ofthe
way
back
very
pleasantly
.
In
half-an-hour
after
our
arrival
,
Mrs.
Jellyby
appeared
;
and
in
the
course
of
an
hour
the
various
things
necessary
for
breakfast
straggled
one
by
one
into
the
dining-room
.
I
do
not
doubt
that
Mrs.
Jellyby
had
gone
to
bed
,
and
got
up
in
the
usual
manner
,
but
she
presented
no
appearance
of
having
changed
her
dress
.
She
was
greatly
occupied
during
breakfast
;
for
the
morning
's
post
brought
a
heavy
correspondence
relative
to
Borrio-bolla-Gha
,
which
would
occasion
her
(
she
said
)
to
pass
a
busy
day
.
The
children
tumbled
about
,
and
notched
memoranda
of
their
accidents
in
their
legs
,
which
were
perfect
little
calendars
of
distress
;
and
Peepy
was
lost
for
an
hour
and
a
half
,
and
brought
home
from
Newgate
market
by
a
policeman
.
The
equable
manner
in
which
Mrs.
Jellyby
sustained
both
his
absence
,
and
his
restoration
to
the
family
circle
,
surprised
us
all
.
She
was
by
that
time
perseveringly
dictating
to
Caddy
,
and
Caddy
was
fast
relapsing
into
the
inky
condition
in
which
we
had
found
her
.
At
one
o'clock
an
open
carriage
arrived
for
us
,
and
a
cart
for
our
luggage
.
Mrs.
Jellyby
charged
us
with
many
remembrances
to
her
good
friend
,
Mr.
Jarndyce
;
Caddy
left
her
desk
to
see
us
depart
,
kissed
me
in
the
passage
,
and
stood
,
biting
her
pen
,
and
sobbing
on
the
steps
;
Peepy
,
I
am
happy
to
say
,
was
asleep
,
and
spared
the
pain
of
separation
(
I
was
not
without
misgivings
that
he
had
gone
to
Newgate
market
in
search
of
me
)
;
and
all
the
other
children
got
up
behind
the
barouche
and
fell
off
,
and
we
saw
them
,
with
great
concern
,
scattered
over
the
surface
of
Thavies
Inn
,
as
we
rolled
out
of
its
precincts
.
CHAPTER
VI
.
QUITE
AT
HOME
.
THE
day
had
brightened
very
much
,
and
still
brightened
as
we
went
westward
.
We
went
our
way
through
the
sunshine
and
the
fresh
air
,
wondering
more
and
more
at
the
extent
of
the
streets
,
the
brilliancy
of
the
shops
,
the
great
traffic
,
and
the
crowds
of
people
whom
the
pleasanter
weather
seemed
to
have
brought
out
like
many-colored
flowers
.
By-and-by
we
began
to
leave
the
wonderful
city
,
and
to
proceed
through
suburbs
which
,
of
themselves
,
would
have
made
a
pretty
large
town
,
in
my
eyes
;
and
at
last
we
got
into
a
real
country
road
again
,
with
windmills
,
rickyards
,
milestones
,
farmers
'
waggons
,
scents
of
old
hay
,
swinging
signs
and
horse
troughs
:
trees
,
fields
,
and
hedgerows
.
It
was
delightful
to
see
the
green
landscape
before
us
,
and
the
immense
metropolis
behind
;
and
when
a
waggon
with
a
train
of
beautiful
horses
,
furnished
with
red
trappings
and
clear-sounding
bells
,
came
by
us
with
its
music
,
I
believe
we
could
all
three
have
sung
to
the
bells
,
so
cheerful
were
the
influences
around
.
“
The
whole
road
has
been
reminding
me
of
my
namesake
Whittington
,
”
said
Richard
,
“
and
that
waggon
is
the
finishing
touch
.
Halloa
!
what
's
the
matter
?
”
We
had
stopped
,
and
the
waggon
had
stopped
too
.
Its
music
changed
as
the
horses
came
to
a
stand
,
and
subsided
to
a
gentle
tinkling
,
except
when
a
horse
tossed
his
head
,
or
shook
himself
,
and
sprinkled
off
a
little
shower
of
bell-ringing
.
“
Our
postilion
is
looking
after
the
waggoner
,
”
said
Richard
;
“
and
the
waggoner
is
coming
back
after
us
.
Good
day
,
friend
!
”
The
waggoner
was
at
our
coach-door
.
“
Why
,
here
's
an
extraordinary
thing
!
”
added
Richard
,
looking
closely
at
the
man
.
“
He
has
got
your
name
,
Ada
,
in
his
hat
!
”
He
had
all
our
names
in
his
hat
.
Tucked
within
the
band
,
were
three
small
notes
;
one
,
addressed
to
Ada
;
one
,
to
Richard
;
one
,
to
me
.
These
the
waggoner
delivered
to
each
of
us
respectively
,
reading
the
name
aloud
first
.
In
answer
to
Richard
's
inquiry
from
whom
they
came
,
he
briefly
answered
,
“
Master
,
sir
,
if
you
please
;
”
and
,
putting
on
his
hat
again
(
which
was
like
a
soft
bowl
)
,
cracked
his
whip
,
re-awakened
his
music
,
and
went
melodiously
away
.
“
Is
that
Mr.
Jarndyce
's
waggon
?
”
said
Richard
,
calling
to
our
postboy
.
“
Yes
,
sir
,
”
he
replied
.
“
Going
to
London
.
”
We
opened
the
notes
.
Each
was
a
counterpart
of
the
other
,
and
contained
these
words
,
in
a
solid
,
plain
hand
.
“
I
look
forward
,
my
dear
,
to
our
meeting
easily
,
and
without
constraint
on
either
side
.
I
therefore
have
to
propose
that
we
meet
as
old
friends
,
and
take
the
past
for
granted
.
It
will
be
a
relief
to
you
possibly
,
and
to
me
certainly
,
and
so
my
love
to
you
.
JOHN
JARNDYCE
.
”
I
had
perhaps
less
reason
to
be
surprised
than
either
of
my
companions
,
having
never
yet
enjoyed
an
opportunity
of
thanking
one
who
had
been
my
benefactor
and
sole
earthly
dependance
through
so
many
years
.
I
had
not
considered
how
I
could
thank
him
,
my
gratitude
lying
too
deep
in
my
heart
for
that
;
but
I
now
began
to
consider
how
I
could
meet
him
without
thanking
him
,
and
felt
it
would
be
very
difficult
indeed
.
The
notes
revived
,
in
Richard
and
Ada
,
a
general
impression
that
they
both
had
,
without
quite
knowing
how
they
came
by
it
,
that
their
cousin
Jarndyce
could
never
bear
acknowledgments
for
any
kindness
he
performed
,
and
that
,
sooner
than
receive
any
,
he
would
resort
to
the
most
singular
expedients
and
evasions
,
or
would
even
run
away
.
Ada
dimly
remembered
to
have
heard
her
mother
tell
,
when
she
was
a
very
little
child
,
that
he
had
once
done
her
an
act
of
uncommon
generosity
,
and
that
on
her
going
to
his
house
to
thank
him
,
he
happened
to
see
her
through
a
window
coming
to
the
door
,
and
immediately
escaped
by
the
back
gate
,
and
was
not
heard
of
for
three
months
.
This
discourse
led
to
a
great
deal
more
on
the
same
theme
,
and
indeed
it
lasted
us
all
day
,
and
we
talked
of
scarcely
anything
else
.
If
we
did
,
by
any
chance
,
diverge
into
another
subject
,
we
soon
returned
to
this
;
and
wondered
what
the
house
would
be
like
,
and
when
we
should
get
there
,
and
whether
we
should
see
Mr.
