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-\"
