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shining bumps and silken locks……at which identical hour and minute；
that first…rate humbug of a thousand guns was heavily floundering in the
little Dock of his exhausted Tug at home； and was saying； as he turned
his thumbs：
'A very bad day's work； Pancks； very bad day's work。 It seems to me；
sir； and I must insist on making this observation forcibly in justice to
myself； that you ought to have got much more money； much more money。'
CHAPTER 24。 Fortune…Telling
Little Dorrit received a call that same evening from Mr Plornish； who；
having intimated that he wished to speak to her privately； in a series
of coughs so very noticeable as to favour the idea that her father； as
regarded her seamstress occupation； was an illustration of the axiom
that there are no such stone…blind men as those who will not see；
obtained an audience with her on the mon staircase outside the door。
'There's been a lady at our place to…day； Miss Dorrit；' Plornish
growled； 'and another one along with her as is a old wixen if ever I met
with such。 The way she snapped a person's head off； dear me！'
The mild Plornish was at first quite unable to get his mind away from Mr
F。's Aunt。 'For；' said he； to excuse himself； 'she is； I do assure you；
the winegariest party。'
At length； by a great effort； he detached himself from the subject
sufficiently to observe：
'But she's neither here nor there just at present。 The other lady； she's
Mr Casby's daughter； and if Mr Casby an't well off； none better； it an't
through any fault of Pancks。 For； as to Pancks； he does； he really does；
he does indeed！'
Mr Plornish； after his usual manner； was a little obscure； but
conscientiously emphatic。
'And what she e to our place for；' he pursued； 'was to leave word
that if Miss Dorrit would step up to that card……which it's Mr Casby's
house that is； and Pancks he has a office at the back； where he really
does； beyond belief……she would be glad for to engage her。 She was a old
and a dear friend； she said particular； of Mr Clennam； and hoped for to
prove herself a useful friend to his friend。 Them was her words。 Wishing
to know whether Miss Dorrit could e to…morrow morning； I said I would
see you； Miss； and inquire； and look round there to…night； to say yes；
or； if you was engaged to…morrow； when？'
'I can go to…morrow； thank you；' said Little Dorrit。 'This is very kind
of you； but you are always kind。'
Mr Plornish； with a modest disavowal of his merits； opened the room door
for her readmission； and followed her in with such an exceedingly bald
pretence of not having been out at all； that her father might
have observed it without being very suspicious。 In his affable
unconsciousness； however； he took no heed。 Plornish； after a little
conversation； in which he blended his former duty as a Collegian with
his present privilege as a humble outside friend； qualified again by his
low estate as a plasterer； took his leave； making the tour of the prison
before he left； and looking on at a game of skittles with the mixed
feelings of an old inhabitant who had his private reasons for believing
that it might be his destiny to e back again。
Early in the morning； Little Dorrit； leaving Maggy in high domestic
trust； set off for the Patriarchal tent。 She went by the Iron Bridge；
though it cost her a penny； and walked more slowly in that part of her
journey than in any other。 At five minutes before eight her hand was on
the Patriarchal knocker； which was quite as high as she could reach。
She gave Mrs Finching's card to the young woman who opened the door； and
the young woman told her that 'Miss Flora'……Flora having； on her return
to the parental roof； reinvested herself with the title under which she
had lived there……was not yet out of her bedroom； but she was to please
to walk up into Miss Flora's sitting…room。 She walked up into
Miss Flora's sitting…room； as in duty bound； and there found a
breakfast…table fortably laid for two； with a supplementary tray
upon it laid for one。 The young woman； disappearing for a few moments；
returned to say that she was to please to take a chair by the fire；
and to take off her bon and make herself at home。 But Little Dorrit；
being bashful； and not used to make herself at home on such occasions；
felt at a loss how to do it； so she was still sitting near the door with
her bon on； when Flora came in in a hurry half an hour afterwards。
Flora was so sorry to have kept her waiting； and good gracious why did
she sit out there in the cold when she had expected to find her by the
fire reading the paper； and hadn't that heedless girl given her the
message then； and had she really been in her bon all this time； and
pray for goodness sake let Flora take it off！ Flora taking it off in the
best…natured manner in the world； was so struck with the face disclosed；
that she said； 'Why； what a good little thing you are； my dear！' and
pressed her face between her hands like the gentlest of women。
It was the word and the action of a moment。 Little Dorrit had hardly
time to think how kind it was； when Flora dashed at the breakfast…table
full of business； and plunged over head and ears into loquacity。
'Really so sorry that I should happen to be late on this morning of all
mornings because my intention and my wish was to be ready to meet you
when you came in and to say that any one that interested Arthur Clennam
half so much must interest me and that I gave you the heartiest wele
and was so glad； instead of which they never called me and there I
still am snoring I dare say if the truth was known and if you don't like
either cold fowl or hot boiled ham which many people don't I dare say
besides Jews and theirs are scruples of conscience which we must all
respect though I must say I wish they had them equally strong when they
sell us false articles for real that certainly ain't worth the money I
shall be quite vexed；' said Flora。
Little Dorrit thanked her； and said； shyly； bread…and…butter and tea was
all she usually……
'Oh nonsense my dear child I can never hear of that；' said Flora；
turning on the urn in the most reckless manner； and making herself wink
by splashing hot water into her eyes as she bent down to look into the
teapot。 'You are ing here on the footing of a friend and panion
you know if you will let me take that liberty and I should be ashamed
of myself indeed if you could e here upon any other； besides which
Arthur Clennam spoke in such terms……you are tired my dear。'
'No； ma'am。'
'You turn so pale you have walked too far before breakfast and I dare
say live a great way off and ought to have had a ride；' said Flora；
'dear dear is there anything that would do you good？'
'Indeed I am quite well； ma'am。 I thank you again and again； but I am
quite well。'
'Then take your tea at once I beg；' said Flora； 'and this wing of fowl
and bit of ham； don't mind me or wait for me； because I always carry in
this tray myself to Mr F。's Aunt who breakfasts in bed and a charming
old lady too and very clever； Portrait of Mr F。 behind the door and very
like though too much forehead and as to a pillar with a marble pavement
and balustrades and a mountain； I never saw him near it nor not likely
in the wine trade； excellent man but not at all in that way。'
Little Dorrit glanced at the portrait； very imperfectly following the
references to that work of art。
'Mr F。 was so devoted to me that he never could bear me out of his
sight；' said Flora； 'though of course I am unable to say how long that
might have lasted if he hadn't been cut short while I was a new broom；
worthy man but not poetical manly prose but not romance。'
Little Dorrit glanced at the portrait again。 The artist had given it a
head that would have been； in an intellectual point of view； top…heavy
for Shakespeare。 'Romance； however；' Flora went on； busily arranging Mr
F。's Aunt's toast； 'as I openly said to Mr F。 when he proposed to me
and you will be surprised to hear that he proposed seven times once in a
hackney…coach once in a boat once in a pew once on a donkey at Tunbridge
Wells and the rest on his knees； Romance was fled with the early days of
Arthur Clennam； our parents t