第29章

Itwasplainenough，nevertheless，asLittleDorrithadsaid；overalime-splashedgatewayinthecorner，withinwhichPlornishkeptaladderandabarrelortwo。ThelasthouseinBleedingHeartYardwhichshehaddescribedashisplaceofhabitation，wasalargehouse，letofftovarioustenants；butPlornishingeniouslyhintedthathelivedintheparlour，bymeansofapaintedhandunderhisname，theforefingerofwhichhand(onwhichtheartisthaddepictedaringandamostelaboratenailofthegenteelestform)referredallinquirerstothatapartment。

Partingfromhiscompanions，afterarranginganothermeetingwithMrMeagles，Clennamwentaloneintotheentry，andknockedwithhisknucklesattheparlour-door。Itwasopenedpresentlybyawomanwithachildinherarms，whoseunoccupiedhandwashastilyrearrangingtheupperpartofherdress。ThiswasMrsPlornish，andthismaternalactionwastheactionofMrsPlornishduringalargepartofherwakingexistence。

WasMrPlornishathome？’Well，sir，’saidMrsPlornish，acivilwoman，’nottodeceiveyou，he’sgonetolookforajob。’

’Nottodeceiveyou’wasamethodofspeechwithMrsPlornish。Shewoulddeceiveyou，underanycircumstances，aslittleasmightbe；

butshehadatrickofansweringinthisprovisionalform。

’Doyouthinkhewillbebacksoon，ifIwaitforhim？’

’Ihavebeenexpectinghim，’saidMrsPlornish，’thishalfanhour，atanyminuteoftime。Walkin，sir。’

Arthurenteredtheratherdarkandcloseparlour(thoughitwasloftytoo)，andsatdowninthechairsheplacedforhim。

’Nottodeceiveyou，sir，Inoticeit，’saidMrsPlornish，’andI

takeitkindofyou。’

Hewasatalosstounderstandwhatshemeant；andbyexpressingasmuchinhislooks，elicitedherexplanation。

’Itain’tmanythatcomesintoapoorplace，thatdeemsitworththeirwhiletomovetheirhats，’saidMrsPlornish。’Butpeoplethinkmoreofitthanpeoplethink。’

Clennamreturned，withanuncomfortablefeelinginsoveryslightacourtesybeingunusual，Wasthatall!Andstoopingdowntopinchthecheekofanotheryoungchildwhowassittingonthefloor，staringathim，askedMrsPlornishhowoldthatfineboywas？

’Fouryearjustturned，sir，’saidMrsPlornish。’HeISafinelittlefellow，ain’the，sir？Butthisoneisrathersickly。’Shetenderlyhushedthebabyinherarms，asshesaidit。’Youwouldn’tmindmyaskingifithappenedtobeajobasyouwascomeabout，sir，wouldyou？’askedMrsPlornishwistfully。

Sheaskeditsoanxiously，thatifhehadbeeninpossessionofanykindoftenement，hewouldhavehaditplasteredafootdeepratherthananswerNo。ButhewasobligedtoanswerNo；andhesawashadeofdisappointmentonherface，asshecheckedasigh，andlookedatthelowfire。Thenhesaw，also，thatMrsPlornishwasayoungwoman，madesomewhatslatternlyinherselfandherbelongingsbypoverty；andsodraggedatbypovertyandthechildrentogether，thattheirunitedforceshadalreadydraggedherfaceintowrinkles。

’Allsuchthingsasjobs，’saidMrsPlornish，’seemstometohavegoneunderground，theydoindeed。’(HereinMrsPlornishlimitedherremarktotheplasteringtrade，andspokewithoutreferencetotheCircumlocutionOfficeandtheBarnacleFamily。)

’Isitsodifficulttogetwork？’askedArthurClennam。

’Plornishfindsitso，’shereturned。’Heisquiteunfortunate。

Reallyheis。’

Reallyhewas。Hewasoneofthosemanywayfarersontheroadoflife，whoseemtobeafflictedwithsupernaturalcorns，renderingitimpossibleforthemtokeep