manwho
did
what
he
pretended
to
do
,
a
very
good
fellow
,
indeed
!
He
was
so
defiant
about
it
,
that
it
struck
me
he
had
begun
to
doubt
Mr.
Vholes
.
Then
he
threw
himself
on
the
sofa
,
tired
out
;
and
Ada
and
I
put
things
to
rights
,
for
they
had
no
other
servant
than
the
woman
who
attended
to
the
chambers
.
My
dear
girl
had
a
cottage
piano
there
,
and
quietly
sat
down
to
sing
some
of
Richard
's
favorites
;
the
lamp
being
first
removed
into
the
next
room
,
as
he
complained
of
its
hurting
his
eyes
.
I
sat
between
them
,
at
my
dear
girl
's
side
,
and
felt
very
melancholy
listening
to
her
sweet
voice
.
I
think
Richard
did
too
;
I
think
he
darkened
the
room
for
that
reason
.
She
had
been
singing
some
time
,
rising
between-whiles
to
bend
over
him
and
speak
to
him
;
when
Mr.
Woodcourt
came
in
.
Then
he
sat
down
by
Richard
;
and
half
playfully
,
half
earnestly
,
quite
naturally
and
easily
,
found
out
how
he
felt
,
and
where
he
had
been
all
day
.
Presently
he
proposed
to
accompany
him
in
a
short
walk
on
one
of
the
bridges
,
as
it
was
a
moonlight
airy
night
;
and
Richard
readily
consenting
,
they
went
out
together
.
They
left
my
dear
girl
still
sitting
at
the
piano
,
and
me
still
sitting
beside
her
.
When
they
were
gone
out
,
I
drew
my
arm
round
her
waist
.
She
put
her
left
hand
in
mine
(
I
was
sitting
on
that
side
)
,
but
kept
her
right
upon
the
keys
—
going
over
and
over
them
,
without
striking
any
note
.
“
Esther
,
my
dearest
,
”
she
said
,
breaking
silence
,
“
Richard
is
never
so
well
,
and
I
am
never
so
easy
about
him
,
as
when
he
is
with
Allan
Woodcourt
.
We
have
to
thank
you
for
that
.
”
I
pointed
out
to
my
darling
how
this
could
scarcely
be
,
because
Mr.
Woodcourt
had
come
to
her
cousin
John
's
house
,
and
had
known
us
all
there
;
and
because
he
had
always
liked
Richard
,
and
Richard
had
always
liked
him
,
and
—
and
so
forth
.
“
All
true
,
”
said
Ada
;
“
but
that
he
is
such
a
devoted
friend
to
us
,
we
owe
to
you
.
”
I
thought
it
best
to
let
my
dear
girl
have
her
way
,
and
to
say
no
more
about
it
.
So
I
said
as
much
.
I
said
it
lightly
,
because
I
felt
her
trembling
.
“
Esther
,
my
dearest
,
I
want
to
be
a
good
wife
,
a
very
,
very
good
wife
indeed
.
You
shall
teach
me
.
”
I
teach
!
I
said
no
more
;
for
I
noticed
the
hand
that
was
fluttering
over
the
keys
,
and
I
knew
that
it
was
not
I
who
ought
to
speak
;
that
it
was
she
who
had
something
to
say
to
me
.
“
When
I
married
Richard
,
I
was
not
insensible
to
what
was
before
him
.
I
had
been
perfectly
happy
for
a
long
time
with
you
,
and
I
had
never
known
any
trouble
or
anxiety
,
so
loved
and
cared
for
;
but
I
understood
the
danger
he
was
in
,
dear
Esther
.
”
“
I
know
,
I
know
,
my
darling
.
”
“
When
we
were
married
,
I
had
some
little
hope
that
I
might
be
able
to
convince
him
of
his
mistake
;
that
he
might
come
to
regard
it
in
a
new
way
as
my
husband
,
and
not
pursue
it
all
the
more
desperately
for
my
sake
—
as
he
does
.
But
if
I
had
not
had
that
hope
,
I
would
have
married
him
just
the
same
,
Esther
.
Just
the
same
!
”
In
the
momentary
firmness
of
the
hand
that
was
never
still
—
a
firmness
inspired
by
the
utterance
of
these
last
words
,
and
dying
away
with
them
—
I
saw
the
confirmation
of
her
earnest
tones
.
“
You
are
not
to
think
,
my
dearest
Esther
,
that
I
fail
to
see
what
you
see
,
and
fear
what
you
fear
.
No
one
can
understand
him
better
than
I
do
.
The
greatest
wisdom
that
ever
lived
in
the
world
could
scarcely
know
Richard
better
than
my
love
does
.
”
She
spoke
so
modestly
and
softly
,
and
her
trembling
hand
expressed
such
agitation
,
as
it
moved
to
and
fro
upon
the
silent
notes
!
My
dear
,
dear
girl
!
“
I
see
him
at
his
worst
,
every
day
.
I
watch
him
in
his
sleep
.
I
know
every
change
of
his
face
.
But
when
I
married
Richard
I
was
quite
determined
,
Esther
,
if
Heaven
would
help
me
,
never
to
show
him
that
I
grieved
for
what
he
did
,
and
so
to
make
him
more
unhappy
.
I
want
him
,
when
he
comes
home
,
to
find
no
trouble
in
my
face
.
I
want
him
,
when
he
looks
at
me
,
to
see
what
he
loved
in
me
.
I
married
him
to
do
this
,
and
this
supports
me
.
”
I
felt
her
trembling
more
.
I
waited
for
what
was
yet
to
come
,
and
I
now
thought
I
began
to
know
what
it
was
.
“
And
something
else
supports
me
,
Esther
.
”
She
stopped
a
minute
.
Stopped
speaking
only
;
her
hand
was
still
in
motion
.
“
I
look
forward
a
little
while
,
and
I
do
n't
know
what
great
aid
may
come
to
me
.
When
Richard
turns
his
eyes
upon
me
then
,
there
may
be
something
lying
on
my
breast
more
eloquent
than
I
have
been
,
with
greater
power
than
mine
to
show
him
his
true
course
,
and
win
him
back
.
”
Her
hand
stopped
now
.
She
clasped
me
in
her
arms
,
and
I
clasped
her
in
mine
.
“
If
that
little
creature
should
fail
too
,
Esther
,
I
still
look
forward
.
I
look
forward
a
long
while
,
through
years
and
years
,
and
think
that
then
,
when
I
am
growing
old
,
or
when
I
am
dead
perhaps
a
beautiful
woman
,
his
daughter
,
happily
married
,
may
be
proud
of
him
and
a
blessing
to
him
.
Or
that
a
generous
brave
man
,
as
handsome
as
he
used
to
be
,
as
hopeful
,
and
far
more
happy
,
may
walk
in
the
sunshine
with
him
,
honoring
his
grey
head
,
and
saying
to
himself
,
‘I
thank
God
this
is
my
father
!
ruined
by
a
fatal
inheritance
,
and
restored
through
me
!
’
”
O
,
my
sweet
girl
,
what
a
heart
was
that
which
beat
so
fast
against
me
!
“
These
hopes
uphold
me
,
my
dear
Esther
,
and
I
know
they
will
.
Though
sometimes
even
they
depart
from
me
,
before
a
dread
that
arises
when
I
look
at
Richard
.
”
I
tried
to
cheer
my
darling
,
and
asked
her
what
it
was
?
Sobbing
and
weeping
,
she
replied
:
“
That
he
may
not
live
to
see
his
child
.