Jarndyee
as
soon
as
we
arrived
,
or
after
a
delay
,
and
what
he
would
say
to
us
,
and
what
we
should
say
to
him
.
All
of
which
we
wondered
about
,
over
and
over
again
.
The
roads
were
very
heavy
for
the
horses
,
but
the
pathway
was
generally
good
;
so
we
alighted
and
walked
up
all
the
hills
,
and
liked
it
so
well
that
we
prolonged
our
walk
on
the
level
ground
when
we
got
to
the
top
.
At
Barnet
there
were
other
horses
waiting
for
us
;
but
as
they
had
only
just
been
fed
,
we
had
to
wait
for
them
too
,
and
got
a
long
fresh
walk
,
over
a
common
and
an
old
battle
field
,
before
the
carriage
came
up
.
These
delays
so
protracted
the
journey
,
that
the
short
day
was
spent
,
and
the
long
night
had
closed
in
,
before
we
came
to
Saint
Albans
;
near
to
which
town
Bleak
House
was
,
we
knew
.
By
that
time
we
were
so
anxious
and
nervous
,
that
even
Richard
confessed
,
as
we
rattled
over
the
stones
of
the
old
street
,
to
feeling
an
irrational
desire
to
drive
back
again
.
As
to
Ada
and
me
,
whom
he
had
wrapped
up
with
great
care
,
the
night
being
sharp
and
frosty
,
we
trembled
from
head
to
foot
.
When
we
turned
out
of
the
town
,
round
a
corner
,
and
Richard
told
us
that
the
post-boy
,
who
had
for
a
long
time
sympathised
with
our
heightened
expectation
,
was
looking
back
and
nodding
,
we
both
stood
up
in
the
carriage
(
Richard
holding
Ada
,
lest
she
should
be
jolted
down
)
,
and
gazed
round
upon
the
open
country
and
the
starlight
night
,
for
our
destination
.
There
was
a
light
sparkling
on
the
top
of
a
hill
before
us
,
and
the
driver
,
pointing
to
it
with
his
whip
and
crying
,
“
That
's
Bleak
House
!
”
put
his
horses
into
a
canter
,
and
took
us
forward
at
such
a
rate
,
up-hill
though
it
was
,
that
the
wheels
sent
the
road-drift
flying
about
our
heads
like
spray
from
a
water-mill
.
Presently
we
lost
the
light
,
presently
saw
it
,
presently
lost
it
,
presently
saw
it
,
and
turned
into
an
avenue
of
trees
,
and
cantered
up
towards
where
it
was
beaming
brightly
.
It
was
in
a
window
of
what
seemed
to
be
an
old-fashioned
house
,
with
three
peaks
in
the
roof
in
front
,
and
a
circular
sweep
leading
to
the
porch
.
A
bell
was
rung
as
we
drew
up
,
and
amidst
the
sound
of
its
deep
voice
in
the
still
air
,
and
the
distant
barking
of
some
dogs
,
and
a
gush
of
light
from
the
opened
door
,
and
the
smoking
and
steaming
of
the
heated
horses
,
and
the
quickened
beating
of
our
own
hearts
,
we
alighted
in
no
inconsiderable
confusion
.
“
Ada
,
my
love
,
Esther
,
my
dear
,
you
are
welcome
.
I
rejoice
to
see
you
!
Rick
,
if
I
had
a
hand
to
spare
at
present
,
I
would
give
it
you
!
”
The
gentleman
who
said
these
words
in
a
clear
,
bright
,
hospitable
voice
,
had
one
of
his
arms
round
Ada
's
waist
,
and
the
other
round
mine
,
and
kissed
us
both
in
a
fatherly
way
,
and
bore
us
across
the
hall
into
a
ruddy
little
room
,
all
in
a
glow
with
a
blazing
fire
.
Here
he
kissed
us
again
,
and
,
opening
his
arms
,
made
us
sit
down
side
by
side
,
on
a
sofa
ready
drawn
out
near
the
hearth
.
I
felt
that
if
we
had
been
at
all
demonstrative
,
he
would
have
run
away
in
a
moment
.
“
Now
,
Rick
!
”
said
he
,
“
I
have
a
hand
at
liberty
.
A
word
in
earnest
is
as
good
as
a
speech
.
I
am
heartily
glad
to
see
you
.
You
are
at
home
.
Warm
yourself
!
”
Richard
shook
him
by
both
hands
with
an
intuitive
mixture
of
respect
and
frankness
,
and
only
saying
(
though
with
an
earnestness
that
rather
alarmed
me
,
I
was
so
afraid
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
's
suddenly
disappearing
)
,
“
You
are
very
kind
,
sir
!
We
are
very
much
obliged
to
you
!
”
laid
aside
his
hat
and
coat
,
and
came
up
to
the
fire
.
“
And
how
did
you
like
the
ride
?
And
how
did
you
like
Mrs.
Jellyby
,
my
dear
?
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
to
Ada
.
While
Ada
was
speaking
to
him
in
reply
,
I
glanced
(
I
need
not
say
with
how
much
interest
)
at
his
face
.
It
was
a
handsome
,
lively
,
quick
face
,
full
of
change
and
motion
;
and
his
hair
was
a
silvered
iron-grey
.
I
took
him
to
be
nearer
sixty
than
fifty
,
but
he
was
upright
,
hearty
,
and
robust
.
From
the
moment
of
his
first
speaking
to
us
,
his
voice
had
connected
itself
with
an
association
in
my
mind
that
I
could
not
define
;
but
now
,
all
at
once
,
a
something
sudden
in
his
manner
,
and
a
pleasant
expression
in
his
eyes
,
recalled
the
gentleman
in
the
stage-coach
,
six
years
ago
,
on
the
memorable
day
of
my
journey
to
Reading
.
I
was
certain
it
was
he
.
I
never
was
so
frightened
in
my
life
as
when
I
made
the
discovery
,
for
he
caught
my
glance
,
and
appearing
to
read
my
thoughts
,
gave
such
a
look
at
the
door
that
I
thought
we
had
lost
him
.
However
,
I
am
happy
to
say
he
remained
where
he
was
,
and
asked
me
what
I
thought
of
Mrs.
Jellyby
?
“
She
exerts
herself
very
much
for
Africa
,
sir
,
”
I
said
.
“
Nobly
!
”
returned
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
But
you
answer
like
Ada
.
”
Whom
I
had
not
heard
.
“
You
all
think
something
else
,
I
see
.
”
“
We
rather
thought
,
”
said
I
,
glancing
at
Richard
and
Ada
,
who
entreated
me
with
their
eyes
to
speak
,
“
that
perhaps
she
was
a
little
unmindful
of
her
home
.
”
“
Floored
!
”
cried
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
I
was
rather
alarmed
again
.
“
Well
!
I
want
to
know
your
real
thoughts
,
my
dear
.
I
may
have
sent
you
there
on
purpose
.
”
“
We
thought
that
,
perhaps
,
”
said
I
hesitating
,
“
it
is
right
to
begin
with
the
obligations
of
home
,
sir
;
and
that
,
perhaps
,
while
those
are
overlooked
and
neglected
,
no
other
duties
can
possibly
be
substituted
for
them
?
”
“
The
little
Jellybys
,
”
said
Richard
,
coming
to
my
relief
,
“
are
really
—
I
ca
n't
help
expressing
myself
strongly
,
sir
—
in
a
devil
of
a
state
.
”
“
She
means
well
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
hastily
.
“
The
wind
's
in
the
east
.
”
“
It
was
in
the
north
,
sir
,
as
we
came
down
,
”
observed
Richard
.
