 with
so pliable and beautiful a creature, and not yield to her endearing influence?
Who could pass an evening in the house, and not love her for the grace and charm
of her very presence in the room? This was Clennam's reflection, notwithstanding
the final conclusion at which he had arrived up-stairs.
    In making it, he revoked. »Why, what are you thinking of, my good sir?«
asked the astonished Mr. Meagles, who was his partner. »I beg your pardon.
Nothing,« returned Clennam. »Think of something, next time; that's a dear
fellow,« said Mr. Meagles. Pet laughingly believed he had been thinking of Miss
Wade. »Why of Miss Wade, Pet?« asked her father. »Why indeed!« said Arthur
Clennam. Pet coloured a little, and went to the piano again.
    As they broke up for the night, Arthur overheard Doyce ask his host if he
could give him half-an-hour's conversation before breakfast in the morning? The
host replying willingly, Arthur lingered behind a moment, having his own word to
add on that topic.
    »Mr. Meagles,« he said, on their being left alone, »do you remember when you
advised me to go straight to London?«
    »Perfectly well.«
    »And when you gave me some other good advice, which I needed at that time?«
    »I won't say what it was worth,« answered Mr. Meagles; »but of course I
remember our being very pleasant and confidential together.«
    »I have acted on your advice; and having disembarrassed myself of an
occupation that was painful to me for many reasons, wish to devote myself and
what means I have, to another pursuit.«
    »Right! You can't do it too soon,« said Mr. Meagles.
    »Now, as I came down to-day, I found that your friend, Mr. Doyce, is looking
for a partner in his business - not a partner in his mechanical knowledge, but
in the ways an means of turning the business arising from it to the best
account.«
    »Just so,« said Mr. Meagles, with his hands in his pockets, and with the old
business expression of face that had belonged to the scales and scoop.
    »Mr. Doyce mentioned incidentally, in the course of our conversation, that
he was going to take your valuable advice on the subject of finding such a
partner. If you should think our views and
