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business。 Mr F。's Aunt then moistened her ten fingers in slow succession
at her lips； and wiped them in exactly the same order on the white
handkerchief； then took the other piece of toast； and fell to work
upon it。 While pursuing this routine； she looked at Clennam with an
expression of such intense severity that he felt obliged to look at her
in return； against his personal inclinations。
'She is in Italy； with all her family； Flora；' he said； when the dreaded
lady was occupied again。
'In Italy is she really？' said Flora； 'with the grapes growing
everywhere and lava necklaces and bracelets too that land of poetry with
burning mountains picturesque beyond belief though if the organ…boys
e away from the neighbourhood not to be scorched nobody can wonder
being so young and bringing their white mice with them most humane； and
is she really in that favoured land with nothing but blue about her and
dying gladiators and Belvederes though Mr F。 himself did not believe
for his objection when in spirits was that the images could not be true
there being no medium between expensive quantities of linen badly got
up and all in creases and none whatever； which certainly does not seem
probable though perhaps in consequence of the extremes of rich and poor
which may account for it。'
Arthur tried to edge a word in； but Flora hurried on again。
'Venice Preserved too；' said she； 'I think you have been there is it
well or ill preserved for people differ so and Maccaroni if they really
eat it like the conjurors why not cut it shorter； you are acquainted
Arthur……dear Doyce and Clennam at least not dear and most assuredly
not Doyce for I have not the pleasure but pray excuse me……acquainted I
believe with Mantua what has it got to do with Mantua…making for I never
have been able to conceive？'
'I believe there is no connection； Flora； between the two；' Arthur was
beginning； when she caught him up again。
'Upon your word no isn't there I never did but that's like me I run away
with an idea and having none to spare I keep it； alas there was a time
dear Arthur that is to say decidedly not dear nor Arthur neither but you
understand me when one bright idea gilded the what's…his…name horizon of
et cetera but it is darkly clouded now and all is over。'
Arthur's increasing wish to speak of something very different was by
this time so plainly written on his face； that Flora stopped in a tender
look； and asked him what it was？
'I have the greatest desire； Flora； to speak to some one who is now in
this house……with Mr Casby no doubt。 Some one whom I saw e in； and
who； in a misguided and deplorable way； has deserted the house of a
friend of mine。'
'Papa sees so many and such odd people；' said Flora； rising； 'that I
shouldn't venture to go down for any one but you Arthur but for you I
would willingly go down in a diving…bell much more a dining…room and
will e back directly if you'll mind and at the same time not mind Mr
F。's Aunt while I'm gone。'
With those words and a parting glance； Flora bustled out； leaving
Clennam under dreadful apprehension of this terrible charge。
The first variation which manifested itself in Mr F。's Aunt's demeanour
when she had finished her piece of toast； was a loud and prolonged
sniff。 Finding it impossible to avoid construing this demonstration
into a defiance of himself； its gloomy significance being unmistakable；
Clennam looked plaintively at the excellent though prejudiced lady
from whom it emanated； in the hope that she might be disarmed by a meek
submission。
'None of your eyes at me；' said Mr F。's Aunt； shivering with hostility。
'Take that。'
'That' was the crust of the piece of toast。 Clennam accepted the boon
with a look of gratitude； and held it in his hand under the pressure
of a little embarrassment； which was not relieved when Mr F。's Aunt；
elevating her voice into a cry of considerable power； exclaimed； 'He
has a proud stomach； this chap！ He's too proud a chap to eat it！' and；
ing out of her chair； shook her venerable fist so very close to his
nose as to tickle the surface。 But for the timely return of Flora； to
find him in this difficult situation； further consequences might
have ensued。 Flora； without the least disposure or surprise； but
congratulating the old lady in an approving manner on being 'very lively
to…night'； handed her back to her chair。
'He has a proud stomach； this chap；' said Mr F。's relation； on being
reseated。 'Give him a meal of chaff！'
'Oh！ I don't think he would like that； aunt；' returned Flora。
