Foritwasareg’largoodsecret，thatwas!’criedMaggy，huggingherself。
　　ArthurlookedatLittleDorritforhelptocomprehendthis，andwasstruckbyseeinghersotimidandred。But，whenshetoldhimthatitwasonlyaFairyTaleshehadonedaymadeupforMaggy，andthattherewasnothinginitwhichshewouldn’tbeashamedtotellagaintoanybodyelse，evenifshecouldrememberit，heleftthesubjectwhereitwas。
　　However，hereturnedtohisownsubjectbyfirstentreatinghertoseehimoftener，andtorememberthatitwasimpossibletohaveastrongerinterestinherwelfarethanhehad，ortobemoresetuponpromotingitthanhewas。Whensheansweredfervently，shewellknewthat，sheneverforgotit，hetoucheduponhissecondandmoredelicatepoint——thesuspicionhehadformed。
　　’LittleDorrit，’hesaid，takingherhandagain，andspeakinglowerthanhehadspokenyet，sothatevenMaggyinthesmallroomcouldnothearhim，’anotherword。Ihavewantedverymuchtosaythistoyou；Ihavetriedforopportunities。Don’tmindme，who，forthematterofyears，mightbeyourfatheroryouruncle。Alwaysthinkofmeasquiteanoldman。Iknowthatallyourdevotioncentresinthisroom，andthatnothingtothelastwillevertemptyouawayfromthedutiesyoudischargehere。IfIwerenotsureofit，Ishould，beforenow，haveimploredyou，andimploredyourfather，toletmemakesomeprovisionforyouinamoresuitableplace。Butyoumayhaveaninterest——Iwillnotsay，now，thougheventhatmightbe——mayhave，atanothertime，aninterestinsomeoneelse；aninterestnotincompatiblewithyouraffectionhere。’
　　Shewasvery，verypale，andsilentlyshookherhead。
　　’Itmaybe，dearLittleDorrit。’
　　’No。No。No。’Sheshookherhead，aftereachslowrepetitionoftheword，withanairofquietdesolationthatherememberedlongafterwards。Thetimecamewhenheremembereditwell，longafterwards，withinthoseprisonwalls；withinthatveryroom。
　　’But，ifitevershouldbe，tellmeso，mydearchild。Entrustthetruthtome，pointouttheobjectofsuchaninteresttome，andI
　　willtrywithallthezeal，andhonour，andfriendshipandrespectthatIfeelforyou，goodLittleDorritofmyheart，todoyoualastingservice。’
　　’Othankyou，thankyou!But，Ono，Ono，Ono!’Shesaidthis，lookingathimwithherwork-wornhandsfoldedtogether，andinthesameresignedaccentsasbefore。
　　’Ipressfornoconfidencenow。Ionlyaskyoutoreposeunhesitatingtrustinme。’
　　’CanIdolessthanthat，whenyouaresogood!’
　　’Thenyouwilltrustmefully？Willhavenosecretunhappiness，oranxiety，concealedfromme？’
　　’Almostnone。’
　　’Andyouhavenonenow？’
　　Sheshookherhead。Butshewasverypale。
　　’WhenIliedownto-night，andmythoughtscomeback——astheywill，fortheydoeverynight，evenwhenIhavenotseenyou——tothissadplace，Imaybelievethatthereisnogriefbeyondthisroom，now，anditsusualoccupants，whichpreysonLittleDorrit’smind？’
　　Sheseemedtocatchatthesewords——thatheremembered，too，longafterwards——andsaid，morebrightly，’Yes，MrClennam；yes，youmay!’
