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home without reflection； would at any time apply to his address at
Twickenham； everything would be as it had been before； and no reproaches
need be apprehended。 The unexpected consequences of this notification
suggested to the dismayed Mr Meagles for the first time that some
hundreds of young persons must be leaving their homes without reflection
every day； for shoals of wrong young people came down to Twickenham；
who； not finding themselves received with enthusiasm； generally demanded
pensation by way of damages； in addition to coach…hire there and
back。 Nor were these the only uninvited clients whom the advertisement
produced。 The swarm of begging…letter writers； who would seem to be
always watching eagerly for any hook； however small； to hang a letter
upon； wrote to say that having seen the advertisement； they were induced
to apply with confidence for various sums； ranging from ten shillings to
fifty pounds： not because they knew anything about the young person；
but because they felt that to part with those donations would greatly
relieve the advertiser's mind。 Several projectors； likewise； availed
themselves of the same opportunity to correspond with Mr Meagles； as；
for example； to apprise him that their attention having been called to
the advertisement by a friend； they begged to state that if they should
ever hear anything of the young person； they would not fail to make it
known to him immediately； and that in the meantime if he would oblige
them with the funds necessary for bringing to perfection a certain
entirely novel description of Pump； the happiest results would ensue to
mankind。
Mr Meagles and his family； under these bined discouragements； had
begun reluctantly to give up Tattycoram as irrecoverable； when the new
and active firm of Doyce and Clennam； in their private capacities；
went down on a Saturday to stay at the cottage until Monday。 The senior
partner took the coach； and the junior partner took his walking…stick。
A tranquil summer sunset shone upon him as he approached the end of
his walk； and passed through the meadows by the river side。 He had
that sense of peace； and of being lightened of a weight of care； which
country quiet awakens in the breasts of dwellers in towns。 Everything
within his view was lovely and placid。 The rich foliage of the trees；
the luxuriant grass diversified with wild flowers； the little green
islands in the river； the beds of rushes； the water…lilies floating on
the surface of the stream； the distant voices in boats borne musically
towards him on the ripple of the water and the evening air； were all
expressive of rest。 In the occasional leap of a fish； or dip of an oar；
or twittering of a bird not yet at roost； or distant barking of a dog；
or lowing of a cow……in all such sounds； there was the prevailing breath
of rest； which seemed to enpass him in every scent that sweetened
the fragrant air。 The long lines of red and gold in the sky； and the
glorious track of the descending sun； were all divinely calm。 Upon the
purple tree…tops far away； and on the green height near at hand up which
the shades were slowly creeping； there was an equal hush。 Between the
real landscape and its shadow in the water； there was no division； both
were so untroubled and clear； and； while so fraught with solemn mystery
of life and death； so hopefully reassuring to the gazer's soothed heart；
because so tenderly and mercifully beautiful。
Clennam had stopped； not for the first time by many times； to look about
him and suffer what he saw to sink into his soul； as the shadows； looked
at； seemed to sink deeper and deeper into the water。 He was slowly
resuming his way； when he saw a figure in the path before him which he
had； perhaps； already associated with the evening and its impressions。
Minnie was there； alone。 She had some roses in her hand； and seemed to
have stood still on seeing him； waiting for him。 Her face was towards
him； and she appeared to have been ing from the opposite direction。
There was a flutter in her manner； which Clennam had never seen in it
before； and as he came near her； it entered his mind all at once that
she was there of a set purpose to speak to him。
She gave him her hand； and said； 'You wonder to see me here by myself？
But the evening is so lovely； I have strolled further than I meant
at first。 I thought it likely I might meet you； and that made me more
confident。 You always e this way； do you not？'
As Clennam said that it was his favourite way； he felt her hand falter
on his arm； and saw the roses shake。
'Will you let me give you one； Mr Clennam？ I gathered them as I came out
of the garden。 Indeed； I almost gathered them for you； thinking it so
likely I might meet you。 Mr Doyce arrived more than an hour ago； and
told us you were walking down。'
His own hand shook； as he accepted a rose or two from hers and thanked
her。 They were now by an avenue of trees。 Whether they turned into it on
his movement or on hers matters little。 He never knew how that was。
'It is very grave here；' said Clennam； 'but very pleasant at this hour。
Passing along this deep shade； and out at that arch of light at the
other end； we e upon the ferry and the cottage by the best approach；
I think。' In her simple garden…hat and her light summer dress； with her
rich brown hair naturally clustering about her； and her wonderful eyes
raised to his for a moment with a look in which regard for him and
trustfulness in him were strikingly blended with a kind of timid sorrow
for him； she was so beautiful that it was well for his peace……or ill for
his peace； he did not quite know which……that he had made that vigorous
resolution he had so often thought about。
She broke a momentary silence by inquiring if he knew that papa had been
thinking of another tour abroad？ He said he had heard it mentioned。 She
broke another momentary silence by adding； with some hesitation； that
papa had abandoned the idea。
At this； he thought directly； 'they are to be married。'
'Mr Clennam；' she said； hesitating more timidly yet； and speaking so low
that he bent his head to hear her。 'I should very much like to give you
my confidence； if you would not mind having the goodness to receive
it。 I should have very much liked to have given it to you long ago；
because……I felt that you were being so much our friend。'
'How can I be otherwise than proud of it at any time！ Pray give it to
me。 Pray trust me。'
'I could never have been afraid of trusting you；' she returned； raising
her eyes frankly to his face。 'I think I would have done so some time
ago； if I had known how。 But I scarcely know how； even now。'
'Mr Gowan；' said Arthur Clennam； 'has reason to be very happy。 God bless
his wife and him！'
She wept； as she tried to thank him。 He reassured her； took her hand
as it lay with the trembling roses in it on his arm； took the remaining
roses from it； and put it to his lips。 At that time； it seemed to him；
he first finally resigned the dying hope that had flickered in nobody's
heart so much to its pain and trouble； and from that time he became in
his own eyes； as to any similar hope or prospect； a very much older man
who had done with that part of life。
He put the roses in his breast and they walked on for a little while；
slowly and silently； under the umbrageous trees。 Then he asked her； in
a voice of cheerful kindness； was there anything else that she would
say to him as her friend and her father's friend； many years older than
herself； was there any trust she would repose in him； any service she
would ask of him； any little aid to her happiness that she could give
him the lasting gratification of believing it was in his power to
render？
She was going to answer； when she was so touched by some little hidden
sorrow or sympathy……what could it have been？……that she said； bursting
into tears again： 'O Mr Clennam！ Good； generous； Mr Clennam； pray tell
me you do not blame me。'
'I blame you？' said Clennam。 'My dearest girl！ I blame you？ No！'
After clasping both her hands upon his arm； and looking confidentially
up into his face； with some hurried words to the effect that she thanked
him from her heart （as she did；