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“Perhaps！ Ha！ Why； then； you know；” he added； suddenly
becoming gay again； “we travel outside a circle； to what I said just
now。 It’ll do as well as anything else。 O； it’s all right enough！ Let us
talk about something else。” But； even Ada； with her loving face—
and if it had seemed innocent and trusting； when I first saw it in
that memorable November fog； how much more so did it seem
now； when I knew her innocent and trusting heart—even Ada
shook her head at this； and looked serious。 So I thought it a good
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opportunity to hint to Richard； that if he were sometimes a little
careless of himself； I was sure he never meant to be careless of
Ada； and that it was a part of his affectionate consideration for her；
not to slight the importance of a step that might influence both
their lives。 This made him almost grave。
“My dear Mother Hubbard；” he said； “that’s the very thing！ I
have thought of that； several times； and have been quite angry
with myself for meaning to be so much in earnest； and—
somehow—not exactly being so。 I don’t know how it is； I seem to
want something or other to stand by。 Even you have no idea how
fond I am of Ada （my darling cousin； I love you； so much！） but I
don’t settle down to constancy in other things。 It’s such uphill
work； and it takes such a time！” said Richard； with an air of
vexation。
“That may be；” I suggested； “because you don’t like what you
have chosen。”
“Poor fellow！” said Ada； “I am sure I don’t wonder at it！”
No。 It was not of the least use my trying to look wise。 I tried
again； but how could I do it； or how could it have any effect if I
could； while Ada rested her clasped hands upon his shoulder； and
while he looked at her tender blue eyes； and while they looked at
him！
“You see； my precious girl；” said Richard； passing her golden
curls through and through his hand； “I was a little hasty； perhaps；
or I misunderstood my own inclinations； perhaps。 They don’t seem
to lie in that direction。 I couldn’t tell； till I tried。 Now the question
is； whether it’s worth while to undo all that has been done。 It
seems like making a great disturbance about nothing particular。”
“My dear Richard；” said I； “how can you say about nothing
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particular？”
“I don’t mean absolutely that；” he returned。 “I mean that it may
be nothing particular； because I may never want it。”
Both Ada and I urged； in reply； not only that it was decidedly
worth while to undo what had been done； but that it must be
undone。 I then asked Richard whether he had thought of any more
congenial pursuit？
“There； my dear Mrs Shipton；” said Richard； “you touch me
home。 Yes； I have。 I have been thinking that the law is the boy for
me。”
“The law！” repeated Ada； as if she were afraid of the name。
“If I went into Kenge’s office；” said Richard； “and if I were
placed under articles to Kenge； I should have my eye on the—
hum—the forbidden ground—and should be able to study it； and
master it； and to satisfy myself that it was not neglected； and was
being properly conducted。 I should be able to took after Ada’s
interests； and my own interests （the same thing！）； and I should peg
away at Blackstone and all those fellows with the most
tremendous ardour。”
I was not by any means so sure of that； and I saw how his
hankering after the vague things yet to come of those long…
deferred hopes； cast a shade on Ada’s face。 But I thought it best to
encourage him in any project of continuous exertion； and only
advised him to be quite sure that his mind was made up now。
“My dear Minerva；” said Richard； “I am as steady as you are。 I
made a mistake； we are all liable to mistakes； I won’t do so any
more； and I’ll become such a lawyer as is not often seen。 That is；
you know；” said Richard； relapsing into doubt； “if it really is worth
while； after all； to make such a disturbance about nothing
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particular！”
This led to our saying again； with a great deal of gravity； all that
we had said already； and to our coming to much the same
conclusion afterwards。 But； we so strongly advised Richard to be
frank and open with Mr Jarndyce； without a moment’s delay； and
his disposition was naturally so opposed to concealment； that he
sought him out at once （taking us with him；） and made a full
avowal。 “Rick；” said my Guardian； after hearing him attentively；
“we can retreat with honour； and we will。 But we must be
careful—for our cousin’s sake—Rick； for our cousin’s sake—that
we make no more such mistakes。 Therefore； in the matter of the
law； we will have a good trial before we decide。 We will look before
we leap； and take plenty of time about it。”
Richard’s energy was of such an impatient and fitful kind； that
he would have liked nothing better than to have gone to Mr
Kenge’s office in that hour； and to have entered into articles with
him on the spot。 Submitting； however； with a good grace to the
caution that we had shown to be so necessary； he contented
himself with sitting down among us in his lightest spirits； and
talking as if his one unvarying purpose in life from childhood had
been that one which now held possession of him。 My Guardian
was very kind and cordial with him； but rather grave； enough so to
cause Ada； when he had departed and we were going upstairs to
bed； to say：
“Cousin John； I hope you don’t think the worse of Richard？”
“No； my love；” said he。
“Because it was very natural that Richard should be mistaken
in such a difficult case。 It is not uncommon。”
“No； no； my love；” said he。 “Don’t look unhappy。”
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“O； I am not unhappy； cousin John！” said Ada； smiling
cheerfully； with her hand upon his shoulder； where she had put it
in bidding him good night。 “But I should be a little so； if you
thought at all the worse of Richard。”
“My dear；” said Mr Jarndyce。 “I should think the worse of him
only if you were ever in the least unhappy through his means。 I
should be more disposed to quarrel with myself； even then； than
wi