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difficult to lead him to speak about himself； and he put off Arthur's
advances in that direction by admitting slightly； oh yes； he had done
this； and he had done that； and such a thing was of his making； and
such another thing was his discovery； but it was his trade； you see； his
trade； until； as he gradually became assured that his panion had a
real interest in his account of himself； he frankly yielded to it。 Then
it appeared that he was the son of a north…country blacksmith； and had
originally been apprenticed by his widowed mother to a lock…maker； that
he had 'struck out a few little things' at the lock…maker's； which had
led to his being released from his indentures with a present； which
present had enabled him to gratify his ardent wish to bind himself to
a working engineer； under whom he had laboured hard； learned hard； and
lived hard； seven years。 His time being out； he had 'worked in the shop'
at weekly wages seven or eight years more； and had then betaken
himself to the banks of the Clyde； where he had studied； and filed； and
hammered； and improved his knowledge； theoretical and practical； for six
or seven years more。 There he had had an offer to go to Lyons； which he
had accepted； and from Lyons had been engaged to go to Germany； and in
Germany had had an offer to go to St Petersburg； and there had done very
well indeed……never better。 However； he had naturally felt a preference
for his own country； and a wish to gain distinction there； and to do
whatever service he could do； there rather than elsewhere。 And so he had
e home。 And so at home he had established himself in business； and
had invented and executed； and worked his way on； until； after a dozen
years of constant suit and service； he had been enrolled in the
Great British Legion of Honour； the Legion of the Rebuffed of the
Circumlocution Office； and had been decorated with the Great British
Order of Merit； the Order of the Disorder of the Barnacles and
Stiltstalkings。
'It is much to be regretted；' said Clennam； 'that you ever turned your
thoughts that way； Mr Doyce。'
'True； sir； true to a certain extent。 But what is a man to do？ if he
has the misfortune to strike out something serviceable to the nation；
he must follow where it leads him。' 'Hadn't he better let it go？' said
Clennam。
'He can't do it；' said Doyce； shaking his head with a thoughtful smile。
'It's not put into his head to be buried。 It's put into his head to be
made useful。 You hold your life on the condition that to the last you
shall struggle hard for it。 Every man holds a discovery on the same
terms。'
'That is to say；' said Arthur； with a growing admiration of his quiet
panion； 'you are not finally discouraged even now？'
'I have no right to be； if I am；' returned the other。 'The thing is as
true as it ever was。'
When they had walked a little way in silence； Clennam； at once to
change the direct point of their conversation and not to change it
too abruptly； asked Mr Doyce if he had any partner in his business to
relieve him of a portion of its anxieties？
'No；' he returned； 'not at present。 I had when I first entered on it；
and a good man he was。 But he has been dead some years； and as I could
not easily take to the notion of another when I lost him； I bought
his share for myself and have gone on by myself ever since。 And here's
another thing；' he said； stopping for a moment with a good…humoured
laugh in his eyes； and laying his closed right hand； with its peculiar
suppleness of thumb； on Clennam's arm； 'no inventor can be a man of
business； you know。'
'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 mon 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 e 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 posed 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 or old； passionate or tranquil； chafing or content； you；
thus runs the current always。 Let the heart swell into what discord it
will； thus plays the rippling water on the prow of the ferry…boat ever
the same tune。 Year after year； so much allowance for the drifting of
the boat； so many miles an hour the flowing of the stream； here the
rushes； there the lilies； nothing uncertain or unquiet； upon this road
that steadily ru