 spring
up, armed and booted from the earth, a corps of yeomanry, full-grown!
    Mr. Pecksniff's duty to society could not be paid till Tom came back. The
interval which preceded the return of that young man, he occupied in a close
conference with his friend; so that when Tom did arrive, he found the two quite
ready to receive him. Mary was in her own room above, whither Mr. Pecksniff,
always considerate, had besought old Martin to entreat her to remain some
half-hour longer, that her feelings might be spared.
    When Tom came back, he found old Martin sitting by the window, and Mr.
Pecksniff in an imposing attitude at the table. On one side of him was his
pocket-handkerchief; and on the other, a little heap (a very little heap) of
gold and silver, and odd pence. Tom saw, at a glance, that it was his own salary
for the current quarter.
    »Have you fastened the vestry-window, Mr. Pinch?« said Pecksniff.
    »Yes, sir.«
    »Thank you. Put down the keys if you please, Mr. Pinch.«
    Tom placed them on the table. He held the bunch by the key of the organ-loft
(though it was one of the smallest), and looked hard at it as he laid it down.
It had been an old, old friend of Tom's; a kind companion to him, many and many
a day.
    »Mr. Pinch,« said Pecksniff, shaking his head: »Oh Mr. Pinch! I wonder you
can look me in the face!«
    Tom did it though; and notwithstanding that he has been described as
stooping generally, he stood as upright then as man could stand.
    »Mr. Pinch,« said Pecksniff, taking up his handkerchief, as if he felt that
he should want it soon, »I will not dwell upon the past. I will spare you, and I
will spare myself, that pain at least.«
    Tom's was not a very bright eye, but it was a very expressive one when he
looked at Mr. Pecksniff, and said:
    »Thank you, sir. I am very glad you will not refer to the past.«
    »The present is enough,« said Mr. Pecksniff, dropping a penny, »and the
sooner that is past, the better. Mr. Pinch, I will not dismiss you without a
word of explanation. Even such a course would be quite justifiable under
