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 communicating
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 company 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 coming 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 compared with the
rampancy of Mr Pancks. 'Mr Clennam, Mr Rugg,' said Pancks. 'Stop a
moment. Come to the pump.' They adjourned to the pump. Mr Pancks, instantly putting his head under
the spout, requested Mr Rugg to take a good strong turn at the handle.
Mr Rugg complying to the letter, Mr Pancks came forth snorting and
blowing to some purpose, and dried himself on his handkerchief. 'I am the clearer for that,' he gasped to Clennam standing astonished.
'But upon my soul, to hear her father making speeches in that chair,
knowing what we know, and to see her up in that room in that dress,
knowing what we know, is enough to--give me a back, Mr Rugg--a little
higher, sir,--that'll do!'