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married the happy pair； and it behoved Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle
himself to conduct Mrs Meagles to breakfast。
The entertainment was not as agreeable and natural as it might have
been。 Mr Meagles； hove down by his good pany while he highly
appreciated it； was not himself。 Mrs Gowan was herself； and that did not
improve him。 The fiction that it was not Mr Meagles who had stood in the
way； but that it was the Family greatness； and that the Family greatness
had made a concession； and there was now a soothing unanimity； pervaded
the affair； though it was never openly expressed。 Then the Barnacles
felt that they for their parts would have done with the Meagleses when
the present patronising occasion was over； and the Meagleses felt the
same for their parts。 Then Gowan asserting his rights as a disappointed
man who had his grudge against the family； and who； perhaps； had allowed
his mother to have them there； as much in the hope it might give them
some annoyance as with any other benevolent object； aired his pencil and
his poverty ostentatiously before them； and told them he hoped in time
to settle a crust of bread and cheese on his wife； and that he begged
such of them as （more fortunate than himself） came in for any good
thing； and could buy a picture； to please to remember the poor painter。
Then Lord Decimus； who was a wonder on his own Parliamentary pedestal；
turned out to be the windiest creature here： proposing happiness to the
bride and bridegroom in a series of platitudes that would have made the
hair of any sincere disciple and believer stand on end； and trotting；
with the placency of an idiotic elephant； among howling labyrinths of
sentences which he seemed to take for high roads； and never so much
as wanted to get out of。 Then Mr Tite Barnacle could not but feel that
there was a person in pany； who would have disturbed his life…long
sitting to Sir Thomas Lawrence in full official character； if such
disturbance had been possible： while Barnacle junior did； with
indignation； municate to two vapid gentlemen； his relatives； that
there was a feller here； look here； who had e to our Department
without an appointment and said he wanted to know； you know； and that；
look here； if he was to break out now； as he might you know （for you
never could tell what an ungentlemanly Radical of that sort would be up
to next）； and was to say； look here； that he wanted to know this moment；
you know； that would be jolly； wouldn't it？
The pleasantest part of the occasion by far； to Clennam； was the
painfullest。 When Mr and Mrs Meagles at last hung about Pet in the room
with the two pictures （where the pany were not）； before going with
her to the threshold which she could never recross to be the old Pet and
the old delight； nothing could be more natural and simple than the three
were。 Gowan himself was touched； and answered Mr Meagles's 'O Gowan；
take care of her； take care of her！' with an earnest 'Don't be so
broken…hearted； sir。 By Heaven I will！'
And so； with the last sobs and last loving words； and a last look to
Clennam of confidence in his promise； Pet fell back in the carriage；
and her husband waved his hand； and they were away for Dover； though not
until the faithful Mrs Tickit； in her silk gown and jet black curls； had
rushed out from some hiding…place； and thrown both her shoes after
the carriage： an apparition which occasioned great surprise to the
distinguished pany at the windows。
The said pany being now relieved from further attendance； and the
chief Barnacles being rather hurried （for they had it in hand just
then to send a mail or two which was in danger of going straight to its
destination； beating about the seas like the Flying Dutchman； and to
arrange with plexity for the stoppage of a good deal of important
business otherwise in peril of being done）； went their several ways；
with all affability conveying to Mr and Mrs Meagles that general
assurance that what they had been doing there； they had been doing at a
sacrifice for Mr and Mrs Meagles's good； which they always conveyed to
Mr John Bull in their official condescension to that most unfortunate
creature。
A miserable blank remained in the house and in the hearts of the father
and mother and Clennam。 Mr Meagles called only one remembrance to his
aid； that really did him good。
'It's very gratifying； Arthur；' he said； 'after all； to look back upon。'
'The past？' said Clennam。
'Yes……but I mean the pany。'
It had made him much more low and unhappy at the time； but now it really
