“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 anything?”
“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.”