OvertheWayTheManchesterMarriageGoingintoSocietyThreeEveningsintheHouseTrottle'sReportLetatLastOVERTHEWAY
　　IhadbeenlivingatTunbridgeWellsandnowhereelse，goingonfortenyears，whenmymedicalman——verycleverinhisprofession，andtheprettiestplayerIeversawinmylifeofahandatLongWhist，whichwasanobleandaprincelygamebeforeShortwasheardof——
　　saidtome，oneday，ashesatfeelingmypulseontheactualsofawhichmypoordearsisterJaneworkedbeforeherspinecameon，andlaidheronaboardforfifteenmonthsatastretch——themostuprightwomanthateverlived——saidtome，"Whatwewant，ma'am，isafillip。"
　　"Goodgracious，goodnessgracious，DoctorTowers!"saysI，quitestartledattheman，forhewassochristenedhimself:"don'ttalkasifyouwerealludingtopeople'snames；butsaywhatyoumean。"
　　"Imean，mydearma'am，thatwewantalittlechangeofairandscene。"
　　"Blesstheman!"saidI；"doeshemeanweorme!"
　　"Imeanyou，ma'am。"
　　"ThenLardforgiveyou，DoctorTowers，"Isaid；"whydon'tyougetintoahabitofexpressingyourselfinastraightforwardmanner，likealoyalsubjectofourgraciousQueenVictoria，andamemberoftheChurchofEngland?"
　　Towerslaughed，ashegenerallydoeswhenhehasfidgettedmeintoanyofmyimpatientways——oneofmystates，asIcallthem——andthenhebegan，-
　　"Tone，ma'am，Tone，isallyourequire!"HeappealedtoTrottle，whojustthencameinwiththecoal-scuttle，looking，inhisniceblacksuit，likeanamiablemanputtingoncoalsfrommotivesofbenevolence。
　　TrottlewhomIalwayscallmyrighthandhasbeeninmyservicetwo-and-thirtyyears。Heenteredmyservice，farawayfromEngland。
　　Heisthebestofcreatures，andthemostrespectableofmen；but，opinionated。
　　"Whatyouwant，ma'am，"saysTrottle，makingupthefireinhisquietandskilfulway，"isTone。"
　　"Lardforgiveyouboth!"saysI，burstingouta-laughing；"Iseeyouareinaconspiracyagainstme，soIsupposeyoumustdowhatyoulikewithme，andtakemetoLondonforachange。"
　　ForsomeweeksTowershadhintedatLondon，andconsequentlyIwaspreparedforhim。Whenwehadgottothispoint，wegotonsoexpeditiously，thatTrottlewaspackedofftoLondonnextdaybutone，tofindsomesortofplaceformetolaymytroublesomeoldheadin。
　　TrottlecamebacktomeattheWellsaftertwodays'absence，withaccountsofacharmingplacethatcouldbetakenforsixmonthscertain，withlibertytorenewonthesametermsforanothersix，andwhichreallydidaffordeveryaccommodationthatIwanted。
　　"Couldyoureallyfindnofaultatallintherooms，Trottle?"I
　　askedhim。
　　"Notasingleone，ma'am。Theyareexactlysuitabletoyou。Thereisnotafaultinthem。Thereisbutonefaultoutsideofthem。"
　　"Andwhat'sthat?"
　　"TheyareoppositeaHousetoLet。"
　　"O!"Isaid，consideringofit。"Butisthatsuchaverygreatobjection?"
　　"Ithinkitmydutytomentionit，ma'am。Itisadullobjecttolookat。Otherwise，IwassogreatlypleasedwiththelodgingthatIshouldhaveclosedwiththetermsatonce，asIhadyourauthoritytodo。"
　　Trottlethinkingsohighlyoftheplace，inmyinterest，Iwishednottodisappointhim。ConsequentlyIsaid:
　　"TheemptyHousemaylet，perhaps。"
　　"O，dearno，ma'am，"saidTrottle，shakinghisheadwithdecision；
　　"itwon'tlet。Itneverdoeslet，ma'am。"
　　"Mercyme!Whynot?"
