respects of that which all on us looked to； and to bring us all safe
home as much as we needed； mind you； fur toe be brought。 Mr Baptist；
sole lodger of Mr and Mrs Plornish was reputed in whispers to lay by
the savings which were the result of his simple and moderate life；
for investment in one of Mr Merdle's certain enterprises。 The female
Bleeding Hearts； when they came for ounces of tea； and hundredweights of
talk； gave Mrs Plornish to understand； That how； ma'am； they had heard
from their cousin Mary Anne； which worked in the line； that his lady's
dresses would fill three waggons。 That how she was as handsome a lady；
ma'am； as lived； no matter wheres； and a busk like marble itself。 That
how； according to what they was told； ma'am； it was her son by a former
husband as was took into the Government； and a General he had been； and
armies he had marched again and victory crowned； if all you heard was to
be believed。 That how it was reported that Mr Merdle's words had been；
that if they could have made it worth his while to take the whole
Government he would have took it without a profit； but that take it he
could not and stand a loss。 That how it was not to be expected； ma'am；
that he should lose by it； his ways being； as you might say and utter
no falsehood； paved with gold； but that how it was much to be regretted
that something handsome hadn't been got up to make it worth his while；
for it was such and only such that knowed the heighth to which the bread
and butchers' meat had rose； and it was such and only such that both
could and would bring that heighth down。
So rife and potent was the fever in Bleeding Heart Yard； that Mr
Pancks's rent…days caused no interval in the patients。 The disease took
the singular form； on those occasions； of causing the infected to find
an unfathomable excuse and consolation in allusions to the magic name。
'Now； then！' Mr Pancks would say； to a defaulting lodger。 'Pay up！
e on！'
'I haven't got it； Mr Pancks；' Defaulter would reply。 'I tell you the
truth； sir； when I say I haven't got so much as a single sixpence of it
to bless myself with。'
'This won't do； you know；' Mr Pancks would retort。 'You don't expect it
will do； do you？' Defaulter would admit； with a low…spirited 'No； sir；'
having no such expectation。
'My proprietor isn't going to stand this； you know；' Mr Pancks would
proceed。 'He don't send me here for this。 Pay up！ e！'
The Defaulter would make answer； 'Ah； Mr Pancks。 If I was the rich
gentleman whose name is in everybody's mouth……if my name was Merdle；
sir……I'd soon pay up； and be glad to do it。'
Dialogues on the rent…question usually took place at the house…doors
or in the entries； and in the presence of several deeply interested
Bleeding Hearts。 They always received a reference of this kind with a
low murmur of response； as if it were convincing； and the Defaulter；
however black and disfited before； always cheered up a little in
making it。
'If I was Mr Merdle； sir； you wouldn't have cause to plain of me
then。 No； believe me！' the Defaulter would proceed with a shake of the
head。 'I'd pay up so quick then； Mr Pancks； that you shouldn't have to
ask me。'
The response would be heard again here； implying that it was impossible
to say anything fairer； and that this was the next thing to paying the
money down。
Mr Pancks would be now reduced to saying as he booked the case； 'Well！
You'll have the broker in； and be turned out； that's what'll happen to
you。 It's no use talking to me about Mr Merdle。 You are not Mr Merdle；
any more than I am。'
'No； sir；' the Defaulter would reply。 'I only wish you were him； sir。'
The response would take this up quickly； replying with great feeling；
'Only wish you were him； sir。'
'You'd be easier with us if you were Mr Merdle； sir；' the Defaulter
would go on with rising spirits； 'and it would be better for all
parties。 Better for our sakes； and better for yours； too。 You wouldn't
have to worry no one； then； sir。 You wouldn't have to worry us； and you
wouldn't have to worry yourself。 You'd be easier in your own mind； sir；
and you'd leave others easier； too； you would； if you were Mr Merdle。'
Mr Pancks； in whom these impersonal pliments produced an irresistible
sheepishness； never rallied after such a charge。 He could only bite
his nails and puff away to the next Defaulter。 The responsive Bleeding
Hearts would then gather round the Defaulter whom he had just abandoned；
and the most extravagant rumours would circulate among them； to their
great fort； touching the amount of Mr Merdle's ready money。
From one of the many such defeats of one of many rent…days； Mr Pancks；
having finished his day's collection； repaired with his note…book
under his arm to Mrs Plornish's corner。 Mr Pancks's object was not
professional； but social。 He had had a trying day； and wanted a little
brightening。 By this time he was on friendly terms with the Plornish
family； having often looked in upon them at similar seasons； and borne
his part in recollections of Miss Dorrit。
Mrs Plornish's shop…parlour had been decorated under her own eye； and
presented； on the side towards the shop； a little fiction in which Mrs
Plornish unspeakably rejoiced。 This poetical heightening of the parlour
consisted in the wall being painted to represent the exterior of a
thatched cottage； the artist having introduced （in as effective a manner
as he found patible with their highly disproportionate dimensions）
the real door and window。 The modest sunflower and hollyhock were
depicted as flourishing with great luxuriance on this rustic dwelling；
