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had known the other！ And we sat before the fire； and I had all the
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talking to myself for a little while （though there was not much of
it）； and Ada was soon quiet and happy。
“Do you think my cousin John knows； dear Dame Durden？” she
asked。
“Unless my cousin John is blind； my pet；” said I； “I should think
my cousin John knows pretty well as much as we know。”
“We want to speak to him before Richard goes；” said Ada；
timidly； “and we wanted you to advise us； and to tell him so。
Perhaps you wouldn’t mind Richard’s coming in； Dame Durden？”
“O！ Richard is outside； is he； my dear？” said I。
“I am not quite certain；” returned Ada； with a bashful simplicity
that would have won my heart； if she had not won it long before；
“but I think he’s waiting at the door。”
There he was of course。 They brought a chair on either side of
me； and put me between them； and really seemed to have fallen in
love with me； instead of one another； they were so confiding； and
so trustful； and so fond of me。 They went on in their own wild way
for a little while—I never stopped them； I enjoyed it too much
myself—and then we gradually fell to considering how young they
were； and how there must be a lapse of several years before this
early love could come to anything； and how it could come to
happiness only if it were real and lasting； and inspired them with a
steady resolution to do their duty to each other； with constancy；
fortitude； and perseverance： each always for the other’s sake。
Well！ Richard said that he would work his fingers to the bone for
Ada； and Ada said that she would work her fingers to the bone for
Richard； and they called me all sorts of endearing and sensible
names； and we sat there； advising and talking； half the night。
Finally before we parted； I gave them my promise to speak to their
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cousin John tomorrow。
So； when tomorrow came； I went to my Guardian after
breakfast； in the room that was our town substitute for the
Growlery； and told him that I had it in trust to tell him something。
“Well； little woman；” said he； shutting up his book； “if you have
accepted the trust； there can be no harm in it。”
“I hope not； Guardian；” said I。 “I can guarantee that there is no
secrecy in it。 For it only happened yesterday。”
“Aye？ And what is it； Esther？”
“Guardian；” said I； “you remember the happy night when we
first came down to Bleak House？ When Ada was singing in the
dark room？”
I wished to recall to his remembrance the look he had given me
then。 Unless I am much mistaken； I saw that I did so。
“Because；” said I； with a little hesitation。
“Yes； my dear！” said he。 “Don’t hurry。”
“Because；” said I； “Ada and Richard have fallen in love。 And
have told each other so。”
“Already！” cried my Guardian； quite astonished。
“Yes！” said I； “and to tell you the truth； Guardian； I rather
expected it。”
“The deuce you did！” said he。
He sat considering for a minute or two； with his smile at once so
handsome and so kind； upon his changing face； and then
requested me to let them know that he wished to see them。 When
they came he encircled Ada with one arm； in his fatherly way； and
addressed himself to Richard with a cheerful gravity。
“Rick；” said Mr Jarndyce； “I am glad to have won your
confidence。 I hope to preserve it。 When I contemplated these
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relations between us four which have so brightened my life； and so
invested it with new interest and pleasures； I certainly did
contemplate； afar off； the possibility of you and your pretty cousin
here （don’t be shy； Ada； don’t be shy； my dear！） being in a mind to
go through life together。 I saw； and do see； many reasons to make
it desirable。 But that was afar off； Rick； afar off！”
“We look afar off； sir；” returned Richard。
“Well！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “That’s rational。 Now； hear me； my
dears！ I might tell you that you don’t know your own minds yet；
that a thousand things may happen to divert you from one
another； that it is well this chain of flowers you have taken up is
very easily broken； or it might become a chain of lead。 But I will
not do that。 Such wisdom will come soon enough； I dare say； if it is
to come at all。 I will assume that； a few years hence； you will be in
your hearts to one another； what you are today。 All I say before
speaking to you according to that assumption is； if you do
change—if you do come to find that you are more common…place
cousins to each other as man and woman； than you were as boy
and girl （your manhood will excuse me； Rick！）—don’t be ashamed
still to confide in me； for there will be nothing monstrous or
uncommon in it。 I am only your friend and distant kinsman。 I have
no power over you whatever。 But I wish and hope to retain your
confidence； if I do nothing to forfeit it。”
“I am very sure； sir；” returned Richard； “that I speak for Ada；
too； when I say that you have the strongest power over us both—
rooted in respect； gratitude； and affection—strengthening every
day。”
“Dear Cousin John；” said Ada； on his shoulder； “my father’s
place can never be empty again。 All the love and duty I could ever
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have rendered to him； is transferred to you。”
“Come！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “Now for our assumption。 Now we
lift our eyes up； and look hopefully at the distance！ Rick； the world
is before you； and it is most probable that as you enter it； so it will
receive you。 Trust in nothing but in Providence and your own
efforts。 Never separate the two； like the heathen waggoner。
Constancy in love is a good thing； but it means nothing； and is
nothing； without constancy in every kind of effort。 If you had the
abilities of all the great men； past and present； you could do
nothing well； without sincerely meaning it； and setting about it。 If
you entertain the supposition that any real success； in great things
or in small； ever was or could be； ever will or can be； wrested from
Fortune by fits and starts； leave that wrong idea here； or leave
your cousin Ada here。”
“I will leave it here； sir；” replied Richard； smiling； “if I brought
it here just now （but I hope I did not）； and will work my way on to
my cousin Ada in the hopeful distance。”
“Right！” said Mr Jarndyce。 “If you are not to make her happy；
why should you pursue her？”