'Give him a meal of chaff； I tell you；' said Mr F。's Aunt； glaring round
Flora on her enemy。 'It's the only thing for a proud stomach。 Let him
eat up every morsel。 Drat him； give him a meal of chaff！'
Under a general pretence of helping him to this refreshment； Flora got
him out on the staircase； Mr F。's Aunt even then constantly reiterating；
with inexpressible bitterness； that he was 'a chap；' and had a 'proud
stomach；' and over and over again insisting on that equine provision
being made for him which she had already so strongly prescribed。
'Such an inconvenient staircase and so many corner…stairs Arthur；'
whispered Flora； 'would you object to putting your arm round me under my
pelerine？'
With a sense of going down…stairs in a highly…ridiculous manner； Clennam
descended in the required attitude； and only released his fair burden at
the dining…room door； indeed； even there she was rather difficult to
be got rid of； remaining in his embrace to murmur； 'Arthur； for mercy's
sake； don't breathe it to papa！'
She acpanied Arthur into the room； where the Patriarch sat alone；
with his list shoes on the fender； twirling his thumbs as if he had
never left off。 The youthful Patriarch； aged ten； looked out of his
picture…frame above him with no calmer air than he。 Both smooth heads
were alike beaming； blundering； and bumpy。
'Mr Clennam； I am glad to see you。 I hope you are well； sir； I hope you
are well。 Please to sit down； please to sit down。'
'I had hoped； sir；' said Clennam； doing so； and looking round with a
face of blank disappointment； 'not to find you alone。'
'Ah； indeed？' said the Patriarch； sweetly。 'Ah； indeed？'
'I told you so you know papa；' cried Flora。
'Ah； to be sure！' returned the Patriarch。 'Yes； just so。 Ah； to be
sure！'
'Pray； sir；'demanded Clennam； anxiously； 'is Miss Wade gone？'
'Miss……？ Oh； you call her Wade；' returned Mr Casby。 'Highly proper。'
Arthur quickly returned； 'What do you call her？'
'Wade；' said Mr Casby。 'Oh； always Wade。'
After looking at the philanthropic visage and the long silky white hair
for a few seconds； during which Mr Casby twirled his thumbs； and smiled
at the fire as if he were benevolently wishing it to burn him that he
might forgive it； Arthur began：
'I beg your pardon； Mr Casby……'
'Not so； not so；' said the Patriarch； 'not so。'
'……But； Miss Wade had an attendant with her……a young woman brought up
by friends of mine； over whom her influence is not considered very
salutary； and to whom I should be glad to have the opportunity of giving
the assurance that she has not yet forfeited the interest of those
protectors。'
'Really； really？' returned the Patriarch。
'Will you therefore be so good as to give me the address of Miss Wade？'
'Dear； dear； dear！' said the Patriarch； 'how very unfortunate！ If you
had only sent in to me when they were here！ I observed the young woman；
Mr Clennam。 A fine full…coloured young woman； Mr Clennam； with very dark
hair and very dark eyes。 If I mistake not； if I mistake not？'
Arthur assented； and said once more with new expression； 'If you would
be so good as to give me the address。'
'Dear； dear； dear！' exclaimed the Patriarch in sweet regret。 'Tut； tut；
tut！ what a pity； what a pity！ I have no address； sir。 Miss Wade mostly
lives abroad； Mr Clennam。 She has done so for some years； and she is （if
I may say so of a fellow…creature and a lady） fitful and uncertain to a
fault； Mr Clennam。 I may not see her again for a long； long time。 I may
never see her again。 What a pity； what a pity！'
Clennam saw now； that he had as much hope of getting assistance out of
the Portrait as out of the Patriarch； but he said nevertheless：
'Mr Casby； could you； for the satisfaction of the friends I have
mentioned； and under any obligation of secrecy that you may consider it
your duty to impose； give me any information at all touching Miss Wade？
I have seen her abroad； and I have seen her at home； but I know nothing
of her。 Could you give me any account of her whatever？'
'None；' returned the Patriarch； shaking his big head with his utmost
benevolence。 'None at all。 Dear； dear； dear！ What a real pity that
she stayed so short a time； and you delayed！ As confidential agency
business； agency business； I have occasionally paid this lady money； but
what satisfaction is it to you； sir； to know that？'
'Truly； none at all；' said Clennam。
'Truly；' assented the Patriarch； with a shining face as he
philanthropically smiled at the fire； 'none at all； sir。 You hit the
wise answer； Mr Clennam。 Truly； none at all； sir。' His turning of
his smooth thumbs over one another as he sat there