ion of a knight-errant; more farewells, more something else's; a
parting word from Martin that he would write from London and would do
great things there yet (Heaven knows what, but he quite believed it);
and Mark and he stood on the outside of the Pecksniffian halls.

'A short interview after such an absence!' said Martin, sorrowfully.
'But we are well out of the house. We might have placed ourselves in a
false position by remaining there, even so long, Mark.'

'I don't know about ourselves, sir,' he returned; 'but somebody else
would have got into a false position, if he had happened to come back
again, while we was there. I had the door all ready, sir. If Pecksniff
had showed his head, or had only so much as listened behind it, I would
have caught him like a walnut. He's the sort of man,' added Mr Tapley,
musing, 'as would squeeze soft, I know.'

A person who was evidently going to Mr Pecksniff's house, passed them at
this moment. He raised his eyes at the mention of the architect's name;
and when he had gone on a few yards, stopped and gazed at them. Mr
Tapley, also, looked over his shoulder, and so did Martin; for the
stranger, as he passed, had looked very sharply at them.

'Who may that be, I wonder!' said Martin. 'The face seems familiar to
me, but I don't know the man.'

'He seems to have a amiable desire that his face should be tolerable
familiar to us,' said Mr Tapley, 'for he's a-staring pretty hard. He'd
better not waste his beauty, for he ain't got much to spare.'

Coming in sight of the Dragon, they saw a travelling carriage at the
door.

'And a Salisbury carriage, eh?' said Mr Tapley. 'That's what he came in
depend upon it. What's in the wind now? A new pupil, I shouldn't wonder.
P'raps it's a order for another grammar-school, of the same pattern as
the last.'

Before they could enter at the door, Mrs Lupin came running out; and
beckoning them to the carriage showed them a portmanteau with the name
of CHUZZLEWIT upon it.

'Miss Pecksniff's husband that was,' said the good woman to Martin. 'I
didn't know what terms you might be on, and was quite in a worry till
you came back.'

'He and I have never interchanged a word yet,' observed Martin; 'and as
I have no wish to be better or worse acquainted with him, I will not put
myself in his way. We passed him on the road, I have no doubt. I am glad
he timed his coming as he did. Upon my word! Miss Pecksniff's husband
travels gayly!'

'A very fine-l