disinterested and faithful
companion. The upshot of it was that I was to renounce her or be
renounced by him. Of course, I was not going to yield to him, and here I
am!"

Mr. Pinch, after staring at the fire, said, "Pecksniff, of course, you
knew before?"

"Only by name. My grandfather kept not only himself, but me, aloof from
all his relations. But our separation took place in a town in the
neighbouring county. I saw Pecksniff's advertisement in the paper when I
was at Salisbury, and answered it, having always had some natural taste
in the matters to which it referred. I was doubly bent on coming to him
if possible, on account of his being--"

"Such an excellent man," interposed Tom, rubbing his hands.

"Why, not so much on that account," returned Martin, "as because my
grandfather has an inveterate dislike to him, and after the old man's
arbitrary treatment of me, I had a natural desire to run as directly
counter to all his opinions as I could."

_II.--Mr. Pecksniff Discharges His Duty_

Mr. Pecksniff and his daughters took up their lodging in London at Mrs.
Todgers's Commercial Boarding House, and it was at that favoured abode
that old Martin Chuzzlewit, whose grandson had just entered Mr.
Pecksniff's house, sought him out.

"I very much regret," said old Martin, "that you and I held such a
conversation as we did when we met awhile since. The intentions that I
bear towards you now are of another kind. Deserted by all in whom I have
ever trusted; hoodwinked and beset by all who should help and sustain
me, I fly to you for refuge. I confide in you to be my ally; to attach
yourself to me by ties of interest and expectations. I regret having
been severed from you so long."

Mr. Pecksniff looked up to the ceiling, and clasped his hands in
rapture.

"I fear you don't know what an old man's humours are," resumed old
Martin. "You don't know what it is to be required to court his likings
and dislikings; to do his bidding, be it what it may. You have a new
inmate in your house. He must quit it."

"For--for yours?" asked Mr. Pecksniff.

"For any shelter he can find. He has deceived you."

"I hope not," said Mr. Pecksniff eagerly, "I trust not. I have been
extremely well disposed towards that young man. Deceit--deceit, my dear
Mr. Chuzzlewit, would be final. I should hold myself bound, on proof of
deceit, to renounce him instantly."

"Of course, you know that he has made his matrimonial choice?"

"Surely n