.
    »Good gracious, Arthur, - I should say Mr. Clennam, far more proper - the
climb we have had to get up here and how ever to get down again without a
fire-escape and Mr. F's Aunt slipping through the steps and bruised all over and
you in the machinery and foundry way too only think, and never told us!«
    Thus Flora, out of breath. Meanwhile, Mr. F's Aunt rubbed her esteemed
insteps with her umbrella, and vindictively glared.
    »Most unkind never to have come back to see us since that day, though
naturally if was not to be expected that there should be any attraction at our
house and you were much more pleasantly engaged, that's pretty certain, and is
she fair or dark blue eyes or black I wonder, not that I expect that she should
be anything but a perfect contrast to me in all particulars for I am a
disappointment as I very well know and you are quite right to be devoted no
doubt though what I am saying Arthur never mind I hardly know myself Good
gracious!«
    By this time he had placed chairs for them in the counting-house. As Flora
dropped into hers, she bestowed the old look upon him.
    »And to think of Doyce and Clennam, and who Doyce can be,« said Flora;
»delightful man no doubt and married perhaps or perhaps a daughter, now has he
really? then one understands the partnership and sees it all, don't tell me
anything about it for I know I have no claim to ask the question the golden
chain that once was forged, being snapped and very proper.«
    Flora put her hand tenderly on his, and gave him another of the youthful
glances.
    »Dear Arthur - force of habit, Mr. Clennam every way more delicate and
adapted to existing circumstances - I must beg to be excused for taking the
liberty of this intrusion but I thought I might so far presume upon old times
for ever faded never more to bloom as to call with Mr. F's Aunt to congratulate
and offer best wishes, A great deal superior to China not to be denied and much
nearer though higher up!«
    »I am very happy to see you,« said Clennam, »and I thank you, Flora, very
much for your kind remembrance.«
    »More than I can say myself at any rate,« returned Flora, »for I might have
been dead and buried twenty distinct times over and no doubt whatever should
have been before you had genuinely remembered Me or anything like