“
My
dear
Rick
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
poking
the
fire
;
“
I
'll
take
an
oath
it
's
either
in
the
east
,
or
going
to
be
.
I
am
always
conscious
of
an
uncomfortable
sensation
now
and
then
when
the
wind
is
blowing
in
the
east
.
”
“
Rheumatism
,
sir
?
”
said
Richard
.
“
I
dare
say
it
is
,
Rick
.
I
believe
it
is
.
And
so
the
little
Jell
—
I
had
my
doubts
about
'
em
—
are
in
a
—
oh
,
Lord
,
yes
,
it
's
easterly
!
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
He
had
taken
two
or
three
undecided
turns
up
and
down
while
uttering
these
broken
sentences
,
retaining
the
poker
in
one
hand
and
rubbing
his
hair
with
the
other
,
with
a
good-natured
vexation
,
at
once
so
whimsical
and
so
loveable
,
that
I
am
sure
we
were
more
delighted
with
him
than
we
could
possibly
have
expressed
in
any
words
.
He
gave
an
arm
to
Ada
and
an
arm
to
me
,
and
bidding
Richard
bring
a
candle
,
was
leading
the
way
out
,
when
he
suddenly
turned
us
all
back
again
.
“
Those
little
Jellybys
.
Could
n't
you
—
did
n't
you
—
now
,
if
it
had
rained
sugar-plums
,
or
three-cornered
raspberry
tarts
,
or
anything
of
that
sort
!
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
O
cousin
—
!
”
Ada
hastily
began
.
“
Good
,
my
pretty
pet
.
I
like
cousin
.
Cousin
John
,
perhaps
,
is
better
.
”
“
Then
,
cousin
John
!
—
”
Ada
laughingly
began
again
.
“
Ha
,
ha
!
Very
good
indeed
!
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
with
great
enjoyment
.
“
Sounds
uncommonly
natural
.
Yes
,
my
dear
?
”
“
It
did
better
than
that
.
It
rained
Esther
.
”
“
Ay
?
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
What
did
Esther
do
?
”
“
Why
,
cousin
John
,
”
said
Ada
,
clasping
her
hands
upon
his
arm
,
and
shaking
her
head
at
me
across
him
—
for
I
wanted
her
to
be
quiet
:
“
Esther
was
their
friend
directly
.
Esther
nursed
them
,
coaxed
them
to
sleep
,
washed
and
dressed
them
,
told
them
stories
,
kept
them
quiet
,
bought
them
keepsakes
”
—
My
dear
girl
!
I
had
only
gone
out
with
Peepy
,
after
he
was
found
,
and
given
him
a
little
,
tiny
horse
!
—
“
and
,
cousin
John
,
she
softened
poor
Caroline
,
the
eldest
one
,
so
much
,
and
was
so
thoughtful
for
me
and
so
amiable
!
—
No
,
no
,
I
wo
n't
be
contradicted
,
Esther
dear
!
You
know
,
you
know
,
it
's
true
!
”
The
warm-hearted
darling
leaned
across
her
cousin
John
,
and
kissed
me
;
and
then
,
looking
up
in
his
face
,
boldly
said
,
“
At
all
events
,
cousin
John
,
I
will
thank
you
for
the
companion
you
have
given
me
.
”
I
felt
as
if
she
challenged
him
to
run
away
.
But
he
did
n't
.
“
Where
did
you
say
the
wind
was
,
Rick
?
”
asked
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
In
the
north
,
as
we
came
down
,
sir
.
”
“
You
are
right
.
There
's
no
east
in
it
.
A
mistake
of
mine
.
Come
,
girls
,
come
and
see
your
home
!
”
It
was
one
of
those
delightfully
irregular
houses
where
you
go
up
and
down
steps
out
of
one
room
into
another
,
and
where
you
come
upon
more
rooms
when
you
think
you
have
seen
all
there
are
,
and
where
there
is
a
bountiful
provision
of
little
halls
and
passages
,
and
where
you
find
still
older
cottage-rooms
in
unexpected
places
,
with
lattice
windows
and
green
growth
pressing
through
them
.
Mine
,
which
we
entered
first
,
was
of
this
kind
,
with
an
up-and-down
roof
,
that
had
more
corners
in
it
than
I
ever
counted
afterwards
,
and
a
chimney
(
there
was
a
wood-fire
on
the
hearth
)
paved
all
round
with
pure
white
tiles
,
in
every
one
of
which
a
bright
miniature
of
the
fire
was
blazing
.
Out
of
this
room
,
you
went
down
two
steps
,
into
a
charming
little
sitting-room
,
looking
down
upon
a
flower-garden
,
which
room
was
henceforth
to
belong
to
Ada
and
me
.
Out
of
this
you
went
up
three
steps
,
into
Ada
's
bed-room
,
which
had
a
fine
broad
window
,
commanding
a
beautiful
view
(
we
saw
a
great
expanse
of
darkness
lying
underneath
the
stars
)
,
to
which
there
was
a
hollow
windowseat
,
in
which
,
with
a
spring-lock
,
three
dear
Adas
might
have
been
lost
at
once
.
Out
of
this
room
,
you
passed
into
a
little
gallery
,
with
which
the
other
best
rooms
(
only
two
)
communicated
,
and
so
,
by
a
little
staircase
of
shallow
steps
,
with
a
number
of
corner
stairs
in
it
,
considering
its
length
,
down
into
the
hall
.
But
if
,
instead
of
going
out
at
Ada
's
door
,
you
came
back
into
my
room
,
and
went
out
at
the
door
by
which
you
had
entered
it
,
and
turned
up
a
few
crooked
steps
that
branched
off
in
an
unexpected
manner
from
the
stairs
,
you
lost
yourself
in
passages
,
with
mangles
in
them
,
and
three-cornered
tables
,
and
a
Native-Hindoo
chair
,
which
was
also
a
sofa
,
a
box
,
and
a
bedstead
,
and
looked
,
in
every
form
,
something
between
a
bamboo
skeleton
and
a
great
bird-cage
,
and
had
been
brought
from
India
nobody
knew
by
whom
or
when
.
From
these
,
you
came
on
Richard
's
room
,
which
was
part
library
,
part
sitting-room
,
part
bed-room
,
and
seemed
indeed
a
comfortable
compound
of
many
rooms
.
Out
of
that
,
you
went
straight
,
with
a
little
interval
of
passage
,
to
the
plain
room
where
Mr.
Jarndyce
slept
,
all
the
year
round
,
with
his
window
open
,
his
bedstead
without
any
furniture
standing
in
the
middle
of
the
floor
for
more
air
,
and
his
cold-bath
gaping
for
him
in
a
smaller
room
adjoining
.
Out
of
that
,
you
came
into
another
passage
,
where
there
were
back-stairs
,
and
where
you
could
hear
the
horses
being
rubbed
down
,
outside
the
stable
,
and
being
told
to
Hold
up
,
and
Get
over
,
as
they
slipped
about
very
much
on
the
uneven
stones
.
Or
you
might
,
if
you
came
out
at
another
door
(
every
room
had
at
least
two
doors
)
,
go
straight
down
to
the
hall
again
by
half-a-dozen
steps
and
a
low
archway
,
wondering
how
you
got
back
there
,
or
had
ever
got
out
of
it
.
The
furniture
,
old-fashioned
rather
than
old
,
like
the
house
,
was
as
pleasantly
irregular
.
Ada
's
sleeping-room
was
all
flowers
—
in
chintz
and
paper
,
in
velvet
,
in
needle-work
,
in
the
brocade
of
two
stiff
courtly
chairs
,
which
stood
,
each
attended
by
a
little
page
of
a
stool
for
greater
state
,
on
either
side
of
the
fire-place
.
