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have the unfortunate temperament of the poor impetuous girl herself；
before you can fully understand it。 But it came about in this way。 Pet
and Mother and I have been having a good deal of talk together of late。
I'll not disguise from you； Clennam； that those conversations have not
been of as bright a kind as I could wish； they have referred to our
going away again。 In proposing to do which； I have had； in fact； an
object。'
Nobody's heart beat quickly。
'An object；' said Mr Meagles； after a moment's pause； 'that I will not
disguise from you； either； Clennam。 There's an inclination on the part
of my dear child which I am sorry for。 Perhaps you guess the person。
Henry Gowan。'
'I was not unprepared to hear it。'
'Well！' said Mr Meagles； with a heavy sigh； 'I wish to God you had never
had to hear it。 However； so it is。 Mother and I have done all we could
to get the better of it； Clennam。 We have tried tender advice； we
have tried time； we have tried absence。 As yet； of no use。 Our late
conversations have been upon the subject of going away for another year
at least； in order that there might be an entire separation and breaking
off for that term。 Upon that question； Pet has been unhappy； and
therefore Mother and I have been unhappy。' Clennam said that he could
easily believe it。
'Well！' continued Mr Meagles in an apologetic way； 'I admit as a
practical man； and I am sure Mother would admit as a practical woman；
that we do； in families； magnify our troubles and make mountains of our
molehills in a way that is calculated to be rather trying to people who
look on……to mere outsiders； you know； Clennam。
Still； Pet's happiness or unhappiness is quite a life or death question
with us； and we may be excused； I hope； for making much of it。 At all
events； it might have been borne by Tattycoram。 Now； don't you think
so？'
'I do indeed think so；' returned Clennam； in most emphatic recognition
of this very moderate expectation。
'No； sir；' said Mr Meagles； shaking his head ruefully。 'She couldn't
stand it。 The chafing and firing of that girl； the wearing and tearing
of that girl within her own breast； has been such that I have
softly said to her again and again in passing her； 〃Five…and…twenty；
Tattycoram； five…and…twenty！〃 I heartily wish she could have gone
on counting five…and…twenty day and night； and then it wouldn't have
happened。'
Mr Meagles with a despondent countenance in which the goodness of his
heart was even more expressed than in his times of cheerfulness and
gaiety； stroked his face down from his forehead to his chin； and shook
his head again。
'I said to Mother （not that it was necessary； for she would have thought
it all for herself）； we are practical people； my dear； and we know her
story； we see in this unhappy girl some reflection of what was raging in
her mother's heart before ever such a creature as this poor thing was
in the world； we'll gloss her temper over； Mother； we won't notice it at
present； my dear； we'll take advantage of some better disposition in her
another time。 So we said nothing。 But； do what we would； it seems as if
it was to be； she broke out violently one night。'
'How； and why？'
'If you ask me Why；' said Mr Meagles； a little disturbed by the
question； for he was far more intent on softening her case than the
family's； 'I can only refer you to what I have just repeated as having
been pretty near my words to Mother。 As to How； we had said Good night
to Pet in her presence （very affectionately； I must allow）； and she
had attended Pet up…stairs……you remember she was her maid。 Perhaps Pet；
having been out of sorts； may have been a little more inconsiderate than
usual in requiring services of her： but I don't know that I have any
right to say so； she was always thoughtful and gentle。'
'The gentlest mistress in the world。'
'Thank you； Clennam；' said Mr Meagles； shaking him by the hand； 'you
have often seen them together。 Well！ We presently heard this unfortunate
Tattycoram loud and angry； and before we could ask what was the matter；
Pet came back in a tremble； saying she was frightened of her。 Close
after her came Tattycoram in a flaming rage。 〃I hate you all three；〃
says she； stamping her foot at us。 〃I am bursting with hate of the whole
house。〃'
'Upon which you……？'
'I？' said Mr Meagles； with a plain good faith that might have manded
the belief of Mrs Gowan herself。 'I said； count five…and…twenty；
Tattycoram。'
Mr Meagles again stroked his face and shook his head； with an air of
profound regret。
'She was so used to do it； Clennam； that even then； such a picture of
passion as you never saw； she stopped short； looked me full in the face；
and counted （as I made out） to eight。 But she couldn't control herself
to go any further。 There she broke down； poor thing； and gave the other
seventeen to the four winds。 Then it all burst out。 She detested us； she
was miserable with us； she couldn't bear it； she wouldn't bear it； she
was determined to go away。 She was younger than her young mistress； and
would she remain to see her always held up as the only creature who was
young and interesting； and to be cherished and loved？ No。 She wouldn't；
she wouldn't； she wouldn't！ What did we think she； Tattycoram； might
have been if she had been caressed and cared for in her childhood； like
her young mistress？ As good as her？ Ah！ Perhaps fifty times as good。
When we pretended to be so fond of one another； we exulted over her；
that was what we did； we exulted over her and shamed her。 And all in
the house did the same。 They talked about their fathers and mothers； and
brothers and sisters； they liked to drag them up before her face。 There
was Mrs Tickit； only yesterday； when her little grandchild was with her；
had been amused by the child's trying to call her （Tattycoram） by the
wretched name we gave her； and had laughed at the name。 Why； who didn't；
and who were we that we should have a right to name her like a dog or a
cat？ But she didn't care。 She would take no more benefits from us； she
would fling us her name back again； and she would go。 She would leave
us that minute； nobody should stop her； and we shou