　　Thecrazystaircase，usuallynotslowtogivenoticewhenanyonewascomingupordown，herecreakedunderaquicktread，andafurthersoundwashearduponit，asifalittlesteam-enginewithmoresteamthanitknewwhattodowith，wereworkingtowardstheroom。Asitapproached，whichitdidveryrapidly，itlabouredwithincreasedenergy；and，afterknockingatthedoor，itsoundedasifitwerestoopingdownandsnortinginatthekeyhole。
　　BeforeMaggycouldopenthedoor，MrPancks，openingitfromwithout，stoodwithoutahatandwithhisbareheadinthewildestcondition，lookingatClennamandLittleDorrit，overhershoulder。
　　Hehadalightedcigarinhishand，andbroughtwithhimairsofaleandtobaccosmoke。
　　’Pancksthegipsy，’heobservedoutofbreath，’fortune-telling。’
　　Hestooddingilysmiling，andbreathinghardatthem，withamostcuriousair；asif，insteadofbeinghisproprietor’sgrubber，hewerethetriumphantproprietoroftheMarshalsea，theMarshal，alltheturnkeys，andalltheCollegians。Inhisgreatself-
　　satisfactionheputhiscigartohislipsbeingevidentlynosmoker，andtooksuchapullatit，withhisrighteyeshutuptightforthepurpose，thatheunderwentaconvulsionofshudderingandchoking。Buteveninthemidstofthatparoxysm，hestillessayedtorepeathisfavouriteintroductionofhimself，’Pa-ancksthegi-ipsy，fortune-telling。’
　　’Iamspendingtheeveningwiththerestof’em，’saidPancks。
　　’I’vebeensinging。I’vebeentakingapartinWhitesandandgreysand。Idon’tknowanythingaboutit。Nevermind。I’lltakeanypartinanything。It’sallthesame，ifyou’reloudenough。’
　　AtfirstClennamsupposedhimtobeintoxicated。Buthesoonperceivedthatthoughhemightbealittletheworseorbetter
　　forale，thestapleofhisexcitementwasnotbrewedfrommalt，ordistilledfromanygrainorberry。
　　’Howd’yedo，MissDorrit？’saidPancks。’Ithoughtyouwouldn’tmindmyrunninground，andlookinginforamoment。MrClennamI
　　heardwashere，fromMrDorrit。Howareyou，Sir？’
　　Clennamthankedhim，andsaidhewasgladtoseehimsogay。
　　’Gay!’saidPancks。’I’minwonderfulfeather，sir。Ican’tstopaminute，orIshallbemissed，andIdon’twant’emtomissme——
　　Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　Heseemedtohaveaninsatiatedelightinappealingtoherandlookingather；excitedlystickinghishairupatthesamemoment，likeadarkspeciesofcockatoo。
　　’Ihaven’tbeenherehalfanhour。IknewMrDorritwasinthechair，andIsaid，“I’llgoandsupporthim!“IoughttobedowninBleedingHeartYardbyrights；butIcanworrythemto-morrow——Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　Hislittleblackeyessparkledelectrically。Hisveryhairseemedtosparkleasheroughenedit。Hewasinthathighly-chargedstatethatonemighthaveexpectedtodrawsparksandsnapsfromhimbypresentingaknuckletoanypartofhisfigure。
　　’Capitalcompanyhere，’saidPancks——’Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　Shewashalfafraidofhim，andirresolutewhattosay。Helaughed，withanodtowardsClennam。
　　’Don’tmindhim，MissDorrit。He’soneofus。Weagreedthatyoushouldn’ttakeontomindmebeforepeople，butwedidn’tmeanMrClennam。He’soneofus。He’sinit。An’tyou，MrClennam？——Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　TheexcitementofthisstrangecreaturewasfastcommunicatingitselftoClennam。LittleDorritwithamazement，sawthis，andobservedthattheyexchangedquicklooks。
　　’Iwasmakingaremark，’saidPancks，’butIdeclareIforgetwhatitwas。Oh，Iknow!Capitalcompanyhere。I’vebeentreating’emallround——Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　’Verygenerousofyou，’shereturned，noticinganotherofthequicklooksbetweenthetwo。