”
CHAPTER
LXI
.
A
DISCOVERY
.
THE
days
when
I
frequented
that
miserable
corner
which
my
dear
girl
brightened
,
can
never
fade
in
my
remembrance
.
I
never
see
it
,
and
I
never
wish
to
see
it
,
now
;
I
have
been
there
only
once
since
;
but
in
my
memory
there
is
a
mournful
glory
shining
on
the
place
,
which
will
shine
for
ever
.
Not
a
day
passed
,
without
my
going
there
,
of
course
.
At
first
I
found
Mr.
Skimpole
there
,
on
two
or
three
occasions
,
idly
playing
the
piano
,
and
talking
in
his
usual
vivacious
strain
.
Now
,
besides
my
very
much
mistrusting
the
probability
of
his
being
there
without
making
Richard
poorer
,
I
felt
as
if
there
were
something
in
his
careless
gaiety
,
too
inconsistent
with
what
I
knew
of
the
depths
of
Ada
's
life
.
I
clearly
perceived
,
too
,
that
Ada
shared
my
feelings
.
I
therefore
resolved
,
after
much
thinking
of
it
,
to
make
a
private
visit
to
Mr.
Skimpole
,
and
try
delicately
to
explain
myself
.
My
dear
girl
was
the
great
consideration
that
made
me
bold
.
I
set
off
one
morning
,
accompanied
by
Charley
,
for
Somers
Town
.
As
I
approached
the
house
,
I
was
strongly
inclined
to
turn
back
,
for
I
felt
what
a
desperate
attempt
it
was
to
make
an
impression
on
Mr.
Skimpole
,
and
how
extremely
likely
it
was
that
he
would
signally
defeat
me
.
However
,
I
thought
that
being
there
,
I
would
go
through
with
it
.
I
knocked
with
a
trembling
hand
at
Mr.
Skimpole
's
door
—
literally
with
a
hand
,
for
the
knocker
was
gone
—
and
after
a
long
parley
gained
admission
from
an
Irishwoman
,
who
was
in
the
area
when
I
knocked
,
breaking
up
the
lid
of
a
water-butt
with
a
poker
,
to
light
the
fire
with
.
Mr.
Skimpole
,
lying
on
the
sofa
in
his
room
,
playing
the
flute
a
little
,
was
enchanted
to
see
me
.
Now
,
who
should
receive
me
,
he
asked
?
Who
would
I
prefer
for
mistress
of
the
ceremonies
?
Would
I
have
his
Comedy
daughter
,
his
Beauty
daughter
,
or
his
Sentiment
daughter
?
Or
would
I
have
all
the
daughters
at
once
,
in
a
perfect
nosegay
?
I
replied
,
half
defeated
already
,
that
I
wished
to
speak
to
himself
only
,
if
he
would
give
me
leave
.
“
My
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
most
joyfully
!
Of
course
,
”
he
said
,
bringing
his
chair
near
mine
,
and
breaking
into
his
fascinating
smile
,
“
of
course
it
's
not
business
.
Then
it
's
pleasure
!
”
I
said
it
certainly
was
not
business
that
I
came
upon
,
but
it
was
not
quite
a
pleasant
matter
.
“
Then
,
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
he
,
with
the
frankest
gaiety
,
“
do
n't
allude
to
it
.
Why
should
you
allude
to
anything
that
is
not
a
pleasant
matter
?
I
never
do
.
And
you
are
a
much
pleasanter
creature
,
in
every
point
of
view
,
than
I
.
You
are
perfectly
pleasant
;
I
am
imperfectly
pleasant
;
then
,
if
I
never
allude
to
an
unpleasant
matter
,
how
much
less
should
you
!
So
that
's
disposed
of
,
and
we
will
talk
of
something
else
.
”
Although
I
was
embarrassed
,
I
took
courage
to
intimate
that
I
still
wished
to
pursue
the
subject
.
“
I
should
think
it
a
mistake
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
with
his
airy
laugh
,
“
if
I
thought
Miss
Summerson
capable
of
making
one
.
But
I
do
n't
!
”
“
Mr.
Skimpole
,
”
said
I
,
raising
my
eyes
to
his
,
“
I
have
so
often
heard
you
say
that
you
are
unacquainted
with
the
common
affairs
of
life
—
—
”
“
Meaning
our
three
banking-house
friends
,
L
,
S
,
and
who
's
the
junior
partner
?
D
?
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
brightly
.
“
Not
an
idea
of
them
!
”
“
—
That
,
perhaps
,
”
I
went
on
,
“
you
will
excuse
my
boldness
on
that
account
.
I
think
you
ought
most
seriously
to
know
that
Richard
is
poorer
than
he
was
.
”
“
Dear
me
!
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
.
“
So
am
I
,
they
tell
me
.
”
“
And
in
very
embarrassed
circumstances
.
”
“
Parallel
case
exactly
!
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
with
a
delighted
countenance
.
“
This
at
present
naturally
causes
Ada
much
secret
anxiety
;
and
as
I
think
she
is
less
anxious
when
no
claims
are
made
upon
her
by
visitors
,
and
as
Richard
has
one
uneasiness
always
heavy
on
his
mind
,
it
has
occurred
to
me
to
take
the
liberty
of
saying
that
—
if
you
would
—
not
—
”
I
was
coming
to
the
point
with
great
difficulty
,
when
he
took
me
by
both
hands
,
and
,
with
a
radiant
face
and
in
the
liveliest
way
,
anticipated
it
.
“
Not
go
there
?
Certainly
not
,
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
most
assuredly
not
.
Why
should
I
go
there
?
When
I
go
anywhere
,
I
go
for
pleasure
.
I
do
n't
go
anywhere
for
pain
,
because
I
was
made
for
pleasure
.
Pain
comes
to
me
when
it
wants
me
.
Now
I
have
had
very
little
pleasure
at
our
dear
Richard
's
,
lately
,
and
your
practical
sagacity
demonstrates
why
.
Our
young
friends
,
losing
the
youthful
poetry
which
was
once
so
captivating
in
them
,
begin
to
think
,
‘this
is
a
man
who
wants
pounds.’
So
I
am
;
I
always
want
pounds
;
not
for
myself
,
but
because
tradespeople
always
want
them
of
me
.
Next
,
our
young
friends
begin
to
think
,
becoming
mercenary
,
‘this
is
the
man
who
had
pounds
,
—
who
borrowed
them’
;
which
I
did
.
I
always
borrow
pounds
.
So
our
young
friends
,
reduced
to
prose
(
which
is
much
to
be
regretted
)
,
degenerate
in
their
power
of
imparting
pleasure
to
me
.
Why
should
I
go
to
see
them
therefore
?
Absurd
!
”
Through
the
beaming
smile
with
which
he
regarded
me
,
as
he
reasoned
thus
,
there
now
broke
forth
a
look
of
disinterested
benevolence
quite
astonishing
.
“
Besides
,
”
he
said
,
pursuing
his
argument
,
in
his
tone
of
light-hearted
conviction
,
“
if
I
do
n't
go
anywhere
for
pain
—
which
would
be
a
perversion
of
the
intention
of
my
being
,
and
a
monstrous
thing
to
do
—
why
should
I
go
anywhere
to
be
the
cause
of
pain
?
If
I
went
to
see
our
young
friends
in
their
present
ill-regulated
state
of
mind
,
I
should
give
them
pain
.
The
associations
with
me
would
be
disagreeable
.
