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Bleak House 951
found him in his barrack…room but a little while before； except that
he was not writing； but was sitting with a book before him； from
which his eyes and thoughts were far astray。 As the door chanced
to be standing open； Mr Woodcourt was in his presence for some
moments without being perceived； and he told me that he never
could forget the haggardness of his face； and the dejection of his
manner； before he was aroused from his dream。
“Woodcourt； my dear fellow！” cried Richard； starting up with
extended hands； “you come upon my vision like a ghost。”
“A friendly one；” he replied； “and only waiting； as they say
ghosts do； to be addressed。 How does the mortal world go？” They
were seated now； near together。
“Badly enough； and slowly enough；” said Richard； “speaking at
least for my part of it。”
“What part is that？”
“The Chancery part。”
“I never heard；” returned Mr Woodcourt； shaking his head； “of
its going well yet。”
“Nor I；” said Richard； moodily。 “Who ever did？”
He brightened again in a moment； and said； with his natural
openness：
“Woodcourt； I should be sorry to be misunderstood by you；
even if I gained by it in your estimation。 You must know that I
have done no good this long time。 I have not intended to do much
harm； but I seem to have been capable of nothing else。 It may be
that I should have done better by keeping out of the net into which
my destiny has worked me； but I think not； though I dare say you
will soon hear； if you have not already heard； a very different
opinion。 To make short of a long story； I am afraid I have wanted
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Bleak House 952
an object； but I have an object now—or it has me—and it is too late
to discuss it。 Take me as I am； and make the best of me。”
“A bargain；” said Mr Woodcourt。 “Do as much by me in
return。”
“Oh！ You；” returned Richard； “you can pursue your art for its
own sake； and can put your hand upon the plough； and never
turn； and can strike a purpose out of anything。 You； and I； are very
different creatures。”
He spoke regretfully； and lapsed for a moment into his weary
condition。
“Well； well！” he cried； shaking it off； “everything has an end。
We shall see！ So you will take me as I am； and make the best of
me？”
“Ay！ indeed I will。” They shook hands upon it laughingly； but in
deep earnestness。 I can answer； for one of them； with my heart of
hearts。
“You come as a godsend；” said Richard； “for I have seen
nobody here yet but Vholes。 Woodcourt； there is one subject I
should like to mention； for once and for all； in the beginning of our
treaty。 You can hardly make the best of me if I don’t。 You know； I
dare say； that I have an attachment to my cousin Ada？”
Mr Woodcourt replied that I had hinted as much to him。
“Now pray；” returned Richard； “don’t think me a heap of
selfishness。 Don’t suppose that I am splitting my head and half
breaking my heart over this miserable Chancery suit； for my own
rights and interests alone。 Ada’s are bound up with mine； they
can’t be separated； Vholes works for both of us。 Do think of that！”
He was so very solicitous on this head； that Mr Woodcourt gave
him the strongest assurances that he did him no injustice。
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Bleak House 953
“You see；” said Richard； with something pathetic in his manner
of lingering on the point； though it was offhand and unstudied； “to
an upright fellow like you； bringing a friendly face like yours here；
I cannot bear the thought of appearing selfish and mean。 I want to
see Ada righted； Woodcourt； as well as myself； I want to do my
utmost to right her； as well as myself； I venture what I can scrape
together to extricate her； as well as myself。 Do； I beseech you；
think of that！”
Afterwards； when Mr Woodcourt came to reflect on what had
passed； he was so very much impressed by the strength of
Richard’s anxiety on this point； that in telling me generally of his
first visit to Symond’s Inn； he particularly dwelt upon it。 It revived
a fear I had had before； that my dear girl’s little property would be
absorbed by Mr Vholes； and that Richard’s justification to himself
would be sincerely this。 It was just as I began to take care of
Caddy； that the interview took place； and I now return to the time
when Caddy had recovered； and the shade was still between me
and my darling。
I proposed to Ada； that morning； that we should go and see
Richard。 It a little surprised me to find that she hesitated； and was
not so radiantly willing as I had expected。
“My dear；” said I； “you have not had any difference with
Richard since I have been so much away？”
“No； Esther。”
“Not heard of him perhaps？” said I。
“Yes； I have heard of him；” said Ada。
Such tears in her eyes； and such love in her face。 I could not
make my darling out。 Should I go to Richard’s by myself； I said？
No； Ada thought I had better not go by myself。 Would she go with
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Bleak House 954
me？ Yes； Ada thought she had better go with me。 Should we go
now？ Yes； let us go now。 Well； I could not understand my darling；
with the tears in her eyes and the love in her face！
We were soon equipped； and went out。 It was a sombre day；
and drops of chill rain fell at intervals。 It was one of those
colourless days when everything looks heavy and harsh。 The
houses frowned at us； the dust rose at us； the smoke swooped at
us； nothing made any compromise about itself； or wore a softened
aspect。 I fancied my beautiful girl quite out of place in the rugged
streets； and I thought there were more funerals passing along the
dismal pavements； than I had ever seen before。
We had first to find out Symond’s Inn。 We were going to inquire
in a shop； when Ada said she thought it was near Chancery Lane。
“We are not likely to be far out； my love； if we go in that direction；”
said I。 So to Chancery Lane we went； and there； sure enough； we
saw it written up。 Symond’s Inn。
We had next to find out the number。 “Or Mr Vholes’s office will
do；” I recollected； “for Mr Vholes’s office is next door。” Upon
which Ada said； perhaps that was Mr Vholes’s office in the corner
there。 And it really was。
Then came the question； which of the two next doors？ I was for
going to the one； and my darling was for going to the other； and
my darling was right again。 So； up we went to the second story；
where we came to Richard’s name in great white letters on a
hearse…like p