your good nature might excuse under pretence of three kidney ones the
humble place of conversation。'
Rightly interpreting this rather obscure speech； Little Dorrit returned
that she was quite at Flora's disposition。 Flora accordingly led the
way across the road to the pie…shop in question： Mr F。's Aunt stalking
across in the rear； and putting herself in the way of being run over；
with a perseverance worthy of a better cause。
When the 'three kidney ones；' which were to be a blind to the
conversation； were set before them on three little tin platters； each
kidney one ornamented with a hole at the top； into which the civil man
poured hot gravy out of a spouted can as if he were feeding three lamps；
Flora took out her pocket…handkerchief。
'If Fancy's fair dreams；' she began； 'have ever pictured that when
Arthur……cannot overe it pray excuse me……was restored to freedom even
a pie as far from flaky as the present and so deficient in kidney as to
be in that respect like a minced nutmeg might not prove unacceptable if
offered by the hand of true regard such visions have for ever fled
and all is cancelled but being aware that tender relations are in
contemplation beg to state that I heartily wish well to both and find
no fault with either not the least； it may be withering to know that ere
the hand of Time had made me much less slim than formerly and dreadfully
red on the slightest exertion particularly after eating I well know when
it takes the form of a rash； it might have been and was not through the
interruption of parents and mental torpor succeeded until the mysterious
clue was held by Mr F。 still I would not be ungenerous to either and I
heartily wish well to both。'
Little Dorrit took her hand； and thanked her for all her old kindness。
'Call it not kindness；' returned Flora； giving her an honest kiss； 'for
you always were the best and dearest little thing that ever was if I
may take the liberty and even in a money point of view a saving being
Conscience itself though I must add much more agreeable than mine ever
was to me for though not I hope more burdened than other people's yet
I have always found it far readier to make one unfortable than
fortable and evidently taking a greater pleasure in doing it but I am
wandering； one hope I wish to express ere yet the closing scene draws
in and it is that I do trust for the sake of old times and old sincerity
that Arthur will know that I didn't desert him in his misfortunes but
that I came backwards and forwards constantly to ask if I could do
anything for him and that I sat in the pie…shop where they very civilly
fetched something warm in a tumbler from the hotel and really very nice
hours after hours to keep him pany over the way without his knowing
it。'
Flora really had tears in her eyes now； and they showed her to great
advantage。
'Over and above which；' said Flora； 'I earnestly beg you as the dearest
thing that ever was if you'll still excuse the familiarity from one who
moves in very different circles to let Arthur understand that I don't
know after all whether it wasn't all nonsense between us though pleasant
at the time and trying too and certainly Mr F。 did work a change and
the spell being broken nothing could be expected to take place without
weaving it afresh which various circumstances have bined to prevent
of which perhaps not the least powerful was that it was not to be； I
am not prepared to say that if it had been agreeable to Arthur and had
brought itself about naturally in the first instance I should not have
been very glad being of a lively disposition and moped at home where
papa undoubtedly is the most aggravating of his sex and not improved
since having been cut down by the hand of the Incendiary into something
of which I never saw the counterpart in all my life but jealousy is not
my character nor ill…will though many faults。'
Without having been able closely to follow Mrs Finching through this
labyrinth； Little Dorrit understood its purpose； and cordially accepted
the trust。
'The withered chaplet my dear；' said Flora； with great enjoyment； 'is
then perished the column is crumbled and the pyramid is standing upside
down upon its what's…his…name call it not giddiness call it not weakness
call it not folly I must now retire into privacy and look upon the ashes
of departed joys no more but taking a further liberty of paying for the
pastry which has formed the humble pretext of our interview will for
ever say Adieu！'
Mr F。's Aunt； who had eaten her pie with great solemnity； and who had
