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smile and speaking exactly in her former tone； 'Gentlemen！ What do you
do upon that？'
'Oh； Tattycoram； Tattycoram！' cried Mr Meagles； adjuring her besides
with an earnest hand。 'Hear that lady's voice； look at that lady's face；
consider what is in that lady's heart； and think what a future lies
before you。 My child； whatever you may think； that lady's influence
over you……astonishing to us； and I should hardly go too far in saying
terrible to us to see……is founded in passion fiercer than yours； and
temper more violent than yours。 What can you two be together？ What can
e of it？'
'I am alone here； gentlemen；' observed Miss Wade； with no change of
voice or manner。 'Say anything you will。'
'Politeness must yield to this misguided girl； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles；
'at her present pass； though I hope not altogether to dismiss it；
even with the injury you do her so strongly before me。 Excuse me for
reminding you in her hearing……I must say it……that you were a mystery
to all of us； and had nothing in mon with any of us when she
unfortunately fell in your way。 I don't know what you are； but you don't
hide； can't hide； what a dark spirit you have within you。 If it should
happen that you are a woman； who； from whatever cause； has a perverted
delight in making a sister…woman as wretched as she is （I am old enough
to have heard of such）； I warn her against you； and I warn you against
yourself。'
'Gentlemen！' said Miss Wade； calmly。 'When you have concluded……Mr
Clennam； perhaps you will induce your friend……'
'Not without another effort；' said Mr Meagles； stoutly。 'Tattycoram；
my poor dear girl； count five…and…twenty。' 'Do not reject the hope； the
certainty； this kind man offers you；' said Clennam in a low emphatic
voice。 'Turn to the friends you have not forgotten。 Think once more！'
'I won't！ Miss Wade；' said the girl； with her bosom swelling high； and
speaking with her hand held to her throat； 'take me away！'
'Tattycoram；' said Mr Meagles。 'Once more yet！ The only thing I ask of
you in the world； my child！ Count five…and…twenty！'
She put her hands tightly over her ears； confusedly tumbling down her
bright black hair in the vehemence of the action； and turned her face
resolutely to the wall。 Miss Wade； who had watched her under this final
appeal with that strange attentive smile； and that repressing hand
upon her own bosom with which she had watched her in her struggle at
Marseilles； then put her arm about her waist as if she took possession
of her for evermore。
And there was a visible triumph in her face when she turned it to
dismiss the visitors。
'As it is the last time I shall have the honour；' she said； 'and as you
have spoken of not knowing what I am； and also of the foundation of my
influence here； you may now know that it is founded in a mon cause。
What your broken plaything is as to birth； I am。 She has no name； I have
no name。 Her wrong is my wrong。 I have nothing more to say to you。'
This was addressed to Mr Meagles； who sorrowfully went out。 As Clennam
followed； she said to him； with the same external posure and in the
same level voice； but with a smile that is only seen on cruel faces： a
very faint smile； lifting the nostril； scarcely touching the lips； and
not breaking away gradually； but instantly dismissed when done with：
'I hope the wife of your dear friend Mr Gowan； may be happy in the
contrast of her extraction to this girl's and mine； and in the high good
fortune that awaits her。'
CHAPTER 28。 Nobody's Disappearance
Not resting satisfied with the endeavours he had made to recover his
lost charge； Mr Meagles addressed a letter of remonstrance； breathing
nothing but goodwill； not only to her； but to Miss Wade too。 No answer
ing to these epistles； or to another written to the stubborn girl
by the hand of her late young mistress； which might have melted her
if anything could （all three letters were returned weeks afterwards as
having been refused at the house…door）； he deputed Mrs Meagles to make
the experiment of a personal interview。 That worthy lady being unable to
obtain one； and being steadfastly denied admission； Mr Meagles besought
Arthur to essay once more what he could do。 All that came of his
pliance was； his discovery that the empty house was left in charge
of the old woman； that Miss Wade was gone； that the waifs and strays of
furniture were gone； and that the old woman would accept any number of
half…crowns and thank the donor kindly； but had no information whatever
to exchange for those coins； beyond constantly offering for perusal a
