saidBlandois，standingastridebeforethefire，andsoevidentlysayingittoarrestClennam’sretreatingsteps，thathelingerednearthedoor；
’Ihadafriendonce，whohadheardsomuchofthedarksideofthiscityanditsways，thathewouldn’thaveconfidedhimselfalonebynightwithtwopeoplewhohadaninterestingettinghimundertheground——myfaith!noteveninarespectablehouselikethis——unlesshewasbodilytoostrongforthem。Bah!Whatapoltroon，myFlintwinch!Eh？’
’Acur，sir。’
’Agreed!Acur。Buthewouldn’thavedoneit，myFlintwinch，unlesshehadknownthemtohavethewilltosilencehim，withoutthepower。Hewouldn’thavedrunkfromaglassofwaterundersuchcircumstances——noteveninarespectablehouselikethis，myFlintwinch——unlesshehadseenoneofthemdrinkfirst，andswallowtoo!’
Disdainingtospeak，andindeednotverywellable，forhewashalf-choking，Clennamonlyglancedatthevisitorashepassedout。
Thevisitorsalutedhimwithanotherpartingsnap，andhisnosecamedownoverhismoustacheandhismoustachewentupunderhisnose，inanominousanduglysmile。
’ForHeaven’ssake，Affery，’whisperedClennam，assheopenedthedoorforhiminthedarkhall，andhegropedhiswaytothesightofthenight-sky，’whatisgoingonhere？’
Herownappearancewassufficientlyghastly，standinginthedarkwithherapronthrownoverherhead，andspeakingbehinditinalow，deadenedvoice。
’Don’taskmeanything，Arthur。I’vebeeninadreamforeversolong。Goaway!’
Hewentout，andsheshutthedooruponhim。Helookedupatthewindowsofhismother’sroom，andthedimlight，deadenedbytheyellowblinds，seemedtosayaresponseafterAffery，andtomutter，’Don’taskmeanything。Goaway!’
ALetterfromLittleDorritDearMrClennam，AsIsaidinmylastthatitwasbestfornobodytowritetome，andasmysendingyouanotherlittlelettercanthereforegiveyounoothertroublethanthetroubleofreadingitperhapsyoumaynotfindleisureforeventhat，thoughIhopeyouwillsomeday，Iamnowgoingtodevoteanhourtowritingtoyouagain。Thistime，IwritefromRome。
WeleftVenicebeforeMrandMrsGowandid，buttheywerenotsolongupontheroadaswewere，anddidnottravelbythesameway，andsowhenwearrivedwefoundtheminalodginghere，inaplacecalledtheViaGregoriana。Idaresayyouknowit。
NowIamgoingtotellyouallIcanaboutthem，becauseIknowthatiswhatyoumostwanttohear。Theirsisnotaverycomfortablelodging，butperhapsIthoughtitlesssowhenIfirstsawitthanyouwouldhavedone，becauseyouhavebeeninmanydifferentcountriesandhaveseenmanydifferentcustoms。Ofcourseitisafar，farbetterplace——millionsoftimes——thananyIhaveeverbeenusedtountillately；andIfancyIdon’tlookatitwithmyowneyes，butwithhers。Foritwouldbeeasytoseethatshehasalwaysbeenbroughtupinatenderandhappyhome，evenifshehadnottoldmesowithgreatloveforit。
Well，itisaratherbarelodginguparatherdarkcommonstaircase，anditisnearlyallalargedullroom，whereMrGowanpaints。Thewindowsareblockedupwhereanyonecouldlookout，andthewallshavebeenalldrawnoverwithchalkandcharcoalbyotherswhohavelivedtherebefore——oh，——Ishouldthink，foryears!
