An aged nobleman
Mr. Boythorn's neighbor

Lady Dedlock His wife

Mr. Tulkinghorn His lawyer

Captain Hawdon A dissipated and poverty-stricken copyist
in London, known as "Nemo"

Esther Summerson Mr. Jarndyce's ward
In reality a daughter of Captain Hawdon and Lady Dedlock

Ada Clare }
} Wards of Mr. Jarndyce
Richard Carstone }

Vholes Richard's lawyer

Mrs. Rouncewell Sir Leicester's housekeeper

"Mr. George" Proprietor of a London shooting-gallery
Her son

Hortense Lady Dedlock's French maid

Miss Flite A little, old, demented woman

Mrs. Jellyby A lady greatly interested in the welfare
of the heathen

Caddy Jellyby Her daughter

Harold Skimpole A trifler with life, preferring to
live at other people's expense

Allan Woodcourt A young surgeon

Grandfather Smallweed A money-lender

Mrs. Smallweed His crazy wife

Mr. Turveydrop The proprietor of a dancing school
and a model of deportment

Prince Turveydrop His son. Later, Caddy's husband

Joe A crossing sweeper

Krook A dealer in rags and old bottles

"Lady Jane" His cat

BLEAK HOUSE

I

THE COURT OF CHANCERY

An Englishman named Jarndyce, once upon a time having made a great
fortune, died and left a great will. The persons appointed to carry out
its provisions could not agree; they fell to disputing among themselves
and went to law over it.

The court which in England decides such suits is called the Court of
Chancery. Its action is slow and its delays many, so that men generally
consider it a huge misfortune to be obliged to have anything to do with
it. Sometimes it has kept