Page:Bleak House.djvu/207

 Shillings. I assure you ! Always the same number in the paper. Always one for every day in the week. Now you know, really ! So well-timed, is it not ? Ye-es ! From whence do these papers come, you say ? That is the great question. Naturally, Shall I tell you what I think ? I think," said Miss Flite, drawing herself back with a very shrewd look, and shaking her right forefinger in a most significant manner, " that the Lord Chancellor, aware of the length of time during which the Great Seal has been open, (for it has been open a long time !) forwards them. Until the Judgment I expect, is given. Now that's very creditable, you know. To confess in that way that he is a little slow for human life. So delicate ! Attending Court the other day—I attend it regularly—with my documents—I taxed him with it, and he almost confessed. That is, I smiled at him from my bench, and he smiled at me from his bench. But it's great good fortune, is it not ? And Fitz-Jarndyce lays the money out for me to great advantage. O, I assure you to the greatest advantage! "

I congratulated her (as she addressed herself to me) upon this fortunate addition to her income, and wished her a long continuance of it. I did not speculate upon the source from which it came, or wonder whose humanity was so considerate. My Guardian stood before me, contemplating the birds, and I had no need to look beyond him.

"And what do you call these little fellows, ma'am ? " said he in his pleasant voice. " Have they any names ? "

"I can answer for Miss Flite that they have," said I, "for she promised to tell us what they were. Ada remembers? "

Ada remembered very well.

"Did I?" said Miss Flite.—" Who's that at my door? What are you listening at my door for, Krook ? "

The old man of the house, pushing it open before him, appeared there with his fur-cap in his hand, and his cat at his heels.

"I warn't listening, Miss Flite," he said. " I was going to give a rap with my knuckles, only you're so quick ! "

" Make your cat go down. Drive her away ! " the old lady angrily exclaimed.

"Bah bah!—There ain't no danger, gentlefolks," said Mr. Krook, looking slowly and sharply from one to another, until he had looked at all of us ; " she'd never offer at the birds when I was here, unless I told her to it."

" You will excuse my landlord," said the old lady with a dignified air. " M, quite M ! What do you want, Krook, when I have company ? "

" Hi ! " said the old man. " You know I am the Chancellor."

" Well ? " returned Miss Flite. " What of that ? "

" For the Chancellor," said the old man, with a chuckle, "not to be acquainted with a Jarndyce is queer, ain't it, Miss Flite ? Mightn't I take the liberty ?—Your servant, sir. I know Jarndyce and Jarndyce a'most as well as you do, sir. I knowed old Squire Tom, sir. I never to my knowledge see you afore though, not even in court. Yet, I go there a mortal sight of times in the course of the year, taking one day with another."

" I never go there," said Mr. Jarndyce (which he never did on any consideration). " I would sooner go—somewhere else."

" Would you though ? " returned Krook, grinning. " You're bearing