ourselves to being whether we like it or not as I am sure I have had to
do myself if not exactly smokier dreadfully stouter which is the same or
worse； to think of the days when papa used to bring me here the least of
girls a perfect mass of chilblains to be stuck upon a chair with my feet
on the rails and stare at Arthur……pray excuse me……Mr Clennam……the
least of boys in the frightfullest of frills and jackets ere yet Mr
F。 appeared a misty shadow on the horizon paying attentions like the
well…known spectre of some place in Germany beginning with a B is a
moral lesson inculcating that all the paths in life are similar to the
paths down in the North of England where they get the coals and make the
iron and things gravelled with ashes！'
Having paid the tribute of a sigh to the instability of human existence；
Flora hurried on with her purpose。
'Not that at any time；' she proceeded； 'its worst enemy could have said
it was a cheerful house for that it was never made to be but always
highly impressive； fond memory recalls an occasion in youth ere yet the
judgment was mature when Arthur……confirmed habit……Mr Clennam……took
me down into an unused kitchen eminent for mouldiness and proposed to
secrete me there for life and feed me on what he could hide from his
meals when he was not at home for the holidays and on dry bread in
disgrace which at that halcyon period too frequently occurred； would
it be inconvenient or asking too much to beg to be permitted to revive
those scenes and walk through the house？'
Mrs Clennam； who responded with a constrained grace to Mrs Finching's
good nature in being there at all； though her visit （before Arthur's
unexpected arrival） was undoubtedly an act of pure good nature and no
self…gratification； intimated that all the house was open to her。 Flora
rose and looked to Arthur for his escort。 'Certainly；' said he； aloud；
'and Affery will light us； I dare say。'
Affery was excusing herself with 'Don't ask nothing of me； Arthur！' when
Mr Flintwinch stopped her with 'Why not？ Affery； what's the matter with
you； woman？ Why not； jade！' Thus expostulated with； she came unwillingly
out of her corner； resigned the toasting…fork into one of her husband's
hands； and took the candlestick he offered from the other。
'Go before； you fool！' said Jeremiah。 'Are you going up； or down； Mrs
Finching？'
Flora answered； 'Down。'
'Then go before； and down； you Affery；' said Jeremiah。 'And do it
properly； or I'll e rolling down the banisters； and tumbling over
you！'
Affery headed the exploring party； Jeremiah closed it。 He had no
intention of leaving them。 Clennam looking back； and seeing him
following three stairs behind； in the coolest and most methodical
manner exclaimed in a low voice； 'Is there no getting rid of him！' Flora
reassured his mind by replying promptly； 'Why though not exactly
proper Arthur and a thing I couldn't think of before a younger man or
a stranger still I don't mind him if you so particularly wish it and
provided you'll have the goodness not to take me too tight。'
Wanting the heart to explain that this was not at all what he meant；
Arthur extended his supporting arm round Flora's figure。 'Oh my goodness
me；' said she。 'You are very obedient indeed really and it's extremely
honourable and gentlemanly in you I am sure but still at the same time
if you would like to be a little tighter than that I shouldn't consider
it intruding。'
In this preposterous attitude； unspeakably at variance with his anxious
mind； Clennam descended to the basement of the house； finding that
wherever it became darker than elsewhere； Flora became heavier； and
that when the house was lightest she was too。 Returning from the dismal
kitchen regions； which were as dreary as they could be； Mistress Affery
passed with the light into his father's old room； and then into the old
dining…room； always passing on before like a phantom that was not to be
overtaken； and neither turning nor answering when he whispered； 'Affery！
I want to speak to you！'
In the dining…room； a sentimental desire came over Flora to look into
the dragon closet which had so often swallowed Arthur in the days of his
boyhood……not improbably because； as a very dark closet； it was a likely
place to be heavy in。 Arthur； fast subsiding into despair； had opened
it； when a knock was heard at the outer door。
Mistress Affery； with a suppressed cry； threw her apron over her head。
'What？ You want another dose！' said Mr Flintwinch。 'You shall have it；
my woman； you shall have a good one！ Oh！ You shall have a sneezer； you
shall have a teaser！'
'In the meantime is anybody going to the door？' said Arthur。
'In the meantime； I am going to the door； sir；' returned the old man so
savagely； as to render it clear that in a choice of difficulties he felt
he must go； though he would have preferred not to go。 'Stay here the
while； all！ Affery； my woman； move an inch； or speak a word in your
foolishness； and I'll treble your dose！'
The moment he was gone； Arthur released Mrs Finching： with some
difficulty； by reason of that lady misunderstanding his intentions； and
making arrangements with a view to tightening instead of slackening。
'Affery； speak to me now！'
'Don't touch me； Arthur！' she cried； shrinking from him。 'Don't e
near me。 He'll see you。 Jeremiah will。 Don't。'
'He can't see me；' returned Arthur； suiting the action to the word； 'if
I blow the candle out。'
'He'll hear you；' cried Affery。
'He can't hear me；' returned Arthur； suiting the action to the words
again； 'if I draw you into this black closet； and speak here。
Why do you hide your face？'
'Because I am afraid of seeing something。'
'You can't be afraid of seeing anything in this darkness； Affery。'
'Yes I am。 Much more than if it was light。'
'Why are you afraid？'
'Because the house is full of mysteries and secrets； because it's full
of whisperings and counsellings； because it's full of noises。 There
never was such a house for noises。 I shall die of 'em； if Jeremiah don't
strangle me first。 As I expect he will。'
'I have never heard any noises here； worth speaking of。'
'Ah！ But you would； though； if you lived in the house； and was obliged
to go about it as I am；' said Affery； 'and you'd feel that they was so
well worth speaking of； that you'd feel you was nigh bursting through
not being allowed to speak of 'em。 Here's Jeremiah！ You'll get me
killed。'
'My good Affery； I solemnly declare to you that I can see the light of
the open door on the pavement of the hall； and so could you if you would
uncover your face and look。'
'I durstn't do it；' said Affery； 'I durstn't never； Arthur。 I'm always
blind…folded when Jeremiah an't a looking； and sometimes even when he
is。'
'He cannot shut the door without my seeing him；' said Arthur。 'You are
as safe with me as if he was fifty miles away。'
（'I wish he was！' cried Affery。）
'Affery； I want to know what is amiss here； I want some light thrown
on the secrets of this house。' 'I tell you； Arthur；' she interrupted；
'noises is the secrets； rustlings and stealings about； tremblings；
treads overhead and treads underneath。'
'But tho