Thiswasconfirmedwithcriesof’Certainly，’and’Hear!’
’ButItellyou，goodpeople——Casby!Thismoundofmeekness，thislumpoflove，thisbottle-greensmiler，thisisyourdriver!’saidPancks。’Ifyouwanttoseethemanwhowouldflayyoualive——hereheis!Don’tlookforhiminme，atthirtyshillingsaweek，butlookforhiminCasby，atIdon’tknowhowmuchayear!’
’Good!’criedseveralvoices。’HearMrPancks!’
’HearMrPancks？’criedthatgentlemanafterrepeatingthepopularperformance。’Yes，Ishouldthinkso!It’salmosttimetohearMrPancks。MrPanckshascomedownintotheYardto-nightonpurposethatyoushouldhearhim。PancksisonlytheWorks；buthere’stheWinder!’
TheaudiencewouldhavegoneovertoMrPancks，asoneman，woman，andchild，butforthelong，grey，silkenlocks，andthebroad-
brimmedhat。
’Here’stheStop，’saidPancks，’thatsetsthetunetobeground。
Andthereisbutonetune，anditsnameisGrind，Grind，Grind!
Here’stheProprietor，andhere’shisGrubber。Why，goodpeople，whenhecomessmoothlyspinningthroughtheYardto-night，likeaslow-goingbenevolentHumming-Top，andwhenyoucomeabouthimwithyourcomplaintsoftheGrubber，youdon’tknowwhatacheattheProprietoris!Whatdoyouthinkofhisshowinghimselfto-night，thatImayhavealltheblameonMonday？Whatdoyouthinkofhishavinghadmeoverthecoalsthisveryevening，becauseIdon’tsqueezeyouenough？Whatdoyouthinkofmybeing，atthepresentmoment，underspecialorderstosqueezeyoudryonMonday？’
Thereplywasgiveninamurmurof’Shame!’and’Shabby!’
’Shabby？’snortedPancks。’Yes，Ishouldthinkso!ThelotthatyourCasbybelongsto，istheshabbiestofallthelots。SettingtheirGrubberson，atawretchedpittance，todowhatthey’reashamedandafraidtodoandpretendnottodo，butwhattheywillhavedone，orgiveamannorest!ImposingonyoutogivetheirGrubbersnothingbutblame，andtogivethemnothingbutcredit!
Why，theworst-lookingcheatinallthistownwhogetsthevalueofeighteenpenceunderfalsepretences，an’thalfsuchacheatasthissign-postofTheCasby’sHeadhere!’
Criesof’That’strue!’and’Nomorehean’t!’
’Andseewhatyougetofthesefellows，besides，’saidPancks’’SeewhatmoreyougetofthesepreciousHumming-Tops，revolvingamongyouwithsuchsmoothnessthatyou’venoideaofthepatternpaintedon’em，orthelittlewindowin’em。Iwishtocallyourattentiontomyselfforamoment。Ian’tanagreeablestyleofchap，Iknowthatverywell。’
Theauditoryweredividedonthispoint；itsmoreuncompromisingmemberscrying，’No，youarenot，’anditspolitermaterials，’Yes，youare。’
’Iam，ingeneral，’saidMrPancks，’adry，uncomfortable，drearyPlodderandGrubber。That’syourhumbleservant。There’shisfull-lengthportrait，paintedbyhimselfandpresentedtoyou，warrantedalikeness!Butwhat’samantobe，withsuchamanasthisforhisProprietor？Whatcanbeexpectedofhim？Didanybodyeverfindboiledmuttonandcaper-saucegrowinginacocoa-nut？’
NoneoftheBleedingHeartseverhad，itwasclearfromthealacrityoftheirresponse。
’Well，’saidMrPancks，’andneitherwillyoufindinGrubberslikemyself，underProprietorslikethis，pleasantqualities。I’vebeenaGrubberfromaboy。Whathasmylifebeen？Fagandgrind，fagandgrind，turnthewheel，turnthewheel!Ihaven’tbeenagreeabletomyself，andIhaven’tbeenlikelytobeagreeabletoanybodyelse。IfIwasashillingaweeklessusefulintenyears’
