’Therefore，Arthur，’saidhismother，’thegentlemancomeshereasanacquaintance，andnostranger；anditismuchtoberegrettedthatyourunreasonabletempershouldhavefoundoffenceinhim。I
　　regretit。Isaysotothegentleman。Youwillnotsayso，I
　　know；thereforeIsayitformyselfandFlintwinch，sincewithustwothegentleman’sbusinesslies。’
　　Thekeyofthedoorbelowwasnowheardinthelock，andthedoorwasheardtoopenandclose。InduesequenceMrFlintwinchappeared；onwhoseentrancethevisitorrosefromhischair，laughingloud，andfoldedhiminacloseembrace。
　　’Howgoesit，mycherishedfriend!’saidhe。’Howgoestheworld，myFlintwinch？Rose-coloured？Somuchthebetter，somuchthebetter!Ah，butyoulookcharming!Ah，butyoulookyoungandfreshastheflowersofSpring!Ah，goodlittleboy!Bravechild，bravechild!’
　　WhileheapingthesecomplimentsonMrFlintwinch，herolledhimaboutwithahandoneachofhisshoulders，untilthestaggeringsofthatgentleman，whounderthecircumstanceswasdryerandmoretwistedthanever，werelikethoseofateetotumnearlyspent。
　　’Ihadapresentiment，lasttime，thatweshouldbebetterandmoreintimatelyacquainted。Isitcomingonyou，Flintwinch？Isityetcomingon？’
　　’Why，no，sir，’retortedMrFlintwinch。’Notunusually。Hadn’tyoubetterbeseated？Youhavebeencallingforsomemoreofthatport，sir，Iguess？’
　　’Ah，Littlejoker!Littlepig!’criedthevisitor。’Hahahaha!’
　　AndthrowingMrFlintwinchaway，asaclosingpieceofraillery，hesatdownagain。
　　Theamazement，suspicion，resentment，andshame，withwhichArthurlookedonatallthis，struckhimdumb。MrFlintwinch，whohadspunbackwardsometwoorthreeyardsundertheimpetuslastgiventohim，broughthimselfupwithafacecompletelyunchangedinitsstolidityexceptasitwasaffectedbyshortnessofbreath，andlookedhardatArthur。NotawhitlessreticentandwoodenwasMrFlintwinchoutwardly，thanintheusualcourseofthings：theonlyperceptibledifferenceinhimbeingthattheknotofcravatwhichwasgenerallyunderhisear，hadworkedroundtothebackofhishead：whereitformedanornamentalappendagenotunlikeabagwig，andgavehimsomethingofacourtlyappearance。
　　AsMrsClennamneverremovedhereyesfromBlandoisonwhomtheyhadsomeeffect，asasteadylookhasonalowersortofdog，soJeremiahneverremovedhisfromArthur。Itwasasiftheyhadtacitlyagreedtotaketheirdifferentprovinces。Thus，intheensuingsilence，JeremiahstoodscrapinghischinandlookingatArthurasthoughheweretryingtoscrewhisthoughtsoutofhimwithaninstrument。
　　Afteralittle，thevisitor，asifhefeltthesilenceirksome，rose，andimpatientlyputhimselfwithhisbacktothesacredfirewhichhadburnedthroughsomanyyears。ThereuponMrsClennamsaid，movingoneofherhandsforthefirsttime，andmovingitveryslightlywithanactionofdismissal：
　　’Pleasetoleaveustoourbusiness，Arthur。’
　　’Mother，Idosowithreluctance。’
　　’Nevermindwithwhat，’shereturned，’orwithwhatnot。Pleasetoleaveus。Comebackatanyothertimewhenyoumayconsideritadutytoburyhalfanhourwearilyhere。Goodnight。’
　　Shehelduphermuffledfingersthathemighttouchthemwithhis，accordingtotheirusualcustom，andhestoodoverherwheeledchairtotouchherfacewithhislips。Hethought，then，thathercheekwasmorestrainedthanusual，andthatitwascolder。Ashefollowedthedirectionofhereyes，inrisingagain，towardsMrFlintwinch’sgoodfriend，MrBlandois，MrBlandoissnappedhisfingerandthumbwithoneloudcontemptuoussnap。
　　’Ileaveyour——yourbusinessacquaintanceinmymother’sroom，MrFlintwinch，’saidClennam，’withagreatdealofsurpriseandagreatdealofunwillingness。’
　　Thepersonreferredtosnappedhisfingerandthumbagain。
　　’Goodnight，mother。’
　　’Goodnight。’
　　’Ihadafriendonce，mygoodcomradeFlintwinch，’saidBlandois，standingastridebeforethefire，andsoevidentlysayingittoarrestClennam’sretreatingsteps，thathelingerednearthedoor；
　　’Ihadafriendonce，whohadheardsomuchofthedarksideofthiscityanditsways，thathewouldn’thaveconfidedhimselfalonebynightwithtwopeoplewhohadaninterestingettinghimundertheground——myfaith!noteveninarespectablehouselikethis——unlesshewasbodilytoostrongforthem。Bah!Whatapoltroon，myFlintwinch!Eh？’
　　’Acur，sir。’
　　’Agreed!Acur。Buthewouldn’thavedoneit，myFlintwinch，unlesshehadknownthemtohavethewilltosilencehim，withoutthepower。Hewouldn’thavedrunkfromaglassofwaterundersuchcircumstances——noteveninarespectablehouselikethis，myFlintwinch——unlesshehadseenoneofthemdrinkfirst，andswallowtoo!’
