‘Very likely. Don’t know anything about it,’ said Mr Wobbler.
The suitor turned away and had left the room, when the gentleman with the gun called out ‘Mister! Hallo!’
He looked in again.
‘Shut the door after you. You’re letting in a devil of a draught here!’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Never heard of it. Nothing at all to do with it. Better try Mr Clive, second door on the left in the next passage.’
‘Perhaps he will give me the same answer.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
he fitted it into its place in the case before him, and took out the stock and polished that, softly whistling.
‘Mr Wobbler?’ said the suitor.
‘What’s the matter?’ then said Mr Wobbler, with his mouth full.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Said the Dog was the perfect picture of the old aunt from whom he had expectations. Found him particularly like her when hocussed.’
‘Mr Wobbler?’ said the suitor.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
When the match came off, some devil of a fellow was bought over, Sir, Dog was made drunk, Dog’s master was cleaned out.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Mr Wobbler?’ inquired the suitor.
Both gentlemen glanced at him, and seemed surprised at his assurance.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Well, I tell you what. Look here. You had better try the Secretarial Department,’ he said at last, sidling to the bell and ringing it. ‘Jenkinson,’ to the mashed potatoes messenger, ‘Mr Wobbler!’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
The effect of that upon Arthur Clennam was to make him repeat his inquiry in exactly the same words and tone as before. The effect of that upon young Barnacle was to make him a wonderful spectacle of failure and helplessness.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
You told me you didn’t know whether it was public business or not.’
‘I have now ascertained that it is public business,’ returned the suitor, ‘and I want to know’—and again repeated his monotonous inquiry.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘I say. Look here. You really are going it at a great pace, you know. Egad, you haven’t got an appointment,’ said Barnacle junior, as if the thing were growing serious.
‘I want to know,’ said Arthur, and repeated his case.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Look here. Upon my soul you mustn’t come into the place saying you want to know, you know,’ remonstrated Barnacle junior, turning about and putting up the eye-glass.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
He was readmitted to the presence of Barnacle junior, and found that young gentleman singeing his knees now, and gaping his weary way on to four o’clock.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
Mr Barnacle made him a severe bow, as a wounded man of family, a wounded man of place, and a wounded man of a gentlemanly residence, all rolled into one; and he made Mr Barnacle a bow, and was shut out into Mews Street by the flabby footman.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
if the—Public does not approach it according to the official forms, the—Public has itself to blame.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘I must refer you,’ returned Mr Barnacle, ringing the bell, ‘to the Department itself for a formal answer to that inquiry.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘I assume this to be the case, then.’
‘The Circumlocution Department,’ said Mr Barnacle, ‘is not responsible for any gentleman’s assumptions.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
It being one of the principles of the Circumlocution Office never, on any account whatever, to give a straightforward answer, Mr Barnacle said, ‘Possibly.’
‘On behalf of the Crown, may I ask, or as private individual?’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
The name of Mr Tite Barnacle has been mentioned to me as representing some highly influential interest among his creditors. Am I correctly informed?’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
when she was again so overcome by the contemptible comicality of his disinterestedness as to splutter some ambrosial drops of rum and water around, and withdraw in confusion.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
When all were supplied, Mr Rugg rose, and silently holding out his glass at arm’s length above the centre of the table, by that gesture invited the other three to add theirs, and to unite in a general conspiratorial clink.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
Meanwhile Mr Pancks, looking, not without some pity, at Young John, slowly and thoughtfully twisted up his canvas bag as if he were wringing its neck.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
because nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to walk myself off my legs without fee or reward.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Cash goes out fast,’ he said anxiously, as he pushed a portion to each of his male companions, ‘very fast.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘Here’s a Clerk at Durham for you, John, and an old seafaring gentleman at Dunstable for you, Mr Rugg. Two to me, was it? Yes, two to me. Here’s a Stone; three to me. And a Still-born Baby; four to me. And all, for the present, told.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
‘I’m not good for York,’ said Mr Rugg.
‘Then perhaps,’ pursued Pancks, ‘you’ll be so obliging, John Chivery?’
Young John assenting, Pancks dealt him his card, and consulted his hand again.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
When Mr Pancks, who supported the character of chief conspirator, had completed his extracts, he looked them over, corrected them, put up his note-book, and held them like a hand at cards.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
Umm v cheeky to crash land back here after many months away with this, but Little Dorrit experts/ fans: anyone know which brother is older, William or Frederick? I can't find evidence either way in the novel, though it's probably there. (Criticism is divided!) #dickens #littledorrit #aging
They shook hands and parted. The collegians, assembled in Symposium in the Snuggery that night, marvelled what had happened to their Father; he walked so late in the shadows of the yard, and seemed so downcast.
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
#FatherOfTheMarshalsea
and asked pardon so honestly, that he could make him no less acknowledgment than, ‘I know you meant it kindly. Say no more.’
‘Bless your soul, sir,’ urged the Plasterer, ‘I did indeed. I’d do more by you than the rest of ‘em do, I fancy.’
#CharlesDickens
#LittleDorrit
#FatherOfTheMarshalsea
