'Never, my dear Miss Pecksniffs,' said Mrs Todgers, when they retired
to rest on the last night of their stay, 'never have I seen an
establishment so perfectly broken-hearted as mine is at this present
moment of time. I don't believe the gentlemen will be the gentlemen they
were, or anything like it--no, not for weeks to come. You have a great
deal to answer for, both of you.'
They modestly disclaimed any wilful agency in this disastrous state of
things, and regretted it very much.
'Your pious pa, too,' said Mrs Todgers. 'There's a loss! My dear Miss
Pecksniffs, your pa is a perfect missionary of peace and love.'
Entertaining an uncertainty as to the particular kind of love supposed
to be comprised in Mr Pecksniff's mission, the young ladies received the
compliment rather coldly.
'If I dared,' said Mrs Todgers, perceiving this, 'to violate a
confidence which has been reposed in me, and to tell you why I must beg
of you to leave the little door between your room and mine open tonight,
I think you would be interested. But I mustn't do it, for I promised Mr
Jinkins faithfully, that I would be as silent as the tomb.
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