They
might
say
,
‘this
is
the
man
who
had
pounds
,
and
who
ca
n't
pay
pounds
,
’
which
I
ca
n't
,
of
course
;
nothing
could
be
more
out
of
the
question
!
Then
,
kindness
requires
that
I
should
n't
go
near
them
—
and
I
wo
n't
.
”
He
finished
by
genially
kissing
my
hand
,
and
thanking
me
.
Nothing
but
Miss
Summerson
's
fine
tact
,
he
said
,
would
have
found
this
out
for
him
.
I
was
much
disconcerted
:
but
I
reflected
that
if
the
main
point
were
gained
,
it
mattered
little
how
strangely
he
perverted
everything
leading
to
it
.
I
had
determined
to
mention
something
else
,
however
,
and
I
thought
I
was
not
to
be
put
off
in
that
.
“
Mr.
Skimpole
,
”
said
I
,
“
I
must
take
the
liberty
of
saying
,
before
I
conclude
my
visit
,
that
I
was
much
surprised
to
learn
,
on
the
best
authority
,
some
little
time
ago
,
that
you
knew
with
whom
that
poor
boy
left
Bleak
House
,
and
that
you
accepted
a
present
on
that
occasion
.
I
have
not
mentioned
it
to
my
guardian
,
for
I
fear
it
would
hurt
him
unnecessarily
;
but
I
may
say
to
you
that
I
was
much
surprised
.
”
“
No
?
Really
surprised
,
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
?
”
he
returned
,
inquiringly
,
raising
his
pleasant
eyebrows
.
“
Greatly
surprised
.
”
He
thought
about
it
for
a
little
while
,
with
a
highly
agreeable
and
whimsical
expression
of
face
;
then
quite
gave
it
up
,
and
said
,
in
his
most
engaging
manner
:
“
You
know
what
a
child
I
am
.
Why
surprised
?
”
I
was
reluctant
to
enter
minutely
into
that
question
;
but
as
he
begged
I
would
,
for
he
was
really
curious
to
know
,
I
gave
him
to
understand
,
in
the
gentlest
words
I
could
use
,
that
his
conduct
seemed
to
involve
a
disregard
of
several
moral
obligations
.
He
was
much
amused
and
interested
when
he
heard
this
,
and
said
,
“
No
,
really
?
”
with
ingenuous
simplicity
.
“
You
know
I
do
n't
pretend
to
be
responsible
.
I
never
could
do
it
.
Responsibility
is
a
thing
that
has
always
been
above
me
—
or
below
me
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
“
I
do
n't
even
know
which
;
but
,
as
I
understand
the
way
in
which
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
(
always
remarkable
for
her
practical
good
sense
and
clearness
)
puts
this
case
,
I
should
imagine
it
was
chiefly
a
question
of
money
,
do
you
know
?
”
I
incautiously
gave
a
qualified
assent
to
this
.
“
Ah
!
Then
you
see
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
shaking
his
head
,
“
I
am
hopeless
of
understanding
it
.
”
I
suggested
,
as
I
rose
to
go
,
that
it
was
not
right
to
betray
my
guardian
's
confidence
for
a
bribe
.
“
My
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
”
he
returned
,
with
a
candid
hilarity
that
was
all
his
own
.
“
I
ca
n't
be
bribed
.
”
“
Not
by
Mr.
Bucket
?
”
said
I
.
“
No
,
”
said
he
.
“
Not
by
anybody
.
I
do
n't
attach
any
value
to
money
.
I
do
n't
care
about
it
,
I
do
n't
know
about
it
,
I
do
n't
want
it
,
I
do
n't
keep
it
—
it
goes
away
from
me
directly
.
How
can
I
be
bribed
?
”
I
showed
that
I
was
of
a
different
opinion
,
though
I
had
not
the
capacity
for
arguing
the
question
.
“
On
the
contrary
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
“
I
am
exactly
the
man
to
be
placed
in
a
superior
position
,
in
such
a
case
as
that
.
I
am
above
the
rest
of
mankind
,
in
such
a
case
as
that
.
I
can
act
with
philosophy
,
in
such
a
case
as
that
.
I
am
not
warped
by
prejudices
,
as
an
Italian
baby
is
by
bandages
.
I
am
as
free
as
the
air
.
I
feel
myself
as
far
above
suspicion
as
Cæsar
's
wife
.
”
Anything
to
equal
the
lightness
of
his
manner
,
and
the
playful
impartiality
with
which
he
seemed
to
convince
himself
,
as
he
tossed
the
matter
about
like
a
ball
of
feathers
,
was
surely
never
seen
in
anybody
else
!
“
Observe
the
case
,
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
.
Here
is
a
boy
received
into
the
house
and
put
to
bed
,
in
a
state
that
I
strongly
object
to
.
The
boy
being
in
bed
,
a
man
arrives
—
like
the
house
that
Jack
built
.
Here
is
the
man
who
demands
the
boy
who
is
received
into
the
house
and
put
to
bed
in
a
state
that
I
strongly
object
to
.
Here
is
a
bank-note
produced
by
the
man
who
demands
the
boy
who
is
received
into
the
house
and
put
to
bed
in
a
state
that
I
strongly
object
to
.
Here
is
the
Skimpole
who
accepts
the
bank-note
produced
by
the
man
who
demands
the
boy
who
is
received
into
the
house
and
put
to
bed
in
a
state
that
I
strongly
object
to
.
Those
are
the
facts
.
Very
well
.
Should
the
Skimpole
have
refused
the
note
?
Why
should
the
Skimpole
have
refused
the
note
?
Skimpole
protests
to
Bucket
;
‘what
's
this
for
?
I
do
n't
understand
it
,
it
is
of
no
use
to
me
,
take
it
away.’
Bucket
still
entreats
Skimpole
to
accept
it
.
Are
there
reasons
why
Skimpole
,
not
being
warped
by
prejudices
,
should
accept
it
?
Yes
.
Skimpole
perceives
them
.
What
are
they
?
Skimpole
reasons
with
himself
,
this
is
a
tamed
lynx
,
an
active
police
officer
,
an
intelligent
man
,
a
person
of
a
peculiarly
directed
energy
and
great
subtlety
both
of
conception
and
execution
,
who
discovers
our
friends
and
enemies
for
us
when
they
run
away
,
recovers
our
property
for
us
when
we
are
robbed
,
avenges
us
comfortably
when
we
are
murdered
.
This
active
police
officer
and
intelligent
man
has
acquired
,
in
the
exercise
of
his
art
,
a
strong
faith
in
money
;
he
finds
it
very
useful
to
him
,
and
he
makes
it
very
useful
to
society
.
Shall
I
shake
that
faith
in
Bucket
,
because
I
want
it
myself
;
shall
I
deliberately
blunt
one
of
Bucket
's
weapons
;
shall
I
possibly
paralyse
Bucket
,
in
his
next
detective
operation
?
And
again
.
If
it
is
blameable
in
Skimpole
to
take
the
note
,
it
is
blameable
in
Bucket
to
offer
the
note
—
much
more
blameable
in
Bucket
,
because
he
is
the
knowing
man
.
Now
,
Skimpole
wishes
to
think
well
of
Bucket
;
Skimpole
deems
it
essential
,
in
its
little
place
,
to
the
general
cohesion
of
things
,
that
he
should
think
well
of
Bucket
.
The
State
expressly
asks
him
to
trust
to
Bucket
.
And
he
does
.
And
that
's
all
he
does
!
”
I
had
nothing
to
offer
in
reply
to
this
exposition
,
and
therefore
took
my
leave
.
