Presently we heard a bustle, and Mr. Kenge said that the court had risen, and soon after we all followed him into the next room.  There was the Lord Chancellor sitting in an armchair at the table, and his manner was both courtly and kind.

“Miss Clare,” said his lordship.  “Miss Ada Clare?” Mr. Kenge presented her.

“The Jarndyce in question,” said the Lord Chancellor, turning over papers, “is Jarndyce of Bleak House—­a dreary name.”

“But not a dreary place, my lord,” said Mr. Kenge.

“Mr. Jarndyce of Bleak House is not married?” said his lordship.

“He is not, my lord,” said Mr. Kenge.

“Young Mr. Richard Carstone is present?” said the Lord Chancellor.

Richard bowed and stepped forward.

“Mr. Jarndyce of Bleak House, my lord,” Mr. Kenge observed, “if I may venture to remind your lordship, provides a suitable companion for——­”

“For Mr. Richard Carstone!” I thought I heard his lordship say in a low voice.

“For Miss Ada Clare.  This is the young lady, Miss Esther Summerson.”

“Miss Summerson is not related to any party in the cause, I think.”

“No, my lord.”

“Very well,” said his lordship, after taking Miss Ada aside and asking her if she thought she would be happy at Bleak House.  “I shall make the order.  Mr. Jarndyce of Bleak House has chosen, so far as I may judge, a very good companion for the young lady, and the arrangement seems the best of which the circumstances admit.”

He dismissed us pleasantly and we all went out.  As we stood for a minute, waiting for Mr. Kenge, a curious little old woman, Miss Flite, in a squeezed bonnet, and carrying a reticule, came curtsying and smiling up to us, with an air of great ceremony.

“Oh!” said she, “The wards in Jarndyce.  Very happy, I am sure, to have the honour.  It is a good omen for youth, and hope, and beauty when they find themselves in this place, and don’t know what’s to come of it.”

“Mad!” whispered Richard, not thinking she could hear him.

“Right!  Mad, young gentleman,” she returned quickly.  “I was a ward myself.  I was not mad at that time.  I had youth and hope; I believe beauty.  It matters very little now.  Neither of the three served, or saved me.  I have the honour to attend court regularly.  I expect a judgment.  On the Day of Judgment.  I have discovered that the sixth seal mentioned in the Revelations is the great seal.  Pray accept my blessing.”

Mr. Kenge coming up, the poor old lady went on.  “I shall confer estates on both.  Shortly.  On the Day of Judgment.  This is a good omen for you.  Accept my blessing.”

We left her at the bottom of the stairs.  She was still saying, with a curtsy, and a smile between every little sentence, “Youth.  And hope.  And beauty.  And Chancery.”

The morning after, walking out early, we met the old lady again, smiling and saying in her air of patronage, “The wards in Jarndyce!  Ve-ry happy, I am sure!  Pray come and see my lodgings.  It will be a good omen for me.  Youth, and hope, and beauty, are very seldom there.”