’It’saverydangerous，unsatisfactory，andexpensiveschooltothepeoplewhopaytokeepthepupilsthere，Iamafraid，’saidClennam，shakinghishead。
’Ah!Youareaterriblefellow，’returnedGowan，airily。’Icanunderstandhowyouhavefrightenedthatlittledonkey，Clarence，themostestimableofmoon-calvesIreallylovehimnearlyoutofhiswits。Butenoughofhim，andofalltherestofthem。Iwanttopresentyoutomymother，MrClennam。Praydomethefavourtogivemetheopportunity。’
Innobody’sstateofmind，therewasnothingClennamwouldhavedesiredless，orwouldhavebeenmoreatalosshowtoavoid。
’Mymotherlivesinamostprimitivemannerdowninthatdrearyred-brickdungeonatHamptonCourt，’saidGowan。’Ifyouwouldmakeyourownappointment，suggestyourowndayforpermittingmetotakeyoutheretodinner，youwouldbeboredandshewouldbecharmed。Reallythat’sthestateofthecase。’
WhatcouldClennamsayafterthis？Hisretiringcharacterincludedagreatdealthatwassimpleinthebestsense，becauseunpractisedandunused；andinhissimplicityandmodesty，hecouldonlysaythathewashappytoplacehimselfatMrGowan’sdisposal。