 me that
-« That Mr. Meagles could really say no more about it, in short, but passed his
handkerchief before his face.
    »I understood the whole affair,« said Mrs. Gowan, composedly looking over
her fan. »As you have appealed to Mr. Clennam, I may appeal to Mr. Clennam, too.
He knows whether I did or not.«
    »I am very unwilling,« said Clennam, looked to by all parties, »to take any
share in this discussion, more especially because I wish to preserve the best
understanding and the clearest relations with Mr. Henry Gowan. I have very
strong reasons indeed, for entertaining that wish. Mrs. Gowan attributed certain
views of furthering the marriage to my friend here, in conversation with me
before it took place; and I endeavoured to undeceive her. I represented that I
knew him (as I did and do) to be strenuously opposed to it, both in opinion and
action.«
    »You see?« said Mrs. Gowan, turning the palms of her hands towards Mr.
Meagles, as if she were Justice herself, representing to him that he had better
confess, for he had not a leg to stand on. »You see? Very good! Now, Papa and
Mama Meagles both!« here she rose; »allow me to take the liberty of putting an
end to this rather formidable controversy. I will not say another word upon its
merits. I will only say that it is an additional proof of what one knows from
all experience; that this kind of thing never answers - as my poor fellow
himself would say, that it never pays - in one word, that it never does.«
    Mr. Meagles asked, What kind of thing?
    »It is in vain,« said Mrs. Gowan, »for people to attempt to get on together
who have such extremely different antecedents; who are jumbled against each
other in this accidental, matrimonial sort of way; and who cannot look at the
untoward circumstance which has shaken them together in the same light. It never
does.«
    Mr. Meagles was beginning, »Permit me to say, ma'am -«
    »No, don't,« returned Mrs. Gowan. »Why should you! It is an ascertained
fact. It never does. I will therefore, if you please, go my way, leaving you to
yours. I shall at all times be happy to receive my poor fellow's pretty wife,
and I shall always make a point of being on the most
