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arranged my desk； and put everything away； and was so composed
and cheerful that I thought I had quite dismissed this unexpected
incident。 But； when I went upstairs to my own room； I surprised
myself by beginning to laugh about it； and then surprised myself
still more by beginning to cry about it。 In short； I was in a flutter
for a little while； and felt as if an old chord had been more coarsely
touched than it ever had been since the days of the dear old doll；
long buried in the garden。
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Chapter 10
The Law…Writer
n the eastern borders of Chancery Lane； that is to say
more particularly in Cook’s Court； Cursitor Street； Mr
O
Snagsby； Law Stationer； pursues his lawful calling。 In the
shade of Cook’s Court； at most times a shady place； Mr Snagsby
has dealt in all sorts of blank forms of legal process； in skins and
rolls of parchment； in paper—foolscap； brief； draft； brown； white；
whitey…brown； and blotting； in stamps； in office…quills； pens； ink；
India…rubber； pounce； pins； pencils； sealing…wax； and wafers； in
red tape； and green ferret； in pocket…books； almanacks； diaries；
and law lists； in string boxes； rulers； inkstands—glass and leaden；
penknives； scissors； bodkins； and other small office cutlery； in
short； in articles too numerous to mention； ever since he was out
of his time； and went into partnership with Peffer。 On that
occasion； Cook’s Court was in a manner revolutionised by the new
inscription in fresh paint； PEFFER and SNAGSBY； displacing the
time… honoured and not easily to be deciphered legend； PEFFER
only。 For smoke； which is the London ivy； had so wreathed itself
round Peffer’s name； and clung to his dwelling…place； that the
affectionate parasite quite overpowered the parent tree。
Peffer is never seen in Cook’s Court now。 He is not expected
there； for he has been recumbent this quarter of a century in the
churchyard of St。 Andrew’s； Holborn； with the wagons and
hackney…coaches roaring past him； all the day and half the night；
like one great dragon。 If he ever steal forth when the dragon is at
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rest； to air himself again in Cook’s Court； until admonished to
return by the crowning of the sanguine cock in the cellar at the
little dairy in Cursitor Street； whose ideas of daylight it would be
curious to ascertain； since he knows from his personal observation
next to nothing about it—if Peffer ever do revisit the pale glimpses
of Cook’s Court； which no law…stationer in the trade can positively
deny； he comes invisibly； and no one is the worse or wiser。
In his lifetime； and likewise in the period of Snagsby’s “time” of
seven long years； there dwelt with Peffer； in the same law…
stationering premises； a niece—a short； shrewd niece； something
too violently compressed about the waist； and with a sharp nose
like a sharp autumn evening； inclining to be frosty towards the
end。 The Cook’s…Courtiers had a rumour flying among them； that
the mother of this niece did； in her daughter’s childhood； moved
by too jealous a solicitude that her figure should approach
perfection； lace her up every morning with her maternal foot；
against the bed…post for a stronger hold and purchase； and further；
that she exhibited internally pints of vinegar and lemon…juice：
which acids； they held； had mounted to the nose and temper of the
patient。 With whichsoever of the many tongues of Rumour this
frothy report originated； it either never reached； or never
influenced； the ears of young Snagsby； who； having wooed and
won its fair subject on his arrival at man’s estate； entered into two
partnerships at once。 So now； in Cook’s Court； Cursitor Street； Mr
Snagsby and the niece are one； and the niece still cherishes her
figure—which； however tastes may differ； is unquestionably so far
precious； that there is mighty little of it。
Mr and Mrs Snagsby are not only one bone and one flesh； but；
to the neighbours’ thinking； one voice too。 That voice； appearing
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to proceed from Mrs Snagsby alone； is heard in Cook’s Court very
often。 Mr Snagsby； otherwise than as he finds expression through
these dulcet tones； is rarely heard。 He is a mild； bald； timid man；
with a shining head； and a scrubby clump of black hair sticking
out at the back。 He tends to meekness and obesity。 As he stands at
his door in Cook’s Court； in his grey shop…coat and black calico
sleeves； looking up at the clouds； or stands behind a desk in his
dark shop； with a heavy flat ruler； snipping and slicing at
sheepskin； in company with his two ’prentices； he is emphatically
a retiring and unassuming man。 From beneath his feet； at such
times； as from a shrill ghost unquiet in its grave； there frequently
arise complainings and lamentations in the voice already
mentioned； and haply； on some occasions； when these reach a
sharper pitch than usual； Mr Snagsby mentions to the ’prentices；
“I think my little woman is a…giving it to Guster！”
This proper name； so used by Mr Snagsby； has before now
sharpened the wit of the Cook’s…Courtiers to remark that it ought
to be the name of Mrs Snagsby； seeing that she might with great
force and expression be termed a Guster； in compliment to her
stormy character。 It is； however； the possession； and the only
possession； except fifty shillings per annum and a very small box
indifferently filled with clothing； of a lean young woman from a
workhouse （by some supposed to have been christened Augusta）；
who； although she was farmed or contracted for； during her
growing time； by an amiable benefactor of his species resident at
Tooting； and cannot fail to have been developed under the most
favourable circumstances； “has fits”—which the parish can’t
account for。
Guster； really aged three or four and twenty； but looking a
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round ten years older； goes cheap with this unaccountable
drawback of fits； and is so apprehensive of being returned on the
hands of her patron Saint； that except when she is found with her
head in the pail； or the sink； or the copper； or the dinner； or
anything else that happens to be near her at the time of her
seizure； she is always at work。