MrsMerdle’sComplaintResigningherselftoinevitablefatebymakingthebestofthosepeople，theMiggleses，andsubmittingherphilosophytothedraughtuponit，ofwhichshehadforeseenthelikelihoodinherinterviewwithArthur，MrsGowanhandsomelyresolvednottoopposeherson’smarriage。Inherprogressto，andhappyarrivalat，thisresolution，shewaspossiblyinfluenced，notonlybyhermaternalaffectionsbutbythreepoliticconsiderations。
Ofthese，thefirstmayhavebeenthathersonhadneversignifiedthesmallestintentiontoaskherconsent，oranymistrustofhisabilitytodispensewithit；thesecond，thatthepensionbestoweduponherbyagratefulcountryandaBarnaclewouldbefreedfromanylittlefilialinroads，whenherHenryshouldbemarriedtothedarlingonlychildofamaninveryeasycircumstances；thethird，thatHenry’sdebtsmustclearlybepaiddownuponthealtar-railingbyhisfather-in-law。When，tothesethree-foldpointsofprudencethereisaddedthefactthatMrsGowanyieldedherconsentthemomentsheknewofMrMeagleshavingyieldedhis，andthatMrMeagles’sobjectiontothemarriagehadbeenthesoleobstacleinitswayallalong，itbecomestheheightofprobabilitythattherelictofthedeceasedCommissionerofnothingparticular，turnedtheseideasinhersagaciousmind。
Amongherconnectionsandacquaintances，however，shemaintainedherindividualdignityandthedignityofthebloodoftheBarnacles，bydiligentlynursingthepretencethatitwasamostunfortunatebusiness；thatshewassadlycutupbyit；thatthiswasaperfectfascinationunderwhichHenrylaboured；thatshehadopposeditforalongtime，butwhatcouldamotherdo；andthelike。ShehadalreadycalledArthurClennamtobearwitnesstothisfable，asafriendoftheMeaglesfamily；andshefollowedupthemovebynowimpoundingthefamilyitselfforthesamepurpose。
InthefirstinterviewsheaccordedtoMrMeagles，sheslidedherselfintothepositionofdisconsolatelybutgracefullyyieldingtoirresistiblepressure。Withtheutmostpolitenessandgood-
breeding，shefeignedthatitwasshe——nothe——whohadmadethedifficulty，andwhoatlengthgaveway；andthatthesacrificewashers——nothis。Thesamefeint，withthesamepolitedexterity，shefoistedonMrsMeagles，asaconjurormighthaveforcedacardonthatinnocentlady；and，whenherfuturedaughter-in-lawwaspresentedtoherbyherson，shesaidonembracingher，’Mydear，whathaveyoudonetoHenrythathasbewitchedhimso!’atthesametimeallowingafewtearstocarrybeforethem，inlittlepills，thecosmeticpowderonhernose；asadelicatebuttouchingsignalthatshesufferedmuchinwardlyfortheshowofcomposurewithwhichsheborehermisfortune。
AmongthefriendsofMrsGowanwhopiquedherselfatonceonbeingSociety，andonmaintainingintimateandeasyrelationswiththatPower，MrsMerdleoccupiedafrontrow。True，theHamptonCourtBohemians，withoutexception，turneduptheirnosesatMerdleasanupstart；buttheyturnedthemdownagain，byfallingflatontheirfacestoworshiphiswealth。Inwhichcompensatingadjustmentoftheirnoses，theywereprettymuchlikeTreasury，Bar，andBishop，andalltherestofthem。
ToMrsMerdle，MrsGowanrepairedonavisitofself-condolence，afterhavinggiventhegraciousconsentaforesaid。Shedroveintotownforthepurposeinaone-horsecarriageirreverentlycalledatthatperiodofEnglishhistory，apill-box。Itbelongedtoajob-
masterinasmallway，whodroveithimself，andwhojobbeditbytheday，orhour，tomostoftheoldladiesinHamptonCourtPalace；butitwasapointofceremony，inthatencampment，thatthewholeequipageshouldbetacitlyregardedastheprivatepropertyofthejobberforthetimebeing，andthatthejob-mastershouldbetraypersonalknowledgeofnobodybutthejobberinpossession。SotheCircumlocutionBarnacles，whowerethelargestjob-mastersintheuniverse，alwayspretendedtoknowofnootherjobbutthejobimmediatelyinhand。
MrsMerdlewasathome，andwasinhernestofcrimsonandgold，withtheparrotonaneighbouringstemwatchingherwithhisheadononeside，asifhetookherforanothersplendidparrotofalargerspecies。TowhomenteredMrsGowan，withherfavouritegreenfan，whichsoftenedthelightonthespotsofbloom。
’Mydearsoul，’saidMrsGowan，tappingthebackofherfriend’shandwiththisfanafteralittleindifferentconversation，’youaremyonlycomfort。ThataffairofHenry’sthatItoldyouof，istotakeplace。Now，howdoesitstrikeyou？Iamdyingtoknow，becauseyourepresentandexpressSocietysowell。’
MrsMerdlereviewedthebosomwhichSocietywasaccustomedtoreview；andhavingascertainedthatshow-windowofMrMerdle’sandtheLondonjewellers’tobeingoodorder，replied：
’Astomarriageonthepartofaman，mydear，Societyrequiresthatheshouldretrievehisfortunesbymarriage。Societyrequiresthatheshouldgainbymarriage。Societyrequiresthatheshouldfoundahandsomeestablishmentbymarriage。Societydoesnotsee，otherwise，whathehastodowithmarriage。Bird，bequiet!’