time，thisimpostorwouldgivemeashillingaweekless；ifasusefulamancouldbegotatsixpencecheaper，hewouldbetakeninmyplaceatsixpencecheaper。Bargainandsale，blessyou!Fixedprinciples!It’samightyfinesign-post，isTheCasby’sHead，’
saidMrPancks，surveyingitwithanythingratherthanadmiration；
’buttherealnameoftheHouseistheSham’sArms。Itsmottois，KeeptheGrubberalwaysatit。Isanygentlemanpresent，’saidMrPancks，breakingoffandlookinground，’acquaintedwiththeEnglishGrammar？’
BleedingHeartYardwasshyofclaimingthatacquaintance。
’It’snomatter，’saidMrPancks，’ImerelywishtoremarkthatthetaskthisProprietorhassetme，hasbeennevertoleaveoffconjugatingtheImperativeMoodPresentTenseoftheverbTokeepalwaysatit。Keepthoualwaysatit。Lethimkeepalwaysatit。
Keepweordowekeepalwaysatit。Keepyeordoyeoryoukeepalwaysatit。Letthemkeepalwaysatit。HereisyourbenevolentPatriarchofaCasby，andthereishisgoldenrule。Heisuncommonlyimprovingtolookat，andIamnotatallso。Heisassweetashoney，andIamasdullasditch-water。Heprovidesthepitch，andIhandleit，anditstickstome。Now，’saidMrPancks，closinguponhislateProprietoragain，fromwhomhehadwithdrawnalittleforthebetterdisplayofhimtotheYard；’asIamnotaccustomedtospeakinpublic，andasIhavemadearatherlengthyspeech，allcircumstancesconsidered，Ishallbringmyobservationstoaclosebyrequestingyoutogetoutofthis。’
TheLastofthePatriarchshadbeensoseizedbyassault，andrequiredsomuchroomtocatchanideain，ansomuchmoreroomtoturnitin，thathehadnotawordtoofferinreply。HeappearedtobemeditatingsomePatriarchalwayoutofhisdelicateposition，whenMrPancks，oncemoresuddenlyapplyingthetriggertohishat，shotitoffagainwithhisformerdexterity。Ontheprecedingoccasion，oneortwooftheBleedingHeartYardershadobsequiouslypickeditupandhandedittoitsowner；butMrPanckshadnowsofarimpressedhisaudience，thatthePatriarchhadtoturnandstoopforithimself。
Quickaslightning，MrPancks，who，forsomemoments，hadhadhisrighthandinhiscoatpocket，whippedoutapairofshears，swoopeduponthePatriarchbehind，andsnippedoffshortthesacredlocksthatfloweduponhisshoulders。Inaparoxysmofanimosityandrapidity，MrPancksthencaughtthebroad-brimmedhatoutoftheastoundedPatriarch’shand，cutitdownintoamerestewpan，andfixeditonthePatriarch’shead。
Beforethefrightfulresultsofthisdesperateaction，MrPanckshimselfrecoiledinconsternation。Abare-polled，goggle-eyed，big-headedlumberingpersonagestoodstaringathim，notintheleastimpressive，notintheleastvenerable，whoseemedtohavestartedoutoftheearthtoaskwhatwasbecomeofCasby。Afterstaringatthisphantominreturn，insilentawe，MrPancksthrewdownhisshears，andfledforaplaceofhiding，wherehemightlieshelteredfromtheconsequencesofhiscrime。MrPancksdeemeditprudenttouseallpossibledespatchinmakingoff，thoughhewaspursuedbynothingbutthesoundoflaughterinBleedingHeartYard，ripplingthroughtheairandmakingitringagain。
Going!