Our
sitting-room
was
green
;
and
had
,
framed
and
glazed
,
upon
the
walls
,
numbers
of
surprising
and
surprised
birds
,
staring
out
of
pictures
at
a
real
trout
in
a
case
,
as
brown
and
shining
as
if
it
had
been
served
with
gravy
;
at
the
death
of
Captain
Cook
;
and
at
the
whole
process
of
preparing
tea
in
China
,
as
depicted
by
Chinese
artists
.
In
my
room
there
were
oval
engravings
of
the
months
—
ladies
haymaking
,
in
short
waists
,
and
large
hats
tied
under
the
chin
,
for
June
—
smooth-legged
noblemen
,
pointing
,
with
cocked-hats
,
to
village
steeples
,
for
October
.
Half-length
portraits
,
in
crayons
,
abounded
all
through
the
house
;
but
were
so
dispersed
that
I
found
the
brother
of
a
youthful
officer
of
mine
in
the
china-closet
,
and
the
grey
old
age
of
my
pretty
young
bride
,
with
a
flower
in
her
boddice
,
in
the
breakfast
room
.
As
substitutes
,
I
had
four
angels
,
of
Queen
Anne
's
reign
,
taking
a
complacent
gentleman
to
heaven
,
in
festoons
,
with
some
difficulty
;
and
a
composition
in
needle-work
,
representing
fruit
,
a
kettle
,
and
an
alphabet
.
All
the
moveables
,
from
the
wardrobes
to
the
chairs
and
tables
,
hangings
,
glasses
,
even
to
the
pincushions
and
scent-bottles
on
the
dressing-tables
,
displayed
the
same
quaint
variety
.
They
agreed
in
nothing
but
their
perfect
neatness
,
their
display
of
the
whitest
linen
,
and
their
storing-up
,
wheresoever
the
existence
of
a
drawer
,
small
or
large
,
rendered
it
possible
,
of
quantities
of
rose-leaves
and
sweet
lavender
.
Such
,
with
its
illuminated
windows
,
softened
here
and
there
by
shadows
of
curtains
,
shining
out
upon
the
star-light
night
;
with
its
light
,
and
warmth
,
and
comfort
;
with
its
hospitable
jingle
,
at
a
distance
,
of
preparations
for
dinner
;
with
the
face
of
its
generous
master
brightening
everything
we
saw
;
and
just
wind
enough
without
to
sound
a
low
accompaniment
to
everything
we
heard
;
were
our
first
impressions
of
Bleak
House
.
“
I
am
glad
you
like
it
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
when
he
had
brought
us
round
again
to
Ada
's
sitting-room
.
“
It
makes
no
pretensions
;
but
it
is
a
comfortable
little
place
,
I
hope
,
and
will
be
more
so
with
such
bright
young
looks
in
it
.
You
have
barely
half
an
hour
before
dinner
.
There
's
no
one
here
but
the
finest
creature
upon
earth
—
a
child
.
”
“
More
children
,
Esther
!
”
said
Ada
.
“
I
do
n't
mean
literally
a
child
,
”
pursued
Mr.
Jarndyce
;
“
not
a
child
in
years
.
He
is
grown
up
—
he
is
at
least
as
old
as
I
am
—
but
in
simplicity
,
and
freshness
,
and
enthusiasm
,
and
a
fine
guileless
inaptitude
for
all
worldly
affairs
,
he
is
a
perfect
child
.
”
We
felt
that
he
must
be
very
interesting
.
“
He
knows
Mrs.
Jellyby
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
He
is
a
musical
man
;
an
Amateur
,
but
might
have
been
a
Professional
.
He
is
an
Artist
,
too
;
an
Amateur
,
but
might
have
been
a
Professional
.
He
is
a
man
of
attainments
and
of
captivating
manners
.
He
has
been
unfortunate
in
his
affairs
,
and
unfortunate
in
his
pursuits
,
and
unfortunate
in
his
family
;
but
he
do
n't
care
—
he
's
a
child
!
”
“
Did
you
imply
that
he
has
children
of
his
own
,
sir
?
”
inquired
Richard
.
“
Yes
,
Rick
!
Half-a-dozen
.
More
!
Nearer
a
dozen
,
I
should
think
.
But
he
has
never
looked
after
them
.
How
could
he
?
He
wanted
somebody
to
look
after
him
.
He
is
a
child
,
you
know
!
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
And
have
the
children
looked
after
themselves
at
all
,
sir
?
”
inquired
Richard
.
“
Why
,
just
as
you
may
suppose
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
:
his
countenance
suddenly
falling
.
“
It
is
said
that
the
children
of
the
very
poor
are
not
brought
up
,
but
dragged
up
.
Harold
Skimpole
's
children
have
tumbled
up
somehow
or
other
.
—
The
wind
's
getting
round
again
,
I
am
afraid
.
I
feel
it
rather
!
”
Richard
observed
that
the
situation
was
exposed
on
a
sharp
night
.
“
It
is
exposed
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
.
“
No
doubt
that
's
the
cause
.
Bleak
House
has
an
exposed
sound
.
But
you
are
coming
my
way
.
Come
along
!
”
Our
luggage
having
arrived
,
and
being
all
at
hand
,
I
was
dressed
in
a
few
minutes
,
and
engaged
in
putting
my
worldly
goods
away
,
when
a
maid
(
not
the
one
in
attendance
upon
Ada
,
but
another
whom
I
had
not
seen
)
brought
a
basket
into
my
room
,
with
two
bunches
of
keys
in
it
,
all
labelled
.
“
For
you
,
miss
,
if
you
please
,
”
said
she
.
“
For
me
?
”
said
I
.
“
The
housekeeping
keys
,
miss.
”
I
showed
my
surprise
;
for
she
added
,
with
some
little
surprise
on
her
own
part
:
“
I
was
told
to
bring
them
as
soon
as
you
was
alone
,
miss.
Miss
Summerson
,
if
I
do
n't
deceive
myself
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
I
.
“
That
is
my
name
.
”
“
The
large
bunch
is
the
housekeeping
,
and
the
little
bunch
is
the
cellars
,
miss.
Any
time
you
was
pleased
to
appoint
to-morrow
morning
,
I
was
to
show
you
the
presses
and
things
they
belong
to.’
I
said
I
would
be
ready
at
half-past
six
;
and
,
after
she
was
gone
,
stood
looking
at
the
basket
,
quite
lost
in
the
magnitude
of
my
trust
.
Ada
found
me
thus
;
and
had
such
a
delightful
confidence
in
me
when
I
showed
her
the
keys
,
and
told
her
about
them
,
that
it
would
have
been
insensibility
and
ingratitude
not
to
feel
encouraged
.
I
knew
,
to
be
sure
,
that
it
was
the
dear
girl
's
kindness
;
but
I
liked
to
be
so
pleasantly
cheated
.
When
we
went
down
stairs
,
we
were
presented
to
Mr.
Skimpole
,
who
was
standing
before
the
fire
,
telling
Richard
how
fond
he
used
to
be
,
in
his
school-time
,
of
football
.
He
was
a
little
bright
creature
,
with
a
rather
large
head
;
but
a
delicate
face
,
and
a
sweet
voice
,
and
there
was
a
perfect
charm
in
him
.
All
he
said
was
so
free
from
effort
and
spontaneous
,
and
was
said
with
such
a
captivating
gaiety
,
that
it
was
fascinating
to
hear
him
talk
.
Being
of
a
more
slender
figure
than
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
and
having
a
richer
complexion
,
with
browner
hair
,
he
looked
younger
.
