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’and tell me what is the true legitimacy； when you shall have quite
made up your mind on that subject。’ Why； honour to her old Welsh
blood； my dear！” cried my Guardian； with enthusiasm； “I believe
the heart it animates beats no less warmly； no less admiringly； no
less lovingly； towards Dame Durden； than my own！”
He tenderly raised my head； and as I clung to him； kissed me in
his old fatherly way again and again。 What a light； now； on the
protecting manner I had thought about。
“One more last word。 When Allan Woodcourt spoke to you； my
dear； he spoke with my knowledge and consent—but I gave him
no encouragement； not I； for these surprises were my great
reward； and I was too miserly to part with a scrap of it。 He was to
come； and tell me all that passed； and he did。 I have no more to
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Bleak House 1179
say。 My dearest； Allan Woodcourt stood beside your father when
he lay dead—stood beside your mother。 This is Bleak House。 This
day I give this house its little mistress； and before God； it is the
brightest day in all my life！”
He rose and raised me with him。 We were no longer alone。 My
husband—I have called him by that name full seven happy years
now—stood at my side。
“Allan；” said my Guardian； “take from me； a willing gift； the
best wife that ever a man had。 What more can I say for you than
that I know you deserve her！ Take with her the little home she
brings you。 You know what she will make it； Allan； you know what
she has made its namesake。 Let me share its felicity sometimes；
and what do I sacrifice？ Nothing； nothing。”
He kissed me once again； and now the tears were in his eyes； as
he said more softly：
“Esther； my dearest； after so many years； there is a kind of
parting in this too。 I know that my mistake has caused you some
distress。 Forgive your old Guardian； in restoring him to his old
place in your affections； and blot it out of your memory。 Allan； take
my dear！”
He moved away from under the green roof of leaves； stopping
in the sunlight outside； and turning cheerfully towards us； said：
“I shall be found about here somewhere。 It’s a West wind； little
woman； due West！ Let no one thank me any more； for I am going
to revert to my bachelor habits； and if anybody disregards this
warning； I’ll run away and never come back！”
What happiness was ours that day； what joy； what rest； what
hope； what gratitude； what bliss！ We were to be married before the
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Bleak House 1180
month was out； but when we were to come and take possession of
our own house； was to depend on Richard and Ada。
We all three went home together next day。 As soon as we
arrived in town； Allan went straight to see Richard； and to carry
our joyful news to him and my darling。 Late as it was； I meant to
go to her for a few minutes before lying down to sleep； but I went
home with my Guardian first； to make his tea for him； and to
occupy the old chair by his side； for I did not like to think of its
being empty so soon。
When we came home； we found that a young man had called
three times in the course of that one day； to see me； and that；
having been told； on the occasion of his third call； than I was not
expected to return before ten o’clock at night； he had left word；
“that he would call about then。” He had left his card three times。
MR GUPPY。
As I naturally speculated on the object of these visits； and as I
always associated something ludicrous with the visitor； it fell out
that in laughing about Mr Guppy I told my Guardian of his old
proposal； and his subsequent retraction。 “After that；” said my
Guardian； “we will certainly receive this hero。” So； instructions
were given that Mr Guppy should be shown in； when he came
again； and they were scarcely given when he did come again。
He was embarrassed when he found my Guardian with me； but
recovered himself； and said； “How de do； sir？”
“How do you do； sir？” returned my Guardian。
“Thank you； sir； I am tolerable；” returned Mr Guppy。 “Will you
allow me to introduce my mother； Mrs Guppy of the Old Street
Road； and my particular friend； Mr Weevle。 That is to say； my
friend has gone by the name of Weevle； but his name is really and
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Bleak House 1181
truly Jobling。”
My Guardian begged them to be seated； and they all sat down。
“Tony；” said Mr Guppy to his friend； after an awkward silence。
“Will you open the case？”
“Do it yourself；” returned the friend； rather tartly。
“Well； Mr Jarndyce； sir；” Mr Guppy； after a moment’s
consideration； began； to the great diversion of his mother； which
she displayed by nudging Mr Jobling with her elbow； and winking
at me in a most remarkable manner； “I had an idea that I should
see Miss Summerson by herself； and was not quite prepared for
your esteemed presence。 But Miss Summerson has mentioned to
you； perhaps； that something has passed between us on former
occasions？”
“Miss Summerson；” returned my Guardian smiling； “has made
a communication to that effect to me。”
“That；” said Mr Guppy； “makes matters easier。 Sir； I have come
out of my articles at Kenge and Carboy’s； and I believe with
satisfaction to all parties。 I am now admitted （after undergoing an
examination that’s enough to badger a man blue； touching a pack
of nonsense that he don’t want to know） on the roll of attorneys；
and have taken out my certificate； if it would be any satisfaction to
you to see it。”
“Thank you； Mr Guppy；” returned my Guardian。 “I am quite
willing—I believe I use a legal phrase—to admit the certificate。”
Mr Guppy therefore desisted from taking something out of his
pocket； and proceeded without it。
“I have no capital myself； but my mother has a little property
which takes the form of an annuity；” here Mr Guppy’s mother
rolled her head as if she never could sufficiently enjoy the
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Bleak House 1182
observation； and put her handkerchief to her mouth； and again
winked at me； “and a few pounds for expenses out of pocket in
conducting business； will never be wanting； free of interest； which
is an advantage； you know；” said Mr Guppy； feelingly。
“Certainly an advantage；” returned my Guardian。
“I have some connection；” pursued Mr Guppy； and it lays in the
direction of Walcot Square； Lambeth。 I have therefore taken a
ouse