, the coachman on the box, who thanked him kindly, and
stuck it in his button-hole.
    They were off now; and Todgers's was alone again. The two young ladies,
leaning back in their separate corners, resigned themselves to their own
regretful thoughts. But Mr. Pecksniff, dismissing all ephemeral considerations
of social pleasure and enjoyment, concentrated his meditations on the one great
virtuous purpose before him, of casting out that ingrate and deceiver, whose
presence yet troubled his domestic hearth, and was a sacrilege upon the altars
of his household gods.
 

                                  Chapter XII

Will Be Seen in the Long Run, if not in the Short One, to Concern Mr. Pinch and
  Others, Nearly. Mr. Pecksniff Asserts the Dignity of Outraged Virtue. Young
                Martin Chuzzlewit Forms a Desperate Resolution.

Mr. Pinch and Martin, little dreaming of the stormy weather that impended, made
themselves very comfortable in the Pecksniffian halls, and improved their
friendship daily. Martin's facility, both of invention and execution, being
remarkable, the grammar-school proceeded with great vigour; and Tom repeatedly
declared, that if there were anything like certainty in human affairs, or
impartiality in human judges, a design so new and full of merit could not fail
to carry off the first prize when the time of competition arrived. Without being
quite so sanguine himself, Martin had his hopeful anticipations too; and they
served to make him brisk and eager at his task.
    »If I should turn out a great architect, Tom,« said the new pupil one day,
as he stood at a little distance from his drawing, and eyed it with much
complacency, »I'll tell you what should be one of the things I'd build.«
    »Aye!« cried Tom. »What?«
    »Why, your fortune.«
    »No!« said Tom Pinch, quite as much delighted as if the thing were done.
»Would you though? How kind of you to say so.«
    »I'd build it up, Tom,« returned Martin, »on such a strong foundation, that
it should last your life - aye, and your children's lives too, and their
children's after them. I'd be your patron, Tom. I'd take you under my
protection. Let me see the man who should give the cold shoulder to anybody I
chose to protect and patronise, if I were at the top of the tree, Tom!«
    »Now, I don't think,« said Mr. Pinch,
