outside an inch thick,

like fat on mutton chops. Here’s a little pie (a gem

this is, both for size and quality), made in France. And what do you

suppose it’s made of? Livers of fat geese. There’s a pie! Now let’s see you

eat em.” ‛

Thank you, sir,” I replied; thank you very much indeed, but I hope ‟ ‟

you won’t be offended—they are too rich for me.”

‟Floored again!” said the gentleman, which I didn’t at all understand,

and threw them both out of window.

He did not speak to me any more until he got out of the coach a little

way short of Reading, when he advised me to be a good girl and to be

studious, and shook hands with me. I must say I was relieved by his

departure. We left him at a milestone. I often walked past it afterwards,

and never for a long time without thinking of him and half expecting to

meet him. But I never did; and so, as time went on, he passed out of my

mind.

When the coach stopped, a very neat lady looked up at the window

and said, Miss Donny.” ‟ ‟No, ma’am, Esther Summerson.”

That is quite right,” said the lady, Miss Donny.” ‟ ‟

I now understood that she introduced herself by that name, and

begged Miss Donny’s pardon for my mistake, and pointed out my boxes

at her request. Under the direction of a very neat maid, they were put

outside a very small green carriage; and then Miss Donny, the maid, and

I got inside and were driven away.

Everything is ready for you, Esther,” said Miss Donny, and the ‟ ‟

scheme of your pursuits has been arranged in exact accordance with the

wishes of your guardian, Mr. Jarndyce.”

‟Of—did you say, ma’am?”

‟Of your guardian, Mr. Jarndyce,” said Miss Donny.

I was so bewildered that Miss Donny thought the cold had been too

severe for me and lent me her smelling-bottlelike fat on mutton chops. Here’s a little pie (a gem

this is, both for size and quality), made in France. And what do you

suppose it’s made of? Livers of fat geese. There’s a pie! Now let’s see you

eat em.” ‛

Thank you, sir,” I replied; thank you very much indeed, but I hope ‟ ‟

you won’t be offended—they are too rich for me.”

‟Floored again!” said the gentleman, which I didn’t at all understand,

and threw them both out of window.

He did not speak to me any more until he got out of the coach a little

way short of Reading, when he advised me to be a good girl and to be

studious, and shook hands with me. I must say I was relieved by his

departure. We left him at a milestone. I often walked past it afterwards,

and never for a long time without thinking of him and half expecting to

meet him. But I never did; and so, as time went on, he passed out of my

mind.

When the coach stopped, a very neat lady looked up at the window

and said, Miss Donny.” ‟ ‟No, ma’am, Esther Summerson.”

That is quite right,” said the lady, Miss Donny.” ‟ ‟

I now understood that she introduced herself by that name, and

begged Miss Donny’s pardon for my mistake, and pointed out my boxes

at her request. Under the direction of a very neat maid, they were put

outside a very small green carriage; and then Miss Donny, the maid, and

I got inside and were driven away.

Everything is ready for you, Esther,” said Miss Donny, and the ‟ ‟

scheme of your pursuits has been arranged in exact accordance with the

wishes of your guardian, Mr. Jarndyce.”

‟Of—did you say, ma’am?”

‟Of your guardian, Mr. Jarndyce,” said Miss Donny.

I was so bewildered that Miss Donny thought the cold had been too

severe for me and lent me her smelling-bottle