Itwasplainenough，nevertheless，asLittleDorrithadsaid；overalime-splashedgatewayinthecorner，withinwhichPlornishkeptaladderandabarrelortwo。ThelasthouseinBleedingHeartYardwhichshehaddescribedashisplaceofhabitation，wasalargehouse，letofftovarioustenants；butPlornishingeniouslyhintedthathelivedintheparlour，bymeansofapaintedhandunderhisname，theforefingerofwhichhandonwhichtheartisthaddepictedaringandamostelaboratenailofthegenteelestformreferredallinquirerstothatapartment。
Partingfromhiscompanions，afterarranginganothermeetingwithMrMeagles，Clennamwentaloneintotheentry，andknockedwithhisknucklesattheparlour-door。Itwasopenedpresentlybyawomanwithachildinherarms，whoseunoccupiedhandwashastilyrearrangingtheupperpartofherdress。ThiswasMrsPlornish，andthismaternalactionwastheactionofMrsPlornishduringalargepartofherwakingexistence。
WasMrPlornishathome？’Well，sir，’saidMrsPlornish，acivilwoman，’nottodeceiveyou，he’sgonetolookforajob。’
’Nottodeceiveyou’wasamethodofspeechwithMrsPlornish。Shewoulddeceiveyou，underanycircumstances，aslittleasmightbe；
butshehadatrickofansweringinthisprovisionalform。