WithBarnaclejunior，hesignifiedhisdesiretoconfer；andfoundthatyounggentlemansingeingthecalvesofhislegsattheparentalfire，andsupportinghisspineagainstthemantel-shelf。
Itwasacomfortableroom，handsomelyfurnishedinthehigherofficialmanner；anpresentingstatelysuggestionsoftheabsentBarnacle，inthethickcarpet，theleather-covereddesktositat，theleather-covereddesktostandat，theformidableeasy-chairandhearth-rug，theinterposedscreen，thetorn-uppapers，thedispatch-boxeswithlittlelabelsstickingoutofthem，likemedicinebottlesordeadgame，thepervadingsmellofleatherandmahogany，andageneralbamboozlingairofHownottodoit。
ThepresentBarnacle，holdingMrClennam’scardinhishand，hadayouthfulaspect，andthefluffiestlittlewhisker，perhaps，thateverwasseen。Suchadownytipwasonhiscallowchin，thatheseemedhalffledgedlikeayoungbird；andacompassionateobservermighthaveurgedthat，ifhehadnotsingedthecalvesofhislegs，hewouldhavediedofcold。Hehadasuperioreye-glassdanglingroundhisneck，butunfortunatelyhadsuchflatorbitstohiseyesandsuchlimplittleeyelidsthatitwouldn’tstickinwhenheputitup，butkepttumblingoutagainsthiswaistcoatbuttonswithaclickthatdiscomposedhimverymuch。
’Oh，Isay。Lookhere!Myfather’snotintheway，andwon’tbeinthewayto-day，’saidBarnacleJunior。’IsthisanythingthatIcando？’
Click!Eye-glassdown。BarnacleJuniorquitefrightenedandfeelingallroundhimself，butnotabletofindit。