of their noble and honourable relatives； and buttered the Barnacles on
all sorts of toasts。 And they stood； under similar orders； at all sorts
of elections； and they turned out of their own seats； on the shortest
notice and the most unreasonable terms； to let in other men； and they
fetched and carried； and toadied and jobbed； and corrupted； and ate
heaps of dirt； and were indefatigable in the public service。 And there
was not a list； in all the Circumlocution Office； of places that might
fall vacant anywhere within half a century； from a lord of the Treasury
to a Chinese consul； and up again to a governor…general of India； but as
applicants for such places； the names of some or of every one of these
hungry and adhesive Barnacles were down。
It was necessarily but a sprinkling of any class of Barnacles that
attended the marriage； for there were not two score in all； and what
is that subtracted from Legion！ But the sprinkling was a swarm in the
Twickenham cottage； and filled it。 A Barnacle （assisted by a Barnacle）
married the happy pair； and it behoved Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle
himself to conduct Mrs Meagles to breakfast。
The entertainment was not as agreeable and natural as it might have
been。 Mr Meagles； hove down by his good pany while he highly
appreciated it； was not himself。 Mrs Gowan was herself； and that did not
improve him。 The fiction that it was not Mr Meagles who had stood in the
way； but that it was the Family greatness； and that the Family greatness
had made a concession； and there was now a soothing unanimity； pervaded
the affair； though it was never openly expressed。 Then the Barnacles
felt that they for their parts would have done with the Meagleses when
the present patronising occasion was over； and the Meagleses felt the
same for their parts。 Then Gowan asserting his rights as a disappointed
man who had his grudge against the family； and who； perhaps； had allowed
his mother to have them there； as much in the hope it might give them
some annoyance as with any other benevolent object； aired his pencil and
his poverty ostentatiously before them； and told them he hoped in time
to settle a crust of bread and cheese on his wife； and that he begged
such of them as （more fortunate than himself） came in for any good
thing； and could buy a picture； to please to remember the poor painter。
Then Lord Decimus； who was a wonder on his own Parliamentary pedestal；
turned out to be the windiest creature here： proposing happiness to the
bride and bridegroom in a series of platitudes that would have made the
hair of any sincere disciple and believer stand on end； and trotting；
with the placency of an idiotic elephant； among howling labyrinths of
sentences which he seemed to take for high roads； and never so much
as wanted to get out of。 Then Mr Tite Barnacle could not but feel that
there was a person in pany； who would have disturbed his life…long
sitting to Sir Thomas Lawrence in full official character； if such
disturbance had been possible： while Barnacle junior did； with
indignation； municate to two vapid gentlemen； his relatives； that
there was a feller here； look here； who had e to our Department
without an appointment and said he wanted to know； you know； and that；
look here； if he was to break out now； as he might you know （for you
never could tell what an ungentlemanly Radical of that sort would be up
to next）； and was to say； look here； that he wanted to know this moment；
you know； that would be jolly； wouldn't it？
The pleasantest part of the occasion by far； to Clennam； was the
painfullest。 When Mr and Mrs Meagles at last hung about Pet in the room
with the two pictures （where the pany were not）； before going with
her to the threshold which she could never recross to be the old Pet and
the old delight； nothing could be more natural and simple than the three
were。 Gowan himself was touched； and answered Mr Meagles's 'O Gowan；
take care of her； take care of her！' with an earnest 'Don't be so
broken…hearted； sir。 By Heaven I will！'
And so； with the last sobs and last loving words； and a last look to
Clennam of confidence in his promise； Pet fell back in the carriage；
and her husband waved his hand； and they were away for Dover； though not
until the faithful Mrs Tickit； in her silk gown and jet black curls； had
rushed out from some hiding…place； and thrown both her shoes after
the carriage： an apparition which occasioned great surprise to the
distinguished pany at the windows。
The said pany being now relieved from further attendance； and the
chief Barnacles being rather hurried （for they had it in hand just
then to send a mail or two which was in danger of going straight to its
destination； beating about the seas like the Flying Dutchman； and to
arrange with plexity for the stoppage of a good deal of important
business otherwise in peril of being done）； went their several ways；
with all affability conveying to Mr and Mrs Meagles that general
assurance that what they had been doing there； they had been doing at a
sacrifice for Mr and Mrs Meagles's good； which they always conveyed to
Mr John Bull in their official condescension to that most unfortunate
creature。
A miserable blank remained in the house and in the hearts of the father
and mother and Clennam。 Mr Meagles called only one remembrance to his
aid； that really did him good。
'It's very gratifying； Arthur；' he said； 'after all； to look back upon。'
'The past？' said Clennam。
'Yes……but I mean the pany。'
It had made him much more low and unhappy at the time； but now it really
did him good。 'It's very gratifying；' he said； often repeating the
remark in the course of the evening。 'Such high pany！'
CHAPTER 35。 What was behind Mr Pancks on Little Dorrit's Hand
It was at this time that Mr Pancks； in discharge of his pact with
Clennam； revealed to him the whole of his gipsy story； and told him
Little Dorrit's fortune。 Her father was heir…at…law to a great estate
that had long lain unknown of； unclaimed； and accumulating。 His right
was now clear； nothing interposed in his way； the Marshalsea gates stood
open； the Marshalsea walls were down； a few flourishes of his pen； and
he was extremely rich。
In his tracking out of the claim to its plete establishment； Mr
Pancks had shown a sagacity that nothing could baffle； and a patience
and secrecy that nothing could tire。 'I little thought； sir；' said
Pancks； 'when you and I crossed Smithfield that night； and I told you
what sort of a Collector I was； that this would e of it。 I little
thought； sir； when I told you you were not of the Clennams of
Cornwall； that I was ever going to tell you who were of the Dorrits of
Dorsetshire。' He then went on to detail。 How； having that name recorded
in his note…book； he was first attracted by the name alone。 How； having
often found two exactly similar names； even belonging to the same place；
to involve no traceable consanguinity； near or distant； he did not at
first give much heed to this； except in the way of speculation as to
what a surprising change would be made in the condition of a little
seamstress； if she could be shown to have any interest in so large a
prop