Captain Cook, or by Friday to Robinson Crusoe. Mrs.
Plornish was particularly ingenious in this art; and attained so much celebrity
by saying »Me ope you leg well soon,« that it was considered in the Yard but a
very short remove indeed from speaking Italian. Even Mrs. Plornish herself began
to think that she had a natural call towards that language. As he became more
popular, household objects were brought into requisition for his instruction in
a copious vocabulary; and whenever he appeared in the Yard ladies would fly out
at their doors crying »Mr. Baptist - tea-pot!« »Mr. Baptist - dust-pan!« »Mr.
Baptist - flour-dredger!« »Mr. Baptist - coffee-biggin!« At the same time
exhibiting those articles, and penetrating him with a sense of the appalling
difficulties of the Anglo- tongue.
    It was in this stage of his progress, and in about the third week of his
occupation, that Mr. Pancks's fancy became attracted by the little man. Mounting
to his attic, attended by Mrs. Plornish as interpreter, he found Mr. Baptist
with no furniture but his bed on the ground, a table, and a chair, carving with
the aid of a few simple tools, in the blithest way possible.
    »Now, old chap,« said Mr. Pancks, »pay up!«
    He had his money ready, folded in a scrap of paper, and laughingly handed it
in; then with a free action, threw out as many fingers of his right hand as
there were shillings, and made a cut crosswise in the air for an odd sixpence.
    »Oh!« said Mr. Pancks, watching him, wonderingly. »That's it, is it? You're
a quick customer. It's all right. I didn't expect to receive it, though.«
    Mrs. Plornish here interposed with great condescension, and explained to Mr.
Baptist. »E please. E glad get money.«
    The little man smiled and nodded. His bright face seemed uncommonly
attractive to Mr. Pancks. »How's he getting on in his limb?« he asked Mrs.
Plornish.
    »Oh, he's a deal better, sir,« said Mrs. Plornish. »We expect next week
he'll be able to leave off his stick entirely.« (The opportunity being too
favourable to be lost, Mrs. Plornish displayed her great accomplishment, by
explaining, with pardonable pride, to Mr. Baptist, »