memorandum relative to fixtures； which the house…agent's young man had
left in the hall。
Unwilling； even under this disfiture； to resign the ingrate and leave
her hopeless； in case of her better dispositions obtaining the mastery
over the darker side of her character； Mr Meagles； for six successive
days； published a discreetly covert advertisement in the morning papers；
to the effect that if a certain young person who had lately left
home without reflection； would at any time apply to his address at
Twickenham； everything would be as it had been before； and no reproaches
need be apprehended。 The unexpected consequences of this notification
suggested to the dismayed Mr Meagles for the first time that some
hundreds of young persons must be leaving their homes without reflection
every day； for shoals of wrong young people came down to Twickenham；
who； not finding themselves received with enthusiasm； generally demanded
pensation by way of damages； in addition to coach…hire there and
back。 Nor were these the only uninvited clients whom the advertisement
produced。 The swarm of begging…letter writers； who would seem to be
always watching eagerly for any hook； however small； to hang a letter
upon； wrote to say that having seen the advertisement； they were induced
to apply with confidence for various sums； ranging from ten shillings to
fifty pounds： not because they knew anything about the young person；
but because they felt that to part with those donations would greatly
relieve the advertiser's mind。 Several projectors； likewise； availed
themselves of the same opportunity to correspond with Mr Meagles； as；
for example； to apprise him that their attention having been called to
the advertisement by a friend； they begged to state that if they should
ever hear anything of the young person； they would not fail to make it
known to him immediately； and that in the meantime if he would oblige
them with the funds necessary for bringing to perfection a certain
entirely novel description of Pump； the happiest results would ensue to
mankind。
Mr Meagles and his family； under these bined discouragements； had
begun reluctantly to give up Tattycoram as irrecoverable； when the new
and active firm of Doyce and Clennam； in their private capacities；
went down on a Saturday to stay at the cottage until Monday。 The senior
partner took the coach； and the junior partner took his walking…stick。
A tranquil summer sunset shone upon him as he approached the end of
his walk； and passed through the meadows by the river side。 He had
that sense of peace； and of being lightened of a weight of care； which
country quiet awakens in the breasts of dwellers in towns。 Everything
within his view was lovely and placid。 The rich foliage of the trees；
the luxuriant grass diversified with wild flowers； the little green
islands in the river； the beds of rushes； the water…lilies floating on
the surface of the stream； the distant voices in boats borne musically
towards him on the ripple of the water and the evening air； were all
expressive of rest。 In the occasional leap of a fish； or dip of an oar；
or twittering of a bird not yet at roost； or distant barking of a dog；
or lowing of a cow……in all such sounds； there was the prevailing breath
of rest； which seemed to enpass him in every scent that sweetened
the fragrant air。 The long lines of red and gold in the sky； and the
glorious track of the descending sun； were all divinely calm。 Upon the
purple tree…tops far away； and on the green height near at hand up which
the shades were slowly creeping； there was an equal hush。 Between the
real landscape and its shadow in the water； there was no division； both
were so untroubled and clear； and； while so fraught with solemn mystery
of life and death； so hopefully reassuring to the gazer's soothed heart；
because so tenderly and mercifully beautiful。
Clennam had stopped； not for the first time by many times； to look about
him and suffer what he saw to sink into his soul； as the shadows； looked
at； seemed to sink deeper and deeper into the water。 He was slowly
resuming his way； when he saw a figure in the path before him which he
had； perhaps； already associated with the evening and its impressions。
Minnie was there； alone。 She had some roses in her hand； and seemed to
have stood still on seeing him； waiting for him。 Her face was towards
him； and she appeared to have been ing from the opposite direction。
There was a flutter in her manner； which Clennam had never seen in it
before； and as he came near her； it entered his mind all at once that
she was there of a set purpose to speak to h