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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 of us have been
so happy if it had fallen out……but； let us see……how's the weather for
travelling now？' Mr Meagles broke off； cleared his throat； and got up to
look out of the window。
They agreed that the weather was of high promise； and Clennam kept the
talk in that safe direction until it had bee easy again； when he
gently diverted it to Henry Gowan and his quick sense and agreeable
qualities when he was delicately dealt With； he likewise dwelt on the
indisputable affection he entertained for his wife。 Clennam did not fail
of his effect upon good Mr Meagles； whom these mendations greatly
cheered； and who took Mother to witness that the single and cordial
desire of his heart in reference to their daughter's husband； was
harmoniously to exchange friendship for friendship； and confidence for
confidence。 Within a few hours the cottage furniture began to be wrapped
up for preservation in the family absence……or； as Mr Meagles expressed
it； the house began to put its hair in papers……and within a few days
Father and Mother were gone； Mrs Tickit and Dr Buchan were posted； as of
yore； behind the parlour blind； and Arthur's solitary feet were rustling
among the dry fallen leaves in the garden walks。
As he had a liking for the spot； he seldom let a week pass without
paying a visit。 Sometimes； he went down alone from Saturday to Monday；
sometimes his partner acpanied him； sometimes； he merely strolled for
an hour or two about the house and garden； saw that all was right； and
returned to London again。 At all times； and under all circumstances； Mrs
Tickit； with her dark row of curls； and Dr Buchan； sat in the parlour
window； looking out for the family return。
On one of his visits Mrs Tickit received him with the words； 'I
have something to tell you； Mr Clennam； that will surprise you。' So
surprising was the something in question； that it actually brought Mrs
Tickit out of the parlour window and produced her in the garden walk；
when Clennam went in at the gate on its being opened for him。
'What is it； Mrs Tickit？' said he。
'Sir；' returned that faithful housekeeper； having taken him into the
parlour and closed the door； 'if ever I saw the led away and deluded
child in my life； I saw her identically in the dusk of yesterday
evening。'
'You don't mean Tatty……'
'Coram yes I do！' quoth Mrs Tickit； clearing the disclosure at a leap。
'Where？'
'Mr Clennam；' returned Mrs Tickit； 'I was a little heavy in my eyes；
being that I was waiting longer than customary for my cup of tea which
was then preparing by Mary Jane。 I was not sleeping； nor what a person
would term correctly； dozing。 I was more what a person would strictly
call watching with my eyes closed。'
Without entering upon an inquiry into this curious abnormal condition；
Clennam said； 'Exactly。 Well？'
'Well； sir；' proceeded Mrs Tickit； 'I was thinking of one thing and
thinking of another； just as you yourself might。 Just as anybody might。'
'Precisely so；' said Clennam。 'Well？'
'And when I do think of one thing and do think of another；' pursued
Mrs Tickit； 'I hardly need to tell you； Mr Clennam； that I think of the
family。 Because； dear me！ a person's thoughts；' Mrs Tickit said this
with an argumentative and philosophic air； 'however they may stray； will
go more or less on what is uppermost in their minds。 They will do it；
sir； and a person can't prevent them。'
Arthur subscribed to this discovery with a nod。
'You find it so yourself； sir； I'll be bold to say；' said Mrs Tickit；
'and we all find it so。 It an't our stations in life that changes us； Mr
Clennam； thoughts is free！……As I was saying； I was thinking of one thing
and thinking of another； and thinking very much of the family。 Not of
the family in the present times only； but in the past times too。 For
when a person does begin thinking of one thing and thinking of another
in that manner； as it's getting dark； what I say is； that all times
seem to be present； and a person must get out of that state and consider
before they can say which is which。'
He nodded again； afraid to