guesseditwasyou，MrPancks，’saidshe，’forit’squiteyourregularnight；ain’tit？Here’sfather，yousee，comeouttoserveatthesoundofthebell，likeabriskyoungshopman。Ain’thelookingwell？Father’smorepleasedtoseeyouthanifyouwasacustomer，forhedearlylovesagossip；andwhenitturnsuponMissDorrit，helovesitallthemore。Youneverheardfatherinsuchvoiceasheisatpresent，’saidMrsPlornish，herownvoicequavering，shewassoproudandpleased。’HegaveusStrephonlastnighttothatdegreethatPlornishgetsupandmakeshimthisspeechacrossthetable。“JohnEdwardNandy，“saysPlornishtofather，“IneverheardyoucomethewarblesasIhaveheardyoucomethewarblesthisnight。“An’titgratifying，MrPancks，though；really？’
MrPancks，whohadsnortedattheoldmaninhisfriendliestmanner，repliedintheaffirmative，andcasuallyaskedwhetherthatlivelyAltrochaphadcomeinyet？MrsPlornishansweredno，notyet，thoughhehadgonetotheWest-Endwithsomework，andhadsaidheshouldbebackbytea-time。MrPanckswasthenhospitablypressedintoHappyCottage，whereheencounteredtheelderMasterPlornishjustcomehomefromschool。Examiningthatyoungstudent，lightly，ontheeducationalproceedingsoftheday，hefoundthatthemoreadvancedpupilswhowereinthelargetextandtheletterM，hadbeensetthecopy’Merdle，Millions。’
’Andhowareyougettingon，MrsPlornish，’saidPancks，’sincewe’rementioningmillions？’
’Verysteady，indeed，sir，’returnedMrsPlornish。’Father，dear，wouldyougointotheshopandtidythewindowalittlebitbeforetea，yourtastebeingsobeautiful？’
JohnEdwardNandytrottedaway，muchgratified，tocomplywithhisdaughter’srequest。MrsPlornish，whowasalwaysinmortalterrorofmentioningpecuniaryaffairsbeforetheoldgentleman，lestanydisclosureshemademightrousehisspiritandinducehimtorunawaytotheworkhouse，wasthusleftfreetobeconfidentialwithMrPancks。