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COLLECTION
BRITISH AUTHORS.
(JBEAT KXrKCTATIOXS BY CEAEIES BICKEliS.
IS TWn TOLTMES
VOL. 1.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
CHARLES DIGKEK
COPTIiWIlT EDITIO.W,
LEIPZIG
EKNHABD TAUCUXITZ
GREAT EXPECTATIOA^S.
CHAPTER I.
■ father's family name being I'irrij), anil my
■ i -tian name Philip, my infant tongiie could make of
iiamea nothing longer or more espliirit than Pip.
1 called myself Pip, and eame to be called Pip,
i give Pinip as my father's family name, on tlio
mi-ity of his tombstone and my siater — Mrs. Jiie
_'iTy, who married the blacksitiith. Ae I never
my fiither or my mother, and never saw any like-
. ')f either ot them (for their days were long before
ilays of photographs), my first fancies regarding
L they were like, wei-e nnreasonably derived from
I tombstones. The shape of the letters on my
''■ i'b, gave me an odd idea that he was a sqnare,
. [ , dark man with early black hair. From the
K^ter and turn of the inscription, "Also Georgirma
of thff Above" I drew "childish conclusion that
mother was freckled and sickly. To five littlo
..■ lozenges, each about a foot and a half long,
ii were arranged in a neat row beside their grave,
'.vere sacred to the memory of five little brothers
line - — who gave ap trying to get a living, ex-
uAy early in that universal struggle — 1 am in-
lior A belief I religiously entertained that ftve^
*^--T bom oa their backs with thoir liauda m
^■p; aXEi-T BXPSCTATIOKS.
^^■tiieir trousers-pockets, and h^i. qeflej-taltfin- tliem out
in this state of. existenaB; .' "; •; '.;■,'""
Gill's. ves-t?ie njaJsttOKhtry, down by the .river,
. .••withiH, as the river wound, twenty miles of the sea.
J "."•Bfy'-firHi most vivid and broad impression of the iden-
■ ■ tity of things, 'seema to me to have been gained on a
memorable raw afternoon towards evening. At Bucb
a time I found out for certain, that this hleak plauQ
overgrown with nettles was the churchyard; and thai
Philip Pirrip, late of this parish, and also Georgiana
wife of the above, were dead and buried; and thai
Alexander, Bartholomew, Abraham, Tobias, and Kogor,
infant children of the aforesaid, were also dead and
buried; and that the dark flat wilderness beyond thQ
churchyard, intersected with dykes and moandi
and gates, with scattered cattle feeding
the marshes; and that the low leaden lino beyon^
was the river; and that the distant savage lair froi
which the wind was rushing, was the sea; and that the
Ismail bundle of shivers growing afraid of it all
beginning to cry, was Pip.
"Hold your noise!" cried a terrible voice, as a
started up from among the graves at the side of the
church porch. "Keep ^11, you little devil, ov I'll cut
your throat!"
A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great
Kn his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes,
ad with an old rag tied round his head. A man whi
ad been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, ani
•dmed by stones, and cut by flints, and stung by ne(
ties, and torn by briars; who limped, and shivered, ano
^iarfd and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his.
^e»d aa he aefeed me by the diin.
O! Don't tut my throat, sir," I pleaded iu terror.
don't do it, air."
■ nami;!" said the man. "Quick!"
' said tLe i
my
"Tell as
"Pip, sir.
Once mi
intt!"
Pip. Pip, sir."
Show us where you
the place!"
I pointed to where
lid tie
"Pint
• village lay, ontbe flat
■ the alder-trees and pollards, a mile
. iiL- fi'om the church.
The man, after looking at me for a moment, turned
i ■ upside-down, and emptied my pockets. There waa
liiing in them but a piece of bread. When the
-'Mxh came to itself — for he -was ho sudden and
;iiUK that he made it go head over heels before
-:ini E savf the st'eeple under my legM — when the
gdroreh came to itself, I say, I was Heated on a high
BBkbetODe, trembling, while he ate the bread ravo-
■faaly.
W "Tou young dog," said tlie man, licking his lips,
' "what fat cheeks you ha' got,'"
I believe they were fat, though I was at that time
[ undersized for my years, and uot strong.
I "l>arn Me if I couldn't eat 'em," said the man,
I irilh a threatening shako of his head, "and if I han't
I liidf a. mind to'tl"
I oaniOBtly expreased my liope that he wouldn't,
I ud held tighter to the tombstone oa which he haA ^uit
me; fMTtlx, to keep myself npon it- partly, to koB
1^ flilEAT" EIPEOTATIOWS.
"Now then, lookee here!" said the man. "Wliere'
your mother?"
