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Chapter 26. Nobody’s State of Mind

           

           ThenMrsGowan,whohadbeenaccustomedinherdaysofavacantarm-chairbesidehertowhichtosummonstatetoretainherdevotedslaves,onebyone,forshortaudiencesasmarksofherespecialfavour,invitedClennamwithaturnofherfantoapproachthepresence.Heobeyed,andtookthetripodrecentlyvacatedbyLordLancasterStiltstalking.

           ‘MrClennam,’saidMrsGowan,‘apartfromthehappinessIhaveinbecomingknowntoyou,thoughinthisodiouslyinconvenientplace—amerebarrack—thereisasubjectonwhichIamdyingtospeaktoyou.Itisthesubjectinconnectionwithwhichmysonfirsthad,Ibelieve,thepleasureofcultivatingyouracquaintance.’

           Clennaminclinedhishead,asagenerallysuitablereplytowhathedidnotyetquiteunderstand.

           ‘First,’saidMrsGowan,‘now,isshereallypretty?’

           Innobody’sdifficulties,hewouldhavefounditverydifficulttoanswer;verydifficultindeedtosmile,andsay‘Who?’

           ‘Oh!Youknow!’shereturned.‘ThisflameofHenry’s.Thisunfortunatefancy.There!IfitisapointofhonourthatIshouldoriginatethename—MissMickles—Miggles.’

           ‘MissMeagles,’saidClennam,‘isverybeautiful.’

           ‘Menaresooftenmistakenonthosepoints,’returnedMrsGowan,shakingherhead,‘thatIcandidlyconfesstoyouIfeelanythingbutsureofit,evennow;thoughitissomethingtohaveHenrycorroboratedwithsomuchgravityandemphasis.HepickedthepeopleupatRome,Ithink?’

           Thephrasewouldhavegivennobodymortaloffence.Clennamreplied,‘Excuseme,IdoubtifIunderstandyourexpression.

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