第132章

’Ihavespokenofhimasstillliving，’sheadded，’buthemayhavebeenputoutofthewayforanythingIknow。ForanythingIcare，also。Ihavenofurtheroccasionforhim。’

Withaheavysighandadespondentair，ArthurClennamslowlyrose。

Shedidnotrisealso，butsaid，havinglookedathiminthemeanwhilewithafixedlookofsuspicion，andlipsangrilycompressed：

’Hewasthechosenassociateofyourdearfriend，MrGowan，washenot？Whydon’tyouaskyourdearfriendtohelpyou？’

ThedenialthathewasadearfriendrosetoArthur’slips；butherepressedit，rememberinghisoldstrugglesandresolutions，andsaid：

’FurtherthanthathehasneverseenBlandoissinceBlandoissetoutforEngland，MrGowanknowsnothingadditionalabouthim。Hewasachanceacquaintance，madeabroad。’

’Achanceacquaintancemadeabroad!’sherepeated。’Yes。Yourdearfriendhasneedtodiverthimselfwithalltheacquaintanceshecanmake，seeingwhatawifehehas。Ihatehiswife，sir。’

Theangerwithwhichshesaidit，themoreremarkableforbeingsomuchunderherrestraint，fixedClennam’sattention，andkepthimonthespot。Itflashedoutofherdarkeyesastheyregardedhim，quiveredinhernostrils，andfiredtheverybreathsheexhaled；

butherfacewasotherwisecomposedintoadisdainfulserenity；andherattitudewasascalmlyandhaughtilygracefulasifshehadbeeninamoodofcompleteindifference。

’AllIwillsayis，MissWade，’heremarked，’thatyoucanhavereceivednoprovocationtoafeelinginwhichIbelieveyouhavenosharer。’

’Youmayaskyourdearfriend，ifyouchoose，’shereturned，’forhisopinionuponthatsubject。’

’Iamscarcelyonthoseintimatetermswithmydearfriend，’saidArthur，inspiteofhisresolutions，’thatwouldrendermyapproachingthesubjectveryprobable，MissWade。’

’Ihatehim，’shereturned。’Worsethanhiswife，becauseIwasoncedupeenough，andfalseenoughtomyself，almosttolovehim。

Youhaveseenme，sir，onlyoncommon-placeoccasions，whenIdaresayyouhavethoughtmeacommon-placewoman，alittlemoreself-

willedthanthegenerality。Youdon’tknowwhatImeanbyhating，ifyouknowmenobetterthanthat；youcan’tknow，withoutknowingwithwhatcareIhavestudiedmyselfandpeopleaboutme。ForthisreasonIhaveforsometimeinclinedtotellyouwhatmylifehasbeen——nottopropitiateyouropinion，forIsetnovalueonit；butthatyoumaycomprehend，whenyouthinkofyourdearfriendandhisdearwife，whatImeanbyhating。ShallIgiveyousomethingI

havewrittenandputbyforyourperusal，orshallIholdmyhand？’

Arthurbeggedhertogiveittohim。Shewenttothebureau，unlockedit，andtookfromaninnerdrawerafewfoldedsheetsofpaper。Withoutanyconciliationofhim，scarcelyaddressinghim，ratherspeakingasifshewerespeakingtoherownlooking-glassforthejustificationofherownstubbornness，shesaid，asshegavethemtohim：

’NowyoumayknowwhatImeanbyhating!Nomoreofthat。Sir，whetheryoufindmetemporarilyandcheaplylodginginanemptyLondonhouse，orinaCalaisapartment，youfindHarrietwithme。

Youmayliketoseeherbeforeyouleave。Harriet，comein!’ShecalledHarrietagain。ThesecondcallproducedHarriet，onceTattycoram。

’HereisMrClennam，’