’AndallfriendsroundStPaul’s。’Heemptiedandputdownthewine-glasshalf-waythroughthisancientcivictoast，andtookupthebox。Itwasanironboxsometwofeetsquare，whichhecarriedunderhisarmsprettyeasily。Jeremiahwatchedhismannerofadjustingit，withjealouseyes；trieditwithhishands，tobesurethathehadafirmholdofit；badehimforhislifebecarefulwhathewasabout；andthenstoleoutontiptoetoopenthedoorforhim。Affery，anticipatingthelastmovement，wasonthestaircase。Thesequenceofthingswassoordinaryandnatural，that，standingthere，shecouldhearthedooropen，feelthenightair，andseethestarsoutside。
　　Butnowcamethemostremarkablepartofthedream。Shefeltsoafraidofherhusband，thatbeingonthestaircase，shehadnotthepowertoretreattoherroomwhichshemighteasilyhavedonebeforehehadfastenedthedoor，butstoodtherestaring。
　　Consequentlywhenhecameupthestaircasetobed，candleinhand，hecamefulluponher。Helookedastonished，butsaidnotaword。
　　Hekepthiseyesuponher，andkeptadvancing；andshe，completelyunderhisinfluence，keptretiringbeforehim。Thus，shewalkingbackwardandhewalkingforward，theycameintotheirownroom。
　　Theywerenosoonershutinthere，thanMrFlintwinchtookherbythethroat，andshookheruntilshewasblackintheface。
　　’Why，Affery，woman——Affery!’saidMrFlintwinch。’Whathaveyoubeendreamingof？Wakeup，wakeup!What’sthematter？’
　　’The——thematter，Jeremiah？’gaspedMrsFlintwinch，rollinghereyes。
　　’Why，Affery，woman——Affery!Youhavebeengettingoutofbedinyoursleep，mydear!Icomeup，afterhavingfallenasleepmyself，below，andfindyouinyourwrapperhere，withthenightmare。
　　Affery，woman，’saidMrFlintwinch，withafriendlygrinonhisexpressivecountenance，’ifyoueverhaveadreamofthissortagain，it’llbeasignofyourbeinginwantofphysic。AndI’llgiveyousuchadose，oldwoman——suchadose!’
　　MrsFlintwinchthankedhimandcreptintobed。
　　FamilyAffairsAsthecityclocksstrucknineonMondaymorning，MrsClennamwaswheeledbyJeremiahFlintwinchofthecut-downaspecttohertallcabinet。Whenshehadunlockedandopenedit，andhadsettledherselfatitsdesk，Jeremiahwithdrew——asitmightbe，tohanghimselfmoreeffectually——andhersonappeared。
　　’Areyouanybetterthismorning，mother？’
　　Sheshookherhead，withthesameaustereairofluxuriousnessthatshehadshownover-nightwhenspeakingoftheweather。
　　’Ishallneverbebetteranymore。Itiswellforme，Arthur，thatIknowitandcanbearit。’
　　Sittingwithherhandslaidseparatelyuponthedesk，andthetallcabinettoweringbeforeher，shelookedasifshewereperformingonadumbchurchorgan。Hersonthoughtsoitwasanoldthoughtwithhim，whilehetookhisseatbesideit。
　　Sheopenedadrawerortwo，lookedoversomebusinesspapers，andputthembackagain。Herseverefacehadnothreadofrelaxationinit，bywhichanyexplorercouldhavebeenguidedtothegloomylabyrinthofherthoughts。
　　’ShallIspeakofouraffairs，mother？Areyouinclinedtoenteruponbusiness？’
　　’AmIinclined，Arthur？Rather，areyou？Yourfatherhasbeendeadayearandmore。Ihavebeenatyourdisposal，andwaitingyourpleasure，eversince。’
　　’TherewasmuchtoarrangebeforeIcouldleave；andwhenIdidleave，Itravelledalittleforrestandrelief。’
　　Sheturnedherfacetowardshim，asnothavingheardorunderstoodhislastwords。
　　’Forrestandrelief。’
　　Sheglancedroundthesombreroom，andappearedfromthemotionofherlipstorepeatthewordstoherself，ascallingittowitnesshowlittleofeitheritaffordedher。
