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Affery； who had been trembling and struggling the whole time； turned a
deaf ear to all adjuration； and was bent on forcing herself out of the
closet。
'I'd sooner scream to Jeremiah than say another word！ I'll call out to
him； Arthur； if you don't give over speaking to me。 Now here's the very
last word I'll say afore I call to him……If ever you begin to get the
better of them two clever ones your own self （you ought to it； as I told
you when you first e home； for you haven't been a living here long
years； to be made afeared of your life as I have）； then do you get the
better of 'em afore my face； and then do you say to me； Affery tell your
dreams！ Maybe； then I'll tell 'em！'
The shutting of the door stopped Arthur from replying。 They glided into
the places where Jeremiah had left them； and Clennam； stepping forward
as that old gentleman returned； informed him that he had accidentally
extinguished the candle。 Mr Flintwinch looked on as he re…lighted it at
the lamp in the hall； and preserved a profound taciturnity respecting
the person who had been holding him in conversation。 Perhaps his
irascibility demanded pensation for some tediousness that the visitor
had expended on him； however that was； he took such umbrage at seeing
his wife with her apron over her head； that he charged at her； and
taking her veiled nose between his thumb and finger； appeared to throw
the whole screw…power of his person into the wring he gave it。
Flora； now permanently heavy； did not release Arthur from the survey of
the house； until it had extended even to his old garret bedchamber。 His
thoughts were otherwise occupied than with the tour of inspection； yet
he took particular notice at the time； as he afterwards had occasion to
remember； of the airlessness and closeness of the house； that they left
the track of their footsteps in the dust on the upper floors； and that
there was a resistance to the opening of one room door； which occasioned
Affery to cry out that somebody was hiding inside； and to continue to
believe so； though somebody was sought and not discovered。 When they at
last returned to his mother's room； they found her shading her face
with her muffled hand； and talking in a low voice to the Patriarch as he
stood before the fire； whose blue eyes； polished head； and silken locks；
turning towards them as they came in； imparted an inestimable value and
inexhaustible love of his species to his remark：
'So you have been seeing the premises； seeing the
premises……premises……seeing the premises！'
it was not in itself a jewel of benevolence or wisdom； yet he made it an
exemplar of both that one would have liked to have a copy of。
CHAPTER 24。 The Evening of a Long Day
That illustrious man and great national ornament； Mr Merdle； continued
his shining course。 It began to be widely understood that one who had
done society the admirable service of making so much money out of it；
could not be suffered to remain a moner。 A barocy was spoken of
with confidence； a peerage our had it
that Mr Merdle had set his golden face against a barocy； that he had
plainly intimated to Lord Decimus that a barocy was not enough
for him； that he had said； 'No……a Peerage； or plain Merdle。' This was
reported to have plunged Lord Decimus as nigh to his noble chin in a
slough of doubts as so lofty a person could be sunk。 For the Barnacles；
as a group of themselves in creation； had an idea that such distinctions
belonged to them； and that when a soldier； sailor； or lawyer became
ennobled； they let him in； as it were； by an act of condescension； at
the family door； and immediately shut it again。 Not only （said Rumour）
had the troubled Decimus his own hereditary part in this impression； but
he also knew of several Barnacle claims already on the file； which came
into collision with that of the master spirit。
Right or wrong； Rumour was very busy； and Lord Decimus； while he was； or
was supposed to be； in stately excogitation of the difficulty； lent her
some countenance by taking； on several public occasions； one of those
elephantine trots of his through a jungle of overgrown sentences； waving
Mr Merdle about on his trunk as Gigantic Enterprise； The Wealth of
England； Elasticity； Credit； Capital； Prosperity； and all manner of
blessings。
So quietly did the mowing of the old scythe go on； that fully three
months had passed unnoticed since the two English brothers had been laid
in one tomb in the strangers' cemetery at Rome。 Mr and Mrs Sparkler were
established in their own house： a little mansion； rather of the Tite