　　Disdainingtospeak，andindeednotverywellable，forhewashalf-choking，Clennamonlyglancedatthevisitorashepassedout。
　　Thevisitorsalutedhimwithanotherpartingsnap，andhisnosecamedownoverhismoustacheandhismoustachewentupunderhisnose，inanominousanduglysmile。
　　’ForHeaven’ssake，Affery，’whisperedClennam，assheopenedthedoorforhiminthedarkhall，andhegropedhiswaytothesightofthenight-sky，’whatisgoingonhere？’
　　Herownappearancewassufficientlyghastly，standinginthedarkwithherapronthrownoverherhead，andspeakingbehinditinalow，deadenedvoice。
　　’Don’taskmeanything，Arthur。I’vebeeninadreamforeversolong。Goaway!’
　　Hewentout，andsheshutthedooruponhim。Helookedupatthewindowsofhismother’sroom，andthedimlight，deadenedbytheyellowblinds，seemedtosayaresponseafterAffery，andtomutter，’Don’taskmeanything。Goaway!’
　　ALetterfromLittleDorritDearMrClennam，AsIsaidinmylastthatitwasbestfornobodytowritetome，andasmysendingyouanotherlittlelettercanthereforegiveyounoothertroublethanthetroubleofreadingitperhapsyoumaynotfindleisureforeventhat，thoughIhopeyouwillsomeday，Iamnowgoingtodevoteanhourtowritingtoyouagain。Thistime，IwritefromRome。
　　WeleftVenicebeforeMrandMrsGowandid，buttheywerenotsolongupontheroadaswewere，anddidnottravelbythesameway，andsowhenwearrivedwefoundtheminalodginghere，inaplacecalledtheViaGregoriana。Idaresayyouknowit。
　　NowIamgoingtotellyouallIcanaboutthem，becauseIknowthatiswhatyoumostwanttohear。Theirsisnotaverycomfortablelodging，butperhapsIthoughtitlesssowhenIfirstsawitthanyouwouldhavedone，becauseyouhavebeeninmanydifferentcountriesandhaveseenmanydifferentcustoms。Ofcourseitisafar，farbetterplace——millionsoftimes——thananyIhaveeverbeenusedtountillately；andIfancyIdon’tlookatitwithmyowneyes，butwithhers。Foritwouldbeeasytoseethatshehasalwaysbeenbroughtupinatenderandhappyhome，evenifshehadnottoldmesowithgreatloveforit。
　　Well，itisaratherbarelodginguparatherdarkcommonstaircase，anditisnearlyallalargedullroom，whereMrGowanpaints。Thewindowsareblockedupwhereanyonecouldlookout，andthewallshavebeenalldrawnoverwithchalkandcharcoalbyotherswhohavelivedtherebefore——oh，——Ishouldthink，foryears!
