guesseditwasyou，MrPancks，’saidshe，’forit’squiteyourregularnight；ain’tit？Here’sfather，yousee，comeouttoserveatthesoundofthebell，likeabriskyoungshopman。Ain’thelookingwell？Father’smorepleasedtoseeyouthanifyouwasacustomer，forhedearlylovesagossip；andwhenitturnsuponMissDorrit，helovesitallthemore。Youneverheardfatherinsuchvoiceasheisatpresent，’saidMrsPlornish，herownvoicequavering，shewassoproudandpleased。’HegaveusStrephonlastnighttothatdegreethatPlornishgetsupandmakeshimthisspeechacrossthetable。“JohnEdwardNandy，“saysPlornishtofather，“IneverheardyoucomethewarblesasIhaveheardyoucomethewarblesthisnight。“An’titgratifying，MrPancks，though；really？’
　　MrPancks，whohadsnortedattheoldmaninhisfriendliestmanner，repliedintheaffirmative，andcasuallyaskedwhetherthatlivelyAltrochaphadcomeinyet？MrsPlornishansweredno，notyet，thoughhehadgonetotheWest-Endwithsomework，andhadsaidheshouldbebackbytea-time。MrPanckswasthenhospitablypressedintoHappyCottage，whereheencounteredtheelderMasterPlornishjustcomehomefromschool。Examiningthatyoungstudent，lightly，ontheeducationalproceedingsoftheday，hefoundthatthemoreadvancedpupilswhowereinthelargetextandtheletterM，hadbeensetthecopy’Merdle，Millions。’
　　’Andhowareyougettingon，MrsPlornish，’saidPancks，’sincewe’rementioningmillions？’
　　’Verysteady，indeed，sir，’returnedMrsPlornish。’Father，dear，wouldyougointotheshopandtidythewindowalittlebitbeforetea，yourtastebeingsobeautiful？’
　　JohnEdwardNandytrottedaway，muchgratified，tocomplywithhisdaughter’srequest。MrsPlornish，whowasalwaysinmortalterrorofmentioningpecuniaryaffairsbeforetheoldgentleman，lestanydisclosureshemademightrousehisspiritandinducehimtorunawaytotheworkhouse，wasthusleftfreetobeconfidentialwithMrPancks。
　　’It’squitetruethatthebusinessisverysteadyindeed，’saidMrsPlornish，loweringhervoice；’andhasaexcellentconnection。Theonlythingthatstandsinitsway，sir，istheCredit。’
　　Thisdrawback，ratherseverelyfeltbymostpeoplewhoengagedincommercialtransactionswiththeinhabitantsofBleedingHeartYard，wasalargestumbling-blockinMrsPlornish’strade。WhenMrDorrithadestablishedherinthebusiness，theBleedingHeartshadshownanamountofemotionandadeterminationtosupportherinit，thatdidhonourtohumannature。Recognisingherclaimupontheirgenerousfeelingsasonewhohadlongbeenamemberoftheircommunity，theypledgedthemselves，withgreatfeeling，todealwithMrsPlornish，comewhatwouldandbestowtheirpatronageonnootherestablishment。Influencedbythesenoblesentiments，theyhadevengoneoutoftheirwaytopurchaselittleluxuriesinthegroceryandbutterlinetowhichtheywereunaccustomed；sayingtooneanother，thatiftheydidstretchapoint，wasitnotforaneighbourandafriend，andforwhomoughtapointtobestretchedifnotforsuch？Sostimulated，thebusinesswasextremelybrisk，andthearticlesinstockwentoffwiththegreatestcelerity。Inshort，iftheBleedingHeartshadbutpaid，theundertakingwouldhavebeenacompletesuccess；whereas，byreasonoftheirexclusivelyconfiningthemselvestoowing，theprofitsactuallyrealisedhadnotyetbeguntoappearinthebooks。
　　MrPanckswasmakingaveryporcupineofhimselfbystickinghishairupinthecontemplationofthisstateofaccounts，whenoldMrNandy，re-enteringthecottagewithanairofmystery，entreatedthemtocomeandlookatthestrangebehaviourofMrBaptist，whoseemedtohavemetwithsomethingthathadscaredhim。Allthreegoingintotheshop，andwatchingthroughthewindow，thensawMrBaptist，paleandagitated，gothroughthefollowingextraordinaryperformances。First，hewasobservedhidingatthetopofthestepsleadingdownintotheYard，andpeepingupanddownthestreetwithhisheadcautiouslythrustoutclosetothesideoftheshop-door。