Little Dorrit, Book One: Poverty - Penn State University

Charles Dickensbed, candle in hand, he came full upon her. He looked astonished,but said not a word. He kept his eyes upon her,CHAPTER 5 Family Affairsandkept advancing; and she, completely under his influence, keptretiring before him. Thus, she walking backward and he walkingforward, they came into their own room. They were nosooner shut in there, than Mr Flintwinch took her by the throat,and shook her until she was black in the face.‘Why, Affery, woman—Affery!’ said Mr Flintwinch. ‘Whathave you been dreaming of? Wake up, wake up! What’s thematter?’‘The—the matter, Jeremiah?’ gasped Mrs Flintwinch, rollingher eyes.‘Why, Affery, woman—Affery! You have been getting outof bed in your sleep, my dear! I come up, after having fallenasleep myself, below, and find you in your wrapper here, withthe nightmare. Affery, woman,’ said Mr Flintwinch, with afriendly grin on his expressive countenance, ‘if you ever have adream of this sort again, it’ll be a sign of your being in want ofphysic. And I’ll give you such a dose, old woman—such adose!’Mrs Flintwinch thanked him and crept into bed.AS THE CITY CLOCKS struck nine on Monday morning, MrsClennam was wheeled by Jeremiah Flintwinch of the cut-downaspect to her tall cabinet. When she had unlocked and openedit, and had settled herself at its desk, Jeremiah withdrew—asit might be, to hang himself more effectually—and her son appeared.‘Are you any better this morning, mother?’She shook her head, with the same austere air of luxuriousnessthat she had shown over-night when speaking of theweather.‘I shall never be better any more. It is well for me, Arthur,that I know it and can bear it.’Sitting with her hands laid separately upon the desk, and thetall cabinet towering before her, she looked as if she wereperforming on a dumb church organ. Her son thought so (itwas an old thought with him), while he took his seat beside it.She opened a drawer or two, looked over some businesspapers, and put them back again. Her severe face had nothread of relaxation in it, by which any explorer could have48