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cannot look at the untoward circumstance which has shaken them together
in the same light。 It never does。'
Mr Meagles was beginning； 'Permit me to say； ma'am……'
'No； don't；' returned Mrs Gowan。 'Why should you！ It is an ascertained
fact。 It never does。 I will therefore； if you please； go my way； leaving
you to yours。 I shall at all times be happy to receive my poor fellow's
pretty wife； and I shall always make a point of being on the most
affectionate terms with her。 But as to these terms； semi…family and
semi…stranger； semi…goring and semi…boring； they form a state of things
quite amusing in its impracticability。 I assure you it never does。'
The Dowager here made a smiling obeisance； rather to the room than to
any one in it； and therewith took a final farewell of Papa and Mama
Meagles。 Clennam stepped forward to hand her to the Pill…Box which was
at the service of all the Pills in Hampton Court Palace； and she got
into that vehicle with distinguished serenity； and was driven away。
Thenceforth the Dowager； with a light and careless humour； often
recounted to her particular acquaintance how； after a hard trial； she
had found it impossible to know those people who belonged to Henry's
wife； and who had made that desperate set to catch him。 Whether she had
e to the conclusion beforehand； that to get rid of them would give
her favourite pretence a better air； might save her some occasional
inconvenience； and could risk no loss （the pretty creature being fast
married； and her father devoted to her）； was best known to herself。
Though this history has its opinion on that point too； and decidedly in
the affirmative。
CHAPTER 9。 Appearance and Disappearance
'Arthur； my dear boy；' said Mr Meagles； on the evening of the following
day； 'Mother and I have been talking this over； and we don't feel
fortable in remaining as we are。 That elegant connection of
ours……that dear lady who was here yesterday……'
'I understand；' said Arthur。
'Even that affable and condescending ornament of society；' pursued Mr
Meagles； 'may misrepresent us； we are afraid。 We could bear a great
deal； Arthur； for her sake； but we think we would rather not bear that；
if it was all the same to her。'
'Good；' said Arthur。 'Go on。'
'You see；' proceeded Mr Meagles 'it might put us wrong with our
son…in…law； it might even put us wrong with our daughter； and it might
lead to a great deal of domestic trouble。 You see； don't you？'
'Yes； indeed；' returned Arthur； 'there is much reason in what you say。'
He had glanced at Mrs Meagles； who was always on the good and sensible
side； and a petition had shone out of her honest face that he would
support Mr Meagles in his present inclinings。
'So we are very much disposed； are Mother and I；' said Mr Meagles； 'to
pack up bags and baggage and go among the Allongers and Marshongers once
more。 I mean； we are very much disposed to be off； strike right through
France into Italy； and see our Pet。'
'And I don't think；' replied Arthur； touched by the motherly
anticipation in the bright face of Mrs Meagles （she must have been very
like her daughter； once）； 'that you could do better。 And if you ask me
for my advice； it is that you set off to…morrow。'
'Is it really； though？' said Mr Meagles。 'Mother； this is being backed
in an idea！'
Mother； with a look which thanked Clennam in a manner very agreeable to
him； answered that it was indeed。
'The fact is； besides； Arthur；' said Mr Meagles； the old cloud ing
over his face； 'that my son…in…law is already in debt again； and that I
suppose I must clear him again。 It may be as well； even on this account；
that I should step over there； and look him up in a friendly way。 Then
again； here's Mother foolishly anxious （and yet naturally too） about
Pet's state of health； and that she should not be left to feel lonesome
at the present time。 It's undeniably a long way off； Arthur； and a
strange place for the poor love under all the circumstances。 Let her be
as well cared for as any lady in that land； still it is a long way off。
just as Home is Home though it's never so Homely； why you see；' said Mr
Meagles； adding a new version to the proverb； 'Rome is Rome； though it's
never so Romely。'
'All perfectly true；' observed Arthur； 'and all sufficient reasons for
going。'
'I am glad you think so； it decides me。 Mother； my dear； you may get
ready。 We have lost our pleasant interpreter （she spoke three foreign
languages beautifully； Arthur； you have heard her many a time）； and you
must pull me through it； Mother； as well as you can。
I require a deal of pulling through； Arthur；' said Mr Meagles； shaking
his head； 'a deal of pulling through。 I stick at everything beyond a
noun…substantive……and I stick at him； if he's at all a tight one。'
'Now I think of it；' returned Clennam； 'there's Cavalletto。 He shall
go with you； if you like。 I could not afford to lose him； but you will
bring him safe back。'
'Well！ I am much obliged to you； my boy；' said Mr Meagles； turning it
over； 'but I think not。 No； I think I'll be pulled through by Mother。
Cavallooro （I stick at his very name to start with； and it sounds like
the chorus to a ic song） is so necessary to you； that I don't like
the thought of taking him away。 More than that； there's no saying when
we may e home again； and it would never do to take him away for
an indefinite time。 The cottage is not what it was。 It only holds two
little people less than it ever did； Pet； and her poor unfortunate maid
Tattycoram； but it seems empty now。 Once out of it； there's no knowing
when we may e back to it。 No； Arthur； I'll be pulled through by
Mother。'
They would do best by themselves perhaps； after all； Clennam thought；
therefore did not press his proposal。
'If you would e down and stay here for a change； when it wouldn't
trouble you；' Mr Meagles resumed； 'I should be glad to think……and so
would Mother too； I know……that you were brightening up the old place
with a bit of life it was used to when it was full； and that the Babies
on the wall there had a kind eye upon them sometimes。 You so belong to
the spot； and to them； Arthur； and we should every one o