Bleak House: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

Throughout the summer, Richard dithers over the change to his career. He is reluctant to give up medicine but also bored and keen to try law. Finally, midway through the summer, he takes a position in Kenge and Carboy’s. Meanwhile, he spends money carelessly and makes little effort to save. Richard rents a flat near his new office and furnishes it extravagantly. He throws himself into his new job and goes to work on Jarndyce and Jarndyce right away. Seeing that there is no more he can do, Mr. Jarndyce reluctantly leaves Richard to it and takes Ada, Esther, and Mr. Skimpole to visit Mr. Boythorn.

On the coach on the way up to Mr. Boythorn’s house, Mr. Skimpole tells them that the landlord has confiscated all of his furniture because he has not paid the rent. He is very unconcerned about it, however, because Mr. Jarndyce let him borrow the furniture in his own name and will, therefore, pay the bill to get it back.

It is a beautiful summer afternoon when the group arrives in Lincolnshire. They meet Mr. Boythorn, who has ridden out to greet them in his own carriage and find him furious that the cart is late. They must bypass Sir Leicester’s property, because of the feud between the two men. Sir Leicester is in Lincolnshire, at Chesney Wold, but Lady Dedlock is away. Mr. Boythorn calls Sir Leicester all sorts of names but he speaks very respectfully of Lady Dedlock. Mr. Jarndyce asks if they may visit Chesney Wold and Mr. Boythorn says that, as his guests, they may do as they like.

As they enter the village, they pass Watt sitting outside a pub. Mr. Boythorn tells them that he works at Chesney Wold and that he is engaged to Rosa, Lady Dedlock’s maid. The house is quaint and the garden is very pretty. The walkway over which Mr. Boythorn and Sir Leicester have been arguing about is at the back of the house and is guarded by a servant and covered with signs, which state that the path belongs to Mr. Boythorn.

The next day is Sunday, and the party attends the local church. The community is small, and Esther observes the congregants as the pews fill up. She notices a very pretty servant girl who is being watched by a sour looking French maid. A respectful hush falls over the congregation which signals that Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock have arrived. Esther looks up and catches Lady Dedlock’s eye. She is startled by the look Lady Dedlock gives her and finds herself, strangely, reminded of her childhood.

Esther thinks that Lady Dedlock looks like her godmother, and, also, that she looks a little like herself. She is surprised to find the French maid watching her too and tries to compose herself. After the service, the Dedlocks leave the church, and Mr. Skimpole says that he would be very happy to be patronized by such a wealthy man. Mr. Boythorn indignantly tells says that Mr. Skimpole has no principles, but Mr. Skimpole lightly disagrees and says that he sides with anyone who can benefit him. Despite their frequent disagreements, however, Mr. Boythorn and Mr. Skimpole get on well and seem to be entertained by each other.

Ada, Esther, and Mr. Jarndyce often go for walks in the grounds. One day, when they are out in their favorite part of the woods, they are caught in a thunderstorm and rush for shelter in the groundskeeper’s cottage. The lodge is very dark, and the groundskeeper offers Esther and Ada seats in the doorway so that they can watch the rain. They are startled to discover that Lady Dedlock stands behind them, and that she, too, has taken refuge from the storm.

Lady Dedlock warmly introduces herself to Mr. Jarndyce and asks after Richard, whom Mr. Jarndyce wrote to Sir Leicester about. Mr. Jarndyce thanks her and introduces her to Esther and Ada. She greets Ada politely but seems to dislike Esther. Esther, who is fascinated by Lady Dedlock’s beauty and proud manner, is hurt by this.

Lady Dedlock talks with Mr. Jarndyce as the storm continues. She thinks that he may have known her sister at one time, and Mr. Jarndyce concedes that he did. As they wait, a carriage approaches the hut. The Frenchwoman, whom Esther saw in church, gets out, followed by the pretty handmaiden. Lady Dedlock is indignant with the French woman and says that she sent for Rosa. She gets into the carriage with Rosa and directs the coach to drive on, leaving the French woman behind.

The French woman watches the carriage go and then, with her face set in a cold, furious scowl, takes off her shoes and begins to march back towards the house. Esther and Ada watch her go, confused. The groundskeeper laughs when he sees this and tells them that Mademoiselle Hortense is extremely proud and cannot bear to be treated as an inferior. His wife suggests that she walks through the wet grass so she can imagine it is blood. The rain lets up soon after this and Esther, Ada, and Mr. Jarndyce return to Mr. Boythorn’s house.