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Clennam followed the man and the dog into the boat； and took his seat。
The dog did as he was ordered。 The man remained standing； with his hands
in his pockets； and towered between Clennam and the prospect。 Man and
dog both jumped lightly out as soon as they touched the other side； and
went away。 Clennam was glad to be rid of them。
The church clock struck the breakfast hour as he walked up the little
lane by which the garden…gate was approached。 The moment he pulled the
bell a deep loud barking assailed him from within the wall。
'I heard no dog last night；' thought Clennam。 The gate was opened by
one of the rosy maids； and on the lawn were the Newfoundland dog and the
man。
'Miss Minnie is not down yet； gentlemen；' said the blushing portress； as
they all came together in the garden。 Then she said to the master of the
dog； 'Mr Clennam； sir；' and tripped away。
'Odd enough； Mr Clennam； that we should have met just now；' said
the man。 Upon which the dog became mute。 'Allow me to introduce
myself……Henry Gowan。 A pretty place this； and looks wonderfully well
this morning！'
The manner was easy； and the voice agreeable； but still Clennam thought；
that if he had not made that decided resolution to avoid falling in love
with Pet； he would have taken a dislike to this Henry Gowan。
'It's new to you； I believe？' said this Gowan； when Arthur had extolled
the place。 'Quite new。 I made acquaintance with it only yesterday
afternoon。'
'Ah！ Of course this is not its best aspect。 It used to look charming in
the spring； before they went away last time。 I should like you to have
seen it then。'
But for that resolution so often recalled； Clennam might have wished him
in the crater of Mount Etna； in return for this civility。
'I have had the pleasure of seeing it under many circumstances during
the last three years； and it's……a Paradise。'
It was （at least it might have been； always excepting for that wise
resolution） like his dexterous impudence to call it a Paradise。 He only
called it a Paradise because he first saw her ing； and so made her
out within her hearing to be an angel； Confusion to him！ And ah！ how
beaming she looked； and how glad！ How she caressed the dog； and how the
dog knew her！ How expressive that heightened colour in her face； that
fluttered manner； her downcast eyes； her irresolute happiness！ When had
Clennam seen her look like this？ Not that there was any reason why he
might； could； would； or should have ever seen her look like this；
or that he had ever hoped for himself to see her look like this； but
still……when had he ever known her do it！
He stood at a little distance from them。 This Gowan when he had talked
about a Paradise； had gone up to her and taken her hand。 The dog had put
his great paws on her arm and laid his head against her dear bosom。 She
had laughed and weled them； and made far too much of the dog； far；
far； too much……that is to say； supposing there had been any third person
looking on who loved her。
She disengaged herself now； and came to Clennam； and put her hand in his
and wished him good morning； and gracefully made as if she would take
his arm and be escorted into the house。 To this Gowan had no objection。
No； he knew he was too safe。
There was a passing cloud on Mr Meagles's good…humoured face when they
all three （four； counting the dog； and he was the most objectionable
but one of the party） came in to breakfast。 Neither it； nor the touch
of uneasiness on Mrs Meagles as she directed her eyes towards it； was
unobserved by Clennam。
'Well； Gowan；' said Mr Meagles； even suppressing a sigh； 'how goes the
world with you this morning？'
'Much as usual； sir。 Lion and I being determined not to waste anything
of our weekly visit； turned out early； and came over from Kingston； my
present headquarters； where I am making a sketch or two。' Then he told
how he had met Mr Clennam at the ferry； and they had e over together。
'Mrs Gowan is well； Henry？' said Mrs Meagles。 （Clennam became
attentive。）
'My mother is quite well； thank you。' （Clennam became inattentive。） 'I
have taken the liberty of making an addition to your family dinner…party
to…day； which I hope will not be inconvenient to you or to Mr Meagles。 I
couldn't very well get out of it；' he explained； turning to the latter。
'The young fellow wrote to propose himself to me； and as he is well
connected； I thought you would not object to my transferring him here。'
'Who is the young fellow？' asked Mr Meagles with peculiar placency。
'He is one of the Barnacles。 Tite Barnacle's son； Clarence Barnacle； who
is in his father's Department。 I can at least guarantee that the river
shall not suffer from his visit。 He won't set it on fire。'
'Aye； aye？' said Meagles。 'A Barnacle is he？ We know something of that
family； eh； Dan？ By George； they are at the top of the tree； though！ Let
me see。 What relation will this young fellow be to Lord Decimus now？ His
Lordship married； in seventeen niy…seven； Lady Jemima Bilberry； who
was the second daughter by the third marriage……no！ There I am wrong！
That was Lady Seraphina……Lady Jemima was the first daughter by the
second marriage of the fifteenth Earl of Stiltstalking with the
Honourable Clementina Toozellem。 Very well。 Now this young fellow's
father married a Stiltstalking and his father married his cousin who was
a Barnacle。
The father of that father who married a Barnacle； married a Joddleby。……I
am getting a little too far back； Gowan； I want to make out what
relation this young fellow is to Lord Decimus。'
'That's easily stated。 His father is nephew to Lord Decimus。'
'Nephew……to……Lord……Decimus；' Mr Meagles luxuriously repeated with his
eyes shut； that he might have nothing to distract him from the full
flavour of the genealogical tree。 'By George； you are right； Gowan。 So
he is。'
'Consequently； Lord Decimus is his great uncle。'
'But stop a bit！' said Mr Meagles； opening his eyes with a fresh
discovery。 'Then on the mother's side； Lady Stiltstalking is his great
aunt。'
'Of course she is。'
'Aye； aye； aye？' said Mr Meagles with much interest。 'Indeed； indeed？ We
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