Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. VVarious
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. V
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
We had walked slowly, while we were talking; and my Guardian and Ada
were here before us. We found them in Miss Flite's garret. They were
looking at the birds, while a medical gentleman who was so good as
to attend Miss Flite with much solicitude and compassion, spoke with
her cheerfully by the fire.
"I have finished my professional visit," he said, coming forward.
"Miss Flite is much better, and may appear in court (as her mind is
set upon it) to-morrow. She has been greatly missed there, I
understand."
Miss Flite received the compliment with complacency, and dropped a
general courtesy to us.
"Honored, indeed," said she, "by another visit from the Wards in
Jarndyce! Ve-ry happy to receive Jarndyce of Bleak House beneath my
humble roof!" with a special courtesy. "Fitz-Jarndyce, my dear;" she
had bestowed that name on Caddy, it appeared, and always called her
by it; "a double welcome!"
"Has she been very ill?" asked Mr. Jarndyce of the gentleman whom we
had found in attendance on her. She answered for herself directly,
though he had put the question in a whisper.
"O, decidedly unwell! O, very unwell indeed," she said,
confidentially. "Not pain, you know--trouble. Not bodily so much as
nervous, nervous! The truth is," in a subdued voice and trembling,
"we have had death here. There was poison in the house. I am very
susceptible to such horrid things. It frightened me. Only Mr.
Woodcourt knows how much. My physician, Mr. Woodcourt!" with
great stateliness. "The Wards in Jarndyce--Jarndyce of Bleak
House--Fitz-Jarndyce!"
"Miss Flite," said Mr. Woodcourt, in a grave, kind voice as if he
were appealing to her while speaking to us; and laying his hand
gently on her arm; "Miss Flite describes her illness with her usual
accuracy. She was alarmed by an occurrence in the house which might
have alarmed a stronger person, and was made ill by the distress and
agitation. She brought me here in the first hurry of the discovery,
though too late for me to be of any use to the unfortunate man. I
have compensated myself for that disappointment by coming here
since, and being of small use to her."
"The kindest physician in the college," whispered Miss Flite to me.
"I expect a Judgment. On the day of Judgment. And shall then confer
estates."
"She will be as well, in a day or two," said Mr. Woodcourt, looking
at her with an observant smile, "as she ever will be. In other
words, quite well, of course. Have you heard of her good fortune?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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