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put in a garden or a flower…pot and e up speckled。'
'Then； Flora；' said Arthur； with a sudden interest in the conversation；
'Mr Casby was so kind as to mention Little Dorrit to you； was he？ What
did he say？'
'Oh you know what papa is；' rejoined Flora； 'and how aggravatingly he
sits looking beautiful and turning his thumbs over and over one another
till he makes one giddy if one keeps one's eyes upon him； he said when
we were talking of you……I don't know who began the subject Arthur （Doyce
and Clennam） but I am sure it wasn't me； at least I hope not but you
really must excuse my confessing more on that point。'
'Certainly；' said Arthur。 'By all means。'
'You are very ready；' pouted Flora； ing to a sudden stop in a
captivating bashfulness； 'that I must admit； Papa said you had spoken of
her in an earnest way and I said what I have told you and that's all。'
'That's all？' said Arthur； a little disappointed。
'Except that when Pancks told us of your having embarked in this
business and with difficulty persuaded us that it was really you I said
to Mr F。's Aunt then we would e and ask you if it would be agreeable
to all parties that she should be engaged at our house when required
for I know she often goes to your mama's and I know that your mama has
a very touchy temper Arthur……Doyce and Clennam……or I never might have
married Mr F。 and might have been at this hour but I am running into
nonsense。'
'It was very kind of you； Flora； to think of this。'
Poor Flora rejoined with a plain sincerity which became her better than
her youngest glances； that she was glad he thought so。 She said it with
so much heart that Clennam would have given a great deal to buy his
old character of her on the spot； and throw it and the mermaid away for
ever。
'I think； Flora；' he said； 'that the employment you can give Little
Dorrit； and the kindness you can show her……'
'Yes and I will；' said Flora； quickly。
'I am sure of it……will be a great assistance and support to her。 I do
not feel that I have the right to tell you what I know of her； for I
acquired the knowledge confidentially； and under circumstances that
bind me to silence。 But I have an interest in the little creature； and
a respect for her that I cannot express to you。 Her life has been one
of such trial and devotion； and such quiet goodness； as you can scarcely
imagine。 I can hardly think of her； far less speak of her； without
feeling moved。 Let that feeling represent what I could tell you； and
mit her to your friendliness with my thanks。'
Once more he put out his hand frankly to poor Flora； once more poor
Flora couldn't accept it frankly； found it worth nothing openly； must
make the old intrigue and mystery of it。 As much to her own enjoyment as
to his dismay； she covered it with a corner of her shawl as she took it。
Then； looking towards the glass front of the counting…house； and seeing
two figures approaching； she cried with infinite relish； 'Papa！ Hush；
Arthur； for Mercy's sake！' and tottered back to her chair with an
amazing imitation of being in danger of swooning； in the dread surprise
and maidenly flutter of her spirits。
The Patriarch； meanwhile； came inanely beaming towards the
counting…house in the wake of Pancks。 Pancks opened the door for him；
towed him in； and retired to his own moorings in a corner。
'I heard from Flora；' said the Patriarch with his benevolent smile；
'that she was ing to call； ing to call。 And being out； I thought
I'd e also； thought I'd e also。'
The benign wisdom he infused into this declaration （not of itself
profound）； by means of his blue eyes； his shining head； and his long
white hair； was most impressive。 It seemed worth putting down among the
noblest sentiments enunciated by the best of men。 Also； when he said to
Clennam； seating himself in the proffered chair； 'And you are in a new
business； Mr Clennam？ I wish you well； sir； I wish you well！' he seemed
to have done benevolent wonders。
'Mrs Finching has been telling me； sir；' said Arthur； after making his
acknowledgments； the relict of the late Mr F。 meanwhile protesting； with
a gesture； against his use of that respectable name； 'that she hopes
occasionally to employ the young needlewoman you remended to my
mother。 For which I have been thanking her。'
The Patriarch turning his head in a lumbering way towards Pancks； that
assistant put up the note…book in which he had been absorbed； and took
him in tow。
'You didn't remend her； you know；' said Pancks； 'how could you？ You
knew nothing about her； you didn't。 The name was mentioned to you； and
you passed it on。 That's what YOU did。'
'Well！' said Clennam。 'As she justifies any remendation； it is much
the same thing。'
'You are glad she turns out well；' said Pancks； 'but it wouldn't have
been your fault if she had turned out ill。 The credit's not yours as it
is； and the blame wouldn't have been yours as it might have been。 You
gave no guarantee。 You knew nothing about her。' 'You are not acquainted；
then；' said Arthur； hazarding a random question； 'with any of her
family？'
'Acquainted with any of her family？' returned Pancks。 'How should you be
acquainted with any of her family？ You never heard of 'em。 You can't
be acquainted with people you never heard of； can you？ You should think
not！'
All this time the Patriarch sat serenely smiling； nodding or shaking his
head benevolently； as the case required。
'As to being a reference；' said Pancks； 'you know； in a general way；
what being a reference means。 It's all your eye； that is！ Look at your
tenants down the Yard here。 They'd all be references for one another；
if you'd let 'em。 What would be the good of letting 'em？ It's no
satisfaction to be done by two men instead of one。 One's enough。 A
person who can't pay； gets another person who can't pay； to guarantee
that he can pay。 Like a person with two wooden legs getting another
person with two wooden legs； to guarantee that he has got two natural
legs。 It don't make either of them able to do a walking match。 And four
wooden legs are more troublesome to you than two； when you don't want
any。' Mr Pancks concluded by blowing off that steam of h