Chapter 17. Missing

           

           ThetermofMrDorrit’svisitwaswithintwodaysofbeingout,andhewasabouttodressforanotherinspectionbytheChiefButler(whosevictimswerealwaysdressedexpresslyforhim),whenoneoftheservantsofthehotelpresentedhimselfbearingacard.MrDorrit,takingit,read:

           ‘MrsFinching.’

           Theservantwaitedinspeechlessdeference.

           ‘Man,man,’saidMrDorrit,turninguponhimwithgrievousindignation,‘explainyourmotiveinbringingmethisridiculousname.Iamwhollyunacquaintedwithit.Finching,sir?’saidMrDorrit,perhapsavenginghimselfontheChiefButlerbySubstitute.‘Ha!WhatdoyoumeanbyFinching?’

           Theman,man,seemedtomeanFlinchingasmuchasanythingelse,forhebackedawayfromMrDorrit’ssevereregard,ashereplied,‘Alady,sir.’

           ‘Iknownosuchlady,sir,’saidMrDorrit.‘Takethiscardaway.IknownoFinchingofeithersex.’

           ‘Askyourpardon,sir.Theladysaidshewasawareshemightbeunknownbyname.Butshebeggedmetosay,sir,thatshehadformerlythehonourofbeingacquaintedwithMissDorrit.Theladysaid,sir,theyoungestMissDorrit.’

           MrDorritknittedhisbrowsandrejoined,afteramomentortwo,‘InformMrsFinching,sir,’emphasisingthenameasiftheinnocentmanweresolelyresponsibleforit,‘thatshecancomeup.’

           Hehadreflected,inhismomentarypause,thatunlessshewereadmittedshemightleavesomemessage,ormightsaysomethingbelow,havingadisgracefulreferencetothatformerstateofexistence.Hencetheconcession,andhencetheappearanceofFlora,pilotedinbytheman,man.

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