“Ye…es！ I usually walk here early。 Before the Court sits。 It’s
retired。 I collect my thoughts here for the business of the day；”
said the old lady； mincingly。 “The business of the day requires a
great deal of thought。 Chancery justice is so ve…ry difficult to
follow。”
“Who’s this； Miss Summerson？” whispered Miss Jellyby；
drawing my arm tighter through her own。
The little old lady’s hearing was remarkably quick。 She
answered for herself directly。
“A suitor； my child。 At your service。 I have the honour to attend
court regularly。 With my documents。 Have I the pleasure of
addressing another of the youthful parties in Jarndyce？” said the
old lady； recovering herself； with her head on one side； from a very
low curtsey。
Richard； anxious to atone for his thoughtlessness of yesterday；
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good…naturedly explained that Miss Jellyby was not connected
with the suit。
“Ha！” said the old lady。 “She does not expect a judgment？ She
will still grow old。 But not so old。 O dear； no！ This is the garden of
Lincoln’s Inn。 I call it my garden。 It is quite a bower in the
summer…time。 Where the birds sing melodiously。 I pass the greater
part of the long vacation here。 In contemplation。 You find the long
vacation exceedingly long； don’t you？”
We said yes； as she seemed to expect us to say so。
“When the leaves are falling from the trees； and there are no
more flowers in bloom to make up into nosegays for the Lord
Chancellor’s court；” said the old lady； “the vacation is fulfilled； and
the sixth seal； mentioned in the Revelations； again prevails。 Pray
come and see my lodging。 It will be a good omen for me。 Youth；
and hope； and beauty； are very seldom there。 It is a long long time
since I had a visit from either。”
She had taken my hand； and； leading me and Miss Jellyby
away； beckoned Richard and Ada to come too。 I did not know how
to excuse myself； and looked to Richard for aid。 As he was half
amused and half curious； and all in doubt how to get rid of the old
lady without offence； she continued to lead us away； and he and
Ada continued to follow； our strange conductress informing us all
the time； with much smiling condescension； that she lived close
by。
It was quite true； as it soon appeared。 She lived so close by； that
we had not time to have done humouring her for a few moments；
before she was at home。 Slipping us out at a little side gate； the old
lady stopped most unexpectedly in a narrow back street； part of
some courts and lanes immediately outside the wall of the inn； and
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Bleak House 75
said； “This is my lodging。 Pray walk up！”
She had stopped at a shop； over which was written； KROOK；
RAG AND BOTTLE WAREHOUSE。 Also； in long thin letters；
KROOK； DEALER IN MARINE STORES。 In one part of the
window was a picture of a red paper mill； at which a cart was
unloading a quantity of sacks of old rags。 In another； was the
inscription； BONES BOUGHT。 In another； KITCHEN…STUFF
BOUGHT。 In another； OLD IRON BOUGHT。 In another； WASTE
PAPER BOUGHT。 In another； LADIES’ AND GENTLEMEN’S
WARDROBES BOUGHT。 Everything seemed to be bought； and
nothing to be sold there。 In all parts of the window were quantities
of dirty bottles： blacking bottles； medicine bottles； ginger…beer and
soda…water bottles； pickle bottles； wine bottles； ink bottles： I am
reminded by mentioning the latter； that the shop had； in several
little particulars； the air of being in a legal neighbourhood； and of
being as it were a dirty hanger…on and disowned relation of the
law。 There were a great many ink bottles。 There was a little
tottering bench of shabby old volumes； outside the door； labelled
“Law Books； all at 9d。” Some of the inscriptions I have
enumerated were written in law…hand； like the papers I had seen
in Kenge and Carboy’s office； and the letters I had so long received
from the firm。 Among them was one； in the same writing； having
nothing to do with the business of the shop； but announcing that a
respectable man aged forty…five wanted engrossing or copying to
execute with neatness and despatch： Address to Nemo； care of Mr
Krook within。 There were several second…hand bags； blue and red；
hanging up。 A little way within the shop door； lay heaps of old
crackled parchment scrolls； and discoloured and dog’s eared law…
papers。 I could have fancied that all the rusty keys； of which there
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Bleak House 76
must have been hundreds huddled together as old iron； had once
belonged to doors of rooms or strong chests in lawyers’ offices。
The litter of rags tumbled partly into and partly out of a one…
legged wooden scale； hanging without any counterpoise from a
beam； might have been counsellors’ bands and gowns torn up。
One had only to fancy； as Richard whispered to Ada and me while
we all stood looking in； that yonder bones in a corner； piled
together and picked very clean； were the bones of clients； to make
the picture complete。
As it was still foggy and dark； and as the shop was blinded
besides by the wall of Lincoln’s Inn； intercepting the light within a
couple of yards； we should not have seen so much but for a lighted
lantern that an old man in spectacles and a hairy cap was carrying
about in the shop。 Turning towards the door； he now caught sight
of us。 He was short； cadaverous； and withered； with his head sunk
sideways between his shoulders； and the breath issuing in visible
smoke from his mouth； as if he were on fire within。 His throat；
chin； and eyebrows were so frosted with white hairs； and so
gnarled with veins and puckered skin； that he looked from his
breast upward； like some old root in a fall of snow。
“Hi hi！” said the old man coming to the door。 “Have you
anything to sell？”
We naturally drew back and glanced at our conductress； who
had been trying to open the house door with a key she had taken
from her pocket； and to whom Richard now said； that； as we had
had the pleasure of seeing where she lived； we would leave her；
being pressed for time。 But she was not to be so easily left。 She
became so fantastically and pressingly earnest in her entreaties
that we would walk up and see her apartment for an instant； and
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was so bent； in her harmless way； on leading me in； as part of the
good omen she desired； that I （whatever the others might do） saw
nothing for it but to comply。 I suppose we were all more or less
curious；—at any rate； when the old man added his persuasions to
hers； and said； “Ay； ay！ Please her！ It won’t take a minute！ Come
in； come in！ Come in through the shop； if t’other door’s out of
order！” We all went in； stimulated by Richard’s laughing
encouragement； and relying on his protection。
“My landlord； Krook；” said the little old lady； condescending to
him from her lofty station； as she presented him to us。 “He is
called among the neighbours the Lord Chancellor。 His shop is
called the Court of Chancery。 He is a very eccentric person。 He is
very odd。 Oh； I assure you he is very odd！”
She shook her head a great many times； and tapped her
forehead with her finger； to express to us that we must have the
goodness to excuse him。 “For he is a little—you know！—M—！” said
the old lady； with great stateliness。 The old man overheard； and
laughed。
“It’s true enough；” he said； going before us with the lantern；
“that they call me the Lord Chancellor； and call my shop
Chancery。 And why do you think they call me the Lord
Chancellor； and my shop Chancery？”
“I don’t know； I am sure！” said Richard； rather carelessly。
“You see；” said the old man； stopping and turning round；
“they—Hi！ Here’s lovely hair！ I have got three sacks of ladies’ hair
below； but none so beautiful and fine as this。 What colour； and
w
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