'But tell us what it was.' Mr Sparkler referred to his pulse again, and put himself through some

severe mental discipline before he replied: 'Fellers referring to my Governor--expression not my own--occasionally

compliment my Governor in a very handsome way on being immensely rich

and knowing--perfect phenomenon of Buyer and Banker and that--but say

the Shop sits heavily on him. Say he carried the Shop about, on his back

rather--like Jew clothesmen with too much business.' 'Which,' said Mrs Merdle, rising, with her floating drapery about her,

'is exactly my complaint. Edmund, give me your arm up-stairs.'

Mr Merdle, left alone to meditate on a better conformation of himself to

Society, looked out of nine windows in succession, and appeared to

see nine wastes of space. When he had thus entertained himself he went

down-stairs, and looked intently at all the carpets on the ground-floor;

and then came up-stairs again, and looked intently at all the carpets

on the first-floor; as if they were gloomy depths, in unison with his

oppressed soul. Through all the rooms he wandered, as he always did,

like the last person on earth who had any business to approach them. Let

Mrs Merdle announce, with all her might, that she was at Home ever

so many nights in a season, she could not announce more widely and

unmistakably than Mr Merdle did that he was never at home.

At last he met the chief butler, the sight of which splendid retainer

always finished him. Extinguished by this great creature, he sneaked

to his dressing-room, and there remained shut up until he rode out to

dinner, with Mrs Merdle, in her own handsome chariot. At dinner, he was

envied and flattered as a being of might, was Treasuried, Barred, and

Bishoped, as much as he would; and an hour after midnight came home

alone, and being instantly put out again in his own hall, like a

rushlight, by the chief butler, went sighing to bed.




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