Крошка Доррит

Chapter 17. Nobody’s Rival

           

           TherewasapassingcloudonMrMeagles’sgood-humouredfacewhentheyallthree(four,countingthedog,andhewasthemostobjectionablebutoneoftheparty)cameintobreakfast.Neitherit,northetouchofuneasinessonMrsMeaglesasshedirectedhereyestowardsit,wasunobservedbyClennam.

           ‘Well,Gowan,’saidMrMeagles,evensuppressingasigh;‘howgoestheworldwithyouthismorning?’

           ‘Muchasusual,sir.LionandIbeingdeterminednottowasteanythingofourweeklyvisit,turnedoutearly,andcameoverfromKingston,mypresentheadquarters,whereIammakingasketchortwo.’ThenhetoldhowhehadmetMrClennamattheferry,andtheyhadcomeovertogether.

           ‘MrsGowaniswell,Henry?’saidMrsMeagles.(Clennambecameattentive.)

           ‘Mymotherisquitewell,thankyou.’(Clennambecameinattentive.)‘Ihavetakenthelibertyofmakinganadditiontoyourfamilydinner-partyto-day,whichIhopewillnotbeinconvenienttoyouortoMrMeagles.Icouldn’tverywellgetoutofit,’heexplained,turningtothelatter.‘Theyoungfellowwrotetoproposehimselftome;andasheiswellconnected,Ithoughtyouwouldnotobjecttomytransferringhimhere.’

           ‘Whoistheyoungfellow?’askedMrMeagleswithpeculiarcomplacency.

           ‘HeisoneoftheBarnacles.TiteBarnacle’sson,ClarenceBarnacle,whoisinhisfather’sDepartment.Icanatleastguaranteethattherivershallnotsufferfromhisvisit.Hewon’tsetitonfire.’

           ‘Aye,aye?’saidMeagles.

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