walk. We bought flowers for the breakfast-table, and came back and arranged them, and were as busy as possible. We were so early, that I had good time still for Charley's lesson, before breakfast; Charley (who was not in the least improved in the old defective article of grammar) came through it with great applause; and we were altogether very notable. When my guardian appeared, he said, “Why, little woman, you look fresher than your flowers!” And Mrs. Woodcourt repeated and translated a passage from the Mewlinwillinwodd, expressive of my being like a mountain with the sun upon it.
This was all so pleasant, that I hope it made me still more like the mountain than I had been before. After breakfast, I waited my opportunity, and peeped about a little, until I saw my guardian in his own room—the room of last night—by himself. Then I made an excuse to go in with my housekeeping keys, shutting the door after me.
“Well, Dame Durden?” said my guardian; the post had brought him several letters, and he was writing. “You want money!”
“No, indeed, I have plenty in hand.”
“There never was such a Dame Durden,” said my guardian, “for making money last.”
He had laid down his pen, and leaned back in his chair looking at me. I have often spoken of his bright face, but I thought I had never seen it look so bright and good. There was a high happiness upon it, which made me think, “he has been doing some great kindness this morning.”
“There never was,” said my guardian, musing as he smiled upon me, “such a Dame Durden for making money last.”
He had never yet altered his old manner. I loved it, and him, so much, that when I now went up to him and took my usual chair, which was always put at his side—for sometimes I read to him, and sometimes I talked to him, and sometimes I silently worked by him—I hardly liked to disturb it by laying my hand on his breast. But I found I did not disturb it at all.
“Dear guardian,” said I, “I want to speak to you. Have I been remiss in any thing?”
“Remiss in anything, my dear!”
“Have I not been what I have meant to be, since—I brought the answer to your letter, guardian?”
“You have been everything I could desire, my love.”
“I am very glad indeed to hear that,” I returned. “You know, you said to me, was this the mistress of Bleak House? And I said, yes.”
“Yes,” said my guardian, nodding his head. He had put his arm about me, as if there were something to protect me from; and looked in my face, smiling.
“Since then,” said I, “we have never spoken on the subject except once.
“And then I said, Bleak House was thinning fast; and so it was, my dear.”
“And I said,” I timidly reminded him, “but its mistress remained.”
He still held me, in the same protecting manner, and with the same bright Goodness in his face.
“Dear guardian,” said I, “I know how you have felt all that has happened, and how considerate you have been. As so much time has passed, and as you spoke only this morning of my being so well again,
