Крошка Доррит

Chapter 23. Machinery in Motion

           

           OncemoreheputouthishandfranklytopoorFlora;oncemorepoorFloracouldn’tacceptitfrankly,founditworthnothingopenly,mustmaketheoldintrigueandmysteryofit.Asmuchtoherownenjoymentastohisdismay,shecovereditwithacornerofhershawlasshetookit.Then,lookingtowardstheglassfrontofthecounting-house,andseeingtwofiguresapproaching,shecriedwithinfiniterelish,‘Papa!Hush,Arthur,forMercy’ssake!’andtotteredbacktoherchairwithanamazingimitationofbeingindangerofswooning,inthedreadsurpriseandmaidenlyflutterofherspirits.

           ThePatriarch,meanwhile,cameinanelybeamingtowardsthecounting-houseinthewakeofPancks.Pancksopenedthedoorforhim,towedhimin,andretiredtohisownmooringsinacorner.

           ‘IheardfromFlora,’saidthePatriarchwithhisbenevolentsmile,‘thatshewascomingtocall,comingtocall.Andbeingout,IthoughtI’dcomealso,thoughtI’dcomealso.’

           Thebenignwisdomheinfusedintothisdeclaration(notofitselfprofound),bymeansofhisblueeyes,hisshininghead,andhislongwhitehair,wasmostimpressive.Itseemedworthputtingdownamongthenoblestsentimentsenunciatedbythebestofmen.Also,whenhesaidtoClennam,seatinghimselfintheprofferedchair,‘Andyouareinanewbusiness,MrClennam?Iwishyouwell,sir,Iwishyouwell!’heseemedtohavedonebenevolentwonders.

           ‘MrsFinchinghasbeentellingme,sir,’saidArthur,aftermakinghisacknowledgments;therelictofthelateMrF.

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