CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

IN WHICH TOM PINCH AND HIS SISTER TAKE A LITTLE PLEASURE; BUT QUITE IN A DOMESTIC WAY, AND WITH NO CEREMONY ABOUT IT

Tom Pinch and his sister having to part, for the dispatch of the morning's business, immediately after the dispersion of the other actors in the scene upon the wharf with which the reader has been already made acquainted, had no opportunity of discussing the subject at that time. But Tom, in his solitary office, and Ruth, in the triangular parlour, thought about nothing else all day; and, when their hour of meeting in the afternoon approached, they were very full of it, to be sure.

There was a little plot between them, that Tom should always come out of the Temple by one way; and that was past the fountain. Coming through Fountain Court, he was just to glance down the steps leading into Garden Court, and to look once all round him; and if Ruth had come to meet him, there he would see her; not sauntering, you understand (on account of the clerks), but coming briskly up, with the best little laugh upon her face that ever played in opposition to the fountain, and beat it all to nothing. For, fifty to one, Tom had been looking for her in the wrong direction, and had quite given her up, while she had been tripping towards him from the first; jingling that little reticule of hers (with all the keys in it) to attract his wandering observation.

1. Did two people have a small scheme?
2. Who?
3. Where was he to exit by?
4. What is he exiting?
5. Where is he when he's to peer down the stairs?
6. Where do they lead?
7. Is she supposed to casually stroll?
8. Why not?
9. What is she to do instead?
10. Will she appear somber or happy?
11. When did they leave one another earlier?
12. Of whom?
13. Where?
14. Which is on what?
15. Does he have a social work space?
16. What shape is her room?
17. Did they think about a bunch of different things all day?
18. What are the odds that he looked for her in the wrong spot?
19. What did she use to make noise?
20. For what purpose?
1. Yes
2. TOM PINCH AND HIS SISTER
3. past the fountain
4. the Temple
5. Coming through Fountain Court
6. into Garden Court
7. No
8. on account of the clerks
9. briskly
10. Yes
11. immediately after the dispersion
12. the other actors
13. in the scene
14. the wharf
15. No
16. triangular
17. No
18. fifty to one
19. that little reticule of hers
20. to attract his wandering observation