"There, Bir!" aaid I,
He started, made a short run, and stopped anc
Looked over his shoulder.
"There, sir!" I timidly explained. "Also GeoB
giana. That's my mother."
"OhI" said he, coming back. "And ia that yoiii
taihet alonger your mother?"
"Yes, sir," said I; "him too; late of this (
"Hal" he muttered then, considering. "Who d'ye
live with — supposin' you're kindly let to live, whidi
I han't made up my mind about?"
"My Biater, sir — Mrs, Joe Gargery — wii'e d
Joe Gargery, the blaeksmith, sir,"
"Blacksmith, eh?" said ho. And looked down ai
bis leg.
After darkly looking at his leg and at me several
, he came closer to my tomhstone, took i
I Iwth arms, and tilted me back as far as he could holi
0 that his eyes looked most powerfully dow
' mine, and mine looked most helplessly up into i
"Now lookee here," he aiiid, "the question
whether you're to be let to live. You know what i
file ia."
"Yes, sir."
»"And you know what wittles is."
"Yes, sir."
After each question he tilted me over a little mow
BO as to give mo a greater sense of helples
danger.
"Yftij ^ot me a file." He tilted me again. "An
.rag gvt me jnttl«B." Ha tilted ms ^tam. "'Ywil'q'
^Ejni
^Rn bol
♦l
both to me." He tilted me again. "Or I'll liav
heart and liver oat." He tilted me again.
! was dreadfuUj' frightened, and so giddy that I
■ :'j to him with both hands, and said, "If you
il'I kiiidJy please to let me kei3p nprighl, air, per-
,■' I slioi^dn't bo sick, and perhaps I coidd attend
ilo gave me a most tremendons dip and roll, so
r the church jumped over its own weathercock.
, he held ine by the arms, in an nprigbt position
e top of the stone, and went on in these fearful
'You bring mc, to-morrow morning early, that file
them. wittle§, You bring- the lot to me, at that
Battery over yonder, You do it, and yoa never
t« say a word or dai-e to make a sign concerning
having seen such a person as me, or any person
I'.ver, and you shall be let to live, Y'ou fail, or yoa
from my words in any partickler, no matter how
■ ill it is, and your heart and your liver shall he tore
, roasted, and ate. Now, I ain't alone, as you may
,ik I am. There's a young man hid with me, in
lip.iriaon with which young m;m I am a Angel.
i( yoimg inan hears the words I speak. That young
n has a secret way peeooliar to himself, of getting at a
. , and at his heart, and at his liver. It is in wain for a
I to attempt to hide himself fi«m that young man. A
. may lock his door, may be warm in bed, may tuck
■i-.(ilf up, may draw the clothes over hia head, may
Ilk himself comfortable and safe, hut that young
II -will softly creep and creep his way to Mm a,ii4
him open. I tm a keeping that youog man trow,
. ■■—-^d^preaent momeat, with
1
"» eRHA* EltPEOTATIONg.
ficulty. I fiyid it wery linrd to liold that young mi
off of yOEr inside. Now, wLat do you say;'"
I said that I would get liim the file, and I wc
get him what broken bits of food I could, and I wc
come to him at the Battery, early in the morning.
"Say Lord strike you dead if you don't!" said
I said so, and he took me down.
"Now," he pnrsaed, "you remember what yoi^
nndcrtook, and you remember that young ma
you get home!"
"Goo-good night, sir," I faltered.
"Much of that!" said he, glancing about him oi
the cold wet flat "I wish I was a frog. Or a
At tlio same time, he hugged hia shuddering boi
in both hia arms — clasping himself, as if. to hi
himself together — and limped towards the low chul
wall. As I saw him go, picking his way among
nettles, and among the brambles that bound the gre
xnounda, he looked in my yoang eyes as if he a
eluding the handa of the dead people, stretching
cautiously out of their graves, to get a twist upon 1
&nkle and pull him in.
When he came to the low church wall, he got ay
it, like a man whose legs were numbed and stiff, aj
then turned round to look for me. When I saw hi
turning, I set my face towards home, and mitde t
best USB of my legs. But pi-eaently I looked o
shoulder, and saw him going on again towards i
still hugging himself in both arms, and pickij
way with his sore feet among the groat ston
dropped into the marshes here and there, for steppiq
' ga the raioB were hoavy, oi tita ti&ft ^tM 1
i marshes warn just n long black lioriEontal lino
5 I stopped to ltn)k after him; and the river waa
-.riotlier horizontfil line, not nearly bo broiid nor
■ ir black; and the sky waa juat a row »f long
^ y red lines and dense black IJne^ intermixed. On
ia edge of the river, I could faintly make out the
«ly twp Iilack things in all the prospect that seemed
"ii he staniliiig upright; one of these was the beacon
'.liicJi the sailors steered — like an nnhooped cask
:i pole — an ugly thing when you were near it;
tlier, a gibbet with some chains hanging to it
I hati once held a pirate„ The man waa limping
iM-artls this latter, as if he were the pirate come to
^md come down, and going back to hook himself
L':iin. It gave me a terrible turn when I thought
:iiil as I saw the cattle lifting their heads to gaze
liim, I wondered whether they thought so too.
