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stiff fingers muffled in worsted。 This embrace concluded； he sat down on
the opposite side of her little table。 There was a fire in the grate；
as there had been night and day for fifteen years。 There was a kettle on
the hob； as there had been night and day for fifteen years。 There was a
little mound of damped ashes on the top of the fire； and another little
mound swept together under the grate； as there had been night and day
for fifteen years。 There was a smell of black dye in the airless room；
which the fire had been drawing out of the crape and stuff of the
widow's dress for fifteen months； and out of the bier…like sofa for
fifteen years。
'Mother； this is a change from your old active habits。'
'The world has narrowed to these dimensions； Arthur；' she rep lied；
glancing round the room。 'It is well for me that I never set my heart
upon its hollow vanities。'
The old influence of her presence and her stern strong voice； so
gathered about her son； that he felt conscious of a renewal of the timid
chill and reserve of his childhood。
'Do you never leave your room； mother？'
'What with my rheumatic affection； and what with its attendant debility
or nervous weakness……names are of no matter now……I have lost the use
of my limbs。 I never leave my room。 I have not been outside this door
for……tell him for how long；' she said； speaking over her shoulder。
'A dozen year next Christmas；' returned a cracked voice out of the
dimness behind。
'Is that Affery？' said Arthur； looking towards it。
The cracked voice replied that it was Affery： and an old woman came
forward into what doubtful light there was； and kissed her hand once；
then subsided again into the dimness。
'I am able；' said Mrs Clennam； with a slight motion of her
worsted…muffled right hand toward a chair on wheels； standing before a
tall writing cabi close shut up； 'I am able to attend to my business
duties； and I am thankful for the privilege。 It is a great privilege。
But no more of business on this day。 It is a bad night； is it not？'
'Yes； mother。'
'Does it snow？'
'Snow； mother？ And we only yet in September？'
'All seasons are alike to me；' she returned； with a grim kind of
luxuriousness。 'I know nothing of summer and winter； shut up here。
The Lord has been pleased to put me beyond all that。' With her cold grey
eyes and her cold grey hair； and her immovable face； as stiff as the
folds of her stony head…dress；……her being beyond the reach of the
seasons seemed but a fit sequence to her being beyond the reach of all
changing emotions。
On her little table lay two or three books； her handkerchief； a pair of
steel spectacles newly taken off； and an old…fashioned gold watch in a
heavy double case。 Upon this last object her son's eyes and her own now
rested together。
'I see that you received the packet I sent you on my father's death；
safely； mother。'
'You see。'
'I never knew my father to show so much anxiety on any subject； as that
his watch should be sent straight to you。'
'I keep it here as a remembrance of your father。'
'It was not until the last； that he expressed the wish； when he could
only put his hand upon it； and very indistinctly say to me 〃your
mother。〃 A moment before； I thought him wandering in his mind； as he
had been for many hours……I think he had no consciousness of pain in his
short illness……when I saw him turn himself in his bed and try to open
it。'
'Was your father； then； not wandering in his mind when he tried to open
it？'
'No。 He was quite sensible at that time。'
Mrs Clennam shook her head； whether in dismissal of the deceased or
opposing herself to her son's opinion； was not clearly expressed。
'After my father's death I opened it myself； thinking there might be；
for anything I knew； some memorandum there。 However； as I need not tell
you； mother； there was nothing but the old silk watch…paper worked in
beads； which you found （no doubt） in its place between the cases； where
I found and left it。'
Mrs Clennam signified assent； then added； 'No more of business on this
day；' and then added； 'Affery； it is nine o'clock。'
Upon this； the old woman cleared the little table； went out of the room；
and quickly returned with a tray on which was a dish of little rusks and
a small precise pat of butter； cool； symmetrical； white； and plump。 The
old man who had been standing by the door in one attitude during the
whole interview； looking at the mother up…stairs as he had looked at the
son down…stairs； went out at the same time； and； after a longer absence；
returned with another tray on which was the greater part of a bottle
of port wine （which； to judge by his panting； he had brought from the
cellar）； a lemon； a sugar…basin； and a spice box。 With these materials
and the aid of the kettle； he filled a tumbler with a hot and
odorous mixture； measured out and pounded with as much nicety as a
physician's prescription。 Into this mixture Mrs Clennam dipped certain
of the rusks； and ate them； while the old woman buttered certain other
of the rusks； which were to be eaten alone。 When the invalid had eaten
all the rusks and drunk all the mixture； the two trays were removed；
and the books and the candle； watch； handkerchief； and spectacles were
replaced upon the table。 She then put on the spectacles and read certain
passages aloud from a book……sternly； fiercely； wrathfully……praying that
her enemies （she made them by her tone and manner expressly hers） might
be put to the edge of the sword； consumed by fire； smitten by plagues
and leprosy； that their bones might be ground to dust； and that they
might be utterly exterminated。 As she read on； years seemed to fall
away from her son like the imaginings of a dream； and all the old dark
horrors of his usual preparation for the sleep of an innocent child to
overshadow him。
She shut the book and remained for a little time with her face shaded by
her hand。 So did the old man； otherwise still unchanged in attitude； so；
probably； did the old woman in her dimmer part of the room。 Then the
sick woman was ready for bed。
'Good night； Arthur。 Affery will see to your acmodation。 Only touch
me； for my hand is tender。' He touched the worsted muffling of her
hand……that was nothing； if his mother had been sheathed in brass there
would have been no new barrier between them……and followed the old man
and woman down…stairs。
The latter asked him； when they were alone together among the heavy
shadows of the dining…room； would he have some supper？
'No； Affery； no supper。'
'You shall if you like；' said Affery。 'There's her tomorrow's partridge
in the larder……her first this year； say the word and I'll cook it。'
No； he had not long dined； and could eat nothing。
'Have something to drink； then；' said Affery； 'you shall have some of
her bottle of port； if you like。 I'll tell Jeremiah that you ordered me
to bring it you。'
No； nor would he have that； either。
'It's no reason； Arthur；' said the old woman； bending over him to
whisper； 'that because I am afeared of my life of 'em； you should be。
You've got half the property； haven't you？'
'Yes； yes。'
'Well then； don't you be cowed。 You're clever； Arthur； an't you？' He
nodded； as she seemed to expect an answer in the affirmative。 'Then
stand up against them！ She's awful clever； and none but a clever one
durst say a word to her。 HE'S a clever one……oh； he's a clever one！……and
he gives it her when he has a mind to't； he does！'
'Your husband does？'
'Does？ It makes me shake from head to foot； to hear him give it her。 My
husband； Jeremiah Flintother。 What can he
be but a clever one to do that！'
His shuffling footstep ing towards them caused her to retreat to the
other end of the room。 Though a tall； hard…favoured； sinewy old woman；
who in her youth might have enlisted in the Foot Guards without much
fear of discovery； she collapsed before the little keen…eyed crab…like
old man。
'Now； Affery；' said he； 'now； woman； what are you doing？ Can't you find
Master Arthur something or another to pick at？'
Master Arthur repeated his recent refusal to pick at anything。
'Very well； then；' said the old man； 'make his bed。 Stir yourself。' His
neck wa