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retreat to her room （which she might easily have done before he had
fastened the door）； but stood there staring。 Consequently when he came
up the staircase to bed； candle in hand； he came full upon her。 He
looked astonished； but said not a word。 He kept his eyes upon her； and
kept advancing； and she； pletely under his influence； kept retiring
before him。 Thus； she walking backward and he walking forward； they
came into their own room。 They were no sooner shut in there； than Mr
Flintwinch took her by the throat； and shook her until she was black in
the face。
'Why； Affery； woman……Affery！' said Mr Flintwinch。 'What have you been
dreaming of？ Wake up； wake up！ What's the matter？'
'The……the matter； Jeremiah？' gasped Mrs Flintwinch； rolling her eyes。
'Why； Affery； woman……Affery！ You have been getting out of bed in your
sleep； my dear！ I e up； after having fallen asleep myself； below； and
find you in your wrapper here； with the nightmare。 Affery； woman；' said
Mr Flintwinch； with a friendly grin on his expressive countenance； 'if
you ever have a dream of this sort again； it'll be a sign of your being
in want of physic。 And I'll give you such a dose； old woman……such a
dose！'
Mrs Flintwinch thanked him and crept into bed。
CHAPTER 5。 Family Affairs
As the city clocks struck nine on Monday morning； Mrs Clennam was
wheeled by Jeremiah Flintwinch of the cut…down aspect to her tall
cabi。 When she had unlocked and opened it； and had settled herself
at its desk； Jeremiah withdrew……as it might be； to hang himself more
effectually……and her son appeared。
'Are you any better this morning； mother？'
She shook her head； with the same austere air of luxuriousness that she
had shown over…night when speaking of the weather。
'I shall never be better any more。 It is well for me； Arthur； that I
know it and can bear it。'
Sitting with her hands laid separately upon the desk； and the tall
cabi towering before her； she looked as if she were performing on a
dumb church organ。 Her son thought so （it was an old thought with him）；
while he took his seat beside it。
She opened a drawer or two； looked over some business papers； and put
them back again。 Her severe face had no thread of relaxation in it； by
which any explorer could have been guided to the gloomy labyrinth of her
thoughts。
'Shall I speak of our affairs； mother？ Are you inclined to enter upon
business？'
'Am I inclined； Arthur？ Rather； are you？ Your father has been dead a
year and more。 I have been at your disposal； and waiting your pleasure；
ever since。'
'There was much to arrange before I could leave； and when I did leave； I
travelled a little for rest and relief。'
She turned her face towards him； as not having heard or understood his
last words。 'For rest and relief。'
She glanced round the sombre room； and appeared from the motion of her
lips to repeat the words to herself； as calling it to witness how little
of either it afforded her。
'Besides； mother； you being sole executrix； and having the direction and
management of the estate； there remained little business； or I might say
none； that I could transact； until you had had time to arrange matters
to your satisfaction。'
'The accounts are made out；' she returned。 'I have them here。 The
vouchers have all been examined and passed。 You can inspect them when
you like； Arthur； now； if you please。'
'It is quite enough； mother； to know that the business is pleted。
Shall I proceed then？'
'Why not？' she said； in her frozen way。
'Mother； our House has done less and less for some years past； and our
dealings have been progressively on the decline。 We have never shown
much confidence； or invited much； we have attached no people to us； the
track we have kept is not the track of the time； and we have been
left far behind。 I need not dwell on this to you； mother。 You know it
necessarily。'
'I know what you mean；' she answered； in a qualified tone。 'Even this
old house in which we speak；' pursued her son； 'is an instance of what I
say。 In my father's earlier time； and in his uncle's time before him；
it was a place of business……really a place of business； and business
resort。 Now； it is a mere anomaly and incongruity here； out of date and
out of purpose。 All our consignments have long been made to Rovinghams'
the mission…merchants； and although； as a check upon them； and in
the stewardship of my father's resources； your judgment and watchfulness
have been actively exerted； still those qualities would have influenced
my father's fortunes equally； if you had lived in any private dwelling：
would they not？'
'Do you consider；' she returned； without answering his question； 'that
a house serves no purpose； Arthur； in sheltering your infirm and
afflicted……justly infirm and righteously afflicted……mother？'
'I was speaking only of business purposes。'
'With what object？'
'I am ing to it。'
'I foresee；' she returned； fixing her eyes upon him； 'what it is。
But the Lord forbid that I should repine under any visitation。 In my
sinfulness I merit bitter disappointment； and I accept it。'
'Mother； I grieve to hear you speak like this； though I have had my
apprehensions that you would……'
'You knew I would。 You knew ME；' she interrupted。
Her son paused for a moment。 He had struck fire out of her； and was
surprised。
'Well！' she said； relapsing into stone。 'Go on。 Let me hear。'
'You have anticipated； mother； that I decide for my part； to abandon
the business。 I have done with it。 I will not take upon myself to advise
you； you will continue it； I see。 If I had any influence with you； I
would simply use it to soften your judgment of me in causing you this
disappointment： to represent to you that I have lived the half of a long
term of life； and have never before set my own will against yours。 I
cannot say that I have been able to conform myself； in heart and spirit；
to your rules； I cannot say that I believe my forty years have been
profitable or pleasant to myself； or any one； but I have habitually
submitted； and I only ask you to remember it。'
Woe to the suppliant； if such a one there were or ever had been； who had
any