Page 506 - bleak-house

one lingering glance towards the horrible phantom that has
haunted us so many years. Better to borrow, better to beg,
better to die!’
We were all startled by the fervour of this warning. Rich-
ard bit his lip and held his breath, and glanced at me as if he
felt, and knew that I felt too, how much he needed it.
‘Ada, my dear,’ said Mr. Jarndyce, recovering his cheer-
fulness, ‘these are strong words of advice, but I live in
Bleak House and have seen a sight here. Enough of that. All
Richard had to start him in the race of life is ventured. I rec-
ommend to him and you, for his sake and your own, that he
should depart from us with the understanding that there is
no sort of contract between you. I must go further. 1 will be
plain with you both. You were to confide freely in me, and I
will confide freely in you. I ask you wholly to relinquish, for
the present, any tie but your relationship.’
‘Better to say at once, sir,’ returned Richard, ‘that you re-
nounce all confidence in me and that you advise Ada to do
the same.’
‘Better to say nothing of the sort, Rick, because I don’t
mean it.’
‘You think I have begun ill, sir,’ retorted Richard. ‘I
HAVE, I know.’
‘How I hoped you would begin, and how go on, I told
you when we spoke of these things last,’ said Mr. Jarndyce
in a cordial and encouraging manner. ‘You have not made
that beginning yet, but there is a time for all things, and
yours is not gone by; rather, it is just now fully come. Make a
clear beginning altogether. You two (very young, my dears)

506 Bleak House