Thechangesofafeveredroomareslowandfluctuating；butthechangesofthefeveredworldarerapidandirrevocable。
ItwasLittleDorrit’slottowaituponbothkindsofchange。TheMarshalseawalls，duringaportionofeveryday，againembracedherintheirshadowsastheirchild，whileshethoughtforClennam，workedforhim，watchedhim，andonlylefthim，stilltodevoteherutmostloveandcaretohim。Herpartinthelifeoutsidethegateurgeditspressingclaimsuponhertoo，andherpatienceuntiringlyrespondedtothem。HerewasFanny，proud，fitful，whimsical，furtheradvancedinthatdisqualifiedstateforgoingintosocietywhichhadsomuchfrettedherontheeveningofthetortoise-shellknife，resolvedalwaystowantcomfort，resolvednottobecomforted，resolvedtobedeeplywronged，andresolvedthatnobodyshouldhavetheaudacitytothinkherso。Herewasherbrother，aweak，proud，tipsy，youngoldman，shakingfromheadtofoot，talkingasindistinctlyasifsomeofthemoneyheplumedhimselfuponhadgotintohismouthandcouldn’tbegotout，unabletowalkaloneinanyactofhislife，andpatronisingthesisterwhomheselfishlylovedhealwayshadthatnegativemerit，ill-starredandill-launchedTip!becausehesufferedhertoleadhim。HerewasMrsMerdleingauzymourning——theoriginalcapwhereofhadpossiblybeenrenttopiecesinafitofgrief，buthadcertainlyyieldedtoahighlybecomingarticlefromtheParisianmarket——warringwithFannyfoottofoot，andbreastingherwithherdesolatebosomeveryhourintheday。HerewaspoorMrSparkler，notknowinghowtokeepthepeacebetweenthem，buthumblyincliningtotheopinionthattheycoulddonobetterthanagreethattheywerebothremarkablyfinewomen，andthattherewasnononsenseabouteitherofthem——forwhichgentlerecommendationtheyunitedinfallinguponhimfrightfully。Then，too，herewasMrsGeneral，gothomefromforeignparts，sendingaPruneandaPrismbyposteveryotherday，demandinganewTestimonialbywayofrecommendationtosomevacantappointmentorother。Ofwhichremarkablegentlewomanitmaybefinallyobserved，thattheresurelyneverwasagentlewomanofwhosetranscendentfitnessforanyvacantappointmentonthefaceofthisearth，somanypeoplewereasthewarmthofherTestimonialsevincedsoperfectlysatisfied——orwhowassoveryunfortunateinhavingalargecircleofardentanddistinguishedadmirers，whoneverthemselveshappenedtowantherinanycapacity。
OnthefirstcrashoftheeminentMrMerdle’sdecease，manyimportantpersonshadbeenunabletodeterminewhethertheyshouldcutMrsMerdle，orcomforther。Asitseemed，however，essentialtothestrengthoftheirowncasethattheyshouldadmithertohavebeencruellydeceived，theygraciouslymadetheadmission，andcontinuedtoknowher。ItfollowedthatMrsMerdle，asawomanoffashionandgoodbreedingwhohadbeensacrificedtothewilesofavulgarbarbarianforMrMerdlewasfoundoutfromthecrownofhisheadtothesoleofhisfoot，themomenthewasfoundoutinhispocket，mustbeactivelychampionedbyherorderforherorder’ssake。Shereturnedthisfealtybycausingittobeunderstoodthatshewasevenmoreincensedagainstthefeloniousshadeofthedeceasedthananybodyelsewas；thus，onthewhole，shecameoutofherfurnacelikeawisewoman，anddidexceedinglywell。
