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Updated: June 22, 2025
He was received at the door by Mistress Affery, who, under instructions from her lord, had lighted up two candles in the hall and a third on the staircase, and who conducted him to Mrs Clennam's room. Tea was prepared there, and such little company arrangements had been made as usually attended the reception of expected visitors.
If Mrs Affery had had any will or way of her own, it would probably have been unfavourable to Little Dorrit. But as 'them two clever ones' Mrs Affery's perpetual reference, in whom her personality was swallowed up were agreed to accept Little Dorrit as a matter of course, she had nothing for it but to follow suit.
'Yes, bless you, sir, for a dear creetur, and do it at once, cried Affery, 'for she may be a-calling to me at this very present minute, or may be setting herself a fire and burning herself to death, or there's no knowing what may be happening to her, and me a-going out of my mind at thinking of it! 'Stay, my good madam! He restrained her impatience with a smooth white hand.
That same day she spoke to me, and she said, "So, Affery, I understand that you and Jeremiah are going to be married. I am glad of it, and so are you, with reason. It is a very good thing for you, and very welcome under the circumstances to me. He is a sensible man, and a trustworthy man, and a persevering man, and a pious man." What could I say when it had come to that?
Jeremiah watched his manner of adjusting it, with jealous eyes; tried it with his hands, to be sure that he had a firm hold of it; bade him for his life be careful what he was about; and then stole out on tiptoe to open the door for him. Affery, anticipating the last movement, was on the staircase.
'I suffered enough from my mother's separating us, to remember her. I recollect her very well. 'Have you got another? 'No. 'Here's news for you, then. She's well to do now, and a widow. And if you like to have her, why you can. 'And how do you know that, Affery? 'Them two clever ones have been speaking about it. There's Jeremiah on the stairs! She was gone in a moment.
'But my dear Affery; unless I can gain some insight into these hidden things, in spite of your husband and in spite of my mother, ruin will come of it. 'Don't ask me nothing, repeated Affery. 'I have been in a dream for ever so long. Go away, go away! 'You said that before, returned Arthur. 'You used the same expression that night, at the door, when I asked you what was going on here.
In the intervals of roasting the partridge for the invalid chamber, and preparing a baking-dish of beef and pudding for the dining-room, Mrs Affery made the communications above set forth; invariably putting her head in at the door again after she had taken it out, to enforce resistance to the two clever ones.
Otherwise, Affery never said or did anything to attract the attention of the two clever ones towards her in any marked degree, except on certain occasions, generally at about the quiet hour towards bed-time, when she would suddenly dart out of her dim corner, and whisper with a face of terror to Mr Flintwinch, reading the paper near Mrs Clennam's little table: 'There, jeremiah! Now!
Then the bell rang once more, and then once more, and then kept on ringing; in despite of which importunate summons, Affery still sat behind her apron, recovering her breath. At last Mr Flintwinch came shuffling down the staircase into the hall, muttering and calling 'Affery woman! all the way.
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