Indeed
,
he
had
more
the
appearance
,
in
all
respects
,
of
a
damaged
young
man
,
than
a
well-preserved
elderly
one
.
There
was
an
easy
negligence
in
his
manner
,
and
even
in
his
dress
(
his
hair
carelessly
disposed
,
and
his
neck-kerchief
loose
and
flowing
,
as
I
have
seen
artists
paint
their
own
portraits
)
,
which
I
could
not
separate
from
the
idea
of
a
romantic
youth
who
had
undergone
some
unique
process
of
depreciation
.
It
struck
me
as
being
not
at
all
like
the
manner
or
appearance
of
a
man
who
had
advanced
in
life
,
by
the
usual
road
of
years
,
cares
,
and
experiences
.
I
gathered
from
the
conversation
,
that
Mr.
Skimpole
had
been
educated
for
the
medical
profession
,
and
had
once
lived
,
in
his
professional
capacity
,
in
the
household
of
a
German
prince
.
He
told
us
,
however
,
that
as
he
had
always
been
a
mere
child
in
point
of
weights
and
measures
,
and
had
never
known
anything
about
them
(
except
that
they
disgusted
him
)
,
he
had
never
been
able
to
prescribe
with
the
requisite
accuracy
of
detail
.
In
fact
,
he
said
,
he
had
no
head
for
detail
.
And
he
told
us
,
with
great
humour
,
that
when
he
was
wanted
to
bleed
the
prince
,
or
physic
any
of
his
people
,
he
was
generally
found
lying
on
his
back
in
bed
,
reading
the
newspapers
,
or
making
fancy-sketches
in
pencil
,
and
could
n't
come
.
The
prince
,
at
last
,
objecting
to
this
,
“
in
which
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
in
the
frankest
manner
,
“
he
was
perfectly
right
,
”
the
engagement
terminated
;
and
Mr.
Skimpole
having
(
as
he
added
with
delightful
gaiety
)
“
nothing
to
live
upon
but
love
,
fell
in
love
,
and
married
,
and
surrounded
himself
with
rosy
cheeks
.
”
His
good
friend
Jarndyce
and
some
other
of
his
good
friends
then
helped
him
,
in
quicker
or
slower
succession
,
to
several
openings
in
life
;
but
to
no
purpose
,
for
he
must
confess
to
two
of
the
oddest
infirmities
in
the
world
:
one
was
,
that
he
had
no
idea
of
time
;
the
other
,
that
he
had
no
idea
of
money
.
In
consequence
of
which
,
he
never
kept
an
appointment
,
never
could
transact
any
business
,
and
never
knew
the
value
of
anything
!
Well
!
So
he
had
got
on
in
life
,
and
here
he
was
!
He
was
very
fond
of
reading
the
papers
,
very
fond
of
making
fancy-sketches
with
a
pencil
,
very
fond
of
nature
,
very
fond
of
art
.
All
he
asked
of
society
was
,
to
let
him
live
.
That
was
n't
much
.
His
wants
were
few
.
Give
him
the
papers
,
conversation
,
music
,
mutton
,
coffee
,
landscape
,
fruit
in
the
season
,
a
few
sheets
of
Bristol-board
,
and
a
little
claret
,
and
he
asked
no
more
.
He
was
a
mere
child
in
the
world
,
but
he
did
n't
cry
for
the
moon
.
He
said
to
the
world
,
“
Go
your
several
ways
in
peace
!
Wear
red
coats
,
blue
coats
,
lawn-sleeves
,
put
pens
behind
your
ears
,
wear
aprons
;
go
after
glory
,
holiness
,
commerce
,
trade
,
any
object
you
prefer
;
only
—
let
Harold
Skimpole
live
!
”
All
this
,
and
a
great
deal
more
,
he
told
us
,
not
only
with
the
utmost
brilliancy
and
enjoyment
,
but
with
a
certain
vivacious
candor
—
speaking
of
himself
as
if
he
were
not
at
all
his
own
affair
,
as
if
Skimpole
were
a
third
person
,
as
if
he
knew
that
Skimpole
had
his
singularities
,
but
still
had
his
claims
too
,
which
were
the
general
business
of
the
community
and
must
not
be
slighted
.
He
was
quite
enchanting
.
If
I
felt
at
all
confused
at
that
early
time
,
in
endeavouring
to
reconcile
anything
he
said
with
anything
I
had
thought
about
the
duties
and
accountabilities
of
life
(
which
I
am
far
from
sure
of
)
,
I
was
confused
by
not
exactly
understanding
why
he
was
free
of
them
.
That
he
was
free
of
them
,
I
scarcely
doubted
;
he
was
so
very
clear
about
it
himself
.
“
I
covet
nothing
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
in
the
same
light
way
.
“
Possession
is
nothing
to
me
.
Here
is
my
friend
Jarndyce
's
excellent
house
.
I
feel
obliged
to
him
for
possessing
it
.
I
can
sketch
it
,
and
alter
it
.
I
can
set
it
to
music
.
When
I
am
here
,
I
have
sufficient
possession
of
it
,
and
have
neither
trouble
,
cost
,
nor
responsibility
.
My
steward
's
name
,
in
short
,
is
Jarndyce
,
and
he
ca
n't
cheat
me
.
We
have
been
mentioning
Mrs.
Jellyby
.
There
is
a
bright-eyed
woman
,
of
a
strong
will
and
immense
power
of
business-detail
,
who
throws
herself
into
objects
with
surprising
ardor
!
I
do
n't
regret
that
I
have
not
a
strong
will
and
an
immense
power
of
business-detail
,
to
throw
myself
into
objects
with
surprising
ardor
.
I
can
admire
her
without
envy
.
I
can
sympathise
with
the
objects
.
I
can
dream
of
them
.
I
can
lie
down
on
the
grass
—
in
fine
weather
—
and
float
along
an
African
river
,
embracing
all
the
natives
I
meet
,
as
sensible
of
the
deep
silence
,
and
sketching
the
dense
over-hanging
tropical
growth
as
accurately
,
as
if
I
were
there
.
I
do
n't
know
that
it
's
of
any
direct
use
my
doing
so
,
but
it
's
all
I
can
do
,
and
I
do
it
thoroughly
.
Then
,
for
heaven
's
sake
,
having
Harold
Skimpole
,
a
confiding
child
,
petitioning
you
,
the
world
,
an
agglomeration
of
practical
people
of
business
habits
,
to
let
him
live
and
admire
the
human
family
,
do
it
somehow
or
other
,
like
good
souls
,
and
suffer
him
to
ride
his
rocking
horse
!
”
It
was
plain
enough
that
Mr.
Jarndyce
had
not
been
neglectful
of
the
adjuration
.
Mr.
Skimpole
's
general
position
there
would
have
rendered
it
so
,
without
the
addition
of
what
he
presently
said
.
“
It
's
only
you
,
the
generous
creatures
,
whom
I
envy
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
addressing
us
,
his
new
friends
,
in
an
impersonal
manner
.
“
I
envy
you
your
power
of
doing
what
you
do
.
It
is
what
I
should
revel
in
,
myself
.
I
do
n't
feel
any
vulgar
gratitude
to
you
.
I
almost
feel
as
if
you
ought
to
be
grateful
to
me
,
for
giving
you
the
opportunity
of
enjoying
the
luxury
of
generosity
.
I
know
you
like
it
.
For
anything
I
can
tell
,
I
may
have
come
into
the
world
expressly
for
the
purpose
of
increasing
your
stock
of
happiness
.
I
may
have
been
born
to
be
a
benefactor
to
you
,
by
sometimes
giving
you
an
opportunity
of
assisting
me
in
my
little
perplexities
.