　　Thereisacurtainmoredust-colouredthanred，whichdividesit，andthepartbehindthecurtainmakestheprivatesitting-room。
　　WhenIfirstsawherthereshewasalone，andherworkhadfallenoutofherhand，andshewaslookingupattheskyshiningthroughthetopsofthewindows。PraydonotbeuneasywhenItellyou，butitwasnotquitesoairy，norsobright，norsocheerful，norsohappyandyouthfulaltogetherasIshouldhavelikedittobe。
　　OnaccountofMrGowan’spaintingPapa’spicturewhichIamnotquiteconvincedIshouldhaveknownfromthelikenessifIhadnotseenhimdoingit，IhavehadmoreopportunitiesofbeingwithhersincethenthanImighthavehadwithoutthisfortunatechance。
　　Sheisverymuchalone。Verymuchaloneindeed。
　　ShallItellyouaboutthesecondtimeIsawher？Iwentoneday，whenithappenedthatIcouldrunroundbymyself，atfourorfiveo’clockintheafternoon。Shewasthendiningalone，andhersolitarydinnerhadbeenbroughtinfromsomewhere，overakindofbrazierwithafireinit，andshehadnocompanyorprospectofcompany，thatIcouldsee，buttheoldmanwhohadbroughtit。HewastellingheralongstoryofrobbersoutsidethewallsbeingtakenupbyastonestatueofaSaint，toentertainher——ashesaidtomewhenIcameout，’becausehehadadaughterofhisown，thoughshewasnotsopretty。’
　　IoughtnowtomentionMrGowan，beforeIsaywhatlittlemoreI
　　havetosayabouther。Hemustadmireherbeauty，andhemustbeproudofher，foreverybodypraisesit，andhemustbefondofher，andIdonotdoubtthatheis——butinhisway。Youknowhisway，andifitappearsascarelessanddiscontentedinyoureyesasitdoesinmine，Iamnotwronginthinkingthatitmightbebettersuitedtoher。Ifitdoesnotseemsotoyou，IamquitesureIamwhollymistaken；foryourunchangedpoorchildconfidesinyourknowledgeandgoodnessmorethanshecouldevertellyouifshewastotry。Butdon’tbefrightened，Iamnotgoingtotry。
　　OwingasIthink，ifyouthinksotootoMrGowan’sunsettledanddissatisfiedway，heapplieshimselftohisprofessionverylittle。
　　Hedoesnothingsteadilyorpatiently；butequallytakesthingsupandthrowsthemdown，anddoesthem，orleavesthemundone，withoutcaringaboutthem。WhenIhaveheardhimtalkingtoPapaduringthesittingsforthepicture，Ihavesatwonderingwhetheritcouldbethathehasnobeliefinanybodyelse，becausehehasnobeliefinhimself。Isitso？Iwonderwhatyouwillsaywhenyoucometothis!Iknowhowyouwilllook，andIcanalmosthearthevoiceinwhichyouwouldtellmeontheIronBridge。
　　MrGowangoesoutagooddealamongwhatisconsideredthebestcompanyhere——thoughhedoesnotlookasifheenjoyeditorlikeditwhenheiswithit——andshesometimesaccompanieshim，butlatelyshehasgoneoutverylittle。IthinkIhavenoticedthattheyhaveaninconsistentwayofspeakingabouther，asifshehadmadesomegreatself-interestedsuccessinmarryingMrGowan，though，atthesametime，theverysamepeople，wouldnothavedreamedoftakinghimforthemselvesortheirdaughters。Thenhegoesintothecountrybesides，tothinkaboutmakingsketches；andinallplaceswheretherearevisitors，hehasalargeacquaintanceandisverywellknown。Besidesallthis，hehasafriendwhoismuchinhissocietybothathomeandawayfromhome，thoughhetreatsthisfriendverycoollyandisveryuncertaininhisbehaviourtohim。Iamquitesurebecauseshehastoldmeso，thatshedoesnotlikethisfriend。Heissorevoltingtome，too，thathisbeingawayfromhere，atpresent，isquitearelieftomymind。Howmuchmoretohers!
　　ButwhatIparticularlywantyoutoknow，andwhyIhaveresolvedtotellyousomuchwhileIamafraiditmaymakeyoualittleuncomfortablewithoutoccasion，isthis。Sheissotrueandsodevoted，andknowssocompletelythatallherloveanddutyarehisforever，thatyoumaybecertainshewilllovehim，admirehim，praisehim，andconcealallhisfaults，untilshedies。Ibelievesheconcealsthem，andalwayswillconcealthem，evenfromherself。
　　Shehasgivenhimaheartthatcanneverbetakenback；andhowevermuchhemaytryit，hewillneverwearoutitsaffection。Youknowthetruthofthis，asyouknoweverything，farfarbetterthanI；