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Reading' （a specially oily old gentleman in a blanket； with a
swan's…down tippet for a beard； and a web of cracks all over him like
rich pie…crust）； to be a fine Guercino。 As for Sebastian del Piombo
there； you would judge for yourself； if it were not his later
manner； the question was； Who was it？ Titian； that might or might not
be……perhaps he had only touched it。 Daniel Doyce said perhaps he hadn't
touched it； but Mr Meagles rather declined to overhear the remark。
When he had shown all his spoils； Mr Meagles took them into his own
snug room overlooking the lawn； which was fitted up in part like a
dressing…room and in part like an office； and in which； upon a kind of
counter…desk； were a pair of brass scales for weighing gold； and a scoop
for shovelling out money。
'Here they are； you see；' said Mr Meagles。 'I stood behind these two
articles five…and…thirty years running； when I no more thought of
gadding about than I now think of……staying at home。 When I left the Bank
for good； I asked for them； and brought them away with me。
I mention it at once； or you might suppose that I sit in my
counting…house （as Pet says I do）； like the king in the poem of the
four…and…twenty blackbirds； counting out my money。'
Clennam's eyes had strayed to a natural picture on the wall； of two
pretty little girls with their arms entwined。 'Yes； Clennam；' said
Mr Meagles； in a lower voice。 'There they both are。 It was taken some
seventeen years ago。 As I often say to Mother； they were babies then。'
'Their names？' said Arthur。
'Ah； to be sure！ You have never heard any name but Pet。 Pet's name is
Minnie； her sister's Lillie。'
'Should you have known； Mr Clennam； that one of them was meant for me？'
asked Pet herself； now standing in the doorway。
'I might have thought that both of them were meant for you； both
are still so like you。 Indeed；' said Clennam； glancing from the fair
original to the picture and back； 'I cannot even now say which is not
your portrait。' 'D'ye hear that； Mother？' cried Mr Meagles to his wife；
who had followed her daughter。 'It's always the same； Clennam； nobody
can decide。 The child to your left is Pet。'
The picture happened to be near a looking…glass。 As Arthur looked at
it again； he saw； by the reflection of the mirror； Tattycoram stop in
passing outside the door； listen to what was going on； and pass away
with an angry and contemptuous frown upon her face； that changed its
beauty into ugliness。
'But e！' said Mr Meagles。 'You have had a long walk； and will be glad
to get your boots off。 As to Daniel here； I suppose he'd never think of
taking his boots off； unless we showed him a boot…jack。'
'Why not？' asked Daniel； with a significant smile at Clennam。
'Oh！ You have so many things to think about；' returned Mr Meagles；
clapping him on the shoulder； as if his weakness must not be left to
itself on any account。 'Figures； and wheels； and cogs； and levers； and
screws； and cylinders； and a thousand things。'
'In my calling；' said Daniel； amused； 'the greater usually includes the
less。 But never mind； never mind！ Whatever pleases you； pleases me。'
Clennam could not help speculating； as he seated himself in his room
by the fire； whether there might be in the breast of this honest；
affectionate； and cordial Mr Meagles； any microscopic portion of
the mustard…seed that had sprung up into the great tree of the
Circumlocution Office。 His curious sense of a general superiority to
Daniel Doyce； which seemed to be founded； not so much on anything
in Doyce's personal character as on the mere fact of his being an
originator and a man out of the beaten track of other men； suggested the
idea。 It might have occupied him until he went down to dinner an hour
afterwards； if he had not had another question to consider； which
had been in his mind so long ago as before he was in quarantine at
Marseilles； and which had now returned to it； and was very urgent with
it。 No less a question than this： Whether he should allow himself to
fall in love with Pet？
He was twice her age。 （He changed the leg he had crossed over the other；
and tried the calculation again； but could not bring out the total at
less。） He was twice her age。 Well！ He was young in appearance； young
in health and strength； young in heart。 A man was certainly not old
at forty； and many men were not in circumstances to marry； or did not
marry； until they had attained that time of life。 On the other hand； the
question was； not what he thought of the point； but what she thought of
it。
He believed that Mr Meagles was disposed to entertain a ripe regard for
him； and he knew that he had a sincere regard for Mr Meagles and his
good wife。 He could foresee that to relinquish this beautiful only
child； of whom they were so fond； to any husband； would be a trial
of their love which perhaps they never yet had had the fortitude to
contemplate。 But the more beautiful and winning and charming she； the
nearer they must always be to the necessity of approaching it。 And why
not in his favour； as well as in another's？
When he had got so far； it came again into his head that the question
was； not what they thought of it； but what she thought of it。
Arthur Clennam was a retiring man； with a sense of many deficiencies；
and he so exalted the merits of the beautiful Minnie in his mind； and
depressed his own； that when he pinned himself to this point； his hopes
began to fail him。 He came to the final resolution； as he made himself
ready for dinner； that he would not allow himself to fall in love with
Pet。
There were only five； at a round table； and it was very pleasant indeed。
They had so many places and people to recall； and they were all so easy
and cheerful together （Daniel Doyce either sitting out like an amused
spectator at cards； or ing in with some shrewd little experiences of
his own； when it happened to be to the purpose）； that they might have
been together twenty times； and not have known so much of one another。
'And Miss Wade；' said Mr Meagles； after they had recalled a number of
fellow…travellers。 'Has anybody seen Miss Wade？'
'I have；' said Tattycoram。
She had brought a li