 receive the renewal of an offer which I was instructed to make
to Miss Barbary some two years ago, and which, though rejected then, was
understood to be renewable under the lamentable circumstances that have since
occurred. Now, if I avow, that I represent, in Jarndyce and Jarndyce, and
otherwise, a highly humane, but at the same time singular man, shall I
compromise myself by any stretch of my professional caution?« said Mr. Kenge,
leaning back in his chair again, and looking calmly at us both.
    He appeared to enjoy beyond everything the sound of his own voice. I
couldn't wonder at that, for it was mellow and full, and gave great importance
to every word he uttered. He listened to himself with obvious satisfaction, and
sometimes gently beat time to his own music with his head, or rounded a sentence
with his hand. I was very much impressed by him - even then, before I knew that
he formed himself on the model of a great lord who was his client, and that he
was generally called Conversation Kenge.
    »Mr. Jarndyce,« he pursued, »being aware of the - I would say, desolate -
position of our young friend, offers to place her at a first-rate establishment;
where her education shall be completed, where her comfort shall be secured,
where her reasonable wants shall be anticipated, where she shall be eminently
qualified to discharge her duty in that station of life unto which it has
pleased - shall I say Providence? - to call her.«
    My heart was filled so full, both by what he said, and by his affecting
manner of saying it, that I was not able to speak, though I tried.
    »Mr. Jarndyce,« he went on, »makes no condition, beyond expressing his
expectation, that our young friend will not at any time remove herself from the
establishment in question without his knowledge and concurrence. That she will
faithfully apply herself to the acquisition of those accomplishments, upon the
exercise of which she will be ultimately dependent. That she will tread in the
paths of virtue and honour, and - the - a -- so forth.«
    I was still less able to speak, than before.
    »Now, what does our young friend say?« proceeded Mr. Kenge. »Take time, take
time! I pause for her reply. But take time!«
    What the destitute subject of such an offer tried to say, I need not repeat.
What she did say, I could more easily tell, if it were