Fortheparrotonhiscageabovethem，presidingovertheconferenceasifhewereajudgeandindeedhelookedratherlikeone，hadwounduptheexpositionwithashriek。
’Casesthereare，’saidMrsMerdle，delicatelycrookingthelittlefingerofherfavouritehand，andmakingherremarksneaterbythatneataction；’casestherearewhereamanisnotyoungorelegant，andisrich，andhasahandsomeestablishmentalready。Thoseareofadifferentkind。Insuchcases——’
MrsMerdleshruggedhersnowyshouldersandputherhanduponthejewel-stand，checkingalittlecough，asthoughtoadd，’why，amanlooksoutforthissortofthing，mydear。’Thentheparrotshriekedagain，andsheputupherglasstolookathim，andsaid，’Bird!Dobequiet!’
’But，youngmen，’resumedMrsMerdle，’andbyyoungmenyouknowwhatImean，mylove——Imeanpeople’ssonswhohavetheworldbeforethem——theymustplacethemselvesinabetterpositiontowardsSocietybymarriage，orSocietyreallywillnothaveanypatiencewiththeirmakingfoolsofthemselves。Dreadfullyworldlyallthissounds，’saidMrsMerdle，leaningbackinhernestandputtingupherglassagain，’doesitnot？’
’Butitistrue，’saidMrsGowan，withahighlymoralair。
’Mydear，itisnottobedisputedforamoment，’returnedMrsMerdle；’becauseSocietyhasmadeupitsmindonthesubject，andthereisnothingmoretobesaid。Ifwewereinamoreprimitivestate，ifwelivedunderroofsofleaves，andkeptcowsandsheepandcreaturesinsteadofbanker’saccountswhichwouldbedelicious；mydear，Iampastoraltoadegree，bynature，wellandgood。Butwedon’tliveunderleaves，andkeepcowsandsheepandcreatures。Iperfectlyexhaustmyselfsometimes，inpointingoutthedistinctiontoEdmundSparkler。’
MrsGowan，lookingoverhergreenfanwhenthisyounggentleman’snamewasmentioned，repliedasfollows：
’Mylove，youknowthewretchedstateofthecountry——thoseunfortunateconcessionsofJohnBarnacle’s!——andyouthereforeknowthereasonsformybeingaspoorasThingummy。’
’Achurchmouse？’MrsMerdlesuggestedwithasmile。
’Iwasthinkingoftheotherproverbialchurchperson——Job，’saidMrsGowan。’Eitherwilldo。Itwouldbeidletodisguise，consequently，thatthereisawidedifferencebetweenthepositionofyoursonandmine。Imayadd，too，thatHenryhastalent——’
’WhichEdmundcertainlyhasnot，’saidMrsMerdle，withthegreatestsuavity。
’——andthathistalent，combinedwithdisappointment，’MrsGowanwenton，’hasledhimintoapursuitwhich——ahdearme!Youknow，mydear。SuchbeingHenry’sdifferentposition，thequestioniswhatisthemostinferiorclassofmarriagetowhichIcanreconcilemyself。’
MrsMerdlewassomuchengagedwiththecontemplationofherarmsbeautiful-formedarms，andtheverythingforbracelets，thatsheomittedtoreplyforawhile。Rousedatlengthbythesilence，shefoldedthearms，andwithadmirablepresenceofmindlookedherfriendfullintheface，andsaidinterrogatively，’Ye-es？Andthen？’
’Andthen，mydear，’saidMrsGowannotquitesosweetlyasbefore，’Ishouldbegladtohearwhatyouhavetosaytoit。’
Heretheparrot，whohadbeenstandingononelegsincehescreamedlast，burstintoafitoflaughter，bobbedhimselfderisivelyupanddownonbothlegs，andfinishedbystandingononelegagain，andpausingforareply，withhisheadasmuchawryashecouldpossiblytwistit。
