She disappeared, leaving Little Dorrit to ponder over the meaning of her
scattered words. She soon came back again; and at last began to take her
own breakfast, talking all the while.
'You see, my dear,' said Flora, measuring out a spoonful or two of some
brown liquid that smelt like brandy, and putting it into her tea, 'I am
obliged to be careful to follow the directions of my medical man though
the flavour is anything but agreeable being a poor creature and it may
be have never recovered the shock received in youth from too much giving
way to crying in the next room when separated from Arthur, have you
known him long?' As soon as Little Dorrit comprehended that she had been asked this
question--for which time was necessary, the galloping pace of her new
patroness having left her far behind--she answered that she had known Mr
Clennam ever since his return.
'To be sure you couldn't have known him before unless you had been in
China or had corresponded neither of which is likely,' returned Flora,
'for travelling-people usually get more or less mahogany and you are not
at all so and as to corresponding what about? that's very true unless
tea, so it was at his mother's was it really that you knew him first,
highly sensible and firm but dreadfully severe--ought to be the mother
of the man in the iron mask.'
'Mrs Clennam has been kind to me,' said Little Dorrit.
'Really? I am sure I am glad to hear it because as Arthur's mother it's
naturally pleasant to my feelings to have a better opinion of her than
I had before, though what she thinks of me when I run on as I am certain
to do and she sits glowering at me like Fate in a go-cart--shocking
comparison really--invalid and not her fault--I never know or can
imagine.' 'Shall I find my work anywhere, ma'am?' asked Little Dorrit, looking
timidly about; 'can I get it?'
'You industrious little fairy,' returned Flora, taking, in another cup
of tea, another of the doses prescribed by her medical man, 'there's
not the slightest hurry and it's better that we should begin by being
confidential about our mutual friend--too cold a word for me at least
I don't mean that, very proper expression mutual friend--than become
through mere formalities not you but me like the Spartan boy with the
fox biting him, which I hope you'll excuse my bringing up for of all
the tiresome boys that will go tumbling into every sort of company that
boy's the tiresomest.'