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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 712
beautiful girl down upon the floor too； holding my scarred face to
her lovely cheek； bathing it with tears and kisses； rocking me to
and fro like a child； calling me by every tender name that she
could think of； and pressing me to her faithful heart。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 713
Chapter 37
Jarndyce And Jarndyce
f the secret that I had to keep had been mine； I must have
confided it to Ada before we had been long together。 But it
I
was not mine； and I did not feel that I had a right to tell it；
even to my Guardian； unless some great emergency arose。 It was a
weight to bear alone； still my present duty appeared to be plain；
and； blest in the attachment of my dear； I did not want an impulse
and encouragement to do it。 Though often when she was asleep；
and all was quiet； the remembrance of my mother kept me
waking； and made the night sorrowful； I did not yield to it at
another time； and Ada found me what I used to be—except； of
course； in that particular of which I have said enough； and which I
have no intention of mentioning any more； just now； if I can help
it。
The difficulty that I felt in being quite composed that first
evening； when Ada asked me； over our work； if the family were at
the house； and when I was obliged to answer yes； I believed so； for
Lady Dedlock had spoken to me in the woods the day before
yesterday； was great。 Greater still； when Ada asked me what she
had said； and when I replied that she had been kind and
interested； and when Ada； while admitting her beauty and
elegance； remarked upon her proud manner； and her imperious
chilling air。 But Charley helped me through unconsciously； by
telling us that Lady Dedlock had only stayed at the House two
nights； on her way from London to visit at some other great house
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 714
in the next county； and that she had left early on the morning after
we had seen her at our view； as we called it。 Charley verified the
adage about little pitchers； I am sure； for she heard of more
sayings and doings； in a day； than would have come to my ears in a
month。
We were to stay a month at Mr Boythorn’s。 My pet had scarcely
been there a bright week； as I recollect the time； when one
evening after we had finished helping the gardener in watering his
flowers； and just as the candles were lighted； Charley； appearing
with a very important air behind Ada’s chair； beckoned me
mysteriously out of the room。
“Oh！ if you please； miss；” said Charley in a whisper； with her
eyes at their roundest and largest。 “You’re wanted at the Dedlock
Arms。”
“Why； Charley；” said I； “who can possibly want me at the
public…house？”
“I don’t know； miss；” returned Charley； putting her head
forward； and folding her hands tight upon the band of her little
apron； which she always did； in the enjoyment of anything
mysterious or confidential； “but it’s a gentleman； miss； and his
compliments； and will you please to come without saying anything
about it。”
“Whose compliments； Charley？”
“His’n； miss；” returned Charley： whose grammatical education
was advancing； but not very rapidly。
“And how do you come to be the messenger； Charley？”
“I am not the messenger； if you please； miss；” returned my little
maid。 “It was W。 Grubble； miss。”
“And who is W。 Grubble； Charley？”
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Bleak House 715
“Mister Grubble； miss；” returned Charley。 “Don’t you know；
miss？ The Dedlock Arms； by W。 Grubble；” which Charley
delivered as if she were slowly spelling out the sign。
“Ay？ The landlord； Charley？”
“Yes； miss。 If you please； miss； his wife is a beautiful woman；
but she broke her ankle and it never joined。 And her brother’s the
sawyer； that was put in the cage； miss； and they expect he’ll drink
himself to death entirely on beer；” said Charley。
Not knowing what might be the matter； and being easily
apprehensive now； I thought it best to go to this place by myself。 I
bade Charley be quick with my bonnet and veil； and my shawl；
and having put them on； went away down the little hilly street；
where I was as much at home as in Mr Boythorn’s garden。
Mr Grubble was standing in his shirt sleeves at the door of his
very clean little tavern； waiting for me。 He lifted off his hat with
both hands when he saw me coming； and carrying it so； as if it
were an iron vessel （it looked as heavy）； preceded me along the
sanded passage to his best parlour： a neat carpeted room； with
more plants in it than were quite convenient； a coloured print of
Queen Caroline； several shells； a good many tea…trays； two stuffed
and dried fish in glass cases； and either a curious egg or a curious
pumpkin （but I don’t know which； and I doubt if many people did）
hanging from the ceiling。 I knew Mr Grubble very well by sight；
from his often standing at his door。 A pleasant…looking； stoutish；
middle…aged man； who never seemed to consider himself cosily
dressed for his own fireside without his hat and top…boots； but who
never wore a coat except at church。
He snuffed the candle； and backing away a little to see how it
looked； backed out of the room—unexpectedly to me； for I was
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Bleak House 716
going to ask him by whom he had been sent。 The door of the
opposite parlour being then opened； I heard some voices； familiar
in my ears； I thought； which stopped。 A quick light step
approached the room in which I was； and who should stand before
me； but Richard！
“My dear Esther！” he said； “my best friend！” and he really was
so warm…hearted and earnest； that in the first surprise and
pleasure of his brotherly greeting； I could scarcely find breath to
tell him that Ada was well。
“Answering my very thoughts—always the same dear girl！” said
Richard； leading me to a chair； and seating himself beside me。
I put my veil up； but not quite。
“Always the same dear girl！” said Richard；