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Still so recoiling in her chair that her overpoised weight moved it；
from time to time； a little on its wheels； and gave her the appearance
of a phantom of fierce aspect gliding away from him； she interposed her
left arm； bent at the elbow with the back of her hand towards her face；
between herself and him； and looked at him in a fixed silence。
'In grasping at money and in driving hard bargains……I have begun； and I
must speak of such things now； mother……some one may have been grievously
deceived； injured； ruined。 You were the moving power of all this
machinery before my birth； your stronger spirit has been infused into
all my father's dealings for more than two score years。 You can set
these doubts at rest； I think； if you will really help me to discover
the truth。 Will you； mother？'
He stopped in the hope that she would speak。 But her grey hair was not
more immovable in its two folds； than were her firm lips。
'If reparation can be made to any one； if restitution can be made to any
one； let us know it and make it。 Nay； mother； if within my means； let ME
make it。 I have seen so little happiness e of money； it has brought
within my knowledge so little peace to this house； or to any one
belonging to it； that it is worth less to me than to another。 It can buy
me nothing that will not be a reproach and misery to me； if I am haunted
by a suspicion that it darkened my father's last hours with remorse； and
that it is not honestly and justly mine。' There was a bell…rope hanging
on the panelled wall； some two or three yards from the cabi。 By a
swift and sudden action of her foot； she drove her wheeled chair rapidly
back to it and pulled it violently……still holding her arm up in its
shield…like posture； as if he were striking at her； and she warding off
the blow。
A girl came hurrying in； frightened。
'Send Flintwinch here！'
In a moment the girl had withdrawn； and the old man stood within the
door。 'What！ You're hammer and tongs； already； you two？' he said； coolly
stroking his face。 'I thought you would be。 I was pretty sure of it。'
'Flintwinch！' said the mother； 'look at my son。 Look at him！'
'Well； I AM looking at him；' said Flintwinch。
She stretched out the arm with which she had shielded herself； and as
she went on； pointed at the object of her anger。
'In the very hour of his return almost……before the shoe upon his foot is
dry……he asperses his father's memory to his mother！ Asks his mother
to bee； with him； a spy upon his father's transactions through a
lifetime！ Has misgivings that the goods of this world which we have
painfully got together early and late； with wear and tear and toil and
self…denial； are so much plunder； and asks to whom they shall be given
up； as reparation and restitution！'
Although she said this raging； she said it in a voice so far from being
beyond her control that it was even lower than her usual tone。 She also
spoke with great distinctness。
'Reparation！' said she。 'Yes； truly！ It is easy for him to talk of
reparation； fresh from journeying and junketing in foreign lands； and
living a life of vanity and pleasure。 But let him look at me； in prison；
and in bonds here。 I endure without murmuring； because it is appointed
that I shall so make reparation for my sins。 Reparation！ Is there none
in this room？ Has there been none here this fifteen years？'
Thus was she always balancing her bargains with the Majesty of heaven；
posting up the entries to her credit； strictly keeping her set…off； and
claiming her due。 She was only remarkable in this； for the force
and emphasis with which she did it。 Thousands upon thousands do it；
according to their varying manner； every day。
'Flintwinch； give me that book！'
The old man handed it to her from the table。 She put two fingers between
the leaves； closed the book upon them； and held it up to her son in
a threatening way。 'In the days of old； Arthur； treated of in this
mentary； there were pious men； beloved of the Lord； who would have
cursed their sons for less than this： who would have sent them forth；
and sent whole nations forth； if such had supported them； to be avoided
of God and man； and perish； down to the baby at the breast。 But I only
tell you that if you ever renew that theme with me； I will renounce you；
I will so dismiss you through that doorway； that you had better have
been motherless from your cradle。 I will never see or know you more。 And
if； after all； you were to e into this darkened room to look upon me
lying dead； my body should bleed； if I could make it； when you came near
me。'
In part relieved by the intensity of this threat； and in part （monstrous
as the fact is） by a general impression that it was in some sort a
religious proceeding； she handed back the book to the old man； and was
silent。
'Now；' said Jeremiah； 'premising that I'm not going to stand between you
two； will you let me ask （as I have been called in； and made a third）
what is all this about？'
'Take your version of it；' returned Arthur； finding it left to him to
speak； 'from my mother。 Let it rest there。 What I have said； was said to
my mother only。' 'Oh！' returned the old man。 'From your mother？ Take
it from your mother？ Well！ But your mother mentioned that you had been
suspecting your father。 That's not dutiful； Mr Arthur。 Who will you be
suspecting next？'
'Enough；' said Mrs Clennam； turning her face so that it was addressed
for the moment to the old man only。 'Let no more be said about this。'
'Yes； but stop a bit； stop a bit；' the old man persisted。 'Let us see
how we stand。 Have you told Mr Arthur that he mustn't lay offences at
his father's door？ That he has no right to do it？ That he has no ground
to go upon？'
'I tell him so now。'
'Ah！ Exactly；' said the old man。 'You tell him so now。 You hadn't told
him so before； and you tell him so now。 Ay； ay！ That's right！ You know I
stood between you and his father so long； that it seems as if death had
made no difference； and I was still standing between you。 So I will； and
so in fairness I require to have that plainly put forward。 Arthur； you
please to hear that you have no right to mistrust your father； and have
no ground to go upon。'
He put his hands to the back of the wheeled chair； and muttering to
himself； slowly wheeled his mistress back to her cabi。 'Now；' he
resumed； standing behind her： 'in case I should go away leaving things
half done； and so should be wanted again when you e to the other half
and get into one of your flights； has Arthur told you what he means to
do about the business？'
'He has relinquished it。'
'In favour of nobody； I suppose？'
Mrs Clennam glanced at her son； leaning against one of the windows。
He observed the look and said； 'To my mother； of course。 She does what
she pleases。'
'And if any pleasure；' she said after a short pause； 'could arise for me
out of the disappointment of my expectations that my son； in the prime
of his life； would infuse new youth and strength into it； and make it
of great profit and power； it would be in advancing an old and faithful
servant。 Jeremiah； the captain deserts the ship； but you and I will sink
or float with it。'
Jeremiah； whose eyes glistened as if they saw money； darted a sudden
look at the son； which seemed to say； 'I owe YOU no thanks for this； YOU
have done nothing towards it！' and then told the mother that he thanked
her； and that Affery thanked her； and that he would never desert her；
and that Affery would never desert her。 Finally； he hauled up his watch
from its depths； and said； 'Eleven。 Time for your oysters！' and with
that change of subject； which involved no change of expression or
manner； rang the bell。
But Mrs Clennam； resolved to treat herself with the greater rigour for
having been supposed to be unacquainted with reparation； refused to
eat her oysters when they were brought。 They looked tempting； eight in
number； circularly set out on a white plate on a tray covered with a
white napkin； flanked by a slice of buttered French roll； and a little
pact glass of cool wine and water； but she resisted all persuasions；
and sent them down again……placing the act to her credit； no doubt； in
her Eterna