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put in a garden or a flower…pot and e up speckled。'
'Then； Flora；' said Arthur； with a sudden interest in the conversation；
'Mr Casby was so kind as to mention Little Dorrit to you； was he？ What
did he say？'
'Oh you know what papa 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 （Doyce
and Clennam） 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； ing to a sudden stop in a
captivating bashfulness； 'that I must admit； Papa 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 Pancks told us of your having embarked in this
business and with difficulty persuaded us that it was really you I said
to Mr F。's Aunt then we would e 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……Doyce and Clennam……or I never might have
married Mr F。 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 Clennam would have given a great deal to buy his
old character of her on the spot； and throw it and the mermaid away for
ever。
'I think； Flora；' he said； 'that the employment you can give Little
Dorrit； and the kindness you can show her……'
'Yes and I will；' said Flora； quickly。
'I am 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
mit 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！ Hush；
Arthur； for Mercy's sake！' and tottered back to her chair with an
amazing imitation of being in danger of swooning； in the dread surprise
and maidenly flutter of her spirits。
The Patriarch； meanwhile； came inanely beaming towards the
counting…house in the wake of Pancks。 Pancks opened the door for him；
towed 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 ing to call； ing to call。 And being out； I thought
I'd e also； thought I'd e 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
Clennam； seating himself in the proffered chair； 'And you are in a new
business； Mr Clennam？ 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 needlewoman you remended to my
mother。 For which I have been thanking her。'
The Patriarch turning his head in a lumbering way towards Pancks； that
assistant put up the note…book in which he had been absorbed； and took
him in tow。
'You didn't remend her； you know；' said Pancks； '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 Clennam。 'As she justifies any remendation； it is much
the same thing。'
'You are glad she turns out well；' said Pancks； 'but it wouldn't have
been your fault if she had turned out ill。 The credit's not yours as it
is； and the 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 Pancks。 'How should you be
acquainted with any of her family？ You never heard of 'em。 You can't
be acquainted with people you never heard of； can you？ You should think
not！'
All this time the Patriarch sat serenely smiling； nodding or shaking his
head benevolently； as the case required。
'As to being a reference；' said Pancks； 'you know； in a general way；
what being a reference means。 It's all your eye； that is！ Look at your
tenants down the Yard here。 They'd all be references for one another；
if you'd let 'em。 What would be the good of letting 'em？ It's no
satisfaction to be done by two men instead of one。 One's enough。 A
person who can't pay； gets another person who can't pay； to guarantee
that he can pay。 Like a person with two wooden legs getting another
person with two wooden legs； to guarantee that he has got 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 Pancks concluded by blowing off that steam of his。
A momentary silence that ensued was broken by Mr F。's Aunt； 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 the 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 Pancks was not slow to reply； with his usual calmness； 'Indeed；
ma'am！ Bless my soul！ I'm surprised to hear it。' Despite his presence of
mind； however； the speech of Mr F。's Aunt produced a depressing effect
on the little assembly； firstly； because it was impossible to disguise
that Clennam'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 F。's Aunt was 'very lively to…day；
and she thought they had better go。' But Mr F。's Aunt proved so lively
as to take the suggestion in unexpected dudgeon and declare that she
would not go； adding； with several injurious expressions； that if
'He'……too evidently meaning Clennam……wanted to get rid of her； 'let
him chuck her out of winder；' and urgently expressing her desire to see
'Him' perform that ceremony。
In this dilemma； Mr Pancks； whose resources appeared equal to any
emergency in the Patriarchal waters； slipped on his hat； slipped out at
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； ma'am！' said Mr Pancks； rubbing up his
hair in great astonishment； 'is that you？
How do you do； ma'am？ You are looking charming to…day！ I am delighted
to see you。 Favour me with your arm； ma'am； we'll have a little walk
together； you and me； if you'll honour me with your pany。' And so
escorted Mr F。's Aunt down the private staircase of the counting…house
with great gallantry and success。 The patriarchal Mr Casby then rose
with the air of having done it himself； and blandly 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； Clennam became a prey to his old doubts in reference to his
mother and Little Dorrit； 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 Pancks。 With his hat 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 course； Mr Pancks cast his shadow through the glass upon the
books and papers。
Mr Pancks asked； with a little inquiring twist of his head； if he
might e in again？ Clennam replied with a nod of his head in the
affirmative。 Mr Pancks 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 snort。
'Mr F。's Aunt is appeased； I hope？' said Clennam。
'All right； sir；' said Pancks。
'I am so unfortunate as to have awakened a strong animosity in the
breast of that lady；' said Clennam。 'Do you know why？'
'Does SHE know why？' said Pancks。
'I suppose not。'
'_I_ suppose not；' said Pancks。
He took out his note…book； opened it； shut it； dropped it into his hat；
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 Clennam；' he then began； 'I am in want of information； sir。'
'Connected with this firm？' asked Clennam。
'No；' said Pancks。
'With what then； Mr Pancks？ That is to say； assuming that you want it of
me。'
'Yes； sir； yes； I want it of you；' said Pancks； 'if I can persuade you
to furnish it。 A； B； C； D。 DA； DE； DI； DO。 Dictionary order。
Dorrit。 That's the name； sir？'
Mr Pancks blew off his peculiar noise again； and fell to at his
right…hand nails。 Arthur looked searchingly at him； he returned the
look。
'I don't understand you； Mr Pancks。'
'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 prehensive summary of his
desires was not discharged without some heavy labouring on the part of
Mr Pancks's machinery。
'This is a singular visit； Mr Pancks。 It strikes me as rather
extraordinary that you should e； with such an object； to me。'
'It may be all extraordinary together；' returned Pancks。 'It may be out
of the ordinary course； 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 in
earnest； Clennam again turned his eyes attentively upon his face。 It
was as 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 Pancks； 'to put this business on its own footing； it's not
my proprietor's。'
'Do you refer to Mr Casby as your proprietor？'
Pancks nodded。 'My proprietor。 Put a case。 Say； at my proprietor's I
hear name……name of young person Mr Clennam wants to serve。 Say； name
first mentioned to my proprietor by Plornish in the Yard。 Say； I go to
Plornish。 Say； I ask Plornish as a matter of business