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a dejected youth stood spiking his chin on the summit of a precipitous
little shoot of wooden steps； but could gain no information。 They walked
up the street on one side of the way； and down it on the other； what
time two vociferous news…sellers； announcing an extraordinary event that
had never happened and never would happen； pitched their hoarse voices
into the secret chambers； but nothing came of it。 At length they stood
at the corner from which they had begun； and it had fallen quite dark；
and they were no wiser。
It happened that in the street they had several times passed a dingy
house； apparently empty； with bills in the windows； announcing that it
was to let。 The bills； as a variety in the funeral procession； almost
amounted to a decoration。 Perhaps because they kept the house separated
in his mind； or perhaps because Mr Meagles and himself had twice agreed
in passing； 'It is clear she don't live there；' Clennam now proposed
that they should go back and try that house before finally going away。
Mr Meagles agreed； and back they went。
They knocked once； and they rang once； without any response。
'Empty；' said Mr Meagles； listening。 'Once more；' said Clennam； and
knocked again。 After that knock they heard a movement below； and
somebody shuffling up towards the door。
The confined entrance was so dark that it was impossible to make out
distinctly what kind of person opened the door； but it appeared to be an
old woman。 'Excuse our troubling you；' said Clennam。 'Pray can you
tell us where Miss Wade lives？' The voice in the darkness unexpectedly
replied； 'Lives here。'
'Is she at home？'
No answer ing； Mr Meagles asked again。 'Pray is she at home？'
After another delay； 'I suppose she is；' said the voice abruptly； 'you
had better e in； and I'll ask。'
They 'were summarily shut into the close black house； and the figure
rustling away； and speaking from a higher level； said； 'e up； if you
please； you can't tumble over anything。' They groped their way up…stairs
towards a faint light； which proved to be the light of the street
shining through a window； and the figure left them shut in an airless
room。
'This is odd； Clennam；' said Mr Meagles； softly。
'Odd enough；' assented Clennam in the same tone； 'but we have succeeded；
that's the main point。 Here's a light ing！'
The light was a lamp； and the bearer was an old woman： very dirty； very
wrinkled and dry。 'She's at home；' she said （and the voice was the same
that had spoken before）； 'she'll e directly。' Having set the lamp
down on the table； the old woman dusted her hands on her apron； which
she might have done for ever without cleaning them； looked at the
visitors with a dim pair of eyes； and backed out。
The lady whom they had e to see； if she were the present occupant
of the house； appeared to have taken up her quarters there as she might
have established herself in an Eastern caravanserai。 A small square
of carpet in the middle of the room； a few articles of furniture that
evidently did not belong to the room； and a disorder of trunks and
travelling articles； formed the whole of her surroundings。 Under some
former regular inhabitant； the stifling little apartment had broken out
into a pier…glass and a gilt table； but the gilding was as faded as last
year's flowers； and the glass was so clouded that it seemed to hold in
magic preservation all the fogs and bad weather it had ever reflected。
The visitors had had a minute or two to look about them； when the door
opened and Miss Wade came in。
She was exactly the same as when they had parted； just as handsome； just
as scornful； just as repressed。 She manifested no surprise in seeing
them； nor any other emotion。 She requested them to be seated； and
declining to take a seat herself； at once anticipated any introduction
of their business。
'I apprehend；' she said； 'that I know the cause of your favouring me
with this visit。 We may e to it at once。'
'The cause then； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； 'is Tattycoram。'
'So I supposed。'
'Miss Wade；' said Mr Meagles； 'will you be so kind as to say whether you
know anything of her？'
'Surely。 I know she is here with me。'
'Then； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； 'allow me to make known to you that I
shall be happy to have her back； and that my wife and daughter will
be happy to have her back。 She has been with us a long time： we don't
forget her claims upon us； and I hope we know how to make allowances。'
'You hope to know how to make allowances？' she returned； in a level；
measured voice。 'For what？'
'I think my friend would say； Miss Wade；' Arthur Clennam interposed；
seeing Mr Meagles rather at a loss； 'for the passionate sense that
sometimes es upon the poor girl； of being at a disadvantage。 Which
occasionally gets the better of better remembrances。'
The lady broke into a smile as she turned her eyes upon him。 'Indeed？'
was all she answered。
She stood by the table so perfectly posed and still after this
acknowledgment of his remark that Mr Meagles stared at her under a sort
of fascination； and could not even look to Clennam to make another move。
After waiting； awkwardly enough； for some moments； Arthur said： 'Perhaps
it would be well if Mr Meagles could see her； Miss Wade？'
'That is easily done；' said she。 'e here； child。' She had opened a
door while saying this； and now led the girl in by the hand。 It was
very curious to see them standing together： the girl with her disengaged
fingers plaiting the bosom of her dress； half irresolutely； half
passionately； Miss Wade with her posed face attentively regarding
her； and suggesting to an observer； with extraordinary force； in her
posure itself （as a veil will suggest the form it covers）； the
unquenchable passion of her own nature。
'See here；' she said； in the same level way as before。 'Here is your
patron； your master。 He is willing to take you back； my dear； if you are
sensible of the favour and choose to go。 You can be； again； a foil to
his pretty daughter； a slave to her pleasant wilfulness； and a toy in
the house showing the goodness of the family。 You can have your droll
name again； playfully pointing you out and setting you ap