MrSparkler’slordshipwasfortunatelyoneofthoseshelvesonwhichagentlemanisconsideredtobeputawayforlife，unlessthereshouldbereasonsforhoistinghimupwiththeBarnaclecranetoamorelucrativeheight。ThatpatrioticservantaccordinglystucktohiscolourstheStandardoffourQuarterings，andwasaperfectNelsoninrespectofnailingthemtothemast。Ontheprofitsofhisintrepidity，MrsSparklerandMrsMerdle，inhabitingdifferentfloorsofthegenteellittletempleofinconveniencetowhichthesmellofthedaybeforeyesterday’ssoupandcoach-horseswasasconstantasDeathtoman，arrayedthemselvestofightitoutinthelistsofSociety，swornrivals。AndLittleDorrit，seeingallthesethingsastheydevelopedthemselves，couldnotbutwonder，anxiously，intowhatbackcornerofthegenteelestablishmentFanny’schildrenwouldbepokedby-and-by，andwhowouldtakecareofthoseunbornlittlevictims。
Arthurbeingfartooilltobespokenwithonsubjectsofemotionoranxiety，andhisrecoverygreatlydependingonthereposeintowhichhisweaknesscouldbehushed，LittleDorrit’ssolerelianceduringthisheavyperiodwasonMrMeagles。Hewasstillabroad；
butshehadwrittentohimthroughhisdaughter，immediatelyafterfirstseeingArthurintheMarshalseaandsince，confidingheruneasinesstohimonthepointsonwhichshewasmostanxious，butespeciallyonone。Tothatone，thecontinuedabsenceofMrMeaglesabroad，insteadofhiscomfortingpresenceintheMarshalsea，wasreferable。
WithoutdisclosingtheprecisenatureofthedocumentsthathadfallenintoRigaud’shands，LittleDorrithadconfidedthegeneraloutlineofthatstorytoMrMeagles，towhomshehadalsorecountedhisfate。TheoldcautioushabitsofthescalesandscoopatonceshowedMrMeaglestheimportanceofrecoveringtheoriginalpapers；
whereforehewrotebacktoLittleDorrit，stronglyconfirmingherinthesolicitudesheexpressedonthathead，andaddingthathewouldnotcomeovertoEngland’withoutmakingsomeattempttotracethemout。’
BythistimeMrHenryGowanhadmadeuphismindthatitwouldbeagreeabletohimnottoknowtheMeagleses。Hewassoconsiderateastolaynoinjunctionsonhiswifeinthatparticular；buthementionedtoMrMeaglesthatpersonallytheydidnotappeartohimtogetontogether，andthathethoughtitwouldbeagoodthingif——politely，andwithoutanyscene，oranythingofthatsort——theyagreedthattheywerethebestfellowsintheworld，butwerebestapart。PoorMrMeagles，whowasalreadysensiblethathedidnotadvancehisdaughter’shappinessbybeingconstantlyslightedinherpresence，said’Good，Henry!YouaremyPet’shusband；youhavedisplacedme，inthecourseofnature；ifyouwishit，good!’
Thisarrangementinvolvedthecontingentadvantage，whichperhapsHenryGowanhadnotforeseen，thatbothMrandMrsMeaglesweremoreliberalthanbeforetotheirdaughter，whentheircommunicationwasonlywithherandheryoungchild：andthathishighspiritfounditselfbetterprovidedwithmoney，withoutbeingunderthedegradingnecessityofknowingwhenceitcame。
MrMeagles，atsuchaperiod，naturallyseizedanoccupationwithgreatardour。HeknewfromhisdaughterthevarioustownswhichRigaudhadbeenhaunting，andthevarioushotelsatwhichhehadbeenlivingforsometimeback。Theoccupationhesethimselfwastovisitthesewithalldiscretionandspeed，and，intheeventoffindinganywherethathehadleftabillunpaid，andaboxorparcelbehind，topaysuchbill，andbringawaysuchboxorparcel。
WithnootherattendantthanMother，MrMeagleswentuponhispilgrimage，andencounteredanumberofadventures。Nottheleastofhisdifficultieswas，thatheneverknewwhatwassaidtohim，andthathepursuedhisinquiriesamongpeoplewhoneverknewwhathesaidtothem。Still，withanunshakenconfidencethattheEnglishtonguewassomehowthemothertongueofthewholeworld，onlythepeopleweretoostupidtoknowit，MrMeaglesharanguedinnkeepersinthemostvolublemanner，enteredintoloudexplanationsofthemostcomplicatedsort，andutterlyrenouncedrepliesinthenativelanguageoftherespondents，onthegroundthattheywere’allbosh。’Sometimesinterpreterswerecalledin；
