hotel
presented himself bearing a card. Mr. Dorrit, taking it, read:
    »Mrs. Finching.«
    The servant waited in speechless deference.
    »Man, man,« said Mr. Dorrit, turning upon him with grievous indignation,
»explain your motive in bringing me this ridiculous name. I am wholly
unacquainted with it. Finching, sir?« said Mr. Dorrit, perhaps avenging himself
on the Chief Butler by Substitute. »Ha! What do you mean by Finching?«
    The man, man, seemed to mean Flinching as much as anything else, for he
backed away from Mr. Dorrit's severe regard, as he replied, »A lady, sir.«
    »I know no such lady, sir,« said Mr. Dorrit. »Take this card away. I know no
Finching of either sex.«
    »Ask your pardon, sir. The lady said she was aware she might be unknown by
name. But, she begged me to say, sir, that she had formerly the honour of being
acquainted with Miss Dorrit. The lady said, sir, the youngest Miss Dorrit.«
    Mr. Dorrit knitted his brows, and rejoined, after a moment or two, »Inform
Mrs. Finching, sir,« emphasising the name as if the innocent man were solely
responsible for it, »that she can come up.«
    He had reflected, in his momentary pause, that unless she were admitted she
might leave some message, or might say something below, having a disagreeable
reference to that former state of existence. Hence the concession, and hence the
appearance of Flora, piloted in by the man, man.
    »I have not the pleasure,« said Mr. Dorrit, standing, with the card in his
hand, and with an air which imported that it would scarcely have been a
first-class pleasure if he had had it, »of knowing either this name, or
yourself, madam. Place a chair, sir.«
    The responsible man, with a start, obeyed, and went out on tiptoe. Flora,
putting aside her veil with a bashful tremor upon her, proceeded to introduce
herself. At the same time a singular combination of perfumes was diffused
through the room, as if some brandy had been put by mistake in a lavender-water
bottle, or as if some lavender-water had been put by mistake in a brandy-bottle.
    »I beg Mr. Dorrit to offer a thousand apologies and indeed they would be far
too few for such an intrusion which I know must appear extremely bold