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seen upon his face before that morning； frequently overcast it again；
and there was the same shadow of uneasy observation of him on the ely
face of his wife。 More than once or twice when Pet caressed the dog；
it appeared to Clennam that her father was unhappy in seeing her do it；
and； in one particular instance when Gowan stood on the other side of
the dog； and bent his head at the same time； Arthur fancied that he saw
tears rise to Mr Meagles's eyes as he hurried out of the room。 It was
either the fact too； or he fancied further； that Pet herself was not
insensible to these little incidents； that she tried； with a more
delicate affection than usual； to express to her good father how much
she loved him； that it was on this account that she fell behind the
rest； both as they went to church and as they returned from it； and
took his arm。 He could not have sworn but that as he walked alone in
the garden afterwards； he had an instantaneous glimpse of her in
her father's room； clinging to both her parents with the greatest
tenderness； and weeping on her father's shoulder。
The latter part of the day turning out wet； they were fain to keep the
house； look over Mr Meagles's collection； and beguile the time with
conversation。 This Gowan had plenty to say for himself； and said it
in an off…hand and amusing manner。 He appeared to be an artist by
profession； and to have been at Rome some time； yet he had a slight；
careless； amateur way with him……a perceptible limp； both in his devotion
to art and his attainments……which Clennam could scarcely understand。
He applied to Daniel Doyce for help； as they stood together； looking out
of window。
'You know Mr Gowan？' he said in a low voice。
'I have seen him here。 es here every Sunday when they are at home。'
'An artist； I infer from what he says？'
'A sort of a one；' said Daniel Doyce； in a surly tone。
'What sort of a one？' asked Clennam； with a smile。
'Why； he has sauntered into the Arts at a leisurely Pall…Mall pace；'
said Doyce； 'and I doubt if they care to be taken quite so coolly。'
Pursuing his inquiries； Clennam found that the Gowan family were a very
distant ramification of the Barnacles； and that the paternal Gowan；
originally attached to a legation abroad； had been pensioned off as a
missioner of nothing particular somewhere or other； and had died at
his post with his drawn salary in his hand； nobly defending it to the
last extremity。 In consideration of this eminent public service； the
Barnacle then in power had remended the Crown to bestow a pension of
two or three hundred a…year on his widow； to which the next Barnacle in
power had added certain shady and sedate apartments in the Palaces at
Hampton Court； where the old lady still lived； deploring the degeneracy
of the times in pany with several other old ladies of both sexes。 Her
son； Mr Henry Gowan； inheriting from his father； the missioner； that
very questionable help in life； a very small independence； had been
difficult to settle； the rather； as public appointments chanced to
be scarce； and his genius； during his earlier manhood； was of that
exclusively agricultural character which applies itself to the
cultivation of wild oats。 At last he had declared that he would bee
a Painter； partly because he had always had an idle knack that way；
and partly to grieve the souls of the Barnacles…in…chief who had not
provided for him。 So it had e to pass successively； first； that
several distinguished ladies had been frightfully shocked； then； that
portfolios of his performances had been handed about o' nights； and
declared with ecstasy to be perfect Claudes； perfect Cuyps； perfect
phaenomena； then； that Lord Decimus had bought his picture； and had
asked the President and Council to dinner at a blow； and had said； with
his own magnificent gravity； 'Do you know； there appears to me to
be really immense merit in that work？' and； in short； that people of
condition had absolutely taken pains to bring him into fashion。 But；
somehow； it had all failed。 The prejudiced public had stood out against
it obstinately。 They had determined not to admire Lord Decimus's
picture。 They had determined to believe that in every service； except
their oself； by striving early and late； and
by working heart and soul； might and main。 So now Mr Gowan； like that
worn…out old coffin which never was Mahomet's nor anybody else's； hung
midway between two points： jaundiced and jealous as to the one he had
left： jaundiced and jealous as to the other that he couldn't reach。
Such was the substance of Clennam's discoveries concerning him； made
that rainy Sunday afternoon and afterwards。
About an hour or so after dinner time； Young Barnacle appeared； attended
by his eye…glass； in honour of whose family connections； Mr Meagles had
cashiered the pretty parlour…maids for the day； and had placed on duty
in their stead two dingy men。 Young Barnacle was in the last
degree amazed and disconcerted at sight of Arthur； and had murmured
involuntarily； 'Look here！ upon my soul； you know！' before his presence
of mind returned。
Even then； he was obliged to embrace the earliest opportunity of taking
his friend into a window； and saying； in a nasal way that was a part of
his general debility：
'I want to speak to you； Gowan。 I say。 Look here。 Who is that fellow？'
'A friend of our host's。 None of mine。'
'He's a most ferocious Radical； you know；' said Young Barnacle。
'Is he？ How do you know？'
'Ecod； sir； he was Pitching into our people the other day in the most
tremendous manner。 Went up to our place and Pitched into my father to
that extent that it was necessary to order him out。 Came back to
our Department； and Pitched into me。 Look here。 You never saw such a
fellow。'
'What did he want？'
'Ecod； sir；' returned Young Barnacle； 'he said he wanted to know； you
know！ Pervaded our Department……without an appointment……and said he
wanted to know！'
The stare of indignant wonder with which Young Barnacle acpanied
this disclosure； would have strained his eyes injuriously but for
the opportune relief of dinner。 Mr Meagles （who had been extremely
solicitous to know how his uncle and aunt were） begged him to conduct
Mrs Meagles to the dining…room。 And when he sat on Mrs Meagles's right
hand； Mr Meagles looked as gratified as if his whole family were there。
All the natural charm of the previous day was gone。 The eaters of the
dinner； like the dinner itself； were lukewarm； insipid； overdone……and
all owing to this poor little dull Young Barnacle。 Conversationless at
any time； he was now the victim of a weakness special to the occasion；
and solely referable to Clennam。 He was under a pressing and continual
necessity of looking at that gentleman； which occasioned his eye…glass
to get into his soup； into his wine…glass； into Mrs Meagles's plate； to
hang down his back like a bell…rope； and be several times disgracefully
restored to his bosom by one of the dingy men。 Weakened in mind by his
frequent losses of this instrument； and its determination not to stick
in his eye； and more and more enfeebled in intellect every time he
looked at the mysterious Clennam； he applied spoons to his eyes；
forks； and other foreign matters connected with the furniture of the
dinner…table。 His discovery of these mistakes greatly increased his
difficulties； but never released him from the necessity of looking at
Clennam。 And whenever Clennam spoke； this ill…starred young man was
clearly seized with a dread that he was ing； by some artful device；
round to that point of wanting to know； you know。
It may be questioned； therefore； whether any one but Mr Meagles had much
enjoyment of the time。 Mr Meagles； however； thoroughly enjoyed Young
Barnacle。 As a mere flask of the golden water in the tale became a full
fountain when it was poured out； so Mr Meagles seemed to feel that this
small spice of Barnacle imparted to his table the flavour of the whole
family…tree。 In its presence； his frank； fine； genuine qualities
paled； he was not so easy； he was not so natural； he was striving after
something that did not belong to him； he was not himself。 What a strange
peculiarity on the part of Mr Meagle