Afterveryanxiousscrutiny，hecameoutofhisretreat，andwentbrisklydownthestreetasifheweregoingawayaltogether；then，suddenlyturnedabout，andwent，atthesamepace，andwiththesamefeint，upthestreet。Hehadgonenofurtherupthestreetthanhehadgonedown，whenhecrossedtheroadanddisappeared。Theobjectofthislastmanoeuvrewasonlyapparent，whenhisenteringtheshopwithasuddentwist，fromthestepsagain，explainedthathehadmadeawideandobscurecircuitroundtotheother，orDoyceandClennam，endoftheYard，andhadcomethroughtheYardandboltedin。Hewasoutofbreathbythattime，ashemightwellbe，andhisheartseemedtojerkfasterthanthelittleshop-bell，asitquiveredandjingledbehindhimwithhishastyshuttingofthedoor。
　　’Hallo，oldchap!’saidMrPancks。’Altro，oldboy!What’sthematter？’
　　MrBaptist，orSignorCavalletto，understoodEnglishnowalmostaswellasMrPanckshimself，andcouldspeakitverywelltoo。
　　Nevertheless，MrsPlornish，withapardonablevanityinthataccomplishmentofherswhichmadeherallbutItalian，steppedinasinterpreter。
　　’Easkknow，’saidMrsPlornish，’Whatgowrong？’
　　’Comeintothehappylittlecottage，Padrona，’returnedMrBaptist，impartinggreatstealthinesstohisflurriedback-handedshakeofhisrightforefinger。’Comethere!’
　　MrsPlornishwasproudofthetitlePadrona，whichsheregardedassignifying：notsomuchMistressofthehouse，asMistressoftheItaliantongue。SheimmediatelycompliedwithMrBaptist’srequest，andtheyallwentintothecottage。
　　’Eopeyounofright，’saidMrsPlornishthen，interpretingMrPancksinanewwaywithherusualfertilityofresource。’Whatappen？PeakaPadrona!’
　　’Ihaveseensomeone，’returnedBaptist。’Ihaverincontratohim。’
　　’Im？Oohim？’askedMrsPlornish。
　　’Abadman。Abaddestman。IhavehopedthatIshouldneverseehimagain。’
　　’Owyouknowhimbad？’askedMrsPlornish。
　　’Itdoesnotmatter，Padrona。Iknowittoowell。’
　　’’Eseeyou？’askedMrsPlornish。
　　’No。Ihopenot。Ibelievenot。’
　　’Hesays，’MrsPlornishtheninterpreted，addressingherfatherandPanckswithmildcondescension，’thathehasmetabadman，buthehopesthebadmandidn’tseehim——Why，’inquiredMrsPlornish，revertingtotheItalianlanguage，’whyopebadmannosee？’
　　’Padrona，dearest，’returnedthelittleforeignerwhomshesoconsideratelyprotected，’donotask，Ipray。OnceagainIsayitmattersnot。Ihavefearofthisman。Idonotwishtoseehim，Idonotwishtobeknownofhim——neveragain!Enough，mostbeautiful。Leaveit。’
　　Thetopicwassodisagreeabletohim，andsoputhisusuallivelinesstotherout，thatMrsPlornishforboretopresshimfurther：theratherastheteahadbeendrawingforsometimeonthehob。Butshewasnotthelesssurprisedandcuriousforaskingnomorequestions；neitherwasMrPancks，whoseexpressivebreathinghadbeenlabouringhardsincetheentranceofthelittleman，likealocomotiveenginewithagreatloadgettingupasteepincline。Maggy，nowbetterdressedthanofyore，thoughstillfaithfultothemonstrouscharacterofhercap，hadbeeninthebackgroundfromthefirstwithopenmouthandeyes，whichstaringandgapingfeatureswerenotdiminishedinbreadthbytheuntimelysuppressionofthesubject。However，nomorewassaidaboutit，thoughmuchappearedtobethoughtonallsides：bynomeansexceptingthetwoyoungPlornishes，whopartookoftheeveningmealasiftheireatingthebreadandbutterwererenderedalmostsuperfluousbythepainfulprobabilityoftheworstofmenshortlypresentinghimselfforthepurposeofeatingthem。MrBaptist，bydegreesbegantochirpalittle；butneverstirredfromtheseathehadtakenbehindthedoorandclosetothewindow，thoughitwasnothisusualplace。Asoftenasthelittlebellrang，hestartedandpeepedoutsecretly，withtheendofthelittlecurtaininhishandandtherestbeforehisface；evidentlynotatallsatisfiedbutthatthemanhedreadedhadtrackedhimthroughallhisdoublingsandturnings，withthecertaintyofaterriblebloodhound。
