Aunt, who had eaten her pie with great solemnity, and who had been
elaborating some grievous scheme of injury in her mind, since her first
assumption of that public position on the Marshal's steps, took the present
opportunity of addressing the following Sibyllic apostrophe to the relict of her
late nephew.
    »Bring him for'ard, and I'll chuck him out o' winder!«
    Flora tried in vain to soothe the excellent woman, by explaining that they
were going home to dinner. Mr. F's Aunt persisted in replying, »Bring him
for'ard, and I'll chuck him out o' winder!« Having reiterated this demand an
immense number of times, with a sustained glare of defiance at Little Dorrit,
Mr. F's Aunt folded her arms, and sat down in the corner of the pie-shop
parlour; steadfastly refusing to budge until such time as he should have been
brought for'ard, and the chucking portion of his destiny accomplished.
    In this condition of things, Flora confided to Little Dorrit that she had
not seen Mr. F's Aunt so full of life and character for weeks; that she would
find it necessary to remain there hours perhaps, until the inexorable old lady
could be softened; and that she could manage her best alone. They parted,
therefore, in the friendliest manner, and with the kindest feeling on both
sides.
    Mr. F's Aunt holding out like a grim fortress, and Flora becoming in need of
refreshment, a messenger was despatched to the hotel for the tumbler already
glanced at, which was afterwards replenished. With the aid of its contents, a
newspaper, and some skimming of the cream of the pie-stock, Flora got through
the remainder of the day in perfect good humour; though occasionally embarrassed
by the consequences of an idle rumour which circulated among the credulous
infants of the neighbourhood, to the effect that an old lady had sold herself to
the pie-shop, to be made up, and was then sitting in the pie-shop parlour,
declining to complete her contract. This attracted so many young persons of both
sexes, and, when the shades of evening began to fall, occasioned so much
interruption to the business, that the merchant became very pressing in his
proposals that Mr. F's Aunt should be removed. A conveyance was accordingly
brought to the door, which, by the joint efforts of the merchant and Flora, this
remarkable woman was at last induced to enter; though not without even then
putting her head out of the window