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rung as we drew up； and amidst the sound of its deep voice in the
still air； and the distant barking of some dogs； and a gush of light
from the open door； and the smoking and steaming of the heated
horses； and the quickening beating of our own hearts； we alighted
in no inconsiderable confusion。
“Ada； my love； Esther； my dear； you are welcome。 I rejoice to
see you！ Rick； if I had a hand to spare at present； I would give it
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you！”
The gentleman who said these words in a clear； bright；
hospitable voice； had one of his arms round Ada’s waist； and the
other round mine； and kissed us both in a fatherly way； and bore
us across the hall into a ruddy little room； all in a glow with a
blazing fire。 Here he kissed us again； and opening his arms； made
us sit down side by side； on a sofa ready drawn out near the
hearth。 I felt that if we had been at all demonstrative； he would
have run away in a moment。
“Now； Rick！” said he； “I have a hand at liberty。 A word in
earnest is as good as a speech。 I am heartily glad to see you。 You
are at home。 Warm yourself！”
Richard shook him by both hands with an intuitive mixture of
respect and frankness； and only saying （though with an
earnestness that rather alarmed me； I was so afraid of Mr
Jarndyce’s suddenly disappearing）； “You are very kind； sir！ We
are very much obliged to you！” laid aside his hat and coat； and
came up to the fire。
“And how did you like the ride？” And how did you like Mrs
Jellyby； my dear？” said Mr Jarndyce to Ada。
While Ada was speaking to him in reply； I glanced （I need not
say with how much interest） at his face。 It was a handsome； lively；
quick face； full of change and motion； and his hair was a silvered
iron…grey。 I took him to be nearer sixty than fifty； but he was
upright； hearty； and robust。 From the moment of his first speaking
to us； his voice had connected itself with an association in my
mind that I could not define； but now； all at once； a something
sudden in his manner； and a pleasant expression in his eyes；
recalled the gentleman in the stage…coach； six years ago； on the
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memorable day of my journey to Reading。 I was certain it was he。 I
never was so frightened in my life as when I made the discovery；
for he caught my glance； and appearing to read my thoughts； gave
such a look at the door that I thought we had lost him。
However； I am happy to say he remained where he was； and
asked me what I thought of Mrs Jellyby？
“She exerts herself very much for Africa； sir；” I said。
“Nobly！” returned Mr Jarndyce。 “But you answer like Ada。”
Whom I had not heard。 “You all think something else； I see。”
“We rather thought；” said I； glancing at Richard and Ada； who
entreated me with their eyes to speak； “that perhaps she was a
little unmindful of her home。”
“Floored！” cried Mr Jarndyce。
I was rather alarmed again。
“Well！ I want to know your real thoughts； my dear。 I may have
sent you there on purpose。”
“We thought that； perhaps；” said I； hesitating； “it is right to
begin with the obligations of home； sir； and that； perhaps； while
those are overlooked and neglected； no other duties can possibly
be substituted for them。”
“The little Jellybys；” said Richard； coming to my relief； “are
really—I can’t help expressing myself strongly； sir—in a devil of a
state。”
“She means well；” said Mr Jarndyce； hastily。 “The wind’s in the
east。”
“It was in the north； sir； as we came down；” observed Richard。
“My dear Rick；” said Mr Jarndyce； poking the fire； “I’ll take an
oath it’s either in the east； or going to be。 I am always conscious of
an uncomfortable sensation now and then when the wind is
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blowing in the east。”
“Rheumatism； sir？” said Richard。
“I dare say it is； Rick。 I believe it is。 And so the little Jell—I had
my doubts about ’em—are in a—oh； Lord； yes； it’s easterly！” said
Mr Jarndyce。
He had taken two or three undecided turns up and down while
uttering these broken sentences； retaining the poker in one hand
and rubbing his hair with the other； with a good…natured vexation；
at once so whimsical and so loveable； that I am sure we were more
delighted with him than we could possibly have expressed in any
words。 He gave an arm to Ada and an arm to me； and bidding
Richard bring a candle； was leading the way out； when he
suddenly turned us all back again。
“Those little Jellybys。 Couldn’t you—didn’t you—now； if it had
rained sugar…plums； or three…cornered raspberry tarts； or anything
of that sort！” said Mr Jarndyce。
“O cousin —！” Ada hastily began。
“Good； my pretty pet。 I like cousin。 Cousin John； perhaps； is
better。”
“Then； cousin John！—” Ada laughingly began again。
“Ha； ha！ Very good indeed！” said Mr Jarndyce； with great
enjoyment。 “Sounds uncommonly natural。 Yes； my dear？”
“It did better than that。 It rained Esther。”
“Ay？” said Mr Jarndyce。 “What did Esther do？”
“Why； cousin John；” said Ada； clasping her hands upon his
arm； and shaking her head at me across him—for I wanted her to
be quiet： “Esther was their friend directly。 Esther nursed them；
coaxed them to sleep； washed and dressed them； told them stories；
kept them quiet； bought them keepsakes”—My dear girl！ I had
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only gone out with Peepy； after he was found； and given him a
little； tiny horse！—“and； cousin John； she softened poor Caroline；
the eldest one； so much； and was so thoughtful for me and so
amiable！—No； no； I won’t be contradicted； Esther dear！ You know；
you know； it’s true！”
The warm…hearted darling leaned across her cousin John； and
kissed me； and then looking up in his face； boldly said； “At all
events； cousin John； I will thank you for the companion you have
given me。” I felt as if she challenged him to run away。 But he
didn’t。
“Where did you say the wind was； Rick？” asked Mr Jarndyce。
“In the north； as we came down； sir。”
“You are right。 There’s no east in it。 A mistake of mine。 Come；
girls； come and see your home！”
It was one of those delightfully irregular houses where you go
up and down steps out of one room into another； and where you
come upon more rooms when