　　Theentrance，atvarioustimes，oftwoorthreecustomersandofMrPlornish，gaveMrBaptistjustenoughofthisemploymenttokeeptheattentionofthecompanyfixeduponhim。Teawasover，andthechildrenwereabed，andMrsPlornishwasfeelingherwaytothedutifulproposalthatherfathershouldfavourthemwithChloe，whenthebellrangagain，andMrClennamcamein。
　　Clennamhadbeenporinglateoverhisbooksandletters；forthewaiting-roomsoftheCircumlocutionOfficeravagedhistimesorely。
　　Overandabovethat，hewasdepressedandmadeuneasybythelateoccurrenceathismother’s。Helookedwornandsolitary。Hefeltso，too；but，nevertheless，wasreturninghomefromhiscounting-
　　housebythatendoftheYardtogivethemtheintelligencethathehadreceivedanotherletterfromMissDorrit。
　　ThenewsmadeasensationinthecottagewhichdrewoffthegeneralattentionfromMrBaptist。Maggy，whopushedherwayintotheforegroundimmediately，wouldhaveseemedtodrawinthetidingsofherLittleMotherequallyatherears，nose，mouth，andeyes，butthatthelastwereobstructedbytears。ShewasparticularlydelightedwhenClennamassuredherthattherewerehospitals，andverykindlyconductedhospitals，inRome。MrPancksroseintonewdistinctioninvirtueofbeingspeciallyrememberedintheletter。
　　Everybodywaspleasedandinterested，andClennamwaswellrepaidforhistrouble。
　　’Butyouaretired，sir。Letmemakeyouacupoftea，’saidMrsPlornish，’ifyou’dcondescendtotakesuchathinginthecottage；
　　andmanythankstoyou，too，Iamsure，forbearingusinmindsokindly。’
　　MrPlornishdeemingitincumbentonhim，ashost，toaddhispersonalacknowledgments，tenderedthemintheformwhichalwaysexpressedhishighestidealofacombinationofceremonywithsincerity。
　　’JohnEdwardNandy，’saidMrPlornish，addressingtheoldgentleman。’Sir。It’snottoooftenthatyouseeunpretendingactionswithoutasparkofpride，andthereforewhenyouseethemgivegratefulhonouruntothesame，beingthatifyoudon’t，andlivetowant’em，itfollowsserveyouright。’
　　TowhichMrNandyreplied：
　　’Iamheartilyofyouropinion，Thomas，andwhichyouropinionisthesameasmine，andthereforenomorewordsandnotbeingbackwardswiththatopinion，whichopiniongivingitasyes，Thomas，yes，istheopinioninwhichyourselfandmemusteverbeunanimouslyjinedbyall，andwherethereisnotdifferenceofopiniontherecanbenonebutoneopinion，whichfullyno，Thomas，Thomas，no!’
　　Arthur，withlessformality，expressedhimselfgratifiedbytheirhighappreciationofsoveryslightanattentiononhispart；andexplainedastotheteathathehadnotyetdined，andwasgoingstraighthometorefreshafteralongday’slabour，orhewouldhavereadilyacceptedthehospitableoffer。AsMrPanckswassomewhatnoisilygettinghissteamupfordeparture，heconcludedbyaskingthatgentlemanifhewouldwalkwithhim？MrPanckssaidhedesirednobetterengagement，andthetwotookleaveofHappyCottage。
　　’Ifyouwillcomehomewithme，Pancks，’saidArthur，whentheygotintothestreet，’andwillsharewhatdinnerorsupperthereis，itwillbenextdoortoanactofcharity；forIamwearyandoutofsortsto-night。’
　　’Askmetodoagreaterthingthanthat，’saidPancks，’whenyouwantitdone，andI’lldoit。’
　　BetweenthiseccentricpersonageandClennam，atacitunderstandingandaccordhadbeenalwaysimprovingsinceMrPancksflewoverMrRugg’sbackintheMarshalseaYard。Whenthecarriagedroveawayonthememorabledayofthefamily’sdeparture，thesetwohadlookedafterittogether，andhadwalkedslowlyawaytogether。
　　WhenthefirstlettercamefromlittleDorrit，nobodywasmoreinterestedinhearingofherthanMrPancks。Thesecondletter，atthatmomentinClennam’sbreast-pocket，particularlyrememberedhimbyname。ThoughhehadneverbeforemadeanyprofessionorprotestationtoClennam，andthoughwhathehadjustsaidwaslittleenoughastothewordsinwhichitwasexpressed，ClennamhadlonghadagrowingbeliefthatMrPancks，inhisownoddway，wasbecomingattachedtohim。AllthesestringsintertwiningmadePancksaverycableofanchoragethatnight。