ThefirstvariationwhichmanifesteditselfinMrF。’sAunt’sdemeanourwhenshehadfinishedherpieceoftoast，wasaloudandprolongedsniff。Findingitimpossibletoavoidconstruingthisdemonstrationintoadefianceofhimself，itsgloomysignificancebeingunmistakable，Clennamlookedplaintivelyattheexcellentthoughprejudicedladyfromwhomitemanated，inthehopethatshemightbedisarmedbyameeksubmission。
’Noneofyoureyesatme，’saidMrF。’sAunt，shiveringwithhostility。’Takethat。’
’That’wasthecrustofthepieceoftoast。Clennamacceptedtheboonwithalookofgratitude，andhelditinhishandunderthepressureofalittleembarrassment，whichwasnotrelievedwhenMrF。’sAunt，elevatinghervoiceintoacryofconsiderablepower，exclaimed，’Hehasaproudstomach，thischap!He’stooproudachaptoeatit!’and，comingoutofherchair，shookhervenerablefistsoveryclosetohisnoseastoticklethesurface。ButforthetimelyreturnofFlora，tofindhiminthisdifficultsituation，furtherconsequencesmighthaveensued。Flora，withouttheleastdiscomposureorsurprise，butcongratulatingtheoldladyinanapprovingmanneronbeing’verylivelyto-night’，handedherbacktoherchair。
’Hehasaproudstomach，thischap，’saidMrF。’srelation，onbeingreseated。’Givehimamealofchaff!’
’Oh!Idon’tthinkhewouldlikethat，aunt，’returnedFlora。
’Givehimamealofchaff，Itellyou，’saidMrF。’sAunt，glaringroundFloraonherenemy。’It’stheonlythingforaproudstomach。Lethimeatupeverymorsel。Drathim，givehimamealofchaff!’
Underageneralpretenceofhelpinghimtothisrefreshment，Floragothimoutonthestaircase；MrF。’sAunteventhenconstantlyreiterating，withinexpressiblebitterness，thathewas’achap，’
andhada’proudstomach，’andoverandoveragaininsistingonthatequineprovisionbeingmadeforhimwhichshehadalreadysostronglyprescribed。
’Suchaninconvenientstaircaseandsomanycorner-stairsArthur，’
whisperedFlora，’wouldyouobjecttoputtingyourarmroundmeundermypelerine？’
Withasenseofgoingdown-stairsinahighly-ridiculousmanner，Clennamdescendedintherequiredattitude，andonlyreleasedhisfairburdenatthedining-roomdoor；indeed，eventhereshewasratherdifficulttobegotridof，remaininginhisembracetomurmur，’Arthur，formercy’ssake，don’tbreatheittopapa!’
SheaccompaniedArthurintotheroom，wherethePatriarchsatalone，withhislistshoesonthefender，twirlinghisthumbsasifhehadneverleftoff。TheyouthfulPatriarch，agedten，lookedoutofhispicture-frameabovehimwithnocalmerairthanhe。
Bothsmoothheadswerealikebeaming，blundering，andbumpy。
’MrClennam，Iamgladtoseeyou。Ihopeyouarewell，sir，I
hopeyouarewell。Pleasetositdown，pleasetositdown。’
’Ihadhoped，sir，’saidClennam，doingso，andlookingroundwithafaceofblankdisappointment，’nottofindyoualone。’
’Ah，indeed？’saidthePatriarch，sweetly。’Ah，indeed？’
’Itoldyousoyouknowpapa，’criedFlora。
’Ah，tobesure!’returnedthePatriarch。’Yes，justso。Ah，tobesure!’
’Pray，sir，’demandedClennam，anxiously，’isMissWadegone？’
’Miss——？Oh，youcallherWade，’returnedMrCasby。’Highlyproper。’
Arthurquicklyreturned，’Whatdoyoucallher？’
’Wade，’saidMrCasby。’Oh，alwaysWade。’
Afterlookingatthephilanthropicvisageandthelongsilkywhitehairforafewseconds，duringwhichMrCasbytwirledhisthumbs，andsmiledatthefireasifhewerebenevolentlywishingittoburnhimthathemightforgiveit，Arthurbegan：
’Ibegyourpardon，MrCasby——’
’Notso，notso，’saidthePatriarch，’notso。’
’——But，MissWadehadanattendantwithher——ayoungwomanbroughtupbyfriendsofmine，overwhomherinfluenceisnotconsideredverysalutary，andtowhomIshouldbegladtohavetheopportunityofgivingtheassurancethatshehasnotyetforfeitedtheinterestofthoseprotectors。’
’Really，really？’returnedthePatriarch。
’WillyouthereforebesogoodastogivemetheaddressofMissWade？’
’Dear，dear，dear!’saidthePatriarch，’howveryunfortunate!Ifyouhadonlysentintomewhentheywerehere!Iobservedtheyoungwoman，MrClennam。Afinefull-colouredyoungwoman，MrClennam，withverydarkhairandverydarkeyes。IfImistakenot，ifImistakenot？’
Arthurassented，andsaidoncemorewithnewexpression，’Ifyouwouldbesogoodastogivemetheaddress。’
’Dear，dear，dear!’exclaimedthePatriarchinsweetregret。’Tut，tut，tut!whatapity，whatapity!Ihavenoaddress，sir。MissWademostlylivesabroad，MrClennam。Shehasdonesoforsomeyears，andsheisifImaysaysoofafellow-creatureandalady
fitfulanduncertaintoafault，MrClennam。Imaynotseeheragainforalong，longtime。Imayneverseeheragain。Whatapity，whatapity!’