did him good。 'It's very gratifying；' he said； often repeating the
remark in the course of the evening。 'Such high pany！'
CHAPTER 35。 What was behind Mr Pancks on Little Dorrit's Hand
It was at this time that Mr Pancks； in discharge of his pact with
Clennam； revealed to him the whole of his gipsy story； and told him
Little Dorrit's fortune。 Her father was heir…at…law to a great estate
that had long lain unknown of； unclaimed； and accumulating。 His right
was now clear； nothing interposed in his way； the Marshalsea gates stood
open； the Marshalsea walls were down； a few flourishes of his pen； and
he was extremely rich。
In his tracking out of the claim to its plete establishment； Mr
Pancks had shown a sagacity that nothing could baffle； and a patience
and secrecy that nothing could tire。 'I little thought； sir；' said
Pancks； 'when you and I crossed Smithfield that night； and I told you
what sort of a Collector I was； that this would e of it。 I little
thought； sir； when I told you you were not of the Clennams of
Cornwall； that I was ever going to tell you who were of the Dorrits of
Dorsetshire。' He then went on to detail。 How； having that name recorded
in his note…book； he was first attracted by the name alone。 How； having
often found two exactly similar names； even belonging to the same place；
to involve no traceable consanguinity； near or distant； he did not at
first give much heed to this； except in the way of speculation as to
what a surprising change would be made in the condition of a little
seamstress； if she could be shown to have any interest in so large a
property。 How he rather supposed himself to have pursued the idea into
its next degree； because there was something unmon in the quiet
little seamstress； which pleased him and provoked his curiosity。
How he had felt his way inch by inch； and 'Moled it out； sir' （that was
Mr Pancks's expression）； grain by grain。 How； in the beginning of
the labour described by this new verb； and to render which the more
expressive Mr Pancks shut his eyes in pronouncing it and shook his hair
over them； he had alternated from sudden lights and hopes to sudden
darkness and no hopes； and back again； and back again。 How he had made
acquaintances in the Prison； expressly that he might e and go there
as all other ers and goers did； and how his first ray of light was
unconsciously given him by Mr Dorrit himself and by his son； to both of
whom he easily became known； with both of whom he talked much； casually
（'but always Moleing you'll observe；' said Mr Pancks）： and from whom he
derived； without being at all suspected； two or three little points of
family history which； as he began to hold clues of his own； suggested
others。 How it had at length bee plain to Mr Pancks that he had made
a real discovery of the heir…at…law to a great fortune； and that his
discovery had but to be ripened to legal fulness and perfection。 How
he had； thereupon； sworn his landlord； Mr Rugg； to secrecy in a solemn
manner； and taken him into Moleing partnership。
How they had employed John Chivery as their sole clerk and agent；
seeing to whom he was devoted。 And how； until the present hour； when
authorities mighty in the Bank and learned in the law declared their
successful labours ended； they had confided in no other human being。
'So if the whole thing had broken down； sir；' concluded Pancks； 'at the
very last； say the day before the other day when I showed you our papers
in the Prison yard； or say that very day； nobody but ourselves would
have been cruelly disappointed； or a penny the worse。'
Clennam； who had been almost incessantly shaking hands with him
throughout the narrative； was reminded by this to say； in an amazement
which even the preparation he had had for the main disclosure smoothed
down； 'My dear Mr Pancks； this must have cost you a great sum of money。'
'Pretty well； sir；' said the triumphant Pancks。 'No trifle； though we
did it as cheap as it could be done。 And the outlay was a difficulty；
let me tell you。'
'A difficulty！' repeated Clennam。 'But the difficulties you have so
wonderfully conquered in the whole business！' shaking his hand again。
'I'll tell you how I did it；' said the delighted Pancks； putting his
hair into a condition as elevated as himself。 'First； I spent all I had
of my own。 That wasn't much。'
'I am sorry for it；' said Clennam： 'not that it matters now； though。
Then； what did you do？'
'Then；' answered Pancks； 'I borrowed a sum of my proprietor。'
'Of Mr Casby？' said Clennam。 'He's a fine old fellow。'
'Noble old boy； an't he？' said Mr Pancks； entering on a series of the
dryest snorts。 'Generous