Pet came back in a tremble； saying she was frightened of her。 Close
after her came Tattycoram in a flaming rage。 〃I hate you all three；〃
says she； stamping her foot at us。 〃I am bursting with hate of the whole
house。〃'
'Upon which you……？'
'I？' said Mr Meagles； with a plain good faith that might have manded
the belief of Mrs Gowan herself。 'I said； count five…and…twenty；
Tattycoram。'
Mr Meagles again stroked his face and shook his head； with an air of
profound regret。
'She was so used to do it； Clennam； that even then； such a picture of
passion as you never saw； she stopped short； looked me full in the face；
and counted （as I made out） to eight。 But she couldn't control herself
to go any further。 There she broke down； poor thing； and gave the other
seventeen to the four winds。 Then it all burst out。 She detested us； she
was miserable with us； she couldn't bear it； she wouldn't bear it； she
was determined to go away。 She was younger than her young mistress； and
would she remain to see her always held up as the only creature who was
young and interesting； and to be cherished and loved？ No。 She wouldn't；
she wouldn't； she wouldn't！ What did we think she； Tattycoram； might
have been if she had been caressed and cared for in her childhood； like
her young mistress？ As good as her？ Ah！ Perhaps fifty times as good。
When we pretended to be so fond of one another； we exulted over her；
that was what we did； we exulted over her and shamed her。 And all in
the house did the same。 They talked about their fathers and mothers； and
brothers and sisters； they liked to drag them up before her face。 There
was Mrs Tickit； only yesterday； when her little grandchild was with her；
had been amused by the child's trying to call her （Tattycoram） by the
wretched name we gave her； and had laughed at the name。 Why； who didn't；
and who were we that we should have a right to name her like a dog or a
cat？ But she didn't care。 She would take no more benefits from us； she
would fling us her name back again； and she would go。 She would leave
us that minute； nobody should stop her； and we should never hear of her
again。'
Mr Meagles had recited all this with such a vivid remembrance of his
original； that he was almost as flushed and hot by this time as he
described her to have been。
'Ah； well！' he said； wiping his face。 'It was of no use trying reason
then； with that vehement panting creature （Heaven knows what her
mother's story must have been）； so I quietly told her that she should
not go at that late hour of night； and I gave her MY hand and took her
to her room； and locked the house doors。 But she was gone this morning。'
'And you know no more of her？'
'No more；' returned Mr Meagles。 'I have been hunting about all day。 She
must have gone very early and very silently。 I have found no trace of
her down about us。'
'Stay！ You want；' said Clennam； after a moment's reflection； 'to see
her？ I assume that？'
'Yes； assuredly； I want to give her another chance； Mother and Pet
want to give her another chance； e！ You yourself；' said Mr Meagles；
persuasively； as if the provocation to be angry were not his own at all；
'want to give the poor passionate girl another chance； I know； Clennam。'
'It would be strange and hard indeed if I did not；' said Clennam； 'when
you are all so forgiving。 What I was going to ask you was； have you
thought of that Miss Wade？'
'I have。 I did not think of her until I had pervaded the whole of our
neighbourhood； and I don't know that I should have done so then but
for finding Mother and Pet； when I went home； full of the idea that
Tattycoram must have gone to her。 Then； of course； I recalled what she
said that day at dinner when you were first with US。'
'Have you any idea where Miss Wade is to be found？'
'To tell you the truth；' returned Mr Meagles； 'it's because I have an
addled jumble of a notion on that subject that you found me waiting
here。 There is one of those odd impressions in my house； which do
mysteriously get into houses sometimes； which nobody seems to have
picked up in a distinct form from anybody； and yet which everybody seems
to have got hold of loosely from somebody and let go again； that she
lives； or was living； thereabouts。' Mr Meagles handed him a slip of
paper； on which was written the name of one of the dull by…streets in
the Grosvenor region； near Park Lane。
'Here is no number；' said Arthur looking over it。
'No number； my dear Clennam？' returned his friend。 'No anything！ The
very name of the street may have been floating in the air； for； as I
tell you； none of my people can say where they got it from。 However；
it's worth an inquiry； and as I would rather make it in pany than
alone； and as you too were a fellow…traveller of that immovable woman's；
I thought perhaps……' Clennam finished the sentence for him by taking up
his hat again； and saying he was ready。
It was now summer…time； a grey； hot； dusty evening。 They rode to the top
of Oxford Street； and there alighting； dived in among the great streets
of melancholy stateliness； and the little streets that try to be as
stately and succeed in being more melancholy； of which there is a
labyrinth near Park Lane。 Wildernesses of corner houses； with barbarous
old porticoes and appurtenances； horrors that came into existence under
some wrong…headed person in some wrong…headed time； still demanding
the blind admiration of all ensuing generations and determined to do
so until they tumbled down； frowned upon the twilight。 Parasite little
tenements； with the cramp in their whole frame； from the dwarf hall…door
on the giant model of His Grace's in the Square to the squeezed window
of the boudoir manding the dunghills in the Mews； made the evening
doleful。 Rickety dwellings of undoubted fashion； but of a capacity to
hold nothing fortably except a dismal smell； looked like the last
result of the great mansions' breeding in…and…in； and； where their
little supplementary bows and balconies were supported on thin iron
columns； seemed to be scrofulously resting upon crutches。
Here and there a Hatchment； with the whole science of Heraldry in it；
loomed down upon the street； like an Archbishop discoursing on Vanity。
The shops； few in number； made no show； for popular opinion was as
nothing to them。 The pastrycook knew who was on his books； and in
that knowledge could be calm； with a few glass cylinders of dowager
peppermint…drops in his window； and half…a…dozen ancient specimens of
currant…jelly。 A few oranges formed the greengrocer's whole concession
to the vulgar mind。 A single basket made of moss； once containing
plovers' eggs； held all that the poulterer had to say to the rabble。
Everybody in those streets seemed （which is always the case at that hour
and season） to be gone out to dinner； and nobody seemed to be giving the
dinners they had gone to。 On the doorsteps there were lounging footmen
with bright parti…coloured plumage and white polls； like an extinct race
of monstrous birds； and butlers； solitary men of recluse demeanour； each
of whom appeared distrustful of all other butlers。 The roll of carriages
in the Park was done for the day； the street lamps were lighting； and
wicked little grooms in the tightest fitting garments； with twists in
their legs answering to the twists in their minds； hung about in pairs；
chewing straws and exchanging fraudulent secrets。 The spotted dogs who
went out with the carriages； and who were so associated with splendid
equipages that it looked like a condescension in those animals to e
out without them； acpanied helpers to and fro on messages。 Here and
there was a retiring public…house which did not require to be supported
on the shoulders of the people； and where gentlemen out of livery were
not much wanted。
This last discovery was made by the two friends in pursuing their
inquiries。 Nothing was there； or anywhere； known of such a person as
Miss Wade； in connection with the street they sought。 It was one of the
parasite streets； long； regular； narrow； dull and gloomy； like a brick
and mortar funeral。 They inquired at several little area gates； where
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 th