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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； just as heartily as
before。
I put my veil up altogether； and laying my hand on Richard’s
sleeve； and looking in his face； told him how much I thanked him
for his kind welcome； and how greatly I rejoiced to see him； the
more so； because of the determination I had made in my illness；
which I now conveyed to him。
“My love；” said Richard； “there is no one with whom I have a
greater wish to talk； than you； for I want you to understand me。”
“And I want you； Richard；” said I； shaking my head； “to
understand some one else。”
“Since you refer so immediately to John Jarndyce；” said
Richard—“I suppose you mean him？”
“Of course I do。”
“Then； I may say at once that I am glad of it； because it is on
that subject that I am anxious to be understood。 By you； mind—
you； my dear！ I am not accountable to Mr Jarndyce； or Mr
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Anybody。”
I was pained to find him taking this tone； and he observed it。
“Well； well； my dear；” said Richard； “we won’t go into that； now。
I want to appear quietly in your country house here； with you
under my arm； and give my charming cousin a surprise。 I suppose
your loyalty to John Jarndyce will allow that？”
“My dear Richard；” I returned； “you know you would be
heartily welcome at his house—your home； if you will but consider
it so； and you are as heartily welcome here。”
“Spoken like the best of little women！” cried Richard； gaily。
I asked him how he liked his profession？”
“Oh； I like it well enough！” said Richard。 “It’s all right。 It does
as well as anything else； for a time。 I don’t know that I shall care
about it when I come to be settled； but I can sell out then； and—
however； never mind all that botheration at present。”
So young and handsome； and in all respects so perfectly the
opposite of Miss Flite！ And yet； in the clouded； eager seeking look
that passed over him； so dreadfully like her！
“I am in town on leave； just now；” said Richard。
“Indeed？”
“Yes。 I have run over to look after my—my Chancery interests；
before the long vacation；” said Richard； forcing a careless laugh。
“We are beginning to spin along with that old suit at last； I
promise you。”
No wonder that I shook my head！
“As you say； it’s not a pleasant subject。” Richard spoke with the
same shade crossing his face as before。 “Let it go to the four winds
for tonight。—Puff！ Gone！—Who do you suppose is with me？”
“Was it Mr Skimpole’s voice I heard？”
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“That’s the man！ He does me more good than anybody。 What a
fascinating child it is！”
I asked Richard if anyone knew of their coming down together？
He answered； No； nobody。 He had been to call upon the dear old
infant—so he called Mr Skimpole—and the dear old infant had
told him where we were； and he had told the dear old infant he
was bent on coming to see us； and the dear old infant had directly
wanted to come too； and so he had brought him。 “And he is
worth—not to say his sordid expenses—but thrice his weight in
gold；” said Richard。 “He is such a cheery fellow。 No worldliness
about him。 Fresh and green…hearted！”
I certainly did not see the proof of Mr Skimpole’s unworldliness
in his having his expenses paid by Richard； but I made no remark
about that。 Indeed； he came in； and turned our conversation。 He
was charmed to see me； said he had been shedding delicious tears
of joy and sympathy； at intervals for six weeks； on my account； had
never been so happy as in hearing of my progress； began to
understand the mixture of good and evil in the world now； felt that
he appreciated health the more； when somebody else was ill；
didn’t know but what it might be in the scheme of things that A
should squint to make B happier in looking straight； or that C
should carry a wooden leg； to make D better satisfied with his
flesh and blood in a silk stocking。
“My dear Miss Summerson； here is our friend Richard；” said
Mr Skimpole； “full of the brightest visions of the future； which he
evokes out of the darkness of Chancery。 Now that’s delightful；
that’s inspiriting； that’s full of poetry！ In old times； the woods and
solitudes were made joyous to the shepherd by the imaginary
piping and dancing of Pan and the Nymphs。 This present
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shepherd； our pastoral Richard； brightens the dull Inns of Court
by making Fortune and her train sport through them to the
melodious notes of a judgment from the bench。 That’s very
pleasant； you know！ Some ill…conditioned growling fellow may say
to me； ‘What’s the use of these legal and equitable abuses？ How do
you defend them？’ I reply； ‘My growling friend； I don’t defend
them； but they are very agreeable to me。 There is a shepherd…
youth； a friend of mine； who transmutes them into something
highly fascinating to my simplicity。 I don’t say it is for this that
they exist—for I am a child among you worldly grumblers； and not
called upon to account to you or myself for anything—but it may
be so。’”
I began seriously to think that Richard could scarcely have
found a worse friend than this。 It made me uneasy that at such a
time； when he most required some right principle and purpose； he
should have this captivating looseness and putting…off of
everything； this airy dispensing with all principle and purpose； at
his elbow。 I thought I could understand how such a nature as my
Guardian’s； experienced in the world； and forced to contemplate
the miserable evasions and contentions of the family misfortune；
found an immense relief in Mr Skimpole’s avowal of his
weaknesses and display of guileless candour； but I could not
satisfy myself that it was as artless as it seemed； or that it did not
serve Mr Skimpole’s idle turn quite as well as any other part； and
with less trouble。
They both walked back with me； and Mr Skimpole leaving us at
the gate； I walked softly in with Richard； and said； “Ada； my love； I
have brought a gentleman to visit you。” It was not difficult to read
the blushing； startled face。 She loved him dearly； and he knew it；
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