■koJ all round for the horrible young man, and
■ ;.| Hee uo signs of him. But, now I was frightened
i^fiin, and ran home without stopping.
' CHAPTER n.
\r>- aiater, Mrs. Joe Gargery, waa more than twenty
^ older than I, and had established a great rnpu-
II with herself and the neighbonra betauae she had
_'ht jne tip "by hand." Having at that time to
iiut for myself what the expression meant, and
. ^ tug her to have a hard and heavy hand, and to
;iiiL-h in the habit of laying it upon her husband
. 11 as upon me, I sapposed that Joa Q-argery ani
,-,. bu/A broagbt np by hand.
f jiot a good-looking woman, my wHaat;
son
^Fofiet
ORSAT ErraCTATIOSS.
and 1 had a general impieasion that she must haveJ
mfld)»»Gargery marry her by hand. Joe was
man, with curia of flaxen hair on each side
amooth face, and irith eyes of ench a very undecidefflj
blue that they seemed to have somehow got mixed"
with their own whites. He was a mild, good-natured,
sweet-tempered, eaay-going', foolish, dear fellow — a
sort of Eercnles in strength, and also in weakness.
My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had
ih a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes
Bfied to wonder whether it was possible she washed
hMself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was
tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse npron,
fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and
having a square impregnable bib in front that was
stuck full of pins and needles. She made it a power- '
fnl merit in herself, and a strong reproach against Joe,
that she wore this apron so much. Though I really '
see no reason why she should have worn it at j "
•why, if she did wear it at all, she should not havi
''taken it off, every day of her life.
Joe's forgo adjoined our house, which was a wooden
house, as many of the dwellings in oip: country woreTt
— most of them, at that time. When I ran home %
from the churchyard, the forge was shut up, and Joe %
was sitting alone in the kitchen. Joe and I being %
fellow-sufferers, and having confidences as such, Joe
imparted a confidence to me, the moment I raised the
latch of the door and poeped in at him opposite to it,
sittinj; in the chimney comer.
"Mrs. Joe has been out a dozen times, looking for
jvir, Pip. And she's out now, making it a baker's
ind what'§ worae, she's got
"Id she?"
"Yes, Pip," said Joe
ler with her."
At tilts disnial iateHigence, I twisted tUe only
my waistcoat roasd aiid round, and li)ok<>d
'great deprcMJon at the fire. Tickler wns a wnx-
of cane, worn smooth by collision with my
led frame.
"She sot dowu," said Joe, "and she giit up, aud
made a grab at Tickler, and she Esmpagcd out.
..It's wLat she did," said Joe, slowly cleaiing the
■■■ hetween the lower bars with the poker, and looking
i[ il; "ahe Rampaged out, Pip."
"Has she been gone long, Joe?" I always treated
^JiD as a larger species of child, aud as no more than
ly equal.
"Well," said Joe, glancing up at the DnHih clock,
she's been on the liam-page, this last spell, about
tie minntea, Pip. She's a coming] Get behind the
ionr, old cLap, and have- the jack-towel betwixt,
I took the advice. My sister, Mrs. Joe, throwing
kii door wide open, and finding an obstruction behind
', immediately divined the cause, and applied Tickler
!■ ii^ further investigation. She concluded by throw-
nr me — I often served her aa a connubial missile —
■I Jt»o, who, glad to get hold of in5 "on any terms,
i-tw.d me oo into the chimney and quietly fenced me
|i tliBPo with his great leg.
"Where have you been, you young monkey?" said
'lr». Joo, stamping ber foot. "Toll me directly "w\iat
-..",■«> heendoing to wear nw away with fret xcA
vvTtt, or I'd haw you out "
t
■"I
-ainH
gheAV i*pbctatkws.
if you was fifty Pips and lie -was five bundredj
Gfargerys."
"I have only been to the churchyard," said I, from '
my stool, crying and nibbing myself.
"Churchyardl" repeated my sister. "If it i
for me you'd have been to the churchyard long ago,.3
and stayed there. "Who brought yon up by hand?"
■Tou did," said I.
And 'why did I do it, I should like to knowl-^
lelaimed my sister. ^
I whimpered, "I don't know."
