第82章

Atlasthemetthechiefbutler，thesightofwhichsplendidretaineralwaysfinishedhim。Extinguishedbythisgreatcreature，hesneakedtohisdressing-room，andthereremainedshutupuntilherodeouttodinner，withMrsMerdle，inherownhandsomechariot。Atdinner，hewasenviedandflatteredasabeingofmight，wasTreasuried，Barred，andBishoped，asmuchashewould；

andanhouraftermidnightcamehomealone，andbeinginstantlyputoutagaininhisownhall，likearushlight，bythechiefbutler，wentsighingtobed。

AShoalofBarnaclesMrHenryGowanandthedogwereestablishedfrequentersofthecottage，andthedaywasfixedforthewedding。TherewastobeaconvocationofBarnaclesontheoccasion，inorderthatthatveryhighandverylargefamilymightshedasmuchlustreonthemarriageassodimaneventwascapableofreceiving。

TohavegotthewholeBarnaclefamilytogetherwouldhavebeenimpossiblefortworeasons。Firstly，becausenobuildingcouldhaveheldallthemembersandconnectionsofthatillustrioushouse。Secondly，becausewherevertherewasasquareyardofgroundinBritishoccupationunderthesunormoon，withapublicpostuponit，stickingtothatpostwasaBarnacle。Nointrepidnavigatorcouldplantaflag-staffuponanyspotofearth，andtakepossessionofitintheBritishname，buttothatspotofearth，sosoonasthediscoverywasknown，theCircumlocutionOfficesentoutaBarnacleandadespatch-box。ThustheBarnacleswereallovertheworld，ineverydirection——despatch-boxingthecompass。

But，whiletheso-potentartofProsperohimselfwouldhavefailedinsummoningtheBarnaclesfromeveryspeckofoceananddrylandonwhichtherewasnothing(exceptmischief)tobedoneandanythingtobepocketed，itwasperfectlyfeasibletoassembleagoodmanyBarnacles。ThisMrsGowanappliedherselftodo；callingonMrMeaglesfrequentlywithnewadditionstothelist，andholdingconferenceswiththatgentlemanwhenhewasnotengaged(ashegenerallywasatthisperiod)inexaminingandpayingthedebtsofhisfutureson-in-law，intheapartmentofscalesandscoops。

Onemarriageguesttherewas，inreferencetowhosepresenceMrMeaglesfeltanearerinterestandconcernthanintheattendanceofthemostelevatedBarnacleexpected；thoughhewasfarfrominsensibleofthehonourofhavingsuchcompany。ThisguestwasClennam。ButClennamhadmadeapromiseheheldsacred，amongthetreesthatsummernight，and，inthechivalryofhisheart，regardeditasbindinghimtomanyimpliedobligations。Inforgetfulnessofhimself，anddelicateservicetoheronalloccasions，hewasnevertofail；tobeginit，heansweredMrMeaglescheerfully，’Ishallcome，ofcourse。’

Hispartner，DanielDoyce，wassomethingofastumbling-blockinMrMeagles’sway，theworthygentlemanbeingnotatallclearinhisownanxiousmindbutthattheminglingofDanielwithofficialBarnacleismmightproducesomeexplosivecombination，evenatamarriagebreakfast。Thenationaloffender，however，lightenedhimofhisuneasinessbycomingdowntoTwickenhamtorepresentthathebegged，withthefreedomofanoldfriend，andasafavourtoone，thathemightnotbeinvited。’For，’saidhe，’asmybusinesswiththissetofgentlemenwastodoapublicdutyandapublicservice，andastheirbusinesswithmewastopreventitbywearingmysoulout，Ithinkwehadbetternoteatanddrinktogetherwithashowofbeingofonemind。’MrMeagleswasmuchamusedbyhisfriend’soddity；andpatronisedhimwithamoreprotectingairofallowancethanusual，whenherejoined：’Well，well，Dan，youshallhaveyourowncrotchetyway。’

ToMrHenryGowan，asthetimeapproached，Clennamtriedtoconveybyallquietandunpretendingmeans，thathewasfranklyanddisinterestedlydesirousoftenderinghimanyfriendshiphewouldaccept。MrGowantreatedhiminreturnwithhisusualease，andwithhisusualshowofconfidence，whichwasnoconfidenceatall。

’Yousee，Clennam，’hehappenedtoremarkinthecourseofconversationoneday，whentheywerewalkingneartheCottagewithinaweekofthemarriage，’Iamadisappointedman。Thatyouknowalready。’

’Uponmyword，’saidClennam，alittleembarrassed，’Iscarcelyknowhow。’

’Why，’returnedGowan，’Ibelongtoaclan，oraclique，orafamily，oraconnection，orwhateveryouliketocallit，thatmighthaveprovidedformeinanyoneoffiftyways，andthattookitintoitsheadnottodoitatall。SohereIam，apoordevilofanartist。’

Clennamwasbeginning，’Butontheotherhand——’whenGowantookhimup。

’Yes，yes，Iknow。Ihavet