The Bleeding Heart Yard’s name is under dispute in its origins. Some say it is due to a famous murder. The more popular theory is that it is named after a song a woman sang after being imprisoned by her father for refusing to marry the man he chose for her. She wasted away, pining for her true love until she died.
Mr. Plornish lives near the Bleeding Heart Yard. Arthur promises to meet up with his friends later and goes to pay a visit to Mr. Plornish.
Mrs. Plornish tells Arthur that her husband is out but is due back soon. He is welcome to wait. He compliments her on her children. She says her four year old son is a fine child, but the baby is sickly She assumes Arthur is there about a job and is disappointed when he replies that this is not the case. Mrs. Plornish remarks that her husband has a hard time remaining employed. He is ambitious enough.
Mr. Plornish arrives. He is suspicious of Arthur, who he thinks is a creditor. He thaws when Arthur mentions his name, which Mr. Plornish knows.
Mr. Plornish reveals that he met the Dorrits when imprisoned at Marshalsea. Mrs. Plornish has caused people to resent her for her pride in knowing the Dorrits, who are celebrities. Her husband admires how Amy Dorrit and her sister withhold from their father that they work for a living.
Arthur asks how they got Amy Dorrit the job with his mother. Mrs. Plornish explains that Amy Dorrit had asked to use their address as her residence. They had advised her to write out several advertisements. Mr. Plornish took them to several places, one being the landlord of the Bleeding Heart Yard. That is how Mrs. Clennam found Amy Dorrit.
The landlord is an old acquaintace of Arthur’s.
Arthur then discusses Tip’s debt in hoping to get him released. This is done. He asks Plornish to keep it a secret from Tip, but to let him know that he is free. He asks the Plornishes help in advising him on how to help the Dorrit family in the future.
Mr. Plornish then discusses how difficult it is to find work. He doesn’t know who is to blame for it.