　　’Notatall，’saidPancks。’Don’tmentionit。I’mcomingintomyproperty，that’sthefact。Icanaffordtobeliberal。IthinkI’llgive’ematreathere。Tableslaidintheyard。Breadinstacks。Pipesinfaggots。Tobaccoinhayloads。Roastbeefandplum-puddingforeveryone。Quartofdoublestoutahead。Pintofwinetoo，iftheylikeit，andtheauthoritiesgivepermission——
　　Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　Shewasthrownintosuchaconfusionbyhismanner，orratherbyClennam’sgrowingunderstandingofhismannerforshelookedtohimaftereveryfreshappealandcockatoodemonstrationonthepartofMrPancks，thatsheonlymovedherlipsinanswer，withoutforminganyword。
　　’Andoh，by-the-bye!’saidPancks，’youweretolivetoknowwhatwasbehindusonthatlittlehandofyours。Andsoyoushall，youshall，mydarling——Eh，MissDorrit？’
　　Hehadsuddenlycheckedhimself。Wherehegotalltheadditionalblackprongsfrom，thatnowflewupalloverhisheadlikethemyriadsofpointsthatbreakoutinthelargechangeofagreatfirework，wasawonderfulmystery。
　　’ButIshallbemissed；’hecamebacktothat；’andIdon’twant’emtomissme。MrClennam，youandImadeabargain。Isaidyoushouldfindmesticktoit。Youshallfindmesticktoitnow，sir，ifyou’llstepoutoftheroomamoment。MissDorrit，Iwishyougoodnight。MissDorrit，Iwishyougoodfortune。’
　　Herapidlyshookherbybothhands，andpuffeddownstairs。Arthurfollowedhimwithsuchahurriedstep，thathehadverynearlytumbledoverhimonthelastlanding，androlledhimdownintotheyard。
　　’Whatisit，forHeaven’ssake!’Arthurdemanded，whentheyburstouttherebothtogether。
　　’Stopamoment，sir。MrRugg。Letmeintroducehim。’Withthosewordshepresentedanothermanwithoutahat，andalsowithacigar，andalsosurroundedwithahaloofaleandtobaccosmoke，whichman，thoughnotsoexcitedashimself，wasinastatewhichwouldhavebeenakintolunacybutforitsfadingintosobermethodwhencomparedwiththerampancyofMrPancks。
　　’MrClennam，MrRugg，’saidPancks。’Stopamoment。Cometothepump。’
　　Theyadjournedtothepump。MrPancks，instantlyputtinghisheadunderthespout，requestedMrRuggtotakeagoodstrongturnatthehandle。MrRuggcomplyingtotheletter，MrPanckscameforthsnortingandblowingtosomepurpose，anddriedhimselfonhishandkerchief。
　　’Iamtheclearerforthat，’hegaspedtoClennamstandingastonished。’Butuponmysoul，tohearherfathermakingspeechesinthatchair，knowingwhatweknow，andtoseeherupinthatroominthatdress，knowingwhatweknow，isenoughto——givemeaback，MrRugg——alittlehigher，sir，——that’lldo!’
　　Thenandthere，onthatMarshalseapavement，intheshadesofevening，didMrPancks，ofallmankind，flyovertheheadandshouldersofMrRuggofPentonville，GeneralAgent，Accountant，andRecovererofDebts。Alightingonhisfeet，hetookClennambythebutton-hole，ledhimbehindthepump，andpantinglyproducedfromhispocketabundleofpapers。MrRugg，also，pantinglyproducedfromhispocketabundleofpapers。
　　’Stay!’saidClennaminawhisper。’Youhavemadeadiscovery。’
　　MrPancksanswered，withanunctionwhichthereisnolanguagetoconvey，’Weratherthinkso。’
　　’Doesitimplicateanyone？’
　　’Howimplicate，sir？’
　　’Inanysuppressionorwrongdealingofanykind？’
　　’Notabitofit。’
　　’ThankGod!’saidClennamtohimself。’Nowshowme。’
　　’Youaretounderstand’——snortedPancks，feverishlyunfoldingpapers，andspeakinginshorthigh-pressureblastsofsentences，’Where’sthePedigree？Where’sSchedulenumberfour，MrRugg？Oh!
　　allright!Hereweare——Youaretounderstandthatwearethisverydayvirtuallycomplete。Weshan’tbelegallyforadayortwo。Callitattheoutsideaweek。We’vebeenatitnightanddayforIdon’tknowhowlong。MrRugg，youknowhowlong？Nevermind。Don’tsay。You’llonlyconfuseme。Youshalltellher，MrClennam。Nottillwegiveyouleave。Where’sthatroughtotal，MrRugg？Oh!Hereweare!Theresir!That’swhatyou’llhavetobreaktoher。Thatman’syourFatheroftheMarshalsea!’