Mr.
Skimpole
,
however
,
who
was
in
excellent
spirits
,
would
not
hear
of
my
returning
home
attended
only
by
“
Little
Coavinses
,
”
and
accompanied
me
himself
.
He
entertained
me
,
on
the
way
,
with
a
variety
of
delightful
conversation
;
and
assured
me
,
at
parting
,
that
he
should
never
forget
the
fine
tact
with
which
I
had
found
that
out
for
him
about
our
young
friends
.
As
it
so
happened
that
I
never
saw
Mr.
Skimpole
again
,
I
may
at
once
finish
what
I
know
of
his
history
.
A
coolness
arose
between
him
and
my
guardian
,
based
chiefly
on
the
foregoing
grounds
,
and
on
his
having
heartlessly
disregarded
my
guardian
's
entreaties
(
as
we
afterwards
learned
from
Ada
)
in
reference
to
Richard
.
His
being
heavily
in
my
guardian
's
debt
,
had
nothing
to
do
with
their
separation
.
He
died
some
five
years
afterwards
,
and
left
a
diary
behind
him
,
with
letters
and
other
materials
towards
his
Life
;
which
was
published
,
and
which
showed
him
to
have
been
the
victim
of
a
combination
on
the
part
of
mankind
against
an
amiable
child
.
It
was
considered
very
pleasant
reading
,
but
I
never
read
more
of
it
myself
than
the
sentence
on
which
I
chanced
to
light
on
opening
the
book
.
It
was
this
.
“
Jarndyce
,
in
common
with
most
other
men
I
have
known
,
is
the
Incarnation
of
Selfishness
.
”
And
now
I
come
to
a
part
of
my
story
,
touching
myself
very
nearly
indeed
,
and
for
which
I
was
quite
unprepared
when
the
circumstance
occurred
.
Whatever
little
lingerings
may
have
now
and
then
revived
in
my
mind
,
associated
with
my
poor
old
face
,
had
only
revived
as
belonging
to
a
part
of
my
life
that
was
gone
—
gone
like
my
infancy
or
my
childhood
.
I
have
suppressed
none
of
my
many
weaknesses
on
that
subject
,
but
have
written
them
as
faithfully
as
my
memory
has
recalled
them
.
And
I
hope
to
do
,
and
mean
to
do
,
the
same
down
to
the
last
words
of
these
pages
:
which
I
see
now
,
not
so
very
very
far
before
me
.
The
months
were
gliding
away
;
and
my
dear
girl
,
sustained
by
the
hopes
she
had
confided
to
me
,
was
the
same
beautiful
star
in
the
miserable
corner
.
Richard
,
more
worn
and
haggard
,
haunted
the
Court
day
after
day
;
listlessly
sat
there
the
whole
day
long
,
when
he
knew
there
was
no
remote
chance
of
the
suit
being
mentioned
;
and
became
one
of
the
stock
sights
of
the
place
.
I
wonder
whether
any
of
the
gentlemen
remembered
him
as
he
was
when
he
first
went
there
.
So
completely
was
he
absorbed
in
his
fixed
idea
,
that
he
used
to
avow
in
his
cheerful
moments
,
that
he
should
never
have
breathed
the
fresh
air
now
“
but
for
Woodcourt
.
”
It
was
only
Mr.
Woodcourt
who
could
occasionally
divert
his
attention
,
for
a
few
hours
at
a
time
;
and
rouse
him
,
even
when
he
sunk
into
a
lethargy
of
mind
and
body
that
alarmed
us
greatly
,
and
the
returns
of
which
became
more
frequent
as
the
months
went
on
.
My
dear
girl
was
right
in
saying
that
he
only
pursued
his
errors
the
more
desperately
for
her
sake
.
I
have
no
doubt
that
his
desire
to
retrieve
what
he
had
lost
,
was
rendered
the
more
intense
by
his
grief
for
his
young
wife
,
and
became
like
the
madness
of
a
gamester
.
I
was
there
,
as
I
have
mentioned
,
at
all
hours
.
When
I
was
there
at
night
,
I
generally
went
home
with
Charley
in
a
coach
;
sometimes
my
guardian
would
meet
me
in
the
neighbourhood
,
and
we
would
walk
home
together
.
One
evening
,
he
had
arranged
to
meet
me
at
eight
o'clock
.
I
could
not
leave
,
as
I
usually
did
,
quite
punctually
to
the
time
,
for
I
was
working
for
my
dear
girl
,
and
had
a
few
stitches
more
to
do
,
to
finish
what
I
was
about
;
but
it
was
within
a
few
minutes
of
the
hour
,
when
I
bundled
up
my
little
work-basket
,
gave
my
darling
my
last
kiss
for
the
night
,
and
hurried
down-stairs
.
Mr.
Woodcourt
went
with
me
,
as
it
was
dusk
.
When
we
came
to
the
usual
place
of
meeting
—
it
was
close
by
,
and
Mr.
Woodcourt
had
often
accompanied
me
before
—
my
guardian
was
not
there
.
We
waited
half
an
hour
,
walking
up
and
down
;
but
there
were
no
signs
of
him
.
We
agreed
that
he
was
either
prevented
from
coming
,
or
that
he
had
come
,
and
gone
away
;
and
Mr.
Woodcourt
proposed
to
walk
home
with
me
.
It
was
the
first
walk
we
had
ever
taken
together
,
except
that
very
short
one
to
the
usual
place
of
meeting
.
We
spoke
of
Richard
and
Ada
the
whole
way
.
I
did
not
thank
him
,
in
words
,
for
what
he
had
done
—
my
appreciation
of
it
had
risen
above
all
words
then
—
but
I
hoped
he
might
not
be
without
some
understanding
of
what
I
felt
so
strongly
.
Arriving
at
home
and
going
up-stairs
,
we
found
that
my
guardian
was
out
,
and
that
Mrs.
Woodcourt
was
out
too
.
We
were
in
the
very
same
room
into
which
I
had
brought
my
blushing
girl
,
when
her
youthful
lover
,
now
her
so
altered
husband
,
was
the
choice
of
her
young
heart
;
the
very
same
room
,
from
which
my
guardian
and
I
had
watched
them
going
away
through
the
sunlight
,
in
the
fresh
bloom
of
their
hope
and
promise
.
We
were
standing
by
the
opened
window
,
looking
down
into
the
street
,
when
Mr.
Woodcourt
spoke
to
me
.
I
learned
in
a
moment
that
he
loved
me
.
I
learned
in
a
moment
that
my
scarred
face
was
all
unchanged
to
him
.
I
learned
in
a
moment
that
what
I
had
thought
was
pity
and
compassion
,
was
devoted
,
generous
,
faithful
love
.
O
,
too
late
to
know
it
now
,
too
late
,
too
late
.
That
was
the
first
ungrateful
thought
I
had
.
Too
late
.
“
When
I
returned
,
”
he
told
me
,
“
when
I
came
back
,
no
richer
than
I
went
away
,
and
found
you
newly
risen
from
a
sick
bed
,
yet
so
inspired
by
sweet
consideration
for
others
,
and
so
free
from
a
selfish
thought
—
”
“
O
,
Mr.
Woodcourt
,
forbear
,
forbear
!
”
I
entreated
him
.
“
I
do
not
deserve
your
high
praise
.
I
had
many
selfish
thoughts
at
that
time
,
many
!
”
“
Heaven
knows
,
beloved
of
my
life
,
”
said
he
,
“
that
my
praise
is
not
a
lover
's
praise
,
but
the
truth
.
