and do, really mean the money without paying it ! ' He had not a word. There was an end of the subject."
" Did he take no legal proceedings ? " inquired my Guardian.
" Yes, he took legal proceedings," said Mr. Skimpole. " But, in that, he was influenced by passion ; not by reason. Passion reminds me of Boythorn. He writes me that you and the ladies have promised him a short visit at his bachelor-house in Lincolnshire."
"He is a great favorite with my girls," said Mr. Jarndyce, " and I have promised for them."
"Nature forgot to shade him off, I think?" observed Mr. Skimpole to Ada and me. " A little too boisterous—like the sea ? A little too vehement—like a bull, who has made up his mind to consider every color scarlet? But, I grant a sledge-hammering sort of merit in him!"
I should have been surprised if those two could have thought very highly of one another; Mr. Boythorn attaching so much importance to many things, and Mr. Skimpole caring so little for anything. Besides which, I had noticed Mr. Boythorn more than once on the point of breaking out into some strong opinion, when Mr. Skimpole was referred to. Of course I merely joined Ada in saying that we had been greatly pleased with him.
" He has invited me," said Mr. Skimpole; " and if a child may trust himself in such hands : which the present child is encouraged to do, with the united tenderness of two angels to guard him': I shall go. He proposes to frank me down and back again. I suppose it will cost money? Shillings perhaps ? Or pounds ? Or something of that sort ? By the bye. Coavinses. You remember our friend Coavinses, Miss Summerson ? "
He asked me, as the subject arose in his mind, in his graceful light-hearted manner, and without the least embarrassment.
"O yes ! " said I.
" Coavinses has been arrested by the great Bailiff," said Mr. Skimpole. " He will never do violence to the sunshine any more."
It quite shocked me to hear it ; for, I had already recalled, with anything but a serious association, the image of the man sitting on the sofa that night, wiping his head.
" His successor informed me of it yesterday," said Mr. Skimpole, " His successor is in my house now—in possession, I think he calls it. He came yesterday, on my blue-eyed daughter's birthday. I put it to him, ' This is unreasonable and inconvenient. If you had a blue-eyed daughter you wouldn't like me to come, uninvited, on her birthday?' But, he stayed."
Mr. Skimpole laughed at the pleasant absurdity, and lightly touched the piano by which he was seated.
" And he told me," he said, playing little chords where I shall put full stops, "That Coavinses had left. Three children. No mother. And that Coavinses profession. Being unpopiulr. The rising Coavinses. Were at a considerable disadvantage."
Mr. Jarndyce got up, rubbing his head, and began to walk about. Mr. Skimpole played the melody of one of Ada's favorite songs. Ada and I both looked at Mr. Jarndyce, thinking that we knew what was passing in his mind.
After walking, and stopping, and several times leaving off rubbing his head and beginning again, my Guardian put his hand upon the keys and
