on to reason； how could he be expected to be a scholar； when he
had passed his whole life in the dancing…school； and had done
nothing but teach and fag； fag and teach； morning； noon； and
night！ And what did it matter？ She could write letters enough for
both； as she knew to her cost； and it was far better for him to be
amiable than learned。 “Besides； it’s not as if I was an
accomplished girl who had any right to give herself airs；” said
Caddy。 “I know little enough； I am sure； thanks to Ma！”
“There’s another thing I want to tell you； now we are alone；”
continued Caddy； “which I should not have liked to mention
unless you had seen Prince； Miss Summerson。 You know what a
house ours is。 It’s of no use my trying to learn anything that would
be useful for Prince’s wife to know； in our house。 We live in such a
state of muddle that it’s impossible； and I have only been more
disheartened whenever I have tried。 So I get a little practice
with—who do you think？ Poor Miss Flite！ Early in the morning； I
help her to tidy her room； and clean her birds； and I make her cup
of coffee for her （of course she taught me）； and I have learnt to
make it so well that Prince says it’s the very best coffee he ever
tasted； and would quite delight old Mr Turveydrop； who is very
particular indeed about his coffee。 I can make little puddings too；
and I know how to buy neck of mutton； and tea； and sugar； and
butter； and a good many housekeeping things。 I am not clever at
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my needle； yet；” said Caddy； glancing at the repairs on Peepy’s
frock； “but perhaps I shall improve。 And since I have been
engaged to Prince； and have been doing all this； I have felt better…
tempered； I hope； and more forgiving to Ma。 It rather put me out；
at first this morning； to see you and Miss Clare looking so neat and
pretty； and to feel ashamed of Peepy and myself too； but； on the
whole； I hope I am better…tempered than I was； and more forgiving
to Ma。”
The poor girl； trying so hard； said it from her heart； and
touched mine。 “Caddy； my love；” I replied； “I begin to have a great
affection for you； and I hope we shall become friends。” “Oh； do
you？” cried Caddy； “how happy that would make me！” “My dear
Caddy；” said I； “let us be friends from this time； and let us often
have a chat about these matters； and try to find the right way
through them。” Caddy was overjoyed。 I said everything I could； in
my old…fashioned way； to comfort and encourage her； and I would
not have objected to old Mr Turveydrop； that day； for any smaller
consideration than a settlement on his daughter…in…law。
By this time we were come to Mr Krook’s； whose private door
stood open。 There was a bill； pasted on the door…post； announcing
a room to let on the second floor。 It reminded Caddy to tell me as
we proceeded upstairs； that there had been a sudden death there；
and an inquest； and that our little friend had been ill of the fright。
The door and window of the vacant room being open； we looked
in。 It was the room with the dark door； to which Miss Flite had
secretly directed my attention when I was last in the house。 A sad
and desolate place it was； a gloomy； sorrowful place； that gave me
a strange sensation of mournfulness and even dread。 “You look
pale；” said Caddy； when we came out； “and cold！” I felt as if the
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room had chilled me。
We had walked slowly； while we were talking； and my Guardian
and Ada were here before us。 We found them in Miss Flite’s
garret。 They were looking at the birds； while a medical gentleman
who was so good as to attend Miss Flite with much solicitude and
compassion； spoke with her cheerfully by the fire。
“I have finished my professional visit；” he said coming forward。
“Miss Flite is much better； and may appear in Court （as her mind
is set upon it） tomorrow。 She has been greatly missed there； I
understand。”
Miss Flite received the compliment with complacency； and
dropped a general curtsey to us。
“Honoured； indeed；” said she； “by another visit from the Wards
in Jarndyce！ Ve…ry happy to receive Jarndyce of Bleak House
beneath my humble roof！” with a special curtsey。 “Fitz…Jarndyce；
my dear；” she had bestowed that name on Caddy； it appeared； and
always called her by it； “a double welcome！”
“Has she been very ill？” asked Mr Jarndyce of the gentleman
whom we had found in attendance on her。 She answered for
herself directly； though he had put the question in a whisper。
“O decidedly unwell！ O very unwell indeed；” she said；
confidentially。 “Not pain； you know—trouble。 Not bodily so much
as nervous； nervous！ The truth is；” in a subdued voice and
trembling； “we have had death here。 There was poison in the
house。 I am very susceptible to such horrid things。 It frightened
me。 Only Mr Woodcourt knows how much。 My physician； Mr
Woodcourt！” with great stateliness。 “The Wards in Jarndyce—
Jarndyce of Bleak House—Fitz…Jarndyce！”
“Miss Flite—” said Mr Woodcourt； in a grave kind of voice； as if
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he were appealing to her while speaking to us； and laying his hand
gently on her arm； “Miss Flite describes her illness with her usual
accuracy。 She was alarmed by an occurrence in the house which
might have alarmed a stronger person； and was made ill by the
distress and agitation。 She brought me here； in the first hurry of
the discovery； though too late for me to be of any use to the
unfortunate man。 I have compensated myself for that
disappointment by coming here since； and being of some small use
to her。
“The kindest physician in the college；” whispered Miss Flite to
me。 “I expect a judgement。 On the day of Judgement。 And shall
then confer estates。”
“She will be as well； in a day or two；” said Mr Woodcourt；
looking at her with an observant smile； “as she ever will be。 In
other words； quite well of course。 Have you heard of her good
fortune？”
“Most extraordinary！” said Miss Flite； smiling brightly。 “You
never heard of such a thing； my dear！ Every Saturday；
Conversation Kenge； or Guppy （Clerk to Conversation K。）； places
in my hand a paper of shillings。 Shillings。 I assure you！ Always the
same number in the paper。 Always one for every day in the week。
Now you know； really！ So well…timed； is it not？ Ye…es！ From
whence do these papers come； you say？ That is the great question。
Naturally。 Shall I tell you what I think？ I think；” said Miss Flite；
drawing herself back with a very shrewd look； and shaking her
right forefinger in a most significant manner； “that the Lord
Chancellor； aware of the length of time during which the Great
Seal has been open； （for it has been open a long time！） forwards
them。 Until the Judgement I expect； is given。 Now that’s very
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creditable； you know。 To confess in that way that he is a little slow
for human life。 So delicate！ Attending Court the other day—I
attend it regularly—with my documents—I taxed him with it； and
he almost confessed。 That is； I smiled at him from my bench； and
he smiled at me from his bench。 But it’s great good fortune； is it
not？ And Fitz…Jarndyce lays the money out for me to great
advantage。 O； I assure you to the greatest advantage！”
I congratulated her （as she addressed herself to me） upon this
fortunate addition to her income； and wished her a long
continuance of it。 I did not speculate upon the source from which
it came； or wonder whose humanity was so considerate。 My
Guardian stood before me contemplating the birds； and I had no
need to look beyond him。
“And what do you call these little fellows； ma’am？” said he in
his pleasant voice。 “Have they any names？”
“I can answer for Miss Flite that they have；” said I； “for she
promised to tell us what they were。 Ada remembers？”
Ada remembered ver
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