　　"Nobodyknows，ma'am。AllIhavetomentionis，ma'am，thattheHousewon'tlet!"
　　"HowlonghasthisunfortunateHousebeentolet，inthenameofFortune?"saidI。
　　"Eversolong，"saidTrottle。"Years。"
　　"Isitinruins?"
　　"It'sagooddealoutofrepair，ma'am，butit'snotinruins。"
　　Thelongandtheshortofthisbusinesswas，thatnextdayIhadapairofpost-horsesputtomychariot——for，Inevertravelbyrailway:notthatIhaveanythingtosayagainstrailways，exceptthattheycameinwhenIwastoooldtotaketothem；andthattheymadeducksanddrakesofafewturnpike-bondsIhad——andsoIwentupmyself，withTrottleintherumble，tolookattheinsideofthissamelodging，andattheoutsideofthissameHouse。
　　AsIsay，Iwentandsawformyself。Thelodgingwasperfect。
　　That，Iwassureitwouldbe；becauseTrottleisthebestjudgeofcomfortIknow。Theemptyhousewasaneyesore；andthatIwassureitwouldbetoo，forthesamereason。However，settingtheonethingagainsttheother，thegoodagainstthebad，thelodgingverysoongotthevictoryovertheHouse。Mylawyer，Mr。Squares，ofCrownOfficeRow；Temple，drewupanagreement；whichhisyoungmanjabberedoversodreadfullywhenhereadittome，thatIdidn'tunderstandonewordofitexceptmyownname；andhardlythat，andI
　　signedit，andtheotherpartysignedit，and，inthreeweeks'time，Imovedmyoldbones，bagandbaggage，uptoLondon。
　　Forthefirstmonthorso，IarrangedtoleaveTrottleattheWells。
　　Imadethisarrangement，notonlybecausetherewasagooddealtotakecareofinthewayofmyschool-childrenandpensioners，andalsoofanewstoveinthehalltoairthehouseinmyabsence，whichappearedtomecalculatedtoblowupandburst；but，likewisebecauseIsuspectTrottlethoughthesteadiestofmen，andawidowerbetweensixtyandseventytobewhatIcallratheraPhilanderer。Imean，thatwhenanyfriendcomesdowntoseemeandbringsamaid，TrottleisalwaysremarkablyreadytoshowthatmaidtheWellsofanevening；andthatIhavemorethanoncenoticedtheshadowofhisarm，outsidetheroomdoornearlyoppositemychair，encirclingthatmaid'swaistonthelanding，likeatable-clothbrush。
　　Therefore，Ithoughtitjustaswell，beforeanyLondonPhilanderingtookplace，thatIshouldhavealittletimetolookroundme，andtoseewhatgirlswereinandabouttheplace。So，nobodystayedwithmeinmynewlodgingatfirstafterTrottlehadestablishedmetheresafeandsound，butPeggyFlobbins，mymaid；amostaffectionateandattachedwoman，whoneverwasanobjectofPhilanderingsinceIhaveknownher，andisnotlikelytobegintobecomesoafternine-and-twentyyearsnextMarch。
　　ItwasthefifthofNovemberwhenIfirstbreakfastedinmynewrooms。TheGuysweregoingaboutinthebrownfog，likemagnifiedmonstersofinsectsintable-beer，andtherewasaGuyrestingonthedoor-stepsoftheHousetoLet。Iputonmyglasses，partlytoseehowtheboyswerepleasedwithwhatIsentthemoutbyPeggy，andpartlytomakesurethatshedidn'tapproachtooneartheridiculousobject，whichofcoursewasfullofsky-rockets，andmightgooffintobangsatanymoment。InthiswayithappenedthatthefirsttimeIeverlookedattheHousetoLet，afterIbecameitsoppositeneighbour，Ihadmyglasseson。Andthismightnothavehappenedonceinfiftytimes，formysightisuncommonlygoodformytimeoflife；andIwearglassesaslittleasIcan，forfearofspoilingit。