Barnacle class； quite a triumph of inconvenience； with a perpetual smell
in it of the day before yesterday's soup and coach…horses； but extremely
dear； as being exactly in the centre of the habitable globe。 In this
enviable abode （and envied it really was by many people）； Mrs Sparkler
had intended to proceed at once to the demolition of the Bosom； when
active hostilities had been suspended by the arrival of the Courier with
his tidings of death。 Mrs Sparkler； who was not unfeeling； had received
them with a violent burst of grief； which had lasted twelve hours；
after which； she had arisen to see about her mourning； and to take every
precaution that could ensure its being as being as Mrs Merdle's。 A
gloom was then cast over more than one distinguished family （according
to the politest sources of intelligence）； and the Courier went back
again。
Mr and Mrs Sparkler had been dining alone； with their gloom cast over
them； and Mrs Sparkler reclined on a drawing…room sofa。 It was a hot
summer Sunday evening。 The residence in the centre of the habitable
globe； at all times stuffed and close as if it had an incurable cold in
its head； was that evening particularly stifling。
The bells of the churches had done their worst in the way of clanging
among the unmelodious echoes of the streets； and the lighted windows of
the churches had ceased to be yellow in the grey dusk； and had died out
opaque black。 Mrs Sparkler； lying on her sofa； looking through an open
window at the opposite side of a narrow street over boxes of mignote
and flowers； was tired of the view。 Mrs Sparkler； looking at another
window where her husband stood in the balcony； was tired of that view。
Mrs Sparkler； looking at herself in her mourning； was even tired of that
view： though； naturally； not so tired of that as of the other two。
'It's like lying in a well；' said Mrs Sparkler； changing her position
fretfully。 'Dear me； Edmund； if you have anything to say； why don't you
say it？'
Mr Sparkler might have replied with ingenuousness； 'My life； I have
nothing to say。' But； as the repartee did not occur to him； he contented
himself with ing in from the balcony and standing at the side of his
wife's couch。
'Good gracious； Edmund！' said Mrs Sparkler more fretfully still； you are
absolutely putting mignote up your nose！ Pray don't！'
Mr Sparkler； in absence of mind……perhaps in a more literal absence of
mind than is usually understood by the phrase……had smelt so hard at a
sprig in his hand as to be on the verge of the offence in question。 He
smiled； said； 'I ask your pardon； my dear；' and threw it out of window。
'You make my head ache by remaining in that position； Edmund；' said Mrs
Sparkler； raising her eyes to him after another minute； 'you look so
aggravatingly large by this light。 Do sit down。'
'Certainly； my dear；' said Mr Sparkler； and took a chair on the same
spot。
'If I didn't know that the longest day was past；' said Fanny； yawning in
a dreary manner； 'I should have felt certain this was the longest day。 I
never did experience such a day。'
'Is that your fan； my love？' asked Mr Sparkler； picking up one and
presenting it。
'Edmund；' returned his wife； more wearily yet； 'don't ask weak
questions； I entreat you not。 Whose can it be but mine？'
'Yes； I thought it was yours；' said Mr Sparkler。
'Then you shouldn't ask；' retorted Fanny。 After a little while she
turned on her sofa and exclaimed； 'Dear me； dear me； there never was
such a long day as this！' After another little while； she got up slowly；
walked about； and came back again。
'My dear；' said Mr Sparkler； flashing with an original conception； 'I
think you must have got the fidgets。'
'Oh； Fidgets！' repeated Mrs Sparkler。 'Don't。'
'My adorable girl；' urged Mr Sparkler； 'try your aromatic vinegar。 I
have often seen my mother try it； and it seemingly refreshed her。
And she is； as I believe you are aware； a remarkably fine woman； with no
non……'
'Good Gracious！' exclaimed Fanny； starting up again。 'It's beyond all
patience！ This is the most wearisome day that ever did dawn upon the
world； I am certain。'
Mr Sparkler looked meekly after her as she lounged about the room； and
he appeared to be a little frightened。 When she had tossed a few trifles
about； and had looked down into the darkening street out of all the
three windows； she returned to her sofa； and threw herself among its
pillows。
'Now Edmund； e here！ e a little nearer； because I want to be able
to touch you with my fan； that I may impress you very much with what I
am going to say。 That will do。 Quite close enough。 Oh； you do look so
bi