　　’Besides，mother，youbeingsoleexecutrix，andhavingthedirectionandmanagementoftheestate，thereremainedlittlebusiness，orImightsaynone，thatIcouldtransact，untilyouhadhadtimetoarrangematterstoyoursatisfaction。’
　　’Theaccountsaremadeout，’shereturned。’Ihavethemhere。Thevouchershaveallbeenexaminedandpassed。Youcaninspectthemwhenyoulike，Arthur；now，ifyouplease。’
　　’Itisquiteenough，mother，toknowthatthebusinessiscompleted。ShallIproceedthen？’
　　’Whynot？’shesaid，inherfrozenway。
　　’Mother，ourHousehasdonelessandlessforsomeyearspast，andourdealingshavebeenprogressivelyonthedecline。Wehavenevershownmuchconfidence，orinvitedmuch；wehaveattachednopeopletous；thetrackwehavekeptisnotthetrackofthetime；andwehavebeenleftfarbehind。Ineednotdwellonthistoyou，mother。Youknowitnecessarily。’
　　’Iknowwhatyoumean，’sheanswered，inaqualifiedtone。
　　’Eventhisoldhouseinwhichwespeak，’pursuedherson，’isaninstanceofwhatIsay。Inmyfather’searliertime，andinhisuncle’stimebeforehim，itwasaplaceofbusiness——reallyaplaceofbusiness，andbusinessresort。Now，itisamereanomalyandincongruityhere，outofdateandoutofpurpose。AllourconsignmentshavelongbeenmadetoRovinghams’thecommission-
　　merchants；andalthough，asacheckuponthem，andinthestewardshipofmyfather’sresources，yourjudgmentandwatchfulnesshavebeenactivelyexerted，stillthosequalitieswouldhaveinfluencedmyfather’sfortunesequally，ifyouhadlivedinanyprivatedwelling：wouldtheynot？’
　　’Doyouconsider，’shereturned，withoutansweringhisquestion，’thatahouseservesnopurpose，Arthur，inshelteringyourinfirmandafflicted——justlyinfirmandrighteouslyafflicted——mother？’
　　’Iwasspeakingonlyofbusinesspurposes。’
　　’Withwhatobject？’
　　’Iamcomingtoit。’
　　’Iforesee，’shereturned，fixinghereyesuponhim，’whatitis。
　　ButtheLordforbidthatIshouldrepineunderanyvisitation。InmysinfulnessImeritbitterdisappointment，andIacceptit。’
　　’Mother，Igrievetohearyouspeaklikethis，thoughIhavehadmyapprehensionsthatyouwould——’
　　’YouknewIwould。YouknewME，’sheinterrupted。
　　Hersonpausedforamoment。Hehadstruckfireoutofher，andwassurprised。
　　’Well!’shesaid，relapsingintostone。’Goon。Letmehear。’
　　’Youhaveanticipated，mother，thatIdecideformypart，toabandonthebusiness。Ihavedonewithit。Iwillnottakeuponmyselftoadviseyou；youwillcontinueit，Isee。IfIhadanyinfluencewithyou，Iwouldsimplyuseittosoftenyourjudgmentofmeincausingyouthisdisappointment：torepresenttoyouthatIhavelivedthehalfofalongtermoflife，andhaveneverbeforesetmyownwillagainstyours。IcannotsaythatIhavebeenabletoconformmyself，inheartandspirit，toyourrules；IcannotsaythatIbelievemyfortyyearshavebeenprofitableorpleasanttomyself，oranyone；butIhavehabituallysubmitted，andIonlyaskyoutorememberit。’
　　Woetothesuppliant，ifsuchaonetherewereoreverhadbeen，whohadanyconcessiontolookforintheinexorablefaceatthecabinet。Woetothedefaulterwhoseappeallaytothetribunalwherethosesevereeyespresided。Greatneedhadtherigidwomanofhermysticalreligion，veiledingloomanddarkness，withlightningsofcursing，vengeance，anddestruction，flashingthroughthesableclouds。Forgiveusourdebtsasweforgiveourdebtors，wasaprayertoopoorinspiritforher。SmiteThoumydebtors，Lord，witherthem，crushthem；doThouasIwoulddo，andThoushalthavemyworship：thiswastheimpioustowerofstoneshebuiltuptoscaleHeaven。
　　’Haveyoufinished，Arthur，orhaveyouanythingmoretosaytome？
　　Ithinktherecanbenothingelse。Youhavebeenshort，butfullofmatter!’
