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look； unconsciously adopted a characteristic from them； it always had
now； through all its changes of expression； a look of loss in it。
One wintry Saturday when Clennam was at the cottage； the Dowager Mrs
Gowan drove up； in the Hampton Court equipage which pretended to be the
exclusive equipage of so many individual proprietors。 She descended； in
her shady ambuscade of green fan； to favour Mr and Mrs Meagles with a
call。
'And how do you both do； Papa and Mama Meagles？' said she； encouraging
her humble connections。 'And when did you last hear from or about my
poor fellow？'
My poor fellow was her son； and this mode of speaking of him politely
kept alive； without any offence in the world； the pretence that he had
fallen a victim to the Meagles' wiles。
'And the dear pretty one？' said Mrs Gowan。 'Have you later news of her
than I have？'
Which also delicately implied that her son had been captured by mere
beauty； and under its fascination had forgone all sorts of worldly
advantages。
'I am sure；' said Mrs Gowan； without straining her attention on the
answers she received； 'it's an unspeakable fort to know they continue
happy。 My poor fellow is of such a restless disposition； and has been
so used to roving about； and to being inconstant and popular among all
manner of people； that it's the greatest fort in life。 I suppose
they're as poor as mice； Papa Meagles？'
Mr Meagles； fidgety under the question； replied； 'I hope not； ma'am。 I
hope they will manage their little ine。'
'Oh！ my dearest Meagles！' returned the lady； tapping him on the arm with
the green fan and then adroitly interposing it between a yawn and
the pany； 'how can you； as a man of the world and one of the most
business…like of human beings……for you know you are business…like； and a
great deal too much for us who are not……'
（Which went to the former purpose； by making Mr Meagles out to be an
artful schemer。）
'……How can you talk about their managing their little means？ My poor
dear fellow！ The idea of his managing hundreds！ And the sweet pretty
creature too。 The notion of her managing！ Papa Meagles！ Don't！'
'Well； ma'am；' said Mr Meagles； gravely； 'I am sorry to admit； then；
that Henry certainly does anticipate his means。'
'My dear good man……I use no ceremony with you； because we are a kind of
relations；……positively； Mama Meagles；' exclaimed Mrs Gowan cheerfully；
as if the absurd coincidence then flashed upon her for the first time；
'a kind of relations！ My dear good man； in this world none of us can
have everything our own way。'
This again went to the former point； and showed Mr Meagles with all good
breeding that； so far； he had been brilliantly successful in his deep
designs。 Mrs Gowan thought the hit so good a one； that she dwelt upon
it； repeating 'Not everything。 No； no； in this world we must not expect
everything； Papa Meagles。'
'And may I ask； ma'am；' retorted Mr Meagles； a little heightened in
colour； 'who does expect everything？'
'Oh； nobody； nobody！' said Mrs Gowan。 'I was going to say……but you put
me out。 You interrupting Papa； what was I going to say？'
Drooping her large green fan； she looked musingly at Mr Meagles while
she thought about it； a performance not tending to the cooling of that
gentleman's rather heated spirits。
'Ah！ Yes； to be sure！' said Mrs Gowan。 'You must remember that my poor
fellow has always been accustomed to expectations。 They may have been
realised； or they may not have been realised……'
'Let us say； then； may not have been realised；' observed Mr Meagles。
The Dowager for a moment gave him an angry look； but tossed it off with
her head and her fan； and pursued the tenor of her way in her former
manner。
'It makes no difference。 My poor fellow has been accustomed to that
sort of thing； and of course you knew it； and were prepared for the
consequences。 I myself always clearly foresa
not surprised。 And you must not be surprised。
In fact； can't be surprised。 Must have been prepared for it。'
Mr Meagles looked at his wife and at Clennam； bit his lip； and coughed。
'And now here's my poor fellow；' Mrs Gowan pursued； 'receiving notice
that he is to hold himself in expectation of a baby； and all the
expenses attendant on such an addition to his family！ Poor Henry！ But
it can't be helped now； it's too late to help it now。 Only don't talk of
anticipating means； Papa Meagles； as a discovery； because that would be
too much。'
'Too much； ma'am？' said Mr Meagles； as seeking an explanation。
'There； there！' said Mrs Gowan； putting him in his inferior place with
an expressive action of her hand。 'Too much for my poor fellow's
mother to bear at this time of day。 They are fast married； and can't
be unmarried。 There； there！ I know that！ You needn't tell me that； Papa
Meagles。 I know it very well。 What was it I said just now？ That it was
a great fort 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
Meagles； we had better say no more about it。 We never did look at this
subject from the same side； and we never shall。 There； there！ 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 expect to bear his honours of alliance too cheaply； Mrs
Gowan was disposed to forgo 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 Pet was the darling and pride of his heart； and if he
could ever have championed her more devotedly； or loved her better； than
in the days when she was the sunlight of his house； it would have been
now； when； as its daily grace and delight； she was lost to it。
'Mrs Gowan； ma'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 both……any genteel mystifications； I should probably not succeed in
them。'
'Papa Meagles；' returned the Dowager； with an affable smile； but with
the bloom on her cheeks standing out a little more vividly than usual as
the neighbouring surface became paler；'probably not。'
'Therefore； my good madam；' said Mr Meagles； at great pains to
restrain himself； 'I hope I may； without offence； ask to have no such
mystification played off upon me。' 'Mama Meagles；' observed Mrs Gowan；
'your good man is inprehensible。'
Her turning to that worthy lady was an artifice to bring her into the
discussion； quarrel eagles interposed to
prevent that consummation。
'Mother；' said he； 'you are inexpert； my dear； and it is not a fair
match。 Let me beg of you to remain quiet。 e； Mrs Gowan； e！ 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； it's 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。'
'Yes； sure； and there leave it； father；' said Mrs Meagles the
kind…hearted and fortable。
'Why； mother； no；' returned Mr Meagles； 'not exactly there。 I can't
quite leave it there； I must say just half…a…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； shaking her head and the great
green fan together； for emphasis。
'Thank you； ma'am； that's well。 Notwithstanding which； I feel a
little……I don't want to use a strong word……now shall I say hurt？'
asked Mr Meagles at once with frankness and moderation； and with a
conciliatory appeal in his tone。
'Say what you like；' answered Mrs Gowan。 'It is perfectly indifferent to
me。'
'No； no； don't say that；' urged Mr Meagles； 'because that's not
responding amiably。 I feel a little hurt when I hear references made to
consequences having been foreseen； and to its being too late now； and so
forth。'
'Do you； Papa Meagles？' said Mrs Gowan。 'I am not surprised。'
'Well； ma'am；' reasoned Mr Meagles； 'I was in hopes you would have been
at least surprised； because to hurt me wilfully on so tender a subject
is surely not generous。' 'I am not responsible；' said Mrs Gowan； 'for
your conscience； you know。'
Poor Mr Meagles looked aghast with astonishment。
'If I am unluckily obliged to carry a cap about with me； which is yours
and fits you；' pursued Mrs Gowan； 'don't blame me for its pattern； Papa
Meagles； I beg！' 'Why； good Lord； ma'am！' Mr Meagles broke out； 'that's
as much as to state……'
'Now； Papa Meagles； Papa Meagles；' said Mrs Gowan； who became extremely
deliberate and prepossessing in manner whenever that gentleman became at
all warm； 'perhaps to prevent 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 t