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 compensate 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 know how to acquit myself 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--'




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