emember what I say, Miss Dorrit. You shall live
to see.'

She could not help showing that she was much surprised, if it were only
by his knowing so much about her.

'Ah! That's it!' said Pancks, pointing at her. 'Miss Dorrit, not that,
ever!'

More surprised than before, and a little more frightened, she looked to
him for an explanation of his last words.

'Not that,' said Pancks, making, with great seriousness, an imitation
of a surprised look and manner that appeared to be unintentionally
grotesque. 'Don't do that. Never on seeing me, no matter when, no matter
where. I am nobody. Don't take on to mind me. Don't mention me. Take no
notice. Will you agree, Miss Dorrit?'

'I hardly know what to say,' returned Little Dorrit, quite astounded.
'Why?'

'Because I am a fortune-teller. Pancks the gipsy. I haven't told you so
much of your fortune yet, Miss Dorrit, as to tell you what's behind
me on that little hand. I have told you you shall live to see. Is it
agreed, Miss Dorrit?'

'Agreed that I--am--to--'

'To take no notice of me away from here, unless I take on first. Not
to mind me when I come and go. It's very easy. I am no loss, I am not
handsome, I am not good company, I am only my proprietors grubber.
You need do no more than think, "Ah! Pancks the gipsy at his
fortune-telling--he'll tell the rest of my fortune one day--I shall live
to know it." Is it agreed, Miss Dorrit?'

'Ye-es,' faltered Little Dorrit, whom he greatly confused, 'I suppose
so, while you do no harm.'

'Good!' Mr Pancks glanced at the wall of the adjoining room, and stooped
forward. 'Honest creature, woman of capital points, but heedless and
a loose talker, Miss Dorrit.' With that he rubbed his hands as if the
interview had been very satisfactory to him, panted away to the door,
and urbanely nodded himself out again.

If Little Dorrit were beyond measure perplexed by this curious conduct
on the part of her new acquaintance, and by finding herself involved
in this singular treaty, her perplexity was not diminished by ensuing
circumstances. Besides that Mr Pancks took every opportunity afforded
him in Mr Casby's house of significantly glancing at her and snorting
at her--which was not much, after what he had done already--he began to
pervade her daily life. She saw him in the street, constantly. When she
went to Mr Casby's, he was always there. When she went to Mrs Clennam's,
he came there on any pretence, as if to keep her in his sight.