compliment to the extreme hardness and toughness of his
physiognomy； “just looked in； we have； to make it all correct as
usual about that security。 Give him the new bill to sign； George；
and he’ll sign it like a man。”
“I was coming to you this morning；” observes the trooper；
reluctantly。
“Yes； we thought you’d come to us this morning； but we turned
out early； and left Woolwich； the best of boys； to mind his sisters；
and came to you instead—as you see！ For Lignum； he’s tied so
close now； and gets so little exercise； that a walk does him good。
But what’s the matter； George？” asks Mrs Bagnet； stopping in her
cheerful talk。 “You don’t look yourself。”
“I am not quite myself；” returns the trooper； “I have been a
little put out； Mrs Bagnet。”
Her bright quick eye catches the truth directly。 “George！”
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holding up her forefinger。 “Don’t tell me there’s anything wrong
about that security of Lignum’s！ Don’t do it； George； on account of
the children！”
The trooper looks at her with a troubled visage。
“George；” says Mrs Bagnet； using both her arms for emphasis；
and occasionally bringing down her open hands upon her knees。
“If you have allowed anything wrong to come to that security of
Lignum’s； and if you have let him in for it； and if you have put us
in danger of being sold up—and I see sold up in your face； George；
as plain as print—you have done a shameful action； and deceived
us cruelly。 I tell you； cruelly； George。 There！”
Mr Bagnet； otherwise as immovable as a pump or a lamp…post；
puts his large right hand on the top of his bald head； as if to defend
it from a shower…bath； and looks with great uneasiness at Mrs
Bagnet。
“George！” says that old girl。 “I wonder at you！ George； I am
ashamed of you！ George； I couldn’t have believed you would have
done it！ I always knew you to be a rolling stone that gathered no
moss； but I never thought you would have taken away what little
moss there was for Bagnet and the children to lie upon。 You know
what a hard…working steady…going chap he is。 You know that
Quebec and Malta and Woolwich are—and I never did think you
would； or could； have had the heart to serve us so。 O George！” Mrs
Bagnet gathers up her cloak to wipe her eyes on； in a very genuine
manner； “How could you do it？”
Mrs Bagnet ceasing； Mr Bagnet removes his hand from his
head as if the shower…bath were over； and looks disconsolately at
Mr George； who has turned quite white； and looks distressfully at
the grey cloak and straw bonnet。
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Bleak House 657
“Mat；” says the trooper； in a subdued voice； addressing him；
but still looking at his wife； “I am sorry you take it so much to
heart； because I do hope it’s not so bad as that comes to。 I certainly
have； this morning； received this letter； which he reads aloud； “but
I hope it may be set right yet。 As to a rolling stone； why； what you
say is true。 I am a rolling stone； and I never rolled in anybody’s
way； I fully believe； that I rolled the least good to。 But it’s
impossible for an old vagabond comrade to like your wife and
family better than I like ’em； Mat； and I trust you’ll look upon me
as forgivingly as you can。 Don’t think I’ve kept anything from you。
I haven’t had the letter more than a quarter of an hour。”
“Old girl！” murmurs Mr Bagnet； after a short silence； “will you
tell him my opinion？”
“O！ Why didn’t he marry；” Mrs Bagnet answers； half laughing
and half crying； “Joe Pouch’s widder in North America？ Then he
wouldn’t have got himself into these troubles。”
“The old girl；” says Mr Bagnet； “puts it correct—why didn’t
you？”
“Well； she has a better husband by this time； I hope；” returns
the trooper。 “Anyhow； here I stand； this present day； not married
to Joe Pouch’s widder。 What shall I do？ You see all I have got
about me。 It’s not mine； it’s yours。 Give the word； and I’ll sell off
every morsel。 If I could have hoped it would have brought in
nearly the sum wanted； I’d have sold all long ago。 Don’t believe
that I’ll leave you or yours in the lurch； Mat。 I’d sell myself first。 I
only wish；” says the trooper； giving himself a disparaging blow in
the chest； “that I knew of anyone who’d buy such a second…hand
piece of old stores。”
Old girl；” murmurs Mr Bagnet； “give him another bit of my
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Bleak House 658
mind。”
“George；” says the old girl； “you are not so much to be blamed；
on full consideration； except for ever taking this business without
the means。”
“And that was like me！” observed the penitent trooper； shaking
his head。 “Like me； I know。”
“Silence！ The old girl；” says Mr Bagnet； “is correct—in her way
of giving my opinions—hear me out！”
“That was when you never ought to have asked for the security；
George； and when you never ought to have got it； all things
considered。 But what’s done can’t be undone。 You are always an
honourable and straight…forward fellow； as far as lays in your
power； though a little flighty。 On the other hand； you can’t admit
but what it’s natural in us to be anxious； with such a thing hanging
over our heads。 So forget and forgive all round； George。 Come！
Forget and forgive all round！”
Mrs Bagnet； giving him one of her honest hands； and giving her
husband the other； Mr George gives each of them one of his； and
holds them while he speaks。
“I do assure you both； there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to
discharge this obligation。 But whatever I have been able to scrape
together； has gone every two months in keeping it up。 We have
lived plainly enough here； Phil and I。 But the Gallery don’t quite
do what was expected of it； and it’s not—in short； it’s not the Mint。
It was wrong in me to take it？ Well； so it was。 But I was in a
manner drawn into that step； and I thought it might steady me；
and set me up； and you’ll try to overlook my having such
expectations； and upon my soul； I am very much obliged to you；
and very much ashamed of myself。” With these concluding words；
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Bleak House 659
Mr George gives a shake to each of the hands he holds； and；
relinquishing them； backs a pace or two； in a broad…chested
upright attitude； as if he had made a final confession； and were
immediately going to be shot with all military honours。
“George； hear me out！” says Mr Bagnet； glancing at his wife。
“Old girl； go on！”
Mr Bagnet； being in this singular manner heard out； has merely
to observe that the letter must be attended to without any delay；
that it is advisable that George and he should immediately wait on
Mr Smallweed in person； and that the primary object is to save
and hold harmless Mr Bagnet； who had none of the money。 Mr
George entirely assenting； puts on his hat； and prepares to march
with Mr Bagnet to the enemy’s camp。
“Don’t you mind a woman’s hasty word； George；” says Mrs
Bagnet； patting him on the shoulder。 “I trust my old Lignum to
you； and I am sure you’ll bring him through it。”
The trooper returns； that this is kindly said； and that he will
bring Lignum through it somehow。 Upon which Mrs Bagnet； with
her cloak； basket； and umbrella； goes home； bright…eyed again； to
the rest of her family； and the comrades sally forth on the hopeful
errand of mollifying Mr Smallweed。
Whether there are two people in England less likely to come
satisfactorily out of any negotiation with Mr Smallweed than Mr
George and Mr Matthew Bagnet； may be very reasonably
questioned。 Also； notwithstanding their martial appearance； broad
square shoulders； and heavy tread； whether there are； within the
same limits； two more simple and unaccustomed children； in all
the Smallweedy affairs of life。 As they proceed with great gravity
through the streets towards the region of Mount Pleasant； Mr
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Bagn
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