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wvas it I said just now? That
862
it’ was a great comfort
they continued happy. - It is to be hoped they will still
continue happy. It is to be ‘hoped Pretty One will do
everything she can to make my poor fellow happy, and
keep him contented. Papa and Mama. Mengles, we had -
lVe never did look at this
better say no more about it.
' There,
subject from the same side, and we never shall.
‘there l Now I am good.”
Truly, having ‘by this time said everything she could
say in maintenance of her wonderfully mythical position,
and in admonition to Mr. Meagles that he must not ex-
pect to hear his honours of alliance too cheaply, Mrs.
Gowan was disposed to forego the rest. If Mr. Meagles
had submitted to a glance of entreaty from Mrs. Meagles
and an expressive gesture from Clennam, he would have
left her in the undisturbed enjoyment of this state of
mind. But Pct was the darling and pride‘of his heart ;
and if he could have ever championed her more devot-
edly, or loved her better, than in the days when she was
the sunlight of his house, it would have been now, when,
in its daily grace and delight, she was lost to it. ‘
“Mrs. Gowan, rna’am,” said Mr. Meagles, “I have
been a plain man all my life. If I was to try-no matter
whether on myself, on somebody else, or botheany gen-
tiel mystitications, I should probably not succeed in
t em." , V , ‘ ' - 2 , I
“Papa Meagles," returned the Dowager, with an‘af-
fable smile, but with the bloom on her cheeks standing
out a little more vividly than usual, as the neighbouring
surface became paler, “probably not.” i V -
""l‘herefore, my good madam,” said Mr. Meagles, at
great pains to restrain himself, “I hope I may, without
offence, ask to have no such rnystilications played "off
upon me.” ' - . .
“ Mama Meagles,” observed Mrs. Gowan, “ your good
man is incomprehensible.” V
Her turning to that worthy lady was an artifice to
brin her into the discussion,‘ quarrel with her, and van-
vquis her. Mr. Meagles interposed to prevent that con-
summation. ,, . ,
“Motlier,” said he,‘ “you are inexpe'rt, my dear, and
it is not a fair match. Let me beg of you to remain
quiet. Come, Mrs. Growan, come 1 Let us try to be
sensible ; let us try to be good-natured ; let us try to be
fair; .Don’t you pity Henry, and I won’t pity Pet, And
don t be one-sided, my dear madam; it’s not considerate,
its not kind. ’Don’t let us say that we hope Pet will
make Henry happy, or even that we hope Henry will
make Pet happy,” (Mr. Meagles himself did not look
happy as he spoke the words,) “but let us hope they
will make each other happy." i V
“Yes sure, and there leave it, father,” said Mrs
Moagles the kind-hearted and comfortable. .'
“ lVhy mother, no,” returned Mr. Meagles, “not ex.
actly there. I can't quite leave it there; I must say
just halfea-dozen words more. Mrs. Gowan, I hope I am
not over sensitive.’ I believe I don’t look it,” .
“ Indeed you do not,” said Mrs. Gowan, shakinov he,-
head and the great green fan together, for emphasi:
"Thank YOU. ma-’ftm; that’s well. Notwithstandinrr
which, I feel a little-I don’t want to use a stroncr word
--now shall I say hurt?” asked Mr. Mearrles rijt once
with frankness and moderation, and with E conciliatory
appeal in his tone. ‘ V V
“ Say what you like,” answered Mrs: Gowan.
perfectly indifferent to me.”
“No, no, don't say that,” urged Mr. llfeacrleg “be.
cause that's not responding amiably. ' I feael ti. little
hurt, when I hear references made toconsequences llav-
ifng Ibeen foreseen, and to its being too late ' now ‘and so
ort i.” . V . ’
" Do you, Papa Meagles ‘2 ” said Mrs. Gowan. “ I am
not surprised.”
“ Well, ina’am,” reasoned Mr. Meagles, .“I was in
he es you would have been at’ least surprised because
to iurt me wilfully on so tender :1. subject is surely not
generous.” I ' ’ ' '
" 1.8.111 not responsible,” said Mrs. Gowan, " for your
conscience, you know.” -
V Poor Mr. Meagles looked a hast with astonishment ‘
"If am unluckily oblige to carry acap about with
mo which is yours and fits you,” pursued Mfrs Gowan,
“ It is
s-, r...r.,.....>.:.. .. ,........ ...,....z.. . ....>,... :...,.:.s,..-,. .
oirarzwis DICKENS’ WORKS.
