第1章

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。

Trottle(whomIalwayscallmyrighthand)hasbeeninmyservicetwo-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，likewisebecauseIsuspectTrottle(thoughthesteadiestofmen，andawidowerbetweensixtyandseventy)tobewhatIcallratheraPhilanderer。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。Hewaskilledatsea(DearHeavenresthisblessedhead!)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

shouldhavesaid(butforthatrailroad)animpossiblyearlyhour，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，intryingtounclasphisbrazenlionsofhimself(whichhecouldn\'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-"