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“Right！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “If you are not to make her happy；
why should you pursue her？”
“I wouldn’t make her unhappy—no； not even for her love；”
retorted Richard； proudly。
“Well said！” cried Mr Jarndyce； “that’s well said！ She remains
here； in her home with me。 Love her； Rick； in your active life； no
less than in her home when you revisit it； and all will go well。
Otherwise； all will go ill。 That’s the end of my preaching。 I think
you and Ada had better take a walk。”
Ada tenderly embraced him； and Richard heartily shook hands
with him； and then the cousins went out of the room—looking
back again directly； though； to say that they would wait for me。
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The door stood open； and we both followed them with our eyes；
as they passed down the adjoining room on which the sun was
shining； and out at its farther end。 Richard with his head bent； and
her hand drawn through his arm； was talking to her very
earnestly； and she looked up in his face； listening； and seemed to
see nothing else。 So young； so beautiful； so full of hope and
promise； they went on lightly through the sunlight； as their own
happy thoughts might then be traversing the years to come； and
making them all years of brightness。 So they passed away into the
shadow； and were gone。 It was only a burst of light that had been
so radiant。 The room darkened as they went out； and the sun was
clouded over。
“Am I right； Esther？” said my Guardian； when they were gone。
He who was so good and wise； to ask me whether he was right！
“Rick may gain； out of this； the quality he wants。 Wants； at the
core of so much that is good！” said Mr Jarndyce； shaking his head。
“I have said nothing to Ada； Esther。 She has her friend and
counsellor always near。” And he laid his hand lovingly upon my
head。
I could not help showing that I was a little moved； though I did
all I could to conceal it。
“Tut tut！” said he。 “But we must take care； too； that our little
woman’s life is not all consumed in care for others。”
“Care？ My dear Guardian； I believe I am the happiest creature
in the world！”
“I believe so； too；” said he。 “But some one may find out； what
Esther never will—that the little woman is to be held in
remembrance above all other people！”
I have omitted to mention in its place； that there was some one
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else at the family dinner party。 It was not a lady。 It was a
gentleman。 It was a gentleman of a dark complexion—a young
surgeon。 He was rather reserved； but I thought him very sensible
and agreeable。 At least； Ada asked me if I did not； and I said yes。
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Chapter 14
Deportment
ichard left us on the very next evening； to begin his new
Rcareer； and committed Ada to my charge with great love
for her； and great trust in me。 It touched me then to
reflect； and it touches me now； more nearly； to remember （having
what I have to tell） how they both thought of me； even at that
engrossing time。 I was a part of all their plans； for the present and
the future。 I was to write to Richard once a week； making my
faithful report of Ada who was to write to him every alternate day。
I was to be informed； under his own hand； of all his labours and
successes； I was to observe how resolute and persevering he would
be； I was to be Ada’s bridesmaid when they were married； I was to
live with them afterwards； I was to keep all the keys of their house；
I was to be made happy for ever and a day。
“And if the suit should make us rich； Esther—which it may； you
know！” said Richard； to crown all。
A shade crossed Ada’s face。
“My dearest Ada；” asked Richard pausing； “why not？”
“It had better declare us poor at once；” said Ada。
“O！ I don’t know about that；” returned Richard； “but； at all
events； it won’t declare anything at once。 It hasn’t declared
anything in Heaven knows how many years。”
“Too true；” said Ada。
“Yes； but；” urged Richard； answering what her look suggested
rather than her words； “the longer it goes on； dear cousin； the
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nearer it must be to a settlement one way or other。 Now； is not
that reasonable？”
“You know best； Richard。 But I am afraid if we trust to it； it will
make us unhappy。”
“But； my Ada； we are not going to trust to it！” cried Richard。
“We know it better than to trust to it。 We only say that if it should
make us rich； we have no constitutional objection to being rich。
The Court is； by solemn settlement of law； our grim old guardian；
and we are to suppose that what it gives us （when it gives us
anything） is our right。 It is not necessary to quarrel with our
right。”
“No；” said Ada； “but it may be better to forget all about it。”
“Well； well！” cried Richard； “then we will forget all about it！ We
consign the whole thing to oblivion。 Dame Durden puts on her
approving face； and it’s done！”
“Dame Durden’s approving face；” said I； looking out of the box
in which I was packing his books； “was not very visible when you
called it by that name； but it does approve； and she thinks you
can’t do better。”
So； Richard said there was an end of it；—and immediately
began； on no other foundation； to build as many castles in the air
as would man the great wall of China。 He went away in high
spirits。 Ada and I； prepared to miss him very much； commenced
our quieter career。
On our arrival in London； we had called with Mr Jarndyce at
Mrs Jellyby’s； but had not been so fortunate as to find her at home。
It appeared that she had gone somewhere； to a tea…drinking； and
had taken Miss Jellyby with her。 Besides the tea…drinking； there
was to be some considerable speech…making and letter…writing on
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the general merits of the cultivation of coffee； conjointly with
natives； at the Settlement of Borrioboola…Gha。 All this involved； no
doubt； sufficient active exercise of pen and ink； to make her
daughter’s part in the proceedings； anything but a holiday。
It being； now； beyond the time appoi