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seizure； she is always at work。 She is a satisfaction to the parents
and guardians of the ’prentices； who feel that there is little danger
of her inspiring tender emotions in the breast of youth； she is a
satisfaction to Mrs Snagsby； who can always find fault with her；
she is a satisfaction to Mr Snagsby； who thinks it a charity to keep
her。 The Law…stationer’s establishment is； in Guster’s eyes； a
Temple of plenty and splendour。 She believes the little drawing…
room upstairs； always kept； as one may say； with its hair in papers
and its pinafore on； to be the most elegant apartment in
Christendom。 The view it commands of Cook’s Court at one end
（not to mention a squint into Cursitor…street） and of Coavins’s the
sheriff’s officer’s back…yard at the other； she regards as a prospect
of unequalled beauty。 The portraits it displays in oil—and plenty
of it too—of Mr Snagsby looking at Mrs Snagsby； are in her eyes as
achievements of Raphael or Titian。 Guster has some recompenses
for her many privations。
Mr Snagsby refers everything not in the practical mysteries of
the business to Mrs Snagsby。 She manages the money； reproaches
the Tax…gatherers； appoints the times and places of devotion on
Sundays； licenses Mr Snagsby’s entertainments； and
acknowledges no responsibility as to what she thinks fit to provide
for dinner； insomuch that she is the high standard of comparison
among the neighbouring wives； a long way down Chancery Lane
on both sides； and even out in Holborn； who； in any domestic
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passages of arms； habitually call upon their husbands to look at
the difference between their （the wives’） position and Mrs
Snagsby’s； and their （the husbands’） behaviour and Mrs
Snagsby’s。 Rumour； always flying； bat…like； about Cook’s Court；
and skimming in and out at everybody’s windows； does say that
Mrs Snagsby is jealous and inquisitive； and that Mr Snagsby is
sometimes worried out of house and home； and that if he had the
spirit of a mouse he wouldn’t stand it。 It is even observed； that the
wives who quote him to their self…willed husbands as a shining
example； in reality look down upon look down upon him； and that
nobody does so with greater superciliousness than one particular
lady whose lord is more than suspected of laying his umbrella on
her as an instrument of correction。 But these vague whisperings
may arise from Mr Snagsby’s being； in his way； rather a meditative
and poetical man； loving to walk in Staple Inn in the summer time；
and to observe how countrified the sparrows and the leaves are；
also to lounge about the Rolls Yard of a Sunday afternoon； and to
remark （if in good spirits） that there were old times once； and that
you’d find a stone coffin or two； now； under that chapel； he’ll be
bound； if you was to dig for it。 He solaces his imagination； too； by
thinking of the many Chancellors and Vices； and Masters of the
Rolls； who are deceased； and he gets such a flavour of the country
out of telling the two ’prentices how he has heard say that a brook
“as clear as crystal” once ran right down the middle of Holborn；
when Turnstile really was a turnstile leading slap away into the
meadows—gets such a flavour of the country out of this； that he
never wants to go there。
The day is closing in and the gas is lighted； but it is not yet fully
effective； for it is not quite dark。 Mr Snagsby standing at his shop…
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door looking up at the clouds； sees a crow； who is out late； skim
westward over the leaden slice of sky belonging to Cook’s Court。
The crow flies straight across Chancery Lane and Lincoln’s Inn
Garden； into Lincoln’s Inn Fields。
Here； in a large house； formerly a house of state； lives Mr
Tulkinghorn。 It is let off in sets of chambers now； and in those
shrunken fragments of its greatness； lawyers lie like maggots in
nuts。 But its roomy staircases； passages； and antechambers； still
remain； and even its painted ceilings； where Allegory； in Roman
helmet； and celestial linen； sprawls among balustrades and pillars；
flowers； clouds； and big…legged boys； and makes the head ache—as
would seem to be Allegory’s object always； more or less。 Here；
among his many boxes labelled with transcendant names； lives Mr
Tulkinghorn； when not speechlessly at home in country…houses
where the great ones of the earth are bored to death。 Here he is
today； quiet at his table。 An Oyster of the old school； whom nobody
can open。
Like as he is to look at； so is his apartment in the dusk of the
present afternoon。 Rusty； out of date； withdrawing from attention；
able to afford it。 Heavy broad…backed old…fashioned mahogany and
horse…hair chairs； not easily lifted； obsolete tables with spindle…
legs and dusty baize covers； presentation prints of the holders of
great titles in the last generation； or the last but one； environ him。
A thick and dingy Turkey…carpet muffles the floor where he sits；
attended by two candles in old…fashioned silver candlesticks； that
give a very insufficient light to his large room。 The titles on the
backs of his books have retired into the binding； everything that
can have a lock has got one； no key is visible。 Very few loose
papers are about。 He has some manuscript near him； but is not
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referring to it。 With the round top of an inkstand； and two broken
bits of sealing…wax； he is silently and slowly working out whatever
train of indecision is in his mind。 Now； the inkstand top is in the
middle： now； the red bit of sealing…wax； now； the black bit。 That’s
not it。 Mr Tulkinghorn must gather them all up； and begin again。
Here； beneath the painted ceiling； with foreshortened Allegory
staring down at his intrusion as if it meant to swoop upon him； and
he cutting it dead； Mr Tulkinghorn has at once his house and
office。 He keeps no staff； only one middle…aged man； usually a little
out at elbows； who sits in a high Pew in the hall； and is rarely
overburdened with business。 Mr Tulkinghorn is not in a common
way。 He wants no clerks。 He is a great reservoir of confidences； not
to be so tapped。 His clients want him； he is all in all。 Drafts that he
requires to be drawn are drawn by special…pleaders in the Temple
on mysterious instructions； fair copies that he requires to be made；
are made at the stationers； expense being no consideration。 The
middle…aged man in the Pew； knows scarcely more of the affairs of
the Peerage； than any crossing…sweeper i