　　Iknewalreadythatitwasaten-roomedhouse，verydirty，andmuchdilapidated；thatthearea-railswererustyandpeelingaway，andthattwoorthreeofthemwerewanting，orhalf-wanting；thattherewerebrokenpanesofglassinthewindows，andblotchesofmudonotherpanes，whichtheboyshadthrownatthem；thattherewasquiteacollectionofstonesinthearea，alsoproceedingfromthoseYoungMischiefs；thatthereweregameschalkedonthepavementbeforethehouse，andlikenessesofghostschalkedonthestreet-door；thatthewindowswerealldarkenedbyrottingoldblinds，orshutters，orboth；thatthebills"ToLet，"hadcurledup，asifthedampairoftheplacehadgiventhemcramps；orhaddroppeddownintocorners，asiftheywerenomore。Ihadseenallthisonmyfirstvisit，andIhadremarkedtoTrottle，thatthelowerpartoftheblackboardabouttermswassplitaway；thattheresthadbecomeillegible，andthattheverystoneofthedoor-stepswasbrokenacross。
　　Notwithstanding，IsatatmybreakfasttableonthatPleasetoRememberthefifthofNovembermorning，staringattheHousethroughmyglasses，asifIhadneverlookedatitbefore。
　　Allatonce——inthefirst-floorwindowonmyright——downinalowcorner，ataholeinablindorashutter——IfoundthatIwaslookingatasecretEye。Thereflectionofmyfiremayhavetoucheditandmadeitshine；but，Isawitshineandvanish。
　　Theeyemighthaveseenme，oritmightnothaveseenme，sittingthereintheglowofmyfire——youcantakewhichprobabilityyouprefer，withoutoffence——butsomethingstruckthroughmyframe，asifthesparkleofthiseyehadbeenelectric，andhadflashedstraightatme。Ithadsuchaneffectuponme，thatIcouldnotremainbymyself，andIrangforFlobbins，andinventedsomelittlejobsforher，tokeepherintheroom。Aftermybreakfastwasclearedaway，Isatinthesameplacewithmyglasseson，movingmyhead，nowso，andnowso，tryingwhether，withtheshiningofmyfireandtheflawsinthewindow-glass，Icouldreproduceanysparkleseemingtobeupthere，thatwaslikethesparkleofaneye。
　　Butno；Icouldmakenothinglikeit。IcouldmakeripplesandcrookedlinesinthefrontoftheHousetoLet，andIcouldeventwistonewindowupandloopitintoanother；but，Icouldmakenoeye，noranythinglikeaneye。SoIconvincedmyselfthatIreallyhadseenaneve。
　　Well，tobesureIcouldnotgetridoftheimpressionofthiseye，andittroubledmeandtroubledme，untilitwasalmostatorment。
　　Idon'tthinkIwaspreviouslyinclinedtoconcernmyheadmuchabouttheoppositeHouse；but，afterthiseye，myheadwasfullofthehouse；andIthoughtoflittleelsethanthehouse，andI
　　watchedthehouse，andItalkedaboutthehouse，andIdreamedofthehouse。Inallthis，Ifullybelievenow，therewasagoodProvidence。But，youwilljudgeforyourselfaboutthat，bye-and-
　　bye。
　　Mylandlordwasabutler，whohadmarriedacook，andsetuphousekeeping。Theyhadnotkepthouselongerthanacoupleofyears，andtheyknewnomoreabouttheHousetoLetthanIdid。
　　NeithercouldIfindoutanythingconcerningitamongthetrades-
　　peopleorotherwise；furtherthanwhatTrottlehadtoldmeatfirst。
　　Ithadbeenempty，somesaidsixyears，somesaideight，somesaidten。Itneverdidlet，theyallagreed，anditneverwouldlet。