　　’Mother，Ihaveyetsomethingmoretosay。Ithasbeenuponmymind，nightandday，thislongtime。ItisfarmoredifficulttosaythanwhatIhavesaid。Thatconcernedmyself；thisconcernsusall。’
　　’Usall!Whoareusall？’
　　’Yourself，myself，mydeadfather。’
　　Shetookherhandsfromthedesk；foldedtheminherlap；andsatlookingtowardsthefire，withtheimpenetrabilityofanoldEgyptiansculpture。
　　’YouknewmyfatherinfinitelybetterthanIeverknewhim；andhisreservewithmeyieldedtoyou。Youweremuchthestronger，mother，anddirectedhim。Asachild，IknewitaswellasIknowitnow。IknewthatyourascendancyoverhimwasthecauseofhisgoingtoChinatotakecareofthebusinessthere，whileyoutookcareofitherethoughIdonotevennowknowwhetherthesewerereallytermsofseparationthatyouagreedupon；andthatitwasyourwillthatIshouldremainwithyouuntilIwastwenty，andthengotohimasIdid。Youwillnotbeoffendedbymyrecallingthis，aftertwentyyears？’
　　’Iamwaitingtohearwhyyourecallit。’
　　Heloweredhisvoice，andsaid，withmanifestreluctance，andagainsthiswill：
　　’Iwanttoaskyou，mother，whetheriteveroccurredtoyoutosuspect——’
　　AtthewordSuspect，sheturnedhereyesmomentarilyuponherson，withadarkfrown。Shethensufferedthemtoseekthefire，asbefore；butwiththefrownfixedabovethem，asifthesculptorofoldEgypthadindenteditinthehardgraniteface，tofrownforages。
　　’——thathehadanysecretremembrancewhichcausedhimtroubleofmind——remorse？Whetheryoueverobservedanythinginhisconductsuggestingthat；oreverspoketohimuponit，oreverheardhimhintatsuchathing？’
　　’Idonotunderstandwhatkindofsecretremembranceyoumeantoinferthatyourfatherwasapreyto，’shereturned，afterasilence。’Youspeaksomysteriously。’
　　’Isitpossible，mother，’hersonleanedforwardtobethenearertoherwhilehewhisperedit，andlaidhishandnervouslyuponherdesk，’isitpossible，mother，thathehadunhappilywrongedanyone，andmadenoreparation？’
　　Lookingathimwrathfully，shebentherselfbackinherchairtokeephimfurtheroff，butgavehimnoreply。
　　’Iamdeeplysensible，mother，thatifthisthoughthasneveratanytimeflasheduponyou，itmustseemcruelandunnaturalinme，eveninthisconfidence，tobreatheit。ButIcannotshakeitoff。
　　TimeandchangeIhavetriedbothbeforebreakingsilencedonothingtowearitout。Remember，Iwaswithmyfather。Remember，Isawhisfacewhenhegavethewatchintomykeeping，andstruggledtoexpressthathesentitasatokenyouwouldunderstand，toyou。Remember，Isawhimatthelastwiththepencilinhisfailinghand，tryingtowritesomewordforyoutoread，buttowhichhecouldgivenoshape。ThemoreremoteandcruelthisvaguesuspicionthatIhave，thestrongerthecircumstancesthatcouldgiveitanysemblanceofprobabilitytome。ForHeaven’ssake，letusexaminesacredlywhetherthereisanywrongentrustedtoustosetright。Noonecanhelptowardsit，mother，butyou。’
　　Stillsorecoilinginherchairthatheroverpoisedweightmovedit，fromtimetotime，alittleonitswheels，andgavehertheappearanceofaphantomoffierceaspectglidingawayfromhim，sheinterposedherleftarm，bentattheelbowwiththebackofherhandtowardsherface，betweenherselfandhim，andlookedathiminafixedsilence。
　　’Ingraspingatmoneyandindrivinghardbargains——Ihavebegun，andImustspeakofsuchthingsnow，mother——someonemayhavebeengrievouslydeceived，injured，ruined。Youwerethemovingpowerofallthismachinerybeforemybirth；yourstrongerspirithasbeeninfusedintoallmyfather’sdealingsformorethantwoscoreyears。Youcansetthesedoubtsatrest，Ithink，ifyouwillreallyhelpmetodiscoverthetruth。Willyou，mother？’