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up and down steps out of one room into another； and where you
come upon more rooms when you think you have seen all there
are； and where there is a bountiful provision of little halls and
passages； and where you find still older； cottage…rooms in
unexpected places； with lattice windows and green growth
pressing through them。 Mine； which we entered first； was of this
kind； with an up…and…down roof； that had more corners in it than I
ever counted afterwards； and a chimney （there was a wood…fire on
the hearth） paved all around with pure white tiles； in every one of
which a bright miniature of the fire was blazing。 Out of this room；
you went down two steps into a charming little sitting…room；
looking down upon a flower…garden； which room was henceforth
to belong to Ada and me。 Out of this you went up three steps； into
Ada’s bedroom； which had a fine broad window； commanding a
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beautiful view （we saw a great expanse of darkness lying
underneath the stars）； to which there was a hollow window…seat； in
which； with a spring…lock； three dear Adas might have been lost at
once。 Out of this room； you passed into a little gallery； with which
the other best rooms （only two） communicated； and so； by a little
staircase of shallow steps； with a number of corner stairs in it；
considering its length； down into the hall。 But if； instead of going
out at Ada’s door； you came back into my room； and went out at
the door by which you had entered it； and turned up a few crooked
steps that branched off in an unexpected manner from the stairs；
you lost yourself in passages； with mangles in them； and three…
cornered tables； and a Native…Hindoo chair； which was also a sofa；
a box； and a bedstead； and looked in every form； something
between a bamboo skeleton and a great bird…cage； and had been
brought from India nobody knew by whom or when。 From these；
you came on Richard’s room； which was part library； part sitting…
room； part bedroom； and seemed indeed a comfortable compound
of many rooms。 Out of that； you went straight； with a little interval
of passage； to the plain room where Mr Jarndyce slept； all the year
round； with his window open； his bedstead without any furniture
standing in the middle of the floor for more air； and his cold…bath
gaping for him in a smaller room adjoining。 Out of that； you came
into another passage； where there were backstairs； and where you
could hear the horses being rubbed down； outside the stable； and
being told to Hold up； and Get over； as they slipped about very
much on the uneven stones。 Or you might； if you came out at
another door （every room had at least two doors）； go straight down
to the hall again by half…a…dozen steps and a low archway；
wondering how you got back there； or had ever got out of it。
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The furniture； old…fashioned rather than old； like the house；
was as pleasantly irregular。 Ada’s sleeping…room was all flowers—
in chintz and paper； in velvet； in needlework； in the brocade of two
stiff courtly chairs； which stood； each attended by a little page of a
stool for greater state； on either side of the fireplace。 Our sitting…
room was green； and had； framed and glazed； upon the walls；
numbers of surprising and surprised birds； staring out of pictures
at a real trout in a case； as brown and shining as if it had been
served with gravy； at the death of Captain Cook； and at the whole
process of preparing tea in China； as depicted by Chinese artists。
In my room there were oval engravings of the months—ladies hay…
making； in short waists； and large hats tied under the chin； for
June—smooth…legged noblemen； pointing； with cocked hats； to
village…steeples； for October。 Half…length portraits； in crayons；
abounded all through the house； but were so dispersed that I
found the brother of a youthful officer of mine in the china…closet；
and the grey old age of my pretty young bride； with a flower in her
bodice； in the breakfast room。 As substitutes； I had four angels； of
Queen Anne’s reign； taking a complacent gentleman to heaven； in
festoons； with some difficulty； and a composition in needlework；
representing fruit； a kettle； and an alphabet。 All the moveables；
from the wardrobes to the chairs and tables； hangings； glasses；
even to the pincushions and scent…bottles on the dressing…tables；
displayed the same quaint variety。 They agreed in nothing but
their perfect neatness； their display of the whitest linen； and their
storing…up； wheresoever the existence of a drawer； small or large；
rendered it possible； of quantities of rose…leaves and sweet
lavender。 Such； with its illuminated windows； softened here and
there by shadows of curtains； shining out upon the starlight night；
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with its light； and warmth； and comfort； with its hospitable jingle；
at a distance； of preparations for dinner； with the face of its
generous master brightening everything we saw； and just wind
enough without to sound a low accompaniment to everything we
heard； were our first impressions of Bleak House。
“I am glad you like it；” said Mr Jarndyce； when he had brought
us round again to Ada’s sitting…room。 “It makes no pretensions；
but it is a comfortable little place； I hope； and will be more so with
such bright young looks in it。 You have barely half an hour before
dinner。 There’s no one here but the finest creature upon earth—a
child。”
“More children； Esther！” said Ada。
“I don’t mean literally a child；” pursued Mr Jarndyce； “not a
child in years。 He is grown up—he is at least as old as I am—but in
simplicity； and freshness； and enthusiasm； and a fine guileless
inaptitude for all worldly affairs； he is a perfect child。”
We felt that he must be very interesting。
“He knows Mrs Jellyby；” said Mr Jarndyce。 “He is a musical
man； an Amateur； but might have been a Professional。 He is an
Artist； too； an Amateur； but might have been a Professional。 He is
a man of attainments and of captivating manners。 He has been
unfortunate in his affairs； and unfortunate in his pursuits； and
unfortunate in his family； but he don’t care—he’s a child！”
“Did you imply that he has children of his own； sir？” inquired
Richard。
“Yes。 Rick！ Half…a…dozen。 More！ Near a dozen； I should think。
But he has never looked after them。 How could he？ He wanted
somebody to look after him。 He is a child； you know！” said Mr
Jarndyce。
Charles Dickens