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kissed me。 In short； she had such a natural； captivating； winning
manner； that in a few minutes we were sitting in the window…seat；
with the light of the fire upon us； talking together； as free and
happy as could be。
What a load off my mind！ It was so delightful to know that she
could confide in me； and like me！ It was so good of her； and so
encouraging to me！
The young gentleman was her distant cousin； she told me； and
his name Richard Carstone。 He was a handsome youth； with an
ingenuous face； and a most engaging laugh； and after she had
called him up to where we sat； he stood by us； in the light of the
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fire too； talking gaily； like a light…hearted boy。 He was very young；
not more than nineteen then； if quite so much； but nearly two
years older than she was。 They were both orphans； and （what was
very unexpected and curious to me） had never met before that
day。 Our all three coming together for the first time； in such an
unusual place； was a thing to talk about； and we talked about it；
and the fire； which had left off roaring； winked its red eyes at us—
as Richard said—like a drowsy old Chancery lion。
We conversed in a low tone； because a full…dressed gentleman
in a bag wig； frequently came in and out； and when he did so； we
could hear a drawling sound in the distance； which he said was
one of the counsel in our case addressing the Lord Chancellor。 He
told Mr Kenge that the Chancellor would be up in five minutes；
and presently we heard a bustle and a tread of feet； and Mr Kenge
said that the court had risen； and his lordship was in the next
room。
The gentleman in the bag wig opened the door almost directly；
and requested Mr Kenge to come in。 Upon that； we all went into
the next room； Mr Kenge first； with my darling—it is so natural to
me now； that I can’t help writing it； and there； plainly dressed in
black； and sitting in an armchair at a table near the fire； was his
lordship； whose robe； trimmed with beautiful gold lace； was
thrown upon another chair。 He gave us a searching look as we
entered； but his manner was both courtly and kind。
The gentleman in the bag wig laid bundles of papers on his
lordship’s table； and his lordship silently selected one； and turned
over the leaves。
“Miss Clare；” said the Lord Chancellor。 “Miss Ada Clare？”
Mr Kenge presented her； and his lordship begged her to sit
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down near him。 That he admired her； and was interested by her；
even I could see in a moment。 It touched me； that the home of
such a beautiful young creature should be represented by that dry
official place。 The Lord High Chancellor； at his best； appeared so
poor a substitute for the love and pride of parents。
“The Jarndyce in question；” said the Lord Chancellor； still
turning over leaves； “is Jarndyce of Bleak House。”
“Jarndyce of Bleak House； my lord；” said Mr Kenge。
“A dreary name；” said the Lord Chancellor。
“But not a dreary place； at present； my lord；” said Mr Kenge。
“And Bleak House；” said his lordship； “is in—”
“Hertfordshire； my lord。”
“Mr Jarndyce of Bleak House is not married？” said his
lordship。
“He is not； my lord；” said Mr Kenge。
A pause。
“Young Mr Richard Carstone is present？” said the Lord
Chancellor； glancing towards him。
Richard bowed and stepped forward。
“Hum！” said the Lord Chancellor； turning over more leaves。
“Mr Jarndyce of Bleak House； my lord；” Mr Kenge observed in
a low voice； “if I may venture to remind your lordship； provides a
suitable companion for—”
“For Mr Richard Carstone？” I thought （but I am not quite sure）
I heard his lordship say； in an equally low voice； and with a smile。
“For Miss Ada Clare。 This is the young lady。 Miss Summerson。”
His lordship gave me an indulgent look； and acknowledged my
curtsey very graciously。
“Miss Summerson is not related to any party in the cause； I
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think？”
“No； my lord。”
Mr Kenge leant over before it was quite said； and whispered。
His lordship； with his eyes upon his papers； listened； nodded twice
or thrice； turned over more leaves； and did not look towards me
again； until we were going away。
Mr Kenge now retired； and Richard with him； to where I was；
near the door； leaving my pet （it is so natural to me that again I
can’t help it！） sitting near the Lord Chancellor； with whom his
lordship spoke a little apart； asking her； as she told me afterwards；
whether she had well reflected on the proposed arrangement； and
if she thought she would be happy under the roof of Mr Jarndyce
of Bleak House； and why she thought so？ Presently he rose
courteously； and released her； and then he spoke for a minute or
two with Richard Carstone； not seated； but standing； and
altogether with more ease and less ceremony—as if he still knew；
though he was Lord Chancellor； how to go straight to the candour
of a boy。
“Very well！” said his lordship aloud。 “I shall make the order。 Mr
Jarndyce of Bleak House has chosen； so far as I may judge；” and
this was when he looked at me； “a very good companion for the
young lady； and the arrangement altogether seems the best of
which the circumstances admit。”
He dismissed us pleasantly； and we all went out； very much
obliged to him for being so affable and polite； by which he had
certainly lost no dignity； but seemed to us to have gained some。
When we got under the colonnade； Mr Kenge remembered that
he must go back for a moment to ask a question； and left us in the
fog； with the Lord Chancellor’s carriage and servants waiting for
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him to come out。
“Well！” said Richard Carstone； “that’s over！ And where do we
go next； Miss Summerson？”
“Don’t you know？” I said。
“Not in the least；” said he。
“And don’t you know； my love？” I asked Ada。
“No！” said she。 “Don’t you？”
“Not at all！” said I。
We looked at one another； half laughing at our being like the
children in the wood； when a curious little old woman in a
squeezed bonnet； and carrying a reticule； came curtseying and
smiling up to us； with an air of great ceremony。
“O！” said she。 “The wards in Jarndyce！ Ve…ry happy； I am sure；
to have the honour！ It is a good omen for youth； and hope； and
beauty； when they