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the spot； and to them； Arthur； and we should every one of us have been
so happy if it had fallen out……but； let us see……how's the weather for
travelling now？' Mr Meagles broke off； cleared his throat； and got up to
look out of the window。
They agreed that the weather was of high promise； and Clennam kept the
talk in that safe direction until it had bee easy again； when he
gently diverted it to Henry Gowan and his quick sense and agreeable
qualities when he was delicately dealt With； he likewise dwelt on the
indisputable affection he entertained for his wife。 Clennam did not fail
of his effect upon good Mr Meagles； whom these mendations greatly
cheered； and who took Mother to witness that the single and cordial
desire of his heart in reference to their daughter's husband； was
harmoniously to exchange friendship for friendship； and confidence for
confidence。 Within a few hours the cottage furniture began to be wrapped
up for preservation in the family absence……or； as Mr Meagles expressed
it； the house began to put its hair in papers……and within a few days
Father and Mother were gone； Mrs Tickit and Dr Buchan were posted； as of
yore； behind the parlour blind； and Arthur's solitary feet were rustling
among the dry fallen leaves in the garden walks。
As he had a liking for the spot； he seldom let a week pass without
paying a visit。 Sometimes； he went down alone from Saturday to Monday；
sometimes his partner acpanied him； sometimes； he merely strolled for
an hour or two about the house and garden； saw that all was right； and
returned to London again。 At all times； and under all circumstances； Mrs
Tickit； with her dark row of curls； and Dr Buchan； sat in the parlour
window； looking out for the family return。
On one of his visits Mrs Tickit received him with the words； 'I
have something to tell you； Mr Clennam； that will surprise you。' So
surprising was the something in question； that it actually brought Mrs
Tickit out of the parlour window and produced her in the garden walk；
when Clennam went in at the gate on its being opened for him。
'What is it； Mrs Tickit？' said he。
'Sir；' returned that faithful housekeeper； having taken him into the
parlour and closed the door； 'if ever I saw the led away and deluded
child in my life； I saw her identically in the dusk of yesterday
evening。'
'You don't mean Tatty……'
'Coram yes I do！' quoth Mrs Tickit； clearing the disclosure at a leap。
'Where？'
'Mr Clennam；' returned Mrs Tickit； 'I was a little heavy in my eyes；
being that I was waiting longer than customary for my cup of tea which
was then preparing by Mary Jane。 I was not sleeping； nor what a person
would term correctly； dozing。 I was more what a person would strictly
call watching with my eyes closed。'
Without entering upon an inquiry into this curious abnormal condition；
Clennam said； 'Exactly。 Well？'
'Well； sir；' proceeded Mrs Tickit； 'I was thinking of one thing and
thinking of another； just as you yourself might。 Just as anybody might。'
'Precisely so；' said Clennam。 'Well？'
'And when I do think of one thing and do think of another；' pursued
Mrs Tickit； 'I hardly need to tell you； Mr Clennam； that I think of the
family。 Because； dear me！ a person's thoughts；' Mrs Tickit said this
with an argumentative and philosophic air； 'however they may stray； will
go more or less on what is uppermost in their minds。 They will do it；
sir； and a person can't prevent them。'
Arthur subscribed to this discovery with a nod。
'You find it so yourself； sir； I'll be bold to say；' said Mrs Tickit；
'and we all find it so。 It an't our stations in life that changes us； Mr
Clennam； thoughts is free！……As I was saying； I was thinking of one thing
and thinking of another； and thinking very much of the family。 Not of
the family in the present times only； but in the past times too。 For
when a person does begin thinking of one thing and thinking of another
in that manner； as it's getting dark； what I say is； that all times
seem to be present； and a person must get out of that state and consider
before they can say which is which。'
He nodded again； afraid to utter a word； lest it should present any new
opening to Mrs Tickit's conversational powers。
'In consequence of which；' said Mrs Tickit； 'y eyes and
saw her actual form and figure looking in at the gate； I let them close
again without so much as starting； for that actual form and figure came
so pat to the time when it belonged to the house as much as mine or your
own； that I never thought at the moment of its having gone away。 But；
sir； y eyes again； and saw that it wasn't there； then
it all flooded upon me with a fright； and I jumped up。'
'You ran out directly？' said Clennam。
'I ran out；' assented Mrs Tickit； 'as fast as ever my feet would carry
me； and if you'll credit it； Mr Clennam； there wasn't in the whole
shining Heavens； no not so much as a finger of that young woman。'
Passing over the absence from the firmament of this novel constellation；
Arthur inquired of Mrs Tickit if she herself went beyond the gate？
'Went to and fro； and high and low；' said Mrs Tickit； 'and saw no sign
of her！'
He then asked Mrs Tickit how long a space of time she supposed there
might have been between the two sets of ocular quiverings she had
experienced？ Mrs Tickit； though minutely circumstantial in her reply；
had no settled opinion between five seconds and ten minutes。
She was so plainly at sea on this part of the case； and had so clearly
been startled out of slumber； that Clennam was much disposed to regard
the appearance as a dream。 Without hurting Mrs Tickit's feelings with
that infidel solution of her mystery； he took it away from the cottage
with him； and probably would have retained it ever afterwards if a
circumstance had not soon happened to change his opinion。 He was passing
at nightfall along the Strand； and the lamp…lighter was going on before
him； under whose hand the street…lamps； blurred by the foggy air； burst
out one after another； like so many blazing sunflowers ing into
full…blow all at once；……when a stoppage on the pavement； caused by a
train of coal…waggons toiling up from the wh