Page 124 - bleak-house

it was impossible not to know, that the source of his plea-
sure was the goodness which was tortured by condemning,
or mistrusting, or secretly accusing any one, that I saw the
tears in Ada’s eyes, while she echoed his laugh, and felt them
in my own.
‘Why, what a cod’s head and shoulders I am,’ said Mr.
Jarndyce, ‘to require reminding of it! The whole business
shows the child from beginning to end. Nobody but a child
would have thought of singling YOU two out for parties in
the affair! Nobody but a child would have thought of YOUR
having the money! If it had been a thousand pounds, it
would have been just the same!’ said Mr. Jarndyce with his
whole face in a glow.
We all confirmed it from our night’s experience.
‘To be sure, to be sure!’ said Mr. Jarndyce. ‘However,
Rick, Esther, and you too, Ada, for I don’t know that even
your little purse is safe from his inexperience—I must have
a promise all round that nothing of this sort shall ever be
done any more. No advances! Not even sixpences.’
We all promised faithfully, Richard with a merry glance
at me touching his pocket as if to remind me that there was
no danger of OUR transgressing.
‘As to Skimpole,’ said Mr. Jarndyce, ‘a habitable doll’s
house with good board and a few tin people to get into debt
with and borrow money of would set the boy up in life. He
is in a child’s sleep by this time, I suppose; it’s time I should
take my craftier head to my more worldly pillow. Good
night, my dears. God bless you!’
He peeped in again, with a smiling face, before we had

124 Bleak House