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I begin to recover my strength； I feel as if I should get well there；
sooner than anywhere。”
“Why； so have I been thinking； too； Rick；” said my Guardian；
“and our little woman likewise； she and I have been talking of it；
this very day。 I dare say her husband won’t object。 What do you
think？”
Richard smiled； and lifted up his arm to touch him； as he stood
behind the head of his couch。
“I say nothing of Ada；” said Richard； “but I think of her； and
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Bleak House 1194
have thought of her very much。 Look at her！ see her here； sir；
bending over this pillow when she has so much need to rest upon
it herself； my dear love； my poor girl！”
He clasped her in his arms； and none of us spoke。 He gradually
released her； and she looked upon us； and looked up to Heaven；
and moved her lips。
“When I get down to Bleak House；” said Richard； “I shall have
much to tell you； sir； and you will have much to show me。 You will
go； won’t you？”
“Undoubtedly； dear Rick。”
“Thank you； like you like you；” said Richard。 “But it’s all like
you。 They have been telling me how you planned it； and how you
remembered all Esther’s familiar tastes and ways。 It will be like
coming to the old Bleak House again。”
“And you will come there too； I hope； Rick。 I am a solitary man
now； you know； and it will be a charity to come to me。 A charity to
come to me； my love！” he repeated to Ada； as he gently passed his
hand over her golden hair； and put a lock of it to his lips。 （I think
he vowed within himself to cherish her if she were left alone。）
“It was all a troubled dream？” said Richard； clasping both my
Guardian’s hands eagerly。
“Nothing more； Rick； nothing more。”
“And you； being a good man； can pass it as such； and forgive
and pity the dreamer； and be lenient and encouraging when he
wakes？”
“Indeed I can。 What am I but another dreamer； Rick？”
“I will begin the world！” said Richard； with a light in his eyes。
My husband drew a little nearer towards Ada； and I saw him
solemnly lift up his hand to warn my Guardian。
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Bleak House 1195
“When shall I go from this place； to that pleasant country where
the old times are； where I shall have strength to tell what Ada has
been to me； where I shall be able to recall my many faults and
blindnesses； where I shall prepare myself to be a guide to my
unborn child？” said Richard。 “When shall I go？”
“Dear Rick； when you are strong enough；” returned my
Guardian。
“Ada； my darling！”
He sought to raise himself a little。 Allan raised him so that she
could hold him on her bosom： which was what he wanted。
“I have done you many wrongs； my own。 I have fallen like a
poor stray shadow on your way； I have married you to poverty and
trouble； I have scattered your means to the winds。 You will forgive
me all this； my Ada； before I begin the world？”
A smile irradiated his face； as she bent to kiss him。 He slowly
laid his face down upon her bosom； drew his arms closer round
her neck； and with one parting sob began the world。 Not this
world； O not this！ The world that sets this right。
When all was still； at a late hour； poor crazed Miss Flite came
weeping to me； and told me she had given her birds their liberty。
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Bleak House 1196
Chapter 66
Down In Lincolnshire
here is a hush upon Chesney Wold in these altered days；
as there is upon a portion of the family history。 The story
T
goes； that Sir Leicester paid some who could have spoken
out； to hold their peace； but it is a lame story； feebly whispering
and creeping about； and any brighter spark of life it shows soon
dies away。 It is known for certain that the handsome Lady Dedlock
lies in the mausoleum in the park； where the trees arch darkly
overhead； and the owl is heard at night making the woods ring；
but whence she was brought home； to be laid among the echoes of
that solitary place； or how she died； is all mystery。 Some of her old
friends； principally to be found among the peachy…cheeked
charmers with the skeleton throats； did once occasionally say； as
they toyed in a ghastly manner with large fans—like charmers
reduced to flirting with grim Death； after losing all their other
beaux—did once occasionally say； when the World assembled
together； that they wondered the ashes of the Dedlocks； entombed
in the mausoleum； never rose against the profanation of her
company。 But the dead…and…gone Dedlocks take it very calmly；
and have never been known to object。
Up from among the fern in the hollow； and winding by the
bridle…road among the trees； comes sometimes to this lonely spot
the sound of horses’ hoofs。 Then may be seen Sir Leicester—
invalided； bent； and almost blind； but of worthy presence yet—
riding with a stalwart man beside him； constant to his bridle…rein。
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Bleak House 1197
When they come to a certain spot before the mausoleum door； Sir
Leicester’s accustomed horse stops of his own accord； and Sir
Leicester； pulling off his hat； is still for a few moments before they
ride away。
War rages yet with the audacious Boythorn； though at
uncertain intervals； and now hotly； and now coolly； flickering like
an unsteady fire。 The truth is said to be； that when Sir Leicester
came down to Lincolnshire for good； Mr Boythorn showed a
manifest desire to abandon his right of way； and do whatever Sir
Leicester would： which Sir Leicester； conceiving to be a
condescension to his illness or misfortune； took in such high
dudgeon； and was so magnificently aggrieved by； that Mr
Boythorn found himself under the necessity of committing a
flagrant trespass to restore his neighbour to himself。 Similarly Mr
Boythorn continues to post tremendous placards on the disputed
thoroughfare； and （with his bird upon his head） to hold forth
vehemently against Sir Leicester in the sanctuary of his own
home； similarly； also； he defies him as of old in the little church； by
testifying a bland unconsciousness of his existence。 But it is
whispered that when he is most ferocious towards his old foe； he is
really most considerate； and that Sir Leicester； in the dignity of
being implacable； little