’Soundsmercenarytoaskwhatthegentlemanistogetwiththelady，’saidMrsMerdle；’butSocietyisperhapsalittlemercenary，youknow，mydear。’
’FromwhatIcanmakeout，’saidMrsGowan，’IbelieveImaysaythatHenrywillberelievedfromdebt——’
’Muchindebt？’askedMrsMerdlethroughhereyeglass。
’Whytolerably，Ishouldthink，’saidMrsGowan。
’Meaningtheusualthing；Iunderstand；justso，’MrsMerdleobservedinacomfortablesortofway。
’Andthatthefatherwillmakethemanallowanceofthreehundreda-year，orperhapsaltogethersomethingmore，which，inItaly-’
’Oh!GoingtoItaly？’saidMrsMerdle。
’ForHenrytostudy。Youneedbeatnolosstoguesswhy，mydear。
ThatdreadfulArt——’
True。MrsMerdlehastenedtosparethefeelingsofherafflictedfriend。Sheunderstood。Saynomore!
’Andthat，’saidMrsGowan，shakingherdespondenthead，’that’sall。That，’repeatedMrsGowan，furlinghergreenfanforthemoment，andtappingherchinwithititwasonthewaytobeingadoublechin；mightbecalledachinandahalfatpresent，’that’sall!Onthedeathoftheoldpeople，Isupposetherewillbemoretocome；buthowitmayberestrictedorlockedup，Idon’tknow。
Andastothat，theymayliveforever。Mydear，theyarejustthekindofpeopletodoit。’
Now，MrsMerdle，whoreallyknewherfriendSocietyprettywell，andwhoknewwhatSociety’smotherswere，andwhatSociety’sdaughterswere，andwhatSociety’smatrimonialmarketwas，andhowpricesruledinit，andwhatschemingandcounter-schemingtookplaceforthehighbuyers，andwhatbargainingandhucksteringwenton，thoughtinthedepthsofhercapaciousbosomthatthiswasasufficientlygoodcatch。Knowing，however，whatwasexpectedofher，andperceivingtheexactnatureofthefictiontobenursed，shetookitdelicatelyinherarms，andputherrequiredcontributionofglossuponit。
’Andthatisall，mydear？’saidshe，heavingafriendlysigh。
’Well，well!Thefaultisnotyours。Youhavenothingtoreproachyourselfwith。Youmustexercisethestrengthofmindforwhichyouarerenowned，andmakethebestofit。’
’Thegirl’sfamilyhavemade，’saidMrsGowan，’ofcourse，themoststrenuousendeavoursto——asthelawyerssay——tohaveandtoholdHenry。’
’Ofcoursetheyhave，mydear，’saidMrsMerdle。
’Ihavepersistedineverypossibleobjection，andhaveworriedmyselfmorning，noon，andnight，formeanstodetachHenryfromtheconnection。’
’Nodoubtyouhave，mydear，’saidMrsMerdle。
’Andallofnouse。Allhasbrokendownbeneathme。Nowtellme，mylove。AmIjustifiedinatlastyieldingmymostreluctantconsenttoHenry’smarryingamongpeoplenotinSociety；or，haveIactedwithinexcusableweakness？’
Inanswertothisdirectappeal，MrsMerdleassuredMrsGowanspeakingasaPriestessofSocietythatshewashighlytobecommended，thatshewasmuchtobesympathisedwith，thatshehadtakenthehighestofparts，andhadcomeoutofthefurnacerefined。AndMrsGowan，whoofcoursesawthroughherownthreadbareblindperfectly，andwhoknewthatMrsMerdlesawthroughitperfectly，andwhoknewthatSocietywouldseethroughitperfectly，cameoutofthisform，notwithstanding，asshehadgoneintoit，withimmensecomplacencyandgravity。