You
do
not
know
what
all
around
you
see
in
Esther
Summerson
,
how
many
hearts
she
touches
and
awakens
,
what
sacred
admiration
and
what
love
she
wins
.
”
“
O
,
Mr.
Woodcourt
,
”
cried
I
,
“
it
is
a
great
thing
to
win
love
,
it
is
a
great
thing
to
win
love
!
I
am
proud
of
it
,
and
honored
by
it
;
and
the
hearing
of
it
causes
me
to
shed
these
tears
of
mingled
joy
and
sorrow
—
joy
that
I
have
won
it
,
sorrow
that
I
have
not
deserved
it
better
;
but
I
am
not
free
to
think
of
yours
.
”
I
said
it
with
a
stronger
heart
;
for
when
he
praised
me
thus
,
and
when
I
heard
his
voice
thrill
with
his
belief
that
what
he
said
was
true
,
I
aspired
to
be
more
worthy
of
it
.
It
was
not
too
late
for
that
.
Although
I
closed
this
unforeseen
page
in
my
life
to-night
,
I
could
be
worthier
of
it
all
through
my
life
.
And
it
was
a
comfort
to
me
,
and
an
impulse
to
me
,
and
I
felt
a
dignity
rise
up
within
me
that
was
derived
from
him
,
when
I
thought
so
.
He
broke
the
silence
.
“
I
should
poorly
show
the
trust
that
I
have
in
the
dear
one
who
will
evermore
be
as
dear
to
me
as
now
,
”
and
the
deep
earnestness
with
which
he
said
it
,
at
once
strengthened
me
and
made
me
weep
,
“
if
,
after
her
assurance
that
she
is
not
free
to
think
of
my
love
,
I
urged
it
.
Dear
Esther
,
let
me
only
tell
you
that
the
fond
idea
of
you
which
I
took
abroad
,
was
exalted
to
the
Heavens
when
I
came
home
.
I
have
always
hoped
,
in
the
first
hour
when
I
seemed
to
stand
in
any
ray
of
good
fortune
,
to
tell
you
this
.
I
have
always
feared
that
I
should
tell
it
you
in
vain
.
My
hopes
and
fears
are
both
fulfilled
to-night
.
I
distress
you
.
I
have
said
enough
.
”
Something
seemed
to
pass
into
my
place
that
was
like
the
Angel
he
thought
me
,
and
I
felt
so
sorrowful
for
the
loss
he
had
sustained
!
I
wished
to
help
him
in
his
trouble
,
as
I
had
wished
to
do
when
he
showed
that
first
commiseration
for
me
.
“
Dear
Mr.
Woodcourt
,
”
said
I
,
“
before
we
part
to-night
,
something
is
left
for
me
to
say
.
I
never
could
say
it
as
I
wish
—
I
never
shall
—
but
—
”
I
had
to
think
again
of
being
more
deserving
of
his
love
,
and
his
affliction
,
before
I
could
go
on
.
“
—
I
am
deeply
sensible
of
your
generosity
,
and
I
shall
treasure
its
remembrance
to
my
dying
hour
.
I
know
full
well
how
changed
I
am
,
I
know
you
are
not
unacquainted
with
my
history
,
and
I
know
what
a
noble
love
that
is
which
is
so
faithful
.
What
you
have
said
to
me
,
could
have
affected
me
so
much
from
no
other
lips
;
for
there
are
none
that
could
give
it
such
a
value
to
me
.
It
shall
not
be
lost
.
It
shall
make
me
better
.
”
He
covered
his
eyes
with
his
hand
,
and
turned
away
his
head
.
How
could
I
ever
be
worthy
of
those
tears
?
“
If
,
in
the
unchanged
intercourse
we
shall
have
together
—
in
tending
Richard
and
Ada
;
and
I
hope
in
many
happier
scenes
of
life
—
you
ever
find
anything
in
me
which
you
can
honestly
think
is
better
than
it
used
to
be
,
believe
that
it
will
have
sprung
up
from
to-night
,
and
that
I
shall
owe
it
to
you
.
And
never
believe
,
dear
dear
Mr.
Woodcourt
,
never
believe
,
that
I
forget
this
night
;
or
that
while
my
heart
beats
,
it
can
be
insensible
to
the
pride
and
joy
of
having
been
beloved
by
you
.
”
He
took
my
hand
,
and
kissed
it
.
He
was
like
himself
again
,
and
I
felt
still
more
encouraged
.
“
I
am
induced
,
by
what
you
said
just
now
,
”
said
I
,
“
to
hope
that
you
have
succeeded
in
your
endeavour
?
”
“
I
have
,
”
he
answered
.
“
With
such
help
from
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
as
you
who
know
him
so
well
can
imagine
him
to
have
rendered
me
,
I
have
succeeded
.
”
“
Heaven
bless
him
for
it
,
”
said
I
,
giving
him
my
hand
;
“
and
Heaven
bless
you
in
all
you
do
!
”
“
I
shall
do
it
better
for
the
wish
,
”
he
answered
;
“
it
will
make
me
enter
on
these
new
duties
,
as
on
another
sacred
trust
from
you
.
”
“
Ah
!
Richard
!
”
I
exclaimed
involuntarily
,
“
what
will
he
do
when
you
are
gone
!
”
“
I
am
not
required
to
go
yet
;
I
would
not
desert
him
,
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
even
if
I
were
.
”
One
other
thing
I
felt
it
needful
to
touch
upon
,
before
he
left
me
.
I
knew
that
I
should
not
be
worthier
of
the
love
I
could
not
take
,
if
I
reserved
it
.
“
Mr.
Woodcourt
,
”
said
I
,
“
you
will
be
glad
to
know
from
my
lips
before
I
say
Good
night
,
that
in
the
future
,
which
is
clear
and
bright
before
me
,
I
am
most
happy
,
most
fortunate
,
have
nothing
to
regret
or
to
desire
.
”
It
was
indeed
a
glad
hearing
to
him
,
he
replied
.
“
From
my
childhood
I
have
been
,
”
said
I
,
“
the
object
of
the
untiring
goodness
of
the
best
of
human
beings
;
to
whom
I
am
so
bound
by
every
tie
of
attachment
,
gratitude
,
and
love
,
that
nothing
I
could
do
in
the
compass
of
a
life
could
express
the
feelings
of
a
single
day
.
”
“
I
share
those
feelings
,
”
he
returned
;
“
you
speak
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
”
“
You
know
his
virtues
well
,
”
said
I
,
“
but
few
can
know
the
greatness
of
his
character
as
I
know
it
.
All
its
highest
and
best
qualities
have
been
revealed
to
me
in
nothing
more
brightly
,
than
in
the
shaping
out
of
that
future
in
which
I
am
so
happy
.
And
if
your
highest
homage
and
respect
had
not
been
his
already
,
—
which
I
know
they
are
,
—
they
would
have
been
his
,
I
think
,
on
this
assurance
,
and
in
the
feeling
it
would
have
awakened
in
you
towards
him
for
my
sake
.
”
He
fervently
replied
,
that
indeed
indeed
they
would
have
been
.
I
gave
him
my
hand
again
.
“
Good-night
,
”
I
said
;
“
good-bye
.
”
“
The
first
,
until
we
meet
to-morrow
;
the
second
,
as
a
farewell
to
this
theme
between
us
for
ever
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Good-night
;
good-bye
!
”
He
lest
me
,
and
I
stood
at
the
dark
window
watching
the
street
.