whomMrMeaglesaddressedinsuchidiomatictermsofspeech，asinstantlytoextinguishandshutup——whichmadethematterworse。
Onabalanceoftheaccount，however，itmaybedoubtedwhetherhelostmuch；for，althoughhefoundnoproperty，hefoundsomanydebtsandvariousassociationsofdiscreditwiththepropername，whichwastheonlywordhemadeintelligible，thathewasalmosteverywhereoverwhelmedwithinjuriousaccusations。OnnofewerthanfouroccasionsthepolicewerecalledintoreceivedenunciationsofMrMeaglesasaKnightofIndustry，agood-for-
nothing，andathief，allofwhichopprobriouslanguageheborewiththebesttemperhavingnoideawhatitmeant，andwasinthemostignominiousmannerescortedtosteam-boatsandpubliccarriages，tobegotridof，talkingallthewhile，likeacheerfulandfluentBritonashewas，withMotherunderhisarm。
But，inhisowntongue，andinhisownhead，MrMeagleswasaclear，shrewd，perseveringman。Whenhehad’workedround，’ashecalledit，toParisinhispilgrimage，andhadwhollyfailedinitsofar，hewasnotdisheartened。’ThenearertoEnglandIfollowhim，yousee，Mother，’arguedMrMeagles，’thenearerIamlikelytocometothepapers，whethertheyturnuporno。BecauseitisonlyreasonabletoconcludethathewoulddepositthemsomewherewheretheywouldbesafefrompeopleoverinEngland，andwheretheywouldyetbeaccessibletohimself，don’tyousee？’
AtParisMrMeaglesfoundaletterfromLittleDorrit，lyingwaitingforhim；inwhichshementionedthatshehadbeenabletotalkforaminuteortwowithMrClennamaboutthismanwhowasnomore；andthatwhenshetoldMrClennamthathisfriendMrMeagles，whowasonhiswaytoseehim，hadaninterestinascertainingsomethingaboutthemanifhecould，hehadaskedhertotellMrMeaglesthathehadbeenknowntoMissWade，thenlivinginsuchastreetatCalais。’Oho!’saidMrMeagles。
AssoonafterwardsasmightbeinthoseDiligencedays，MrMeaglesrangthecrackedbellatthecrackedgate，anditjarredopen，andthepeasant-womanstoodinthedarkdoorway，saying，’Ice-say!
Seer!Who？’Inacknowledgmentofwhoseaddress，MrMeaglesmurmuredtohimselfthattherewassomesenseabouttheseCalaispeople，whoreallydidknowsomethingofwhatyouandthemselveswereupto；andreturned，’MissWade，mydear。’HewasthenshownintothepresenceofMissWade。
’It’ssometimesincewemet，’saidMrMeagles，clearinghisthroat；’Ihopeyouhavebeenprettywell，MissWade？’
Withouthopingthatheoranybodyelsehadbeenprettywell，MissWadeaskedhimtowhatshewasindebtedforthehonourofseeinghimagain？MrMeagles，inthemeanwhile，glancedallroundtheroomwithoutobservinganythingintheshapeofabox。
’Why，thetruthis，MissWade，’saidMrMeagles，inacomfortable，managing，nottosaycoaxingvoice，’itispossiblethatyoumaybeabletothrowalightuponalittlesomethingthatisatpresentdark。Anyunpleasantbygonesbetweenusarebygones，Ihope。
Can’tbehelpednow。Yourecollectmydaughter？Timechangesso!
Amother!’
Inhisinnocence，MrMeaglescouldnothavestruckaworsekey-
note。Hepausedforanyexpressionofinterest，butpausedinvain。
’Thatisnotthesubjectyouwishedtoenteron？’shesaid，afteracoldsilence。
’No，no，’returnedMrMeagles。’No。Ithoughtyourgoodnaturemight——’
’Ithoughtyouknew，’sheinterrupted，withasmile，’thatmygoodnatureisnottobecalculatedupon？’