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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 tore us asunder we became marble and stern
reality usurped the throne； Mr F。 said very much to his credit that
he was perfectly aware of it and even preferred that state of things
accordingly the word was spoken the fiat went forth and such is life you
see my dear and yet we do not break but bend； pray make a good breakfast
while I go in with the tray。'
She disappeared； leaving Little Dorrit to ponder over the meaning of her
scattered words。 She soon came back again； and at last began to take her
own breakfast； talking all the while。
'You see； my dear；' said Flora； measuring out a spoonful or two of some
broelt like brandy； and putting it into her tea； 'I am
obliged to be careful to follow the directions of my medical man though
the flavour is anything but agreeable being a poor creature and it may
be have never recovered the shock received in youth from too much giving
way to crying in the next room when separated from Arthur； have you
known him long？'
As soon as Little Dorrit prehended that she had been asked this
question……for which time was necessary； the galloping pace of her new
patroness having left her far behind……she answered that she had known Mr
Clennam ever since his return。
'To be sure you couldn't have known him before unless you had been in
China or had corresponded neither of which is likely；' returned Flora；
'for travelling…people usually get more or less mahogany and you are not
at all so and as to corresponding what about？ that's very true unless
tea； so it was at his mother's was it really that you knew him first；
highly sensible and firm but dreadfully severe……ought to be the mother
of the man in the iron mask。'
'Mrs Clennam has been kind to me；' said Little Dorrit。
'Really？ I am sure I am glad to hear it because as Arthur's mother it's
naturally pleasant to my feelings to have a better opinion of her than
I had before； though what she thinks of me when I run on as I am certain
to do and she sits glowering at me like Fate in a go…cart……shocking
parison really……invalid