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 newspapers when his mother was confined, was ‘On Tuesday last, at her residence in Botheration Buildings, Mrs. Skimpole of a son in difficulties.’ ”

Richard laughed heartily, but added, “Still, sir, I don′t want to shake his confidence, or to break his confidence ; and if I submit to your better knowledge again, that I ought to keep his secret, I hope you will consider before you press me any more. Of course, if you do press me sir, I shall know I am wrong, and will tell you.”

“Well !” cried Mr. Jarndyce, stopping again, and making several absent endeavours to put his candlestick in his pocket. “I—here ! Take it away, my dear. I don′t know what I am about with it ; it′s all the wind—invariably has that effect—I won′t press you, Rick ; you may be right. But, really—to get hold of you and Esther—and to squeeze you like a couple of tender young Saint Michael′s oranges !—It′ll blow a gale in the course of the night !”

He was now alternately putting his hands into his pockets, as if he were going to keep them there a long time ; and taking them out again, and vehemently rubbing them all over his head.

I ventured to take this opportunity of hinting that Mr. Skimpole, being in all such matters, quite a child

“Eh, my dear ?” said Mr. Jarndyce, catching at the word.

“— Being quite a child, sir,” said I, “and so different from other people”

“You are right !” said Mr. Jarndyce, brightening. “Your woman′s wit hits the mark. He is a child—an absolute child. I told you he was a child, you know, when I first mentioned him.”

Certainly ! certainly ! we said. “And he is a child. Now, isn′t he ?” asked Mr. Jarndyce, brightening more and more.

He was indeed, we said.

“When you come to think of it, it′s the height of childishness in you—I mean me—” said Mr. Jarndyce, “to regard him for a moment as a man. You can′t make him responsible. The idea of Harold Skimpole with designs or plans, or knowledge of consequences ! Ha, ha, ha !”

It was so delicious to see the clouds about his bright face clearing, and to see him so heartily pleased, and to know, as it was impossible not to know, that the source of his pleasure 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.”