She was still standing by the bed； and now stooped down （but
still with the same discontented face） and kissed Ada。 That done；
she came softly back； and stood by the side of my chair。 Her bosom
was heaving in a distressful manner that I greatly pitied； but I
thought it better not to speak。
“I wish I was dead！” she broke out。 “I wish we were all dead。 It
would be a great deal better for us。”
In a moment afterwards； she knelt on the ground； at my side；
hid her face in my dress； passionately begged my pardon； and
wept。 I comforted her； and would have raised her； but she cried；
No； no； she wanted to stay there！
“You used to teach girls；” she said。 “If you could only have
taught me； I could have learnt from you！ I am so very miserable；
and I like you so much！”
I could not persuade her to sit by me； or to do anything but
move a ragged stool to where she was kneeling； and take that； and
still hold my dress in the same manner。 By degrees； the poor tired
girl fell asleep； and then I contrived to raise her head； so that it
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should rest on my lap； and to cover us both with shawls。 The fire
went out； and all night long she slumbered thus； before the ashy
grate。 At first I was painfully awake； and vainly tried to lose
myself； with my eyes closed； among the scenes of the day。 At
length； by slow degrees； they became indistinct and mingled。 I
began to lose the identity of the sleeper resting on me。 Now it was
Ada： now； one of my old Reading friends from whom I could not
believe I had so recently parted。 Now； it was the little mad woman
worn out with curtseying and smiling； now； some one in authority
at Bleak House。 Lastly； it was no one； and I was no one。
The purblind day was feebly struggling with the fog； when I
opened my eyes to encounter those of a dirty…faced little spectre
fixed upon me。 Peepy had scaled his crib； and crept down in his
bed…gown and cap； and was so cold that his teeth were chattering
as if he had cut them all。
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Chapter 5
A Morning Adventure
lthough the morning was raw； and although the fog still
Aseemed heavy—I say seemed； for the windows were so
encrusted with dirt； that they would have made
Midsummer sunshine dim—I was sufficiently forewarned of the
discomfort within doors at that early hour； and sufficiently curious
about London； to think it a good idea on the part of Miss Jellyby
when she proposed that we should go out for a walk。
“Ma won’t be down for ever so long；” she said； “and then it’s a
chance if breakfast’s ready for an hour afterwards； they dawdle so。
As to Pa； he gets what he can； and goes to the office。 He never has
what you would call a regular breakfast。 Priscilla leaves him out
the loaf and some milk； when there is any； over night。 Sometimes
there isn’t any milk； and sometimes the cat drinks it。 But I’m
afraid you must be tired； Miss Summerson； and perhaps you
would rather go to bed。”
“I am not at all tired； my dear；” said I； “and would much prefer
to go out。”
“If you’re sure you would；” returned Miss Jellyby； “I’ll get my
things on。”
Ada said she would go too； and was soon astir。 I made a
proposal to Peepy； in default of being able to do anything better
for him； that he should let me wash him； and afterwards lay him
down on my bed again。 To this he submitted with the best grace
possible； staring at me during the whole operation； as if he never
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had been； and never could again be； so astonished in his life—
looking very miserable also； certainly； but making no complaint；
and going snugly to sleep as soon as it was over。 At first I was in
two minds about taking such a liberty； but I soon reflected that
nobody in the house was likely to notice it。
What with the bustle of despatching Peepy； and the bustle of
getting myself ready； and helping Ada； I was soon quite in a glow。
We found Miss Jellyby trying to warm herself at the fire in the
writing…room； which Priscilla was then lighting with a smutty
parlour candlestick—throwing the candle in to make it burn
better。 Everything was just as we had left it last night； and was
evidently intended to remain so。 Below stairs the dinner…cloth had
not been taken away； but had been left ready for breakfast。
Crumbs； dust； and waste paper were all over the house。 Some
pewter…pots and a milk…can hung on the area railings； the door
stood open； and we met the cook round the corner coming out of a
public…house； wiping her mouth。 She mentioned； as she passed us；
that she had been to see what o’clock it was。
But before we met the cook we met Richard； who was dancing
up and down Thavies Inn to warm his feet。 He was agreeably
surprised to see us stirring so soon； and said he would gladly share
our walk。 So he took care of Ada； and Miss Jellyby and I went first。
I may mention that Miss Jellyby had relapsed into her sulky
manner； and that I really should not have thought she liked me
much； unless she had told me so。
“Where would you wish to go？” she asked。
“Anywhere； my dear；” I replied。
“Anywhere’s nowhere；” said Miss Jellyby； stopping perversely。
“Let us go somewhere at any rate；” said I。
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She then walked me on very fast。
“I don’t care！” she said。 “Now； you are my witness； Miss
Summerson； I say I don’t care—but if he was to come to our house
with his great shining lumpy forehead； night after night； till he was
as old as Methuselah； I wouldn’t have anything to say to him。 Such
Asses as he and Ma make of themselves！”
“My dear！” I remonstrated； in allusion to the epithet； and the
vigorous emphasis Miss Jellyby set upon it。 “Your duty as a
child—”
“O！ don’t talk of duty as a child； Miss Summerson； where’s Ma’s
duty as a parent？ All made over to the public and Africa； I
suppose！ Then let the public and Africa show duty as a child； it’s
much more their affair than mine。 You are shocked； I dare say！
Very well； so am I shocked too； so we are both shocked； and
there’s an end of it！”
She walked me on faster yet。
“But for all that； I say again he may come； and come； and come；
and I won’t have anything to say to him。 I can’t bear him。 If there’s
any stuff in the world that I hate and detest； it’s the stuff he and
Ma talk。 I wonder the very paving stones opposite our house can
have the patience to stay there； and be a witness of such
inconsistencies and contradictions as all that sounding nonsense；
and Ma’s management！”
I could not but understand her to refer to Mr Quale； the young
gentleman who had appeared after dinner yesterday。 I was saved
the disagreeable necessity of pursuing the subject； by Richard and
Ada coming up at a round pace； laughing； and asking us if we
meant to run a race？ Thus interrupted； Miss Jellyby became
silent； and walked moodily on at my side； while I admired the long
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successions and varieties of streets； the quantity of people already
going to and fro； the number of vehicles passing and repassing； the
busy preparations in the setting forth of shop windows and the
sweeping out of shops； and the extraordinary creatures in rags；
secretly groping among the sweep…out rubbish for pins and other
refuse。
“So； cousin；” said the cheerful voice of Richard to Ada； behind
me； “we are never to get out of Chancery！ We have come by
another way to our place of meeting yesterday； and—by the Great
Seal； here’s the old lady again！”
Truly； there she was； immediately in front of us； curtseying； and
smiling； and saying； with her yesterday’s air of patronage：
“The wards in Jarndyce！ Ve…ry happy； I am sure！”
“You are out early； ma’am；” said I； as she curtseyed to me。
“Ye…es！ I usually walk