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Chapter 13. Patriarchal

           OnceuponatimeClennamhadsatatthattabletakingnoheedofanythingbutFlora;nowtheprincipalheedhetookofFlorawastoobserve,againsthiswill,thatshewasveryfondofporter,thatshecombinedagreatdealofsherrywithsentiment,andthatifshewerealittleovergrown,itwasuponsubstantialgrounds.ThelastofthePatriarchshadalwaysbeenamightyeater,andhedisposedofanimmensequantityofsolidfoodwiththebenignityofagoodsoulwhowasfeedingsomeoneelse.MrPancks,whowasalwaysinahurry,andwhoreferredatintervalstoalittledirtynotebookwhichhekeptbesidehim(perhapscontainingthenamesofthedefaultershemeanttolookupbywayofdessert),tookinhisvictualsmuchasifhewerecoaling;withagooddealofnoise,agooddealofdroppingabout,andapuffandasnortoccasionally,asifhewerenearlyreadytosteamaway.

           Allthroughdinner,Floracombinedherpresentappetiteforeatinganddrinkingwithherpastappetiteforromanticlove,inawaythatmadeClennamafraidtolifthiseyesfromhisplate;sincehecouldnotlooktowardsherwithoutreceivingsomeglanceofmysteriousmeaningorwarning,asiftheywereengagedinaplot.MrF.‘sAuntsatsilentlydefyinghimwithanaspectofthegreatestbitterness,untiltheremovaloftheclothandtheappearanceofthedecanters,whensheoriginatedanotherobservation—struckintotheconversationlikeaclock,withoutconsultinganybody.

           Florahadjustsaid,‘MrClennam,willyougivemeaglassofportforMrF.

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