　　IsoonfeltconvincedthatIshouldworkmyselfintooneofmystatesabouttheHouse；andIsoondid。Ilivedforawholemonthinaflurry，thatwasalwaysgettingworse。Towers'sprescriptions，whichIhadbroughttoLondonwithme，wereofnomoreusethannothing。Inthecoldwintersunlight，inthethickwinterfog，intheblackwinterrain，inthewhitewintersnow，theHousewasequallyonmymind。Ihaveheard，aseverybodyelsehas，ofaspirit'shauntingahouse；butIhavehadmyownpersonalexperienceofahouse'shauntingaspirit；forthatHousehauntedmine。
　　Inallthatmonth'stime，IneversawanyonegointotheHousenorcomeoutoftheHouse。Isupposedthatsuchathingmusttakeplacesometimes，inthedeadofthenight，ortheglimmerofthemorning；
　　but，Ineversawitdone。Igotnorelieffromhavingmycurtainsdrawnwhenitcameondark，andshuttingouttheHouse。TheEyethenbegantoshineinmyfire。
　　Iamasingleoldwoman。Ishouldsayatonce，withoutbeingatallafraidofthename，Iamanoldmaid；onlythatIamolderthanthephrasewouldexpress。ThetimewaswhenIhadmylove-trouble，but，itislongandlongago。HewaskilledatseaDearHeavenresthisblessedhead!whenIwastwenty-five。Ihaveallmylife，sinceeverIcanremember，beendeeplyfondofchildren。Ihavealwaysfeltsuchaloveforthem，thatIhavehadmysorrowfulandsinfultimeswhenIhavefanciedsomethingmusthavegonewronginmylife——
　　somethingmusthavebeenturnedasidefromitsoriginalintentionI
　　mean——orIshouldhavebeentheproudandhappymotherofmanychildren，andafondoldgrandmotherthisday。IhavesoonknownbetterinthecheerfulnessandcontentmentthatGodhasblessedmewithandgivenmeabundantreasonfor；andyetIhavehadtodrymyeyeseventhen，whenIhavethoughtofmydear，brave，hopeful，handsome，bright-eyedCharley，andthetrustmeanttocheermewith。
　　Charleywasmyyoungestbrother，andhewenttoIndia。Hemarriedthere，andsenthisgentlelittlewifehometometobeconfined，andshewastogobacktohim，andthebabywastobeleftwithme，andIwastobringitup。Itneverbelongedtothislife。Ittookitssilentplaceamongtheotherincidentsinmystorythatmighthavebeen，butneverwere。Ihadhardlytimetowhispertoher"Deadmyown!"orshetoanswer，"Ashestoashes，dusttodust!O
　　layitonmybreastandcomfortCharley!"whenshehadgonetoseekherbabyatOurSaviour'sfeet。IwenttoCharley，andItoldhimtherewasnothingleftbutme，poorme；andIlivedwithCharley，outthere，severalyears。Hewasamanoffifty，whenhefellasleepinmyarms。Hisfacehadchangedtobealmostoldandalittlestern；but，itsoftened，andsoftenedwhenIlaiditdownthatImightcryandpraybesideit；and，whenIlookedatitforthelasttime，itwasmydear，untroubled，handsome，youthfulCharleyoflongago-
　　IwasgoingontotellthatthelonelinessoftheHousetoLetbroughtbackalltheserecollections，andthattheyhadquitepiercedmyheartoneevening，whenFlobbins，openingthedoor，andlookingverymuchasifshewantedtolaughbutthoughtbetterofit，said:
　　"Mr。JabezJarber，ma'am!"
　　UponwhichMr。Jarberambledin，inhisusualabsurdway，saying:
　　"Sophonisba!"
　　WhichIamobligedtoconfessismyname。Aprettyoneandproperoneenoughwhenitwasgiventome:but，agoodmanyyearsoutofdatenow，andalwayssoundingparticularlyhigh-flownandcomicalfromhislips。SoIsaid，sharply:
　　"ThoughitisSophonisba，Jarber，youarenotobligedtomentionit，that_I_see。"
　　Inreplytothisobservation，theridiculousmanputthetipsofmyfiveright-handfingerstohislips，andsaidagain，withanaggravatingaccentonthethirdsyllable:
　　"SophonISba!"
