We drove down to Bleak House, in Hertfordshire, next day, and all three
of us were anxious and nervous when the night closed in, and the driver,
pointing to a light sparkling on the top of a hill, cried, "That's Bleak
House!"

"Ada, my love, Esther, my dear, you are welcome. Rick, if I had a hand
to spare at present I would give it you!"

The gentleman who said these words in a clear, hospitable voice, kissed
us both in a fatherly way, and bore us across the hall into a ruddy
little room, all in a glow with a blazing fire.

"Now, Rick!" said he, "I have a hand at liberty. A word in earnest is as
good as a speech. I am heartily glad to see you. You are at home. Warm
yourself!"

While he spoke I glanced at his face. It was a handsome face, full of
change and motion; and his hair was a silvered iron grey. I took him to
be nearer sixty than fifty, but he was upright, hearty, and robust.

So this was our coming to Bleak House.

The very next morning I was installed as housekeeper and presented with
two bunches of keys--a large bunch for the housekeeping and a little
bunch for the cellars. I could not help trembling when I met Mr.
Jarndyce, for I knew it was he who had done everything for me since my
godmother's death.

"Nonsense!" he said. "I hear of a good little orphan girl without a
protector, and I take it into my head to be that protector. She grows