第106章

’Soweareverymuchdisposed，areMotherandI，’saidMrMeagles，’topackupbagsandbaggageandgoamongtheAllongersandMarshongersoncemore。Imean，weareverymuchdisposedtobeoff，strikerightthroughFranceintoItaly，andseeourPet。’

’AndIdon’tthink，’repliedArthur，touchedbythemotherlyanticipationinthebrightfaceofMrsMeagles(shemusthavebeenverylikeherdaughter，once)，’thatyoucoulddobetter。Andifyouaskmeformyadvice，itisthatyousetoffto-morrow。’

’Isitreally，though？’saidMrMeagles。’Mother，thisisbeingbackedinanidea!’

Mother，withalookwhichthankedClennaminamannerveryagreeabletohim，answeredthatitwasindeed。

’Thefactis，besides，Arthur，’saidMrMeagles，theoldcloudcomingoverhisface，’thatmyson-in-lawisalreadyindebtagain，andthatIsupposeImustclearhimagain。Itmaybeaswell，evenonthisaccount，thatIshouldstepoverthere，andlookhimupinafriendlyway。Thenagain，here’sMotherfoolishlyanxious(andyetnaturallytoo)aboutPet’sstateofhealth，andthatsheshouldnotbelefttofeellonesomeatthepresenttime。It’sundeniablyalongwayoff，Arthur，andastrangeplaceforthepoorloveunderallthecircumstances。Letherbeaswellcaredforasanyladyinthatland，stillitisalongwayoff。justasHomeisHomethoughit’sneversoHomely，whyyousee，’saidMrMeagles，addinganewversiontotheproverb，’RomeisRome，thoughit’sneversoRomely。’

’Allperfectlytrue，’observedArthur，’andallsufficientreasonsforgoing。’

’Iamgladyouthinkso；itdecidesme。Mother，mydear，youmaygetready。Wehavelostourpleasantinterpreter(shespokethreeforeignlanguagesbeautifully，Arthur；youhaveheardhermanyatime)，andyoumustpullmethroughit，Mother，aswellasyoucan。

Irequireadealofpullingthrough，Arthur，’saidMrMeagles，shakinghishead，’adealofpullingthrough。Istickateverythingbeyondanoun-substantive——andIstickathim，ifhe’satallatightone。’

’NowIthinkofit，’returnedClennam，’there’sCavalletto。Heshallgowithyou，ifyoulike。Icouldnotaffordtolosehim，butyouwillbringhimsafeback。’

’Well!Iammuchobligedtoyou，myboy，’saidMrMeagles，turningitover，’butIthinknot。No，IthinkI’llbepulledthroughbyMother。Cavallooro(Istickathisverynametostartwith，anditsoundslikethechorustoacomicsong)issonecessarytoyou，thatIdon’tlikethethoughtoftakinghimaway。Morethanthat，there’snosayingwhenwemaycomehomeagain；anditwouldneverdototakehimawayforanindefinitetime。Thecottageisnotwhatitwas。Itonlyholdstwolittlepeoplelessthaniteverdid，Pet，andherpoorunfortunatemaidTattycoram；butitseemsemptynow。Onceoutofit，there’snoknowingwhenwemaycomebacktoit。No，Arthur，I’llbepulledthroughbyMother。’

Theywoulddobestbythemselvesperhaps，afterall，Clennamthought；thereforedidnotpresshisproposal。

’Ifyouwouldcomedownandstayhereforachange，whenitwouldn’ttroubleyou，’MrMeaglesresumed，’Ishouldbegladtothink——andsowouldMothertoo，Iknow——thatyouwerebrighteninguptheoldplacewithabitoflifeitwasusedtowhenitwasfull，andthattheBabiesonthewalltherehadakindeyeuponthemsometimes。Yousobelongtothespot，andtothem，Arthur，andweshouldeveryoneofushavebeensohappyifithadfallenout——but，letussee——how’stheweatherfortravellingnow？’MrMeaglesbrokeoff，clearedhisthroat，andgotuptolookoutofthewindow。

Theyagreedthattheweatherwasofhighpromise；andClennamkeptthetalkinthatsafedirectionuntilithadbecomeeasyagain，whenhegentlydivertedittoHenryGowanandhisquicksenseandagreeablequalitieswhenhewasdelicatelydealtWith；helikewisedweltontheindisputableaffectionheentertainedforhiswife。

ClennamdidnotfailofhiseffectupongoodMrMeagles，whomthesecommendationsgreatlycheered；andwhotookMoth