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the last three on one side of the table： on the opposite side sat Mr
Clennam； a tall French gentleman with raven hair and beard； of a swart
and terrible； not to say genteelly diabolical aspect； but who had
shown himself the mildest of men； and a handsome young Englishwoman；
travelling quite alone； who had a proud observant face； and had either
withdrawn herself from the rest or been avoided by the rest……nobody；
herself excepted perhaps； could have quite decided which。 The rest
of the party were of the usual materials： travellers on business； and
travellers for pleasure； officers from India on leave； merchants in
the Greek and Turkey trades； a clerical English husband in a meek
strait…waistcoat； on a wedding trip with his young wife； a majestic
English mama and papa； of the patrician order； with a family of three
growing…up daughters； who were keeping a journal for the confusion of
their fellow…creatures； and a deaf old English mother； tough in travel；
with a very decidedly grown…up daughter indeed； which daughter went
sketching about the universe in the expectation of ultimately toning
herself off into the married state。
The reserved Englishwoman took up Mr Meagles in his last remark。 'Do
you mean that a prisoner forgives his prison？' said she； slowly and with
emphasis。
'That was my speculation； Miss Wade。 I don't pretend to know positively
how a prisoner might feel。 I never was one before。'
'Mademoiselle doubts；' said the French gentleman in his own language；
'it's being so easy to forgive？'
'I do。'
Pet had to translate this passage to Mr Meagles； who never by any
accident acquired any knowledge whatever of the language of any country
into which he travelled。 'Oh！' said he。 'Dear me！ But that's a pity；
isn't it？'
'That I am not credulous？' said Miss Wade。
'Not exactly that。 Put it another way。 That you can't believe it easy to
forgive。'
'My experience；' she quietly returned； 'has been correcting my belief
in many respects； for some years。 It is our natural progress； I have
heard。'
'Well； well！ But it's not natural to bear malice； I hope？' said Mr
Meagles； cheerily。
'If I had been shut up in any place to pine and suffer； I should always
hate that place and wish to burn it down； or raze it to the ground。 I
know no more。' 'Strong； sir？' said Mr Meagles to the Frenchman； it being
another of his habits to address individuals of all nations in idiomatic
English； with a perfect conviction that they were bound to understand
it somehow。 'Rather forcible in our fair friend； you'll agree with me； I
think？'
The French gentleman courteously replied； 'Plait…il？' To which Mr
Meagles returned with much satisfaction； 'You are right。 My opinion。'
The breakfast beginning by…and…by to languish； Mr Meagles made the
pany a speech。 It was short enough and sensible enough； considering
that it was a speech at all； and hearty。 It merely went to the effect
that as they had all been thrown together by chance； and had all
preserved a good understanding together； and were now about to disperse；
and were not likely ever to find themselves all together again； what
could they do better than bid farewell to one another； and give one
another good…speed in a simultaneous glass of cool champagne all round
the table？ It was done； and with a general shaking of hands the assembly
broke up for ever。
The solitary young lady all this time had said no more。 She rose with
the rest； and silently withdrew to a remote corner of the great room；
where she sat herself on a couch in a window； seeming to watch the
reflection of the water as it made a silver quivering on the bars of the
lattice。 She sat； turned away from the whole length of the apartment； as
if she were lonely of her own haughty choice。 And yet it would have been
as difficult as ever to say； positively； whether she avoided the rest；
or was avoided。
The shadow in which she sat； falling like a gloomy veil across her
forehead； accorded very well with the character of her beauty。 One could
hardly see the face； so still and scornful； set off by the arched
dark eyebrows； and the folds of dark hair； without wondering what its
expression would be if a change came over it。 That it could soften or
relent； appeared next to impossible。 That it could deepen into anger or
any extreme of defiance； and that it must change in that direction when
it changed at all； would have been its peculiar impression upon most
observers。 It was dressed and trimmed into no ceremony of expression。
Although not an open face； there was no pretence in it。 'I am
self…contained and self…reliant； your opinion is nothing to me； I have
no interest in you； care nothing for you； and see and hear you with
indifference'……this it said plainly。 It said so in the proud eyes； in
the lifted nostril； in the handsome but pressed and even cruel mouth。
Cover either two of those channels of expression； and the third would
have said so still。 Mask them all； and the mere turn of the head would
have shown an unsubduable nature。
Pet had moved up to her （she had been the subject of remark among her
family and Mr Clennam； who were now the only other occupants of the
room）； and was standing at her side。
'Are you'……she turned her eyes； and Pet faltered……'expecting any one to
meet you here； Miss Wade？'
'I？ No。'
'Father is sending to the Poste Restante。 Shall he have the pleasure of
directing the messenger to ask if there are any letters for you？'
'I thank him； but I know there can be none。'
'We are afraid；' said Pet； sitting down beside her； shyly and half
tenderly； 'that you will feel quite deserted when we are all gone。'
'Indeed！'
'Not；' said Pet； apologetically and embarrassed by her eyes； 'not； of
course； that we are any pany to you； or that we have been able to be
so； or that we thought you wished it。'
'I have not intended to make it understood that I did wish it。'
'No。 Of course。 But……in short；' said Pet； timidly touching her hand as
it lay impassive on the sofa between them； 'will you not allow Father to
tender you any slight assistance or service？ He will be very glad。'
'Very glad；' said Mr Meagles； ing forward with his