“No；” said I； as she seemed to wait for me。
“And it might lead to mistaken notions； you see； my dear。”
I supposed it might。
“Therefore I have told him； many times； that he really should
be more careful； both in justice to himself and in justice to others。
And he has always said； ‘Mother； I will be； but you know me better
than anybody else does； and you know I mean no harm—in short；
mean nothing。’ All of which is very true； my dear； but is no
justification。 However； as he is now gone so far away； and for an
indefinite time； and as he will have good opportunities and
introductions； we may consider this past and gone。 And you； my
dear；” said the old lady； who was now all nods and smiles；
“regarding your dear self； my love？”
“Me； Mrs Woodcourt？”
“Not to be always selfish； talking of my son； who has gone to
seek his fortune； and to find a wife—when do you mean to seek
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your fortune and to find a husband； Miss Summerson？ Hey； look
you！ Now you blush！”
I don’t think I did blush—at all events； it was not important if I
did—and I said； my present fortune perfectly contented me； and I
had no wish to change it。
“Shall I tell you what I always think of you； and the fortune yet
to come for you； my love？” said Mrs Woodcourt。
“If you believe you are a good prophet；” said I。
“Why； then； it is that you will marry some one； very rich and
very worthy； much older—five and twenty years； perhaps—than
yourself。 And you will be an excellent wife； and much beloved； and
very happy。”
“That is a good fortune；” said I。 “But； why is it to be mine？”
“My dear；” she returned； “there’s suitability in it—you are so
busy； and so neat； and so peculiarly situated altogether； that
there’s suitability in it； and it will come to pass。 And nobody； my
love； will congratulate you more sincerely on such a marriage than
I shall。”
It was curious that this should make me uncomfortable； but I
think it did。 I know it did。 It made me for some part of that night
quite uncomfortable。 I was so ashamed of my folly； that I did not
like to confess it even to Ada； and that made me more
uncomfortable still。 I would have given anything not to have been
so much in the bright old lady’s confidence； if I could have
possibly declined it。 It gave me the most inconsistent opinions of
her。 At one time I thought she was a storyteller； and at another
time that she was the pink of truth。 Now； I suspected that she was
very cunning； next moment； I believed her honest Welsh heart to
be perfectly innocent and simple。 And； after all； what did it matter
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to me； and why did it matter to me？ Why could not I； going up to
bed with my basket of keys； stop to sit down by her fire； and
accommodate myself for a little while to her； at least as well as to
anybody else； and not trouble myself about the harmless things
she said to me？ Impelled towards her； as I certainly was； for I was
very anxious that she should like me； and was very glad indeed
that she did； why should I harp afterwards； with actual distress
and pain； on every word she said； and weigh it over and over again
in twenty scales？ Why was it so worrying to me to have her in our
house； and confidential to me every night； when I yet felt that it
was better and safer； somehow； that she should be there than
anywhere else？ These were perplexities and contradictions that I
could not account for。 At least； if I could—but I shall come to all
that by…and…bye； and it is a mere idleness to go on about it now。
So； when Mrs Woodcourt went away； I was sorry to lose her；
but was relieved too。 And then Caddy Jellyby came down； and
Caddy brought such a packet of domestic news； that it gave us
abundant occupation。
First； Caddy declared （and would at first declare nothing else）
that I was the best adviser that ever was known。 This； my pet said；
was no news at all； and this； I said； of course； was nonsense。 Then
Caddy told us that she was going to be married in a month； and
that if Ada and I would be her bridesmaids； she was the happiest
girl in the world。 To be sure； this was news indeed； and I thought
we never should have done talking about it； we had so much to say
to Caddy； and Caddy had to much to say to us。
It seemed that Caddy’s unfortunate papa had got over his
bankruptcy—“gone through the Gazette；” was the expression
Caddy used； as if it were a tunnel；—with the general clemency and
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commiseration of his creditors； and had got rid of his affairs in
some blessed manner； without succeeding in understanding them；
and had given up everything he possessed （which was not worth
much I should think； to judge from the state of the furniture）； and
had satisfied every one concerned that he could do no more； poor
man。 So； he had been honourably dismissed to “the office；” to
begin the world again。 What he did at the office； I never knew：
Caddy said he was a “Custom…House and General Agent；” and the
only thing I ever understood about that business was； that when
he wanted money more than usual he went to the Docks to look
for it； and hardly ever found it。
As soon as her papa had tranquillised his mind by becoming
this shorn lamb； and they had removed to a furnished lodging in
Hatton Garden （where I found the children； when I afterwards
went there； cutting the horsehair out of the seats of the chairs； and
choking themselves with it）； Caddy had brought about a meeting
between him and old Mr Turveydrop； and poor Mr Jellyby； being
very humble and meek； had deferred to Mr Turveydrop’s
Deportment so submissively； that they had become excellent
friends。 By degrees； old Mr Turveydrop； thus familiarised with the
idea of his son’s marriage； had worked up his parental feelings to
the height of contemplating that event as being near at hand； and
had given his gracious consent to the young couple commencing
housekeeping at the Academy in Newman Street； when they
would。
“And your papa； Caddy。 What did he say？”
“O！ poor Pa；” said Caddy； “only cried； and said he hoped we
might get on better than he and Ma had got on。 He didn’t say so
before Prince； he only said so to me。 And he said； ‘My poor girl；
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you have not been very well taught how to make a home for your
husband； but unless you mean with all your heart to strive to do it；
you had better murder him than marry him—if you really love
him。’”
“And how did you reassure him； Caddy？”
“Why； it was very distressing； you know； to see poor Pa so low；
and hear him say such terrible things； and I couldn’t help crying
myself。 But I told him that I did mean it with all my heart； and that
I hoped our house would be a place for him to come and find some
comfort in； of an evening； and that I hoped and thought I could be
a better daughter to him there； than at home。 Then I mentioned
Peepy’s coming to stay with me； and then Pa began to cry again；
and said the children were Indians。”
“Indians； Caddy？”
“Yes；” said Caddy。 “Wild Indians。 And Pa said；”—（here she
began to sob； poor girl； not at all like the happiest girl in the
world）—“that he was sensible the best thing that could happen to
them was； their being all Tomahawked together。”
Ada suggested that it was comfortable to know that Mr Jellyby
did not mean these destructive sentiments。
“No； of course I know Pa wouldn’t like his family to be
weltering in their blood；” said Caddy； “but he means that they are
very unfortunate in being Ma’s children； and that he is very
unfortunate in being Ma’s husband； I am sure that’s true； though
it seems unnatural to say so。”
I asked Caddy if Mrs Jellyby knew that her wedding…day was
fixed。
“O！ you know what Ma is； Esther；” she returned。 “It’s
impossible to say whether she knows it or not。 She has been told it
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