Atlasthemetthechiefbutler，thesightofwhichsplendidretaineralwaysfinishedhim。Extinguishedbythisgreatcreature，hesneakedtohisdressing-room，andthereremainedshutupuntilherodeouttodinner，withMrsMerdle，inherownhandsomechariot。Atdinner，hewasenviedandflatteredasabeingofmight，wasTreasuried，Barred，andBishoped，asmuchashewould；
andanhouraftermidnightcamehomealone，andbeinginstantlyputoutagaininhisownhall，likearushlight，bythechiefbutler，wentsighingtobed。
AShoalofBarnaclesMrHenryGowanandthedogwereestablishedfrequentersofthecottage，andthedaywasfixedforthewedding。TherewastobeaconvocationofBarnaclesontheoccasion，inorderthatthatveryhighandverylargefamilymightshedasmuchlustreonthemarriageassodimaneventwascapableofreceiving。
TohavegotthewholeBarnaclefamilytogetherwouldhavebeenimpossiblefortworeasons。Firstly，becausenobuildingcouldhaveheldallthemembersandconnectionsofthatillustrioushouse。Secondly，becausewherevertherewasasquareyardofgroundinBritishoccupationunderthesunormoon，withapublicpostuponit，stickingtothatpostwasaBarnacle。Nointrepidnavigatorcouldplantaflag-staffuponanyspotofearth，andtakepossessionofitintheBritishname，buttothatspotofearth，sosoonasthediscoverywasknown，theCircumlocutionOfficesentoutaBarnacleandadespatch-box。ThustheBarnacleswereallovertheworld，ineverydirection——despatch-boxingthecompass。
But，whiletheso-potentartofProsperohimselfwouldhavefailedinsummoningtheBarnaclesfromeveryspeckofoceananddrylandonwhichtherewasnothingexceptmischieftobedoneandanythingtobepocketed，itwasperfectlyfeasibletoassembleagoodmanyBarnacles。ThisMrsGowanappliedherselftodo；callingonMrMeaglesfrequentlywithnewadditionstothelist，andholdingconferenceswiththatgentlemanwhenhewasnotengagedashegenerallywasatthisperiodinexaminingandpayingthedebtsofhisfutureson-in-law，intheapartmentofscalesandscoops。
Onemarriageguesttherewas，inreferencetowhosepresenceMrMeaglesfeltanearerinterestandconcernthanintheattendanceofthemostelevatedBarnacleexpected；thoughhewasfarfrominsensibleofthehonourofhavingsuchcompany。ThisguestwasClennam。ButClennamhadmadeapromiseheheldsacred，amongthetreesthatsummernight，and，inthechivalryofhisheart，regardeditasbindinghimtomanyimpliedobligations。Inforgetfulnessofhimself，anddelicateservicetoheronalloccasions，hewasnevertofail；tobeginit，heansweredMrMeaglescheerfully，’Ishallcome，ofcourse。’
Hispartner，DanielDoyce，wassomethingofastumbling-blockinMrMeagles’sway，theworthygentlemanbeingnotatallclearinhisownanxiousmindbutthattheminglingofDanielwithofficialBarnacleismmightproducesomeexplosivecombination，evenatamarriagebreakfast。Thenationaloffender，however，lightenedhimofhisuneasinessbycomingdowntoTwickenhamtorepresentthathebegged，withthefreedomofanoldfriend，andasafavourtoone，thathemightnotbeinvited。’For，’saidhe，’asmybusinesswiththissetofgentlemenwastodoapublicdutyandapublicservice，andastheirbusinesswithmewastopreventitbywearingmysoulout，Ithinkwehadbetternoteatanddrinktogetherwithashowofbeingofonemind。’MrMeagleswasmuchamusedbyhisfriend’soddity；andpatronisedhimwithamoreprotectingairofallowancethanusual，whenherejoined：’Well，well，Dan，youshallhaveyourowncrotchetyway。’
ToMrHenryGowan，asthetimeapproached，Clennamtriedtoconveybyallquietandunpretendingmeans，thathewasfranklyanddisinterestedlydesirousoftenderinghimanyfriendshiphewouldaccept。MrGowantreatedhiminreturnwithhisusualease，andwithhisusualshowofconfidence，whichwasnoconfidenceatall。
’Yousee，Clennam，’hehappenedtoremarkinthecourseofconversationoneday，whentheywerewalkingneartheCottagewithinaweekofthemarriage，’Iamadisappointedman。Thatyouknowalready。’
’Uponmyword，’saidClennam，alittleembarrassed，’Iscarcelyknowhow。’
’Why，’returnedGowan，’Ibelongtoaclan，oraclique，orafamily，oraconnection，orwhateveryouliketocallit，thatmighthaveprovidedformeinanyoneoffiftyways，andthattookitintoitsheadnottodoitatall。SohereIam，apoordevilofanartist。’
Clennamwasbeginning，’Butontheotherhand——’whenGowantookhimup。
’Yes，yes，Iknow。IhavethegoodfortuneofbeingbelovedbyabeautifulandcharminggirlwhomIlovewithallmyheart。’
’Istheremuchofit？’Clennamthought。Andashethoughtit，feltashamedofhimself。
’Andoffindingafather-in-lawwhoisacapitalfellowandaliberalgoodoldboy。Still，Ihadotherprospectswashedandcombedintomychildishheadwhenitwaswashedandcombedforme，andItookthemtoapublicschoolwhenIwashedandcombeditformyself，andIamherewithoutthem，andthusIamadisappointedman。’
Clennamthoughtandashethoughtit，againfeltashamedofhimself，wasthisnotionofbeingdisappointedinlife，anassertionofstationwhichthebridegroombroughtintothefamilyashisproperty，havingalreadycarrieditdetrimentallyintohispursuit？Andwasitahopefulorapromisingthinganywhere？
’Notbitterlydisappointed，Ithink，’hesaidaloud。
’Hangit，no；notbitterly，’laughedGowan。’Mypeoplearenotworththat——thoughtheyarecharmingfellows，andIhavethegreatestaffectionforthem。Besides，it’spleasanttoshowthemthatIcandowithoutthem，andthattheymayallgototheDevil。
Andbesides，again，mostmenaredisappointedinlife，somehoworother，andinfluencedbytheirdisappointment。Butit’sadeargoodworld，andIloveit!’
