had not yet dined, and was going straight home to
refresh after a long day's labour, or he would have readily accepted the
hospitable offer. As Mr Pancks was somewhat noisily getting his steam
up for departure, he concluded by asking that gentleman if he would walk
with him? Mr Pancks said he desired no better engagement, and the two
took leave of Happy Cottage.
'If you will come home with me, Pancks,' said Arthur, when they got into
the street, 'and will share what dinner or supper there is, it will
be next door to an act of charity; for I am weary and out of sorts
to-night.'
'Ask me to do a greater thing than that,' said Pancks, 'when you want it
done, and I'll do it.'
Between this eccentric personage and Clennam, a tacit understanding and
accord had been always improving since Mr Pancks flew over Mr Rugg's
back in the Marshalsea Yard. When the carriage drove away on the
memorable day of the family's departure, these two had looked after it
together, and had walked slowly away together. When the first letter
came from little Dorrit, nobody was more interested in hearing of
her than Mr Pancks. The second letter, at that moment in Clennam's
breast-pocket, particularly remembered him by name. Though he had never
before made any profession or protestation to Clennam, and though what
he had just said was little enough as to the words in which it was
expressed, Clennam had long had a growing belief that Mr Pancks, in
his own odd way, was becoming attached to him. All these strings
intertwining made Pancks a very cable of anchorage that night.
'I am quite alone,' Arthur explained as they walked on. 'My partner is
away, busily engaged at a distance on his branch of our business, and
you shall do just as you like.'
'Thank you. You didn't take particular notice of little Altro just now;
did you?' said Pancks.
'No. Why?'
'He's a bright fellow, and I like him,' said Pancks. 'Something has
gone amiss with him to-day. Have you any idea of any cause that can have
overset him?'
'You surprise me! None whatever.'
Mr Pancks gave his reasons for the inquiry. Arthur was quite unprepared
for them, and quite unable to suggest an explanation of them.
'Perhaps you'll ask him,' said Pancks, 'as he's a stranger?'
'Ask him what?' returned Clennam.
'What he has on his mind.'
'I ought first to see for myself that he has something on his mind, I
think,' said Clennam. 'I have found him in every way so diligent, so
grat
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