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°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
turning¡¡on¡¡the¡¡urn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡reckless¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡making¡¡herself¡¡wink
by¡¡splashing¡¡hot¡¡water¡¡into¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡she¡¡bent¡¡down¡¡to¡¡look¡¡into¡¡the
teapot¡£¡¡'You¡¡are¡¡ing¡¡here¡¡on¡¡the¡¡footing¡¡of¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡panion
you¡¡know¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will¡¡let¡¡me¡¡take¡¡that¡¡liberty¡¡and¡¡I¡¡should¡¡be¡¡ashamed
of¡¡myself¡¡indeed¡¡if¡¡you¡¡could¡¡e¡¡here¡¡upon¡¡any¡¡other£»¡¡besides¡¡which
Arthur¡¡Clennam¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡such¡¡terms¡­¡­you¡¡are¡¡tired¡¡my¡¡dear¡£'

'No£»¡¡ma'am¡£'


'You¡¡turn¡¡so¡¡pale¡¡you¡¡have¡¡walked¡¡too¡¡far¡¡before¡¡breakfast¡¡and¡¡I¡¡dare
say¡¡live¡¡a¡¡great¡¡way¡¡off¡¡and¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡had¡¡a¡¡ride£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»
'dear¡¡dear¡¡is¡¡there¡¡anything¡¡that¡¡would¡¡do¡¡you¡¡good£¿'

'Indeed¡¡I¡¡am¡¡quite¡¡well£»¡¡ma'am¡£¡¡I¡¡thank¡¡you¡¡again¡¡and¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am
quite¡¡well¡£'

'Then¡¡take¡¡your¡¡tea¡¡at¡¡once¡¡I¡¡beg£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡'and¡¡this¡¡wing¡¡of¡¡fowl
and¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡ham£»¡¡don't¡¡mind¡¡me¡¡or¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡always¡¡carry¡¡in
this¡¡tray¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£'s¡¡Aunt¡¡who¡¡breakfasts¡¡in¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡a¡¡charming
old¡¡lady¡¡too¡¡and¡¡very¡¡clever£»¡¡Portrait¡¡of¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡very
like¡¡though¡¡too¡¡much¡¡forehead¡¡and¡¡as¡¡to¡¡a¡¡pillar¡¡with¡¡a¡¡marble¡¡pavement
and¡¡balustrades¡¡and¡¡a¡¡mountain£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡near¡¡it¡¡nor¡¡not¡¡likely
in¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡trade£»¡¡excellent¡¡man¡¡but¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡in¡¡that¡¡way¡£'

Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡portrait£»¡¡very¡¡imperfectly¡¡following¡¡the
references¡¡to¡¡that¡¡work¡¡of¡¡art¡£

'Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡was¡¡so¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡never¡¡could¡¡bear¡¡me¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his
sight£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡'though¡¡of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡am¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡say¡¡how¡¡long¡¡that
might¡¡have¡¡lasted¡¡if¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡been¡¡cut¡¡short¡¡while¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡new¡¡broom£»
worthy¡¡man¡¡but¡¡not¡¡poetical¡¡manly¡¡prose¡¡but¡¡not¡¡romance¡£'

Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡the¡¡portrait¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡artist¡¡had¡¡given¡¡it¡¡a
head¡¡that¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been£»¡¡in¡¡an¡¡intellectual¡¡point¡¡of¡¡view£»¡¡top¡­heavy
for¡¡Shakespeare¡£¡¡'Romance£»¡¡however£»'¡¡Flora¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡busily¡¡arranging¡¡Mr
F¡£'s¡¡Aunt's¡¡toast£»¡¡'as¡¡I¡¡openly¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡when¡¡he¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡me
and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡that¡¡he¡¡proposed¡¡seven¡¡times¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a
hackney¡­coach¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a¡¡boat¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pew¡¡once¡¡on¡¡a¡¡donkey¡¡at¡¡Tunbridge
Wells¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡on¡¡his¡¡knees£»¡¡Romance¡¡was¡¡fled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡early¡¡days¡¡of
Arthur¡¡Clennam£»¡¡our¡¡parents¡¡tore¡¡us¡¡asunder¡¡we¡¡became¡¡marble¡¡and¡¡stern
reality¡¡usurped¡¡the¡¡throne£»¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡said¡¡very¡¡much¡¡to¡¡his¡¡credit¡¡that
he¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡it¡¡and¡¡even¡¡preferred¡¡that¡¡state¡¡of¡¡things
accordingly¡¡the¡¡word¡¡was¡¡spoken¡¡the¡¡fiat¡¡went¡¡forth¡¡and¡¡such¡¡is¡¡life¡¡you
see¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡we¡¡do¡¡not¡¡break¡¡but¡¡bend£»¡¡pray¡¡make¡¡a¡¡good¡¡breakfast
while¡¡I¡¡go¡¡in¡¡with¡¡the¡¡tray¡£'

