Atlasthemetthechiefbutler，thesightofwhichsplendidretaineralwaysfinishedhim。Extinguishedbythisgreatcreature，hesneakedtohisdressing-room，andthereremainedshutupuntilherodeouttodinner，withMrsMerdle，inherownhandsomechariot。Atdinner，hewasenviedandflatteredasabeingofmight，wasTreasuried，Barred，andBishoped，asmuchashewould；
andanhouraftermidnightcamehomealone，andbeinginstantlyputoutagaininhisownhall，likearushlight，bythechiefbutler，wentsighingtobed。
AShoalofBarnaclesMrHenryGowanandthedogwereestablishedfrequentersofthecottage，andthedaywasfixedforthewedding。TherewastobeaconvocationofBarnaclesontheoccasion，inorderthatthatveryhighandverylargefamilymightshedasmuchlustreonthemarriageassodimaneventwascapableofreceiving。
TohavegotthewholeBarnaclefamilytogetherwouldhavebeenimpossiblefortworeasons。Firstly，becausenobuildingcouldhaveheldallthemembersandconnectionsofthatillustrioushouse。Secondly，becausewherevertherewasasquareyardofgroundinBritishoccupationunderthesunormoon，withapublicpostuponit，stickingtothatpostwasaBarnacle。Nointrepidnavigatorcouldplantaflag-staffuponanyspotofearth，andtakepossessionofitintheBritishname，buttothatspotofearth，sosoonasthediscoverywasknown，theCircumlocutionOfficesentoutaBarnacleandadespatch-box。ThustheBarnacleswereallovertheworld，ineverydirection——despatch-boxingthecompass。
But，whiletheso-potentartofProsperohimselfwouldhavefailedinsummoningtheBarnaclesfromeveryspeckofoceananddrylandonwhichtherewasnothingexceptmischieftobedoneandanythingtobepocketed，itwasperfectlyfeasibletoassembleagoodmanyBarnacles。ThisMrsGowanappliedherselftodo；callingonMrMeaglesfrequentlywithnewadditionstothelist，andholdingconferenceswiththatgentlemanwhenhewasnotengagedashegenerallywasatthisperiodinexaminingandpayingthedebtsofhisfutureson-in-law，intheapartmentofscalesandscoops。