manner as he became more interested； listened with great attention；
appearing to derive the most agreeable sensations from the painfullest
parts of the narrative； and particularly to be quite charmed by the
account of William Dorrit's long imprisonment。
'In conclusion； Mr Pancks；' said Arthur； 'I have but to say this。 I have
reasons beyond a personal regard for speaking as little as I can of the
Dorrit family； particularly at my mother's house' （Mr Pancks nodded）；
'and for knowing as much as I can。 So devoted a man of business as you
are……eh？'
For Mr Pancks had suddenly made that blowing effort with unusual force。
'It's nothing；' said Pancks。
'So devoted a man of business as yourself has a perfect understanding of
a fair bargain。 I wish to make a fair bargain with you； that you shall
enlighten me concerning the Dorrit family when you have it in your
power； as I have enlightened you。 It may not give you a very flattering
idea of my business habits； that I failed to make my terms beforehand；'
continued Clennam； 'but I prefer to make them a point of honour。 I have
seen so much business done on sharp principles that； to tell you the
truth； Mr Pancks； I am tired of them。'
Mr Pancks laughed。 'It's a bargain； sir；' said he。 'You shall find me
stick to it。'
After that； he stood a little while looking at Clennam； and biting his
ten nails all round； evidently while he fixed in his mind what he had
been told； and went over it carefully； before the means of supplying a
gap in his memory should be no longer at hand。 'It's all right；' he said
at last； 'and now I'll wish you good day； as it's collecting day in the
Yard。 By…the…bye； though。 A lame foreigner with a stick。'
'Ay； ay。 You do take a reference sometimes； I see？' said Clennam。
'When he can pay； sir；' replied Pancks。 'Take all you can get； and
keep back all you can't be forced to give up。 That's business。 The lame
foreigner with the stick wants a top room down the Yard。 Is he good for
it？'
'I am；' said Clennam； 'and I will answer for him。'
'That's enough。 What I must have of Bleeding Heart Yard；' said Pancks；
making a note of the case in his book； 'is my bond。 I want my bond； you
see。 Pay up； or produce your property！ That's the watchword down the
Yard。 The lame foreigner with the stick represented that you sent him；
but he could represent （as far as that goes） that the Great Mogul sent
him。 He has been in the hospital； I believe？'
'Yes。 Through having met with an accident。 He is only just now
discharged。'
'It's pauperising a man； sir； I have been shown； to let him into a
hospital？' said Pancks。 And again blew off that remarkable sound。
'I have been shown so too；' said Clennam； coldly。
Mr Pancks； being by that time quite ready for a start； got under steam
in a moment； and； without any other signal or ceremony； was snorting
down the step…ladder and working into Bleeding Heart Yard； before he
seemed to be well out of the counting…house。
Throughout the remainder of the day； Bleeding Heart Yard was in
consternation； as the grim Pancks cruised in it； haranguing the
inhabitants on their backslidings in respect of payment； demanding his
bond； breathing notices to quit and executions； running down defaulters；
sending a swell of terror on before him； and leaving it in his wake。
Knots of people； impelled by a fatal attraction； lurked outside any
house in which he was known to be； listening for fragments of his
discourses to the inmates； and； when he was rumoured to be ing down
the stairs； often could not disperse so quickly but that he would be
prematurely in among them； demanding their own arrears； and rooting them
to the spot。 Throughout the remainder of the day； Mr Pancks's What were
they up to？ and What did they mean by it？ sounded all over the Yard。 Mr
Pancks wouldn't hear of excuses； wouldn't hear of plaints； wouldn't
hear of repairs； wouldn't hear of anything but unconditional money down。
Perspiring and puffing and darting about in eccentric directions； and
being hotter and dingier every moment； he lashed the tide of the yard
into a most agitated and turbid state。 It had not settled down into calm
water again full two hours after he had been seen fuming away on the
horizon at the top of the steps。
There were several small assemblages of the Bleeding Hearts at the
popular points of meeting in the Yard that night； among whom it was
universally agreed that Mr Pancks was a hard man to have to do with； and
that it was much to be regretted； so it was； that a gentleman like Mr
Casby should put his rents in his hands； and never know him in his true
light。 For （said the Bleeding Hearts）； if a gentleman with that head of
hair and them eyes took his rents into his own hands； ma'am； there
would be none of this worriting and wearing； and things would be very
different。
At which identical evening hour and minute； the Patriarch……who had
floated serenely through the Yard in the forenoon before the harrying
began； with the express design of getting up this trustfulness in his
shining bumps and silken locks……at which identical hour and minute；
that first…rate humbug of a thousand guns was heavily floundering in the
little Dock of his exhausted Tug at home； and was saying； as he turned
his thumbs：
'A very bad day's work； Pancks； very bad day's work。 It seems to me；
sir； and I must insist on making this observation forcibly in justice to
myself； that you ought to have got much more money； much more money。'
CHAPTER 24。 Fortune…Telling
Little Dorrit received a call that same evening from Mr Plornish； who；
