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heart I had！
And when the two Miss Donnys grieved as much to part with
me； as the least among them； and when the maids said； “Bless you；
miss； wherever you go！” and when the ugly lame old gardener；
who I thought had hardly noticed me in all those years； came
panting after the coach to give me a little nosegay of geraniums；
and told me I had been the light of his eyes—indeed the old man
said so！—what a heart I had then！
And could I help it； if with all this； and the coming to the little
school； and the unexpected sight of the poor children outside
waving their hats and bonnets to me； and of a grey…haired
gentleman and lady； whose daughter I had helped to teach； and at
whose house I had visited （who were said to be the proudest
people in all that country）； caring for nothing； but calling out；
“Good…bye； Esther。 May you be very happy！” could I help it if I was
quite bowed down in the coach by myself； and said； “O； I am so
thankful； I am so thankful！” many times over！
But of course I soon considered that I must not take tears
where I was going； after all that had been done for me。 Therefore；
of course； I made myself sob less； and persuaded myself to be
quiet； by saying very often； “Esther； now you really must！ This will
not do！” I cheered myself up pretty well at last； though I am afraid
I was longer about it than I ought to have been； and when I had
cooled my eyes with lavender water； it was time to watch for
London。
I was quite persuaded that we were there； when we were ten
miles off； and when we really were there； that we should never get
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there。 However； when we began to jolt upon a stone pavement；
and particularly when every other conveyance seemed to be
running into us and we seemed to be running into every other
conveyance； I began to believe that we really were approaching
the end of our journey。 Very soon afterwards we stopped。
A young gentleman who had inked himself by accident；
addressed me from the pavement； and said； “I am from Kenge and
Carboy’s； miss； of Lincoln’s Inn。”
“If you please； sir；” said I。
He was very obliging； and as he handed me into a fly； after
superintending the removal of my boxes； I asked him whether
there was a great fire anywhere？ For the streets were so full of
dense brown smoke that scarcely anything was to be seen。
“O dear no； miss；” he said。 “This is a London particular。”
I had never heard of such a thing。
“A fog； miss；” said the young gentleman。
“O indeed！” said I。
We drove slowly through the dirtiest and darkest streets that
ever were seen in the world （I thought）； and in such a distracting
state of confusion that I wondered how the people kept their
senses； until we passed into sudden quietude under an old
gateway； and drove on through a silent square until we came to an
odd nook in the corner； where there was an entrance up a steep；
broad flight of stairs； like an entrance to a church。 And there really
was a churchyard； outside under some cloisters； for I saw the
gravestones from the staircase window。
This was Kenge and Carboy’s。 The young gentleman showed
me through an outer office into Mr Kenge’s room—there was no
one in it—and politely put an armchair for me by the fire。 He then
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called my attention to a little looking…glass； hanging from a nail on
one side of the chimney…piece。
“In case you should wish to look at yourself； miss； after the
journey； as you’re going before the Chancellor。 Not that it’s
requisite； I am sure；” said the young gentleman civilly。
“Going before the Chancellor？” I said； startled for a moment。
“Only a matter of form； miss；” returned the young gentleman。
“Mr Kenge is in court now。 He left his compliments； and would
you partake of some refreshment；” there were biscuits and a
decanter of wine on a small table； “and look over the paper；”
which the young gentleman gave me as he spoke。 He then stirred
the fire and left me。
Everything was so strange—the stranger for its being night in
the daytime； and the candles burning with a white flame； and
looking raw and cold—that I read the words in the newspaper
without knowing what they meant； and found myself reading the
same words repeatedly。 As it was of no use going on in that way； I
put the paper down； took a peep at my bonnet in the glass to see if
it was neat； and looked at the room； which was not half lighted；
and at the shabby dusty tables； and at the piles of writings； and at
a bookcase full of the most inexpressive…looking books that ever
had anything to say for themselves。 Then I went on； thinking；
thinking； thinking； and the fire went on burning； burning；
burning； and the candles went on flickering and guttering； and
there were no snuffers—until the young gentleman by…and…by
brought a very dirty pair； for two hours。
At last Mr Kenge came。 He was not altered； but he was
surprised to see how altered I was； and appeared quite pleased。
“As you are going to be the companion of the young lady who is
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now in the Chancellor’s private room； Miss Summerson；” he said；
“we thought it well that you should be in attendance also。 You will
not be discomposed by the Lord Chancellor； I dare say？”
“No； sir；” I said； “I don’t think I shall。” Really not seeing； on
consideration； why I should be。
So Mr Kenge gave me his arm； and we went round the corner；
under a colonnade； and in at a side door。 And so we came； along a
passage； into a comfortable sort of room； where a young lady and a
young gentleman were standing near a great； loud…roaring fire。 A
screen was interposed between them and it； and they were leaning
on the screen； talking。
They both looked up when I came in； and I saw in the young
lady； with the fire shining upon her； such a beautiful girl！ With
such rich golden hair； such soft blue eyes； and such a bright；
innocent； trusting face！
“Miss Ada；” said Mr Kenge； “this is Miss Summerson。”
She came to meet me with a smile of welcome； and her hand
extended； but seemed to change her mind in a moment； and
kissed me。 In short； she had such a natural； captivating； winning
ma