第84章

ArthurforhislifecouldnothavesaidwithconfidencewhetherPancksreallythoughtsoornot。

’Whenthatwasgone，sir，’resumedPancks，’anditdidgo，thoughIdribbleditoutlikesomuchblood，IhadtakenMrRuggintothesecret。IproposedtoborrowofMrRugg(orofMissRugg；it’sthesamething；shemadealittlemoneybyaspeculationintheCommonPleasonce)。Helentitatten，andthoughtthatprettyhigh。ButMrRugg’sared-hairedman，sir，andgetshishaircut。Andastothecrownofhishat，it’shigh。Andastothebrimofhishat，it’snarrow。Andthere’snomorebenevolencebubblingoutofhim，thanoutofaninepin。’

’Yourownrecompenseforallthis，MrPancks，’saidClennam，’oughttobealargeone。’

’Idon’tmistrustgettingit，sir，’saidPancks。’Ihavemadenobargain。Iowedyouoneonthatscore；nowIhavepaidit。Moneyoutofpocketmadegood，timefairlyallowedfor，andMrRugg’sbillsettled，athousandpoundswouldbeafortunetome。ThatmatterIplaceinyourhands。Iauthorizeyounowtobreakallthistothefamilyinanywayyouthinkbest。MissAmyDorritwillbewithMrsFinchingthismorning。Thesoonerdonethebetter。

Can’tbedonetoosoon。’

ThisconversationtookplaceinClennam’sbed-room，whilehewasyetinbed。ForMrPanckshadknockedupthehouseandmadehiswayin，veryearlyinthemorning；and，withoutoncesittingdownorstandingstill，haddeliveredhimselfofthewholeofhisdetails(illustratedwithavarietyofdocuments)atthebedside。

Henowsaidhewould’goandlookupMrRugg’，fromwhomhisexcitedstateofmindappearedtorequireanotherback；andbundlinguphispapers，andexchangingonemoreheartyshakeofthehandwithClennam，hewentatfullspeeddown-stairs，andsteamedoff。

Clennam，ofcourse，resolvedtogodirecttoMrCasby’s。Hedressedandgotoutsoquicklythathefoundhimselfatthecornerofthepatriarchalstreetnearlyanhourbeforehertime；buthewasnotsorrytohavetheopportunityofcalminghimselfwithaleisurelywalk。

Whenhereturnedtothestreet，andhadknockedatthebrightbrassknocker，hewasinformedthatshehadcome，andwasshownup-stairstoFlora’sbreakfast-room。LittleDorritwasnotthereherself，butFlorawas，andtestifiedthegreatestamazementatseeinghim。

’Goodgracious，Arthur——DoyceandClennam!’criedthatlady，’whowouldhaveeverthoughtofseeingsuchasightasthisandprayexcuseawrapperforuponmywordIreallyneverandafadedchecktoowhichisworsebutourlittlefriendismakingmea，notthatIneedmindmentioningittoyouforyoumustknowthattherearesuchthingsaskirt，andhavingarrangedthatatryingonshouldtakeplaceafterbreakfastisthereasonthoughIwishnotsobadlystarched。’

’Ioughttomakeanapology，’saidArthur，’forsoearlyandabruptavisit；butyouwillexcuseitwhenItellyouthecause。’

’IntimesforeverfledArthur，’returnedMrsFinching，’prayexcusemeDoyceandClennaminfinitelymorecorrectandthoughunquestionablydistantstill’tisdistancelendsenchantmenttotheview，atleastIdon’tmeanthatandifIdidIsupposeitwoulddependconsiderablyonthenatureoftheview，butI’mrunningonagainandyouputitalloutofmyhead。’

Sheglancedathimtenderly，andresumed：

’IntimesforeverfledIwasgoingtosayitwouldhavesoundedstrangeindeedforArthurClennam——DoyceandClennamnaturallyquitedifferent——tomakeapologiesforcominghereatanytime，butthatispastandwhatispastcanneverberecalledexceptinhisowncaseaspoorMrF。saidwhenhewasinspiritsCucumberandthereforeneverateit。’

ShewasmakingtheteawhenArthurcamein，andnowhastilyfinishedthatoperation。

’Papa，’she