"/Aon'tl" said my sister. "Pd never do it again
know that. I may truly say I've never had thw''
i^oa of mine off, since bom you were. It's bad "T'
enough to be a blacksmith's wife (and him a Gargery^**
without being your mother." '• '
My thoughts strayed from that question as I looked * >
disconsolately at the fire. For, the fugitive out on the ^
marshes with the ironed leg, the mysterious yowag^p
man, the file, the food, and the dreadful pledge I waft 'fti
Blunder to commit a larceny on those sheltering pre- ^m
^ttises, rose before me in the avenging coals. %.
' "Hah!" said Mrs. Joe, reatoring Tickler to I
station. "Churchyard, indeed! You may '
churchyard, you two." »One of us, by-the-by, had t
Baid it at all. "You'll drive me to the churchyard
t tetwist you, one of these days, and oh, a pr-t-ri
■ 'pair you'd be without me!"
' As she applied herself to set the tea-things, Jo^
peeped down at me over his leg, as if he v
tally casting me and himself up, and calculating wh)
iim] of pair we practically sliotrid make, under T
S^'eroaa clrBainstauces foreshadowed. Al^et ftia.\,.
i.i-ling his right-side flasen curls nnil whisker, and
iiiug jUt3. Joe about with his blue eyes, ns Iiis
|| r always was at squally times.
Ir slater had a trenchant way of cutting onr
I ;ind-batter for lis, that never variotl. First, with
If'tit hand she jammed the Inaf hard and inat
I -T her bib — whore it sometimes got a pin into
iiid sumetimos a nt'cdle, which wo afterwards got
mir mouths. Then, she took some butter (not too
In on a knifb aud spread it on the loaf, in an
hecarr kind of way as if she were making a
-r-r — using both sides of tho knife with a slap-
Icxterity, and trimming and moulding the butter
iiivil the crust. Then, she gave the kuife a fiual
' wipe on the edge of the plaister, and then sawed
:y thick round off the loaf; which she finally,
.■ separating from the loaf, hewed into two halves:
ili'b Joe got one, and I the other.
I hi the present occasion, though I was hungry, 1
1.1 not eat myslica I felt that I must have Bome-
^' in reserve for my dreadful acquaintance, and his
the still more dreadful young man. I knew Mrs.
'■> honae-keeping to he of the strictest kind, and
tu my iareenous researches might find nothing avail-
I-Ih in tte safe. Therefore J. resolved to put my
ank of broad-and-huttcr down the leg of my trousers.
The effort of resolution necessary to the achieve-
nt of this purpose, I fonnd to be quite awful. It
ii* ss if I had to make up my mind to leap from the
'—fa high house, or plunge into a groat depth of
An<l'it was mnde the more difficult by tbe
. ..•iovs./ae.^ am- already-mentioaedi frcemaaoniy
f ■.J6,mvrf4i^'¥^ ^Ms ffood-nRtaied compi ■
r
I
I
12 SHUAT EXPBCTATIOWa,
Bliip ■with me, it was our evening' habit to compai
way we bit through our slices, by silently holdb
them up to each cither's ftdmiration now and then -
which stimulated us to new exertions. To-nig^ht,
several times invited me, by the display of his
diminishing slice, to enter upon our usual friend
competition; but he found me, each time, with q
yellow mug of toa on one knee, and my untouclM
bread-and-butter on the other. At last, I desperate
considered that the thing I contemplated must he d<w
and that it had best bo done in the least improb^
consiatent with the circumstances. I took
Tantage of a moment when Joe had juat looked at
tad got my bread-and-butter down my leg.
Joe was evidently mado imcomfortable by wh
he supposed to be my loss of appetite, and took a
thoughtful bite out of his slice which he didn't seem
to enjoy. He turned it about in his mouth much
longer than usual, pondeiing over it a good deal, and
after all gulped it down like a pOl. He was about to
take another bite, and had just got his head on one
rfde for a good purchase on it, when his eye fell on
me, and he saw that my bread-and-butter was gone. J
The wonder and constei-nation with which jM
stopped on the threshold of his bite and stared at Urn
were too evident to escape my sister's observation. W
"What's the matter now?" said she, smartly, M
she put down her cup. M
"I say, you know!" mattered Joe, shaking fl
head at me in very serious remonstrance. "Pip, ifl
ebap! you'll do yourself a mischief. It'll stick boqh
Ijtong. IToa can't jjare chewed it, Pi^." S
"Wliat's tlie matter now?" repeated my sister,
e sharply than before.
"If you cftn cough any trifle on it up, Pip, I'd
nommciid yott to do it," said Joe, all a;;hafit.
