sheets of foolscap paper it had devoted to the public service would pave
the footways on both sides of Oxford Street from end to end； and leave
nearly a quarter of a mile to spare for the park （Immense cheering and
laughter）； while of tape……red tape……it had used enough to stretch； in
graceful festoons； from Hyde Park Corner to the General Post Office。
Then； amidst a burst of official exultation； would the noble or right
honourable Barnacle sit down； leaving the mutilated fragments of the
Member on the field。 No one； after that exemplary demolition of him；
would have the hardihood to hint that the more the Circumlocution Office
did； the less was done； and that the greatest blessing it could confer
on an unhappy public would be to do nothing。
With sufficient occupation on his hands； now that he had this additional
task……such a task had many and many a serviceable man died of before his
day……Arthur Clennam led a life of slight variety。 Regular visits to his
mother's dull sick room； and visits scarcely less regular to Mr Meagles
at Twickenham； were its only changes during many months。
He sadly and sorely missed Little Dorrit。 He had been prepared to miss
her very much； but not so much。 He knew to the full extent only through
experience； what a large place in his life was left blank when her
familiar little figure went out of it。 He felt； too； that he must
relinquish the hope of its return； understanding the family character
sufficiently well to be assured that he and she were divided by a broad
ground of separation。 The old interest he had had in her； and her old
trusting reliance on him； were tinged with melancholy in his mind： so
soon had change stolen over them； and so soon had they glided into the
past with other secret tendernesses。
When he received her letter he was greatly moved； but did not the less
sensibly feel that she was far divided from him by more than distance。
It helped him to a clearer and keener perception of the place assigned
him by the family。 He saw that he was cherished in her grateful
remembrance secretly； and that they resented him with the jail and the
rest of its belongings。
Through all these meditations which every day of his life crowded about
her； he thought of her otherwise in the old way。 She was his innocent
friend； his delicate child； his dear Little Dorrit。 This very change
of circumstances fitted curiously in with the habit； begun on the night
when the roses floated away； of considering himself as a much older man
than his years really made him。 He regarded her from a point of view
which in its remoteness； tender as it was； he little thought would have
been unspeakable agony to her。 He speculated about her future destiny；
and about the husband she might have； with an affection for her which
would have drained her heart of its dearest drop of hope； and broken it。
Everything about him tended to confirm him in the custom of looking on
himself as an elderly man； from whom such aspirations as he had bated
in the case of Minnie Gowan （though that was not so long ago either；
reckoning by months and seasons）； were finally departed。 His relations
with her father and mother were like those on which a widower son…in…law
might have stood。 If the twin sister who was dead had lived to pass away
in the bloom of womanhood； and he had been her husband； the nature of
his intercourse with Mr and Mrs Meagles would probably have been just
what it was。 This imperceptibly helped to render habitual the impression
within him； that he had done with； and dismissed that part of life。
He invariably heard of Minnie from them； as telling them in her letters
how happy she was； and how she loved her husband； but inseparable from
that subject； he invariably saw the old cloud on Mr Meagles's face。 Mr
Meagles had never been quite so radiant since the marriage as before。
He had never quite recovered the separation from Pet。 He was the same
good…humoured； open creature； but as if his face； from being much turned
towards the pictures of his two children which could show him only one
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 Pe