“ A word in earnest is as good as a speech. ”
Charles Dickens, Bleak House (1853). copy citation
| Author | Charles Dickens |
|---|---|
| Source | Bleak House |
| Topic | word gravity |
| Date | 1853 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1023/1023-h/1023-h.htm |
Context
“Here he kissed us again, and opening his arms, made us sit down side by side on a sofa ready drawn out near the hearth. I felt that if we had been at all demonstrative, he would have run away in a moment.
"Now, Rick!" said he. "I have a hand at liberty. A word in earnest is as good as a speech. I am heartily glad to see you. You are at home. Warm yourself!"
Richard shook him by both hands with an intuitive mixture of respect and frankness, and only saying (though with an earnestness that rather alarmed me, I was so afraid of Mr. Jarndyce's suddenly disappearing), "You are very kind, sir!” source
"Now, Rick!" said he. "I have a hand at liberty. A word in earnest is as good as a speech. I am heartily glad to see you. You are at home. Warm yourself!"
Richard shook him by both hands with an intuitive mixture of respect and frankness, and only saying (though with an earnestness that rather alarmed me, I was so afraid of Mr. Jarndyce's suddenly disappearing), "You are very kind, sir!” source
Meaning and analysis