'Ibimers is manners, but still yonr eltb's your elth."
By this time, my sister was quite desperate, no she
Mmced on Joe, and, tttkin^ him by the twit wLiskers,
Qqcked lu3 head I'or a little while against the wall
'iuc! him: wliiie I sat in the comer, looking guilt-
N'l iw, perhaps you'll mention what's the niattei',"
Liiy Bister, out of breath, "you staring great stuck
i..L' lookod at her in a helpless way; then took a
: -■< bite, and looked at me again.
Toll know, Pip," said Joo, solemnly, with his last
II hie cheek, and speaking in a coniidential voice,
IV,; two were quite alone, "you and me in always
nh. nnA I'd be the last to tell upon you, any time.
iit such a" ~ he moved his chair and looked about
b fluor between ua, and then again at me — "such
most oncommou Bolt as that!"
"Been bolting his food, has he?" cried taj sister.
"You know, old chap," said Joe, looking at me,
ail not at Mrs. Joe, with his bite still in hiii cheek.
1 Bolted, myself, when I was your ago- — frequent —
tid as a boy I've been among a many Bolters; but I
ti-er see your Bolting equal yet, Pip, and it's a mercy
ti.u aiu't Bolted dead."
My siater made a dive at me, and fished rae up by
' li.air; saying nothing more tLau the awful words,
iMii etiwe aloaff Jind be dosed."
pi4 ORBAT EXTHBTA'nftjrB; ^H
Krdaya as it line medicine, and Mrs. Joe always kept ^M
R- supply of it in the cupboard; having a belief in ^^|
■ Vhluos cuirespoadetit to its naDtiness. At the beet '^H
B times, bo miLch of this elixir waa administered to id^|
I. as a choice restorative, that I was conscious of goii^H
■ about emelliug like a new feuce. On this particul^H
K evening the lugency of my case demanded a pint ^H
PUuH mixture, which wits poured down my throat, fa^t
toy greater comfort, while Mrs. Joe hold my heajPJi
under her arm, as a boot would be held in a boot-ja^'V
Joe got off with half a pint; but was made to swallow*
that (much to his disturbance, as he sat slowly munch--'*
ing and meditating before the fire), "because he has**
had a turn." Judging from myself, I should say ht^i^
eertiunly had a turn afterwards, if he had had noii«^
Conscience is a dreadful thing when it accuaea
■ boy; hut when, ia the case of a boy, thoKd
Bcret burden co-oporates with another secret burdM(|i
Bown the leg of his trousers, it is (as I can testify) ^i|
i guilty knowledge that I i
agoing,,
lioiisiv;*
sat punishment.
^ing to rob Mrs. Joe — I never thought I v
I rob Joe, for I never thought of any of tl.-
fkeeping property as his — united to the necessity of'
I tdways keeping one hand on my bread and butter as TM
• when I was ordered about the kitchen on any:*
small eiTBud, almost drove me out of my mind. Theii,*i
as the marsh winds made the fii-o glow and flare, T\y
thought I heanl the voice outside, of the man withV
the iron on his leg who had sworn mo to secrecy,'iiji
declaring that he couldn't and woiddn't starve nntil'lil
to-morrow, but must be ted now. At other times, I
tAoi^ht, W^at i£ tie young man wW -waa -wSfc. <
IS
h difficulty restrained from imbming hia Lands in
~Iioii]d yield to a conetitntioiial impaticaco, or
I'l mistake the time, And ehonld tliiiik IiimaeU' ac-
■<.'d to my Ueart and liver to-oight, instead of to-
m! If ever auybody's liair stood on end with
I . mine must have doue so tlicu. But, pci'liajj!*,
(v's tvfr didi'
' was Christmas Eve, and I hud to Htir tlio jjud-
I'-jr next day, with thecopper-atick, from seven to
Ijy the Dutch tilocb. I tried it with the load upon
./y (and that made me think afi-esh of tlie man
tiic load on his leg), and fonnd the tendency of
rcise to bring the bread-and-butter ont at uiy ankle,
unmanageable. Happily. I slipped away, and
ited that part of my conscience in my garret bed-
liiirk!" said I, when I had done my stimng, and
iking a final warm in the chinmey corner before
I- r.eut up to bed; "was that gi-eat gnns, Joei"'
"Abl" said Joe. "There's another conwict off."
"What does that mean, Joe?" said I.
Mra. Joe, who always took explanations npon her-
', said, snappishly, "Escaped. Escaped." Adrai-
Baing the de^tiou like Tar-wator.
