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'Not that；' said Pancks； making； with great seriousness； an imitation
of a surprised look and manner that appeared to be unintentionally
grotesque。 'Don't do that。 Never on seeing me； no matter when； no matter
where。 I am nobody。 Don't take on to mind me。 Don't mention me。 Take no
notice。 Will you agree； Miss Dorrit？'
'I hardly know what to say；' returned Little Dorrit； quite astounded。
'Why？'
'Because I am a fortune…teller。 Pancks the gipsy。 I haven't told you so
much of your fortune yet； Miss Dorrit； as to tell you what's behind
me on that little hand。 I have told you you shall live to see。 Is it
agreed； Miss Dorrit？'
'Agreed that I……am……to……'
'To take no notice of me away from here； unless I take on first。 Not
to mind me when I e and go。 It's very easy。 I am no loss； I am not
handsome； I am not good pany； I am only my proprietors grubber。
You need do no more than think； 〃Ah！ Pancks the gipsy at his
fortune…telling……he'll tell the rest of my fortune one day……I shall live
to know it。〃 Is it agreed； Miss Dorrit？'
'Ye…es；' faltered Little Dorrit； whom he greatly confused； 'I suppose
so； while you do no harm。'
'Good！' Mr Pancks glanced at the wall of the adjoining room； and stooped
forward。 'Honest creature； woman of capital points； but heedless and
a loose talker； Miss Dorrit。' With that he rubbed his hands as if the
interview had been very satisfactory to him； panted away to the door；
and urbanely nodded himself out again。
If Little Dorrit were beyond measure perplexed by this curious conduct
on the part of her new acquaintance； and by finding herself involved
in this singular treaty； her perplexity was not diminished by ensuing
circumstances。 Besides that Mr Pancks took every opportunity afforded
him in Mr Casby's house of significantly glancing at her and snorting
at her……which was not much； after what he had done already……he began to
pervade her daily life。 She saw him in the street； constantly。 When she
went to Mr Casby's； he was always there。 When she went to Mrs Clennam's；
he came there on any pretence； as if to keep her in his sight。 A week
had not gone by； when she found him to her astonishment in the Lodge one
night； conversing with the turnkey on duty； and to all appearance one
of his familiar panions。 Her next surprise was to find him equally at
his ease within the prison； to hear of his presenting himself among
the visitors at her father's Sunday levee； to see him arm in arm with
a Collegiate friend about the yard； to learn； from Fame； that he had
greatly distinguished himself one evening at the social club that held
its meetings in the Snuggery； by addressing a speech to the members
of the institution； singing a song； and treating the pany to five
gallons of ale……report madly added a bushel of shrimps。 The effect on
Mr Plornish of such of these phenomena as he became an eye…witness of in
his faithful visits； made an impression on Little Dorrit only second to
that produced by the phenomena themselves。 They seemed to gag and bind
him。 He could only stare； and sometimes weakly mutter that it wouldn't
be believed down Bleeding Heart Yard that this was Pancks； but he never
said a word more； or made a sign more； even to Little Dorrit。
Mr Pancks crowned his mysteries by making himself acquainted with Tip
in some unknown manner； and taking a Sunday saunter into the College
on that gentleman's arm。 Throughout he never took any notice of Little
Dorrit； save once or twice when he happened to e close to her and
there was no one very near； on which occasions； he said in passing；
with a friendly look and a puff of encouragement； 'Pancks the
gipsy……fortune…telling。'
Little Dorrit worked and strove as usual； wondering at all this； but
keeping her wonder； as she had from her earliest years kept many heavier
loads； in her own breast。 A change had stolen； and was stealing yet；
over the patient heart。 Every day found her something more retiring
than the day before。 To pass in and out of the prison unnoticed； and
elsewhere to be overlooked and forgotten； were； for herself； her chief
desires。
To her own room too； strangely assorted room for her delicate youth
and character； she was glad to retreat as often as she could without
desertion of any duty。 There were afternoon times when she was
unemployed； when visitors dropped in to play a hand at cards with her
father； when she could be spared and was better away。 Then she would
flit along the yard； climb the scores of stairs that led to her room；
and take her seat at the window。 Many binations did those spikes
upon the wall assume； many light shapes did the strong iron weave itself
into； many golden touches fell upon the rust； while Little Dorrit sat
there musing。 New zig…zags sprung into the cruel pattern sometimes； when
she saw it through a burst of tears； but beautified or hardened still；
always over it and under it and through it； she was fain to look in her
solitude； seeing everything with that ineffaceable brand。
A garret； and a Marshalsea garret without promise； was Little
Dorrit's room。 Beautifully kept； it was ugly in itself； and had little
but cleanliness and air to set it off； for what embellishment she had
ever been able to buy； had gone to her father's room。 Howbeit； for this
poor place she showed an increasing love； and to sit in it alone became
her favourite rest。
Insomuch； that on a certain afternoon during the Pancks mysteries； when
she was seated at her window； and heard Maggy's well…known step ing
up the stairs； she was very much disturbed by the apprehension of being
summoned away。 As Maggy's step came higher up and nearer； she trembled
and faltered； and it was as much as she could do to speak； when Maggy at
length appeared。
'Please； Little Mother；' said Maggy； panting for breath； 'you must e
down and see him。 He's here。'
'Who； Maggy？'
'Who； o' course Mr Clennam。 He's in your father's room； and he says to
me； Maggy； will you be so kind and go and say it's only me。'
'I am not very well； Maggy。 I had better not go。 I am going to lie down。
See！ I lie down now； to ease my head。 Say； with my grateful regard； that
you left me so； or I would have e