“What are you going to do about him?” asked George in a low voice.

“I don’t know yet,” said Bucket in the same tone.  Then resuming his encouragement, he pursued aloud:  “Worn out, Mr. Gridley?  After dodging me for all these weeks and forcing me to climb the roof here like a tom cat and to come to see you as a doctor?  That ain’t like being worn out.  I should think not!  Now I tell you what you want.  You want excitement, you know, to keep you up; that’s what you want.  You’re used to it, and you can’t do without it.  I couldn’t myself.  Very well, then; here’s this warrant got by Mr. Tulkinghorn of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and backed into half-a-dozen counties since.  What do you say to coming along with me, upon this warrant, and having a good angry argument before the magistrates?  It’ll do you good; it’ll freshen you up and get you into training for another turn at the Chancellor.  Give in?  Why, I am surprised to hear a man of your energy talk of giving in.  You mustn’t do that.  You’re half the fun of the fair in the Court of Chancery.  George, you lend Mr. Gridley a hand, and let’s see now whether he won’t be better up than down.”

“He is very weak,” said the trooper in a low voice.

“Is he?” returned Bucket anxiously.  “I only want to rouse him.  I don’t like to see an old acquaintance giving in like this.  It would cheer him up more than anything if I could make him a little waxy with me.  He’s welcome to drop into me, right and left, if he likes.  I shall never take advantage of it.”

The roof rang with a scream from Miss Flite, which still rings in my ears.

“Oh, no, Gridley!” she cried as he fell heavily and calmly back from before her.  “Not without my blessing.  After so many years!”

The sun was down, the light had gradually stolen from the roof, and the shadow had crept upward.  But to me the shadow of that pair, one living and one dead, fell heavier on Richard’s departure than the darkness of the darkest night.  And through Richard’s farewell words I heard it echoed:  “Of all my old associations, of all my old pursuits and hopes, of all the living and the dead world, this one poor soul alone comes natural to me, and I am fit for.  There is a tie of many suffering years between us two, and it is the only tie I ever had on earth that Chancery has not broken!”

CHAPTER XXV

Mrs. Snagsby Sees It All

There is disquietude in Cook’s Court, Cursitor Street.  Black suspicion hides in that peaceful region.  The mass of Cook’s Courtiers are in their usual state of mind, no better and no worse; but Mr. Snagsby is changed, and his little woman knows it.

For Tom-all-Alone’s and Lincoln’s Inn Fields persist in harnessing themselves, a pair of ungovernable coursers, to the chariot of Mr. Snagsby’s imagination; and Mr. Bucket drives; and the passengers are Jo and Mr. Tulkinghorn; and the complete equipage whirls though the law-stationery business at wild speed all round the clock.  Even in the little front kitchen where the family meals are taken, it rattles away at a smoking pace from the dinner-table, when Mr. Snagsby pauses in carving the first slice of the leg of mutton baked with potatoes and stares at the kitchen wall.