of whom appeared distrustful of all other butlers。 The roll of carriages
in the Park was done for the day； the street lamps were lighting； and
wicked little grooms in the tightest fitting garments； with twists in
their legs answering to the twists in their minds； hung about in pairs；
chewing straws and exchanging fraudulent secrets。 The spotted dogs who
went out with the carriages； and who were so associated with splendid
equipages that it looked like a condescension in those animals to e
out without them； acpanied helpers to and fro on messages。 Here and
there was a retiring public…house which did not require to be supported
on the shoulders of the people； and where gentlemen out of livery were
not much wanted。
This last discovery was made by the two friends in pursuing their
inquiries。 Nothing was there； or anywhere； known of such a person as
Miss Wade； in connection with the street they sought。 It was one of the
parasite streets； long； regular； narrow； dull and gloomy； like a brick
and mortar funeral。 They inquired at several little area gates； where
a dejected youth stood spiking his chin on the summit of a precipitous
little shoot of wooden steps； but could gain no information。 They walked
up the street on one side of the way； and down it on the other； what
time two vociferous news…sellers； announcing an extraordinary event that
had never happened and never would happen； pitched their hoarse voices
into the secret chambers； but nothing came of it。 At length they stood
at the corner from which they had begun； and it had fallen quite dark；
and they were no wiser。
It happened that in the street they had several times passed a dingy
house； apparently empty； with bills in the windows； announcing that it
was to let。 The bills； as a variety in the funeral procession； almost
amounted to a decoration。 Perhaps because they kept the house separated
in his mind； or perhaps because Mr Meagles and himself had twice agreed
in passing； 'It is clear she don't live there；' Clennam now proposed
that they should go back and try that house before finally going away。
Mr Meagles agreed； and back they went。
They knocked once； and they rang once； without any response。
'Empty；' said Mr Meagles； listening。 'Once more；' said Clennam； and
knocked again。 After that knock they heard a movement below； and
somebody shuffling up towards the door。
The confined entrance was so dark that it was impossible to make out
distinctly what kind of person opened the door； but it appeared to be an
old woman。 'Excuse our troubling you；' said Clennam。 'Pray can you
tell us where Miss Wade lives？' The voice in the darkness unexpectedly
replied； 'Lives here。'
'Is she at home？'
No answer ing； Mr Meagles asked again。 'Pray is she at home？'
After another delay； 'I suppose she is；' said the voice abruptly； 'you
had better e in； and I'll ask。'
They 'were summarily shut into the close black house； and the figure
rustling away； and speaking from a higher level； said； 'e up； if you
please； you can't tumble over anything。' They groped their way up…stairs
towards a faint light； which proved to be the light of the street
shining through a window； and the figure left them shut in an airless
room。
'This is odd； Clennam；' said Mr Meagles； softly。
'Odd enough；' assented Clennam in the same tone； 'but we have succeeded；
that's the main point。 Here's a light ing！'
The light was a lamp； and the bearer was an old woman： very dirty； very
wrinkled and dry。 'She's at home；' she said （and the voice was the same
that had spoken before）； 'she'll e directly。' Having set the lamp
down on the table； the old woman dusted her hands on her apron； which
she might have done for ever without cleaning them； looked at the
visitors with a dim pair of eyes； and backed out。
The lady whom they had e to see； if she were the present occupant
of the house； appeared to have taken up her quarters there as she might
have established herself in an Eastern caravanserai。 A small square
of carpet in the middle of the room； a few articles of furniture that
evidently did not belong to the room； and a disorder of trunks and
travelling articles； formed the whole of her surroundings。 Under some
former regular inhabitant； the stifling little apartment had broken out
into a pier…glass and a gilt table； but the gilding was as faded as last
year's flowers； and the glass was so clouded that it seemed to hold in
magic preservation all the fogs and bad weather it had ever reflected。
The visitors had had a minute or two to look about them； when the door
opened and Miss Wade came in。
She was exactly the same as when they had parted； just as handsome； just
as scornful； just as repressed。 She manifested no surprise in seeing
them； nor any other emotion。 She requested them to be seated； and
declining to take a seat herself； at once anticipated any introduction
of their business。
'I apprehend；' she said； 'that I know the cause of your favouring me
with this visit。 We may e to it at once。'
'The cause then； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； 'is Tattycoram。'
'So I supposed。'
'Miss Wade；' said Mr Meagles； 'will you be so kind as to say whether you
know anything of her？'
'Surely。 I know she is here with me。'
'Then； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； 'allow me to make known to you that I
shall be happy to have her back； and that my wife and daughter will
be happy to have her back。 She has been with us a long time： we don't
forget her claims upon us； and I hope we know how to make allowances。'
'You hope to know how to make allowances？' she returned； in a level；
