within those prison walls； within that very room。
'But； if it ever should be； tell me so； my dear child。 Entrust the truth
to me； point out the object of such an interest to me； and I will try
with all the zeal； and honour； and friendship and respect that I feel
for you； good Little Dorrit of my heart； to do you a lasting service。'
'O thank you； thank you！ But； O no； O no； O no！' She said this； looking
at him with her work…worn hands folded together； and in the same
resigned accents as before。
'I press for no confidence now。 I only ask you to repose unhesitating
trust in me。'
'Can I do less than that； when you are so good！'
'Then you will trust me fully？ Will have no secret unhappiness； or
anxiety； concealed from me？'
'Almost none。'
'And you have none now？'
She shook her head。 But she was very pale。
'When I lie down to…night； and my thoughts e back……as they will； for
they do every night； even when I have not seen you……to this sad place； I
may believe that there is no grief beyond this room； now； and its usual
occupants； which preys on Little Dorrit's mind？'
She seemed to catch at these words……that he remembered； too； long
afterwards……and said； more brightly； 'Yes； Mr Clennam； yes； you may！'
The crazy staircase； usually not slow to give notice when any one was
ing up or down； here creaked under a quick tread； and a further sound
was heard upon it； as if a little steam…engine with more steam than it
knew what to do with； were working towards the room。 As it approached；
which it did very rapidly； it laboured with increased energy； and；
after knocking at the door； it sounded as if it were stooping down and
snorting in at the keyhole。
Before Maggy could open the door； Mr Pancks； opening it from without；
stood without a hat and with his bare head in the wildest condition；
looking at Clennam and Little Dorrit； over her shoulder。
He had a lighted cigar in his hand； and brought with him airs of ale and
tobacco smoke。
'Pancks the gipsy；' he observed out of breath； 'fortune…telling。' He
stood dingily smiling； and breathing hard at them； with a most curious
air； as if； instead of being his proprietor's grubber； he were the
triumphant proprietor of the Marshalsea； the Marshal； all the turnkeys；
and all the Collegians。 In his great self…satisfaction he put his cigar
to his lips （being evidently no smoker）； and took such a pull at it；
with his right eye shut up tight for the purpose； that he underwent
a convulsion of shuddering and choking。 But even in the midst of that
paroxysm； he still essayed to repeat his favourite introduction of
himself； 'Pa…ancks the gi…ipsy； fortune…telling。'
'I am spending the evening with the rest of 'em；' said Pancks。 'I've
been singing。 I've been taking a part in White sand and grey sand。
I don't know anything about it。 Never mind。 I'll take any part in
anything。 It's all the same； if you're loud enough。'
At first Clennam supposed him to be intoxicated。 But he soon perceived
that though he might be a little the worse （or better） for ale； the
staple of his excitement was not brewed from malt； or distilled from any
grain or berry。
'How d'ye do； Miss Dorrit？' said Pancks。 'I thought you wouldn't mind my
running round； and looking in for a moment。 Mr Clennam I heard was here；
from Mr Dorrit。 How are you； Sir？'
Clennam thanked him； and said he was glad to see him so gay。
'Gay！' said Pancks。 'I'm in wonderful feather； sir。 I can't stop a
minute； or I shall be missed； and I don't want 'em to miss me。……Eh； Miss
Dorrit？'
He seemed to have an insatiate delight in appealing to her and looking
at her； excitedly sticking his hair up at the same moment； like a dark
species of cockatoo。
'I haven't been here half an hour。 I knew Mr Dorrit was in the chair；
and I said； 〃I'll go and support him！〃 I ought to be down in Bleeding
Heart Yard by rights； but I can worry them to…morrow。……Eh； Miss Dorrit？'
His little black eyes sparkled electrically。 His very hair seemed to
sparkle as he roughened it。 He was in that highly…charged state that one
might have expected to draw sparks and snaps from him by presenting a
knuckle to any part of his figure。
'Capital pany here；' said Pancks。……'Eh； Miss Dorrit？'
She was half afraid of him； and irresolute what to say。 He laughed； with
a nod towards Clennam。
'Don't mind him； Miss Dorrit。 He's one of us。 We agreed that you
shouldn't take on to mind me before people； but we didn't mean Mr
Clennam。 He's one of us。 He's in it。 An't you； Mr Clennam？……Eh； Miss
Dorrit？' The excitement of this strange creature was fast municating
itself to Clennam。 Little Dorrit with amazement； saw this； and observed
that they exchanged quick looks。
'I was making a remark；' said Pancks； 'but I declare I forget what
it was。 Oh； I know！ Capital pany here。 I've been treating 'em all
round。……Eh； Miss Dorrit？'
'Very generous of you；' she returned； noticing another of the quick
looks between the two。
'Not at all；' said Pancks。 'Don't mention it。 I'm ing into my
property； that's the fact。 I can afford to be liberal。 I think I'll give
'em a treat here。 Tables laid in the yard。 Bread in stacks。 Pipes in
faggots。 Tobacco in hayloads。 Roast beef and plum…pudding for every one。
Quart of double stout a head。 Pint of wine too； if they like it； and the
authorities give permission。……Eh； Miss Dorrit？'
She was thrown into such a confusion by his manner； or rather by
Clennam's growing understanding of his manner （for she looked to him
after every fresh appeal and cockatoo demonstration on the part of Mr
Pancks）； that she only moved her lips in answer； without forming any
word。
'And oh； by…the…bye！' said Pancks； 'you were to live to know what was
behind us on that little hand of yours。 And so you shall； you shall； my
darling。……Eh； Miss Dorrit？'
He had suddenly checked himself。 Where he got all the additional black
prongs from； that now flew up all over his head like the myriads of
points that break out in the large change of a great firework； was a
wonderful mystery。
'But I shall be missed；' he came back to that； 'and I don't want 'em to
miss me。 Mr Clennam； you and I made a bargain。 I said you should find me
stick to it。 You shall find me stick to it now； sir； if you'll step out
of the room a moment。 Miss Dorrit； I wish you good night。 Miss Dorrit； I
wish you good fortune。'
He rapidly shook her by both hands； and puffed down stairs。 Arthur
followed him with such a hurried step； that he had very nearly tumbled
over him on the last landing； and rolled him down into the yard。
'What is it； for Heaven's sake！' Arthur demanded； when they burst out
there both together。
'Stop a moment； sir。 Mr Rugg。 Let me introduce him。' With those words
he presented another man without a hat； and also with a cigar； and also
surrounded with a halo of ale and tobacco smoke； which man； though not
so excited as himself； was in a state which would have been akin to
lunacy but for its fading into sober method when pared with the
rampancy of Mr Pancks。 'Mr Clennam； Mr Rugg；' said Pancks。 'Stop a
moment。 e to the pump。'
They adjourned to the pump。 Mr Pancks； instantly putting his head unde