“don’t blame‘ me for its pattern, Papa Meagles, I
beg I” - -
" Vhy, good Lord, ma’am 1” Mr.
“ that's as much as to state-” . I. V - -
“Now, Papa Meagles, Papa Meagles,” said . Mrs.
Gowan, who became extremely deliberate and prepos-
sessing in manner whenever that gentleman became at
all warm, “ perhaps, toiprevent confusion, I had better
speak for myself than trouble your kindness to speak
for me. It's as much ‘as to state,<you begin. If you
please, I will finish the'sentence. It is as much as to
state-not that I wish to press it, or even recall it, for it
is of no use now, and my only wish is to make the best
of existing circumstances-that from the first to the last
I always objected to this match of yours, and at a very
late periodVyielded a most unwilling consent to it.”
“Mother I”. cried Mr. Meagles. “ Do you hearthisl
Arthur I Do you hear this i ” , V, s ‘-
"The room being of a convenient size,” said Mrs.
Gowan, looking about as she fanned herself. “ and quite
charmingly adapted in all respects to ‘conversation, I
should imagine that I am audible in any part of it.”
Some moments passed. in silence, before Mr. Meagles
could hold himself in his chair with sutiicient security
to prevent his breaking out of it at the next word he
spoke. At last he said: " Ma'am,-I am very unwilling
to revive them, but I must remind you what my opinions
and rny course were, all along, on that unfortunate sub-
ject. 4', . I . . , .. .' .
“O,lmy dear‘ sir!” said Mrs. Gowan, smiling and
shaking her headpwith accusatory intelligence, “they
were well understood by me, I assure you." ’
“I never, ma’am,” said Mr. Meagles, "knew unhappi-
ness before that time, I never knew anxiety before u that
time. It was a time of suclrdistress tome, ‘.that---.’’
That Mr. Meagles really could say no more about it, in
slinrt, but passed his handkerchief before his face. z '
‘‘I understood the whole affair,” said Mrs. Gowan.
composedly looking over her fan. V“As you have fill‘
pealed to Mr. Clennam, I may appeal to Mr. Clennnm.
too. He knows whether I did or not." - V
‘ “I am very unwilling,“said.Clennam, looked to by
all parties, “ to take any share in this discussion, more
especially because I wish to preserve the best undef-
standing and the clearest . relations with Mr; Henry
Gowan. Iliave very strong reasons indeed, for enter-
ti’-i“in's’ that wish. Mrs. Gowan attributed certain views
of furthering the marriage to my friend here, in conver-
sation with me before it took place ; and.I endeavoured
to undeceive her, I represented that I knew hirn (35,
did and do), to be strenuouslv opposed to it, both In
opinion and action.” ‘ ‘ - '
"‘ You see?” said Mrs. Gowan, turning the palnislof
her hands towards Mr. Meagles, as if she wereiJust1C0
herself, representing to him that he had better confess,
for he had not‘a leg to stand on. “You see?‘ Ver)’
good I Now, Papa and Mama Meagles both I ” here 6110
rose ; “ allow me to take the liberty of putting an end 10
this rather formidable .controvcrsy.- I will. not sax 3”’
other word upon its merits. I will only say that it is an
additional proof of what one knows from all experience :
that this kind of thing never answers-,as my poor fellow
himself would say, that it never pays-in one word. that
it never does.” ' ' '
Mr. Meagles asked, ‘Vhat kind of thing? i > ‘ ‘ I
“It is in vain,” said Mrs. Gowan, “for people to ‘f'‘‘
tempt to get on together who have such extremely di -
ferent antecedents ; who are jumbled against each other
in this accidental, matrimonial sort of way: and who
cannot look at the untoward circumstance which has
flhaken them together, in the same light. It “ever
oes.” . .. ;.: '.
Mr. Meagles was beginning, .“ Permit me ‘i0 537’
ma’arn-” ’ ’ 3 V
" N0. don’t l” returned -Mrs. Gowau. “‘ ‘V11!’ Sholllg
F0111 It is an ascertained fact. It never docs.1-wI “1
therefore, if you please, go my way, leaving S00
3'0l11'S. ‘I shall at all times be happy to receive’ my P09’
fellow’s pretty wife. and I shall always make 11 P011“ 0
being on the most affectionate terms with her’: But “i to
these terms, semi-family and semi-stranger, S0mi'f="mpg
and semi-boring, they form a. state of things‘ qmw
Meagles broke out,