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calculations and entries； in his own hand； of which there were many；
were bluntly written； and with no very neat precision； but were always
plain and directed straight to the purpose。 It occurred to Arthur that
a far more elaborate and taking show of business……such as the records of
the Circumlocution Office made perhaps……might be far less serviceable；
as being meant to be far less intelligible。
Three or four days of steady application tendered him master of all the
facts it was essential to bee acquainted with。 Mr Meagles was at hand
the whole time； always ready to illuminate any dim place with the bright
little safety…lamp belonging to the scales and scoop。 Between them they
agreed upon the sum it would be fair to offer for the purchase of a
half…share in the business； and then Mr Meagles unsealed a paper in
which Daniel Doyce had noted the amount at which he valued it； which was
even something less。 Thus； when Daniel came back； he found the affair as
good as concluded。
'And I may now avow； Mr Clennam；' said he； with a cordial shake of the
hand； 'that if I had looked high and low for a partner； I believe I
could not have found one more to my mind。'
'I say the same；' said Clennam。
'And I say of both of you；' added Mr Meagles； 'that you are well
matched。 You keep him in check； Clennam； with your mon sense； and you
stick to the Works； Dan； with your……'
'Unmon sense？' suggested Daniel； ile。
'You may call it so； if you like……and each of you will be a right hand
to the other。 Here's my own right hand upon it； as a practical man； to
both of you。'
The purchase was pleted within a month。 It left Arthur in possession
of private personal means not exceeding a few hundred pounds； but it
opened to him an active and promising career。 The three friends dined
together on the auspicious occasion； the factory and the factory wives
and children made holiday and dined too； even Bleeding Heart Yard
dined and was full of meat。 Two months had barely gone by in all； when
Bleeding Heart Yard had bee so familiar with short…mons again；
that the treat was forgotten there； when nothing seemed new in the
partnership but the paint of the inscription on the door…posts； DOYCE
AND CLENNAM； when it appeared even to Clennam himself； that he had had
the affairs of the firm in his mind for years。
The little counting…house reserved for his own occupation； was a room of
wood and glass at the end of a long low workshop； filled with benches；
and vices； and tools； and straps； and wheels； which； when they were
in gear with the steam…engine； went tearing round as though they had a
suicidal mission to grind the business to dust and tear the factory to
pieces。 A munication of great trap…doors in the floor and roof with
the workshop above and the workshop below； made a shaft of light in
this perspective； which brought to Clennam's mind the child's old
picture…book； where similar rays were the witnesses of Abel's
murder。 The noises were sufficiently removed and shut out from the
counting…house to blend into a busy hum； interspersed with periodical
clinks and thumps。 The patient figures at work were swarthy with the
filings of iron and steel that danced on every bench and bubbled up
through every chink in the planking。 The workshop was arrived at by a
step…ladder from the outer yard below； where it served as a shelter for
the large grindstone where tools were sharpened。 The whole had at once
a fanciful and practical air in Clennam's eyes； which was a wele
change； and； as often as he raised them from his first work of getting
the array of business documents into perfect order； he glanced at these
things with a feeling of pleasure in his pursuit that was new to him。
Raising his eyes thus one day； he was surprised to see a bon
labouring up the step…ladder。 The unusual apparition was followed by
another bon。 He then perceived that the first bon was on the head
of Mr F。's Aunt； and that the second bon was on the head of Flora；
who seemed to have propelled her legacy up the steep ascent with
considerable difficulty。 Though not altogether enraptured at the sight
of these visitors； Clennam lost no time in opening the counting…house
door； and extricating them from the workshop； a rescue which was
rendered the more necessary by Mr F。's Aunt already stumbling over some
impediment； and menacing steam power as an Institution with a stony
reticule she carried。
'Good gracious； Arthur；……I should say Mr Clennam； far more proper……the
climb we have had to get up here and how ever to get down again without
a fire…escape and Mr F。's Aunt slipping through the steps and bruised
all over and you in the machinery and foundry way too only think； and
never told us！'
Thus； Flora； out of breath。 Meanwhile； Mr F。's Aunt rubbed her esteemed
insteps with her umbrella； and vindictively glared。
'Most unkind never to have e back to see us since that day； though
naturally it was not to be expected that there should be any attraction
at our house and you were much more pleasantly engaged； that's pretty
certain； and is she fair or dark blue eyes or black I wonder； not that
I expect that she should be anything but a perfect contrast to me in all
particulars for I am a disappointment as I very well know and you are
quite right to be devoted no doubt though what I am saying Arthur never
mind I hardly know myself Good gracious！'
By this time he had placed chairs for them in the counting…house。 As
Flora dropped into hers； she bestowed the old look upon him。
'And to think of Doyce and Clennam； and who Doyce can be；' said Flora；
'delightful man no doubt and married perhaps or perhaps a daughter； now
has he really？ then one understands the partnership and sees it all；
don't tell me anything about it for I know I have no claim to ask the
question the golden chain that once was forged being snapped and very
proper。'
Flora put her hand tenderly on his； and gave him another of the youthful
glances。
'Dear Arthur……force of habit； Mr Clennam every way more delicate and
adapted to existing circumstances……I must beg to be excused for taking
the liberty of this intrusion but I thought I might so far presume upon
old times for ever faded never more to bloom as to call with Mr F。's
Aunt to congratulate and offer best wishes； A great deal superior to
China not to be denied and much nearer though higher up！'
'I am very happy to see you；' said Clennam； 'and I thank you； Flora；
very much for your kind remembrance。'
'More than I can say myself at any rate；' returned Flora； 'for I might
have been dead and buried twenty distinct times over and no doubt
whatever should have been before you had genuinely remembered Me or
anything like it in spite of which one last remark I wish to make； one
last explanation I wish to offer……'
'My dear Mrs Finching；' Arthur remonstrated in alarm。
'Oh not that disagreeable name； say Flora！'
'Flora； is it worth troubling yourself afresh to enter into
explanations？ I assure you none are needed。 I am satisfied……I am
perfectly satisfied。'
A diversion was occasioned here； by Mr F。's Aunt making the following
inexorable and awful statement：
'There's mile…stones on the Dover road！'
With such mortal hostility towards the human race did she discharge this
missile； that Clennam was quite at a loss how to defend himself； the
rather as he had been already perplexed in his mind by the honour of a
visit from this venerable lady； when it was plain she held him in the
utmost abhorrence。 He could not but look at her with disconcertment； as
she sat breathing bitterness and scorn； and staring leagues away。 Flora；
however； received the remark as if it had been of a most apposite and
agreeable nature； approvingly observing aloud that Mr F。's Aunt had a
great deal of spirit。 Stimulated either by this pliment； or by her
burning indignation； that illustrious woman then added； 'Let him meet
it if he can！' And； with a rigid movement of her stony reticule （an
appendage of great size and of a fossil appearance）； indicated that
Clennam was the unfortunate person at whom the challenge was hurled。
'One last remark；' resumed Flora； 'I was going to say I wish to make one
la