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of giving my opinions—hear me out！”
“That was when you never ought to have asked for the security；
George； and when you never ought to have got it； all things
considered。 But what’s done can’t be undone。 You are always an
honourable and straight…forward fellow； as far as lays in your
power； though a little flighty。 On the other hand； you can’t admit
but what it’s natural in us to be anxious； with such a thing hanging
over our heads。 So forget and forgive all round； George。 Come！
Forget and forgive all round！”
Mrs Bagnet； giving him one of her honest hands； and giving her
husband the other； Mr George gives each of them one of his； and
holds them while he speaks。
“I do assure you both； there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to
discharge this obligation。 But whatever I have been able to scrape
together； has gone every two months in keeping it up。 We have
lived plainly enough here； Phil and I。 But the Gallery don’t quite
do what was expected of it； and it’s not—in short； it’s not the Mint。
It was wrong in me to take it？ Well； so it was。 But I was in a
manner drawn into that step； and I thought it might steady me；
and set me up； and you’ll try to overlook my having such
expectations； and upon my soul； I am very much obliged to you；
and very much ashamed of myself。” With these concluding words；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 659
Mr George gives a shake to each of the hands he holds； and；
relinquishing them； backs a pace or two； in a broad…chested
upright attitude； as if he had made a final confession； and were
immediately going to be shot with all military honours。
“George； hear me out！” says Mr Bagnet； glancing at his wife。
“Old girl； go on！”
Mr Bagnet； being in this singular manner heard out； has merely
to observe that the letter must be attended to without any delay；
that it is advisable that George and he should immediately wait on
Mr Smallweed in person； and that the primary object is to save
and hold harmless Mr Bagnet； who had none of the money。 Mr
George entirely assenting； puts on his hat； and prepares to march
with Mr Bagnet to the enemy’s camp。
“Don’t you mind a woman’s hasty word； George；” says Mrs
Bagnet； patting him on the shoulder。 “I trust my old Lignum to
you； and I am sure you’ll bring him through it。”
The trooper returns； that this is kindly said； and that he will
bring Lignum through it somehow。 Upon which Mrs Bagnet； with
her cloak； basket； and umbrella； goes home； bright…eyed again； to
the rest of her family； and the comrades sally forth on the hopeful
errand of mollifying Mr Smallweed。
Whether there are two people in England less likely to come
satisfactorily out of any negotiation with Mr Smallweed than Mr
George and Mr Matthew Bagnet； may be very reasonably
questioned。 Also； notwithstanding their martial appearance； broad
square shoulders； and heavy tread； whether there are； within the
same limits； two more simple and unaccustomed children； in all
the Smallweedy affairs of life。 As they proceed with great gravity
through the streets towards the region of Mount Pleasant； Mr
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 660
Bagnet； observing his companion to be thoughtful； considers it a
friendly part to refer to Mrs Bagnet’s late sally。
“George； you know the old girl—she’s as sweet and as mild as
milk。 But touch her on the children—or myself—and she’s off like
gunpowder。”
“It does her credit； Mat！”
“George；” says Mr Bagnet； looking straight before him； “the old
girl—can’t do anything—that don’t do her credit。 More or less。 I
never say so。 Discipline must be maintained。”
“She’s worth her weight in gold；” returns the trooper。
“In gold？” says Mr Bagnet。 “I’ll tell you what。 The old girl’s
weight—is twelve stone six。 Would I take that weight—in any
metal—for the old girl？ No。 Why not？ Because the old girl’s metal
is far more precious—than the preciousest metal。 And she’s all
metal！”
“You are right； Mat！”
“When she took me—and accepted of the ring—she ‘listed
under me and the children—heart and head； for life。 She’s that
earnest；” says Mr Bagnet； “and true to her colours—that； touch us
with a finger—and she turns out—and stands to her arms。 If the
old girl fires wide—once in a way—at the call of duty—look over it；
George。 For she’s loyal！”
“Why bless her； Mat！” returns the trooper； “I think the higher
of her for it！”
“You are right！” says Mr Bagnet； with the warmest enthusiasm；
though without relaxing the rigidity of a single muscle。 “Think as
high of the old girl—as the rock of Gibraltar—and still you’ll be
thinking low—of such merits。 But I never own to it before her。
Discipline must be maintained。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 661
These encomiums bring them to Mount Pleasant； and to
Grandfather Smallweed’s house。 The door is opened by the
perennial Judy； who； having surveyed them from top to toe with
no particular favour； but indeed with a malignant sneer； leaves
them standing there； while she consults the oracle as to their
admission。 The oracle may be inferred to give consent； from the
circumstance of her returning with the words on her honey lips
“that they can come in if they want to it。” Thus privileged they
come in； and find Mr Smallweed with his feet in the drawer of his
chair as if it were a paper footbath； and Mrs Smallweed obscured
with the cushion like a bird that is not to sing。
“My dear friend；” says Grandfather Smallweed； with those two
lean affectionate arms of his stretched forth。 “How de do？ How de
do？ Who is our friend； my dear friend？”
“Why this；” returns George； not able to be very conciliatory at
first； “is Matthew Bagnet； who has obliged me in that matter of
ours； you know。”
“Oh！ Mr Bagnet？ Surely！” the old man looks at him under his
hand。 “Hope you’re well； Mr Bagnet？ Fine man； Mr George！
Military air； sir！”
No chairs being offered； Mr George brings one forward for
Bagnet； and one for himself。 They sit down； Mr Bagnet as if he
had no power of bending himself； except at the hips for that
purpose。
“Judy；” says Mr Smallweed； “bring the pipe。”
“Why； I don’t know；” Mr George interposes； “that the young
woman need give herself that trouble； for to tell you the truth； I am
n