Chapter 5. Family Affairs

           

           AsthecityclocksstrucknineonMondaymorning,MrsClennamwaswheeledbyJeremiahFlintwinchofthecut-downaspecttohertallcabinet.Whenshehadunlockedandopenedit,andhadsettledherselfatitsdesk,Jeremiahwithdrew—asitmightbe,tohanghimselfmoreeffectually—andhersonappeared.

           ‘Areyouanybetterthismorning,mother?’

           Sheshookherhead,withthesameaustereairofluxuriousnessthatshehadshownover-nightwhenspeakingoftheweather.‘Ishallneverbebetteranymore.Itiswellforme,Arthur,thatIknowitandcanbearit.’

           Sittingwithherhandslaidseparatelyuponthedesk,andthetallcabinettoweringbeforeher,shelookedasifshewereperformingonadumbchurchorgan.Hersonthoughtso(itwasanoldthoughtwithhim),whilehetookhisseatbesideit.

           Sheopenedadrawerortwo,lookedoversomebusinesspapers,andputthembackagain.Herseverefacehadnothreadofrelaxationinit,bywhichanyexplorercouldhavebeenguidedtothegloomylabyrinthofherthoughts.

           ‘ShallIspeakofouraffairs,mother?Areyouinclinedtoenteruponbusiness?’

           ‘AmIinclined,Arthur?Rather,areyou?Yourfatherhasbeendeadayearandmore.Ihavebeenatyourdisposal,andwaitingyourpleasure,eversince.’

           ‘TherewasmuchtoarrangebeforeIcouldleave;andwhenIdidleave,Itravelledalittleforrestandrelief.’

           Sheturnedherfacetowardshim,asnothavingheardorunderstoodhislastwords.

           ‘Forrestandrelief.

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