, besides striving to
realise some little independence for three dear girls at home. My apprehension
is, Mr. C.'s circumstances being such, lest it should end in his obtaining leave
to part with his commission; which at all events is desirable to be made known
to his connexions.«
    Mr. Vholes, who had looked at me while speaking, here emerged into the
silence he could hardly be said to have broken, so stifled was his tone; and
looked before him again.
    »Imagine the poor fellow without even his present resource,« said my
guardian to me. »Yet what can I do? You know him, Esther. He would never accept
of help from me, now. To offer it, or hint at it, would be to drive him to an
extremity, if nothing else did.«
    Mr. Vholes hereupon addressed me again.
    »What Mr. Jarndyce remarks, miss, is no doubt the case, and is the
difficulty. I do not see that anything is to be done. I do not say that anything
is to be done. Far from it. I merely come down here under the seal of confidence
and mention it, in order that everything may be openly carried on, and that it
may not be said afterwards that everything was not openly carried on. My wish is
that everything should be openly carried on. I desire to leave a good name
behind me. If I consulted merely my own interests with Mr. C., I should not be
here. So insurmountable, as you must well know, would be his objections. This is
not a professional attendance. This can be charged to nobody. I have no interest
in it, except as a member of society and a father - and a son,« said Mr. Vholes,
who had nearly forgotten that point.
    It appeared to us that Mr. Vholes said neither more nor less than the truth,
in intimating that he sought to divide the responsibility, such as it was, of
knowing Richard's situation. I could only suggest that I should go down to Deal,
where Richard was then stationed, and see him, and try if it were possible to
avert the worst. Without consulting Mr. Vholes on this point, I took my guardian
aside to propose it, while Mr. Vholes gauntly stalked to the fire, and warmed
his funeral gloves.
    The fatigue of the journey formed an immediate objection on my guardian's
part; but as I saw he had no other, and as I was only too happy to go, I
