odding her head in a mysterious
manner, "to send a favorable reply to Mr. Jinkins' round-robin?[D]
That's the first question, Mr. Pecksniff."

"Why Mr. Jinkins' robin, my dear madam?" asked Mr. Pecksniff, putting
one arm round Mercy and the other round Mrs. Todgers, whom he seemed for
the moment, to mistake for Charity. "Why Mr. Jinkins'?"

"Because he began to get it up, and indeed always takes the lead in the
house," said Mrs. Todgers, playfully. "That's why, sir."

"Jinkins is a man of superior talents," observed Mr. Pecksniff. "I have
formed a great regard for Jinkins. I take Jinkins' desire to pay polite
attention to my daughters as an additional proof of the friendly
feelings of Jinkins, Mrs. Todgers."

"Well now," returned the lady, "having said so much, you must say the
rest, Mr. Pecksniff: so tell the dear young ladies all about it."

With these words, she gently drew away from Mr. Pecksniff's grasp, and
took Miss Charity into her own embrace; though whether she was led to
this act solely by the affection she had conceived for that young lady,
or whether it had any reference to a lowering, not to say distinctly
spiteful expression which had been visible in her face for some
moments, has never been exactly ascertained. Be this as it may, Mr.
Pecksniff went on to inform his daughters of the purpose and history of
the round-robin aforesaid, which was, in brief, that the young men who
helped to make up the sum and substance of that company, called
Todgers', desired the honor of their presence at the general table so
long as they remained in the house, and besought that they would grace
the board at dinner-time next day, the same being Sunday. He further
said that, Mrs. Todgers having consented to this invitation, he was
willing, for his part, to accept it; and so left them that he might
write his gracious answer, the while they armed themselves with their
best bonnets for the utter defeat and overthrow of Miss Pinch.

Tom Pinch's sister was governess in a family, a lofty family; perhaps
the wealthiest brass and copper founder's family known to mankind. They
lived at Camberwell; in a house so big and fierce that its mere outside,
like the outside of a giant's castle, struck terror into vulgar minds
and made bold persons quail. There was a great front gate, with a great
bell, whose handle was in itself a note of admiration; and a great
lodge, which, being close to the house, rather spoiled the look-out
certainl