Bleak House: Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

Before Richard leaves for his apprenticeship, he and Ada agree that Esther should live with them after the marriage. Richard jokes that they may be rich by then, if Jarndyce and Jarndyce resolves, and Ada looks uncertain. She begs Richard not to put his trust in Chancery and to forget about it, but Richard cannot and makes all sorts of unrealistic plans.

A short while before they leave London, Caddy comes to visit Ada and Esther and brings Peepy with her. She tells them that Mrs. Jellyby is as chaotic as ever and that her father will soon be bankrupt. She also declares that although her mother has intended her to marry Mr. Quale, she will never marry a philanthropist and, instead, is secretly engaged to another man. She hopes that she and her husband can make a fine home and take care of her father and siblings.

Caddy is engaged to her dancing master, Prince Turveydrop, whose father, Mr. Turveydrop, is a very noble man. They have often met in secret at Miss Flite’s room, and Caddy has grown fond of the old woman. Esther agrees to go with her to the dance studio the next day to be introduced to Prince.

They arrive at the dance studio the next day, just as a lesson is about to begin. Caddy hurriedly introduces them to Prince before his father, Mr. Turveydrop, enters the room. His father is lavishly dressed, extremely genteel, and a “model of Deportment.”

While Prince begins the dance lesson, a woman who has brought in two pupils tells Esther that Mr. Turveydrop takes all the credit for his son’s work and that he worked his young wife, Prince’s mother, to death. The woman remarks, however, that his young wife was totally blinded by his “deportment” and thought him a most wonderful husband. She seems to hate the old man and complains bitterly that he believes that he is royalty.

During the lesson, Mr. Turveydrop approaches Esther and begins to charm her with his elegant conversation. He complains to her that society has degenerated because people no longer learn the art of “deportment.” Even his son, he complains, has no real style. Esther tries to defend Prince’s hard work in the class, but Mr. Turveydrop condescendingly dismisses her opinion.

The lesson ends and Mr. Turveydrop reminds Prince that he has another lesson elsewhere that he must hurry to attend. Prince gets ready to leave but first checks that his father is taken care of for the rest of the day. He affectionately bids the older man, and then Caddy, farewell and hurries off. Esther likes Prince a lot but feels quite baffled by his father, who appears so regal and yet works his son so hard. She thinks about this as she departs with Caddy to visit Miss Flite.

On their way, Caddy tells Esther that Prince worked for his father through his childhood and, consequently, cannot read and write well. Caddy, who has always written for her mother but has been educated in nothing else, plans to help him with this. She has been helping Miss Flite clean her rooms so that she can learn how to keep her future home tidy.

As they arrive at Krook’s, Caddy tells Esther that the other lodger has died, and that Miss Flite has been ill because of the shock. As they pass Nemo’s door, Esther feels a shiver. Ada and Mr. Jarndyce are with Miss Flite when Esther and Caddy arrive. A doctor, Mr. Woodcourt, is also present. He speaks kindly to Miss Flite and tells her she will be well enough to attend the court the next day, where her absence has been noted.

Miss Flite tells them that she has been very anxious and disturbed ever since Nemo’s death, and Mr. Woodcourt agrees this is the case. He has kindly been treating her free of charge ever since the death occurred. Miss Flite then tells them that, recently, at the end of every court day, a clerk gives her a shilling. She believes that this is compensation for the length of her trial. As she says this, Esther looks at Mr. Jarndyce and knows that he has arranged this.

Miss Flite is about to tell them the names of her birds, when she hears Krook outside the door. Mr. Jarndyce opens the door and finds Krook eavesdropping. He enters the room shiftily and seems pleased to converse with a Jarndcye. Krook also knows the names of Miss Flite’s birds and lists them off for the group. He then says in a low voice to Mr. Jarndyce that, if Miss Flite ever sets the birds free, they will be slaughtered by wild birds. Mr. Jarndyce seems disturbed by Krook, but Krook seems unwilling to leave Mr. Jarndyce’s side. Krook offers to show them around the shop and, after this tour, they return home.