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 Finching； you were not to blame； and I never blamed you。
We were both too young； too dependent and helpless； to do anything but
accept our separation。……Pray think how long ago；' gently remonstrated
Arthur。 'One more remark；' proceeded Flora with unslackened volubility；
'I wish to make； one more explanation I wish to offer； for five days I
had a cold in the head from crying which I passed entirely in the back
drawing…room……there is the back drawing…room still on the first floor
and still at the back of the house to confirm my words……when that dreary
period had passed a lull succeeded years rolled on and Mr F。 became
acquainted with us at a mutual friend's； he was all attention he called
next day he soon began to call three evenings a week and to send
in little things for supper it was not love on Mr F。's part it was
adoration； Mr F。 proposed with the full approval of Papa and what could
I do？'
'Nothing whatever；' said Arthur； with the cheerfulest readiness； 'but
what you did。 Let an old friend assure you of his full conviction that
you did quite right。'
'One last remark；' proceeded Flora； rejecting monplace life with a
wave of her hand； 'I wish to make； one last explanation I wish to offer；
there was a time ere Mr F。 first paid attentions incapable of being
mistaken； but that is past and was not to be； dear Mr Clennam you no
longer wear a golden chain you are free I trust you may be happy； here
is Papa who is always tiresome and putting in his nose everywhere where
he is not wanted。'
With these words； and with a hasty gesture fraught with timid
caution……such a gesture had Clennam's eyes been familiar with in the old
time……poor Flora left herself at eighteen years of age； a long long way
behind again； and came to a full stop at last。
Or rather； she left about half of herself at eighteen years of age
behind； and grafted the rest on to the relict of the late Mr F。； thus
making a moral mermaid of herself； which her once boy…lover contemplated
with feelings wherein his sense of the sorrowful and his sense of the
ical were curiously blended。
For example。 As if there were a secret understanding between herself
and Clennam of the most thrilling nature； as if the first of a train of
post…chaises and four； extending all the way to Scotland； were at that
moment round the corner； and as if she couldn't （and wouldn't） have
walked into the Parish Church with him； under the shade of the family
umbrella； with the Patriarchal blessing on her head； and the perfect
concurrence of all mankind； Flora forted her soul with agonies of
mysterious signalling； expressing dread of discovery。 With the sensation
of being more and more light…headed every minute； Clennam saw the
relict of the late Mr F。 enjoying herself in the most wonderful manner；
by putting herself and him in their old places； and going through all
the old performances……now； when the stage was dusty； when the scenery
was faded； when the youthful actors were dead； when the orchestra was
empty； when the lights were out。 And still； through all this grotesque
revival of what he remembered as having once been prettily natural to
her； he could not but feel that it revived at sight of him； and that
there was a tender memory in it。
The Patriarch insisted on his staying to dinner； and Flora signalled
'Yes！' Clennam so wished he could have done more than stay to dinner……so
heartily wished he could have found the Flora that had been； or that
never had been……that he thought the least atonement he could make for
the disappointment he almost felt ashamed of； was to give himself up to
the family desire。 Therefore； he stayed to dinner。
Pancks dined with them。 Pancks steamed out of his little dock at a
quarter before six； and bore straight down for the Patriarch； who
happened to be then driving； in an inane manner； through a stagnant
account of Bleeding Heart Yard。 Pancks instantly made fast to him and
hauled him out。
'Bleeding Heart Yard？' said Pancks； with a puff and a snort。 'It's a
troublesome property。 Don't pay you badly； but rents are very hard to
get there。