Крошка Доррит

Chapter 23. Mistress Affery makes a Conditional Promise,

           Returningfromthedismalkitchenregions,whichwereasdrearyastheycouldbe,MistressAfferypassedwiththelightintohisfather’soldroom,andthenintotheolddining-room;alwayspassingonbeforelikeaphantomthatwasnottobeovertaken,andneitherturningnoransweringwhenhewhispered,‘Affery!Iwanttospeaktoyou!’

           Inthedining-room,asentimentaldesirecameoverFloratolookintothedragonclosetwhichhadsooftenswallowedArthurinthedaysofhisboyhood—notimprobablybecause,asaverydarkcloset,itwasalikelyplacetobeheavyin.Arthur,fastsubsidingintodespair,hadopenedit,whenaknockwasheardattheouterdoor.

           MistressAffery,withasuppressedcry,threwherapronoverherhead.

           ‘What?Youwantanotherdose!’saidMrFlintwinch.‘Youshallhaveit,mywoman,youshallhaveagoodone!Oh!Youshallhaveasneezer,youshallhaveateaser!’

           ‘Inthemeantimeisanybodygoingtothedoor?’saidArthur.

           ‘Inthemeantime,Iamgoingtothedoor,sir,’returnedtheoldmansosavagely,astorenderitclearthatinachoiceofdifficultieshefelthemustgo,thoughhewouldhavepreferrednottogo.‘Stayherethewhile,all!Affery,mywoman,moveaninch,orspeakawordinyourfoolishness,andI’lltrebleyourdose!’

           Themomenthewasgone,ArthurreleasedMrsFinching:withsomedifficulty,byreasonofthatladymisunderstandinghisintentions,andmakingarrangementswithaviewtotighteninginsteadofslackening.

           ‘Affery,speaktomenow!’

           ‘Don’ttouchme,Arthur!’shecried,shrinkingfromhim.‘Don’tcomenearme.

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