第124章

for，lethimthinkwhathewould，theChiefButlerhadhiminhissuperciliouseye，evenwhenthateyewasontheplateandothertable-garniture；andheneverlethimoutofit。Tohinttohimthatthisconfinementinhiseyewasdisagreeable，ortoaskhimwhathemeant，wasanacttoodaringtoventureupon；hisseveritywithhisemployersandtheirvisitorsbeingterrific，andheneverpermittinghimselftobeapproachedwiththeslightestliberty。

MissingThetermofMrDorrit’svisitwaswithintwodaysofbeingout，andhewasabouttodressforanotherinspectionbytheChiefButler(whosevictimswerealwaysdressedexpresslyforhim)，whenoneoftheservantsofthehotelpresentedhimselfbearingacard。MrDorrit，takingit，read：

’MrsFinching。’

Theservantwaitedinspeechlessdeference。

’Man，man，’saidMrDorrit，turninguponhimwithgrievousindignation，’explainyourmotiveinbringingmethisridiculousname。Iamwhollyunacquaintedwithit。Finching，sir？’saidMrDorrit，perhapsavenginghimselfontheChiefButlerbySubstitute。

’ha!WhatdoyoumeanbyFinching？’

Theman，man，seemedtomeanFlinchingasmuchasanythingelse，forhebackedawayfromMrDorrit’ssevereregard，ashereplied，’Alady，sir。’

’Iknownosuchlady，sir，’saidMrDorrit。’Takethiscardaway。

IknownoFinchingofeithersex。’

’Askyourpardon，sir。Theladysaidshewasawareshemightbeunknownbyname。Butshebeggedmetosay，sir，thatshehadformerlythehonourofbeingacquaintedwithMissDorrit。Theladysaid，sir，theyoungestMissDorrit。’

MrDorritknittedhisbrowsandrejoined，afteramomentortwo，’InformMrsFinching，sir，’emphasisingthenameasiftheinnocentmanweresolelyresponsibleforit，’thatshecancomeup。’

Hehadreflected，inhismomentarypause，thatunlessshewereadmittedshemightleavesomemessage，ormightsaysomethingbelow，havingadisgracefulreferencetothatformerstateofexistence。Hencetheconcession，andhencetheappearanceofFlora，pilotedinbytheman，man。

’Ihavenotthepleasure，’saidMrDorrit，standingwiththecardinhishand，andwithanairwhichimportedthatitwouldscarcelyhavebeenafirst-classpleasureifhehadhadit，’ofknowingeitherthisname，oryourself，madam。Placeachair，sir。’Theresponsibleman，withastart，obeyed，andwentoutontiptoe。

Flora，puttingasideherveilwithabashfultremoruponher，proceededtointroduceherself。Atthesametimeasingularcombinationofperfumeswasdiffusedthroughtheroom，asifsomebrandyhadbeenputbymistakeinalavender-waterbottle，orasifsomelavender-waterhadbeenputbymistakeinabrandy-bottle。

’IbegMrDorrittoofferathousandapologiesandindeedtheywouldbefartoofewforsuchanintrusionwhichIknowmustappearextremelyboldinaladyandalonetoo，butIthoughtitbestuponthewholehoweverdifficultandevenapparentlyimproperthoughMrF。’sAuntwouldhavewillinglyaccompaniedmeandasacharacterofgreatforceandspiritwouldprobablyhavestruckonepossessedofsuchaknowledgeoflifeasnodoubtwithsomanychangesmusthavebeenacquired，forMrF。himselfsaidfrequentlythatalthoughwelleducatedintheneighbourhoodofBlackheathatashighaseightyguineaswhichisagooddealforparentsandtheplatekeptbacktooongoingawaybutthatismoreameannessthanitsvaluethathehadlearntmoreinhisfirstyearsasacommercialtravellerwithalargecommissiononthesaleofanarticlethatnobodywouldhearofmuchlessbuywhichprecededthewinetradealongtimethaninthewholesixyearsinthatacademyconductedbyacollegeBachelor，thoughwhyaBachelormorecleve