put on the silk…gown and the jet…black row of curls represented in that
portrait （her hair was reddish…grey in the kitchen）； established herself
in the breakfast…room； put her spectacles between two particular leaves
of Doctor Buchan's Domestic Medicine； and sat looking over the blind all
day until they came back again。 It was supposed that no persuasion could
be invented which would induce Mrs Tickit to abandon her post at the
blind； however long their absence； or to dispense with the attendance
of Dr Buchan； the lucubrations of which learned practitioner； Mr Meagles
implicitly believed she had never yet consulted to the extent of one
word in her life。
In the evening they played an old…fashioned rubber； and Pet sat looking
over her father's hand； or singing to herself by fits and starts at the
piano。 She was a spoilt child； but how could she be otherwise？ Who could
be much with so pliable and beautiful a creature； and not yield to her
endearing influence？ Who could pass an evening in the house； and not
love her for the grace and charm of her very presence in the room？ This
was Clennam's reflection； notwithstanding the final conclusion at which
he had arrived up…stairs。
In making it； he revoked。 'Why； what are you thinking of； my good sir？'
asked the astonished Mr Meagles； who was his partner。
'I beg your pardon。 Nothing；' returned Clennam。
'Think of something； next time； that's a dear fellow；' said Mr Meagles。
Pet laughingly believed he had been thinking of Miss Wade。
'Why of Miss Wade； Pet？' asked her father。
'Why； indeed！' said Arthur Clennam。
Pet coloured a little； and went to the piano again。
As they broke up for the night； Arthur overheard Doyce ask his host if
he could give him half an hour's conversation before breakfast in the
morning？ The host replying willingly； Arthur lingered behind a moment；
having his own word to add to that topic。
'Mr Meagles；' he said； on their being left alone； 'do you remember when
you advised me to go straight to London？'
'Perfectly well。' 'And when you gave me some other good advice which I
needed at that time？'
'I won't say what it was worth；' answered Mr Meagles： 'but of course I
remember our being very pleasant and confidential together。'
'I have acted on your advice； and having disembarrassed myself of an
occupation that was painful to me for many reasons； wish to devote
myself and what means I have； to another pursuit。'
'Right！ You can't do it too soon；' said Mr Meagles。
'Now； as I came down to…day； I found that your friend； Mr Doyce； is
looking for a partner in his business……not a partner in his mechanical
knowledge； but in the ways and means of turning the business arising
from it to the best account。'
'Just so；' said Mr Meagles； with his hands in his pockets； and with
the old business expression of face that had belonged to the scales and
scoop。
'Mr Doyce mentioned incidentally； in the course of our conversation；
that he was going to take your valuable advice on the subject of finding
such a partner。 If you should think our views and opportunities at all
likely to coincide； perhaps you will let him know my available position。
I speak； of course； in ignorance of the details； and they may be
unsuitable on both sides。'
'No doubt； no doubt；' said Mr Meagles； with the caution belonging to the
scales and scoop。
'But they will be a question of figures and accounts……'
'Just so； just so；' said Mr Meagles； with arithmetical solidity
belonging to the scales and scoop。
'……And I shall be glad to enter into the subject； provided Mr Doyce
responds； and you think well of it。 If you will at present； therefore；
allow me to place it in your hands； you will much oblige me。'
'Clennam； I accept the trust with readiness；' said Mr Meagles。 'And
without anticipating any of the points which you； as a man of business；
have of course reserved； I am free to say to you that I think something
may e of this。 Of one thing you may be perfectly certain。 Daniel is
an honest man。'
'I am so sure of it that I have promptly made up my mind to speak to
you。' 'You must guide him； you know； you must steer him； you must direct
him； he is one of a crotchety sort；' said Mr Meagles； evidently meaning
nothing more than that he did new things and went new ways； 'but he is
as honest as the sun； and so good night！' Clennam went back to his room；
sat down again before his fire； and made up his mind that he was glad
he had resolved not to fall in love with Pet。 She was so beautiful；
so amiable； so apt to receive any true impression given to her gentle
nature and her innocent heart； and make the man who should be so happy
as to municate it； the most fortunate and enviable of all men； that
he was very glad indeed he had e to that conclusion。
But； as this might have been a reason for ing to the opposite
conclusion； he followed out the theme again a little way in his mind； to
justify himself； perhaps。
'Suppose that a man；' so his thoughts ran； 'who had been of age some
twenty years or so； who was a diffident man； from the circumstances of
his youth； who was rather a grave man； from the tenor of his life； who
knew himself to be deficient in many little engaging qualities which
he admired in others； from having been long in a distant region； with
nothing softening near him； who had no kind sisters to present to her；
who had no congenial home to make her known in； who was a stranger in
the land； who had not a fortune to pensate； in any measure； for
these defects； who had nothing in his favour but his honest love and his
general wish to do right……suppose such a man were to e to this house；
and were to yield to the captivation of this charming girl； and were to
persuade himself that he could hope to win her； what a weakness it would
be！'
He softly opened his window； and looked out upon the serene river。 Year
after year so much allowance for the drifting of the ferry…boat； so
many miles an hour the flowing of the stream； here the rushes； there the
lilies； nothing uncertain or unquiet。
Why should he be vexed or sore at heart？ It was not his weakness that he
had imagined。 It was nobody's； nobody's within his knowledge； why should
it trouble him？ And yet it did trouble him。 And he thought……who has not
thought for a moment； sometimes？……that it might be better to flow away
monotonously； like the river； and to pound for its insensibility to
happiness with its insensibility to pain。
CHAPTER 17。 Nobody's Rival
Before breakfast in the morning； Arthur walked out to look about him。
As the morning was fine and he had an hour on his hands； he crossed the
river by the ferry； and strolled along a footpath through some meadows。
When he came back to the towing…path； he found the ferry…boat on the
opposite side； and a gentleman hailing it and waiting to be taken over。
This gentleman looked barely thirty。 He was well dressed； of a sprightly
and gay appearance； a well…knit figure； and a rich dark plexion。 As
Arthur came over the stile and down to the water's edge； the lounger
glanced at him for a moment； and then resumed his occupation of idly
tossing stones into the water with his foot。 T