I was, and I am, sensible that the air of this chamber, in its strong combination of stable with soup-stock, might have led one to infer that the coaching department was not doing well, and that the enterprising proprietor was boiling down the horses for the refreshment department. Yet the room was all in all to me, Estella being in it. I thought that with her I could have been happy there for life. (I was not at all happy there at the time, observe, and I knew it well.)

     "Where are you going to, at Richmond?" I asked Estella.

     "I am going to live," said she, "at a great expense, with a lady there, who has the power--or says she has--of taking me about, and introducing me, and showing people to me and showing me to people."

     "I suppose you will be glad of variety and admiration?"

     "Yes, I suppose so."

     She answered so carelessly, that I said, "You speak of yourself as if you were some one else."