The manner in which it grounded itself on the first landing grated discordantly on Mr.Neverbend's finer perceptibilities.

But when he learnt, after the interchange of various hoarse and to him unintelligible bellowings, that he was to wait in that narrow damp lobby for the coming of his fellow-Commissioner, the grating on his feelings was even more discordant.

He had not pluck enough left to grumble: but he grunted his displeasure.

He grunted, however, in vain; for in about a quarter of an hour Alaric was close to him, shoulder to shoulder.

He also wore a white jacket, &c., with a nightcap of mud and candle on his head; but somehow he looked as though he had worn them all his life.