wind。 But it was a delightful instance of his kindness towards me；
that whether he rubbed his head； or walked about； or did both； his
face was sure to recover its benignant expression as it looked at
mine； and he was sure to turn comfortable again； and put his
hands in his pockets and stretch out his legs。
“Perhaps it would be best； first of all；” said I； “to ask Mr
Richard what he inclines to himself。”
“Exactly so；” he returned。 “That’s what I mean！ You know； just
accustom yourself to talk it over； with your tact and in your quiet
way； with him and Ada； and see what you all make of it。 We are
sure to come at the heart of the matter by your means； little
woman。”
I really was frightened at the thought of the importance I was
attaining； and the number of things that were being confided to
me。 I had not meant this at all； I had meant that he should speak
to Richard。 But of course I said nothing in reply； except that I
would do my best； though I feared （I really felt it necessary to
repeat this） that he thought me much more sagacious than I was。
At which my guardian only laughed the pleasantest laugh I ever
heard。
“Come；” he said； rising and pushing back his chair。 “I think we
may have done with the Growlery for one day！ Only a concluding
word。 Esther； my dear； do you wish to ask me anything？”
He looked so attentively at me； that I looked attentively at him；
and felt sure I understood him。
“About myself； sir？” said I。
“Yes。”
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“Guardian；” said I； venturing to put my hand； which was
suddenly colder than I could have wished； in his； “nothing！ I am
quite sure that if there were anything I ought to know； or had any
need to know； I should not have to ask you to tell it to me。 If my
whole reliance and confidence were not placed in you； I must have
a hard heart indeed。 I have nothing to ask you； nothing in the
world。”
He drew my hand through his arm； and we went away to look
for Ada。 From that hour I felt quite easy with him； quite
unreserved； quite content to know no more； quite happy。
We lived； at first； rather a busy life at Bleak House； for we had
to become acquainted with many residents in and out of the
neighbourhood who knew Mr Jarndyce。 It seemed to Ada and me
that everybody knew him； who wanted to do anything with
anybody else’s money。 It amazed us when we began to sort his
letters； and to answer some of them for him in the Growlery of a
morning； to find how the great object of the lives of nearly all his
correspondents appeared to be to form themselves into
committees for getting in and laying out money。 The ladies were
as desperate as the gentlemen； indeed； I think they were even
more so。 They threw themselves into committees in the most
impassioned manner； and collected subscriptions with a
vehemence quite extraordinary。 It appeared to us that some of
them must pass their whole lives in dealing out subscription cards
to the whole Post…office Directory—shilling cards； half…crown
cards； half…sovereign cards； penny cards。 They wanted everything。
They wanted wearing apparel； they wanted linen rags； they
wanted money； they wanted coals； they wanted soup； they wanted
interest； they wanted autographs； they wanted flannel； they
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wanted whatever Mr Jarndyce had—or had not。 Their objects
were as various as their demands。 They were going to raise new
buildings； they were going to pay off debts on old buildings； they
were going to establish in a picturesque building （engraving of
proposed West Elevation attached） the Sisterhood of Mediaeval
Marys； they were going to give a testimonial to Mrs Jellyby； they
were going to have their Secretary’s portrait painted； and
presented to his mother…in…law； whose deep devotion to him was
well known； they were going to get up everything； I really believe；
from five hundred thousand tracts to an annuity； and from a
marble monument to a silver teapot。 They took a multitude of
titles。 They were the Women of England； the Daughters of Britain；
the Sisters of all the Cardinal Virtues separately； the Females of
America； the Ladies of a hundred denominations。 They appeared
to be always excited about canvassing and electing。 They seemed
to our poor wits； and according to their own accounts； to be
constantly polling people by tens of thousands； yet never bringing
their candidates in for anything。 It made our heads ache to think；
on the whole； what feverish lives they must lead。
Among the ladies who were most distinguished for this
rapacious benevolence （if I may use the expression）； was a Mrs
Pardiggle； who seemed； as I judged from the number of her letters
to Mr Jarndyce； to be almost as powerful a correspondent as Mrs
Jellyby herself。 We observed that the wind always changed； when
Mrs Pardiggle became the subject of conversation： and that it
invariably interrupted Mr Jarndyce； and prevented his going any
farther； when he had remarked that there were two classes of
charitable people； one； the people who did a little and made a
great deal of noise； the other； the people who did a great deal and
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made no noise at all。 We were therefore curious to see Mrs
Pardiggle； suspecting her to be a type of the former class； and
were glad when she called one day with her five young sons。
She was a formidable style of lady； with spectacles； a prominent
nose； and a loud voice； who had the effect of wanting a great deal
of room。 And she really did； for she knocked down little chairs
with her skirts that were quite a great way off。 As only Ada and I
were at home； we received her timidly； for she seemed to come in
like cold weather； and to make the little Pardiggles blue as they
followed。
“These； young ladies；” said Mrs Pardiggle； with great volubility；
after the first salutations； “are my five boys。 You may have seen
their names in a printed subscription list （perhaps more than one）；
in the possession of our esteemed friend Mr Jarndyce。 Egbert； my
eldest （twelve）； is the boy who sent out his pocket…money； to the
amount of five…and…three…pence； to the Tockahoopo Indians。
Oswald my second （ten…and…a…half）； is the child who contributed
two…and…nine…pence to the Great National Smithers Testimonial。
Francis； my third （nine）； one…and…sixpence halfpenny； Felix； my
fourth （seven）； eight…pence to the Superannuated Widows； Alfred；
my youngest （five）； has voluntarily enrolled himself in the Infant
Bonds of Joy； and is pledged never； through life； to use tobacco in
any form。”
We had never seen such dissatisfied children。 It was not merely
that they were weazened and shrivelled—though they were
certainly that too—but they looked absolutely ferocious with
discontent。 At the mention of the Tockahoopo Indians； I could
really have supposed Egbert to be one of the most baleful
members of that tribe； he gave me such a savage frown。 The face
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Bleak House 145
of each child； as the amount of his contribution was mentioned；
darkened in a peculiarly vindictive manner； but his was by far the
worst。 I must except； however； the little recruit into the Infant
Bonds of Joy； who was stolidly and evenly miserable。
“You have been visiting； I understand；” said Mrs Pardiggle； “at
Mrs Jellyby’s？”
We said yes； we had passed one night there。
“Mrs Jellyby；” pursued the lady； always speaking in the same
demonstrative； loud； hard tone； so that her voice impressed my
fancy as if it had a sort of spectacles on too—and I may take the
opportunity of remarking that her spectacles were made the less
engaging by her eyes being what Ada called “choking eyes；”
meaning very prominent： “Mrs Jellyby is a benefactor to society；
and deserves a helping hand。 My boys have contributed to
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