she told her that she was her unhappy mother, who
must keep her secret for the sake of her husband, Sir Leicester.

Esther thought her heart must break with both grief and joy at once. But
she comforted Lady Dedlock, and told her nothing would ever change her
love for her, and they parted with tears and kisses.

Another surprise of a different sort awaited Esther on her return to
Bleak House. Mr. Jarndyce told her that he loved her and asked her if
she would marry him. And, remembering how tender he had always been, and
knowing that he loved her in spite of her disfigured face, she said yes.

But one day--the very day he returned--Esther saw Allan Woodcourt on the
street. Somehow at the first glimpse of him she knew that she had loved
him all along. Then she remembered that she had promised to marry Mr.
Jarndyce, and she began to tremble and ran away without speaking to
Woodcourt at all.

But they soon met, and this time it was Joe the crossing sweeper who
brought them together. Woodcourt found the poor ragged wanderer in the
street, so ill that he could hardly walk. He had recovered from
smallpox, but it had left him so weak that he had become a prey to
consumption. The kind-hearted surgeon took the boy to little Miss Flite
and they found him a place to stay in Mr. George's shooting-gallery,
where they did what they could for him, and where Esther and Mr.
Jarndyce came to see him.

Joe was greatly troubled when he learned he had brought the smallpox to
Bleak House, and one day he got some one to write out for him in very
large letters that he was sorry and hoped Esther and all the others
would forgive him. And this was his will.

On the last day Allan Woodcourt sat beside him, "Joe, my poor fellow,"
he said.

"I hear you, sir, but it's dark--let me catch your hand."

"Joe, can you say what I say?"

"I'll say anything as you do, sir, for I know it's good."

"Our Father."

"Our Father; yes, that's very good, sir."

"Which art in Heaven."

"Art in Heaven. Is the light a-comin', sir?"

"Hallowed be thy name."

"Hallowed be--thy----"

But the light had come at last. Little Joe was dead.

IV

ESTHER BECOMES THE MISTRESS OF BLEAK HOUSE

When the last bit of proof was fast in his possession Mr. Tulkinghorn,
pluming himself on the cleverness with which he had wormed his way into
Lady Dedlock's secret, went to her at her London home and informed her
of all he had discovered, delighting in the fear and