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What's the third place； barefoot。'
'My dear Mrs Finching； you were not to blame； and I never blamed you。
We were both too young； too dependent and helpless； to do anything but
accept our separation。……Pray think how long ago；' gently remonstrated
Arthur。 'One more remark；' proceeded Flora with unslackened volubility；
'I wish to make； one more explanation I wish to offer； for five days I
had a cold in the head from crying which I passed entirely in the back
drawing…room……there is the back drawing…room still on the first floor
and still at the back of the house to confirm my words……when that dreary
period had passed a lull succeeded years rolled on and Mr F。 became
acquainted with us at a mutual friend's； he was all attention he called
next day he soon began to call three evenings a week and to send
in little things for supper it was not love on Mr F。's part it was
adoration； Mr F。 proposed with the full approval of Papa and what could
I do？'
'Nothing whatever；' said Arthur； with the cheerfulest readiness； 'but
what you did。 Let an old friend assure you of his full conviction that
you did quite right。'
'One last remark；' proceeded Flora； rejecting monplace life with a
wave of her hand； 'I wish to make； one last explanation I wish to offer；
there was a time ere Mr F。 first paid attentions incapable of being
mistaken； but that is past and was not to be； dear Mr Clennam you no
longer wear a golden chain you are free I trust you may be happy； here
is Papa who is always tiresome and putting in his nose everywhere where
he is not wanted。'
With these words； and with a hasty gesture fraught with timid
caution……such a gesture had Clennam's eyes been familiar with in the old
time……poor Flora left herself at eighteen years of age； a long long way
behind again； and came to a full stop at last。
Or rather； she left about half of herself at eighteen years of age
behind； and grafted the rest on to the relict of the late Mr F。； thus
making a moral mermaid of herself； which her once boy…lover contemplated
with feelings wherein his sense of the sorrowful and his sense of the
ical were curiously blended。
For example。 As if there were a secret understanding between herself
and Clennam of the most thrilling nature； as if the first of a train of
post…chaises and four； extending all the way to Scotland； were at that
moment round the corner； and as if she couldn't （and wouldn't） have
walked into the Parish Church with him； under the shade of the family
umbrella； with the Patriarchal blessing on her head； and the perfect
concurrence of all mankind； Flora forted her soul with agonies of
mysterious signalling； expressing dread of discovery。 With the sensation
of being more and more light…headed every minute； Clennam saw the
relict of the late Mr F。 enjoying herself in the most wonderful manner；
by putting herself and him in their old places； and going through all
the old performances……now； when the stage was dusty； when the scenery
was faded； when the youthful actors were dead； when the orchestra was
empty； when the lights were out。 And still； through all this grotesque
revival of what he remembered as having once been prettily natural to
her； he could not but feel that it revived at sight of him； and that
there was a tender memory in it。
The Patriarch insisted on his staying to dinner； and Flora signalled
'Yes！' Clennam so wished he could have done more than stay to dinner……so
heartily wished he could have found the Flora that had been； or that
never had been……that he thought the least atonement he could make for
the disappointment he almost felt ashamed of； was to give himself up to
the family desire。 Therefore； he stayed to dinner。
Pancks dined with them。 Pancks steamed out of his little dock at a
quarter before six； and bore straight down for the Patriarch； who
happened to be then driving； in an inane manner； through a stagnant
account of Bleeding Heart Yard。 Pancks instantly made fast to him and
hauled him out。
'Bleeding Heart Yard？' said Pancks； with a puff and a snort。 'It's a
troublesome property。 Don't pay you badly； but rents are very hard to
get there。 You have more trouble with that one place than with all the
places belonging to you。'
Just as the big ship in tow gets the credit； with most spectators； of
being the powerful object； so the Patriarch usually seemed to have said
himself whatever Pancks said for him。
'Indeed？' returned Clennam； upon whom this impression was so efficiently
made by a mere gleam of the polished head that he spoke the ship instead
of the Tug。 'The people are so poor there？'
'You can't say； you know；' snorted Pancks； taking one of his dirty hands
out of his rusty iron…grey pockets to bite his nails； if he could find
any； and turning his beads of eyes upon his employer； 'whether they're
poor or not。 They say they are； but they all say that。 When a man says
he's rich； you're generally sure he isn't。 Besides； if they ARE poor；
you can't help it。 You'd be poor yourself if you didn't get your rents。'
'True enough；' said Arthur。
'You're not going to keep open house for all the poor of London；'
pursued Pancks。 'You're not going to lodge 'em for nothing。 You're not
going to open your gates wide and let 'em e free。 Not if you know it；
you ain't。'
Mr Casby shook his head； in Placid and benignant generality。
'If a man takes a room of you at half…a…crown a week； and when the week
es round hasn't got the half…crown； you say to that man； Why have you
got the room； then？ If you haven't got the one thing； why have you got
the other？ What have you been and done with your money？ What do you mean
by it？ What are you up to？ That's what YOU say to a man of that sort；
and if you didn't say it； more shame for you！' Mr Pancks here made a
singular and startling noise； produced by a strong blowing effort in the
region of the nose； unattended by any result but that acoustic one。
'You have some extent of such property about the east and north…east
here； I believe？' said Clennam； doubtful which of the two to address。
'Oh； pretty well；' said Pancks。 'You're not particular to east or
north…east； any point of the pass will d