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Bleak House 321
opinion； my dears； that he has not chosen his profession
advisedly。”
Ada looked so very anxious now； that I asked Mrs Badger on
what she founded her supposition？
“My dear Miss Summerson；” she replied； “on Mr Carstone’s
character and conduct。 He is of such a very easy disposition； that
probably he would never think it worth while to mention how he
really feels； but； he feels languid about the profession。 He has not
that positive interest in it which makes it his vocation。 If he has
any decided impression in reference to it； I should say it was that
it is a tiresome pursuit。 Now； this is not promising。 Young men；
like Mr Allan Woodcourt； who take it from a strong interest in all
that it can do； will find some reward in it through a great deal of
work for a very little money； and through years of considerable
endurance and disappointment。 But I am quite convinced that this
would never be the case with Mr Carstone。”
“Does Mr Badger think so too？” asked Ada timidly。
“Why；” said Mr Badger； “to tell the truth； Miss Clare； this view
of the matter had not occurred to me until Mrs Badger mentioned
it。 But； when Mrs Badger put it in that light； I naturally gave great
consideration to it； knowing that Mrs Badger’s mind； in addition to
its natural advantages； has had the rare advantage of being
formed by two such very distinguished （I will even say
illustrations） public men as Captain Swosser of the Royal Navy
and Professor Dingo。 The conclusion at which I have arrived is—
in short； is Mrs Badger’s conclusion。”
“It was a maxim of Captain Swosser’s；” said Mrs Badger；
“speaking in his figurative naval manner； that when you make
pitch hot； you cannot make it too hot； and that if you only have to
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swab a plank； you should swab it as if Davy Jones were after you。
It appears to me that this maxim is applicable to the medical； as
well as to the nautical profession。”
“To all professions；” observed Mr Badger。 “It was admirably
said by Captain Swosser。 Beautifully said。”
“People objected to Professor Dingo； when we were staying in
the North of Devon； after our marriage；” said Mrs Badger； “that he
disfigured some of the houses and other buildings； by chipping off
fragments of those edifices with his little geological hammer。 But
the Professor replied； that he knew of no building； save the
Temple of Science。 The principle is the same； I think？”
“Precisely the same；” said Mr Badger。 “Finely expressed。 The
Professor made the same remark； Miss Summerson； in his last
illness； when （his mind wandering） he insisted on keeping his little
hammer under the pillow； and chipping at the countenances of the
attendants。 The ruling passion！”
Although we could have dispensed with the length at which Mr
and Mrs Badger pursued the conversation； we both felt that it was
disinterested in them to express the opinion they had
communicated to us； and that there was a great probability of its
being sound。 We agreed to say nothing to Mr Jarndyce until we
had spoken to Richard； and； as he was coming next evening； we
resolved to have a very serious talk with him。
So； after he had been a little while with Ada； I went in and
found my darling （as I knew she would be） prepared to consider
him thoroughly right in whatever he said。
“And how do you get on； Richard？” said I。 I always sat down on
the other side of him。 He made quite a sister of me。
“O！ well enough！” said Richard。
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“He can’t say better than that； Esther； can he？” cried my pet；
triumphantly。
I tried to look at my pet in the wisest manner； but of course I
couldn’t。
“Well enough？” I repeated。
“Yes；” said Richard； “well enough。 It’s rather jog…trotty and
humdrum。 But it’ll do as well as any thing else！”
“O！ my dear Richard！” I remonstrated。
“What’s the matter？” said Richard。
“Do as well as anything else！”
“I don’t think there’s any harm in that； Dame Durden；” said
Ada； looking so confidingly at me across him！ “Because if it will do
as well as anything else； it will do very well； I hope。”
“O yes； I hope so；” returned Richard； carelessly tossing his hair
from his forehead。 “After all； it may be only a kind of probation till
our suit is—I forgot though。 I am not to mention the suit。
Forbidden ground！ O yes； it’s all right enough。 Let us talk about
something else。”
Ada would have done so； willingly； and with a full persuasion
that we had brought the question to a most satisfactory state。 But I
thought it would be useless to stop there； so I began again。
“No； but Richard；” said I； “and my dear Ada！ Consider how
important it is to you both； and what a point of honour it is
towards your cousin； that you； Richard； should be quite in earnest
without any reservation。 I think we had better talk about this；
really； Ada。 It will be too late； very soon。”
“O yes！ We must talk about it！” said Ada。 “But I think Richard
is right。”
What was the use of my trying to look wise； when she was so
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pretty； and so engaging； and so fond of him！
“Mr and Mrs Badger were here yesterday； Richard；” said I；
“and they seemed disposed to think that you had no great liking
for the profession。”
“Did they though？” said Richard； “O！ Well； that rather alters
the case； because I had no idea that they thought so； and I should
not have liked to disappoint or inconvenience them。 The fact is； I
don’t care much about it。 But O； it don’t matter！ It’ll do as well as
anything else！”
“You hear him； Ada！” said I。
“The fact is；” Richard proceeded； half thoughtfully and half
jocosely； “it is not quite in my way。 I don’t take to it。 And I get too
much of Mrs Bayham Badger’s first and second。”
“I am sure that’s very natural！” cried Ada； quite delighted。 “The
very thing we both said yesterday； Esther！”
“Then；” pursued Richard； “it’s monotonous； and today is too
like yesterday； and tomorrow is too like today。”
“But I am afraid；” said I； “this is an objection to all kinds of
application—to life itself； except under some very uncommon
circumstances。”
“Do you think so？” returned Richard； still considering。
“Perhaps！ Ha！ Why； then； you know；” he added； suddenly
becoming gay again； “we travel outside a circle； to w