Todgers, of London, did not intrude upon them, as
our object simply was to take some notice of Miss Pinch, whose brother
is a young man in my employment; but that I could not leave this very
noble mansion without adding my humble tribute, as an architect, to the
correctness and elegance of the owner's taste, and to his just
appreciation of that beautiful art, to the cultivation of which I have
devoted a life, and to the promotion of whose glory and advancement I
have sacrificed a--a fortune--I shall be very much obliged to you."

"Missis' compliments to Miss Pinch," said the footman, suddenly
appearing and speaking in exactly the same key as before, "and begs to
know wot my young lady is a-learning of just now."

"Oh!" said Mr. Pecksniff, "here is the young man. _He_ will take the
card. With my compliments, if you please, young man. My dears, we are
interrupting the studies. Let us go."

One evening, following the visit to Miss Pinch, there was a great bustle
at Todgers', partly owing to some additional domestic preparations for
the morrow and partly to the excitement always arising in that house
from Saturday night, when every gentleman's linen arrived at a different
hour in his own little bundle, with his private account pinned on the
outside. Shrill quarrels from time to time arose between Mrs. Todgers
and the girls in remote back kitchens; and sounds were occasionally
heard, indicative of small articles of ironmongery and hardware being
thrown at the boy. It was the custom of that youth on Saturdays to roll
up his shirt sleeves to his shoulders, and pervade all parts of the
house in an apron of coarse green baize; moreover, he was more strongly
tempted on Saturdays than on other days (it being a busy time) to make
bolts into the neighboring alleys when he answered the door, and there
to play at leap-frog and other sports with vagrant lads, until pursued
and brought back by the hair of his head or the lobe of his ear; thus,
he was quite a conspicuous feature among the peculiar incidents of the
last day in the week at Todgers'.

He was especially so on this particular Saturday evening, and honored
the Misses Pecksniff with a deal of notice; seldom passing the door of
Mrs. Todgers' private room, where they sat alone before the fire,
without putting in his head and greeting them with some such compliments
as, "There you are again!" "Ain't it nice?"--and similar humorous
attentions.

"I say," he whispered, stopping