shall be glad to see him。 We'll entertain him as well as we can； in our
humble way； and we shall not starve him； I hope； at all events。'
In the beginning of this dialogue； Clennam had expected some great
harmless outburst from Mr Meagles； like that which had made him burst
out of the Circumlocution Office； holding Doyce by the collar。 But his
good friend had a weakness which none of us need go into the next street
to find； and which no amount of Circumlocution experience could long
subdue in him。 Clennam looked at Doyce； but Doyce knew all about it
beforehand； and looked at his plate； and made no sign； and said no word。
'I am much obliged to you；' said Gowan； to conclude the subject。
'Clarence is a great ass； but he is one of the dearest and best fellows
that ever lived！'
It appeared； before the breakfast was over； that everybody whom this
Gowan knew was either more or less of an ass； or more or less of a
knave； but was； notwithstanding； the most lovable； the most engaging；
the simplest； truest； kindest； dearest； best fellow that ever lived。
The process by which this unvarying result was attained； whatever the
premises； might have been stated by Mr Henry Gowan thus： 'I claim to be
always book…keeping； with a peculiar nicety； in every man's case； and
posting up a careful little account of Good and Evil with him。 I do
this so conscientiously； that I am happy to tell you I find the most
worthless of men to be the dearest old fellow too： and am in a condition
to make the gratifying report； that there is much less difference than
you are inclined to suppose between an honest man and a scoundrel。' The
effect of this cheering discovery happened to be； that while he seemed
to be scrupulously finding good in most men； he did in reality lower
it where it was； and set it up where it was not； but that was its only
disagreeable or dangerous feature。
It scarcely seemed； however； to afford Mr Meagles as much satisfaction
as the Barnacle genealogy had done。 The cloud that Clennam had never
seen upon his face before that morning； frequently overcast it again；
and there was the same shadow of uneasy observation of him on the ely
face of his wife。 More than once or twice when Pet caressed the dog；
it appeared to Clennam that her father was unhappy in seeing her do it；
and； in one particular instance when Gowan stood on the other side of
the dog； and bent his head at the same time； Arthur fancied that he saw
tears rise to Mr Meagles's eyes as he hurried out of the room。 It was
either the fact too； or he fancied further； that Pet herself was not
insensible to these little incidents； that she tried； with a more
delicate affection than usual； to express to her good father how much
she loved him； that it was on this account that she fell behind the
rest； both as they went to church and as they returned from it； and
took his arm。 He could not have sworn but that as he walked alone in
the garden afterwards； he had an instantaneous glimpse of her in
her father's room； clinging to both her parents with the greatest
tenderness； and weeping on her father's shoulder。
The latter part of the day turning out wet； they were fain to keep the
house； look over Mr Meagles's collection； and beguile the time with
conversation。 This Gowan had plenty to say for himself； and said it
in an off…hand and amusing manner。 He appeared to be an artist by
profession； and to have been at Rome some time； yet he had a slight；
careless； amateur way with him……a perceptible limp； both in his devotion
to art and his attainments……which Clennam could scarcely understand。
He applied to Daniel Doyce for help； as they stood together； looking out
of window。
'You know Mr Gowan？' he said in a low voice。
'I have seen him here。 es here every Sunday when they are at home。'
'An artist； I infer from what he says？'
'A sort of a one；' said Daniel Doyce； in a surly tone。
'What sort of a one？' asked Clennam； with a smile。
'Why； he has sauntered into the Arts at a leisurely Pall…Mall pace；'
said Doyce； 'and I doubt if they care to be taken quite so coolly。'
Pursuing his inquiries； Clennam found that the Gowan family were a very
distant ramification of the Barnacles； and that the paternal Gowan；
originally attached to a legation abroad； had been pensioned off as a
missioner of nothing particular somewhere or other； and had died at
his post with his drawn salary in his hand； nobly defending it to the
last extremity。 In consideration of this eminent public service； the
Barnacle then in power had remended the Crown to bestow a pension of
two or three hundred a…year on his widow； to which the next Barnacle in
power had added certain shady and sedate apartments in the Palaces at
Hampton Court； where the old lady still lived； deploring the degeneracy
of the times in pany with several other old ladies of both sexes。 Her
son； Mr Henry Gowan； inheriting from his father； the missioner； that
very questionable help in life； a very small independence； had been
difficult to settle； the rather； as public appointments chanced to
be scarce； and his genius； during his earlier manhood； was of that
exclusively agricultural character which applies itself to the
cultivation of wild oats。 At last he had declared that he would bee
a Painter； partly because he had always had an idle knack that way；
and partly to grieve the souls of the Barnacles…in…chief who had not
provided for him。 So it had e to pass successively； first； that
several distinguished ladies had been frightfully shocked； then； that
portfolios of his performances had been handed about o' nights； and
declared with ecstasy to be perfect Claudes； perfect Cuyps； perfect
phaenomena； then； that Lord Decimus had bought his picture； and had
asked the President and Council to dinner at a blow； and had said； with
his own magnificent gravity； 'Do you know； there appears to me to
be really immense merit in that work？' and； in short； that people of
condition had absolutely taken pains to bring him into fashion。 But；
somehow； it had all failed。 The prejudiced public had stood out against
it obstinately。 They had determined not to admire Lord Decimus's
picture。 They had determined to believe that in every service； except
their oself； by striving early and late； and
by working heart and soul； might and main。 So now Mr Gowan； like that
worn…out old coffin which never was Mahomet's nor anybody else's； hung
midway between two points： jaundiced and jealous as to the one he had
left： jaundiced and jealous as to the other that he couldn't reach。
Such was the substance of Clennam's discoveries concerning him； made
that rainy Sunday afternoon and afterwards。
About an hour or so after dinner time； Young Barnacle appeared； attended
by his eye…glass； in honour of whose family connections； Mr Meagles had
cashiered the pretty parlour…maids for the day； and had placed on duty
in their stead two dingy men。 Young Barnacle was in the last
degree amazed and disconcerted at sight of Arthur； and had murmured
involuntarily； 'Look here！ upon my soul； you know！' before his presence
of mind returned。
Even then； he was obliged to embrace the earliest opportunity of takin