　　Idon'tburnlamps，becauseIcan'tabidethesmellofoil，andwaxcandlesbelongedtomyday。Ihopetheconvenientsituationofoneofmytalloldcandlesticksonthetableatmyelbowwillbemyexcuseforsaying，thatifhedidthatagain，Iwouldchophistoeswithit。IamsorrytoaddthatwhenItoldhimso，Iknewhistoestobetender。But，really，atmytimeoflifeandatJarber's，itistoomuchofagoodthing。ThereisanorchestrastillstandingintheopenairattheWells，beforewhich，inthepresenceofathrongoffinecompany，IhavewalkedaminuetwithJarber。But，thereisahousestillstanding，inwhichIhavewornapinafore，andhadatoothdrawnbyfasteningathreadtothetoothandthedoor-handle，andtoddlingawayfromthedoor。AndhowshouldIlooknow，atmyyears，inapinafore，orhavingadoorformydentist?
　　Besides，Jarberalwayswasmoreorlessanabsurdman。Hewassweetlydressed，andbeautifullyperfumed，andmanygirlsofmydaywouldhavegiventheirearsforhim；thoughIamboundtoaddthathenevercaredafigforthem，ortheiradvanceseither，andthathewasveryconstanttome。For，henotonlyproposedtomebeforemylove-happinessendedinsorrow，butafterwardstoo:notonce，noryettwice:norwillwesayhowmanytimes。Howevermanytheywere，orhoweverfewtheywere，thelasttimehepaidmethatcomplimentwasimmediatelyafterhehadpresentedmewithadigestivedinner-
　　pillstuckonthepointofapin。AndIsaidonthatoccasion，laughingheartily，"Now，Jarber，ifyoudon'tknowthattwopeoplewhoseunitedageswouldmakeaboutahundredandfifty，havegottobeold，Ido；andIbegtoswallowthisnonsenseintheformofthispill"whichItookonthespot，"andIrequestto，hearnomoreofit。"
　　Afterthat，heconductedhimselfprettywell。Hewasalwaysalittlesqueezedman，wasJarber，inlittlespriggedwaistcoats；andhehadalwayslittlelegsandalittlesmile，andalittlevoice，andlittleround-aboutways。AslongasIcanrememberhimhewasalwaysgoinglittleerrandsforpeople，andcarryinglittlegossip。
　　Atthispresenttimewhenhecalledme"Sophonisba!"hehadalittleold-fashionedlodginginthatnewneighbourhoodofmine。Ihadnotseenhimfortwoorthreeyears，butIhadheardthathestillwentoutwithalittleperspective-glassandstoodondoor-stepsinSaintJames'sStreet，toseethenobilitygotoCourt；andwentinhislittlecloakandgoloshesoutsideWillis'sroomstoseethemgotoAlmack's；andcaughtthefrightfullestcolds，andgothimselftroddenuponbycoachmenandlinkmen，untilhewenthometohislandladyamassofbruises，andhadtobenursedforamonth。
　　Jarbertookoffhislittlefur-collaredcloak，andsatdownoppositeme，withhislittlecaneandhatinhishand。
　　"LetushavenomoreSophonisbaing，ifYOUplease，Jarber，"Isaid。
　　"CallmeSarah。Howdoyoudo?Ihopeyouareprettywell。"
　　"Thankyou。Andyou?"saidJarber。
　　"Iamaswellasanoldwomancanexpecttobe。"
　　Jarberwasbeginning:
　　"Say，notold，Sophon-"butIlookedatthecandlestick，andheleftoff；pretendingnottohavesaidanything。
　　"Iaminfirm，ofcourse，"Isaid，"andsoareyou。Letusbothbethankfulit'snoworse。"
　　"Isitpossiblethatyoulookworried?"saidJarber。
　　"Itisverypossible。Ihavenodoubtitisthefact。"
　　"AndwhathasworriedmySoph-，soft-heartedfriend，"saidJarber。
　　"Somethingnoteasy，Isuppose，tocomprehend。IamworriedtodeathbyaHousetoLet，overtheway。"
　　Jarberwentwithhislittletip-toesteptothewindow-curtains，peepedout，andlookedroundatme。
　　"Yes，"saidI，inanswer:"thathouse。"
　　Afterpeepingoutagain，Jarbercamebacktohischairwithatenderair，andasked:"Howdoesitworryyou，S-arah?"
