those young ladies naturally regarded her with great indignation,
feeling that this was by no means what they had come to see.

Miss Mercy, as having the larger share of gayety, bore up the best
against this disappointment, and carried it off, in outward show at
least, with a titter; but her sister, not caring to hide her disdain,
expressed it pretty openly in her looks. As to Mrs. Todgers, she leaned
on Mr. Pecksniff's arm and preserved a kind of genteel grimness,
suitable to any state of mind, and involving any shade of opinion.

"Don't be alarmed, Miss Pinch," said Mr. Pecksniff, taking her hand
condescendingly in one of his, and patting it with the other. "I have
called to see you, in pursuance of a promise given to your brother,
Thomas Pinch. My name--compose yourself, Miss Pinch--is Pecksniff."

The good man spoke these words as though he would have said, "You see in
me, young person, the friend of your race; the patron of your house; the
preserver of your brother, who is fed with manna daily from my table;
and in right of whom there is a considerable balance in my favor at
present standing in the books beyond the sky. But I have no pride, for I
can afford to do without it!"

The poor girl felt it all as if it had been Gospel Truth. Her brother,
writing in the fullness of his simple heart, had often told her so, and
how much more! As Mr. Pecksniff ceased to speak, she hung her head, and
dropped a tear upon his hand.

"Oh, very well, Miss Pinch!" thought the sharp pupil, "crying before
strangers as if you didn't like the situation!"

"Thomas is well," said Mr. Pecksniff; "and sends his love and this
letter. I cannot say, poor fellow, that he will ever become great in our
profession; but he has the will to do well, which is the next thing to
having the power; and, therefore, we must bear with him. Eh?"

"I know he has the will, sir," said Tom Pinch's sister, "and I know how
kindly and thoughtfully you cherish it, for which neither he nor I can
ever be grateful enough, as we often say in writing to each other. The
young ladies, too," she added, glancing gratefully at his two daughters.
"I know how much we owe to them."

"My dears," said Mr. Pecksniff, turning to them with a smile: "Thomas'
sister is saying something you will be glad to hear, I think."

"We can't take any merit to ourselves, papa!" cried Cherry, as they both
showed Tom Pinch's sister, with a courtesy, that they would feel obliged
if she wou