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leaves the old housekeeper to her emotions for a little while—not
without passing the back of her hand across her own motherly
eyes—and presently chirps up in her cheery manner：—
“So I says to George when I goes to call him in to tea （he
pretended to be smoking his pipe outside）； ‘What ails you this
afternoon； George； for gracious sake？ I have seen all sorts； and I
have seen you pretty often in season and out of season； abroad and
at home； and I never see you so melancholy penitent。’ ‘Why； Mrs
Bagnet；’ says George； ‘it’s because I am melancholy and penitent
both； this afternoon； that you see me so。’ ‘What have you done； old
fellow？’ I says。 ‘Why； Mrs Bagnet；’ says George； shaking his head；
‘what I have done has been done this many a long year； and is best
not tried to be undone now。 If I ever get to Heaven； it won’t be for
being a good son to a widowed mother； I say no more。 Now；
ma’am； when George says to me that it’s best not tried to be
undone now； I have my thoughts as I have often had before； and I
draw it out of George how he comes to have such things on him
that afternoon。 Then George tells me that he has seen by chance；
at the lawyer’s office； a fine old lady that has brought his mother
plain before him； and he runs on about that old lady till he quite
forgets himself； and paints her picture to me as she used to be；
years upon years back。 So I says to George when he has done； who
is this old lady he has seen？ And George tells me it’s Mrs
Rouncewell； housekeeper for more than half a century to the
Dedlock family down at Chesney Wold in Lincolnshire。 George has
frequently told me before that he’s a Lincolnshire man； and I says
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to my old Lignum that night； ‘Lignum； that’s his mother for five…
and…for…ty pound！’“ All this Mrs Bagnet now relates for the
twentieth time at least within the last four hours。 Trilling it out；
like a kind of bird； with a pretty high note； that it may be audible
to the old lady above the hum of the wheels。
“Bless you； and thank you；” says Mrs Rouncewell。 “Bless you；
and thank you； my worthy soul！”
“Dear heart！” cries Mrs Bagnet； in the most natural manner。
“No thanks to me； I am sure。 Thanks to yourself； ma’am； for being
so ready to pay ’em！ And mind once more； ma’am； what you had
best do on finding George to be your own son； is； to make him—for
your sake—have every sort of help to put himself in the right； and
clear himself of a charge of which he is as innocent as you or me。 It
won’t do to have truth and justice on his side； he must have law
and lawyers；” exclaims the old girl； apparently persuaded that the
latter form a separate establishment； and have dissolved
partnership with truth and justice for ever and a day。
“He shall have；” says Mrs Rouncewell； “all the help that can be
got for him in the world； my dear。 I will spend all I have； and
thankfully； to procure it。 Sir Leicester will do his best； the whole
family will do their best。 I—I know something； my dear； and will
make my own appeal； as his mother parted from him all these
years； and finding him in a jail at last。”
The extreme disquietude of the old housekeeper’s manner in
saying this； her broken words； and her wringing of her hands；
make a powerful impression on Mrs Bagnet； and would astonish
her but that she refers them all to her sorrow for her son’s
condition。 And yet Mrs Bagnet wonders； too； why Mrs Rouncewell
should murmur so distractedly； “My Lady； my Lady； my Lady！”
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Bleak House 1027
over and over again。
The frosty night wears away； and the dawn breaks； and the
post…chaise comes rolling on through the early mist； like the ghost
of a chaise departed。 It has plenty of spectral company； in ghosts
of trees and hedges； slowly vanishing and giving place to the
realities of day。 London reached； the travellers alight； the old
housekeeper in great tribulation and confusion； Mrs Bagnet； quite
fresh and collected—as she would be； if her next point； with no
new equipage and outfit； were the Cape of Good Hope； the Island
of Ascension； Hong Kong； or any other military station。
But when they set out for the prison where the trooper is
confined； the old lady has managed to draw about her； with her
lavender…coloured dress； much of the staid calmness which is its
usual accompaniment。 A wonderfully grave； precise； and
handsome piece of old china she looks； though her heart beats
fast； and her stomacher is ruffled more than even the
remembrance of this wayward son has ruffled it these many years。
Approaching the cell； they find the door opening and a warder
in the act of coming out。 The old girl promptly makes a sign of
entreaty to him to say nothing； assenting； with a nod； he suffers
them to enter as he shuts the door。
So； George； who is writing at his table； supposing himself to be
alone； does not raise his eyes； but remains absorbed。 The old
housekeeper looks at him； and those wandering hands of hers are
quite enough for Mrs Bagnet’s confirmation； even if she could see
the mother and the son together； knowing what she knows； and
doubt their relationship。
Not a rustle of the housekeeper’s dress； not a gesture； not a
word betrays her。 She stands looking at him as he writes on； all
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Bleak House 1028
unconscious； and only her fluttering hands give utterance to her
emotions。 But they are very eloquent； very； very eloquent。 Mrs
Bagnet understands them。 They speak of gratitude； of joy； of grief；
of hope； of inextinguishable affection； cherished with no return
since this stalwart man was a stripling； of a better son loved less；
and this son loved so fondly and so proudly； and they speak in
such touching language； that Mrs Bagnet’s eyes brim up with
tears； and they run glistening down her sun…brown face。
“George Rouncewell！ O my dear child； turn and look at me！”
The trooper starts up； clasps his mother round the neck； and
falls down on his knees before her。 Whether in a late repentance；
whether in the first association that comes back upon him； he puts
his hands together as a child does when it says its prayers； and
raising them towards her breast； bows down his head； and cries。
“My George； my dearest son！ Always my favourite； and my
favourite still； where have you been these cr