I had not the courage to see any one that night. I had not eventhe courage to see myself, for I was afraid that my tears might alittle reproach me. I went up to my room in the dark, and prayedin the dark, and lay down in the dark to sleep. I had no need ofany light to read my guardian's letter by, for I knew it by heart.

　　I took it from the place where I kept it, and repeated its contentsby its own clear light of integrity and love, and went to sleepwith it on my pillow.

　　I was up very early in the morning and called Charley to come for awalk. We bought flowers for the breakfast-table, and came back andarranged them, and were as busy as possible. We were so early thatI had a good time still for Charley's lesson before breakfast;Charley (who was not in the least improved in the old defectivearticle of grammar) came through it with great applause; and wewere altogether very notable. When my guardian appeared he said,"Why, little woman, you look fresher than your flowers!" And Mrs.

　　Woodcourt repeated and translated a passage from theMewlinnwillinwodd expressive of my being like a mountain with thesun upon it.

　　This was all so pleasant that I hope it made me still more like themountain than I had been before. After breakfast I waited myopportunity and peeped about a little until I saw my guardian inhis own room--the room of last night--by himself. Then I made anexcuse to go in with my housekeeping keys, shutting the door afterme.

　　"Well, Dame Durden?" said my guardian; the post had brought himseveral letters, and he was writing. "You want money?""No, indeed, I have plenty in hand.""There never was such a Dame Durden," said my guardian, "for makingmoney last."He had laid down his pen and leaned back in his chair looking atme. I have often spoken of his bright face, but I thought I hadnever seen it look so bright and good. There was a high happinessupon it which made me think, "He has been doing some great kindnessthis morning.""There never was," said my guardian, musing as he smiled upon me,"such a Dame Durden for making money last."He had never yet altered his old manner. I loved it and him somuch that when I now went up to him and took my usual chair, whichwas always put at his side--for sometimes I read to him, andsometimes I talked to him, and sometimes I silently worked by him--I hardly liked to disturb it by laying my hand on his breast. ButI found I did not disturb it at all.

　　"Dear guardian," said I, "I want to speak to you. Have I beenremiss in anything?""Remiss in anything, my dear!""Have I not been what I have meant to be since--I brought theanswer to your letter, guardian?""You have been everything I could desire, my love.""I am very glad indeed to hear that," I returned. "You know, yousaid to me, was this the mistress of Bleak House. And I said,yes.""Yes," said my guardian, nodding his head. He had put his armabout me as if there were something to protect me from and lookedin my face, smiling.

　　"Since then," said I, "we have never spoken on the subject exceptonce.""And then I said Bleak House was thinning fast; and so it was, mydear.""And I said," I timidly reminded him, "but its mistress remained."He still held me in the same protecting manner and with the samebright goodness in his face.

　　"Dear guardian," said I, "I know how you have felt all that hashappened, and how considerate you have been. As so much time haspassed, and as you spoke only this morning of my being so wellagain, perhaps you expect me to renew the subject. Perhaps I oughtto do so. I will be the mistress of Bleak House when you please.""See," he returned gaily, "what a sympathy there must be betweenus! I have had nothing else, poor Rick excepted--it's a largeexception--in my mind. When you came in, I was full of it. Whenshall we give Bleak House its mistress, little woman?""When you please.""Next month?""Next month, dear guardian.""The day on which I take the happiest and best step of my life--theday on which I shall be a man more exulting and more enviable thanany other man in the world--the day on which I give Bleak House itslittle mistress--shall be next month then," said my guardian.

　　I put my arms round his neck and kissed him just as I had done onthe day when I brought my answer.

　　A servant came to the door to announce Mr. Bucket, which was quiteunnecessary, for Mr. Bucket was already looking in over theservant's shoulder. "Mr. Jarndyce and Miss Summerson," said he,rather out of breath, "with all apologies for intruding, WILL youallow me to order up a person that's on the stairs and that objectsto being left there in case of becoming the subject of observationsin his absence? Thank you. Be so good as chair that there memberin this direction, will you?" said Mr. Bucket, beckoning over thebanisters.

　　This singular request produced an old man in a black skull-cap,unable to walk, who was carried up by a couple of bearers anddeposited in the room near the door. Mr. Bucket immediately gotrid of the bearers, mysteriously shut the door, and bolted it.

