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study； ability； eloquence； knowledge； intellect； Mr Woodcourt； high
intellect。 For many years； the—a—I would say the flower of the
Bar； and the—a—I would presume to add； the matured autumnal
fruits of the Woolsack—have been lavished upon Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 If the public have the benefit； and if the country have
the adornment； of this great Grasp； it must be paid for； in money
or money’s worth； sir。”
“Mr Kenge；” said Allan； appearing enlightened all in a moment。
“Excuse me； our time presses。 Do I understand that the whole
estate is found to have been absorbed in costs？”
“Hem！ I believe so；” returned Mr Kenge。 “Mr Vholes； what do
you say？”
“I believe so；” said Mr Vholes。
“And that thus the suit lapses and melts away？”
“Probably；” returned Mr Kenge。 “Mr Vholes？”
“Probably；” said Mr Vholes。
“My dearest life；” whispered Allan； “this will break Richard’s
heart！”
There was such a shock of apprehension in his face； and he
knew Richard so perfectly； and I too had seen so much of his
gradual decay； that what my dear girl had said to me in the fulness
of her foreboding love； sounded like a knell in my ears。
“In case you should be wanting Mr C； sir；” said Mr Vholes；
coming after us； “you’ll find him in court。 I left him there resting
himself a little。 Good day； sir； good day； Miss Summerson。” As he
gave me that slowly devouring look of his； while twisting up the
strings of his bag； before he hastened with it； after Mr Kenge； the
benignant shadow of whose conversational presence he seemed
afraid to leave； he gave one gasp as if he had swallowed the last
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morsel of this client； and his black buttoned…up unwholesome
figure glided away to the low door at the end of the hall。
“My dear love；” said Allan； “leave to me for a little while； the
charge you gave me。 Go home with this intelligence； and come to
Ada’s by…and…by。”
I would not let him take me to a coach； but entreated him to go
to Richard without a moment’s delay； and leave me to do as he
wished。 Hurrying home； I found my Guardian； and told him
gradually with what news I had returned。 “Little woman；” said he；
quite unmoved for himself； “to have done with the suit on any
terms； is a greater blessing than I had looked for。 But my poor
young cousins！”
We talked about them all the morning； and discussed what it
was possible to do。 In the afternoon； my Guardian walked with me
to Symond’s Inn； and left me at the door。 I went upstairs。 When
my darling heard my footsteps； she came out into the small
passage and threw her arms round my neck； but she composed
herself directly； and said that Richard had asked for me several
times。 Allan had found him sitting in a corner of the court； she told
me； like a stone figure。 On being roused； he had broken away； and
made as if he would have spoken in a fierce voice to the judge。 He
was stopped by his mouth being full of blood； and Allan had
brought him home。
He was lying on the sofa with his eyes closed； when I went in。
There were restoratives on the table； the room was made as airy as
possible； and was darkened； and was very orderly and quiet。 Allan
stood behind him； watching him gravely。 His face appeared to me
to be quite destitute of colour； and； now that I saw him without his
seeing me； I fully saw； for the first time； how worn away he was。
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But he looked handsomer than I had seen him look for many a
day。
I sat down by his side in silence。 Opening his eyes by…and…by； he
said； in a weak voice； but with his old smile； “Dame Durden； kiss
me； my dear！”
It was a great comfort and surprise to me to find him in his low
state cheerful and looking forward。 He was happier； he said； in our
intended marriage； than he could find words to tell me。 My
husband had been a guardian angel to him and Ada； and he
blessed us both； and wished us all the joy that life could yield us。 I
almost felt as if my own heart would have broken； when I saw him
take my husband’s hand； and hold it to his breast。
We spoke of the future as much as possible； and he said several
times that he must be present at our marriage if he could stand
upon his feet。 Ada would contrive to take him； somehow； he said。
“Yes； surely； dearest Richard！” But as my darling answered him
thus hopefully； so serene and beautiful； with the help that was to
come to her so near；—I knew—I knew！
It was not good for him to talk too much； and when he was
silent； we were silent too。 Sitting beside him； I made a pretence of
working for my dear； as he had always been used to joke about my
being busy。 Ada leaned upon his pillow； holding his head upon her
arm。 He dozed often； and whenever he awoke without seeing him；
said； first of all； “Where is Woodcourt？”
Evening had come on； when I lifted up my eyes； and saw my
Guardian standing in the little hall。 “Who is that； Dame Durden？”
Richard asked me。 The door was behind him； but he had observed
in my face that some one was there。
I looked to Allen for advice； and as he nodded “Yes；” bent over
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Richard and told him。 My Guardian saw what passed； came softly
by me in a moment； and laid his hand on Richard’s。 “O sir；” said
Richard； “you are a good man； you are a good man！” and burst
into tears for the first time。
My Guardian； the picture of a good man； sat down in my place；
keeping his hand on Richard’s。
“My dear Rick；” said he； “the clouds have cleared away； and it
is bright now。 We can see now。 We were all bewildered； Rick； more
or less。 What matters！ And how are you； my dear boy？”
“I am very weak； sir； but I hope I shall be stronger。 I have to
begin the world。”
“Ay； truly； well said！” cried my Guardian。
“I will not begin it in the old way now；” said Richard with a sad
smile。 “I have learned a lesson now； sir。 It was a hard one； but you
shall be assured； indeed； that I have learned it。”
“Well； well；” said my Guardian； comforting him； “well； well；
well； dear boy！”
“I was thinking； sir；” resumed Richard； “that there is nothing
on earth I should so much like to see as their house—Dame
Durden’s and Woodcourt’s house。 If I could be moved there when
I begin to recover my strength； I feel as if I should get well there；
sooner than anywhere。”
“Why； so have I been thinking； too； Rick；” said my Guardian；
“and our little woman likewise； she and I have been talking of it；
this very day。 I dare say her husband won’t object。 What do you
think？”
Richard smiled； and lifted up his arm to touch him； as he stood
behind the head of his couch。
“I say nothing of Ada；” said Richard； “but I think of her； and
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have thought of her very much。 Look at her！ see her here； sir；
bending over this pillow when she has so much need to rest upon
it herself； my dear love； my poor girl！”
He clasped her in his arms； and none of us spoke。 He gradually
released her； and she looked upon us； and looked up to Heaven；
and moved her lips。
“When I get down to Bleak House；” said Richard； “I shall have
much to tell you； sir； and you will have much to show me。 You will
go； won’t you？”
“Undoubtedly； dear Rick。”
“Thank you； like you like you；” said Richard。 “But it’s all like
you。 They have been telling me how you planned it； and how you
remembered all Esther’s familiar tastes and ways。 It will be like
coming to the old Bleak House again。”
“And you will come there too； I hope； Rick。 I am a solitary man
now； you know； and it will be a charity to come to me。 A charity to
come to me； my love！” he repeated to Ada； as he gently passed his
hand over her golden hair； and put a lock of it to his lips。 （I think
he vowed within himself to cherish her if she were left alone。）
“It was all a troubled dream？” said Richard； clasping both my
Guardian’s hands eagerly。
“Nothing more； Rick； nothing more。”
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