to say
- whoever he is - not for me.«
    »You have not chosen him yet, then?«
    »No, sir, no. I have only just come to a decision to take one. The fact is,
there's more to do than there used to be, and the Works are enough for me as I
grow older. What with the books and correspondence, and foreign journeys for
which a Principal is necessary, I can't do all. I am going to talk over the best
way of negotiating the matter, if I find a spare half-hour between this and
Monday morning, with my - my Nurse and protector,« said Doyce, with laughing
eyes again. »He is a sagacious man in business, and has had a good
apprenticeship to it.«
    After this, they conversed on different subjects until they arrived at their
journey's end. A composed and unobtrusive self-sustainment was noticeable in
Daniel Doyce - a calm knowledge that what was true must remain true, in spite of
all the Barnacles in the family ocean, and would be just the truth, and neither
more nor less, when even that sea had run dry - which had a kind of greatness in
it, though not of the official quality.
    As he knew the house well, he conducted Arthur to it by the way that showed
it to the best advantage. It was a charming place (none the worse for being a
little eccentric), on the road by the river, and just what the residence of the
Meagles family ought to be. It stood in a garden, no doubt as fresh and
beautiful in the May of the Year, as Pet now was in the May of her life; and it
was defended by a goodly show of handsome trees and spreading evergreens, as Pet
was by Mr. and Mrs. Meagles. It was made out of an old brick house, of which a
part had been altogether pulled down, and another part had been changed into the
present cottage; so there was a hale elderly portion, to represent Mr. and Mrs.
Meagles, and a young picturesque, very pretty portion to represent Pet. There
was even the later addition of a conservatory sheltering itself against it,
uncertain of hue in its deep-stained glass, and in its more transparent portions
flashing to the sun's rays, now like fire and now like harmless water drops;
which might have stood for Tattycoram. Within view was the peaceful river and
the ferry-boat, to moralise to all the inmates, saying: Young