Whenhehadthusdisposedofhiscards，allbeingdoneveryquietlyandinasuppressedtone，MrPanckspuffedhiswayintohisownbreast-pocketandtuggedoutacanvasbag；fromwhich，withasparinghand，hetoldforthmoneyfortravellingexpensesintwolittleportions。’Cashgoesoutfast，’hesaidanxiously，ashepushedaportiontoeachofhismalecompanions，’veryfast。’
　　’Icanonlyassureyou，MrPancks，’saidYoungJohn，’thatIdeeplyregretmycircumstancesbeingsuchthatIcan’taffordtopaymyowncharges，orthatit’snotadvisabletoallowmethetimenecessaryformydoingthedistancesonfoot；becausenothingwouldgivemegreatersatisfactionthantowalkmyselfoffmylegswithoutfeeorreward。’
　　Thisyoungman’sdisinterestednessappearedsoveryludicrousintheeyesofMissRugg，thatshewasobligedtoeffectaprecipitateretirementfromthecompany，andtosituponthestairsuntilshehadhadherlaughout。MeanwhileMrPancks，looking，notwithoutsomepity，atYoungJohn，slowlyandthoughtfullytwisteduphiscanvasbagasifhewerewringingitsneck。Thelady，returningasherestoredittohispocket，mixedrumandwaterfortheparty，notforgettingherfairself，andhandedtoeveryonehisglass。
　　Whenallweresupplied，MrRuggrose，andsilentlyholdingouthisglassatarm’slengthabovethecentreofthetable，bythatgestureinvitedtheotherthreetoaddtheirs，andtouniteinageneralconspiratorialclink。Theceremonywaseffectiveuptoacertainpoint，andwouldhavebeenwhollysothroughout，ifMissRugg，assheraisedherglasstoherlipsincompletionofit，hadnothappenedtolookatYoungJohn；whenshewasagainsoovercomebythecontemptiblecomicalityofhisdisinterestednessastospluttersomeambrosialdropsofrumandwateraround，andwithdrawinconfusion。
　　Suchwasthedinnerwithoutprecedent，givenbyPancksatPentonville；andsuchwasthebusyandstrangelifePancksled。
　　Theonlywakingmomentsatwhichheappearedtorelaxfromhiscares，andtorecreatehimselfbygoinganywhereorsayinganythingwithoutapervadingobject，werewhenheshowedadawninginterestinthelameforeignerwiththestick，downBleedingHeartYard。
　　Theforeigner，bynameJohnBaptistCavalletto——theycalledhimMrBaptistintheYard——wassuchachirping，easy，hopefullittlefellow，thathisattractionforPanckswasprobablyintheforceofcontrast。Solitary，weak，andscantilyacquaintedwiththemostnecessarywordsoftheonlylanguageinwhichhecouldcommunicatewiththepeopleabouthim，hewentwiththestreamofhisfortunes，inabriskwaythatwasnewinthoseparts。Withlittletoeat，andlesstodrink，andnothingtowearbutwhatheworeuponhim，orhadbroughttiedupinoneofthesmallestbundlesthateverwereseen，heputasbrightafaceuponitasifhewereinthemostflourishingcircumstanceswhenhefirsthobbledupanddowntheYard，humblypropitiatingthegeneralgood-willwithhiswhiteteeth。
　　Itwasuphillworkforaforeigner，lameorsound，tomakehiswaywiththeBleedingHearts。Inthefirstplace，theywerevaguelypersuadedthateveryforeignerhadaknifeabouthim；inthesecond，theyheldittobeasoundconstitutionalnationalaxiomthatheoughttogohometohisowncountry。Theyneverthoughtofinquiringhowmanyoftheirowncountrymenwouldbereturnedupontheirhandsfromdiverspartsoftheworld，iftheprincipleweregenerallyrecognised；theyconsidereditparticularlyandpeculiarlyBritish。Inthethirdplace，theyhadanotionthatitwasasortofDivinevisitationuponaforeignerthathewasnotanEnglishman，andthatallkindsofcalamitieshappenedtohiscountrybecauseitdidthingsthatEnglanddidnot，anddidnotdothingsthatEnglanddid。Inthisbelief，tobesure，theyhadlongbeencarefullytrainedbytheBarnaclesandStiltstalkings，whowerealwaysproclaimingtothem，officially，thatnocountrywhichfailedtosubmititselftothosetwolargefamiliescouldpossiblyhopetobeundertheprotectionofProvidence；andwho，whentheybelievedit，disparagedtheminprivateasthemostprejudicedpeopleunderthesun。
