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illness—a speaking likeness！ Over the piano； Mrs Bayham Badger
when Mrs Swosser。 Over the sofa； Mrs Bayham Badger when Mrs
Dingo。 Of Mrs Bayham Badger in esse； I possess the original； and
have no copy。”
Dinner was now announced； and we went downstairs。 It was a
very genteel entertainment； very handsomely served。 But the
Captain and the Professor still ran in Mr Badger’s head； and； as
Ada and I had the honour of being under his particular care； we
had the full benefit of them。
“Water； Miss Summerson？ Allow me！ Not in that tumbler； pray。
Bring me the Professor’s goblet； James！”
Ada very much admired some artificial flowers； under a glass。
“Astonishing how they keep！” said Mr Badger。
“They were presented to Mrs Bayham Badger when she was in
the Mediterranean。”
He invited Mr Jarndyce to take a glass of claret。
“Not that claret！” he said。 “Excuse me！ This is an occasion； and
on an occasion I produce some very special claret I happen to
have。 （James； Captain Swosser’s wine！） Mr Jarndyce； this is a wine
that was imported by the Captain； we will not say how many years
ago。 You will find it very curious。 My dear； I shall be happy to take
some of this wine with you （Captain Swosser’s claret to your
mistress； James！） My love； your health！”
After dinner； when we ladies retired； we took Mrs Badger’s first
and second husband with us。 Mrs Badger gave us； in the drawing…
room； a Biographical sketch of the life and services of Captain
Swosser before his marriage； and a more minute account of him
dating from the time when he fell in love with her； at a ball on
board the Crippler； given to the officers of that ship when she lay
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in Plymouth Harbour。
“The dear old Crippler！” said Mrs Badger； shaking her head。
“She was a noble vessel。 Trim； ship…shape； all a taunto； as Captain
Swosser used to say。 You must excuse me if I occasionally
introduce a nautical expression； I was quite a sailor once。 Captain
Swosser loved that craft for my sake。 When she was no longer in
commission； he frequently said that if he were rich enough to buy
her old hulk； he would have an inscription let into the timbers of
the quarter…deck where we stood as partners in the dance； to mark
the spot where he fell—raked fore and aft （Captain Swosser used
to say） by the fire from my tops。 It was his naval way of mentioning
my eyes。”
Mrs Badger shook her head； sighed； and looked in the glass。
“It was a great change from Captain Swosser to Professor
Dingo；” she resumed； with a plaintive smile。 “I felt it a good deal at
first。 Such an entire revolution in my mode of life！ But custom；
combined with science—particularly science—inured me to it。
Being the Professor’s sole companion in his botanical excursions； I
almost forgot that I had ever been afloat； and became quite
learned。 It is singular that the Professor was the Antipodes of
Captain Swosser； and that Mr Badger is not in the least like
either！”
We then passed into a narrative of the deaths of Captain
Swosser and Professor Dingo； both of whom seemed to have had
very bad complaints。 In the course of it； Mrs Badger signified to us
that she had never madly loved but once； and that the object of
that wild affection； never to be recalled in its fresh enthusiasm；
was Captain Swosser。 The Professor was yet dying by inches in
the most dismal manner； and Mrs Badger was giving us imitations
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of his way of saying； with great difficulty； “Where is Laura？ Let
Laura give me my toast and water！” when the entrance of the
gentlemen consigned him to the tomb。
Now； I observed that evening； as I had observed for some days
past； that Ada and Richard were more than ever attached to each
other’s society； which was but natural； seeing that they were going
to be separated so soon。 I was therefore not very much surprised；
when we got home； and Ada and I retired upstairs； to find Ada
more silent than usual； though I was not quite prepared for her
coming into my arms； and beginning to speak to me； with her face
hidden。
“My darling Esther！” murmured Ada。 “I have a great secret to
tell you！”
A mighty secret； my pretty one； no doubt！
“What is it； Ada？”
“O Esther； you would never guess！”
“Shall I try to guess？” said I。
“O no！ Don’t！ Pray don’t！” cried Ada； very much startled by the
idea of my doing so。
“Now I wonder who it can be about？” said I； pretending to
consider。
“It’s about；” said Ada in a whisper。 “It’s about—my cousin
Richard！”
“Well； my own！” said I； kissing her bright hair； which was all I
could see。 “And what about him？”
“O Esther； you would never guess！”
It was so pretty to have her clinging to me in that way； hiding
her face； and to know that she was not crying in sorrow； but in a
little glow of joy； and pride； and hope； that I would not help her
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just yet。
“He says—I know it’s very foolish； we are both so young—but
he says；” with a burst of tears； “that he loves me dearly； Esther。”
“Does he indeed？” said I。 “I never heard of such a thing！ Why；
my pet of pets； I could have told you that weeks and weeks ago！”
To see Ada lift up her flushed face in joyful surprise； and hold
me round the neck； and laugh； and cry； and blush； and laugh； was
so pleasant！
“Why； my darling！” said I； “what a goose you must take me for！
Your cousin Richard has been loving you as plainly as he could；
for I don’t know how long！”
“And yet you never said a word about it！” cried Ada； kissing me。
“No； my love；” said I。 “I waited to be told。”
“But now I have told you； you don’t think it wrong of me； do
you？” returned Ada。 She might have coaxed me to say No； if I had
been the hardest…hearted Duenna in the world。 Not being that yet；
I said No； very freely。
“And now；” said I； “I know the worst of it。”
“O that’s not quite the worst of it； Esther dear；” cried Ada；
holding me tighter； and laying down her face again upon my
breast。
“No？” said I。 “Not even that？”
“No； not even that！” said Ada； shaking her head。
“Why； you never mean to say —！” I was beginning in joke。
But Ada； looking up and smiling through her tears； cried； “Yes I
do！ You know； you know I do！” and then sobbed out； “With all my
heart I do！ With all my whole heart； Esther！”
I told her； laughing； why I had known that； too； just as well as I
had known the other！ And we sat before the fire； and I had all the
Charles Dickens El