Why
should
I
regret
my
incapacity
for
details
and
worldly
affairs
,
when
it
leads
to
such
pleasant
consequences
?
I
do
n't
regret
it
therefore
.
”
Of
all
his
playful
speeches
(
playful
,
yet
always
fully
meaning
what
they
expressed
)
none
seemed
to
be
more
to
the
taste
of
Mr.
Jarndyce
than
this
.
I
had
often
new
temptations
,
afterwards
,
to
wonder
whether
it
was
really
singular
,
or
only
singular
to
me
,
that
he
,
who
was
probably
the
most
grateful
of
mankind
upon
the
least
occasion
,
should
so
desire
to
escape
the
gratitude
of
others
.
We
were
all
enchanted
.
I
felt
it
a
merited
tribute
to
the
engaging
qualities
of
Ada
and
Richard
,
that
Mr.
Skimpole
,
seeing
them
for
the
first
time
,
should
be
so
unreserved
,
and
should
lay
himself
out
to
be
so
exquisitely
agreeable
.
They
(
and
especially
Richard
)
were
naturally
pleased
for
similar
reasons
,
and
considered
it
no
common
privilege
to
be
so
freely
confided
in
by
such
an
attractive
man
.
The
more
we
listened
,
the
more
gaily
Mr.
Skimpole
talked
.
And
what
with
his
fine
hilarious
manner
,
and
his
engaging
candor
,
and
his
genial
way
of
lightly
tossing
his
own
weaknesses
about
,
as
if
he
had
said
,
“
I
am
a
child
,
you
know
!
You
are
designing
people
compared
with
me
;
”
(
he
really
made
me
consider
myself
in
that
light
)
;
“
but
I
am
gay
and
innocent
;
forget
your
worldly
arts
and
play
with
me
!
”
—
the
effect
was
absolutely
dazzling
.
He
was
so
full
of
feeling
too
,
and
had
such
a
delicate
sentiment
for
what
was
beautiful
or
tender
,
that
he
could
have
won
a
heart
by
that
alone
.
In
the
evening
when
I
was
preparing
to
make
tea
,
and
Ada
was
touching
the
piano
in
the
adjoining
room
and
softly
humming
a
tune
to
her
cousin
Richard
,
which
they
had
happened
to
mention
,
he
came
and
sat
down
on
the
sofa
near
me
,
and
so
spoke
of
Ada
that
I
almost
loved
him
.
“
She
is
like
the
morning
,
”
he
said
.
“
With
that
golden
hair
,
those
blue
eyes
,
and
that
fresh
bloom
on
her
cheek
,
she
is
like
the
summer
morning
.
The
birds
here
will
mistake
her
for
it
.
We
will
not
call
such
a
lovely
young
creature
as
that
,
who
is
a
joy
to
all
mankind
,
an
orphan
.
She
is
the
child
of
the
universe
.
”
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
I
found
,
was
standing
near
us
,
with
his
hands
behind
him
,
and
an
attentive
smile
upon
his
face
.
“
The
universe
,
”
he
observed
,
“
makes
rather
an
indifferent
parent
,
I
am
afraid
.
”
“
O
!
I
do
n't
know
!
”
cried
Mr.
Skimpole
,
buoyantly
.
“
I
think
I
do
know
,
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyee
.
“
Well
!
”
cried
Mr.
Skimpole
,
“
you
know
the
world
(
which
in
your
sense
is
the
universe
)
,
and
I
know
nothing
of
it
,
so
you
shall
have
your
way
.
But
if
I
had
mine
,
”
glancing
at
the
cousins
,
“
there
should
be
no
brambles
of
sordid
realities
in
such
a
path
as
that
.
It
should
be
strewn
with
roses
;
it
should
lie
through
bowers
,
where
there
was
no
spring
,
autumn
,
nor
winter
,
but
perpetual
summer
.
Age
or
change
should
never
wither
it
.
The
base
word
money
should
never
be
breathed
near
it
!
”
Mr.
Jarndyee
patted
him
on
the
head
with
a
smile
,
as
if
he
had
been
really
a
child
;
and
passing
a
step
or
two
on
,
and
stopping
a
moment
,
glanced
at
the
young
cousins
.
His
look
was
thoughtful
,
but
had
a
benignant
expression
in
it
which
I
often
(
how
often
!
)
saw
again
:
which
has
long
been
engraven
on
my
heart
.
The
room
in
which
they
were
,
communicating
with
that
in
which
he
stood
,
was
only
lighted
by
the
fire
.
Ada
sat
at
the
piano
;
Richard
stood
beside
her
,
bending
down
.
Upon
the
wall
,
their
shadows
blended
together
,
surrounded
by
strange
forms
,
not
without
a
ghostly
motion
caught
from
the
unsteady
fire
,
though
reflected
from
motionless
objects
.
Ada
touched
the
notes
so
softly
,
and
sang
so
low
,
that
the
wind
,
sighing
away
to
the
distant
hills
,
was
as
audible
as
the
music
.
The
mystery
of
the
future
,
and
the
little
clue
afforded
to
it
by
the
voice
of
the
present
,
seemed
expressed
in
the
whole
picture
.
But
it
is
not
to
recal
this
fancy
,
well
as
I
remember
it
,
that
I
recal
the
scene
.
First
,
I
was
not
quite
unconscious
of
the
contrast
,
in
respect
of
meaning
and
intention
,
between
the
silent
look
directed
that
way
,
and
the
flow
of
words
that
had
preceded
it
.
Secondly
,
though
Mr.
Jarndyce
's
glance
,
as
he
withdrew
it
,
rested
for
but
a
moment
on
me
,
I
felt
as
if
,
in
that
moment
,
he
confided
to
me
—
and
knew
that
he
confided
to
me
,
and
that
I
received
the
confidence
—
his
hope
that
Ada
and
Richard
might
one
day
enter
on
a
dearer
relationship
.
Mr.
Skimpole
could
play
on
the
piano
,
and
the
violoncello
;
and
he
was
a
composer
—
had
composed
half
an
opera
once
,
but
got
tired
of
it
—
and
played
what
he
composed
,
with
taste
.
After
tea
we
had
quite
a
little
concert
,
in
which
Richard
—
who
was
enthralled
by
Ada
's
singing
,
and
told
me
that
she
seemed
to
know
all
the
songs
that
ever
were
written
—
and
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
and
I
,
were
the
audience
.
After
a
little
while
I
missed
,
first
Mr.
Skimpole
,
and
afterwards
Richard
;
and
while
I
was
thinking
how
could
Richard
stay
away
so
long
,
and
lose
so
much
,
the
maid
who
had
given
me
the
keys
looked
in
at
the
door
,
saying
,
“
If
you
please
,
miss
,
could
you
spare
a
minute
?
”
When
I
was
shut
out
with
her
in
the
hall
,
she
said
,
holding
up
her
hands
,
“
Oh
if
you
please
,
miss
,
Mr.
Carstone
says
would
you
come
upstairs
to
Mr.
Skimpole
's
room
.
He
has
been
took
,
miss
!
”
“
Took
?
”
said
I
.
“
Took
,
miss.
Sudden
,
”
said
the
maid
.
I
was
apprehensive
that
his
illness
might
be
of
a
dangerous
kind
;
but
of
course
,
I
begged
her
to
be
quiet
and
not
disturb
any
one
;
and
collected
myself
,
as
I
followed
her
quickly
upstairs
,
sufficiently
to
consider
what
were
the
best
remedies
to
be
applied
if
it
should
prove
to
be
a
fit
.
She
threw
open
a
door
,
and
I
went
into
a
chamber
;
where
,
to
my
unspeakable
surprise
,
instead
of
finding
Mr.