Wliile Sirs. Joe sat with her head bending over her
illcivork , I put my mouth into the forms of saying
.r«e, "What's a convict?" Joe put his mouth into
fcirma of returning snch a highly elaborate ansi^er,
1 1 could make out nothing of it but the single word
last night," said Joe,
JJad they fced
i
SSXAT' l!XSiatJtl.TXOm.
^^^ him. Ami uow, it appeai-s tliey're liriug naming
^^B WlOtllGl'."
^^1 " W/io's firing?" said I.
^^M "Drat that boy," interposed my sist«r, frowning
^^Bme over her work, "what a questioner ho ia. Ask
^^B questions, and you'll be told i
^^H It was not very polite to herself, I thought, to 1
^^PplytUat I should he told lies by her, even if I did i
^^* questions. But sho never was polite, unless there t
company.
At this point, Joe greatly augmented my curioe
by taking the utmost pains to open his month ■
»'\nde, and to ptit it into the form of a word that loo^
to me like "sulks." Therefore, I [naturally pointed
Mrs. Joo, and put my mouth into the foi-m of say'
"her?" But Joe wouldn't hear of that, at all,
again opened, liis mouth very wide, and shook the t
of a most emphatic word out of it. But I could m
nothing of the word.
,1 ''Mrs. Joe," said I, as a last resource, "I shff
like to know — if you wouldn't much mind — y
the firing comes from?"
^_ "Lord bless the boy!" exclaimed my sister,
^K she didn't quite mean that, but rather the contra
^■■■"From the Hulks."
^H "Oh-h!" said I, looking at Joe. "Hulks!"
^^1 Joe gave a reproachful cough, as much as to a
^^t"WeU, I told you so."
^^H "And please what's Hulks?" said I.
^^ft "That's the way with this hoy!" exclaimed ,
^^B Bister, pointing me out with her needle and tlu^
^^B>nd shaking Ler head at me. "Answer hini one qt
^Jl^g^ nfitl be'U ask yon a doaen dgwHJ-y. "
ipa, right 'cross th' meslies." Wc always nnvd
IRine for marithoB, in our cotuitiy.
'I wonder wlio's put into prison-ships, and why
y're put tliere?" said I, in a general way, iinil with
et desperation.
It \ras too mach for Mrs. Joe, who immediately
?. "I tell you what, youn^ fellow," said she, "1
Mn't bring yoii ti[] by hand to badger people's lives
. It would he. blame to me, and not praiao, if I
L People are pot in the Hulks lietanse they mmv
, and because they rob, and forge, ami do all BortH
\md\ and they always begin by asking quoations.
IT, yoa get along to bod!"
I w&s never allowed a canJle to light me to bed,
as 1 went up-ataira in the dark, with my hiiad
from Mrs. Joe's thimble, having played the
ibnuriac upon it, to aecjjmpany her last worda — I
fearfally eonsible of the great convenience tlmt the
Ike were handy for me. I was clearly on my way
n. I bad begun by asking fjaestions, and I was
ig to rob Mrs. Joa
SsBiM that time, which is far enough awny now, I
e often tbougbt that few people know what secrecy
le is in tlje young, under terror. No matter how
tcasonable the tenor, so that it be terror. I was in
»t«l terror of the young man who wanted my heart,
i liver; I was in mortal terror of my interlocutor
th llio ironed leg; I waa in mortal terror of myself,
n whom an awful promise had boon extracted; I had
bopo of deliverance through my allpowerful aitster,
p PSpaUcd me at cvnty tarn; J am aftaid to think
\i^iA'S la'fiht harerdone, upon requirement, ia tbo
r
^SfiXv vi^atsTAmam.
I
If I slept at all tbat night, it was only to im
myself drifting dowu the river ou a strong spring ti
to theHulks; a ghostly pirate calling out to me throt
a speaking-trumpet, as I passed the gihhet-station, '
I had better come ashore and be hanged there at o
and not pnt it off. I was afraid to sleep, even if I
been inclined, for I knew that at the first faint da
of morning I must roh the pantry. There was no da
it in the night, for there was no getting a light by el
friction then; to have got one, I must have struck
out of flint and steel, and have made a noise like
very pirate himself rattling his chains.