His
love
,
in
all
its
constancy
and
generosity
,
had
come
so
suddenly
upon
me
,
that
he
had
not
left
me
a
minute
when
my
fortitude
gave
way
again
,
and
the
street
was
blotted
out
by
my
rushing
tears
.
But
they
were
not
tears
of
regret
and
sorrow
.
No.
He
had
called
me
the
beloved
of
his
life
,
and
had
said
I
would
be
evermore
as
dear
to
him
as
I
was
then
;
and
I
felt
as
if
my
heart
would
not
hold
the
triumph
of
having
heard
those
words
.
My
first
wild
thought
had
died
away
.
It
was
not
too
late
to
hear
them
,
for
it
was
not
too
late
to
be
animated
by
them
to
be
good
,
true
,
grateful
,
and
contented
.
How
easy
my
path
;
how
much
easier
than
his
!
CHAPTER
LXII
.
ANOTHER
DISCOVERY
.
I
HAD
not
the
courage
to
see
any
one
that
night
.
I
had
not
even
the
courage
to
see
myself
,
for
I
was
afraid
that
my
tears
might
a
little
reproach
me
.
I
went
up
to
my
room
in
the
dark
,
and
prayed
in
the
dark
,
and
lay
down
in
the
dark
to
sleep
.
I
had
no
need
of
any
light
to
read
my
guardian
's
letter
by
,
for
I
knew
it
by
heart
.
I
took
it
from
the
place
where
I
kept
it
,
and
repeated
its
contents
by
its
own
clear
light
of
integrity
and
love
,
and
went
to
sleep
with
it
on
my
pillow
.
I
was
up
very
early
in
the
morning
,
and
called
Charley
to
come
for
a
walk
.
We
bought
flowers
for
the
breakfast-table
,
and
came
back
and
arranged
them
,
and
were
as
busy
as
possible
.
We
were
so
early
,
that
I
had
good
time
still
for
Charley
's
lesson
,
before
breakfast
;
Charley
(
who
was
not
in
the
least
improved
in
the
old
defective
article
of
grammar
)
came
through
it
with
great
applause
;
and
we
were
altogether
very
notable
.
When
my
guardian
appeared
,
he
said
,
“
Why
,
little
woman
,
you
look
fresher
than
your
flowers
!
”
And
Mrs.
Woodcourt
repeated
and
translated
a
passage
from
the
Mewlinwillinwodd
,
expressive
of
my
being
like
a
mountain
with
the
sun
upon
it
.
This
was
all
so
pleasant
,
that
I
hope
it
made
me
still
more
like
the
mountain
than
I
had
been
before
.
After
breakfast
,
I
waited
my
opportunity
,
and
peeped
about
a
little
,
until
I
saw
my
guardian
in
his
own
room
—
the
room
of
last
night
—
by
himself
.
Then
I
made
an
excuse
to
go
in
with
my
housekeeping
keys
,
shutting
the
door
after
me
.
“
Well
,
Dame
Durden
?
”
said
my
guardian
;
the
post
had
brought
him
several
letters
,
and
he
was
writing
.
“
You
want
money
!
”
“
No
,
indeed
,
I
have
plenty
in
hand
.
”
“
There
never
was
such
a
Dame
Durden
,
”
said
my
guardian
,
“
for
making
money
last
.
”
He
had
laid
down
his
pen
,
and
leaned
back
in
his
chair
looking
at
me
.
I
have
often
spoken
of
his
bright
face
,
but
I
thought
I
had
never
seen
it
look
so
bright
and
good
.
There
was
a
high
happiness
upon
it
,
which
made
me
think
,
“
he
has
been
doing
some
great
kindness
this
morning
.
”
“
There
never
was
,
”
said
my
guardian
,
musing
as
he
smiled
upon
me
,
“
such
a
Dame
Durden
for
making
money
last
.
”
He
had
never
yet
altered
his
old
manner
.
I
loved
it
,
and
him
,
so
much
,
that
when
I
now
went
up
to
him
and
took
my
usual
chair
,
which
was
always
put
at
his
side
—
for
sometimes
I
read
to
him
,
and
sometimes
I
talked
to
him
,
and
sometimes
I
silently
worked
by
him
—
I
hardly
liked
to
disturb
it
by
laying
my
hand
on
his
breast
.
But
I
found
I
did
not
disturb
it
at
all
.
“
Dear
guardian
,
”
said
I
,
“
I
want
to
speak
to
you
.
Have
I
been
remiss
in
any
thing
?
”
“
Remiss
in
anything
,
my
dear
!
”
“
Have
I
not
been
what
I
have
meant
to
be
,
since
—
I
brought
the
answer
to
your
letter
,
guardian
?
”
“
You
have
been
everything
I
could
desire
,
my
love
.
”
“
I
am
very
glad
indeed
to
hear
that
,
”
I
returned
.
“
You
know
,
you
said
to
me
,
was
this
the
mistress
of
Bleak
House
?
And
I
said
,
yes
.
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
my
guardian
,
nodding
his
head
.
He
had
put
his
arm
about
me
,
as
if
there
were
something
to
protect
me
from
;
and
looked
in
my
face
,
smiling
.
“
Since
then
,
”
said
I
,
“
we
have
never
spoken
on
the
subject
except
once
.
“
And
then
I
said
,
Bleak
House
was
thinning
fast
;
and
so
it
was
,
my
dear
.
”
“
And
I
said
,
”
I
timidly
reminded
him
,
“
but
its
mistress
remained
.
”
He
still
held
me
,
in
the
same
protecting
manner
,
and
with
the
same
bright
goodness
in
his
face
.
“
Dear
guardian
,
”
said
I
,
“
I
know
how
you
have
felt
all
that
has
happened
,
and
how
considerate
you
have
been
.
As
so
much
time
has
passed
,
and
as
you
spoke
only
this
morning
of
my
being
so
well
again
,
perhaps
you
expect
me
to
renew
the
subject
.
Perhaps
I
ought
to
do
so
.
I
will
be
the
mistress
of
Bleak
House
when
you
please
.
”
“
See
,
”
he
returned
gaily
,
“
what
a
sympathy
there
must
be
between
us
!
I
have
had
nothing
else
,
poor
Rick
excepted
—
it
's
a
large
exception
—
in
my
mind
.
When
you
came
in
,
I
was
full
of
it
.
When
shall
we
give
Bleak
House
its
mistress
,
little
woman
?
”
“
When
you
please
.
”
“
Next
month
?
”
“
Next
month
,
dear
guardian
.
”
“
The
day
on
which
I
take
the
happiest
and
best
step
of
my
life
—
the
day
on
which
I
shall
be
a
man
more
exulting
and
more
enviable
than
any
other
man
in
the
world
—
the
day
on
which
I
give
Bleak
House
its
little
mistress
—
shall
be
next
month
,
then
,
”
said
my
guardian
.
I
put
my
arms
round
his
neck
and
kissed
him
,
just
as
I
had
done
on
the
day
when
I
brought
my
answer
.
A
servant
came
to
the
door
to
announce
Mr.
Bucket
,
which
was
quite
unnecessary
,
for
Mr.
Bucket
was
already
looking
in
over
the
servant
's
shoulder
.
“
Mr.
Jarndyce
and
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
he
rather
out
of
breath
,
“
with
all
apologies
for
intruding
,
will
you
allow
me
to
order
up
a
person
that
's
on
the
stairs
,
and
that
objects
to
being
left
there
in
case
of
becoming
the
subject
of
observations
in
his
absence
?
