A House to Let, et al | Page 9

and out all through
the day, of pretending not to see the House to Let, was more provoking
still. However, being quite resolved not to notice, I gave no sign
whatever that I did notice. But, when evening came, and he showed in
Jarber, and, when Jarber wouldn't be helped off with his cloak, and
poked his cane into cane chair-backs and china ornaments and his own
eye, in trying to unclasp his brazen lions of himself (which he couldn't
do, after all), I could have shaken them both.

As it was, I only shook the tea-pot, and made the tea. Jarber had
brought from under his cloak, a roll of paper, with which he had
triumphantly pointed over the way, like the Ghost of Hamlet's Father
appearing to the late Mr. Kemble, and which he had laid on the table.
"A discovery?" said I, pointing to it, when he was seated, and had got
his tea-cup.--"Don't go, Trottle."
"The first of a series of discoveries," answered Jarber. "Account of a
former tenant, compiled from the Water Rate, and Medical Man."
"Don't go, Trottle," I repeated. For, I saw him making imperceptibly to
the door.
"Begging your pardon, ma'am, I might be in Mr. Jarber's way?"
Jarber looked that he decidedly thought he might be. I relieved myself
with a good angry croak, and said--always determined not to notice:
"Have the goodness to sit down, if you please, Trottle. I wish you to
hear this."
Trottle bowed in the stiffest manner, and took the remotest chair he
could find. Even that, he moved close to the draught from the keyhole
of the door.
"Firstly," Jarber began, after sipping his tea, "would my Sophon- "
"Begin again, Jarber," said I.
"Would you be much surprised, if this House to Let should turn out to
be the property of a relation of your own?"
"I should indeed be very much surprised."
"Then it belongs to your first cousin (I learn, by the way, that he is ill at
this time) George Forley."
"Then that is a bad beginning. I cannot deny that George Forley stands
in the relation of first cousin to me; but I hold no communication with
him. George Forley has been a hard, bitter, stony father to a child now
dead. George Forley was most implacable and unrelenting to one of his
two daughters who made a poor marriage. George Forley brought all
the weight of his band to bear as heavily against that crushed thing, as
he brought it to bear lightly, favouringly, and advantageously upon her
sister, who made a rich marriage. I hope that, with the measure George
Forley meted, it may not be measured out to him again. I will give
George Forley no worse wish."
I was strong upon the subject, and I could not keep the tears out of my
eyes; for, that young girl's was a cruel story, and I had dropped many a

tear over it before.
"The house being George Forley's," said I, "is almost enough to
account for there being a Fate upon it, if Fate there is. Is there anything
about George Forley in those sheets of paper?"
"Not a word."
"I am glad to hear it. Please to read on. Trottle, why don't you come
nearer? Why do you sit mortifying yourself in those arctic regions?
Come nearer."
"Thank you, ma'am; I am quite near enough to Mr. Jarber."
Jarber rounded his chair, to get his back full to my opinionated friend
and servant, and, beginning to read, tossed the words at him over his
(Jabez Jarber's) own ear and shoulder.
He read what follows:

THE MANCHESTER MARRIAGE

Mr. and Mrs. Openshaw came from Manchester to London and took the
House To Let. He had been, what is called in Lancashire, a Salesman
for a large manufacturing firm, who were extending their business, and
opening a warehouse in London; where Mr. Openshaw was now to
superintend the business. He rather enjoyed the change of residence;
having a kind of curiosity about London, which he had never yet been
able to gratify in his brief visits to the metropolis. At the same time he
had an odd, shrewd, contempt for the inhabitants; whom he had always
pictured to himself as fine, lazy people; caring nothing but for fashion
and aristocracy, and lounging away their days in Bond Street, and such
places; ruining good English, and ready in their turn to despise him as a
provincial. The hours that the men of business kept in the city
scandalised him too; accustomed as he was to the early dinners of
Manchester folk, and the consequently far longer evenings. Still, he
was pleased to go to London; though he would not for the world have
confessed it, even to himself, and