Flintwinch fell that evening into a haunted state of mind； from which
it may be long before this present narrative descries any trace of her
recovery。 In the vagueness and indistinctness of all her new experiences
and perceptions； as everything about her was mysterious to herself she
began to be mysterious to others： and became as difficult to be made out
to anybody's satisfaction as she found the house and everything in it
difficult to make out to her own。
She had not yet finished preparing Mrs Clennam's tea； when the soft
knock came to the door which always announced Little Dorrit。 Mistress
Affery looked on at Little Dorrit taking off her homely bon in the
hall； and at Mr Flintwinch scraping his jaws and contemplating her in
silence； as expecting some wonderful consequence to ensue which would
frighten her out of her five wits or blow them all three to pieces。
After tea there came another knock at the door； announcing Arthur。
Mistress Affery went down to let him in； and he said on entering；
'Affery； I am glad it's you。 I want to ask you a question。' Affery
immediately replied； 'For goodness sake don't ask me nothing； Arthur！ I
am frightened out of one half of my life； and dreamed out of the
other。 Don't ask me nothing！ I don't know which is which； or what is
what！'……and immediately started away from him； and came near him no
more。
Mistress Affery having no taste for reading； and no sufficient light for
needlework in the subdued room； supposing her to have the inclination；
now sat every night in the dimness from which she had momentarily
emerged on the evening of Arthur Clennam's return； occupied with crowds
of wild speculations and suspicions respecting her mistress and her
husband and the noises in the house。 When the ferocious devotional
exercises were engaged in； these speculations would distract Mistress
Affery's eyes towards the door； as if she expected some dark form to
appear at those propitious moments； and make the party one too many。
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！ What's that noise？'
Then the noise； if there were any； would have ceased； and Mr Flintwinch
would snarl； turning upon her as if she had cut him down that moment
against his will； 'Affery； old woman； you shall have a dose； old woman；
such a dose！ You have been dreaming again！'
CHAPTER 16。 Nobody's Weakness
The time being e for the reneeagles
family； Clennam； pursuant to contract made between himself and Mr
Meagles within the precincts of Bleeding Heart Yard； turned his face
on a certain Saturday towards Twickenham； where Mr Meagles had a
cottage…residence of his own。 The weather being fine and dry； and any
English road abounding in interest for him who had been so long away；
he sent his valise on by the coach； and set out to walk。 A walk was in
itself a new enjoyment to him； and one that had rarely diversified his
life afar off。
He went by Fulham and Putney； for the pleasure of strolling over the
heath。 It was bright and shining there； and when he found himself so far
on his road to Twickenham； he found himself a long way on his road to
a number of airier and less substantial destinations。 They had risen
before him fast； in the healthful exercise and the pleasant road。 It is
not easy to walk alone in the country without musing upon something。 And
he had plenty of unsettled subjects to meditate upon； though he had been
walking to the Land's End。
First； there was the subject seldom absent from his mind； the question；
what he was to do henceforth in life； to what occupation he should
devote himself； and in what direction he had best seek it。 He was far
from rich； and every day of indecision and inaction made his inheritance
a source of greater anxiety to him。 As often as he began to consider how
to increase this inheritance； or to lay it by； so often his misgiving
that there was some one with an unsatisfied claim upon his justice；
returned； and that alone was a subject to outlast the longest walk。
Again； there was the subject of his relations with his mother； which
were now upon an equable and peaceful but never confidential footing；
and whom he saw several times a week。 Little Dorrit was a leading and a
constant subject： for the circumstances of his life； united to those of
her own story； presented the little creature to him as the only person
between whom and himself there were ties of innocent reliance on one
hand； and affectionate protection on the other； ties of passion；
respect； unselfish interest； gratitude； and pity。 Thinking of her； and
of the possibility of her father's release from prison by the unbarring
hand of death……the only change of circumstance he could foresee that
might enable him to be such a friend to her as he wished to be； by
altering her whole manner of life； smoothing her rough road； and
giving her a home……he regarded her； in that perspective； as his adopted
daughter； his poor child of the Marshalsea hushed to rest。 If there were
a last subject in his thoughts； and it lay towards Twickenham； its form
was so indefinite that it was little more than the pervading atmosphere
in which these other subjects floated before him。
He had crossed the heath and was leaving it behind when he gained upon a
figure which had been in advance of him for some time； and which； as
he gained upon it； he thought he knew。 He derived this impression
from something in the turn of the head； and in the figure's action of
consideration； as it went on at a sufficiently sturdy walk。 But when
the man……for it was a man's figure……pushed his hat up at the back of his
head； and stopped to consider some object before him； he knew it to be
Daniel Doyce。
'How do you do； Mr Doyce？' said Clennam； overtaking him。 'I am glad to
see you again； and in a healthier place than the Circumlocution Office。'
'Ha！ Mr Meagles's friend！' exclaimed that public criminal； ing out of
some mental binations he had been making； and offering his hand。 'I
am glad to see you； sir。 Will you excuse me if I forget your name？'
'Readily。 It's not a celebrated name。 It's not Barnacle。' 'No； no；' said
Daniel； laughing。 'And now I know what it is。 It's Clennam。 How do you
do； Mr Clennam？'
'I have some hope；' said Arthur； as they walked on together； 'that we
may be going to the same place； Mr Doyce。'
'Meaning Twickenham？' returned Daniel。 'I am glad to hear it。'
They ate； and lightened the way with a variety of
conversation。 The ingenious culprit was a man of great modesty and good
sense； and； though a plain man； had been too much accustomed to bine
what was original and daring in conception with what was patient and
minute in execution； to be by any means an ordinary man。 It was at first
difficult to lead him to speak about himself； and he put off Arthur's
advances in that direction by admitting slightly； oh yes； he