Thank
you
.
Be
so
good
as
chair
that
there
Member
in
this
direction
,
will
you
?
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
beckoning
over
the
bannisters
.
This
singular
request
produced
an
old
man
in
a
black
skull-cap
,
unable
to
walk
,
who
was
carried
up
by
a
couple
of
bearers
,
and
deposited
in
the
room
near
the
door
.
Mr.
Bucket
immediately
got
rid
of
the
bearers
,
mysteriously
shut
the
door
,
and
bolted
it
.
“
Now
you
see
,
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
”
he
then
began
,
putting
down
his
hat
,
and
opening
his
subject
with
a
flourish
of
his
well-remembered
finger
,
“
you
know
me
,
and
Miss
Summerson
knows
me
.
This
gentleman
likewise
knows
me
,
and
his
name
is
Smallweed
.
The
discounting
line
is
his
line
principally
,
and
he
's
what
you
may
call
a
dealer
in
bills
.
That
's
about
what
you
are
,
you
know
,
ai
n't
you
?
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
stooping
a
little
to
address
the
gentleman
in
question
,
who
was
exceedingly
suspicious
of
him
.
He
seemed
about
to
dispute
this
designation
of
himself
,
when
he
was
seized
with
a
violent
fit
of
coughing
.
“
Now
,
Moral
,
you
know
!
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
improving
the
accident
.
“
Do
n't
you
contradict
when
there
ai
n't
no
occasion
,
and
you
wo
n't
be
took
in
that
way
.
Now
,
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
I
address
myself
to
you
.
I
've
been
negociating
with
this
gentleman
on
behalf
of
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
;
and
one
way
and
another
I
've
been
in
and
out
and
about
his
premises
a
deal
.
His
premises
are
the
premises
formerly
occupied
by
Krook
,
Marine
Store
Dealer
—
a
relation
of
this
gentleman
's
,
that
you
saw
in
his
life-time
,
if
I
do
n't
mistake
?
”
My
guardian
replied
“
Yes
.
”
“
Well
!
You
are
to
understand
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
“
that
this
gentleman
he
come
into
Krook
's
property
,
and
a
good
deal
of
Magpie
property
there
was
.
Vast
lots
of
waste
paper
among
the
rest
.
Lord
bless
you
,
of
no
use
to
nobody
!
”
The
cunning
of
Mr.
Bucket
's
eye
,
and
the
masterly
manner
in
which
he
contrived
,
without
a
look
or
a
word
against
which
his
watchful
auditor
could
protest
,
to
let
us
know
that
he
stated
the
case
according
to
previous
agreement
,
and
could
say
much
more
of
Mr.
Smallweed
if
he
thought
it
advisable
,
deprived
us
of
any
merit
in
quite
understanding
him
.
His
difficulty
was
increased
by
Mr.
Smallweed
's
being
deaf
as
well
as
suspicious
,
and
watching
his
face
with
the
closest
attention
.
“
Among
them
odd
heaps
of
old
papers
,
this
gentleman
,
when
he
comes
into
the
property
,
naturally
begins
to
rummage
,
do
n't
you
see
?
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
To
which
?
Say
that
again
,
”
cried
Mr.
Smallweed
,
in
a
shrill
,
sharp
voice
.
“
To
rummage
,
”
repeated
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Being
a
prudent
man
,
and
accustomed
to
take
care
of
your
own
affairs
,
you
begin
to
rummage
among
the
papers
as
you
have
come
into
;
do
n't
you
?
”
“
Of
course
I
do
,
”
cried
Mr.
Smallweed
.
“
Of
course
you
do
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
conversationally
,
“
and
much
to
blame
you
would
be
if
you
did
n't
.
And
so
you
chance
to
find
,
you
know
,
”
Mr.
Bucket
went
on
,
stooping
over
him
with
an
air
of
cheerful
raillery
which
Mr.
Smallweed
by
no
means
reciprocated
,
“
and
so
you
chance
to
find
,
you
know
,
a
paper
,
with
the
signature
of
Jarndyce
to
it
.
Do
n't
you
?
”
Mr.
Smallweed
glanced
with
a
troubled
eye
at
us
,
and
grudgingly
nodded
assent
.
“
And
coming
to
look
at
that
paper
,
at
your
full
leisure
and
convenience
—
all
in
good
time
,
for
you
're
not
curious
to
read
it
,
and
why
should
you
be
!
—
what
do
you
find
it
to
be
but
a
Will
,
you
see
.
That
's
the
drollery
of
it
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
with
the
same
lively
air
of
recalling
a
joke
for
the
enjoyment
of
Mr.
Smallweed
,
who
still
had
the
same
crest-fallen
appearance
of
not
enjoying
it
at
all
;
“
what
do
you
find
it
to
be
,
but
a
Will
?
”
“
I
do
n't
know
that
it
's
good
as
a
will
,
or
as
anything
else
,
”
snarled
Mr.
Smallweed
.
Mr.
Bucket
eyed
the
old
man
for
a
moment
—
he
had
slipped
and
shrunk
down
in
his
chair
into
a
mere
bundle
—
as
if
he
were
much
disposed
to
pounce
upon
him
;
nevertheless
,
he
continued
to
bend
over
him
with
the
same
agreeable
air
,
keeping
the
corner
of
one
of
his
eyes
upon
us
.
“
Notwithstanding
which
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
“
you
get
a
little
doubtful
and
uncomfortable
in
your
mind
about
it
,
having
a
very
tender
mind
of
your
own
.
”
“
Eh
?
What
do
you
say
I
have
got
of
my
own
?
”
asked
Mr.
Smallweed
,
with
his
hand
to
his
ear
.
“
A
very
tender
mind
.
”
“
Ho
!
Well
,
go
on
,
”
said
Mr.
Smallweed
.
“
And
as
you
've
heard
a
good
deal
mentioned
regarding
a
celebrated
Chancery
will
case
,
of
the
same
name
;
and
as
you
know
what
a
card
Krook
was
for
buying
all
manner
of
old
pieces
of
furniter
,
and
books
,
and
papers
,
and
what
not
,
and
never
liking
to
part
with
'
em
,
and
always
a
going
to
teach
himself
to
read
;
you
begin
to
think
—
and
you
never
was
more
correct
in
your
born
days
—
‘Ecod
,
if
I
do
n't
look
about
me
,
I
may
get
into
trouble
regarding
this
will.’
”
“
Now
,
mind
how
you
put
it
,
Bucket
,
”
cried
the
old
man
anxiously
,
with
his
hand
at
his
ear
.
“
Speak
up
;
none
of
your
brimstone
tricks
.
Pick
me
up
;
I
want
to
hear
better
.
O
Lord
,
I
am
shaken
to
bits
!
”
Mr.
Bucket
had
certainly
picked
him
up
at
a
dart
.
However
,
as
soon
as
he
could
be
heard
though
Mr.
Smallweed
's
coughing
,
and
his
vicious
ejaculations
of
“
O
my
bones
!
O
dear
!
I
've
no
breath
in
my
body
!
I
'm
worse
than
the
chattering
,
clattering
,
brimstone
pig
at
home
!
”
Mr.
Bucket
proceeded
,
in
the
same
convivial
manner
as
before
.
“
So
,
as
I
happen
to
be
in
the
habit
of
coming
about
your
premises
,
you
take
me
into
your
confidence
,
do
n't
you
?
”
I
think
it
would
be
impossible
to
make
an
admission
with
more
ill-will
,
and
a
worse
grace
,
than
Mr.
