Page 269 - bleak-house

ally fell to considering how young they were, and how there
must be a lapse of several years before this early love could
come to anything, and how it could come to happiness only
if it were real and lasting and inspired them with a steady
resolution to do their duty to each other, with constancy,
fortitude, and perseverance, each always for the other’s
sake. Well! Richard said that he would work his fingers to
the bone for Ada, and Ada said that she would work her fin-
gers to the bone for Richard, and they called me all sorts of
endearing and sensible names, and we sat there, advising
and talking, half the night. Finally, before we parted, I gave
them my promise to speak to their cousin John tomorrow.
So, when to-morrow came, I went to my guardian af-
ter breakfast, in the room that was our town-substitute for
the growlery, and told him that I had it in trust to tell him
something.
‘Well, little woman,’ said he, shutting up his book, ‘if you
have accepted the trust, there can be no harm in it.’
‘I hope not, guardian,’ said I. ‘I can guarantee that there
is no secrecy in it. For it only happened yesterday.’
‘Aye? And what is it, Esther?’
‘Guardian,’ said I, ‘you remember the happy night when
first we came down to Bleak House? When Ada was singing
in the dark room?’
I wished to call to his remembrance the look he had given
me then. Unless I am much mistaken, I saw that I did so.
‘Because—‘ said I with a little hesitation.
‘Yes, my dear!’ said he. ‘Don’t hurry.’
‘Because,’ said I, ‘Ada and Richard have fallen in love.

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