第39章

’Idonot。’

MrFlintwinch，havingexpelledalongsignificantbreathsaid，withhisformeremphasis，’ForIhaveaccidentally——mind!——foundout。’

’Wherevershelives，’saidMrsClennam，speakinginoneunmodulatedhardvoice，andseparatingherwordsasdistinctlyasifshewerereadingthemofffromseparatebitsofmetalthatshetookuponebyone，’shehasmadeasecretofit，andsheshallalwayskeephersecretfromme。’

’Afterall，perhapsyouwouldrathernothaveknownthefact，anyhow？’saidJeremiah；andhesaiditwithatwist，asifhiswordshadcomeoutofhiminhisownwryshape。

’Flintwinch，’saidhismistressandpartner，flashingintoasuddenenergythatmadeAfferystart，’whydoyougoadme？Lookroundthisroom。Ifitisanycompensationformylongconfinementwithinthesenarrowlimits——notthatIcomplainofbeingafflicted；

youknowInevercomplainofthat——ifitisanycompensationtomeforlongconfinementtothisroom，thatwhileIamshutupfromallpleasantchangeIamalsoshutupfromtheknowledgeofsomethingsthatImayprefertoavoidknowing，whyshouldyou，ofallmen，grudgemethatbelief？’

’Idon’tgrudgeittoyou，’returnedJeremiah。

’Thensaynomore。Saynomore。LetLittleDorritkeephersecretfromme，anddoyoukeepitfrommealso。Lethercomeandgo，unobservedandunquestioned。Letmesuffer，andletmehavewhatalleviationbelongstomycondition。Isitsomuch，thatyoutormentmelikeanevilspirit？’

’Iaskedyouaquestion。That’sall。’

’Ihaveansweredit。So，saynomore。Saynomore。’Herethesoundofthewheeledchairwashearduponthefloor，andAffery’sbellrangwithahastyjerk。

Moreafraidofherhusbandatthemomentthanofthemysterioussoundinthekitchen，Afferycreptawayaslightlyandasquicklyasshecould，descendedthekitchenstairsalmostasrapidlyasshehadascendedthem，resumedherseatbeforethefire，tuckedupherskirtagain，andfinallythrewherapronoverherhead。Thenthebellrangoncemore，andthenoncemore，andthenkeptonringing；

indespiteofwhichimportunatesummons，Afferystillsatbehindherapron，recoveringherbreath。

AtlastMrFlintwinchcameshufflingdownthestaircaseintothehall，mutteringandcalling’Afferywoman!’alltheway。Afferystillremainingbehindherapron，hecamestumblingdownthekitchenstairs，candleinhand，sidleduptoher，twitchedherapronoff，androusedher。

’OhJeremiah!’criedAffery，waking。’Whatastartyougaveme!’

’Whathaveyoubeendoing，woman？’inquiredJeremiah。’You’vebeenrungforfiftytimes。’

’OhJeremiah，’saidMistressAffery，’Ihavebeena-dreaming!’

Remindedofherformerachievementinthatway，MrFlintwinchheldthecandletoherhead，asifhehadsomeideaoflightingherupfortheilluminationofthekitchen。

’Don’tyouknowit’shertea-time？’hedemandedwithaviciousgrin，andgivingoneofthelegsofMistressAffery’schairakick。

’Jeremiah？Tea-time？Idon’tknowwhat’scometome。ButIgotsuchadreadfulturn，Jeremiah，beforeIwent——offa-dreaming，thatIthinkitmustbethat。’

’Yoogh!Sleepy-Head!’saidMrFlintwinch，’whatareyoutalkingabout？’

’Suchastrangenoise，Jeremiah，andsuchacuriousmovement。Inthekitchenhere——justhere。’

Jeremiahhelduphislightandlookedattheblackenedceiling，helddownhislightandlookedatthedampstonefloor，turnedroundwithhislightandlookedaboutatthespottedandblotchedwalls。

’Rats，cats，water，drains，’saidJeremiah。

MistressAfferynegativedeachwithashakeofherhead。’No，Jeremiah；Ihavefeltitbefore。Ihavefeltitup-stairs，andonceonthestaircaseasIwasgoingfromherroomtooursinthenig