　　"Now you see, Mr. Jarndyce," he then began, putting down his hatand opening his subject with a flourish of his well-rememberedfinger, "you know me, and Miss Summerson knows me. This gentlemanlikewise knows me, and his name is Smallweed. The discounting lineis his line principally, and he's what you may call a dealer inbills. That's about what YOU are, you know, ain't you?" said Mr.

　　Bucket, stopping a little to address the gentleman in question, whowas exceedingly suspicious of him.

　　He seemed about to dispute this designation of himself when he wasseized with a violent fit of coughing.

　　"Now, moral, you know!" said Mr. Bucket, improving the accident.

　　"Don't you contradict when there ain't no occasion, and you won'tbe took in that way. Now, Mr. Jarndyce, I address myself to you.

　　I've been negotiating with this gentleman on behalf of SirLeicester Dedlock, Baronet, and one way and another I've been inand out and about his premises a deal. His premises are thepremises formerly occupied by Krook, marine store dealer--arelation of this gentleman's that you saw in his life-time if Idon't mistake?"My guardian replied, "Yes.""Well! You are to understand," said Mr. Bucket, "that thisgentleman he come into Krook's property, and a good deal of magpieproperty there was. Vast lots of waste-paper among the rest. Lordbless you, of no use to nobody!"The cunning of Mr. Bucket's eye and the masterly manner in which hecontrived, without a look or a word against which his watchfulauditor could protest, to let us know that he stated the caseaccording to previous agreement and could say much more of Mr.

　　Smallweed if he thought it advisable, deprived us of any merit inquite understanding him. His difficulty was increased by Mr.

　　Smallweed's being deaf as well as suspicious and watching his facewith the closest attention.

　　"Among them odd heaps of old papers, this gentleman, when he comesinto the property, naturally begins to rummage, don't you see?"said Mr. Bucket.

　　"To which? Say that again," cried Mr. Smallweed in a shrill, sharpvoice.

　　"To rummage," repeated Mr. Bucket. "Being a prudent man andaccustomed to take care of your own affairs, you begin to rummageamong the papers as you have come into; don't you?""Of course I do," cried Mr. Smallweed.

　　"Of course you do," said Mr. Bucket conversationally, "and much toblame you would be if you didn't. And so you chance to find, youknow," Mr. Bucket went on, stooping over him with an air ofcheerful raillery which Mr. Smallweed by no means reciprocated,"and so you chance to find, you know, a paper with the signature ofJarndyce to it. Don't you?"Mr. Smallweed glanced with a troubled eye at us and grudginglynodded assent.

　　"And coming to look at that paper at your full leisure andconvenience--all in good time, for you're not curious to read it,and why should you be?--what do you find it to be but a will, yousee. That's the drollery of it," said Mr. Bucket with the samelively air of recalling a joke for the enjoyment of Mr. Smallweed,who still had the same crest-fallen appearance of not enjoying itat all; "what do you find it to be but a will?""I don't know that it's good as a will or as anything else,"snarled Mr. Smallweed.

　　Mr. Bucket eyed the old man for a moment--he had slipped and shrunkdown in his chair into a mere bundle--as if he were much disposedto pounce upon him; nevertheless, he continued to bend over himwith the same agreeable air, keeping the corner of one of his eyesupon us.

　　"Notwithstanding which," said Mr. Bucket, "you get a littledoubtful and uncomfortable in your mind about it, having a verytender mind of your own.""Eh? What do you say I have got of my own?" asked Mr. Smallweedwith his hand to his ear.

　　"A very tender mind.""Ho! Well, go on," said Mr. Smallweed.

　　"And as you've heard a good deal mentioned regarding a celebratedChancery will case of the same name, and as you know what a cardKrook was for buying all manner of old pieces of furniter, andbooks, and papers, and what not, and never liking to part with 'em,and always a-going to teach himself to read, you begin to think--and you never was more correct in your born days--'Ecod, if I don'tlook about me, I may get into trouble regarding this will.'""Now, mind how you put it, Bucket," cried the old man anxiouslywith his hand at his ear. "Speak up; none of your brimstonetricks. Pick me up; I want to hear better. Oh, Lord, I am shakento bits!"Mr. Bucket had certainly picked him up at a dart. However, as soonas he could be heard through Mr. Smallweed's coughing and hisvicious ejaculations of "Oh, my bones! Oh, dear! I've n............