　　This，therefore，mightbecalledapoliticalpositionoftheBleedingHearts；buttheyentertainedotherobjectionstohavingforeignersintheYard。Theybelievedthatforeignerswerealwaysbadlyoff；andthoughtheywereasilloffthemselvesastheycoulddesiretobe，thatdidnotdiminishtheforceoftheobjection。
　　Theybelievedthatforeignersweredragoonedandbayoneted；andthoughtheycertainlygottheirownskullspromptlyfracturediftheyshowedanyill-humour，stillitwaswithabluntinstrument，andthatdidn’tcount。Theybelievedthatforeignerswerealwaysimmoral；andthoughtheyhadanoccasionalassizeathome，andnowandthenadivorcecaseorso，thathadnothingtodowithit。
　　Theybelievedthatforeignershadnoindependentspirit，asneverbeingescortedtothepollindrovesbyLordDecimusTiteBarnacle，withcoloursflyingandthetuneofRuleBritanniaplaying。Nottobetedious，theyhadmanyotherbeliefsofasimilarkind。
　　Againsttheseobstacles，thelameforeignerwiththestickhadtomakeheadaswellashecould；notabsolutelysingle-handed，becauseMrArthurClennamhadrecommendedhimtothePlornisheshelivedatthetopofthesamehouse，butstillatheavyodds。
　　However，theBleedingHeartswerekindhearts；andwhentheysawthelittlefellowcheerilylimpingaboutwithagood-humouredface，doingnoharm，drawingnoknives，committingnooutrageousimmoralities，livingchieflyonfarinaceousandmilkdiet，andplayingwithMrsPlornish’schildrenofanevening，theybegantothinkthatalthoughhecouldneverhopetobeanEnglishman，stillitwouldbehardtovisitthatafflictiononhishead。Theybegantoaccommodatethemselvestohislevel，callinghim’MrBaptist，’
　　buttreatinghimlikeababy，andlaughingimmoderatelyathislivelygesturesandhischildishEnglish——more，becausehedidn’tmindit，andlaughedtoo。Theyspoketohiminveryloudvoicesasifhewerestonedeaf。Theyconstructedsentences，bywayofteachinghimthelanguageinitspurity，suchaswereaddressedbythesavagestoCaptainCook，orbyFridaytoRobinsonCrusoe。MrsPlornishwasparticularlyingeniousinthisart；andattainedsomuchcelebrityforsaying’Meopeyoulegwellsoon，’thatitwasconsideredintheYardbutaveryshortremoveindeedfromspeakingItalian。EvenMrsPlornishherselfbegantothinkthatshehadanaturalcalltowardsthatlanguage。Ashebecamemorepopular，householdobjectswerebroughtintorequisitionforhisinstructioninacopiousvocabulary；andwheneverheappearedintheYardladieswouldflyoutattheirdoorscrying’MrBaptist——tea-pot!’
　　’MrBaptist——dust-pan!’’MrBaptist——flour-dredger!’’MrBaptist——coffee-biggin!’Atthesametimeexhibitingthosearticles，andpenetratinghimwithasenseoftheappallingdifficultiesoftheAnglo-Saxontongue。
　　Itwasinthisstageofhisprogress，andinaboutthethirdweekofhisoccupation，thatMrPancks’sfancybecameattractedbythelittleman。Mountingtohisattic，attendedbyMrsPlornishasinterpreter，hefoundMrBaptistwithnofurniturebuthisbedontheground，atable，andachair，carvingwiththeaidofafewsimpletools，intheblithestwaypossible。
　　’Now，oldchap，’saidMrPancks，’payup!’
