 said Flora, »that to propose an
adjournment to any place to one so far removed by fortune and so courted and
caressed by the best society must ever appear intruding even if not a pie-shop
far below your present sphere and a back-parlour though a civil man but if for
the sake of Arthur - cannot overcome it more improper now than ever late Doyce
and Clennam - one last remark I might wish to make one last explanation I might
wish to offer perhaps your good nature might excuse under pretence of three
kidney ones the humble place of conversation.«
    Rightly interpreting this rather obscure speech, Little Dorrit returned that
she was quite at Flora's disposition. Flora accordingly led the way across the
road to the pie-shop in question; Mr. F's Aunt stalking across in the rear, and
putting herself in the way of being run over, with a perseverance worthy of a
better cause.
    When the three kidney ones, which were to be a blind to the conversation,
were set before them on three little tin platters, each kidney one ornamented
with a hole at the top, into which the civil man poured hot gravy out of a
spouted can as if he were feeding three lamps, Flora took out her
pocket-handkerchief.
    »If Fancy's fair dreams,« she began, »have ever pictured that when Arthur -
cannot overcome it pray excuse me - was restored to freedom even a pie as far
from flaky as the present and so deficient in kidney as to be in that respect
like a minced nutmeg might not prove unacceptable if offered by the hand of true
regard such visions have for ever fled and all is cancelled but being aware that
tender relations are in contemplation beg to state that I heartily wish well to
both and find no fault with either not the least, it may be withering to know
that ere the hand of Time had made me much less slim than formerly and
dreadfully red on the slightest exertion particularly after eating I well know
when it takes the form of a rash it might have been and was not through the
interruption of parents and mental torpor succeeded until the mysterious clue
was held by Mr. F still I would not be ungenerous to either and I heartily wish
well to both.«
    Little Dorrit took her hand, and thanked her for all her old kindness.
    »Call it not kindness,« returned Flora, giving her an honest kiss, »for you
always were the best and dearest little thing that ever was if I may take the
liberty and even in a money point of view a saving being Conscience itself
though I
