Bleak House

hen I findmyself coming into the story again, I am really vexed and say,"Dear, dear, you tiresome little creature, I wish you wouldn't!"but it is all of no use. I hope any one who may

r days flew byus like bright-winged birds. Generally in the afternoons, andalways in the evenings, Richard gave us h

but I found them out quite soon. I could not say so, ofcourse, or show that I knew anything about it. On the contrary, Iwas so demure and

mice too, so faras any words were concerned, but the innocent manner in which theyrelied more and more upon me as t

r," Ada would say at night, with herhead upon my shoulder and the firelight shining in her thoughtfuleyes, "I don't want to talk when we come upstairs here. Only tosit a little while thinking, with your dear face for company, andto hear the wind and remember the poor sailors at sea--"Ah! Perhaps Richard was going to be a sailor. We had talked itover very often now, and there was some talk of gratifying theinclination of his childhood for the sea. Mr. Jarndyce had writtento a relation of the family, a grea

fthe Chancellor and keep him on short allowance until he gavejudgment in our cause. He'd find himself growing thin, if hedidn't look sharp!"With a buoyancy and hopefulness and a gaiety that hardly everflagged, Richard had a carelessness in his character that

s to me to retain my own part of it and hand therest to Richard. The number of little acts of thoughtlessexpenditure which Richard justified by th

wanted,without the least consideration, to bestow five pounds

""How was t

te content to get ridof and never expected to s

possession of ten pounds--""T

ntly I canafford to spend it without being particular."In exactly the same way, when he was persuaded out of the sacri

d brave, and in the midst of allhis wild restlessness, was so gentle that I knew him like a brotherin a few weeks. His gentleness was natural to him and would haveshown itself abundantly even without Ada's influence; but with it,he became one of the most winning of companions, always so ready tobe interested and always so happy, sanguine, and light-hearted. Iam sure that I, sittin

this way, when one m

? Aye, aye!" and opened and read it withevident pleasure, announcing to us in a pare

y we allthought too--I am sure I did, for one--would

th this fellow, Lawren

rld, and he is now the most impetuous man. He was then theloudest boy in the world, and he is now the loudest man. He wasthen the hearties

his stalwart chest squared,his hands like a clean blacksmith's, and his lungs! There's nosimile for his lungs. Talking, laughing, or snoring, they make thebeams of the ho

e fresh blood of the man, Rick--and Ada, andlittle Cobweb too, for you are all interest

emes, perpetually in t

mbeforehand. You must not be surprised to see him take me under hisprotection, for he has never forgotten that I was a low boy atschool and that our friendship began in his knocking two o

ht but the blaze when the hall-door suddenly burst openand the hall resounded with these words, uttered with the greatestvehemence and in a stentorian tone: "We have been misdirected,Jarndyce, by a most abandoned ruffian, who told us to take theturning to the right in

scoundrel has passed hiswhole existence in

telling me to take the turning to the right. And yet Istood before that fellow f

and cruelty ever set up as ascarecrow in a field of scoundrels. If I were to meet that mostunparalleled despot in the streets to-morrow, I would fell him likea rotten tree!""I have no doubt of it," said Mr. Jarndyce. "Now, will you comeupstairs?""By my soul, Jarndyce," returned his g

sideration. I wouldinfinitely rather destroy myself--infinitely rather!"Talking thus, they went upstairs, and presently we heard him in hisbedroom thundering "Ha, ha, ha!

ice,and in the roundness and fullness with which he uttered every wordhe spoke, and in the very fury of his superlatives, which

ht have subsided into a double chin but for the vehementemphasis in which it was constantly required to assist; but he wassuch a true gentleman in his manner, so chivalrously polite, hisface was lighted by a smile of so much sweetness and tenderness,and it seemed so plain that he had nothing to hide, but showedhims

hishead like a bloodhound and gave out that tremendous "Ha, ha,

arn

t, a phenomenon. And his father before him was one of themost astonishing birds that ever lived!"The subject of this laudation was a very little canary, who was sotame that he was brought down by Mr. Boythorn's man, on hisforefinger, and after taking a gentle flig

h a point atpresent," returned Mr. Jarndyce, laughing, "that it would begreatly advanced even by the legal process of shaking the bench andthe whole bar.""There never was such an infernal cauldron as that Chancery on theface of the earth!" said Mr. Boythorn. "Nothing but a mine belowit on a busy day in term time, with all its records, rules, andprecedents collected in it and every functionary belonging to italso, high and low, upward and downward, from its son theAccountant-General to its father the Devil, and the whole blown toatoms with ten thous

e. "You are not free from the toils ofthe law yourself!""The fellow has brought actions again

e that his name can be Sir Leicester. It must be SirLucifer.""Complimenta

ured by seeing in the fairface of the lady and the smile of the gentleman that it is quiteunnecessary a

lking-stick's! The whole of that family are themost solemnly conceited and consummate blockheads! But it's nomatter; he should not shut up my path if he were fifty baronetsmelted into one and living in a hundred Chesney Wolds, one withinanother, like the ivory balls in a Chi

t aportion of the park of chesney Wold, and that Sir Leicester fin

dlock's positions onevery possible subject and has to add, in reference to closing upthe pathway, that he will be glad to see the man who may undertaketo do it.' The fellow

ing ruffians. He brings actions for trespass; I bring actionsfor trespass. He brings actions for assault and battery; I defendthem and continue to assault and batter. Ha, ha, ha!"To hear him say all this with unimaginable energy, one might havethought him the angriest of mankind. To see him at the very sametime, looking at th

