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astonished by such unreason and injustice in one of their suitors；”
pursued my Guardian。 “When those learned gentlemen begin to
raise moss…roses from the powder they sow in their wigs； I shall
begin to be astonished too！”
He checked himself in glancing towards the window to look
where the wind was； and leaned on the back of my chair instead。
“Well； well； little woman！ To go on； my dear。 This rock we must
leave to time； chance； and hopeful circumstance。 We must not
shipwreck Ada upon it。 She cannot afford； and he cannot afford；
the remotest chance of another separation from a friend。
Therefore； I have particularly begged of Woodcourt； and I now
particularly beg of you； my dear； not to move this subject with
Rick。 Let it rest。 Next week； next month； next year； sooner or later；
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he will see me with clearer eyes。 I can wait。”
But I had already discussed it with him； I confessed； and so； I
thought； had Mr Woodcourt。
“So he tells me；” returned my Guardian。 “Very good。 He has
made his protest； and Dame Durden has made hers； and there is
nothing more to be said about it。 Now； I come to Mrs Woodcourt。
How do you like her； my dear？”
In answer to this question； which was oddly abrupt； I said I
liked her very much； and thought she was more agreeable than
she used to be。
“I think so too；” said my Guardian。 “Less pedigree？ Not so
much of Morgan…ap—what’s his name？”
That was what I meant； I acknowledged； though he was a very
harmless person； even when we had had more of him。
“Still； upon the whole； he is as well in his native mountains；”
said my Guardian。 “I agree with you。 Then； little woman； can I do
better for a time than retain Mrs Woodcourt here？”
No。 And yet—My Guardian looked at me； waiting for what I had
to say。
I had nothing to say。 At least I had nothing in my mind that I
could say。 I had an undefined impression that it might have been
better if we had had some other inmate； but I could hardly have
explained why； even to myself。 Or； if to myself； certainly not to
anybody else。
“You see；” said my Guardian； “our neighbourhood is in
Woodcourt’s way； and he can come here to see her as often as he
likes； which is agreeable to them both； and she is familiar to us；
and fond of you。
Yes。 That was undeniable。 I had nothing to say against it。 I
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could not have suggested a better arrangement； but I was not
quite easy in my mind。 Esther； Esther； why not？ Esther； think！
“It is a very good plan indeed； dear Guardian； and we could not
do better。”
“Sure； little woman？”
Quite sure。 I had had a moment’s time to think； since I had
urged that duty on myself； and I was quite sure。
“Good；” said my Guardian。 “It shall be done。 Carried
unanimously。”
“Carried unanimously；” I repeated； going on with my work。
It was a cover for his book…table that I happened to be
ornamenting。 It had been laid by on the night preceding my sad
journey； and never resumed。 I showed it to him now； and he
admired it highly。 After I had explained the pattern to him； and all
the great effects that were to come out by…and…by； I thought I
would go back to our last theme。
“You said dear Guardian； when we spoke of Mr Woodcourt
before Ada left us； that you thought he would give a long trial to
another country。 Have you been advising him since？”
“Yes； little woman； pretty often。”
“Has he decided to do so？”
“I rather think not。”
“Some other prospect has opened to him； perhaps？” said I。
“Why—yes—perhaps；” returned my Guardian； beginning his
answer in a very deliberate manner。 “About half a year hence or
so； there is a medical attendant for the poor to be appointed at a
certain place in Yorkshire。 It is a thriving place； pleasantly
situated； streams and streets； town and country； mill and moor；
and seems to present an opening for such a man。 I mean； a man
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whose hopes and aims may sometimes lie （as most men’s
sometimes do； I dare say） above the ordinary level； but to whom
the ordinary level will be high enough after all； if it should prove to
be a way of usefulness and good service leading to no other。 All
generous spirits are ambitious； I suppose； but the ambition that
calmly trusts itself to such a road； instead of spasmodically trying
to fly over it； is of the kind I care for。 It is Woodcourt’s kind。”
“And will he get this appointment？” I asked。
“Why； little woman；” returned my Guardian； smiling； “not
being an oracle； I cannot confidently say； but I think so。 His
reputation stands very high； there were people from that part of
the country in the shipwreck； and； strange to say； I believe the
best man has the best chance。 You must not suppose it to be a fine
endowment。 It is a very； very commonplace affair； my dear； an
appointment to a great amount of work and a small amount of pay；
but better things will gather about it； it may be fairly hoped。”
“The poor of that place will have reason to bless the choice； if it
falls on Mr Woodcourt； Guardian。”
“You are right； little woman； that I am sure they will。”
We said no more about it； nor did he say a word about the
future of Bleak House。 But it was the first time I had taken my seat
at his side in my mourning dress； and that accounted for it； I
considered。
I now began to visit my dear girl every day； in the dull dark
corner where she lived。 The morning was my usual time； but
whenever I found I had an hour or so to spare； I put on my bonnet
and bustled off to Chancery Lane。 They were both so glad to see
me at all hour and used to brighten up so when they heard me
opening the door and coming in （being quite at home； I never
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Bleak House 1122
knocked）； that I had no fear of becoming troublesome just yet。
On these occasions I frequently found Richard absent。 At other
times he would be writing； or reading papers in the Cause； at that
table of his； so covered with papers； which was never disturbed。
Sometimes I would come upon him； lingering at the door of Mr
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