Thereisacurtainmoredust-colouredthanred，whichdividesit，andthepartbehindthecurtainmakestheprivatesitting-room。
WhenIfirstsawherthereshewasalone，andherworkhadfallenoutofherhand，andshewaslookingupattheskyshiningthroughthetopsofthewindows。PraydonotbeuneasywhenItellyou，butitwasnotquitesoairy，norsobright，norsocheerful，norsohappyandyouthfulaltogetherasIshouldhavelikedittobe。
OnaccountofMrGowan’spaintingPapa’spicturewhichIamnotquiteconvincedIshouldhaveknownfromthelikenessifIhadnotseenhimdoingit，IhavehadmoreopportunitiesofbeingwithhersincethenthanImighthavehadwithoutthisfortunatechance。
Sheisverymuchalone。Verymuchaloneindeed。
ShallItellyouaboutthesecondtimeIsawher？Iwentoneday，whenithappenedthatIcouldrunroundbymyself，atfourorfiveo’clockintheafternoon。Shewasthendiningalone，andhersolitarydinnerhadbeenbroughtinfromsomewhere，overakindofbrazierwithafireinit，andshehadnocompanyorprospectofcompany，thatIcouldsee，buttheoldmanwhohadbroughtit。HewastellingheralongstoryofrobbersoutsidethewallsbeingtakenupbyastonestatueofaSaint，toentertainher——ashesaidtomewhenIcameout，’becausehehadadaughterofhisown，thoughshewasnotsopretty。’
IoughtnowtomentionMrGowan，beforeIsaywhatlittlemoreI
havetosayabouther。Hemustadmireherbeauty，andhemustbeproudofher，foreverybodypraisesit，andhemustbefondofher，andIdonotdoubtthatheis——butinhisway。Youknowhisway，andifitappearsascarelessanddiscontentedinyoureyesasitdoesinmine，Iamnotwronginthinkingthatitmightbebettersuitedtoher。Ifitdoesnotseemsotoyou，IamquitesureIamwhollymistaken；foryourunchangedpoorchildconfidesinyourknowledgeandgoodnessmorethanshecouldevertellyouifshewastotry。Butdon’tbefrightened，Iamnotgoingtotry。
OwingasIthink，ifyouthinksotootoMrGowan’sunsettledanddissatisfiedway，heapplieshimselftohisprofessionverylittle。
Hedoesnothingsteadilyorpatiently；butequallytakesthingsupandthrowsthemdown，anddoesthem，orleavesthemundone，withoutcaringaboutthem。WhenIhaveheardhimtalkingtoPapaduringthesittingsforthepicture，Ihavesatwonderingwhetheritcouldbethathehasnobeliefinanybodyelse，becausehehasnobeliefinhimself。Isitso？Iwonderwhatyouwillsaywhenyoucometothis!Iknowhowyouwilllook，andIcanalmosthearthevoiceinwhichyouwouldtellmeontheIronBridge。
MrGowangoesoutagooddealamongwhatisconsideredthebestcompanyhere——thoughhedoesnotlookasifheenjoyeditorlikeditwhenheiswithit——andshesometimesaccompanieshim，butlatelyshehasgoneoutverylittle。IthinkIhavenoticedthattheyhaveaninconsistentwayofspeakingabouther，asifshehadmadesomegreatself-interestedsuccessinmarryingMrGowan，though，atthesametime，theverysamepeople，wouldnothavedreamedoftakinghimforthemselvesortheirdaughters。Thenhegoesintothecountrybesides，tothinkaboutmakingsketches；andinallplaceswheretherearevisitors，hehasalargeacquaintanceandisverywellknown。Besidesallthis，hehasafriendwhoismuchinhissocietybothathomeandawayfromhome，thoughhetreatsthisfriendverycoollyandisveryuncertaininhisbehaviourtohim。Iamquitesurebecauseshehastoldmeso，thatshedoesnotlikethisfriend。Heissorevoltingtome，too，thathisbeingawayfromhere，atpresent，isquitearelieftomymind。Howmuchmoretohers!
ButwhatIparticularlywantyoutoknow，andwhyIhaveresolvedtotellyousomuchwhileIamafraiditmaymakeyoualittleuncomfortablewithoutoccasion，isthis。Sheissotrueandsodevoted，andknowssocompletelythatallherloveanddutyarehisforever，thatyoumaybecertainshewilllovehim，admirehim，praisehim，andconcealallhisfaults，untilshedies。Ibelievesheconcealsthem，andalwayswillconcealthem，evenfromherself。
Shehasgivenhimaheartthatcanneverbetakenback；andhowevermuchhemaytryit，hewillneverwearoutitsaffection。Youknowthetruthofthis，asyouknoweverything，farfarbetterthanI；