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of cheerful raillery which Mr Smallweed by no means
reciprocated； “and so you chance to find； you know； a paper with
the signature of Jarndyce to it。 Don’t you？”
Mr Smallweed glanced with a troubled eye at us； and
grudgingly nodded assent。
“And coming to look at the paper； at your full leisure and
convenience—all in good time； for you’re not curious to read it；
and why should you be！—what do you find it to be but a Will； you
see。 That’s the drollery of it；” said Mr Bucket； with the same lively
air of recalling a joke for the enjoyment of Mr Smallweed； who still
had the same crestfallen appearance of not enjoying it at all； “what
do you find it to be but a Will？”
“I don’t know that it’s good as a will； or as anything else；”
snarled Smallweed。
Mr Bucket eyed the old man for a moment—he had slipped and
shrunk down in his chair into a mere bundle—as if he were much
disposed to pounce upon him； nevertheless； he continued to bend
over him with the same agreeable air； keeping the corner of one of
his eyes upon us。
“Notwithstanding which；” said Mr Bucket； “you get a little
doubtful and uncomfortable in your mind about it； having a very
tender mind of your own。”
“Eh？ What do you say I have got of my own？” asked Mr
Smallweed； with his hand to his ear。
“A very tender mind。”
“Ho！ Well； go on；” said Mr Smallweed。
“And as you’ve heard a good deal mentioned regarding a
celebrated Chancery will case； of the same name； and as you know
what a card Krook was for buying all manner of old pieces of
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furniter； and books； and papers； and what not； and never liking to
part with ’em； and always a going to teach himself to read； you
begin to think—and you never was more correct in your born
days—’Ecod； if I don’t look about me； I may get into trouble
regarding this will。’”
“Now； mind how you put it； Bucket；” cried the old man
anxiously； with his hand at his ear。 “Speak up； none of your
brimstone tricks。 Pick me up； I want to hear better。 O Lord； I am
shaken to bits！”
Mr Bucket had certainly picked him up at a dart。 However； as
soon as he could be heard through Mr Smallweed’s coughing； and
his vicious ejaculations of “O my bones！ O dear！ I’ve no breath in
my body！ I’m worse than the chattering； clattering； brimstone pig
at home！” Mr Bucket proceeded； in the same convivial manner as
before。
“So； as I happen to be in the habit of coming about your
premises； you take me into your confidence； don’t you？”
I think it would be impossible to make an admission with more
ill…will； and a worse grace； than Mr Smallweed displayed when he
admitted this； rendering it perfectly evident that Mr Bucket was
the very last person he would have thought of taking into his
confidence； if he could by any possibility have kept him out of it。
“And I go into the business with you；—very pleasant we are
over it； and I confirm you in your well…founded fears； that you will…
get…yourself…in…to…a…most precious line if you don’t come out with
that there will；” said Mr Bucket； emphatically； “and accordingly
you arrange with me that it shall be delivered up to this present
Mr Jarndyce； on no conditions。 If it should prove to be valuable；
you trusting yourself to him for your reward； that’s about where it
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is； ain’t it？”
“That’s what was agreed；” Mr Smallweed assented； with the
same bad grace。
“In consequence of which；” said Mr Bucket； dismissing his
agreeable manner all at once； and becoming strictly business…like；
“you’ve got that will upon your person at present time； and the
only thing that remains for you to do is； just to Out with it！”
Having given us one glance out of the watching corner of his
eye； and having given his nose one triumphant rub with his
forefinger； Mr Bucket stood with his eyes fastened on his
confidential friend； and his hand stretched forth ready to take the
paper and present it to my Guardian。 It was not produced without
much reluctance； and many declarations on the part of Mr
Smallweed that he was a poor industrious man； and that he left it
to Mr Jarndyce’s honour not to let him lose by his honesty。 Little
by little； he very slowly took from a breast…pocket a stained
discoloured paper； which was much singed upon the outside； and
a little burnt at the edges； as if it had long ago been thrown upon a
fire； and hastily snatched off again。 Mr Bucket lost no time in
transferring this paper； with the dexterity of a conjuror； from Mr
Smallweed to Mr Jarndyce。 As he gave it to my Guardian； he
whispered behind his fingers：—
“Hadn’t settled how to make their market of it。 Quarrelled and
hinted about it。 I laid out twenty pound upon it。 First； the
avaricious grandchildren split upon him； on account of their
objections to his living so unreasonably long； and then they split
on one another。 Lord！ there ain’t one of the family that wouldn’t
sell the other for a pound or two； except the old lady—and she’s
only out of it because she’s too weak in her mind to drive a
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bargain。”
“Mr Bucket；” said my Guardian aloud； “whatever the worth of
this paper may be to any one； my obligations are great to you； and
if it be of any worth； I hold myself bound to see Mr Smallweed
remunerated accordingly。”
“Not according to your merits； you know；” said Mr Bucket； in
friendly explanation to Mr Smallweed； “Don’t you be afraid of
that。 According to its value。”
“That is what I mean；” said my Guardian。 “You may observe；
Mr Bucket； that I abstain from examining this paper myself。 The
plain truth is； I have forsworn and abjured the whole business
these many years； and my soul is sick of it。 But Miss Summerson
and I will immediately place the paper in the hands of my solicitor
in the cause； and its existence shall be made known without delay
to all other parties interested。”
“Mr Jarndyce can’t say fairer than that； you understand；”
observed Mr Bucket to his fellow visitor。 “And it being now made
clear to you that nobody’s a…going to be wronged—which must be
a great relief to your mind—we may proceed with the ceremony of
chairing you home again。”
He unbolted the door； called in the bearers； wished us good
morning； and with a look full of meaning； and a crook of his finger
at parting； went his way。
We went our way too； which was to Lincoln’s Inn； as quickly as
possible。 Mr Kenge was disengaged； and we found him at his table
in his dusty room； with the inexpressive…looking books； and the
piles of papers。 Chairs having been placed for us by Mr Guppy； Mr
Kenge expressed the surprise and gratification he felt at the
unusual sight of Mr Jarndyce in his office。 He turned over his
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double eyeglass as he spoke； and was more Conversation Kenge
than ever。
“I hope；” said Mr Kenge； “that the genial influence of Miss
Summerson；” he bowed to me； “may have induced Mr Jarndyce；”
he bowed to him； “to forego some little of his animosity towards a
Cause and towards a Court which are—shall I say； which take
their place in the stately vista of the pillars of our profession？”
“I am inclined to think；” returned my Guardian； “that Miss
Summerson has seen too much of the effects of the Court and the
Cause to exert any influence in their favour。 Nevertheless； they are
a part of the occasion of my being here。 Mr Kenge； before I lay this
paper on your desk and have done with it； let me tell you how it
has come into my hands。”
He did so shortly and distinctly。
“It could not； sir；” said Mr Kenge； “have been stated more
plainly and to the purpose； if it had been a case at law。”
“Did you ever know
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