l not ask you, with your remembrance of my house and all
belonging to it, whether you believe it. I'll only say that you have
no profession to make to me or mine, and no forgiveness to entreat;
and that all in the world that I ask you to do, is, to count
five-and-twenty, Tattycoram.'

She looked at him for an instant, and then said frowningly, 'I won't.
Miss Wade, take me away, please.'

The contention that raged within her had no softening in it now; it
was wholly between passionate defiance and stubborn defiance. Her rich
colour, her quick blood, her rapid breath, were all setting themselves
against the opportunity of retracing their steps. 'I won't. I won't.
I won't!' she repeated in a low, thick voice. 'I'd be torn to pieces
first. I'd tear myself to pieces first!'

Miss Wade, who had released her hold, laid her hand protectingly on the
girl's neck for a moment, and then said, looking round with her former
smile and speaking exactly in her former tone, 'Gentlemen! What do you
do upon that?'

'Oh, Tattycoram, Tattycoram!' cried Mr Meagles, adjuring her besides
with an earnest hand. 'Hear that lady's voice, look at that lady's face,
consider what is in that lady's heart, and think what a future lies
before you. My child, whatever you may think, that lady's influence
over you--astonishing to us, and I should hardly go too far in saying
terrible to us to see--is founded in passion fiercer than yours, and
temper more violent than yours. What can you two be together? What can
come of it?'

'I am alone here, gentlemen,' observed Miss Wade, with no change of
voice or manner. 'Say anything you will.'

'Politeness must yield to this misguided girl, ma'am,' said Mr Meagles,
'at her present pass; though I hope not altogether to dismiss it,
even with the injury you do her so strongly before me. Excuse me for
reminding you in her hearing--I must say it--that you were a mystery
to all of us, and had nothing in common with any of us when she
unfortunately fell in your way. I don't know what you are, but you don't
hide, can't hide, what a dark spirit you have within you. If it should
happen that you are a woman, who, from whatever cause, has a perverted
delight in making a sister-woman as wretched as she is (I am old enough
to have heard of such), I warn her against you, and I warn you against
yourself.'

'Gentlemen!' said Miss Wade, calmly. 'When you have concluded--Mr
Clennam, perhaps you will induce your friend--'

'No