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hopes of starry light had he crossed the threshold； with what
memories to shudder evermore at the darkness did he look back at
the frown of its time…worn towers！
CHAPTER 5。II。
Faust： Wohin soll es nun gehm？
Mephist： Wohin es Dir gefallt。
Wir sehn die kleine； dann die grosse Welt。
〃Faust。〃
（Faust： Whither go now！
Mephist： Whither it pleases thee。
We see the small world； then the great。）
Draw your chair to the fireside； brush clean the hearth； and trim
the lights。 Oh； home of sleekness； order； substance； comfort！
Oh； excellent thing art thou； Matter of Fact！
It is some time after the date of the last chapter。 Here we are；
not in moonlit islands or mouldering castles； but in a room
twenty…six feet by twenty…two；well carpeted； well cushioned；
solid arm…chairs and eight such bad pictures； in such fine
frames； upon the walls！ Thomas Mervale； Esq。； merchant； of
London； you are an enviable dog！
It was the easiest thing in the world for Mervale； on returning
from his Continental episode of life； to settle down to his
desk；his heart had been always there。 The death of his father
gave him； as a birthright； a high position in a respectable
though second…rate firm。 To make this establishment first…rate
was an honourable ambition；it was his！ He had lately married；
not entirely for money；no！ he was worldly rather than
mercenary。 He had no romantic ideas of love； but he was too
sensible a man not to know that a wife should be a companion；
not merely a speculation。 He did not care for beauty and genius；
but he liked health and good temper； and a certain proportion of
useful understanding。 He chose a wife from his reason； not his
heart； and a very good choice he made。 Mrs。 Mervale was an
excellent young woman；bustling； managing； economical； but
affectionate and good。 She had a will of her own； but was no
shrew。 She had a great notion of the rights of a wife； and a
strong perception of the qualities that insure comfort。 She
would never have forgiven her husband； had she found him guilty
of the most passing fancy for another； but； in return； she had
the most admirable sense of propriety herself。 She held in
abhorrence all levity； all flirtation； all coquetry；small vices
which often ruin domestic happiness； but which a giddy nature
incurs without consideration。 But she did not think it right to
love a husband over much。 She left a surplus of affection； for
all her relations； all her friends； some of her acquaintances；
and the possibility of a second marriage； should any accident
happen to Mr。 M。 She kept a good table； for it suited their
station； and her temper was considered even； though firm； but she
could say a sharp thing or two； if Mr。 Mervale was not punctual
to a moment。 She was very particular that he should change his
shoes on coming home；the carpets were new and expensive。 She
was not sulky； nor passionate；Heaven bless her for that！but
when displeased she showed it； administered a dignified rebuke；
alluded to her own virtues； to her uncle who was an admiral； and
to the thirty thousand pounds which she had brought to the object
of her choice。 But as Mr。 Mervale was a good…humoured man； owned
his faults； and subscribed to her excellence； the displeasure was
soon over。
Every household has its little disagreements； none fewer than
that of Mr。 and Mrs。 Mervale。 Mrs。 Mervale； without being
improperly fond of dress； paid due attention to it。 She was
never seen out of her chamber with papers in her hair； nor in
that worst of dis…illusions；a morning wrapper。 At half…past
eight every morning Mrs。 Mervale was dressed for the day；that
is； till she re…dressed for dinner；her stays well laced； her
cap prim； her gowns； winter and summer； of a thick； handsome
silk。 Ladies at that time wore very short waists； so did Mrs。
Mervale。 Her morning ornaments were a thick； gold chain； to
which was suspended a gold watch；none of those fragile dwarfs
of mechanism that look so pretty and go so ill； but a handsome
repeater which chronicled Father Time to a moment； also a mosaic
brooch； also a miniature of her uncle； the admiral； set in a
bracelet。 For the evening she had two handsome sets；necklace；
earrings； and bracelets complete；one of amethysts； the other
topazes。 With these； her costume for the most part was a gold…
coloured satin and a turban； in which last her picture had been
taken。 Mrs。 Mervale had an aquiline nose； good teeth； fair hair；
and light eyelashes； rather a high complexion； what is generally
called a fine bust； full cheeks； large useful feet made for
walking； large； white hands with filbert nails； on which not a
speck of dust had； even in childhood； ever been known to a light。
She looked a little older than she really was； but that might
arise from a certain air of dignity and the aforesaid aquiline
nose。 She generally wore short mittens。 She never read any
poetry but Goldsmith's and Cowper's。 She was not amused by
novels； though she had no prejudice against them。 She liked a
play and a pantomime； with a slight supper afterwards。 She did
not like concerts nor operas。 At the beginning of the winter she
selected some book to read； and some piece of work to commence。
The two lasted her till the spring； when； though she continued to
work； she left off reading。 Her favourite study was history；
which she read through the medium of Dr。 Goldsmith。 Her
favourite author in the belles lettres was； of course； Dr。
Johnson。 A worthier woman； or one more respected； was not to be
found； except in an epitaph！
It was an autumn night。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Mervale； lately returned
from an excursion to Weymouth； are in the drawing…room；〃the
dame sat on this side； the man sat on that。〃
〃Yes； I assure you； my dear； that Glyndon； with all his
eccentricities； was a very engaging； amiable fellow。 You would
certainly have liked him；all the women did。〃
〃My dear Thomas； you will forgive the remark；but that
expression of yours； 'all the WOMEN'〃
〃I beg your pardon；you are right。 I meant to say that he was a
general favourite with your charming sex。〃
〃I understand；rather a frivolous character。〃
〃Frivolous！ no； not exactly； a little unsteady；very odd； but
certainly not frivolous； presumptuous and headstrong in
character； but modest and shy in his manners； rather too much
so；just what you like。 However； to return； I am seriously
uneasy at the accounts I have heard of him to…day。 He has been
living； it seems； a very strange and irregular life； travelling
from place to place； and must have spent already a great deal of
money。〃
〃Apropos of money；〃 said Mrs。 Mervale； 〃I fear we must change our
butcher； he is certainly in league with the cook。〃
〃That is a pity； his beef is remarkably fine。 These London
servants are as bad as the Carbonari。 But； as I was saying； poor
Glyndon〃
Here a knock was heard at the door。 〃Bless me；〃 said Mrs。