　　"Itisamysterytome，"saidI。"OfcourseeveryhouseISamystery，moreorless；but，somethingthatIdon'tcaretomention"
　　fortrulytheEyewassoslightathingtomentionthatIwasmorethanhalfashamedofit，"hasmadethatHousesomysterioustome，andhassofixeditinmymind，thatIhavehadnopeaceforamonth。IforeseethatIshallhavenopeace，either，untilTrottlecomestome，nextMonday。"
　　Imighthavementionedbefore，thatthereisalone-standingjealousybetweenTrottleandJarber；andthatthereisneveranylovelostbetweenthosetwo。
　　"TROTTLE，"petulantlyrepeatedJarber，withalittleflourishofhiscane；"howisTROTTLEtorestorethelostpeaceofSarah?"
　　"HewillexerthimselftofindoutsomethingabouttheHouse。I
　　havefallenintothatstateaboutit，thatIreallymustdiscoverbysomemeansorother，goodorbad，fairorfoul，howandwhyitisthatthatHouseremainsToLet。"
　　"AndwhyTrottle?Whynot，"puttinghislittlehattohisheart；
　　"whynot，Jarber?
　　"Totellyouthetruth，IhaveneverthoughtofJarberinthematter。AndnowIdothinkofJarber，throughyourhavingthekindnesstosuggesthim——forwhichIamreallyandtrulyobligedtoyou——Idon'tthinkhecoulddoit。"
　　"Sarah!"
　　"Ithinkitwouldbetoomuchforyou，Jarber。"
　　"Sarah!"
　　"Therewouldbecomingandgoing，andfetchingandcarrying，Jarber，andyoumightcatchcold。"
　　"Sarah!WhatcanbedonebyTrottle，canbedonebyme。Iamontermsofacquaintancewitheverypersonofresponsibilityinthisparish。IamintimateattheCirculatingLibrary。IconversedailywiththeAssessedTaxes。IlodgewiththeWaterRate。IknowtheMedicalMan。IloungehabituallyattheHouseAgent's。IdinewiththeChurchwardens。ImovetotheGuardians。Trottle!Apersoninthesphereofadomestic，andtotallyunknowntosociety!"
　　"Don'tbewarm，Jarber。InmentioningTrottle，IhavenaturallyreliedonmyRight-Hand，whowouldtakeanytroubletogratifyevenawhimofhisoldmistress's。But，ifyoucanfindoutanythingtohelptounravelthemysteryofthisHousetoLet，IshallbefullyasmuchobligedtoyouasiftherewasneveraTrottleintheland。"
　　Jarberroseandputonhislittlecloak。Acoupleoffiercebrasslionsheldittightroundhislittlethroat；butacoupleofthemildestHaresmighthavedonethat，Iamsure。"Sarah，"hesaid，"I
　　go。ExpectmeonMondayevening，theSixth，whenperhapsyouwillgivemeacupoftea；——mayIaskfornoGreen?Adieu!"