"no closing up of my

hundred years thick, may. A man who joined his regimentat twenty and within a week challenged the most imperious andpresumptuous coxcomb of a commanding officer that ever drew thebreath of life through a tigh

shoulder with an air of protection that had something serious

Clare and Miss Summerson for the length atwhich I have pursued so dry a subject--is the

been in town, and I thought some letters might havebeen sent down here. I dare say they will report progress to-morrow morning."I saw him so often in the course of the evening, which passed verypleasantly, contemplate Richard and Ada with an interest and asatisfaction that made his fine fac

"No.""But he mean

le at hazardingwhat was in my thoughts, "there is something so tender in hismanner, after all, and he is so very c

aid n

That time has had its influence on allhis later life. Would you suppose him to have a head and a heartfull of romance yet?""I think, guardia

o ask any further questions. I was interested, but notcurious. I thought a little while about this old love story in thenight, when I was awakened by Mr. Boythorn's lusty snoring; and Itried to do that very difficult thing, imagine old people youngagain and invested wit

the week on which I paid thebills, and added up my books, and made all the household affairs ascompact as possible, I remained at home while Mr. Jarndyce, Ada, andRichard

agreat bustle about it when Mr. Guppy was announced and shown in. Ihad had some idea that the clerk who was to be sent down might be

d ring on his littlefinger. Besides which, he quite scented the dining-room withbear's-grease and other perfumery. He looked at me with anattention that quite confused me when I begged him to take a seatuntil the servant should return;

for him when he came down, of which Mr. Jarndyce hoped he wouldpartake. He said with some embarrassment, holding the handle of thedoo

ted and then toleave him to himself. The lunch was soon brought, but it remainedfor some time on the table. The interview with Mr. Boythorn was along one, and a stormy one too, I

for theconference. "My eye, miss," he said in a low voice

feltquite sure without looking at him) in the same unusual manner. Thesharpening lasted so long that at last I felt a kind of obl

ooked at the dish

miss? You'll take a morsel ofsom

a piece of anything a

ly drinking off

can order for you?""No, I am much obliged to you, miss, I'm sure. I've everything thatI can require to make me co

ht I had

aw merise. "But would you allow me the favour of a minute's p

ce, miss?" said Mr. Guppy, anxious

and what you mean,

I, "to imagine what you can have tocommunicate in total confidence to me, whom you have never seen butonce; but I should be very sorry to do you any injury.""Thank you, miss. I'm sure of it--that's quite sufficient." Allthis time Mr. Guppy was either planing his forehead with hishandkerchief or tightly rubbi

me to offer you one, w

pparently

any,"

een, and had stood at that figure for alengthened period. A rise of five has since taken place, and afurther rise of five is guaranteed at the expiration of a term notexceeding twelve months from the present date.

, is all for peace, an

iry, open at the back,and considered one of the 'ealthiest outlets. Miss Summerson! Inthe mildest language, I adore you. Would you be so kind as to allowme (as I may say) to file a declaration--to make an offer!"Mr. Guppy went down on his kn

from the carpet directly and go and sit down at the tableas you ought to do

said I, "and entirely out of thequestion.""I am aware," said Mr. Guppy, leaning forward over the tray andregarding me, as I again strangely felt, though my eyes were notdirected to him, with his late intent look, "I am aware that in aworldly point of view, according to all appearances, my offer is apoor one. But, Miss Summerson! Angel! No, don't ring--I have beenbrought up in a sharp school and am accustomed to a variety ofgeneral practice. Though a young man, I have ferreted out evidence,got up

tribute to those charms when I put up the stepsof the 'ackney-coach. It was a feeble tribute to thee, but it waswell meant. Thy image has ever since been fixed in my breast. Ihave walked up and down of an evening oppos

notproud. I hope," I think I added, without very well knowing what Isaid, "that you will now go away as if you had never been soexceedingly foolish and attend to Messrs. Kenge and Carboy'sbusiness.""Half a minute, miss!" cried Mr. Guppy, checking me as I was aboutto ring. "This has been without prejudice?""I will never mention it," said I, "unless you should give me futureoccasion to do so.""A quarter of a minute, miss! In case you should think better atany time, however distant--THAT'S no consequen

hought I had quite dismissed this unexpected incident. But, whenI went upstairs to my own room, I surprised myself by beginning tolaugh about it and then surprised myself still more by beginning tocry