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service to their neighbours； and a satisfaction to themselves。 My
young family are not frivolous； they expend the entire amount of
their allowance； in subscriptions； under my direction； and they
have attended as many public meetings； and listened to as many
lectures； orations； and discussions； as generally fall to the lot of
few grown people。 Alfred （five）； who； as I mentioned； has of his
own election joined the Infant Bonds of Joy； was one of the very
few children who manifested consciousness on that occasion； after
a fervid address of two hours from the chairman of the evening。”
Alfred glowered at us as if he never could； or would； forgive the
injury of that night。
“You may have observed； Miss Summerson；” said Mrs
Pardiggle； “in some of the lists to which I have referred； in the
possession of our esteemed friend Mr Jarndyce； that the names of
my young family are concluded with the name of O。 A。 Pardiggle；
F。R。S。； one pound。 That is their father。 We usually observe the
same routine。 I put down my mite first； then my young family
enroll their contributions； according to their ages and their little
means； and then Mr Pardiggle brings up the rear。 Mr Pardiggle is
happy to throw in his limited donation； under my direction； and
thus things are made； not only pleasant to ourselves； but； we trust；
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improving to others。”
Suppose Mr Pardiggle were to dine with Mr Jellyby； and
suppose Mr Jellyby were to relieve his mind after dinner to Mr
Pardiggle； would Mr Pardiggle； in return； make any confidential
communication to Mr Jellyby？ I was quite confused to find myself
thinking this； but it came into my head。
“You are very pleasantly situated here！” said Mrs Pardiggle。
We were glad to change the subject； and； going to the window；
pointed out the beauties of the prospect； on which the spectacles
appeared to me to rest with curious indifference。
“You know Mr Gusher？” said our visitor。
We were obliged to say that we had not the pleasure of Mr
Gusher’s acquaintance。
“The loss is yours； I assure you；” said Mrs Pardiggle； with her
commanding deportment。 “He is a very fervid impassioned
speaker—full of fire！ Stationed in a waggon on this lawn； now；
which； from the shape of the land； is naturally adapted to a public
meeting； he would improve almost any occasion you could
mention for hours and hours！ By this time； young ladies；” said Mrs
Pardiggle； moving back to her chair； and overturning； as if by
invisible agency； a little round table at a considerable distance
with my work…basket on it； “by this time you have found me out； I
dare say？”
“This was really such a confusing question that Ada looked at
me in perfect dismay。 As to the guilty nature of my own
consciousness； after what I had been thinking； it must have been
expressed in the colour of my cheeks。
“Found out； I mean；” said Mrs Pardiggle； “the prominent point
in my character。 I am aware that it is so prominent as to be
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discoverable immediately。 I lay myself open to detection； I know。
Well！ I freely admit； I am a woman of business。 I love hard work； I
enjoy hard work。 The excitement does me good。 I am so
accustomed and inured to hard work that I don’t know what
fatigue is。”
We murmured that it was very astonishing and very gratifying；
or something to that effect。 I don’t think we knew why it was
either； but this was what our politeness expressed。
“I do not understand what it is to be tired； you cannot tire me if
you try！” said Mrs Pardiggle。 “The quantity of exertion （which is
no exertion to me）； the amount of business （which I regard as
nothing）； that I go through； sometimes astonishes myself。 I have
seen my young family； and Mr Pardiggle； quite worn out with
witnessing it； when I may truly say I have been as fresh as a lark！”
If that dark…visaged eldest boy could look more malicious than
he had already looked； this was the time when he did it。 I observed
that he doubled his right fist； and delivered a secret blow into the
crown of his cap； which was under his left arm。
“This gives me a great advantage when I am making my
rounds；” said Mrs Pardiggle。 “If I find a person unwilling to hear
what I have to say； I tell that person directly； ‘I am incapable of
fatigue； my good friend； I am never tired； and I mean to go on until
I have done。’ It answers admirably！ Miss Summerson； I hope I
shall have your assistance in my visiting rounds immediately； and
Miss Clare’s very soon？”
At first I tried to excuse myself； for the present； on the general
ground of having occupations to attend to； which I must not
neglect。 But as this was an ineffectual protest； I then said； more
particularly； that I was not sure of my qualifications。 That I was
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inexperienced in the art of adapting my mind to minds very
differently situated； and addressing them from suitable points of
view。 That I had not that delicate knowledge of the heart which
must be essential to such a work。 That I had much to learn； myself；
before I could teach others； and that I could not confide in my
good intentions alone。 For these reasons； I thought it best to be as
useful as I could； and to render what kind services I could； to those
immediately about me； and to try to let that circle of duty
gradually and naturally expand itself。 All this I said； with anything
but confidence； because Mrs Pardiggle was much older than I； and
had great experience； and was so very military in her manners。
“You are wrong； Miss Summerson；” said she： “but perhaps you
are not equal to hard work； or the excitement of it； and that makes
a vast difference。 If you would like to see how I go through my
work； I am now about—with my young family—to visit a
brickmaker in the neighbourhood （a very bad character）； and shall
be glad to take you with me。 Miss Clare also； if she will do me the
favour。”
Ada and I interchanged looks； and； as we were going out in any
case； accepted the offer。 When we hastily returned from putting on
our bonnets； we found the young family languishing in a corner；
and Mrs Pardiggle sweeping about the room； knocking down
nearly all the light objects it contained。 Mrs Pardiggle took
possession of Ada； and I followed with the family。
Ada told me afterwards th