'it was an uncommonly pleasant thing being in quarantine, wasn't it?
Do you know, I have often wished myself back again? We were a capital
party.'

This was Mr Meagles's invariable habit. Always to object to everything
while he was travelling, and always to want to get back to it when he
was not travelling.

'If it was summer-time,' said Mr Meagles, 'which I wish it was on your
account, and in order that you might see the place at its best, you
would hardly be able to hear yourself speak for birds. Being practical
people, we never allow anybody to scare the birds; and the birds, being
practical people too, come about us in myriads. We are delighted to see
you, Clennam (if you'll allow me, I shall drop the Mister); I heartily
assure you, we are delighted.'

'I have not had so pleasant a greeting,' said Clennam--then he recalled
what Little Dorrit had said to him in his own room, and faithfully
added 'except once--since we last walked to and fro, looking down at the
Mediterranean.'

'Ah!' returned Mr Meagles. 'Something like a look out, that was, wasn't
it? I don't want a military government, but I shouldn't mind a little
allonging and marshonging--just a dash of it--in this neighbourhood
sometimes. It's Devilish still.'

Bestowing this eulogium on the retired character of his retreat with a
dubious shake of the head, Mr Meagles led the way into the house. It was
just large enough, and no more; was as pretty within as it was without,
and was perfectly well-arranged and comfortable.

Some traces of the migratory habits of the family were to be observed
in the covered frames and furniture, and wrapped-up hangings; but it was
easy to see that it was one of Mr Meagles's whims to have the cottage
always kept, in their absence, as if they were always coming back the
day after to-morrow. Of articles collected on his various expeditions,
there was such a vast miscellany that it was like the dwelling of an
amiable Corsair. There were antiquities from Central Italy, made by the
best modern houses in that department of industry; bits of mummy from
Egypt (and perhaps Birmingham); model gondolas from Venice; model
villages from Switzerland; morsels of tesselated pavement from
Herculaneum and Pompeii, like petrified minced veal; ashes out of tombs,
and lava out of Vesuvius; Spanish fans, Spezzian straw hats, Moorish
slippers, Tuscan hairpins, Carrara sculpture, Trastaverini scarves,
Genoese velvets and filigree, Neapolitan cora