As soon as the great black velvet pall outside
'Kttle window was shot with grey, I got up and v
.flown stairs; every board upon the way, and e*
crack in every board, calling after me, "Stop thie
and "Get up, Mrs. Joel" In the pantry, which was
more abundantly supplied than usual, owing to '
'as very much alaimed, by a hare h
up by the heels, whom I rather thought I t
when my back was half turned, winking. I had
time for verification, no time for selection, no time
anything, for I had no time to spare. I stole f
bread, some rind of cheese, about half a jar of mi
meat (which I tied up in my pocket-handkerchief ^
my last night's slice), some brandy from a stone be
(which I decanted into a glass bottle I had seen
used for making that into:£icating fluid. Span
liquorice-water, up in my room: diluting the ai
bottle from a jug in the kitchen cupboard), a b
bone with very little ou it, and a beautiful round c
let pork pio. I was nearly going away without
' J WBB tempted to monnt upon. it. bV^^^'
that was jiuf sway so cnrpfallym
i (UbIi in n comer, and I foimd it wns the
took it, ia tliH hope ttiut it was not in-
eaily nse, anil would uot lu mi§eotl for sumu
a door in tha kitchen, communicatiiig
ffge; I unlocked and unliolted that door, and
:firOin among Joo's tools. Then, I put the
» I liad found them, opened tho d-
I entered wLna I ran homo last night, shi
for tlie misty maralies.
CHAPTER m.
and v<
daf
!->r a^y
t, shi^^l
I iiiJ^H
vinclow,' ^^^
a, rimy rooming, and VPiy
up lying on the otitside of my little winrh
goblin had heen crying there all night, and
lJow for a pockot-handkercliief. Now, I
pip lying on the bare hedges and spare grass,
ser sort of spiders' webs; hanging ilsell' from
ig and blade to blade. On every rail and
lay clammy; and the marsh-mist was so
t the wooden finger on the post directing
3ur village — a direction which tliey never
Tor they never came there — was invisible
1 I was quite close under it. Then, as i
Kt it, while it dripped, it seemed to my op-
!0 like a phantom devoting me to the
LB heavier yet wlien I got out upon thu
t insteitd ofiaj' nwaiug at everythmg,
vi ta nm at me. This was very dia-
^^^ — 2^e.e'att!3 and dykea a^
2* ^
^V ban
OBSAT BXPBCTAiHOKS.
I
I
banks came burBting at me through the mist, as if tl
died as plamly as could be, "A boy with Somebo*
else's pork pie! Stop him! " The cattle came upon i
with like anddenncss, staring out of tlieir eyes, a
Bteaming out of their noatrila, "Halloa, young thief
One black ojt, with a white cravat on — who even*
had to my awakened conscienco something of a clerical
air— fixed me so obstinately with hia eyes, and moTed;
his blunt head roimd in such an accusatory raannei
I moved round, that I blubbered out to him,
couldn't help it, sir! It wasn't for myself I took itlflj
TJpon which he put down his head, blew a cloud a
smoke out of hia nose, and vanished with a kick-up ofk
his hind-legs and a flourish of his tail. i
All thia time, I was getting on towards the river;;
but however fast I wont, I couldn't warm my feet, to
which the damp cold seemed riveted, as the iron was
riveted to the leg of tho man I was rtmuing to meet.
I knew my way to the Battery, pretty straight, for I.
had been down there oq a Sunday with Joe, and Joe,,
sitting on an old gim, had told me that when I waa
'prontice to him regularly bound, we would have sucl%
Larks there! However, in the confusion of the ni'
found myself at last too far to the right, and i
qnently had to try back along the river-side, o
bank of loose stones above the mud and the stakes ti
staked the tide out. Making my way along here ii
all despatch, I bad juat crossed a ditch which I knj
to be very near the Battery, and had just scrarabl
up the mound beyond the ditch, when I saw th
sitting before mu, HIh back wjis towards me, a
ia*? bjs Arms fdded, and was nodding forward,
T tliimgbt lie would be more gItiJ if I came upon iiini
Tiiii liis breakfast, m that unexpected manni^r, en 1
I <~!it forward sof'tlj aud toiieboil biiu on the shouliler.
Il; instantly juiupeii up, and it was not tlio same man,
'■'■ another man!
Viid yet tliis man was dressed in coarse grey, too,
i,iid a great iron on liia leg, and was lami.', and
I - . and cold, and was everything tliat the other
.. wiis; except that be had not tbe same face, aud
-i a flat broad-brimmed low-crowned felt bat on. All
.-. 1 saw iu a moment, for I had oiily a moment to
bit in; be swore aa oath at me, made a bit at me
it was a round weak blow that missed me and
kuockud hiniBclf down, for it made him etumbie
and tken he ran into the mist, stumbling twice as
ifent, aiid I lost him.
young man!" I thought, feeling n)y heart
Iwt as I idt-ntified him. 1 dare nay I should have
h a pain in my liver, too, if I bad known where
n«.
1 was soou at the Battery, aftertbat, and there was
right man — hugging himself and limping to and
», as if he bad nevej^ all night left off hugging and
ang — waiting for ine. He was awfully cold, to
aire. I balf expected to see him drop down before
face and die of deadly cold. His eyea looked so
ShUy bnngry, too, that when I handed liim the file,
Kcurred to me he would have tried to eat it, if he
not seen my bundle. He did not turn me upside
a, tliiH time, to get at what I bad, but left me
iide upwards trij7e I opened the bundle ani
'J!" said Ji0i J
Bi?