oke issuing from the chimney indicated good
cheer within； and also； perhaps； that it had not been lately swept。
A faithful dog was represented as flying at the legs of the friendly
visitor； from the threshold； and a circular pigeon…house； enveloped in a
cloud of pigeons； arose from behind the garden…paling。 On the door （when
it was shut）； appeared the semblance of a brass…plate； presenting
the inscription； Happy Cottage； T。 and M。 Plornish； the partnership
expressing man and wife。 No Poetry and no Art ever charmed the
imagination more than the union of the two in this counterfeit cottage
charmed Mrs Plornish。 It was nothing to her that Plornish had a habit
of leaning against it as he smoked his pipe after work； when his
hat blotted out the pigeon…house and all the pigeons； when his back
swallowed up the dwelling； when his hands in his pockets uprooted the
blooming garden and laid waste the adjacent country。 To Mrs Plornish； it
was still a most beautiful cottage； a most wonderful deception； and
it made no difference that Mr Plornish's eye was some inches above the
level of the gable bed…room in the thatch。 To e out into the shop
after it was shut； and hear her father sing a song inside this cottage；
was a perfect Pastoral to Mrs Plornish； the Golden Age revived。 And
truly if that famous period had been revived； or had ever been at all；
it may be doubted whether it would have produced many more heartily
admiring daughters than the poor woman。
Warned of a visitor by the tinkling bell at the shop…door； Mrs Plornish
came out of Happy Cottage to see who it might be。 'I guessed it was
you； Mr Pancks；' said she； 'for it's quite your regular night； ain't it？
Here's father； you see； e out to serve at the sound of the bell； like
a brisk young shopman。 Ain't he looking well？ Father's more pleased to
see you than if you was a customer； for he dearly loves a gossip； and
when it turns upon Miss Dorrit； he loves it all the more。 You never
heard father in such voice as he is at present；' said Mrs Plornish； her
own voice quavering； she was so proud and pleased。 'He gave us Strephon
last night to that degree that Plornish gets up and makes him this
speech across the table。 〃John Edward Nandy；〃 says Plornish to father；
〃I never heard you e the warbles as I have heard you e the warbles
this night。〃 An't it gratifying； Mr Pancks； though； really？'
Mr Pancks； who had snorted at the old man in his friendliest manner；
replied in the affirmative； and casually asked whether that lively Altro
chap had e in yet？ Mrs Plornish answered no； not yet； though he had
gone to the West…End with some work； and had said he should be back
by tea…time。 Mr Pancks was then hospitably pressed into Happy Cottage；
where he encountered the elder Master Plornish just e home from
school。 Examining that young student； lightly； on the educational
proceedings of the day； he found that the more advanced pupils who
were in the large text and the letter M； had been set the copy 'Merdle；
Millions。'
'And how are you getting on； Mrs Plornish；' said Pancks； 'since we're
mentioning millions？'
'Very steady； indeed； sir；' returned Mrs Plornish。 'Father； dear； would
you go into the shop and tidy the window a little bit before tea； your
taste being so beautiful？'
John Edward Nandy trotted away； much gratified； to ply with his
daughter's request。 Mrs Plornish； who was always in mortal terror
of mentioning pecuniary affairs before the old gentleman； lest any
disclosure she made might rouse his spirit and induce him to run away to
the workhouse； was thus left free to be confidential with Mr Pancks。
'It's quite true that the business is very steady indeed；' said Mrs
Plornish； lowering her voice； 'and has a excellent connection。 The only
thing that stands in its way； sir； is the Credit。'
This drawback； rather severely felt by most people who engaged in
mercial transactions with the inhabitants of Bleeding Heart Yard；
was a large stumbling…block in Mrs Plornish's trade。 When Mr Dorrit had
established her in the business； the Bleeding Hearts had shown an amount
of emotion and a determination to support her in it； that did honour to
human nature。 Recognising her claim upon their generous feelings as one
who had long been a member of their munity； they pledged themselves；
with great feeling； to deal with Mrs Plornish； e what would and
bestow their patronage on no other establishment。 Influenced by these
noble sentiments； they had even gone out of their way to purchase little
luxuries in the grocery and butter line to which they were unaccustomed；
saying to one another； that if they did stretch a point； was it not for
a neighbour and a friend； and for whom ought a point to be stretched if
not for such？ So stimulated； the business was extremely brisk； and the
articles in stock went off with the greatest celerity。 In short； if the
Bleeding Hearts had but paid； the undertaking would have been a plete
success； whereas； by reason of their exclusively confining themselves to
owing； the profits actually realised had not yet begun to appear in the
books。
Mr Pancks was making a very porcupine of himself by sticking his hair
up in the contemplation of this state of accounts； when old Mr Nandy；
re…entering the cottage with an air of mystery； entreated them to e
and look at the strange behaviour of Mr Baptist； who seemed to have met
with something that had scared him。 All three going into the shop； and
watching through the window； then saw Mr Baptist； pale and agitated； go
through the following extraordinary performances。 First； he was observed
hiding at the top of