been elaborating some grievous scheme of injury in her mind since her
first assumption of that public position on the Marshal's steps； took
the present opportunity of addressing the following Sibyllic apostrophe
to the relict of her late nephew。
'Bring him for'ard； and I'll chuck him out o' winder！'
Flora tried in vain to soothe the excellent woman by explaining that
they were going home to dinner。 Mr F。's Aunt persisted in replying；
'Bring him for'ard and I'll chuck him out o' winder！' Having reiterated
this demand an immense number of times； with a sustained glare of
defiance at Little Dorrit； Mr F。's Aunt folded her arms； and sat down in
the corner of the pie…shop parlour； steadfastly refusing to budge until
such time as 'he' should have been 'brought for'ard；' and the chucking
portion of his destiny acplished。
In this condition of things； Flora confided to Little Dorrit that she
had not seen Mr F。's Aunt so full of life and character for weeks； that
she would find it necessary to remain there 'hours perhaps；' until the
inexorable old lady could be softened； and that she could manage her
best alone。 They parted； therefore； in the friendliest manner； and with
the kindest feeling on both sides。
Mr F。's Aunt holding out like a grim fortress； and Flora being in
need of refreshment； a messenger was despatched to the hotel for the
tumbler already glanced at； which was afterwards replenished。 With the
aid of its content； a newspaper； and some skimming of the cream of the
pie…stock； Flora got through the remainder of the day in perfect good
humour； though occasionally embarrassed by the consequences of an
idle rumour which circulated among the credulous infants of the
neighbourhood； to the effect that an old lady had sold herself to the
pie…shop to be made up； and was then sitting in the pie…shop parlour；
declining to plete her contract。 This attracted so many young persons
of both sexes； and； when the shades of evening began to fall； occasioned
so much interruption to the business； that the merchant became very
pressing in his proposals that Mr F。's Aunt should be removed。 A
conveyance was accordingly brought to the door； which； by the joint
efforts of the merchant and Flora； this remarkable woman was at last
induced to enter； though not without even then putting her head out of
the window； and demanding to have him 'brought for'ard' for the purpose
originally mentioned。 As she was observed at this time to direct baleful
glances towards the Marshalsea； it has been supposed that this admirably
consistent female intended by 'him；' Arthur Clennam。
This； however； is mere speculation； who the person was； who； for the
satisfaction of Mr F。's Aunt's mind； ought to have been brought forward
and never was brought forward； will never be positively known。
The autumn days went on； and Little Dorrit never came to the Marshalsea
now and went away without seeing him。 No； no； no。
One morning； as Arthur listened for the light feet that every morning
ascended winged to his heart； bringing the heavenly brightness of a new
love into the room where the old love had wrought so hard and been so
true； one morning； as he listened； he heard her ing； not alone。
'Dear Arthur；' said her delighted voice outside the door； 'I have some
one here。 May I bring some one in？'
He had thought from the tread there were two with her。 He answered
'Yes；' and she came in with Mr Meagles。 Sun…browned and jolly Mr
Meagles looked； and he opened his arms and folded Arthur in them； like a
sun…browned and jolly father。
'Now I am all right；' said Mr Meagles； after a minute or so。 'Now it's
over。 Arthur； my dear fellow； confess at once that you expected me
before。' 'I did；' said Arthur； 'but Amy told me……' 'Little Dorrit。 Never
any other name。' （It was she who whispered it。）
'……But my Little Dorrit told me that； without asking for any further
explanation； I was not to expect you until I saw you。'
'And now you see me； my boy；' said Mr Meagles； shaking him by the hand
stoutly； 'and now you shall have any explanation and every explanation。
The fact is； I was here……came straight to you from the Allongers
and Marshongers； or I should be ashamed to look you in the face this
day；……but you were not in pany trim at the moment； and I had to start
off again to catch Doyce。'
'Poor Doyce！' sighed Arthur。
'Don't call him names that he don't deserve；' said Mr Meagles。
'He's not poor； he's doing well enough。 Doyce is a wonderful fellow over
there。 I assure you he is making out his case like a house a…fire。 He
has fallen on his legs； has Dan。 Where they don't want things done and
f