She¡¡disappeared£»¡¡leaving¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡to¡¡ponder¡¡over¡¡the¡¡meaning¡¡of¡¡her
scattered¡¡words¡£¡¡She¡¡soon¡¡came¡¡back¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡began¡¡to¡¡take¡¡her
own¡¡breakfast£»¡¡talking¡¡all¡¡the¡¡while¡£

'You¡¡see£»¡¡my¡¡dear£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡measuring¡¡out¡¡a¡¡spoonful¡¡or¡¡two¡¡of¡¡some
broelt¡¡like¡¡brandy£»¡¡and¡¡putting¡¡it¡¡into¡¡her¡¡tea£»¡¡'I¡¡am
obliged¡¡to¡¡be¡¡careful¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡directions¡¡of¡¡my¡¡medical¡¡man¡¡though
the¡¡flavour¡¡is¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡agreeable¡¡being¡¡a¡¡poor¡¡creature¡¡and¡¡it¡¡may
be¡¡have¡¡never¡¡recovered¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡received¡¡in¡¡youth¡¡from¡¡too¡¡much¡¡giving
way¡¡to¡¡crying¡¡in¡¡the¡¡next¡¡room¡¡when¡¡separated¡¡from¡¡Arthur£»¡¡have¡¡you
known¡¡him¡¡long£¿'

As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡prehended¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡asked¡¡this
question¡­¡­for¡¡which¡¡time¡¡was¡¡necessary£»¡¡the¡¡galloping¡¡pace¡¡of¡¡her¡¡new
patroness¡¡having¡¡left¡¡her¡¡far¡¡behind¡­¡­she¡¡answered¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡known¡¡Mr
Clennam¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡his¡¡return¡£

'To¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡couldn't¡¡have¡¡known¡¡him¡¡before¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in
China¡¡or¡¡had¡¡corresponded¡¡neither¡¡of¡¡which¡¡is¡¡likely£»'¡¡returned¡¡Flora£»
'for¡¡travelling¡­people¡¡usually¡¡get¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡mahogany¡¡and¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not
at¡¡all¡¡so¡¡and¡¡as¡¡to¡¡corresponding¡¡what¡¡about£¿¡¡that's¡¡very¡¡true¡¡unless
tea£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡at¡¡his¡¡mother's¡¡was¡¡it¡¡really¡¡that¡¡you¡¡knew¡¡him¡¡first£»
highly¡¡sensible¡¡and¡¡firm¡¡but¡¡dreadfully¡¡severe¡­¡­ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡mother
of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡mask¡£'

'Mrs¡¡Clennam¡¡has¡¡been¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡me£»'¡¡said¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡£

'Really£¿¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡it¡¡because¡¡as¡¡Arthur's¡¡mother¡¡it's
naturally¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡my¡¡feelings¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡better¡¡opinion¡¡of¡¡her¡¡than
I¡¡had¡¡before£»¡¡though¡¡what¡¡she¡¡thinks¡¡of¡¡me¡¡when¡¡I¡¡run¡¡on¡¡as¡¡I¡¡am¡¡certain
to¡¡do¡¡and¡¡she¡¡sits¡¡glowering¡¡at¡¡me¡¡like¡¡Fate¡¡in¡¡a¡¡go¡­cart¡­¡­shocking
parison¡¡really¡­¡­invalid¡¡and¡¡not¡¡her¡¡fault¡­¡­I¡¡never¡¡know¡¡or¡¡can
imagine¡£'

'Shall¡¡I¡¡find¡¡my¡¡work¡¡anywhere£»¡¡ma'am£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit£»¡¡looking
timidly¡¡about£»¡¡'can¡¡I¡¡get¡¡it£¿'

