'No?' said Clennam.
'Why, so the men of business say,' he answered, resuming the walk and
laughing outright. 'I don't know why we unfortunate creatures should
be supposed to want common sense, but it is generally taken for granted
that we do. Even the best friend I have in the world, our excellent
friend over yonder,' said Doyce, nodding towards Twickenham, 'extends
a sort of protection to me, don't you know, as a man not quite able to
take care of himself?'
Arthur Clennam could not help joining in the good-humoured laugh, for he
recognised the truth of the description.
'So I find that I must have a partner who is a man of business and not
guilty of any inventions,' said Daniel Doyce, taking off his hat to pass
his hand over his forehead, 'if it's only in deference to the current
opinion, and to uphold the credit of the Works. I don't think he'll find
that I have been very remiss or confused in my way of conducting them;
but that's for him 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.