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sitting with him since ten o’clock last night。”
“O dear me； he is ill！”
“No； no； believe me； not ill； but not quite well。 He was
depressed and faint—you know he gets so worried and so worn
sometimes—and Ada sent to me of course； and when I came home
I found her note； and came straight here。 Well！ Richard revived so
much after a little while； and Ada was so happy； and so convinced
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Bleak House 1103
of its being my doing； though God knows I had little enough to do
with it； that I remained with him until he had been fast asleep
some hours。 As fast asleep as she is now； I hope！”
His friendly and familiar way of speaking of them； his
unaffected devotion to them； the grateful confidence with which I
knew he inspired my darling； and the comfort he was to her； could
I separate all this from his promise to me？ How thankless I must
have been if it had not recalled the words he said to me； when he
was so moved by the change in my appearance； “I will accept him
as a trust； and it shall be a sacred one！”
We now turned into another narrow street。 “Mr Woodcourt；”
said Mr Bucket； who had eyed him closely as we came along； “our
business takes us to a law…stationer’s here； a certain Mr Snagsby’s。
What； you know him； do you？” He was so quick that he saw it in
an instant。
“Yes； I know a little of him； and have called upon him at this
place。”
“Indeed； sir？” said Mr Bucket。 “Then will you be so good as to
let me leave Miss Summerson with you for a moment； while I go
and have half a word with him？”
The last police officer with whom he had conferred was
standing silently behind us。 I was not aware of it until he struck in；
on my saying I heard some one crying。
“Don’t be alarmed； miss；” he returned。 “It’s Snagsby’s servant。”
“Why； you see；” said Mr Bucket； “the girl’s subject to fits； and
has ’em bad upon her tonight。 A most contrary circumstance it is；
for I want certain information out of that girl； and she must be
brought to reason somehow。”
“At all events； they wouldn’t be up yet； if it wasn’t for her； Mr
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Bleak House 1104
Bucket；” said the other man。 “She’s been at it pretty well all night；
sir。”
“Well； that’s true；” he returned。 “My light’s burnt out。 Show
yours a moment。”
All this passed in a whisper； a door or two from the house in
which I could faintly hear crying and moaning。 In the little round
of light produced for the purpose； Mr Bucket went up to the door
and knocked。 The door was opened； after he had knocked twice；
and he went in； leaving us standing in the street。
“Miss Summerson；” said Mr Woodcourt； “if； without obtruding
myself on your confidence； I may remain near you； pray let me do
so。”
“You are truly kind；” I answered。 “I need wish to keep no secret
of my own from you； if I keep any it is another’s。”
“I quite understand。 Trust me； I will remain near you only so
long as I can fully respect it。”
“I trust implicitly to you；” I said。 “I know and deeply feel how
sacredly you keep your promise。”
After a short time the little round of light shone out again； and
Mr Bucket advanced towards us in it with his earnest face。 “Please
to come in； Miss Summerson；” he said； “and sit down by the fire。
Mr Woodcourt； from information I have received I understand you
are a medical man。 Would you look to this girl and see if anything
can be done to bring her round。 She has a letter somewhere that I
particularly want。 It’s not in her box； and I think it must be about
her； but she is so twisted and clenched up； that she is difficult to
handle without hurting。”
We all three went into the house together； although it was cold
and raw； it smelt close too from being up all night。 In the passage；
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Bleak House 1105
behind the door； stood a scared； sorrowful…looking little man in a
grey coat； who seemed to have a naturally polite manner； and
spoke meekly。
“Downstairs if you please； Mr Bucket；” said he。 “The lady will
excuse the front kitchen； we use it as our workaday sitting…room。
The back is Guster’s bedroom； and in it she’s a…carrying on； poor
thing； to a frightful extent！”
We went downstairs； followed by Mr Snagsby； as I soon found
the little man to be。 In the front kitchen； sitting by the fire； was
Mrs Snagsby； with very red eyes and a very severe expression of
face。
“My little woman；” said Mr Snagsby； entering behind us； “to
wave—not to put too fine a point upon it； my dear—hostilities； for
one single moment； in the course of this prolonged night； here is
Inspector Bucket； Mr Woodcourt and a lady。”
She looked very much astonished； as she had reason for doing；
and looked particularly hard at me。
“My little woman；” said Mr Snagsby； sitting down in the
remotest corner by the door； as if he were taking a liberty； “it is
not unlikely that you may inquire of me why Inspector Bucket； Mr
Woodcourt； and a lady； call upon us in Cook’s Court； Cursitor
Street； at the present hour。 I don’t know。 I have not the least idea。
If I was to be informed； I should despair of understanding； and I’d
rather not be told。”
He appeared so miserable； sitting with his head upon his hand；
and I appeared so unwelcome； that I was going to offer an apology；
when Mr Bucket took the matter on himself。
“Now； Mr Snagsby；” said he； “the best thing you can do； is to go
along with Mr Woodcourt to look after your Guster—”
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Bleak House 1106
“My Guster； Mr Bucket！” cried Mr Snagsby。 “Go on； sir； go on。
I shall be charged with that next。”
“And to hold the candle；” pursued Mr Bucket without
correcting himself； “or hold her； or make yourself useful in any
way you’re asked。 Which there’s not a man alive more ready to do；
for you’re a man of urbanity and suavity； you know； and you’ve got
the sort of heart that can feel for another。 （Mr Woodcourt； would
you be so good as to see to her； and if you can get that letter from
her； to let me have it as soon as ever you can？）” As they went out；
Mr Bucket made me sit down in a corner by the fire； and take off
my wet shoes； which he turned up to dry upon the fender； talking
all the time。
“Don’t you be at all put out； miss； by the want of a hospitable
look from Mrs Snagsby there； because she’s under a mistake
altogether。 She’ll find that out； sooner than will be agreeable to a
lady of her generally correct manner of forming her thoughts；
because I’m a going to explain it to her。” Here； standing on the
hearth with his wet hat and shawls in his hand； himself a pile of
wet； he turned to Mrs Snagsby。 “Now the first thin