Smallweed
displayed
when
he
admitted
this
;
rendering
it
perfectly
evident
that
Mr.
Bucket
was
the
very
last
person
he
would
have
thought
of
taking
into
his
confidence
,
if
he
could
by
any
possibility
have
kept
him
out
of
it
.
“
And
I
go
into
the
business
with
you
,
—
very
pleasant
we
are
over
it
;
and
I
confirm
you
in
your
well-founded
fears
,
that
you
will-get-your-self-in-to-a-most
precious
line
if
you
do
n't
come
out
with
that
there
will
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
emphatically
;
“
and
accordingly
you
arrange
with
me
that
it
shall
be
delivered
up
to
this
present
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
on
no
conditions
.
If
it
should
prove
to
be
valuable
,
you
trusting
yourself
to
him
for
your
reward
;
that
's
about
where
it
is
,
ai
n't
it
?
”
“
That
's
what
was
agreed
,
”
Mr.
Smallweed
assented
,
with
the
same
bad
grace
.
“
In
consequence
of
which
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
dismissing
his
agreeable
manner
all
at
once
,
and
becoming
strictly
business-like
,
“
you
've
got
that
will
upon
your
person
at
the
present
time
;
and
the
only
thing
that
remains
for
you
to
do
is
,
just
to
Out
with
it
!
”
Having
given
us
one
glance
out
of
the
watching
corner
of
his
eye
,
and
having
given
his
nose
one
triumphant
rub
with
his
fore-finger
,
Mr.
Bucket
stood
with
his
eyes
fastened
on
his
confidential
friend
,
and
his
hand
stretched
forth
ready
to
take
the
paper
and
present
it
to
my
guardian
.
It
was
not
produced
without
much
reluctance
,
and
many
declarations
on
the
part
of
Mr.
Smallweed
that
he
was
a
poor
industrious
man
,
and
that
he
left
it
to
Mr.
Jarndyce
's
honor
not
to
let
him
lose
by
his
honesty
.
Little
by
little
,
he
very
slowly
took
from
a
breast-pocket
a
stained
discolored
paper
,
which
was
much
singed
upon
the
outside
,
and
a
little
burnt
at
the
edges
,
as
if
it
had
long
ago
been
thrown
upon
a
fire
,
and
hastily
snatched
off
again
.
Mr.
Bucket
lost
no
time
in
transferring
this
paper
,
with
the
dexterity
of
a
conjuror
,
from
Mr.
Smallweed
to
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
As
he
gave
it
to
my
guardian
,
he
whispered
behind
his
fingers
:
“
Had
n't
settled
how
to
make
their
market
of
it
.
Quarrelled
and
hinted
about
it
.
I
laid
out
twenty
pound
upon
it
.
First
,
the
avaricious
grandchildren
split
upon
him
,
on
account
of
their
objections
to
his
living
so
unreasonably
long
,
and
then
they
split
on
one
another
.
Lord
!
there
ai
n't
one
of
the
family
that
would
n't
sell
the
other
for
a
pound
or
two
,
except
the
old
lady
—
and
she
's
only
out
of
it
because
she
's
too
weak
in
her
mind
to
drive
a
bargain
.
”
“
Mr.
Bucket
,
”
said
my
guardian
aloud
,
“
whatever
the
worth
of
this
paper
may
be
to
any
one
,
my
obligations
are
great
to
you
;
and
if
it
be
of
any
worth
,
I
hold
myself
bound
to
see
Mr.
Smallweed
remunerated
accordingly
.
”
“
Not
according
to
your
merits
you
know
,
”
said
Mr.
Bucket
,
in
friendly
explanation
to
Mr.
Smallweed
.
“
Do
n't
you
be
afraid
of
that
.
According
to
its
value
.
”
“
That
is
what
I
mean
,
”
said
my
guardian
.
“
You
may
observe
,
Mr.
Bucket
,
that
I
abstain
from
examining
this
paper
myself
.
The
plain
truth
is
,
I
have
forsworn
and
abjured
the
whole
business
these
many
years
,
and
my
soul
is
sick
of
it
.
But
Miss
Summerson
and
I
will
immediately
place
the
paper
in
the
hands
of
my
solicitor
in
the
cause
,
and
its
existence
shall
be
made
known
without
delay
to
all
other
parties
interested
.
“
Mr.
Jarndyce
ca
n't
say
fairer
than
that
,
you
understand
,
”
observed
Mr.
Bucket
,
to
his
fellow
visitor
.
“
And
it
being
now
made
clear
to
you
that
nobody
's
a
going
to
be
wronged
—
which
must
be
a
great
relief
to
your
mind
—
we
may
proceed
with
the
ceremony
of
chairing
you
home
again
.
”
He
unbolted
the
door
,
called
in
the
bearers
,
wished
us
good
morning
,
and
with
a
look
full
of
meaning
,
and
a
crook
of
his
finger
at
parting
,
went
his
way
.
We
went
our
way
too
,
which
was
to
Lincoln
's
Inn
,
as
quickly
as
possible
.
Mr.
Kenge
was
disengaged
;
and
we
found
him
at
his
table
in
his
dusty
room
,
with
the
inexpressive-looking
books
,
and
the
piles
of
papers
.
Chairs
having
been
placed
for
us
by
Mr.
Guppy
,
Mr.
Kenge
expressed
the
surprise
and
gratification
he
felt
at
the
unusual
sight
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
in
his
office
.
He
turned
over
his
double
eye-glass
as
he
spoke
,
and
was
more
Conversation
Kenge
than
ever
.
“
I
hope
,
”
said
Mr.
Kenge
,
“
that
the
genial
influence
of
Miss
Summerson
,
”
he
bowed
to
me
,
“
may
have
induced
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
”
he
bowed
to
him
,
“
to
forego
some
little
of
his
animosity
towards
a
Cause
and
towards
a
Court
which
are
—
shall
I
say
,
which
take
their
place
in
the
stately
vista
of
the
pillars
of
our
profession
?
”
“
I
am
inclined
to
think
,
”
returned
my
guardian
,
“
that
Miss
Summerson
has
seen
too
much
of
the
effects
of
the
Court
and
the
Cause
to
exert
any
influence
in
their
favor
.
Nevertheless
,
they
are
a
part
of
the
occasion
of
my
being
here
.
Mr.
Kenge
,
before
I
lay
this
paper
on
your
desk
and
have
done
with
it
,
let
me
tell
you
how
it
has
come
into
my
hands
.
”
He
did
so
shortly
and
distinctly
.
“
It
could
not
,
sir
,
”
said
Mr.
Kenge
,
“
have
been
stated
more
plainly
and
to
the
purpose
,
if
it
had
been
a
case
at
law
.
”
“
Did
you
ever
know
English
law
,
or
equity
either
,
plain
and
to
the
purpose
?
”
said
my
guardian
.
“
O
fie
!
”
said
Mr.
Kenge
.
At
first
he
had
not
seemed
to
attach
much
importance
to
the
paper
but
when
he
saw
it
he
appeared
more
interested
,
and
when
he
had
opened
and
read
a
little
of
it
through
his
eye-glass
,
he
became
amazed
.
“
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
”
he
said
,
looking
off
it
,
“
you
have
perused
this
?
”
“
Not
I
!
”
returned
my
guardian
.
“
But
,
my
dear
sir
,
”
said
Mr.
Kenge
,
“
it
is
a
Will
of
later
date
than
any
in
the