’Itliesfairbeforeyounow，’saidArthur。
’Fairasthissummerriver，’criedtheother，withenthusiasm，’andbyJoveIglowwithadmirationofit，andwithardourtorunaraceinit。It’sthebestofoldworlds!Andmycalling!Thebestofoldcallings，isn’tit？’
’Fullofinterestandambition，Iconceive，’saidClennam。
’Andimposition，’addedGowan，laughing；’wewon’tleaveouttheimposition。IhopeImaynotbreakdowninthat；butthere，mybeingadisappointedmanmayshowitself。Imaynotbeabletofaceitoutgravelyenough。Betweenyouandme，Ithinkthereissomedangerofmybeingjustenoughsourednottobeabletodothat。’
’Todowhat？’askedClennam。
’Tokeepitup。Tohelpmyselfinmyturn，asthemanbeforemehelpshimselfinhis，andpassthebottleofsmoke。Tokeepupthepretenceastolabour，andstudy，andpatience，andbeingdevotedtomyart，andgivingupmanysolitarydaystoit，andabandoningmanypleasuresforit，andlivinginit，andalltherestofit——inshort，topassthebottleofsmokeaccordingtorule。’
’Butitiswellforamantorespecthisownvocation，whateveritis；andtothinkhimselfboundtoupholdit，andtoclaimforittherespectitdeserves；isitnot？’Arthurreasoned。’Andyourvocation，Gowan，mayreallydemandthissuitandservice。I
confessIshouldhavethoughtthatallArtdid。’
’Whatagoodfellowyouare，Clennam!’exclaimedtheother，stoppingtolookathim，asifwithirrepressibleadmiration。
’Whatacapitalfellow!Youhaveneverbeendisappointed。That’seasytosee。’
Itwouldhavebeensocruelifhehadmeantit，thatClennamfirmlyresolvedtobelievehedidnotmeanit。Gowan，withoutpausing，laidhishanduponhisshoulder，andlaughinglyandlightlywenton：
’Clennam，Idon’tliketodispelyourgenerousvisions，andIwouldgiveanymoneyifIhadany，toliveinsucharose-colouredmist。ButwhatIdoinmytrade，Idotosell。Whatallwefellowsdo，wedotosell。Ifwedidn’twanttosellitforthemostwecangetforit，weshouldn’tdoit。Beingwork，ithastobedone；butit’seasilyenoughdone。Alltherestishocus-pocus。
Nowhere’soneoftheadvantages，ordisadvantages，ofknowingadisappointedman。Youhearthetruth。’
Whateverhehadheard，andwhetheritdeservedthatnameoranother，itsankintoClennam’smind。Itsotookrootthere，thathebegantofearHenryGowanwouldalwaysbeatroubletohim，andthatsofarhehadgainedlittleornothingfromthedismissalofNobody，withallhisinconsistencies，anxieties，andcontradictions。HefoundaconteststillalwaysgoingoninhisbreastbetweenhispromisetokeepGowaninnonebutgoodaspectsbeforethemindofMrMeagles，andhisenforcedobservationofGowaninaspectsthathadnogoodinthem。Norcouldhequitesupporthisownconscientiousnatureagainstmisgivingsthathedistortedanddiscolouredhimself，byremindinghimselfthatheneversoughtthosediscoveries，andthathewouldhaveavoidedthemwithwillingnessandgreatrelief。Forhenevercouldforgetwhathehadbeen；andheknewthathehadoncedislikedGowanfornobetterreasonthanthathehadcomeinhisway。
Harassedbythesethoughts，henowbegantowishthemarriageover，Gowanandhisyoungwifegone，andhimselflefttofulfilhispromise，anddischargethegenerousfunctionhehadaccepted。Thislastweekwas，intruth，anuneasyintervalforthewholehouse。
BeforePet，orbeforeGowan，MrMeagleswasradiant；butClennamhadmorethanoncefoundhimalone，withhisviewofthescalesandscoopmuchblurred，andhadoftenseenhimlookafterthelovers，inthegardenorelsewherewhenhewasnotseenbythem，withtheoldcloudedfaceonwhichGowanhadfallenlikeashadow。Inthearrangementofthehouseforthegreatoccasion，manylittleremindersoftheoldtravelsofthefatherandmotheranddaughterhadtobedisturbedandpassedfromhandtohand；andsometimes，inthemidstofthesemutewitnesses，tothelifetheyhadhadtogether，evenPetherselfwouldyieldtolamentingandweeping。