measured voice。 'For what？'
'I think my friend would say； Miss Wade；' Arthur Clennam interposed；
seeing Mr Meagles rather at a loss； 'for the passionate sense that
sometimes es upon the poor girl； of being at a disadvantage。 Which
occasionally gets the better of better remembrances。'
The lady broke into a smile as she turned her eyes upon him。 'Indeed？'
was all she answered。
She stood by the table so perfectly posed and still after this
acknowledgment of his remark that Mr Meagles stared at her under a sort
of fascination； and could not even look to Clennam to make another move。
After waiting； awkwardly enough； for some moments； Arthur said： 'Perhaps
it would be well if Mr Meagles could see her； Miss Wade？'
'That is easily done；' said she。 'e here； child。' She had opened a
door while saying this； and now led the girl in by the hand。 It was
very curious to see them standing together： the girl with her disengaged
fingers plaiting the bosom of her dress； half irresolutely； half
passionately； Miss Wade with her posed face attentively regarding
her； and suggesting to an observer； with extraordinary force； in her
posure itself （as a veil will suggest the form it covers）； the
unquenchable passion of her own nature。
'See here；' she said； in the same level way as before。 'Here is your
patron； your master。 He is willing to take you back； my dear； if you are
sensible of the favour and choose to go。 You can be； again； a foil to
his pretty daughter； a slave to her pleasant wilfulness； and a toy in
the house showing the goodness of the family。 You can have your droll
name again； playfully pointing you out and setting you apart； as it is
right that you should be pointed out and set apart。 （Your birth； you
know； you must not forget your birth。） You can again be shown to this
gentleman's daughter； Harriet； and kept before her； as a living reminder
of her own superiority and her gracious condescension。 You can recover
all these advantages and many more of the same kind which I dare say
start up in your memory while I speak； and which you lose in taking
refuge with me……you can recover them all by telling these gentlemen how
humbled and penitent you are； and by going back to them to be forgiven。
What do you say； Harriet？ Will you go？'
The girl who； under the influence of these words； had gradually risen
in anger and heightened in colour； answered； raising her lustrous black
eyes for the moment； and clenching her hand upon the folds it had been
puckering up； 'I'd die sooner！'
Miss Wade； still standing at her side holding her hand； looked quietly
round and said with a smile； 'Gentlemen！ What do you do upon that？'
Poor Mr Meagles's inexpressible consternation in hearing his motives and
actions so perverted； had prevented him from interposing any word until
now； but now he regained the power of speech。
'Tattycoram；' said he； 'for I'll call you by that name still； my good
girl； conscious that I meant nothing but kindness when I gave it to you；
and conscious that you know it……'
'I don't！' said she； looking up again； and almost rending herself with
the same busy hand。
'No； not now； perhaps；' said Mr Meagles； 'not with that lady's eyes so
intent upon you； Tattycoram；' she glanced at them for a moment； 'and
that power over you； which we see she exercises； not now； perhaps； but
at another time。 Tattycoram； I'll not ask that lady whether she believes
what she has said； even in the anger and ill blood in which I and my
friend here equally know she has spoken； though she subdues herself；
with a determination that any one who has once seen her is not likely
to forget。 I'll not ask you； with your remembrance of my house and all
belonging to it； whether you believe it。 I'll only say that you have
no profession to make to me or mine； and no forgiveness to entreat；
and that all in the world that I ask you to do； is； to count
five…and…twenty； Tattycoram。'
She looked at him for an instant； and then said frowningly； 'I won't。
Miss Wade； take me away； please。'
The contention that raged within her had no softening in it now； it
was wholly between passionate defiance and stubborn defiance。 Her rich
colour； her quick blood； her rapid breath； were all setting themselves
against the opportunity of retracing their steps。 'I won't。 I won't。
I won't！' she repeated in a low； thick voice。 'I'd be torn to pieces
first。 I'd tear myself to pieces first！'
Miss Wade； who had released her hold； laid her hand protectingly on the
girl's neck for a moment； and then said； looking round with her former
smile and speaking exactly in her former tone； 'Gentlemen！ What do you
do upon that？'
'Oh； Tattycoram； Tattycoram！' cried Mr Meagles； adjuring her besides
with an earnest hand。 'Hear that lady's voice； look at that lady's face；
consider what is in that lady's heart； and think what a future lies
before you。 My child； whatever you may think； that lady's influence
over you……astonishing to us； and I should hardly go too far in saying
terrible to us to see……is founded in passion fiercer than yours； and
temper more violent than yours。 What can you two be together？ What can
e of it？'
'I am alone here； gentlemen；' observed Miss Wade； with no change of
voice or manner。 'Say anything you will。'
'Politeness must yield to this misguided girl； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles；
'at her present pass； though I hope not altogether to dismiss it；
even with the injury you do her so strongly before me。 Excuse me for
reminding you in her hearing……I must say it……that you were a mystery
to all of us； and had nothing in mon with any of us when she
unfortunately fell in your