Skimpole
stretched
upon
the
bed
,
or
prostrate
on
the
floor
,
I
found
him
standing
before
the
fire
smiling
at
Richard
,
while
Richard
,
with
a
face
of
great
embarrassment
,
looked
at
a
person
on
a
sofa
,
in
a
white
great
coat
,
with
smooth
hair
upon
his
head
and
not
much
of
it
,
which
he
was
wiping
smoother
,
and
making
less
of
,
with
a
pocket-handkerchief
.
“
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Richard
,
hurriedly
,
“
I
am
glad
you
are
come
.
You
will
be
able
to
advise
us
.
Our
friend
,
Mr.
Skimpole
—
do
n't
be
alarmed
!
—
is
arrested
for
debt
.
”
“
And
,
really
,
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
with
his
agreeable
candor
,
“
I
never
was
in
a
situation
,
in
which
that
excellent
sense
,
and
quiet
habit
of
method
and
usefulness
,
which
anybody
must
observe
in
you
who
has
the
happiness
of
being
a
quarter
of
an
hour
in
your
society
,
was
more
needed
.
”
The
person
on
the
sofa
,
who
appeared
to
have
a
cold
in
his
head
,
gave
such
a
very
loud
snort
,
that
he
startled
me
.
“
Are
you
arrested
for
much
,
sir
?
”
I
inquired
of
Mr.
Skimpole
.
“
My
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
he
,
shaking
his
head
pleasantly
,
“
I
do
n't
know
.
Some
pounds
,
odd
shillings
,
and
halfpence
,
I
think
,
were
mentioned
.
“
It
's
twenty-four
pound
,
sixteen
,
and
sevenpence
ha'penny
,
”
observed
the
stranger
.
“
That
's
wot
it
is
.
”
“
And
it
sounds
—
somehow
it
sounds
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
“
like
a
small
sum
?
”
The
strange
man
said
nothing
,
but
made
another
snort
.
It
was
such
a
powerful
one
,
that
it
seemed
quite
to
lift
him
up
out
of
his
seat
.
“
Mr.
Skimpole
,
”
said
Richard
to
me
,
“
has
a
delicacy
in
applying
to
my
cousin
Jarndyce
,
because
he
has
lately
—
I
think
,
sir
,
I
understood
you
that
you
had
lately
—
”
“
Oh
,
yes
!
”
returned
Mr.
Skimpole
,
smiling
.
“
Though
I
forgot
how
much
it
was
,
and
when
it
was
.
Jarndyce
would
readily
do
it
again
;
but
I
have
the
epicure-like
feeling
that
I
would
prefer
a
novelty
in
help
;
that
I
would
rather
,
”
and
he
looked
at
Richard
and
me
,
“
develop
generosity
in
a
new
soil
,
and
in
a
new
form
of
flower
.
”
“
What
do
you
think
will
be
best
,
Miss
Summerson
?
”
said
Richard
,
aside
.
I
ventured
to
enquire
generally
,
before
replying
,
what
would
happen
if
the
money
were
not
produced
.
“
Jail
,
”
said
the
strange
man
,
coolly
putting
his
handkerchief
into
his
hat
,
which
was
on
the
floor
at
his
feet
.
“
Or
Coavinses
.
”
“
May
I
ask
,
sir
,
what
is
—
”
“
Coavinses
?
”
said
the
strange
man
.
“
A
ouse
.
”
Richard
and
I
looked
at
one
another
again
.
It
was
a
most
singular
thing
that
the
arrest
was
our
embarrassment
,
and
not
Mr.
Skimpole
's
.
He
observed
us
with
a
genial
interest
;
but
there
seemed
,
if
I
may
venture
on
such
a
contradiction
,
nothing
selfish
in
it
.
He
had
entirely
washed
his
hands
of
the
difficulty
,
and
it
had
become
ours
.
“
I
thought
,
”
he
suggested
,
as
if
good-naturedly
to
help
us
out
,
“
that
,
being
parties
in
a
Chancery
suit
concerning
(
as
people
say
)
a
large
amount
of
property
,
Mr.
Richard
,
or
his
beautiful
cousin
,
or
both
,
could
sign
something
,
or
make
over
something
,
or
give
some
sort
of
undertaking
,
or
pledge
,
or
bond
?
I
do
n't
know
what
the
business
name
of
it
may
be
,
but
I
suppose
there
is
some
instrument
within
their
power
that
would
settle
this
?
”
“
Not
a
bit
on
it
,
”
said
the
strange
man
.
“
Really
?
”
returned
Mr.
Skimpole
.
“
That
seems
odd
,
now
,
to
one
who
is
no
judge
of
these
things
!
”
“
Odd
or
even
,
”
said
the
stranger
,
gruffly
,
“
I
tell
you
,
not
a
bit
on
it
!
”
“
Keep
your
temper
,
my
good
fellow
,
keep
your
temper
!
”
Mr.
Skimpole
gently
reasoned
with
him
,
as
he
made
a
little
drawing
of
his
head
on
the
fly-leaf
of
a
book
.
“
Do
n't
be
ruffled
by
your
occupation
.
We
can
separate
you
from
your
office
;
we
can
separate
the
individual
from
the
pursuit
.
We
are
not
so
prejudiced
as
to
suppose
that
in
private
life
you
are
otherwise
than
a
very
estimable
man
,
with
a
great
deal
of
poetry
in
your
nature
,
of
which
you
may
not
be
conscious
.
”
The
stranger
only
answered
with
another
violent
snort
;
whether
in
acceptance
of
the
poetry-tribute
,
or
in
disdainful
rejection
of
it
,
he
did
not
express
to
me
.
“
Now
,
my
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
and
my
dear
Mr.
Richard
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
gaily
,
innocently
,
and
confidingly
,
as
he
looked
at
his
drawing
with
his
head
on
one
side
;
“
here
you
see
me
utterly
incapable
of
helping
myself
,
and
entirely
in
your
hands
!
I
only
ask
to
be
free
.
The
butterflies
are
free
.
Mankind
will
surely
not
deny
to
Harold
Skimpole
what
it
concedes
to
the
butterflies
!
”
“
My
dear
Miss
Summerson
,
”
said
Richard
,
in
a
whisper
,
“
I
have
ten
pounds
that
I
received
from
Mr.
Kenge
.
I
must
try
what
that
will
do
.
”
I
possessed
fifteen
pounds
,
odd
shillings
,
which
I
had
saved
from
my
quarterly
allowance
during
several
years
.
I
had
always
thought
that
some
accident
might
happen
which
would
throw
me
,
suddenly
,
without
any
relation
or
any
property
,
on
the
world
;
and
had
always
tried
to
keep
some
little
money
by
me
,
that
I
might
not
be
quite
penniless
.
I
told
Richard
of
my
having
this
little
store
,
and
having
no
present
need
of
it
;
and
I
asked
him
delicately
to
inform
Mr.
Skimpole
,
while
I
should
be
gone
to
fetch
it
,
that
we
would
have
the
pleasure
of
paying
his
debt
.
When
I
came
back
,
Mr.
Skimpole
kissed
my
hand
,
and
seemed
quite
touched
.
Not
on
his
own
account
(
I
was
again
aware
of
that
perplexing
and
extraordinary
contradiction
)
,
but
on
ours
;
as
if
personal
considerations
were
impossible
with
him
,
and
the
contemplation
of
our
happiness
alone
affected
him
.
Richard
,
begging
me
,
for
the
greater
grace
of
the
transaction
,
as
he
said
,
to
settle
with
Coavinses
(
as
Mr.
Skimpole
now
jocularly
called
him
)
,
I
counted
out
the
money
and
received
the
necessary
acknowledgment
.
