第80章

MrsMerdle’sComplaintResigningherselftoinevitablefatebymakingthebestofthosepeople，theMiggleses，andsubmittingherphilosophytothedraughtuponit，ofwhichshehadforeseenthelikelihoodinherinterviewwithArthur，MrsGowanhandsomelyresolvednottoopposeherson’smarriage。Inherprogressto，andhappyarrivalat，thisresolution，shewaspossiblyinfluenced，notonlybyhermaternalaffectionsbutbythreepoliticconsiderations。

Ofthese，thefirstmayhavebeenthathersonhadneversignifiedthesmallestintentiontoaskherconsent，oranymistrustofhisabilitytodispensewithit；thesecond，thatthepensionbestoweduponherbyagratefulcountry(andaBarnacle)wouldbefreedfromanylittlefilialinroads，whenherHenryshouldbemarriedtothedarlingonlychildofamaninveryeasycircumstances；thethird，thatHenry’sdebtsmustclearlybepaiddownuponthealtar-railingbyhisfather-in-law。When，tothesethree-foldpointsofprudencethereisaddedthefactthatMrsGowanyieldedherconsentthemomentsheknewofMrMeagleshavingyieldedhis，andthatMrMeagles’sobjectiontothemarriagehadbeenthesoleobstacleinitswayallalong，itbecomestheheightofprobabilitythattherelictofthedeceasedCommissionerofnothingparticular，turnedtheseideasinhersagaciousmind。

Amongherconnectionsandacquaintances，however，shemaintainedherindividualdignityandthedignityofthebloodoftheBarnacles，bydiligentlynursingthepretencethatitwasamostunfortunatebusiness；thatshewassadlycutupbyit；thatthiswasaperfectfascinationunderwhichHenrylaboured；thatshehadopposeditforalongtime，butwhatcouldamotherdo；andthelike。ShehadalreadycalledArthurClennamtobearwitnesstothisfable，asafriendoftheMeaglesfamily；andshefollowedupthemovebynowimpoundingthefamilyitselfforthesamepurpose。

InthefirstinterviewsheaccordedtoMrMeagles，sheslidedherselfintothepositionofdisconsolatelybutgracefullyyieldingtoirresistiblepressure。Withtheutmostpolitenessandgood-

breeding，shefeignedthatitwasshe——nothe——whohadmadethedifficulty，andwhoatlengthgaveway；andthatthesacrificewashers——nothis。Thesamefeint，withthesamepolitedexterity，shefoistedonMrsMeagles，asaconjurormighthaveforcedacardonthatinnocentlady；and，whenherfuturedaughter-in-lawwaspresentedtoherbyherson，shesaidonembracingher，’Mydear，whathaveyoudonetoHenrythathasbewitchedhimso!’atthesametimeallowingafewtearstocarrybeforethem，inlittlepills，thecosmeticpowderonhernose；asadelicatebuttouchingsignalthatshesufferedmuchinwardlyfortheshowofcomposurewithwhichsheborehermisfortune。

AmongthefriendsofMrsGowan(whopiquedherselfatonceonbeingSociety，andonmaintainingintimateandeasyrelationswiththatPower)，MrsMerdleoccupiedafrontrow。True，theHamptonCourtBohemians，withoutexception，turneduptheirnosesatMerdleasanupstart；buttheyturnedthemdownagain，byfallingflatontheirfacestoworshiphiswealth。Inwhichcompensatingadjustmentoftheirnoses，theywereprettymuchlikeTreasury，Bar，andBishop，andalltherestofthem。

ToMrsMerdle，MrsGowanrepairedonavisitofself-condolence，afterhavinggiventhegraciousconsentaforesaid。Shedroveintotownforthepurposeinaone-horsecarriageirreverentlycalledatthatperiodofEnglishhistory，apill-box。Itbelongedtoajob-

masterinasmallway，whodroveithimself，andwhojobbeditbytheday，orhour，tomostoftheoldladiesinHamptonCourtPalace；butitwasapointofceremony，inthatencampment，thatthewholeequipageshouldbetacitlyregardedastheprivatepropertyofthejobberforthetimebeing，andthatthejob-mastershouldbetraypersonalknowledgeofnobodybutthejobberinpossession。SotheCircumlocutionBarnacles，whowerethelargest