第55章

Raisinghiseyesthusoneday，hewassurprisedtoseeabonnetlabouringupthestep-ladder。Theunusualapparitionwasfollowedbyanotherbonnet。HethenperceivedthatthefirstbonnetwasontheheadofMrF。’sAunt，andthatthesecondbonnetwasontheheadofFlora，whoseemedtohavepropelledherlegacyupthesteepascentwithconsiderabledifficulty。

Thoughnotaltogetherenrapturedatthesightofthesevisitors，Clennamlostnotimeinopeningthecounting-housedoor，andextricatingthemfromtheworkshop；arescuewhichwasrenderedthemorenecessarybyMrF。’sAuntalreadystumblingoversomeimpediment，andmenacingsteampowerasanInstitutionwithastonyreticuleshecarried。

’Goodgracious，Arthur，——IshouldsayMrClennam，farmoreproper——

theclimbwehavehadtogetuphereandhowevertogetdownagainwithoutafire-escapeandMrF。’sAuntslippingthroughthestepsandbruisedalloverandyouinthemachineryandfoundrywaytooonlythink，andnevertoldus!’

Thus，Flora，outofbreath。Meanwhile，MrF。’sAuntrubbedheresteemedinstepswithherumbrella，andvindictivelyglared。

’Mostunkindnevertohavecomebacktoseeussincethatday，thoughnaturallyitwasnottobeexpectedthatthereshouldbeanyattractionatourhouseandyouweremuchmorepleasantlyengaged，that’sprettycertain，andisshefairordarkblueeyesorblackIwonder，notthatIexpectthatsheshouldbeanythingbutaperfectcontrasttomeinallparticularsforIamadisappointmentasIverywellknowandyouarequiterighttobedevotednodoubtthoughwhatIamsayingArthurnevermindIhardlyknowmyselfGoodgracious!’

Bythistimehehadplacedchairsfortheminthecounting-house。

AsFloradroppedintohers，shebestowedtheoldlookuponhim。

’AndtothinkofDoyceandClennam，andwhoDoycecanbe，’saidFlora；’delightfulmannodoubtandmarriedperhapsorperhapsadaughter，nowhashereally？thenoneunderstandsthepartnershipandseesitall，don’ttellmeanythingaboutitforIknowIhavenoclaimtoaskthequestionthegoldenchainthatoncewasforgedbeingsnappedandveryproper。’

Floraputherhandtenderlyonhis，andgavehimanotheroftheyouthfulglances。

’DearArthur——forceofhabit，MrClennameverywaymoredelicateandadaptedtoexistingcircumstances——ImustbegtobeexcusedfortakingthelibertyofthisintrusionbutIthoughtImightsofarpresumeuponoldtimesforeverfadednevermoretobloomastocallwithMrF。’sAunttocongratulateandofferbestwishes，A

greatdealsuperiortoChinanottobedeniedandmuchnearerthoughhigherup!’

’Iamveryhappytoseeyou，’saidClennam，’andIthankyou，Flora，verymuchforyourkindremembrance。’

’MorethanIcansaymyselfatanyrate，’returnedFlora，’forI

mighthavebeendeadandburiedtwentydistincttimesoverandnodoubtwhatevershouldhavebeenbeforeyouhadgenuinelyrememberedMeoranythinglikeitinspiteofwhichonelastremarkIwishtomake，onelastexplanationIwishtooffer——’

’MydearMrsFinching，’Arthurremonstratedinalarm。

’Ohnotthatdisagreeablename，sayFlora!’

’Flora，isitworthtroublingyourselfafreshtoenterintoexplanations？Iassureyounoneareneeded。Iamsatisfied——Iamperfectlysatisfied。’

Adiversionwasoccasionedhere，byMrF。’sAuntmakingthefollowinginexorableandawfulstatement：

’There’smile-stonesontheDoverroad!’

Withsuchmortalhostilitytowardsthehumanracedidshedischargethismissile，thatClennamwasquiteatalosshowtodefendhimself；theratherashehadbeenalreadyperplexedinhismindbythehonourofavisitfromthisvenerablelady，whenitwasplainsheheldhimintheutmostabhorrence。Hecouldnotbutlookatherwi