Clennamsawnow，thathehadasmuchhopeofgettingassistanceoutofthePortraitasoutofthePatriarch；buthesaidnevertheless：
’MrCasby，couldyou，forthesatisfactionofthefriendsIhavementioned，andunderanyobligationofsecrecythatyoumayconsiderityourdutytoimpose，givemeanyinformationatalltouchingMissWade？Ihaveseenherabroad，andIhaveseenherathome，butIknownothingofher。Couldyougivemeanyaccountofherwhatever？’
’None，’returnedthePatriarch，shakinghisbigheadwithhisutmostbenevolence。’Noneatall。Dear，dear，dear!Whatarealpitythatshestayedsoshortatime，andyoudelayed!Asconfidentialagencybusiness，agencybusiness，Ihaveoccasionallypaidthisladymoney；butwhatsatisfactionisittoyou，sir，toknowthat？’
’Truly，noneatall，’saidClennam。
’Truly，’assentedthePatriarch，withashiningfaceashephilanthropicallysmiledatthefire，’noneatall，sir。Youhitthewiseanswer，MrClennam。Truly，noneatall，sir。’
Histurningofhissmooththumbsoveroneanotherashesatthere，wassotypicaltoClennamofthewayinwhichhewouldmakethesubjectrevolveifitwerepursued，nevershowinganynewpartofitnorallowingittomakethesmallestadvance，thatitdidmuchtohelptoconvincehimofhislabourhavingbeeninvain。Hemighthavetakenanytimetothinkaboutit，forMrCasby，wellaccustomedtogetonanywherebyleavingeverythingtohisbumpsandhiswhitehair，knewhisstrengthtolieinsilence。SothereCasbysat，twirlingandtwirling，andmakinghispolishedheadandforeheadlooklargelybenevolentineveryknob。
Withthisspectaclebeforehim，Arthurhadrisentogo，whenfromtheinnerDockwherethegoodshipPanckswashovedownwhenoutinnocruisingground，thenoisewasheardofthatsteamerlabouringtowardshim。ItstruckArthurthatthenoisebegandemonstrativelyfaroff，asthoughMrPanckssoughttoimpressonanyonewhomighthappentothinkaboutit，thathewasworkingonfromoutofhearing。
MrPancksandheshookhands，andtheformerbroughthisemployeraletterortwotosign。MrPancksinshakinghandsmerelyscratchedhiseyebrowwithhisleftforefingerandsnortedonce，butClennam，whounderstoodhimbetternowthanofold，comprehendedthathehadalmostdonefortheeveningandwishedtosayawordtohimoutside。Therefore，whenhehadtakenhisleaveofMrCasby，andwhichwasamoredifficultprocessofFlora，hesaunteredintheneighbourhoodonMrPancks’slineofroad。
HehadwaitedbutashorttimewhenMrPancksappeared。MrPancksshakinghandsagainwithanotherexpressivesnort，andtakingoffhishattoputhishairup，Arthurthoughthereceivedhiscuetospeaktohimasonewhoknewprettywellwhathadjustnowpassed。
Thereforehesaid，withoutanypreface：
’Isupposetheywerereallygone，Pancks？’
’Yes，’repliedPancks。’Theywerereallygone。’
’Doesheknowwheretofindthatlady？’
’Can’tsay。Ishouldthinkso。’
MrPancksdidnot？No，MrPancksdidnot。DidMrPancksknowanythingabouther？
’Iexpect，’rejoinedthatworthy，’Iknowasmuchaboutherassheknowsaboutherself。Sheissomebody’schild——anybody’s——nobody’s。
PutherinaroominLondonherewithanysixpeopleoldenoughtobeherparents，andherparentsmaybethereforanythingsheknows。Theymaybeinanyhouseshesees，theymaybeinanychurchyardshepasses，shemayrunagainst’eminanystreet，shemaymakechanceacquaintanceof’ematanytime；andneverknowit。
Sheknowsnothingabout’em。Sheknowsnothingaboutanyrelativewhatever。Neverdid。Neverwill。’
’MrCasbycouldenlightenher，perhaps？’
’Maybe，’saidPancks。’Iexpectso，butdon’tknow。HehaslonghadmoneynotovermuchasImakeoutintrusttodoleouttoherwhenshecan’tdowithoutit。Sometimesshe’sproudandwon’ttouchitforalengthoftime；sometimesshe’ssopoorthatshemusthaveit。Shewrithesunderherlife。Awomanmoreangry，passionate，reckless，andrevengefulneverlived。Shecameformoneyto-night。Saidshehadpeculiaroccasionforit。’
’Ithink，’observedClennammusing，’Ibychanceknowwhatoccasion——Imeanintowhosepocketthemoneyistogo。’
’Indeed？’saidPancks。’Ifit’sacompact，Irecommendthatpartytobeexactinit。Iwouldn’ttrustmyselftothatwoman，youngandhandsomeassheis，ifIhadwrongedher；no，notfortwicemyproprietor’smoney!Unless，’Pancksaddedasasavingclause，’I
hadalingeringillnessonme，andwantedtogetitover。’
Arthur，hurriedlyreviewinghisownobservationofher，foundittotallyprettynearlywithMrPancks’sview。
’Thewonderistome，’pursuedPancks，’thatshehasneverdoneformyproprietor，astheonlypersonconnectedwithherstoryshecanlayholdof。Mentioningthat，Imaytellyou，betweenourselves，thatIamsometimestemptedtodoforhimmyself。’
Arthurstartedandsaid，’Dearme，Pancks，don’tsaythat!’
’Understandme，’saidPancks，extendingfivecroppedcoalyfinger-
nailsonArthur’sarm；’Idon’tmean，cuthisthroat。Butbyallthat’sprecious，ifhegoestoofar，I’llcuthishair!’
Havingexhibitedhimselfinthenewlightofenunciatingthistremendousthreat，MrPancks，withacountenanceofgraveimport，snortedseveraltimesandsteamedaway。