eaf, and took little interest in anything.

After they came to The Blue Dragon Inn, Pecksniff threw himself
constantly in old Chuzzlewit's way, flattering and smooth, and before
long Mary saw, to her grief, that the old man was coming more and more
under the other's influence. When she was alone with him he seemed more
his former eager self; but let Pecksniff appear and the strange dull
look would come and he would seem only anxious to ask his advice about
the smallest matters.

Little wonder Pecksniff concluded he could wind his victim around his
finger. At length he proposed that old Chuzzlewit and Mary leave The
Blue Dragon, where he said he felt sure they were not comfortable, and
come and live with him under his own roof. To Mary's dismay, the old man
consented, and they were soon settled in the architect's house.

The only thing that now seemed to stand in Pecksniff's way was Mary, and
he decided that, as old Chuzzlewit was fond of her, he himself would
marry her. Once married to her, he reasoned, with both of them to
influence old Chuzzlewit, it would be easy to do what they pleased with
him and with his money, too. With this end in view, he began to
persecute poor Mary with his attentions, squeezing her hand and throwing
kisses to her when no one else was looking.

Charity, Pecksniff's older daughter, was not blind to his plan. She was
in a sour temper because the miserly Jonas, who came from London often
now to see them, had begun to make love to Mercy instead of to her. To
see her father now paying so much attention to Mary Graham made Charity
angry, and she left her father's house and went to live in London at
Mrs. Todgers's boarding-house, where she set her cap to catch a young
man, whether he wanted to be caught or not. As for Mercy, the younger
sister, she was leading Jonas such a dance that she thought very little
of her father's schemes.

His vinegary daughter Charity out of the way, Pecksniff began to
persecute Mary more and more. One day he made her so angry by holding
her hand and kissing it that she threatened to complain to old
Chuzzlewit. Pecksniff told her that if she did he would use all his
influence to turn the old man still more against his grandson. The poor
girl was in great trouble then, for she loved Martin and feared
Pecksniff's growing power with old Chuzzlewit. And seeing that this
threat frightened her, Pecksniff continued his annoyances.

According to Martin's parting advice, Ma