Page 107 - bleak-house

sir?’ inquired Richard.
‘Why, just as you may suppose,’ said Mr. Jarndyce, his
countenance suddenly falling. ‘It is said that the children
of the very poor are not brought up, but dragged up. Har-
old Skimpole’s children have tumbled up somehow or other.
The wind’s getting round again, I am afraid. I feel it rath-
er!’
Richard observed that the situation was exposed on a
sharp night.
‘It IS exposed,’ said Mr. Jarndyce. ‘No doubt that’s the
cause. Bleak House has an exposed sound. But you are com-
ing my way. Come along!’
Our luggage having arrived and being all at hand, I was
dressed in a few minutes and engaged in putting my worldly
goods away when a maid (not the one in attendance upon
Ada, but another, whom I had not seen) brought a basket
into my room with two bunches of keys in it, all labelled.
‘For you, miss, if you please,’ said she.
‘For me?’ said I.
‘The housekeeping keys, miss.’
I showed my surprise, for she added with some little sur-
prise on her own part, ‘I was told to bring them as soon
as you was alone, miss. Miss Summerson, if I don’t deceive
myself?’
‘Yes,’ said I. ‘That is my name.’
‘The large bunch is the housekeeping, and the little
bunch is the cellars, miss. Any time you was pleased to ap-
point tomorrow morning, I was to show you the presses and
things they belong to.’

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