This
,
too
,
delighted
Mr.
Skimpole
.
His
compliments
were
so
delicately
administered
,
that
I
blushed
less
than
I
might
have
done
;
and
settled
with
the
stranger
in
the
white
coat
,
without
making
any
mistakes
.
He
put
the
money
in
his
pocket
,
and
shortly
said
,
“
Well
then
,
I
'll
wish
you
a
good
evening
,
miss.
”
“
My
friend
,
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
standing
with
his
back
to
the
fire
,
after
giving
up
the
sketch
when
it
was
half
finished
,
“
I
should
like
to
ask
you
something
,
without
offence
.
”
I
think
the
reply
was
,
“
Cut
away
,
then
!
”
“
Did
you
know
this
morning
,
now
,
that
you
were
coming
out
on
this
errand
?
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
.
“
Know
'd
it
yes'day
aft'noon
at
tea
time
,
”
said
Coavinses
.
“
It
did
n't
affect
your
appetite
?
Did
n't
make
you
at
all
uneasy
?
”
“
Not
a
bit
,
”
said
Coavinses
.
“
I
know
'd
if
you
wos
missed
to-day
,
you
would
n't
be
missed
to-morrow
.
A
day
makes
no
such
odds
.
”
“
But
when
you
came
down
here
,
”
proceeded
Mr.
Skimpole
,
“
it
was
a
fine
day
.
The
sun
was
shining
,
the
wind
was
blowing
,
the
lights
and
shadows
were
passing
across
the
fields
,
the
birds
were
singing
.
”
“
Nobody
said
they
war
n't
,
in
my
hearing
,
”
returned
Coavinses
.
“
No
,
”
observed
Mr.
Skimpole
.
“
But
what
did
you
think
upon
the
road
?
”
“
Wot
do
you
mean
?
”
growled
Coavinses
,
with
an
appearance
of
strong
resentment
.
“
Think
!
I
've
got
enough
to
do
,
and
little
enough
to
get
for
it
,
without
thinking
.
Thinking
!
”
(
with
profound
contempt
.
)
“
Then
you
did
n't
think
,
at
all
events
,
”
proceeded
Mr.
Skimpole
,
“
to
this
effect
.
‘Harold
Skimpole
loves
to
see
the
sun
shine
;
loves
to
hear
the
wind
blow
;
loves
to
watch
the
changing
lights
and
shadows
;
loves
to
hear
the
birds
,
those
choristers
in
Nature
's
great
cathedral
.
And
does
it
seem
to
me
that
I
am
about
to
deprive
Harold
Skimpole
of
his
share
in
such
possessions
,
which
are
his
only
birthright
!
’
You
thought
nothing
to
that
effect
?
”
“
I
—
certainly
—
did
—
NOT
,
”
said
Coavinses
,
whose
doggedness
in
utterly
renouncing
the
idea
was
of
that
intense
kind
,
that
he
could
only
give
adequate
expression
to
it
by
putting
a
long
interval
between
each
word
,
and
accompanying
the
last
with
a
jerk
that
might
have
dislocated
his
neek
.
“
Very
odd
and
very
curious
,
the
mental
process
is
,
in
you
men
of
business
!
”
said
Mr.
Skimpole
,
thoughtfully
.
“
Thank
you
,
my
friend
,
Good
night
.
”
As
our
absence
had
been
long
enough
already
to
seem
strange
down
stairs
,
I
returned
at
once
,
and
found
Ada
sitting
at
work
by
the
fireside
talking
to
her
cousin
John
.
Mr.
Skimpole
presently
appeared
,
and
Richard
shortly
after
him
.
I
was
sufficiently
engaged
,
during
the
remainder
of
the
evening
,
in
taking
my
first
lesson
in
backgammon
from
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
who
was
very
fond
of
the
game
,
and
from
whom
I
wished
of
course
to
learn
it
as
quickly
as
I
could
,
in
order
that
I
might
be
of
the
very
small
use
of
being
able
to
play
when
he
had
no
better
adversary
.
But
I
thought
,
occasionally
when
Mr.
Skimpole
played
some
fragments
of
his
own
compositions
;
or
when
,
both
at
the
piano
and
the
violoncello
,
and
at
our
table
,
he
preserved
,
with
an
absence
of
all
effort
,
his
delightful
spirits
and
his
easy
flow
of
conversation
;
that
Richard
and
I
seemed
to
retain
the
transferred
impression
of
having
been
arrested
since
dinner
,
and
that
it
was
very
curious
altogether
.
It
was
late
before
we
separated
:
for
when
Ada
was
going
at
eleven
o'clock
,
Mr.
Skimpole
went
to
the
piano
,
and
rattled
,
hilariously
,
that
the
best
of
all
ways
,
to
lengthen
our
days
,
was
to
steal
a
few
hours
from
Night
,
my
dear
!
It
was
past
twelve
before
he
took
his
candle
and
his
radiant
face
out
of
the
room
;
and
I
think
he
might
have
kept
us
there
,
if
he
had
seen
fit
,
until
daybreak
.
Ada
and
Richard
were
lingering
for
a
few
moments
by
the
fire
,
wondering
whether
Mrs.
Jellyby
had
yet
finished
her
dictation
for
the
day
,
when
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
who
had
been
out
of
the
room
,
returned
.
“
Oh
,
dear
me
,
what
's
this
,
what
's
this
!
”
he
said
,
rubbing
his
head
and
walking
about
with
his
good-humoured
vexation
.
“
What
's
this
they
tell
me
?
Rick
,
my
boy
,
Esther
,
my
dear
,
what
have
you
been
doing
?
Why
did
you
do
it
?
How
could
you
do
it
?
How
much
apiece
was
it
?
—
The
wind
's
round
again
.
I
feel
it
all
over
me
!
”
We
neither
of
us
quite
knew
what
to
answer
.
“
Come
,
Rick
,
come
!
I
must
settle
this
before
I
sleep
.
How
much
are
you
out
of
pocket
?
You
two
made
the
money
up
,
you
know
!
Why
did
you
?
How
could
you
?
—
O
Lord
,
yes
,
it
's
due
east
—
must
be
!
”
“
Really
,
sir
,
”
said
Richard
,
“
I
do
n't
think
it
would
be
honorable
in
me
to
tell
you
.
Mr.
Skimpole
relied
upon
us
—
”
“
Lord
bless
you
,
my
dear
boy
!
He
relies
upon
everybody
!
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
giving
his
head
a
great
rub
,
and
stopping
short
.
“
Indeed
,
sir
?
”
“
Everybody
!
And
he
'll
be
in
the
same
scrape
again
,
next
week
!
”
said
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
walking
again
at
a
great
pace
,
with
a
candle
in
his
hand
that
had
gone
out
.
“
He
's
always
in
the
same
scrape
.
He
was
born
in
the
same
scrape
.
I
verily
believe
that
the
announcement
in
the
newspapers
when
his
mother
was
confined
,
was
‘On
Tuesday
last
,
at
her
residence
in
Botheration
Buildings
,
Mrs.
Skimpole
of
a
son
in
difficulties.’
”
Richard
laughed
heartily
,
but
added
,
“
Still
,
sir
,
I
do
n't
want
to
shake
his
confidence
,
or
to
break
his
confidence
;
and
if
I
submit
to
your
better
knowledge
again
,
that
I
ought
to
keep
his
secret
,
I
hope
you
will
consider
before
you
press
me
any
more
.
Of
course
,
if
you
do
press
me
,
sir
,
I
shall
know
I
am
wrong
,
and
will
tell
you
.
”
“
Well
!
”
cried
Mr.
Jarndyce
,
stopping
again
,
