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he had but to hold his tongue； keep the bald part of his head well
polished； and leave his hair alone； had had just cunning enough to seize
the idea and stick to it。 It was said that his being town…agent to
Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle was referable； not to his having the least
business capacity； but to his looking so supremely benignant that nobody
could suppose the property screwed or jobbed under such a man； also；
that for similar reasons he now got more money out of his own wretched
lettings； unquestioned； than anybody with a less nobby and less shining
crown could possibly have done。 In a word； it was represented （Clennam
called to mind； alone in the ticking parlour） that many people select
their models； much as the painters； just now mentioned； select theirs；
and that； whereas in the Royal Academy some evil old ruffian of a
Dog…stealer will annually be found embodying all the cardinal virtues；
on account of his eyelashes； or his chin； or his legs （thereby planting
thorns of confusion in the breasts of the more observant students of
nature）； so； in the great social Exhibition； accessories are often
accepted in lieu of the internal character。
Calling these things to mind； and ranging Mr Pancks in a row with them；
Arthur Clennam leaned this day to the opinion； without quite deciding
on it； that the last of the Patriarchs was the drifting Booby aforesaid；
with the one idea of keeping the bald part of his head highly polished：
and that； much as an unwieldy ship in the Thames river may sometimes be
seen heavily driving with the tide； broadside on； stern first； in its
own way and in the way of everything else； though making a great show
of navigation； when all of a sudden； a little coaly steam…tug will bear
down upon it； take it in tow； and bustle off with it； similarly the
cumbrous Patriarch had been taken in tow by the snorting Pancks； and was
now following in the wake of that dingy little craft。
The return of Mr Casby with his daughter Flora； put an end to these
meditations。 Clennam's eyes no sooner fell upon the subject of his old
passion than it shivered and broke to pieces。
Most men will be found sufficiently true to themselves to be true to
an old idea。 It is no proof of an inconstant mind； but exactly the
opposite； when the idea will not bear close parison with the reality；
and the contrast is a fatal shock to it。 Such was Clennam's case。 In his
youth he had ardently loved this woman； and had heaped upon her all the
locked…up wealth of his affection and imagination。 That wealth had been；
in his desert home； like Robinson Crusoe's money； exchangeable with no
one； lying idle in the dark to rust； until he poured it out for her。
Ever since that memorable time； though he had； until the night of his
arrival； as pletely dismissed her from any association with his
Present or Future as if she had been dead （which she might easily
have been for anything he knew）； he had kept the old fancy of the Past
unchanged； in its old sacred place。 And now； after all； the last of the
Patriarchs coolly walked into the parlour； saying in effect； 'Be good
enough to throw it down and dance upon it。 This is Flora。'
Flora； always tall； had grown to be very broad too； and short of breath；
but that was not much。 Flora； whom he had left a lily； had bee a
peony； but that was not much。 Flora； who had seemed enchanting in all
she said and thought； was diffuse and silly。 That was much。 Flora； who
had been spoiled and artless long ago； was determined to be spoiled and
artless now。 That was a fatal blow。
This is Flora！
'I am sure；' giggled Flora； tossing her head with a caricature of
her girlish manner； such as a mummer might have presented at her own
funeral； if she had lived and died in classical antiquity； 'I am ashamed
to see Mr Clennam； I am a mere fright； I know he'll find me fearfully
changed； I am actually an old woman； it's shocking to be found out； it's
really shocking！'
He assured her that she was just what he had expected and that time had
not stood still with himself。
'Oh！ But with a gentleman it's so different and really you look so
amazingly well that you have no right to say anything of the kind；
while； as to me； you know……oh！' cried Flora with a little scream； 'I am
dreadful！'
The Patriarch； apparently not yet understanding his own part in the
drama under representation； glowed with vacant serenity。
'But if we talk of not having changed；' said Flora； who； whatever
she said； never once came to a full stop； 'look at Papa； is not Papa
precisely what he was when you went away； isn't it cruel and unnatural
of Papa to be such a reproach to his own child； if we go on in this way
much longer people who don't know us will begin to suppose that I am
Papa's Mama！'
That must be a long time hence； Arthur considered。
'Oh Mr Clennam you insincerest of creatures；' said Flora； 'I perceive
already you have not lost your old way of paying pliments； your old
way when you used to pretend to be so sentimentally struck you know……at
least I don't mean that； I……oh I don't know what I mean！' Here Flora
tittered confusedly； and gave him one of her old glances。
The Patriarch； as if he now began to perceive that his part in the piece
was to get off the stage as soon as might be； rose； and went to the door
by which Pancks had worked out； hailing that Tug by name。 He received
an answer from some little Dock beyond； and was towed out of sight
directly。
'You mustn't think of going yet；' said Flora……Arthur had looked at his
hat； being in a ludicrous dismay； and not knowing what to do： 'you could
never be so unkind as to think of going； Arthur……I mean Mr Arthur……or I
suppose Mr Clennam would be far more proper……but I am sure I don't know
what I am saying……without a word about the dear old days gone for ever；
when I e to think of it I dare say it would be much better not to
speak of them and it's highly probable that you have some much more
agreeable engagement and pray let Me be the last person in the world
to interfere with it though there was a time； but I am running into
