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the house showing the goodness of the family。 You can have your droll
name again； playfully pointing you out and setting you apart； as it is
right that you should be pointed out and set apart。 （Your birth； you
know； you must not forget your birth。） You can again be shown to this
gentleman's daughter； Harriet； and kept before her； as a living reminder
of her own superiority and her gracious condescension。 You can recover
all these advantages and many more of the same kind which I dare say
start up in your memory while I speak； and which you lose in taking
refuge with me……you can recover them all by telling these gentlemen how
humbled and penitent you are； and by going back to them to be forgiven。
What do you say； Harriet？ Will you go？'
The girl who； under the influence of these words； had gradually risen
in anger and heightened in colour； answered； raising her lustrous black
eyes for the moment； and clenching her hand upon the folds it had been
puckering up； 'I'd die sooner！'
Miss Wade； still standing at her side holding her hand； looked quietly
round and said with a smile； 'Gentlemen！ What do you do upon that？'
Poor Mr Meagles's inexpressible consternation in hearing his motives and
actions so perverted； had prevented him from interposing any word until
now； but now he regained the power of speech。
'Tattycoram；' said he； 'for I'll call you by that name still； my good
girl； conscious that I meant nothing but kindness when I gave it to you；
and conscious that you know it……'
'I don't！' said she； looking up again； and almost rending herself with
the same busy hand。
'No； not now； perhaps；' said Mr Meagles； 'not with that lady's eyes so
intent upon you； Tattycoram；' she glanced at them for a moment； 'and
that power over you； which we see she exercises； not now； perhaps； but
at another time。 Tattycoram； I'll not ask that lady whether she believes
what she has said； even in the anger and ill blood in which I and my
friend here equally know she has spoken； though she subdues herself；
with a determination that any one who has once seen her is not likely
to forget。 I'll not ask you； with your remembrance of my house and all
belonging to it； whether you believe it。 I'll only say that you have
no profession to make to me or mine； and no forgiveness to entreat；
and that all in the world that I ask you to do； is； to count
five…and…twenty； Tattycoram。'
She looked at him for an instant； and then said frowningly； 'I won't。
Miss Wade； take me away； please。'
The contention that raged within her had no softening in it now； it
was wholly between passionate defiance and stubborn defiance。 Her rich
colour； her quick blood； her rapid breath； were all setting themselves
against the opportunity of retracing their steps。 'I won't。 I won't。
I won't！' she repeated in a low； thick voice。 'I'd be torn to pieces
first。 I'd tear myself to pieces first！'
Miss Wade； who had released her hold； laid her hand protectingly on the
girl's neck for a moment； and then said； looking round with her former
smile and speaking exactly in her former tone； 'Gentlemen！ What do you
do upon that？'
'Oh； Tattycoram； Tattycoram！' cried Mr Meagles； adjuring her besides
with an earnest hand。 'Hear that lady's voice； look at that lady's face；
consider what is in that lady's heart； and think what a future lies
before you。 My child； whatever you may think； that lady's influence
over you……astonishing to us； and I should hardly go too far in saying
terrible to us to see……is founded in passion fiercer than yours； and
temper more violent than yours。 What can you two be together？ What can
e of it？'
'I am alone here； gentlemen；' observed Miss Wade； with no change of
voice or manner。 'Say anything you will。'
'Politeness must yield to this misguided girl； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles；
'at her present pass； though I hope not altogether to dismiss it；
even with the injury you do her so strongly before me。 Excuse me for
reminding you in her hearing……I must say it……that you were a mystery
to all of us； and had nothing in mon with any of us when she
unfortunately fell in your way。 I don't know what you are； but you don't
hide； can't hide； what a dark spirit you have within you。 If it should
happen that you are a woman； who； from whatever cause； has a perverted
delight in making a sister…woman as wretched as she is （I am old enough
to have heard of such）； I warn her against you； and I warn you against
yourself。'
'Gentlemen！' said Miss Wade； calmly。 'When you have concluded……Mr
Clennam； perhaps you will induce your friend……'
'Not without another effort；' said Mr Meagles； stoutly。 'Tattycoram；
my poor dear girl； count five…and…twenty。' 'Do not reject the hope； the
certainty； this kind man offers you；' said Clennam in a low emphatic
voice。 'Turn to the friends you have not forgotten。 Think once more！'
'I won't！ Miss Wade；' said the girl； with her bosom swelling high； and
speaking with her hand held to her throat； 'take me away！'
'Tattycoram；' said Mr Meagles。 'Once more yet！ The only thing I ask of
you in the world； my child！ Count five…and…twenty！'
She put her hands tightly over her ears； confusedly tumbling down her
bright black hair in the vehemence of the action； and turned her face
resolutely to the wall。 Miss Wade； who had watched her under this final
appeal with that strange attentive smile； and that repressing hand
upon her own bosom with which she had watched her in her struggle at
Marseilles； then put her arm about her waist as if she took possession
of her for evermore。
And there was a visible triumph in her face when she turned it to
dismiss the visitors。
'As it is the last time I shall have the honour；' she said； 'and as you
have spoken of not knowing what I am； and also of the foundation of my
influence here； you may now know that it is founded in a mon cause。
What your broken plaything is as to birth； I am。 She has no name； I have
no name。 Her wrong is my wrong。 I have nothing more to say to you。'
This was addressed to Mr Meagles； who sorrowfully went out。 As Clennam
followed； she said to him； with the same external posure and in the
same level voice； but with a smile that is only seen on cruel faces： a
very faint smile； lifting the nostril； scarcely touching the lips； and
not breaking away gradually； but instantly dismissed when done with：
'I hope the wife of your dear friend Mr Gowan； may be happy in the
contrast of her extraction to this girl's and mine； and in the high good
fortune that awaits her。'
CHAPTER 28。 Nobody's Disappearance
Not resting satisfied with the endeavours he had made to recover his
lost charge； Mr Meagles addressed a letter of remonstrance； breathing
nothing but goodwill； not only to her； but to Miss Wade too。 No answer
ing to these epistles； or to another written to the stubborn girl
by the hand of her late young mistress； which might have melted her
if anything could （all three letters were returned weeks afterwards as
having been refused at the house…door）； he deputed Mrs Meagles to make
the experiment of a personal interview。 That worthy lady being unable to
obtain one； and being steadfastly denied admission； Mr Meagles besought
Arthur to essay once more what he could do。 All that came of his
pliance was； his discovery that the empty house was left in charge
of the old woman； that Miss Wade was gone； that the waifs and strays of
furniture were gone； and that the old woman would accept any number of
half…crowns and thank the donor kindly； but had no information whatever
to exchange for those coins； beyond constantly offering for perusal a
memorandum relative to fixtures； which the house…agent's young man had
left in the hall。
Unwilling； even under this disfiture； to resign the ingrate and leave
her hopeless； in case of her better dispositions obtaining the mastery
over the darker side of her character； Mr Meagles； for six successive
days； published a discreetly covert advertisement in the morning papers；
to the effect that if a certain young person who had lately left
home without reflection； would at any time apply to his address at
Twickenham； everything would be as it had been before； and no re