Nobody’sStateofMindIfArthurClennamhadnotarrivedatthatwisedecisionfirmlytorestrainhimselffromlovingPet，hewouldhavelivedoninastateofmuchperplexity，involvingdifficultstruggleswithhisownheart。Nottheleastofthesewouldhavebeenacontention，alwayswagingwithinit，betweenatendencytodislikeMrHenryGowan，ifnottoregardhimwithpositiverepugnance，andawhisperthattheinclinationwasunworthy。Agenerousnatureisnotpronetostrongaversions，andisslowtoadmitthemevendispassionately；butwhenitfindsill-willgaininguponit，andcandiscernbetween-whilesthatitsoriginisnotdispassionate，suchanaturebecomesdistressed。
ThereforeMrHenryGowanwouldhavecloudedClennam’smind，andwouldhavebeenfaroftenerpresenttoitthanmoreagreeablepersonsandsubjectsbutforthegreatprudenceofhisdecisionaforesaid。Asitwas，MrGowanseemedtransferredtoDanielDoyce’smind；atallevents，itsohappenedthatitusuallyfelltoMrDoyce’sturn，ratherthantoClennam’s，tospeakofhiminthefriendlyconversationstheyheldtogether。Thesewereoffrequentoccurrencenow；asthetwopartnerssharedaportionofaroomyhouseinoneofthegraveold-fashionedCitystreets，lyingnotfarfromtheBankofEngland，byLondonWall。
MrDoycehadbeentoTwickenhamtopasstheday。Clennamhadexcusedhimself。MrDoycewasjustcomehome。HeputinhisheadatthedoorofClennam’ssitting-roomtosayGoodnight。
’Comein，comein!’saidClennam。
’Isawyouwerereading，’returnedDoyce，asheentered，’andthoughtyoumightnotcaretobedisturbed。’