MrsMeagles，theblithestandbusiestofmothers，wentaboutsingingandcheeringeverybody；butshe，honestsoul，hadherflightsintostorerooms，whereshewouldcryuntilhereyeswerered，andwouldthencomeout，attributingthatappearancetopickledonionsandpepper，andsingingclearerthanever。MrsTickit，findingnobalsamforawoundedmindinBuchan’sDomesticMedicine，sufferedgreatlyfromlowspirits，andfrommovingrecollectionsofMinnie’sinfancy。Whenthelatterwaspowerfulwithher，sheusuallysentupsecretmessagesimportingthatshewasnotinparlourconditionastoherattire，andthatshesolicitedasightof’herchild’inthekitchen；there，shewouldblessherchild’sface，andblessherchild’sheart，andhugherchild，inamedleyoftearsandcongratulations，chopping-boards，rolling-pins，andpie-crust，withthetendernessofanoldattachedservant，whichisaveryprettytendernessindeed。
Butalldayscomethataretobe；andthemarriage-daywastobe，anditcame；andwithitcamealltheBarnacleswhowerebiddentothefeast。
TherewasMrTiteBarnacle，fromtheCircumlocutionOffice，andMewsStreet，GrosvenorSquare，withtheexpensiveMrsTiteBarnacleNEEStiltstalking，whomadetheQuarterDayssolongincoming，andthethreeexpensiveMissTiteBarnacles，double-loadedwithaccomplishmentsandreadytogooff，andyetnotgoingoffwiththesharpnessofflashandbangthatmighthavebeenexpected，butratherhangingfire。TherewasBarnaclejunior，alsofromtheCircumlocutionOffice，leavingtheTonnageofthecountry，whichhewassomehowsupposedtotakeunderhisprotection，tolookafteritself，and，soothtosay，notatallimpairingtheefficiencyofitsprotectionbyleavingitalone。TherewastheengagingYoungBarnacle，derivingfromthesprightlysideofthefamily，alsofromtheCircumlocutionOffice，gailyandagreeablyhelpingtheoccasionalong，andtreatingit，inhissparklingway，asoneoftheofficialformsandfeesoftheChurchDepartmentofHownottodoit。TherewerethreeotherYoungBarnaclesfromthreeotheroffices，insipidtoallthesenses，andterriblyinwantofseasoning，doingthemarriageastheywouldhave’done’theNile，OldRome，thenewsinger，orJerusalem。
Buttherewasgreatergamethanthis。TherewasLordDecimusTiteBarnaclehimself，intheodourofCircumlocution——withtheverysmellofDespatch-Boxesuponhim。Yes，therewasLordDecimusTiteBarnacle，whohadrisentoofficialheightsonthewingsofoneindignantidea，andthatwas，MyLords，thatIamyettobetoldthatitbehovesaMinisterofthisfreecountrytosetboundstothephilanthropy，tocrampthecharity，tofetterthepublicspirit，tocontracttheenterprise，todamptheindependentself-
reliance，ofitspeople。Thatwas，inotherwords，thatthisgreatstatesmanwasalwaysyettobetoldthatitbehovedthePilotoftheshiptodoanythingbutprosperintheprivateloafandfishtradeashore，thecrewbeingable，bydintofhardpumping，tokeeptheshipabovewaterwithouthim。OnthissublimediscoveryinthegreatartHownottodoit，LordDecimushadlongsustainedthehighestgloryoftheBarnaclefamily；andletanyill-advisedmemberofeitherHousebuttryHowtodoitbybringinginaBilltodoit，thatBillwasasgoodasdeadandburiedwhenLordDecimusTiteBarnacleroseupinhisplaceandsolemnlysaid，soaringintoindignantmajestyastheCircumlocutioncheeringsoaredaroundhim，thathewasyettobetold，MyLords，thatitbehovedhimastheMinisterofthisfreecountry，tosetboundstothephilanthropy，tocrampthecharity，tofetterthepublicspirit，tocontracttheenterprise，todamptheindependentself-
reliance，ofitspeople。ThediscoveryofthisBehovingMachinewasthediscoveryofthepoliticalperpetualmotion。Itneverworeout，thoughitwasalwaysgoingroundandroundinalltheStateDepartments。