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in arrears; and delivered solemn political oracles appropriate to that
epoch。 He finished by freezing a cup of tea for his own drinking;
and retiring at his lowest temperature。 Then Mrs Gowan; who had been
accustomed in her days of a vacant arm…chair beside her to which
to summon state to retain her devoted slaves; one by one; for short
audiences as marks of her especial favour; invited Clennam with a turn
of her fan to approach the presence。 He obeyed; and took the tripod
recently vacated by Lord Lancaster Stiltstalking。

'Mr Clennam;' said Mrs Gowan; 'apart from the happiness I have in
being known to you; though in this odiously inconvenient place……a
mere barrack……there is a subject on which I am dying to speak to you。 It
is the subject in connection with which my son first had; I believe; the
pleasure of cultivating your acquaintance。'

Clennam inclined his head; as a generally suitable reply to what he did
not yet quite understand。

'First;' said Mrs Gowan; 'now; is she really pretty?'

In nobody's difficulties; he would have found it very difficult to
answer; very difficult indeed to smile; and say 'Who?'

'Oh! You know!' she returned。 'This flame of Henry's。 This unfortunate
fancy。 There! If it is a point of honour that I should originate the
name……Miss Mickles……Miggles。'

'Miss Meagles;' said Clennam; 'is very beautiful。'

'Men are so often mistaken on those points;' returned Mrs Gowan; shaking
her head; 'that I candidly confess to you I feel anything but sure of
it; even now; though it is something to have Henry corroborated with so
much gravity and emphasis。 He picked the people up at Rome; I think?'

The phrase would have given nobody mortal offence。 Clennam replied;
'Excuse me; I doubt if I understand your expression。'

'Picked the people up;' said Mrs Gowan; tapping the sticks of her closed
fan (a large green one; which she used as a hand…screen) on her little
table。 'Came upon them。 Found them out。 Stumbled UP against them。'

'The people?'

'Yes。 The Miggles people。'

'I really cannot say;' said Clennam; 'where my friend Mr Meagles first
presented Mr Henry Gowan to his daughter。'

'I am pretty sure he picked her up at Rome; but never mind
where……somewhere。 Now (this is entirely between ourselves); is she very
plebeian?'

'Really; ma'am;' returned Clennam; 'I am so undoubtedly plebeian myself;
that I do not feel qualified to judge。'

'Very neat!' said Mrs Gowan; coolly unfurling her screen。 'Very happy!
From which I infer that you secretly think her manner equal to her
looks?'

Clennam; after a moment's stiffness; bowed。

'That's forting; and I hope you may be right。 Did Henry tell me you
had travelled with them?' 'I travelled with my friend Mr Meagles; and
his wife and daughter; during some months。' (Nobody's heart might have
been wrung by the remembrance。)

'Really forting; because you must have had a large experience of
them。 You see; Mr Clennam; this thing has been going on for a long time;
and I find no improvement in it。 Therefore to have the opportunity of
speaking to one so well informed about it as yourself; is an immense
relief to me。 Quite a boon。 Quite a blessing; I am sure。'

'Pardon me;' returned Clennam; 'but I am not in Mr Henry Gowan's
confidence。 I am far from being so well informed as you suppose me to
be。 Your mistake makes my position a very delicate one。 No word on this
topic has ever passed between Mr Henry Gowan and myself。'

Mrs Gowan glanced at the other end of the room; where her son was
playing ecarte on a sofa; with the old lady who was for a charge of
cavalry。

'Not in his confidence? No;' said Mrs Gowan。 'No word has passed between
you? No。 That I can imagine。 But there are unexpressed confidences; Mr
Clennam; and as you have been together intimately among these people; I
cannot doubt that a confidence of that sort exists in the present case。
Perhaps you have heard that I have suffered the keenest distress of
mind from Henry's having taken to a pursuit which……well!' shrugging her
shoulders; 'a very respectable pursuit; I dare say; and some artists
are; as artists; quite superior persons; still; we never yet in our
family have gone beyond an Amateur; and it is a pardonable weakness to
feel a little……'

As Mrs Gowan broke off to heave a sigh; Clennam; however resolute to
be magnanimous; could not keep down the thought that there was mighty
little danger of the family's ever going beyond an Amateur; even as it
was。

'Henry;' the mother resumed; 'is self…willed and resolute; and as these
people naturally strain every nerve to catch him; I can entertain very
little hope; Mr Clennam; that the thing will be broken off。 I apprehend
the girl's fortune will be very small; Henry might have done much
better; there is scarcely anything to pensate for the connection:
still; he acts for himself; and if I find no improvement within a short
time; I see no other course than to resign myself and make the best of
these people。 I am infinitely obliged to you for what you have told
me。' As she shrugged her shoulders; Clennam stiffly bowed again。 With an
uneasy flush upon his face; and hesitation in his manner; he then said
in a still lower tone than he had adopted yet:

'Mrs Gowan; I scarcely knoyself of what I feel to be a
duty; and yet I must ask you for your kind consideration in
attempting to discharge it。 A misconception on your part; a very great
misconception if I may venture to call it so; seems to require setting
right。 You have supposed Mr Meagles and his family to strain every
nerve; I think you said……'

'Every nerve;' repeated Mrs Gowan; looking at him in calm obstinacy;
with her green fan between her face and the fire。

'To secure Mr Henry Gowan?'

The lady placidly assented。

'Now that is so far;' said Arthur; 'from being the case; that I know
Mr Meagles to be unhappy in this matter; and to have interposed all
reasonable obstacles with the hope of putting an end to it。'

Mrs Gowan shut up her great green fan; tapped him on the arm with it;
and tapped her smiling lips。 'Why; of course;' said she。 'Just what I
mean。'

Arthur watched her face for some explanation of what she did mean。

'Are you really serious; Mr Clennam? Don't you see?'

Arthur did not see; and said so。

'Why; don't I know my son; and don't I know that this is exactly the way
to hold him?' said Mrs Gowan; contemptuously; 'and do not these Miggles
people know it; at least as well as I? Oh; shrewd people; Mr Clennam:
evidently people of business! I believe Miggles belonged to a Bank。 It
ought to have been a very profitable Bank; if he had much to do with its
management。 This is very well done; indeed。'

'I beg and entreat you; ma'am……' Arthur interposed。

'Oh; Mr Clennam; can you really be so credulous?'

It made such a painful impression upon him to hear her talking in this
haughty tone; and to see her patting her contemptuous lips with her
fan; that he said very earnestly; 'Believe me; ma'am; this is unjust; a
perfectly groundless suspicion。'

'Suspicion?' repeated Mrs Gowan。 'Not suspicion; Mr Clennam; Certainty。
It is very knowingly done indeed; and seems to have taken YOU in
pletely。' She laughed; and again sat tapping her lips with her fan;
and tossing her head; as if she added; 'Don't tell me。 I know such
people will do anything for the honour of such an alliance。'

At this opportune moment; the cards were thrown up; and Mr Henry Gowan
came across the room saying; 'Mother; if you can spare Mr Clennam for
this time; we have a long way to go; and it's getting late。' Mr Clennam
thereupon rose; as he had no choice but to do; and Mrs Gowan showed him;
to the last; the same look and the same tapped contemptuous lips。

'You have had a portentously long audience of my mother;' said Gowan; as
the door closed upon them。 'I fervently hope she has not bored you?'

'Not at all;' said Clennam。

They had a little open phaeton for the journey; and were soon in it on
the road home。 Gowan; driving; lighted a cigar; Clennam declined one。 Do
what he would; he fell into such a mood of abstraction that Gowan said
again; 'I am very much afraid my mother has bored you?' To which he
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