'You¡¡industrious¡¡little¡¡fairy£»'¡¡returned¡¡Flora£»¡¡taking£»¡¡in¡¡another¡¡cup
of¡¡tea£»¡¡another¡¡of¡¡the¡¡doses¡¡prescribed¡¡by¡¡her¡¡medical¡¡man£»¡¡'there's
not¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡hurry¡¡and¡¡it's¡¡better¡¡that¡¡we¡¡should¡¡begin¡¡by¡¡being
confidential¡¡about¡¡our¡¡mutual¡¡friend¡­¡­too¡¡cold¡¡a¡¡word¡¡for¡¡me¡¡at¡¡least
I¡¡don't¡¡mean¡¡that£»¡¡very¡¡proper¡¡expression¡¡mutual¡¡friend¡­¡­than¡¡bee
through¡¡mere¡¡formalities¡¡not¡¡you¡¡but¡¡me¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Spartan¡¡boy¡¡with¡¡the
fox¡¡biting¡¡him£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡you'll¡¡excuse¡¡my¡¡bringing¡¡up¡¡for¡¡of¡¡all
the¡¡tiresome¡¡boys¡¡that¡¡will¡¡go¡¡tumbling¡¡into¡¡every¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡pany¡¡that
boy's¡¡the¡¡tiresomest¡£'

Little¡¡Dorrit£»¡¡her¡¡face¡¡very¡¡pale£»¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡again¡¡to¡¡listen¡£¡¡'Hadn't¡¡I
better¡¡work¡¡the¡¡while£¿'¡¡she¡¡asked¡£¡¡'I¡¡can¡¡work¡¡and¡¡attend¡¡too¡£¡¡I¡¡would
rather£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡may¡£'

Her¡¡earnestness¡¡was¡¡so¡¡expressive¡¡of¡¡her¡¡being¡¡uneasy¡¡without¡¡her¡¡work£»
that¡¡Flora¡¡answered£»¡¡'Well¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡whatever¡¡you¡¡like¡¡best£»'¡¡and¡¡produced
a¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡white¡¡handkerchiefs¡£¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡gladly¡¡put¡¡it¡¡by¡¡her
side£»¡¡took¡¡out¡¡her¡¡little¡¡pocket¡­housewife£»¡¡threaded¡¡the¡¡needle£»¡¡and
began¡¡to¡¡hem¡£

'What¡¡nimble¡¡fingers¡¡you¡¡have£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡'but¡¡are¡¡you¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡are
well£¿'

'Oh¡¡yes£»¡¡indeed£¡'

Flora¡¡put¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡fender£»¡¡and¡¡settled¡¡herself¡¡for¡¡a¡¡thorough
good¡¡romantic¡¡disclosure¡£¡¡She¡¡started¡¡off¡¡at¡¡score£»¡¡tossing¡¡her¡¡head£»
sighing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡demonstrative¡¡manner£»¡¡making¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡use
of¡¡her¡¡eyebrows£»¡¡and¡¡occasionally£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡often£»¡¡glancing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡quiet
face¡¡that¡¡bent¡¡over¡¡the¡¡work¡£

'You¡¡must¡¡know¡¡my¡¡dear£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡'but¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡you¡¡know
already¡¡not¡¡only¡¡because¡¡I¡¡have¡¡already¡¡thrown¡¡it¡¡out¡¡in¡¡a¡¡general¡¡way
but¡¡because¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡I¡¡carry¡¡it¡¡stamped¡¡in¡¡burning¡¡what's¡¡his¡¡names
upon¡¡my¡¡brow¡¡that¡¡before¡¡I¡¡was¡¡introduced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡I¡¡had
been¡¡engaged¡¡to¡¡Arthur¡¡Clennam¡­¡­Mr¡¡Clennam¡¡in¡¡public¡¡where¡¡reserve¡¡is
necessary¡¡Arthur¡¡here¡­¡­we¡¡were¡¡all¡¡in¡¡all¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the
morning¡¡of¡¡life¡¡it¡¡was¡¡bliss¡¡it¡¡was¡¡frenzy¡¡it¡¡was¡¡everything¡¡else¡¡of
that¡¡sort¡¡in¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡degree£»¡¡when¡¡rent¡¡asunder¡¡we¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡stone¡¡in
which¡¡capacity¡¡Arthur¡¡went¡¡to¡¡China¡¡and¡¡I¡¡became¡¡the¡¡statue¡¡bride¡¡of¡¡the
late¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£'

Flora£»¡¡uttering¡¡these¡¡words¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡voice£»¡¡enjoyed¡¡herself¡¡immensely¡£