nonsense again。'
Was it possible that Flora could have been such a chatterer in the
days she referred to？ Could there have been anything like her present
disjointed volubility in the fascinations that had captivated him？
'Indeed I have little doubt；' said Flora； running on with astonishing
speed； and pointing her conversation with nothing but mas； and very
few of them； 'that you are married to some Chinese lady； being in China
so long and being in business and naturally desirous to settle and
extend your connection nothing was more likely than that you should
propose to a Chinese lady and nothing was more natural I am sure than
that the Chinese lady should accept you and think herself very well off
too； I only hope she's not a Pagodian dissenter。'
'I am not；' returned Arthur； smiling in spite of himself； 'married to
any lady； Flora。'
'Oh good gracious me I hope you never kept yourself a bachelor so long
on my account！' tittered Flora； 'but of course you never did why should
you； pray don't answer； I don't know where I'm running to； oh do tell me
something about the Chinese ladies whether their eyes are really so long
and narrow always putting me in mind of mother…of…pearl fish at cards
and do they really wear tails down their back and plaited too or is
it only the men； and when they pull their hair so very tight off their
foreheads don't they hurt themselves； and why do they stick little bells
all over their bridges and temples and hats and things or don't they
really do it？' Flora gave him another of her old glances。 Instantly she
went on again； as if he had spoken in reply for some time。
'Then it's all true and they really do！ good gracious Arthur！……pray
excuse me……old habit……Mr Clennam far more proper……what a country to live
in for so long a time； and with so many lanterns and umbrellas too how
very dark and wet the climate ought to be and no doubt actually is； and
the sums of money that must be made by those two trades where everybody
carries them and hangs them everywhere； the little shoes too and the
feet screwed back in infancy is quite surprising； what a traveller you
are！'
In his ridiculous distress； Clennam received another of the old glances
without in the least knowing what to do with it。
'Dear dear；' said Flora； 'only to think of the changes at home
Arthur……cannot overe it； and seems so natural； Mr Clennam far more
proper……since you became familiar with the Chinese customs and language
which I am persuaded you speak like a Native if not better for you were
always quick and clever though immensely difficult no doubt； I am sure
the tea chests alone would kill me if I tried； such changes Arthur……I
am doing it again； seems so natural； most improper……as no one could have
believed； who could have ever imagined Mrs Finching when I can't imagine
it myself！'
'Is that your married name？' asked Arthur； struck； in the midst of all
this； by a certain warmth of heart that expressed itself in her tone
when she referred； however oddly； to the youthful relation in which they
had stood to one another。 'Finching？'
'Finching oh yes isn't it a dreadful name； but as Mr F。 said when he
proposed to me which he did seven times and handsomely consented I must
say to be what he used to call on liking twelve months； after all； he
wasn't answerable for it and couldn't help it could he； Excellent man；
not at all like you but excellent man！'
Flora had at last talked herself out of breath for one moment。 One
moment； for she recovered breath in the act of raising a minute corner
of her pocket…handkerchief to her eye； as a tribute to the ghost of the
departed Mr F。； and began again。
'No one could dispute； Arthur……Mr Clennam……that it's quite right you
should be formally friendly to me under the altered circumstances and
indeed you couldn't be anything else； at least I suppose not you ought
to know； but I can't help recalling that there was a time when things
were very different。'
'My dear Mrs Finching；' Arthur began； struck by the good tone again。
'Oh not that nasty ugly name； say Flora！'
'Flora。 I assure you； Flora； I am happy in seeing you once more； and in
finding that； like me； you have not forgotten the old foolish dreams；
when we saw all before us in the light of our youth and hope。'
'You don't seem so；' pouted Flora； 'you take it very coolly； but
however I know you are disappointed in me； I suppose the Chinese
ladies……Mandarinesses if you call them so……are the cause or perhaps I am
the cause myself； it's just as likely。'
'No； no；' Clennam entreated； 'don't say that。'
'Oh I must you know；' said Flora； in a positive tone； 'what nonsense not
to； I know I am not what you expected； I know that very well。'
In the midst of her rapidity； she had found that out with the quick
perception of a cleverer woman。 The inconsistent and profoundly
unreasonable way in which she instantly went on； nevertheless； to
interweave their long…abandoned boy and girl relations with their
present interview； made Clennam feel as if he were light…headed。
'One remark；' said Flora； giving their conversation； without the
slightest notice and to the great terror of Clennam； the tone of a
love…quarrel； 'I wish to make； one explanation I wish to offer； when
your Mama came and made a scene of it with my Papa and when I was called
down into the little breakfast…room where they were looking at one
another with your Mama's parasol between them seated on two chairs like
mad bulls what was I to do？'
'My dear Mrs Finching；' urged Clennam……'all so long ago and so long
concluded； is it worth while seriously to……'
'I can't Arthur；' returned Flora； 'be denounced as heartless by the
whole society of China without setting myself right when I have the
opportunity of doing so； and you must be very well aware that there
was Paul and Virginia which had to be returned and which was returned
without note or ment； not that I mean to say you could have written
to me watched as I was but if it had only e back with a red wafer on
the cover I should have known that it meant e to Pekin Nankeen and
What's the third place； barefoot。'
'My dear Mrs Finchi