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returned to say that she was to please to take a chair by the fire；
and to take off her bon and make herself at home。 But Little Dorrit；
being bashful； and not used to make herself at home on such occasions；
felt at a loss how to do it； so she was still sitting near the door with
her bon on； when Flora came in in a hurry half an hour afterwards。
Flora was so sorry to have kept her waiting； and good gracious why did
she sit out there in the cold when she had expected to find her by the
fire reading the paper； and hadn't that heedless girl given her the
message then； and had she really been in her bon all this time； and
pray for goodness sake let Flora take it off！ Flora taking it off in the
best…natured manner in the world； was so struck with the face disclosed；
that she said； 'Why； what a good little thing you are； my dear！' and
pressed her face between her hands like the gentlest of women。
It was the word and the action of a moment。 Little Dorrit had hardly
time to think how kind it was； when Flora dashed at the breakfast…table
full of business； and plunged over head and ears into loquacity。
'Really so sorry that I should happen to be late on this morning of all
mornings because my intention and my wish was to be ready to meet you
when you came in and to say that any one that interested Arthur Clennam
half so much must interest me and that I gave you the heartiest wele
and was so glad； instead of which they never called me and there I
still am snoring I dare say if the truth was known and if you don't like
either cold fowl or hot boiled ham which many people don't I dare say
besides Jews and theirs are scruples of conscience which we must all
respect though I must say I wish they had them equally strong when they
sell us false articles for real that certainly ain't worth the money I
shall be quite vexed；' said Flora。
Little Dorrit thanked her； and said； shyly； bread…and…butter and tea was
all she usually……
'Oh nonsense my dear child I can never hear of that；' said Flora；
turning on the urn in the most reckless manner； and making herself wink
by splashing hot water into her eyes as she bent down to look into the
teapot。 'You are ing here on the footing of a friend and panion
you know if you will let me take that liberty and I should be ashamed
of myself indeed if you could e here upon any other； besides which
Arthur Clennam spoke in such terms……you are tired my dear。'
'No； ma'am。'
'You turn so pale you have walked too far before breakfast and I dare
say live a great way off and ought to have had a ride；' said Flora；
'dear dear is there anything that would do you good？'
'Indeed I am quite well； ma'am。 I thank you again and again； but I am
quite well。'
'Then take your tea at once I beg；' said Flora； 'and this wing of fowl
and bit of ham； don't mind me or wait for me； because I always carry in
this tray myself to Mr F。's Aunt who breakfasts in bed and a charming
old lady too and very clever； Portrait of Mr F。 behind the door and very
like though too much forehead and as to a pillar with a marble pavement
and balustrades and a mountain； I never saw him near it nor not likely
in the wine trade； excellent man but not at all in that way。'
Little Dorrit glanced at the portrait； very imperfectly following the
references to that work of art。
'Mr F。 was so devoted to me that he never could bear me out of his
sight；' said Flora； 'though of course I am unable to say how long that
might have lasted if he hadn't been cut short while I was a new broom；
worthy man but not poetical manly prose but not romance。'
Little Dorrit glanced at the portrait again。 The artist had given it a
head that would have been； in an intellectual point of view； top…heavy
for Shakespeare。 'Romance； however；' Flora went on； busily arranging Mr
F。's Aunt's toast； 'as I openly said to Mr F。 when he proposed to me
and you will be surprised to hear that he proposed seven times once in a
hackney…coach once in a boat once in a pew once on a donkey at Tunbridge
Wells and the rest on his knees； Romance was fled with the early days of
Arthur Clennam； our parents tore us asunder we became marble and stern
reality usurped the throne； Mr F。 said very much to his credit that
he was perfectly aware of it and even preferred that state of things
accordingly the word was spoken the fiat went forth and such is life you
see my dear and yet we do not break but bend； pray make a good breakfast
while I go in with the tray。'
She disappeared； leaving Little Dorrit to ponder over the meaning of her
scattered words。 She soon came back again； and at last began to take her
own breakfast； talking all the while。
'You see； my dear；' said Flora； measuring out a spoonful or two of some
broelt like brandy； and putting it into her tea； 'I am
obliged to be careful to follow the directions of my medical man though
the flavour is anything but agreeable being a poor creature and it may
be have never recovered the shock received in youth from too much giving
way to crying in the next room when separated from Arthur； have you
known him long？'
As soon as Little Dorrit prehended that she had been asked this
question……for which time was necessary； the galloping pace of her new
patroness having left her far behind……she answered that she had known Mr
Clennam ever since his return。
'To be sure you couldn't have known him before unless you had been in
China or had corresponded neither of which is likely；' returned Flora；
'for travelling…people usually get more or less mahogany and you are not
at all so and as to corresponding what about？ that's very true unless
tea； so it was at his mother's was it really that you knew him first；
highly sensible and firm but dreadfully severe……ought to be the mother
of the man in the iron mask。'
'Mrs Clennam has been kind to me；' said Little Dorrit。
'Really？ I am sure I am glad to hear it because as Arthur's mother it's
naturally pleasant to my feelings to have a better opinion of her than
I had before； though what she thinks of me when I run on as I am certain