'To¡¡paint£»'¡¡said¡¡she£»¡¡'the¡¡emotions¡¡of¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡when¡¡all¡¡was¡¡marble
within¡¡and¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£'s¡¡Aunt¡¡followed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡glass¡­coach¡¡which¡¡it¡¡stands¡¡to
reason¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡shameful¡¡repair¡¡or¡¡it¡¡never¡¡could¡¡have¡¡broken
down¡¡two¡¡streets¡¡from¡¡the¡¡house¡¡and¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£'s¡¡Aunt¡¡brought¡¡home¡¡like¡¡the
fifth¡¡of¡¡November¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rush¡­bottomed¡¡chair¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡attempt£»
suffice¡¡it¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡the¡¡hollow¡¡form¡¡of¡¡breakfast¡¡took¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the
dining¡­room¡¡downstairs¡¡that¡¡papa¡¡partaking¡¡too¡¡freely¡¡of¡¡pickled¡¡salmon
was¡¡ill¡¡for¡¡weeks¡¡and¡¡that¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡and¡¡myself¡¡went¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡continental
tour¡¡to¡¡Calais¡¡where¡¡the¡¡people¡¡fought¡¡for¡¡us¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pier¡¡until¡¡they
separated¡¡us¡¡though¡¡not¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡be¡£'

The¡¡statue¡¡bride£»¡¡hardly¡¡pausing¡¡for¡¡breath£»¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡greatest
placency£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rambling¡¡manner¡¡sometimes¡¡incidental¡¡to¡¡flesh¡¡and
blood¡£

'I¡¡will¡¡draw¡¡a¡¡veil¡¡over¡¡that¡¡dreamy¡¡life£»¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡was¡¡in¡¡good¡¡spirits¡¡his
appetite¡¡was¡¡good¡¡he¡¡liked¡¡the¡¡cookery¡¡he¡¡considered¡¡the¡¡wine¡¡weak¡¡but
palatable¡¡and¡¡all¡¡was¡¡well£»¡¡we¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡neighbourhood
of¡¡Number¡¡Thirty¡¡Little¡¡Gosling¡¡Street¡¡London¡¡Docks¡¡and¡¡settled¡¡down£»
ere¡¡we¡¡had¡¡yet¡¡fully¡¡detected¡¡the¡¡housemaid¡¡in¡¡selling¡¡the¡¡feathers
out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spare¡¡bed¡¡Gout¡¡flying¡¡upwards¡¡soared¡¡with¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡to¡¡another
sphere¡£'

His¡¡relict£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡his¡¡portrait£»¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡wiped¡¡her
eyes¡£

'I¡¡revere¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡Mr¡¡F¡£¡¡as¡¡an¡¡estimable¡¡man¡¡and¡¡most¡¡indulgent
husband£»¡¡only¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡Asparagus¡¡and¡¡it¡¡appeared¡¡or¡¡to¡¡hint
at¡¡any¡¡little¡¡delicate¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡drink¡¡and¡¡it¡¡came¡¡like¡¡magic¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pint
bottle¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡ecstasy¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡fort£»¡¡I¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡papa's¡¡roof
and¡¡lived¡¡secluded¡¡if¡¡not¡¡happy¡¡during¡¡some¡¡years¡¡until¡¡one¡¡day¡¡papa
came¡¡smoothly¡¡blundering¡¡in¡¡and¡¡said¡¡that¡¡Arthur¡¡Clennam¡¡awaited¡¡me
below£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡below¡¡and¡¡found¡¡him¡¡ask¡¡me¡¡not¡¡what¡¡I¡¡found¡¡him¡¡except
that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡still¡¡unmarried¡¡still¡¡unchanged£¡'

The¡¡dark¡¡mystery¡¡with¡¡which¡¡Flora¡¡now¡¡enshrouded¡¡herself¡¡might¡¡have
stopped¡¡other¡¡fingers¡¡than¡¡the¡¡nimble¡¡fingers¡¡that¡¡worked¡¡near¡¡her¡£

They¡¡worked¡¡on¡¡without¡¡pause£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡busy¡¡head¡¡bent¡¡over¡¡them¡¡watching
the¡¡stitches¡£

'Ask¡¡me¡¡not£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡'if¡¡I¡¡love¡¡him¡¡still¡¡or¡¡if¡¡he¡¡still¡¡loves¡¡me
or¡¡what¡¡the¡¡end¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡or¡¡when£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡surrounded¡¡by¡¡watchful¡¡eyes¡¡and
it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡that¡¡we¡¡are¡¡destined¡¡to¡¡pine¡¡asunder¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡never¡¡more¡¡to
be¡¡reunited¡¡not¡¡a¡¡word¡¡not¡¡a¡¡breath¡¡not¡¡a¡¡look¡¡to¡¡betray¡¡us¡¡all¡¡must
be¡¡secret¡¡as¡¡the¡¡tomb¡¡wonder¡¡not¡¡therefore¡¡that¡¡even¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should¡¡seem
paratively¡¡cold¡¡to¡¡Arthur¡¡or¡¡Arthur¡¡should¡¡seem¡¡paratively¡¡cold¡¡to
me¡¡we¡¡have¡¡fatal¡¡reasons¡¡it¡¡is¡¡enough¡¡if¡¡we¡¡understand¡¡them¡¡hush£¡'

All¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Flora¡¡said¡¡with¡¡so¡¡much¡¡headlong¡¡vehemence¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡really
believed¡¡it¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡not¡¡much¡¡doubt¡¡that¡¡when¡¡she¡¡worked¡¡herself¡¡into
full¡¡mermaid¡¡condition£»¡¡she¡¡did¡¡actually¡¡believe¡¡whatever¡¡she¡¡said¡¡in
it¡£

'Hush£¡'¡¡repeated¡¡Flora£»¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡now¡¡told¡¡you¡¡all£»¡¡confidence¡¡is
established¡¡between¡¡us¡¡hush£»¡¡for¡¡Arthur's¡¡sake¡¡I¡¡will¡¡always¡¡be¡¡a¡¡friend
to¡¡you¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡girl¡¡and¡¡in¡¡Arthur's¡¡name¡¡you¡¡may¡¡always¡¡rely¡¡upon¡¡me¡£'

The¡¡nimble¡¡fingers¡¡laid¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡figure¡¡rose¡¡and
kissed¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡'You¡¡are¡¡very¡¡cold£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡changing¡¡to¡¡her¡¡own
natural¡¡kind¡­hearted¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡gaining¡¡greatly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡change¡£¡¡'Don't
work¡¡to¡­day¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡well¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡strong¡£'

'It¡¡is¡¡only¡¡that¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡little¡¡overe¡¡by¡¡your¡¡kindness£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡Mr
Clennam's¡¡kindness¡¡in¡¡confiding¡¡me¡¡to¡¡one¡¡he¡¡has¡¡known¡¡and¡¡loved¡¡so
long¡£'

'Well¡¡really¡¡my¡¡dear£»'¡¡said¡¡Flora£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡a¡¡decided¡¡tendency¡¡to¡¡be
always¡¡honest¡¡when¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡herself¡¡time¡¡to¡¡think¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡'it's¡¡as
well¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡that¡¡alone¡¡now£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡couldn't¡¡undertake¡¡to¡¡say¡¡after¡¡all£»
but¡¡it¡¡doesn't¡¡signify¡¡lie¡¡down¡¡a¡¡little£¡'

'I¡¡have¡¡always¡¡been¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall
be¡¡quite¡¡well¡¡directly£»'¡¡returned¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡smile¡£
'You¡¡have¡¡overpowered¡¡me¡¡with¡¡gratitude£»¡¡that's¡¡all¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡keep¡¡near¡¡the
window¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡quite¡¡myself¡£'

Flora¡¡opened¡¡a¡¡window£»¡¡sat¡¡her¡¡in¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡by¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡considerately
retired¡¡to¡¡her¡¡former¡¡place¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡windy¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡air¡¡stirring
on¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit's¡¡face¡¡soon¡¡brightened¡¡it¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡very¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡she
returned¡¡to¡¡her¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡nimble¡¡fingers¡¡were¡¡as¡¡nimble¡¡as
ever¡£

Quietly¡¡pursuing¡¡her¡¡task£»¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡Flora¡¡if¡¡Mr¡¡Clennam¡¡had¡¡told¡¡her
where¡¡she¡¡lived£¿¡¡When¡¡Flora¡¡replied¡¡in¡¡the¡¡negative£»¡¡Little¡¡Dorrit¡¡said
that¡¡she¡¡understood¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡delicate£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡sure
he¡¡would¡¡approve¡¡of¡¡her¡¡confiding¡¡her¡¡secret¡¡to¡¡Flora£»¡¡and¡¡that
she¡¡would¡¡therefore¡¡do¡¡so¡¡now¡¡with¡¡Flora's¡¡permission¡£¡¡Receiving¡¡an
encouraging¡¡answer£»¡¡she¡¡condensed¡¡the¡¡narrative¡¡of¡¡her¡¡life¡¡into¡¡a¡¡few
scanty¡¡words¡¡about¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡a¡¡glowing¡¡eulogy¡¡upon¡¡he
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