having intimated that he wished to speak to her privately； in a series
of coughs so very noticeable as to favour the idea that her father； as
regarded her seamstress occupation； was an illustration of the axiom
that there are no such stone…blind men as those who will not see；
obtained an audience with her on the mon staircase outside the door。
'There's been a lady at our place to…day； Miss Dorrit；' Plornish
growled； 'and another one along with her as is a old wixen if ever I met
with such。 The way she snapped a person's head off； dear me！'
The mild Plornish was at first quite unable to get his mind away from Mr
F。's Aunt。 'For；' said he； to excuse himself； 'she is； I do assure you；
the winegariest party。'
At length； by a great effort； he detached himself from the subject
sufficiently to observe：
'But she's neither here nor there just at present。 The other lady； she's
Mr Casby's daughter； and if Mr Casby an't well off； none better； it an't
through any fault of Pancks。 For； as to Pancks； he does； he really does；
he does indeed！'
Mr Plornish； after his usual manner； was a little obscure； but
conscientiously emphatic。
'And what she e to our place for；' he pursued； 'was to leave word
that if Miss Dorrit would step up to that card……which it's Mr Casby's
house that is； and Pancks he has a office at the back； where he really
does； beyond belief……she would be glad for to engage her。 She was a old
and a dear friend； she said particular； of Mr Clennam； and hoped for to
prove herself a useful friend to his friend。 Them was her words。 Wishing
to know whether Miss Dorrit could e to…morrow morning； I said I would
see you； Miss； and inquire； and look round there to…night； to say yes；
or； if you was engaged to…morrow； when？'
'I can go to…morrow； thank you；' said Little Dorrit。 'This is very kind
of you； but you are always kind。'
Mr Plornish； with a modest disavowal of his merits； opened the room door
for her readmission； and followed her in with such an exceedingly bald
pretence of not having been out at all； that her father might
have observed it without being very suspicious。 In his affable
unconsciousness； however； he took no heed。 Plornish； after a little
conversation； in which he blended his former duty as a Collegian with
his present privilege as a humble outside friend； qualified again by his
low estate as a plasterer； took his leave； making the tour of the prison
before he left； and looking on at a game of skittles with the mixed
feelings of an old inhabitant who had his private reasons for believing
that it might be his destiny to e back again。
Early in the morning； Little Dorrit； leaving Maggy in high domestic
trust； set off for the Patriarchal tent。 She went by the Iron Bridge；
though it cost her a penny； and walked more slowly in that part of her
journey than in any other。 At five minutes before eight her hand was on
the Patriarchal knocker； which was quite as high as she could reach。
She gave Mrs Finching's card to the young woman who opened the door； and
the young woman told her that 'Miss Flora'……Flora having； on her return
to the parental roof； reinvested herself with the title under which she
had lived there……was not yet out of her bedroom； but she was to please
to walk up into Miss Flora's sitting…room。 She walked up into
Miss Flora's sitting…room； as in duty bound； and there found a
breakfast…table fortably laid for two； with a supplementary tray
upon it laid for one。 The young woman； disappearing for a few moments；
returned to say that she was to please to take a chair by the fire；
and to take off her bon and make herself at home。 But Little Dorrit；
being bashful； and not used to make herself at home on such occasions；
felt at a loss how to do it； so she was still sitting near the door with
her bon on； when Flora came in in a hurry half an hour afterwards。
Flora was so sorry to have kept her waiting； and good gracious why did
she sit out there in the cold when she had expected to find her by the
fire reading the paper； and hadn't that heedless girl given her the
message then； and had she really been in her bon all this time； and
pray for goodness sake let Flora take it off！ Flora taking it off in the
best…natured manner in the world； was so struck with the face disclosed；
that she said； 'Why； what a good little thing you are； my dear！' and
pressed her face between her hands like the gentlest of women。
It was the word and the action of a moment。 Little Dorrit had hardly
time to think how kind it was； when Flora dashed at the breakfast…table
full of business； and plunged over head and ears into loquacity。
'Really so sorry that I should happen to be late on this morning of all
mornings because my intention and my wish was to be ready to meet you
when you came in and to say that any one that interested Arthur Clennam
half so much must interest me and that I gave you the heartiest wele
and was so glad； instead of which they never called me and there I
still am snoring I dare say if the truth was known and if you don't like
either cold fowl or hot boiled ham which many people don't I dare say
besides Jews and theirs are scruples of conscience which we must all
respect though I must say I wish they had them equally strong when they
sell us false articles for real that certainly ain't worth the money I
shall be quite vexed；' said Flora。
Little Dorrit thanked her； and said； shyly； bread…and…butter and tea was
all she usually……
'Oh nonsense my dear child I can never hear of that；' said Flora；
turning on the urn in the most reckless manner； and making herself wink
by splashing hot water i