
    He was so very solicitous on this head, that Mr. Woodcourt gave him the
strongest assurances that he did him no injustice.
    »You see,« said Richard, with something pathetic in his manner of lingering
on the point, though it was off-hand and unstudied, »to an upright fellow like
you, bringing a friendly face like yours here, I cannot bear the thought of
appearing selfish and mean. I want to see Ada righted, Woodcourt, as well as
myself; I want to do my utmost to right her, as well as myself; I venture what I
can scrape together to extricate her, as well as myself. Do, I beseech you,
think of that!«
    Afterwards, when Mr. Woodcourt came to reflect on what had passed, he was so
very much impressed by the strength of Richard's anxiety on this point, that in
telling me generally of his first visit to Symond's Inn, he particularly dwelt
upon it. It revived a fear I had had before, that my dear girl's little property
would be absorbed by Mr. Vholes, and that Richard's justification to himself
would be sincerely this. It was just as I began to take care of Caddy, that the
interview took place; and I now return to the time when Caddy had recovered, and
the shade was still between me and my darling.
    I proposed to Ada, that morning, that we should go and see Richard. It a
little surprised me to find that she hesitated, and was not so radiantly willing
as I had expected.
    »My dear,« said I, »you have not had any difference with Richard since I
have been so much away?«
    »No, Esther.«
    »Not heard of him, perhaps?« said I.
    »Yes, I have heard of him,« said Ada.
    Such tears in her eyes, and such love in her face. I could not make my
darling out. Should I go to Richard's by myself? I said. No, Ada thought I had
better not go by myself. Would she go with me? Yes, Ada thought she had better
go with me. Should we go now? Yes, let us go now. Well, I could not understand
my darling, with the tears in her eyes and the love in her face!
    We were soon equipped, and went out. It was a sombre day, and drops of chill
rain fell at intervals. It was one of those colourless days when everything
looks heavy and harsh. The
