A House to Let, et al | Page 8

I have had no peace for a month. I foresee that I shall
have no peace, either, until Trottle comes to me, next Monday."
I might have mentioned before, that there is a lone-standing jealousy
between Trottle and Jarber; and that there is never any love lost
between those two.
"TROTTLE," petulantly repeated Jarber, with a little flourish of his

cane; "how is TROTTLE to restore the lost peace of Sarah?"
"He will exert himself to find out something about the House. I have
fallen into that state about it, that I really must discover by some means
or other, good or bad, fair or foul, how and why it is that that House
remains To Let."
"And why Trottle? Why not," putting his little hat to his heart; "why
not, Jarber?
"To tell you the truth, I have never thought of Jarber in the matter. And
now I do think of Jarber, through your having the kindness to suggest
him--for which I am really and truly obliged to you--I don't think he
could do it."
"Sarah!"
"I think it would be too much for you, Jarber."
"Sarah!"
"There would be coming and going, and fetching and carrying, Jarber,
and you might catch cold."
"Sarah! What can be done by Trottle, can be done by me. I am on terms
of acquaintance with every person of responsibility in this parish. I am
intimate at the Circulating Library. I converse daily with the Assessed
Taxes. I lodge with the Water Rate. I know the Medical Man. I lounge
habitually at the House Agent's. I dine with the Churchwardens. I move
to the Guardians. Trottle! A person in the sphere of a domestic, and
totally unknown to society!"
"Don't be warm, Jarber. In mentioning Trottle, I have naturally relied
on my Right-Hand, who would take any trouble to gratify even a whim
of his old mistress's. But, if you can find out anything to help to unravel
the mystery of this House to Let, I shall be fully as much obliged to you
as if there was never a Trottle in the land."
Jarber rose and put on his little cloak. A couple of fierce brass lions
held it tight round his little throat; but a couple of the mildest Hares
might have done that, I am sure. "Sarah," he said, "I go. Expect me on
Monday evening, the Sixth, when perhaps you will give me a cup of
tea;--may I ask for no Green? Adieu!"
This was on a Thursday, the second of December. When I reflected that
Trottle would come back on Monday, too, I had My misgivings as to
the difficulty of keeping the two powers from open warfare, and indeed
I was more uneasy than I quite like to confess. However, the empty

House swallowed up that thought next morning, as it swallowed up
most other thoughts now, and the House quite preyed upon me all that
day, and all the Saturday.
It was a very wet Sunday: raining and blowing from morning to night.
When the bells rang for afternoon church, they seemed to ring in the
commotion of the puddles as well as in the wind, and they sounded
very loud and dismal indeed, and the street looked very dismal indeed,
and the House looked dismallest of all.
I was reading my prayers near the light, and my fire was growing in the
darkening window-glass, when, looking up, as I prayed for the
fatherless children and widows and all who were desolate and
oppressed,--I saw the Eye again. It passed in a moment, as it had done
before; but, this time, I was inwardly more convinced that I had seen it.
Well to be sure, I HAD a night that night! Whenever I closed my own
eyes, it was to see eyes. Next morning, at an unreasonably, and I should
have said (but for that railroad) an impossibly early hour, comes Trottle.
As soon as he had told me all about the Wells, I told him all about the
House. He listened with as great interest and attention as I could
possibly wish, until I came to Jabez Jarber, when he cooled in an
instant, and became opinionated.
"Now, Trottle," I said, pretending not to notice, "when Mr. Jarber
comes back this evening, we must all lay our heads together."
"I should hardly think that would be wanted, ma'am; Mr. Jarber's head
is surely equal to anything."
Being determined not to notice, I said again, that we must all lay our
heads together.
"Whatever you order, ma'am, shall be obeyed. Still, it cannot be
doubted, I should think, that Mr. Jarber's head is equal, if not superior,
to any pressure that can be brought to bear upon it."
This was provoking; and his way, when he came in