He took my hand and kissed it, and was like himself again.

All this time my guardian had never referred to his letter or my answer,
so I said to him next morning I would be the mistress of Bleak House
whenever he pleased.

"Next month?" my guardian said gaily.

"Next month, dear guardian."

At the end of the month my guardian went away to Yorkshire, and asked me
to follow him. I was very much surprised, and when the journey was over
my guardian explained that he had asked me to come down to see a house
he had bought for Mr. Woodcourt, with whom he was always very pleased.

It was a beautiful summer morning when we went out to look at the house,
and there over the porch was written. "Bleak House." He led me to a
seat, and sitting down beside me, said:

"When I wrote you the letter to which you brought the answer"--my
guardian smiled as he referred to it--"I had my own happiness too much
in view; but I had yours, too. Hear me, my love, but do not speak. When
Woodcourt came home, I saw that there was other happiness for you; I saw
with whom you would be happier. Well, I have long been in Allan
Woodcourt's confidence, although he was not, until yesterday, in mine.
One more last word. When Allan Woodcourt spoke to you, my dear, he spoke
with my knowledge and consent. But I gave him no encouragement; not I,
for these surprises were my great reward, and I was too miserly to part
with a scrap of it. He was to come and tell me all that passed, and he
did. I have no more to say. This is Bleak House. This day I give this