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Chapter 16. Nobody’s Weakness

           

           Clennam’seyeshadstrayedtoanaturalpictureonthewall,oftwoprettylittlegirlswiththeirarmsentwined.‘Yes,Clennam,’saidMrMeagles,inalowervoice.‘Theretheybothare.Itwastakensomeseventeenyearsago.AsIoftensaytoMother,theywerebabiesthen.’

           ‘Theirnames?’saidArthur.

           ‘Ah,tobesure!YouhaveneverheardanynamebutPet.Pet’snameisMinnie;hersister’sLillie.’

           ‘Shouldyouhaveknown,MrClennam,thatoneofthemwasmeantforme?’askedPetherself,nowstandinginthedoorway.

           ‘Imighthavethoughtthatbothofthemweremeantforyou,botharestillsolikeyou.Indeed,’saidClennam,glancingfromthefairoriginaltothepictureandback,‘Icannotevennowsaywhichisnotyourportrait.’

           ‘D’yehearthat,Mother?’criedMrMeaglestohiswife,whohadfollowedherdaughter.‘It’salwaysthesame,Clennam;nobodycandecide.ThechildtoyourleftisPet.’

           Thepicturehappenedtobenearalooking-glass.AsArthurlookedatitagain,hesaw,bythereflectionofthemirror,Tattycoramstopinpassingoutsidethedoor,listentowhatwasgoingon,andpassawaywithanangryandcontemptuousfrownuponherface,thatchangeditsbeautyintougliness.

           ‘Butcome!’saidMrMeagles.‘Youhavehadalongwalk,andwillbegladtogetyourbootsoff.AstoDanielhere,Isupposehe’dneverthinkoftakinghisbootsoff,unlessweshowedhimaboot-jack.’

           ‘Whynot?’askedDaniel,withasignificantsmileatClennam.

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