Mrs. Clennam lives a monotonous existence. People and places exist in memory as they had been without the alterations that have since occurred. She resists Mr. Flintwinch's attempts to draw her into the world.
Mistress Affery is preoccupied with her sleepwalking and the strange noises she hears in the house. Mr. Flintwinch's business brings more people and correspondence to the house. He goes out a lot too. He is interested in shipping news and closing prices. He meets with Mrs. Clennam daily to discuss business, and Mistress Affery assumes they are doing well.
Mrs. Clennam and Mr. Flintwinch have always regarded Mistress Affery as someone who wasn't very intelligent and was extremely foolish, who is getting worse with age. Mr. Flintwinch fears his customers will question his judgment in