　　ThiswasonaThursday，thesecondofDecember。WhenIreflectedthatTrottlewouldcomebackonMonday，too，IhadMymisgivingsastothedifficultyofkeepingthetwopowersfromopenwarfare，andindeedIwasmoreuneasythanIquiteliketoconfess。However，theemptyHouseswallowedupthatthoughtnextmorning，asitswallowedupmostotherthoughtsnow，andtheHousequitepreyeduponmeallthatday，andalltheSaturday。
　　ItwasaverywetSunday:rainingandblowingfrommorningtonight。Whenthebellsrangforafternoonchurch，theyseemedtoringinthecommotionofthepuddlesaswellasinthewind，andtheysoundedveryloudanddismalindeed，andthestreetlookedverydismalindeed，andtheHouselookeddismallestofall。
　　Iwasreadingmyprayersnearthelight，andmyfirewasgrowinginthedarkeningwindow-glass，when，lookingup，asIprayedforthefatherlesschildrenandwidowsandallwhoweredesolateandoppressed，——IsawtheEyeagain。Itpassedinamoment，asithaddonebefore；but，thistime，IwasinwardlymoreconvincedthatI
　　hadseenit。
　　Welltobesure，IHADanightthatnight!WheneverIclosedmyowneyes，itwastoseeeyes。Nextmorning，atanunreasonably，andI
　　shouldhavesaidbutforthatrailroadanimpossiblyearlyhour，comesTrottle。AssoonashehadtoldmeallabouttheWells，I
　　toldhimallabouttheHouse。HelistenedwithasgreatinterestandattentionasIcouldpossiblywish，untilIcametoJabezJarber，whenhecooledinaninstant，andbecameopinionated。
　　"Now，Trottle，"Isaid，pretendingnottonotice，"whenMr。Jarbercomesbackthisevening，wemustalllayourheadstogether。"
　　"Ishouldhardlythinkthatwouldbewanted，ma'am；Mr。Jarber'sheadissurelyequaltoanything。"
　　Beingdeterminednottonotice，Isaidagain，thatwemustalllayourheadstogether。
　　"Whateveryouorder，ma'am，shallbeobeyed。Still，itcannotbedoubted，Ishouldthink，thatMr。Jarber'sheadisequal，ifnotsuperior，toanypressurethatcanbebroughttobearuponit。"
　　Thiswasprovoking；andhisway，whenhecameinandoutallthroughtheday，ofpretendingnottoseetheHousetoLet，wasmoreprovokingstill。However，beingquiteresolvednottonotice，I
　　gavenosignwhateverthatIdidnotice。But，wheneveningcame，andheshowedinJarber，and，whenJarberwouldn'tbehelpedoffwithhiscloak，andpokedhiscaneintocanechair-backsandchinaornamentsandhisowneye，intryingtounclasphisbrazenlionsofhimselfwhichhecouldn'tdo，afterall，Icouldhaveshakenthemboth。
　　Asitwas，Ionlyshookthetea-pot，andmadethetea。Jarberhadbroughtfromunderhiscloak，arollofpaper，withwhichhehadtriumphantlypointedovertheway，liketheGhostofHamlet'sFatherappearingtothelateMr。Kemble，andwhichhehadlaidonthetable。
　　"Adiscovery?"saidI，pointingtoit，whenhewasseated，andhadgothistea-cup——"Don'tgo，Trottle。"
　　"Thefirstofaseriesofdiscoveries，"answeredJarber。"Accountofaformertenant，compiledfromtheWaterRate，andMedicalMan。"
　　"Don'tgo，Trottle，"Irepeated。For，Isawhimmakingimperceptiblytothedoor。
　　"Beggingyourpardon，ma'am，ImightbeinMr。Jarber'sway?"
　　Jarberlookedthathedecidedlythoughthemightbe。Irelievedmyselfwithagoodangrycroak，andsaid——alwaysdeterminednottonotice:
　　"Havethegoodnesstositdown，ifyouplease，Trottle。Iwishyoutohearthis。"
　　Trottlebowedinthestiffestmanner，andtooktheremotestchairhecouldfind。Eventhat，hemovedclosetothedraughtfromthekeyholeofthedoor。
　　"Firstly，"Jarberbegan，aftersippinghistea，"wouldmySophon-"