　　Hehadhismoneyready，foldedinascrapofpaper，andlaughinglyhandeditin；thenwithafreeaction，threwoutasmanyfingersofhisrighthandastherewereshillings，andmadeacutcrosswiseintheairforanoddsixpence。
　　’Oh!’saidMrPancks，watchinghim，wonderingly。’That’sit，isit？You’reaquickcustomer。It’sallright。Ididn’texpecttoreceiveit，though。’
　　MrsPlornishhereinterposedwithgreatcondescension，andexplainedtoMrBaptist。’Eplease。Egladgetmoney。’
　　Thelittlemansmiledandnodded。HisbrightfaceseemeduncommonlyattractivetoMrPancks。’How’shegettingoninhislimb？’heaskedMrsPlornish。
　　’Oh，he’sadealbetter，sir，’saidMrsPlornish。’Weexpectnextweekhe’llbeabletoleaveoffhisstickentirely。’Theopportunitybeingtoofavourabletobelost，MrsPlornishdisplayedhergreataccomplishmentbyexplainingwithpardonablepridetoMrBaptist，’Eopeyoulegwellsoon。’
　　’He’samerryfellow，too，’saidMrPancks，admiringhimasifhewereamechanicaltoy。’Howdoeshelive？’
　　’Why，sir，’rejoinedMrsPlornish，’heturnsouttohavequiteapowerofcarvingthemflowersthatyouseehimatnow。’MrBaptist，watchingtheirfacesastheyspoke，helduphiswork。MrsPlornishinterpretedinherItalianmanner，onbehalfofMrPancks，’Eplease。Doublegood!’
　　’Canhelivebythat？’askedMrPancks。
　　’Hecanliveonverylittle，sir，anditisexpectedashewillbeable，intime，tomakeaverygoodliving。MrClennamgotithimtodo，andgiveshimoddjobsbesidesinattheWorksnextdoor——
　　makes’emforhim，inshort，whenheknowshewants’em。’
　　’Andwhatdoeshedowithhimself，now，whenheain’thardatit？’
　　saidMrPancks。
　　’Why，notmuchasyet，sir，onaccountsIsupposeofnotbeingabletowalkmuch；buthegoesabouttheYard，andhechatswithoutparticularunderstandingorbeingunderstood，andheplayswiththechildren，andhesitsinthesun——he’llsitdownanywhere，asifitwasanarm-chair——andhe’llsing，andhe’lllaugh!’
　　’Laugh!’echoedMrPancks。’Helookstomeasifeverytoothinhisheadwasalwayslaughing。’
　　’Butwheneverhegetstothetopofthestepsatt’otherendoftheYard，’saidMrsPlornish，’he’llpeepoutinthecuriousestway!
　　Sothatsomeofusthinkshe’speepingouttowardswherehisowncountryis，andsomeofusthinkshe’slookingforsomebodyhedon’twanttosee，andsomeofusdon’tknowwhattothink。’
　　MrBaptistseemedtohaveageneralunderstandingofwhatshesaid；
　　orperhapshisquicknesscaughtandappliedherslightactionofpeeping。Inanycaseheclosedhiseyesandtossedhisheadwiththeairofamanwhohadsufficientreasonsforwhathedid，andsaidinhisowntongue，itdidn’tmatter。Altro!
　　’What’sAltro？’saidPancks。
　　’Hem!It’sasortofageneralkindofexpression，sir，’saidMrsPlornish。
　　’Isit？’saidPancks。’Why，thenAltrotoyou，oldchap。Goodafternoon。Altro!’
　　MrBaptistinhisvivaciouswayrepeatingthewordseveraltimes，MrPancksinhisdullerwaygaveithimbackonce。FromthattimeitbecameafrequentcustomwithPancksthegipsy，ashewenthomejadedatnight，topassroundbyBleedingHeartYard，goquietlyupthestairs，lookinatMrBaptist’sdoor，and，findinghiminhisroom，tosay，’Hallo，oldchap!Altro!’TowhichMrBaptistwouldreplywithinnumerablebrightnodsandsmiles，’Altro，signore，altro，altro，altro!’Afterthishighlycondensedconversation，MrPanckswouldgohiswaywithanappearanceofbeinglightenedandrefreshed。