to do and she sits glowering at me like Fate in a go…cart……shocking
parison really……invalid and not her fault……I never know or can
imagine。'
'Shall I find my work anywhere； ma'am？' asked Little Dorrit； looking
timidly about； 'can I get it？'
'You industrious little fairy；' returned Flora； taking； in another cup
of tea； another of the doses prescribed by her medical man； 'there's
not the slightest hurry and it's better that we should begin by being
confidential about our mutual friend……too cold a word for me at least
I don't mean that； very proper expression mutual friend……than bee
through mere formalities not you but me like the Spartan boy with the
fox biting him； which I hope you'll excuse my bringing up for of all
the tiresome boys that will go tumbling into every sort of pany that
boy's the tiresomest。'
Little Dorrit； her face very pale； sat down again to listen。 'Hadn't I
better work the while？' she asked。 'I can work and attend too。 I would
rather； if I may。'
Her earnestness was so expressive of her being uneasy without her work；
that Flora answered； 'Well my dear whatever you like best；' and produced
a basket of white handkerchiefs。 Little Dorrit gladly put it by her
side； took out her little pocket…housewife； threaded the needle； and
began to hem。
'What nimble fingers you have；' said Flora； 'but are you sure you are
well？'
'Oh yes； indeed！'
Flora put her feet upon the fender； and settled herself for a thorough
good romantic disclosure。 She started off at score； tossing her head；
sighing in the most demonstrative manner； making a great deal of use
of her eyebrows； and occasionally； but not often； glancing at the quiet
face that bent over the work。
'You must know my dear；' said Flora； 'but that I have no doubt you know
already not only because I have already thrown it out in a general way
but because I feel I carry it stamped in burning what's his names
upon my brow that before I was introduced to the late Mr F。 I had
been engaged to Arthur Clennam……Mr Clennam in public where reserve is
necessary Arthur here……we were all in all to one another it was the
morning of life it was bliss it was frenzy it was everything else of
that sort in the highest degree； when rent asunder we turned to stone in
which capacity Arthur went to China and I became the statue bride of the
late Mr F。'
Flora； uttering these words in a deep voice； enjoyed herself immensely。
'To paint；' said she； 'the emotions of that morning when all was marble
within and Mr F。's Aunt followed in a glass…coach which it stands to
reason must have been in shameful repair or it never could have broken
down two streets from the house and Mr F。's Aunt brought home like the
fifth of November in a rush…bottomed chair I will not attempt；
suffice it to say that the hollow form of breakfast took place in the
dining…room downstairs that papa partaking too freely of pickled salmon
was ill for weeks and that Mr F。 and myself went upon a continental
tour to Calais where the people fought for us on the pier until they
separated us though not for ever that was not yet to be。'
The statue bride； hardly pausing for breath； went on； with the greatest
placency； in a rambling manner sometimes incidental to flesh and
blood。
'I will draw a veil over that dreamy life； Mr F。 was in good spirits his
appetite was good he liked the cookery he considered the wine weak but
palatable and all was well； we returned to the immediate neighbourhood
of Number Thirty Little Gosling Street London Docks and settled down；
ere we had yet fully detected the housemaid in selling the feathers
out of the spare bed Gout flying upwards soared with Mr F。 to another
sphere。'
His relict； with a glance at his portrait； shook her head and wiped her
eyes。
'I revere the memory of Mr F。 as an estimable man and most indulgent
husband； only necessary to mention Asparagus and it appeared or to hint
at any little delicate thing to drink and it came like magic in a pint
bottle it was not ecstasy but it was fort； I returned to papa's roof
and lived secluded if not happy during some years until one day papa
came smoothly blundering in and said that Arthur Clennam awaited me
below； I went below and found him ask me not what I found him except
that he was still unmarried still unchanged！'
The dark mystery with which Flora now enshrouded herself might have
stopped other fingers than the nimble fingers that worked near her。
They worked on without pause； and the busy head bent over them watching
the stitches。
'Ask me not；' said Flora； 'if I love him still or if he still loves me
or what the end is to be or when； we are surrounded by watchful eyes and
it may be that we are destined to pine asunder it may be never more to
be reunited not a word not a breath not a look to betray us all must
be secret as the tomb wonder not therefore that even if I should seem
paratively cold to Arthur or Arthur should seem paratively cold to
me we have fatal reasons it is enough if we understand them hush！'
All of which Flora said with so much headlong vehemence as if she really
believed it。 There is not much doubt that when she worked herself into
full mermaid condition； she did actually believe whatever she said in
it。
'Hush！' repeated Flora； 'I have now told you all； confidence is
established between us hush； for Arthur's sake I will always be a friend
to you my dear girl and in Arthur's name you may always rely upon me。'
The nimble fingers laid aside the work； and the little figure rose and
kissed her hand。 'You are very cold；' said Flora； changing to her own
natural kind…hearted manner； and gaining greatly by the change。 'Don't
work to…day。 I am sure you are not well I am sure you are not strong。'
'It is only that I feel a little overe by your kindness； and by Mr
Clennam's kindness in confiding me to one he has known and loved so
long。'
'Well really my dear；' said Flora； who had a decided tendency to be
always honest when she gave herself time to think about it； 'it's as
well to leave that alone now； for I couldn't undertake to say after all；
but it doesn't signify lie down a little！'
'I have alwa