stand it。 The chafing and firing of that girl； the wearing and tearing
of that girl within her own breast； has been such that I have
softly said to her again and again in passing her； 〃Five…and…twenty；
Tattycoram； five…and…twenty！〃 I heartily wish she could have gone
on counting five…and…twenty day and night； and then it wouldn't have
happened。'
Mr Meagles with a despondent countenance in which the goodness of his
heart was even more expressed than in his times of cheerfulness and
gaiety； stroked his face down from his forehead to his chin； and shook
his head again。
'I said to Mother （not that it was necessary； for she would have thought
it all for herself）； we are practical people； my dear； and we know her
story； we see in this unhappy girl some reflection of what was raging in
her mother's heart before ever such a creature as this poor thing was
in the world； we'll gloss her temper over； Mother； we won't notice it at
present； my dear； we'll take advantage of some better disposition in her
another time。 So we said nothing。 But； do what we would； it seems as if
it was to be； she broke out violently one night。'
'How； and why？'
'If you ask me Why；' said Mr Meagles； a little disturbed by the
question； for he was far more intent on softening her case than the
family's； 'I can only refer you to what I have just repeated as having
been pretty near my words to Mother。 As to How； we had said Good night
to Pet in her presence （very affectionately； I must allow）； and she
had attended Pet up…stairs……you remember she was her maid。 Perhaps Pet；
having been out of sorts； may have been a little more inconsiderate than
usual in requiring services of her： but I don't know that I have any
right to say so； she was always thoughtful and gentle。'
'The gentlest mistress in the world。'
'Thank you； Clennam；' said Mr Meagles； shaking him by the hand； 'you
have often seen them together。 Well！ We presently heard this unfortunate
Tattycoram loud and angry； and before we could ask what was the matter；
Pet came back in a tremble； saying she was frightened of her。 Close
after her came Tattycoram in a flaming rage。 〃I hate you all three；〃
says she； stamping her foot at us。 〃I am bursting with hate of the whole
house。〃'
'Upon which you……？'
'I？' said Mr Meagles； with a plain good faith that might have manded
the belief of Mrs Gowan herself。 'I said； count five…and…twenty；
Tattycoram。'
Mr Meagles again stroked his face and shook his head； with an air of
profound regret。
'She was so used to do it； Clennam； that even then； such a picture of
passion as you never saw； she stopped short； looked me full in the face；
and counted （as I made out） to eight。 But she couldn't control herself
to go any further。 There she broke down； poor thing； and gave the other
seventeen to the four winds。 Then it all burst out。 She detested us； she
was miserable with us； she couldn't bear it； she wouldn't bear it； she
was determined to go away。 She was younger than her young mistress； and
would she remain to see her always held up as the only creature who was
young and interesting； and to be cherished and loved？ No。 She wouldn't；
she wouldn't； she wouldn't！ What did we think she； Tattycoram； might
have been if she had been caressed and cared for in her childhood； like
her young mistress？ As good as her？ Ah！ Perhaps fifty times as good。
When we pretended to be so fond of one another； we exulted over her；
that was what we did； we exulted over her and shamed her。 And all in
the house did the same。 They talked about their fathers and mothers； and
brothers and sisters； they liked to drag them up before her face。 There
was Mrs Tickit； only yesterday； when her little grandchild was with her；
had been amused by the child's trying to call her （Tattycoram） by the
wretched name we gave her； and had laughed at the name。 Why； who didn't；
and who were we that we should have a right to name her like a dog or a
cat？ But she didn't care。 She would take no more benefits from us； she
would fling us her name back again； and she would go。 She would leave
us that minute； nobody should stop her； and we should never hear of her
again。'
Mr Meagles had recited all this with such a vivid remembrance of his
original； that he was almost as flushed and hot by this time as he
described her to have been。
'Ah； well！' he said； wiping his face。 'It was of no use trying reason
then； with that vehement panting creature （Heaven knows what her
mother's story must have been）； so I quietly told her that she should
not go at that late hour of night； and I gave her MY hand and took her
to her room； and locked the house doors。 But she was gone this morning。'
'And you know no more of her？'
'No more；' returned Mr Meagles。 'I have been hunting about all day。 She
must have gone very early and very silently。 I have found no trace of
her down about us。'
'Stay！ You want；' said Clennam； after a moment's reflection； 'to see
her？ I assume that？'
'Yes； assuredly； I want to give her another chance； Mother and Pet
want to give her another chance； e！ You yourself；' said Mr Meagles；
persuasively； as if the provocation to be angry were not his own at all；
'want to give the poor passionate girl another chance； I know； Clennam。'
'It would be strange and hard indeed if I did not；' said Clennam； 'when
you are all so forgiving。 What I was going to ask you was； have you
thought of that Miss Wade？'
'I have。 I did not think of her until I had pervaded the whole of our
neighbourhood； and I don't know that I should have done so then but
for finding Mother and Pet； when I went home； full of the idea that
Tattycoram must have gone to her。 Then； of course； I recalled what she
said that day at dinner when you were first with US。'
'Have you any idea where Miss Wade is to be found？'
'To tell you the truth；' returned Mr Meagles； 'it's because I have an
addled jumble of a notion on that subject that you found me waiting
here。 There is one of those odd impressions in my house； which do
mysteriously get into houses sometimes； which nobody seems to have
picked up in a distinct form from anybody； and yet which everybody seems
to have got hold of loosely from somebody and let go again； that she
lives； or was living； thereabouts。' Mr Meagles handed him a slip of
paper； on which was written the name of one of the dull by…streets in
the Grosvenor region； near Park Lane。
'Here is no number；' said Arthur looking over it。
'No number； my dear Clennam？' returned his friend。 'No anything！ The
very name of the street may have been floating in the air； for； as I
tell you； none of my people can say where they got it from。 However；
it's worth an inquiry； and as I would rather make it in pany than
alone； and as you too were a fellow…traveller of that immovable woman's；
I thought perhaps……' Clennam finished the sentence for him by taking up
his hat again； and saying he was ready。
It was now summer…time； a grey； hot； dusty evening。 They rode to the top
of Oxford Street； and there alighting； dived in among the great streets
of melancholy stateliness； and the little streets that try to be as
stately and succeed in being more melancholy；