“The little Jellybys,” said Richard, coming to my relief, “are really—­I can’t help expressing myself strongly, sir—­in a devil of a state.”

“She means well,” said Mr. Jarndyce hastily.  “The wind’s in the east.”

“It was in the north, sir, as we came down,” observed Richard.

“My dear Rick,” said Mr. Jarndyce, poking the fire, “I’ll take an oath it’s either in the east or going to be.  I am always conscious of an uncomfortable sensation now and then when the wind is blowing in the east.”

“Rheumatism, sir?” said Richard.

“I dare say it is, Rick.  I believe it is.  And so the little Jell —­I had my doubts about ’em—­are in a—­oh, Lord, yes, it’s easterly!” said Mr. Jarndyce.

He had taken two or three undecided turns up and down while uttering these broken sentences, retaining the poker in one hand and rubbing his hair with the other, with a good-natured vexation at once so whimsical and so lovable that I am sure we were more delighted with him than we could possibly have expressed in any words.  He gave an arm to Ada and an arm to me, and bidding Richard bring a candle, was leading the way out when he suddenly turned us all back again.

“Those little Jellybys.  Couldn’t you—­didn’t you—­now, if it had rained sugar-plums, or three-cornered raspberry tarts, or anything of that sort!” said Mr. Jarndyce.

“Oh, cousin—­” Ada hastily began.

“Good, my pretty pet.  I like cousin.  Cousin John, perhaps, is better.”

“Then, cousin John—­” Ada laughingly began again.

“Ha, ha!  Very good indeed!” said Mr. Jarndyce with great enjoyment.  “Sounds uncommonly natural.  Yes, my dear?”

“It did better than that.  It rained Esther.”

“Aye?” said Mr. Jarndyce.  “What did Esther do?”

“Why, cousin John,” said Ada, clasping her hands upon his arm and shaking her head at me across him—­for I wanted her to be quiet—­ “Esther was their friend directly.  Esther nursed them, coaxed them to sleep, washed and dressed them, told them stories, kept them quiet, bought them keepsakes”—­My dear girl!  I had only gone out with Peepy after he was found and given him a little, tiny horse!—­ “and, cousin John, she softened poor Caroline, the eldest one, so much and was so thoughtful for me and so amiable!  No, no, I won’t be contradicted, Esther dear!  You know, you know, it’s true!”

The warm-hearted darling leaned across her cousin John and kissed me, and then looking up in his face, boldly said, “At all events, cousin John, I will thank you for the companion you have given me.”  I felt as if she challenged him to run away.  But he didn’t.

“Where did you say the wind was, Rick?” asked Mr. Jarndyce.

“In the north as we came down, sir.”

“You are right.  There’s no east in it.  A mistake of mine.  Come, girls, come and see your home!”