GREAT BXPEOTATIONB.
"Brandy," said I.
Ha was already handing; mincemeat down Lis tliro
in the most unrioaa imiumei — more like a ma
was putting it away somewhtire in a violent liurr
than a man who was eating' it — hut he left off
take Bome of the liquor. He sliivored all the while,
violently, that it was quite as much as he could do i
keep the neck of the bottle between his teeth, witho
biting it off.
I* "I think you have got the ague," said I.
"I'm much of your opinion, boy," said he.
"It's bad about here," I told him. "You'v'
lying out on the meshes, and they're dreadful aguii
Rheumatic, too."
I'll eat my breakfast afore they're the death
said he. "I'd do that, if I was going to be stn
ip to that there gallows as there is over there,
hreetly arterwards. I'll beat the shivers so far,
you."
He was gobbling mincemeat, meat-bone, br€
Cse, and pork pio, all at once: staring distiiistful
hile he did so at the mist all round us, aud < ~
ijiping — even stopping bis jawa — to liston. i
fancied sound, some clink upon the liver
ireathing of beast upon the marsh, now gave hi
atort, and he said, suddenly:
You're not a deceiving imp? You brought uo
with you?"
"No, airl No!"
"Nor giv' no one the office to follow youi*"
"No!"
"Well," said he, "I believe you. You'd be b
' Xotmg hound ixideod, it at yoar tuiw o^ \iSa i
hmuLV
■ help to hunt n wretched wanniDt, hunted as
ikatJ) ajid dunghill as tbis poor wrotched war-
- 'Tuetbiug clicked in his throat, as if lie had workH
111 like a clock, und was going to strike. And he
111! his ragged rough sleeve over his cjob.
:'iiyiiig hie desolation, and watching him as lie
.ii;illy settled down upon the pic, I tnadu bold tu
!•;■, "I am glad you enjoy it."
"Did yoa speak?"
"I said I was glad you enjoyed i(.''
"Tliankee, my boy. I do."
1 had often watched a largo dog of ui^rs eating Ms
od; and I now noticed a decided similarity lietweeu
B dog's way of eating, and tho man's. The man took /
Bing sharp sudden bites, just like the |dog. He ^
K^owed, or rather snapped' up, every mouthful, too
1 and too fast; and ho looked sideways here and
ure while ho ate, as if he thought there was danger
■ ilirection, of somebody's coming to [take tlio
K Away. He was altogether too unaottle<l in his mind
r it, to appreciate it comfortably, 1 thought, or to
w anybody to dine with him, without making a
'ip widi his jaws at the visitor. In all of which par-
dura he was very like the dog.
"1 am afraid you won't leave any of it for |hiin,"
1 1, timidly; after a silence during which I had ho-
ted as to the politeness of making the remark.
Riero'a no more to be got where that came from." It
• tine certainty of this fact that impelled mo to offer
i\aat.
•J^Mra iuif /or him? Who's him?" sfUd my fi:iett6L, "
OaBAT BXPSMWATICWra.
"Tho young man.' That you spoke of. Tbat w
"Oh ah!" he rotiu'tied, with something like j
laugh. "Him? Yes, yes! He dou't want no wittles."
^^ "I thought ho looked as if he did," eaid I.
^^L The man stopped eating, and regarded me with t]
^^BltBenest Bcmtiny and the greatest surprise.
^V "Looked? When?"
"Just now."
"Where?"
"Yonder," said I, pointing; "over there, where
found him nodding asleep, and thought it was yt
He held me hy the collar and stared at me so
I began to think his first idea about cutting my throi
bad revived.
"Dressed like you, you know, only with a hat,"
explained, trembling; "and . — and" — I was v(
anxious to put this delicately — "and with — I
»Bamo reason for wanting to borrow a file. Didn't y
Iltear the cannon last night?"
"Then, there was firing!" he said to himself.
"I wonder you shouldn't have been sure of thaty'
I returned, "for we heard it up at home, and that's
fijrther away, and we were shut in besides."
"Why, see now!" said he. " When a man's alona
on these flats, with a light head and a light stomaclu
perishing of cold and want, ho hears nothin' all night
bat g^uns firing, and voices calling. Hears? He i
the soldiers, with their red coats lighted up by tlw
torches carried afore, closing in round him. Hears hii
number called, hears himself challenged, hears tW
i^tt/e of the muskets, hears the orders 'Make readyt
^^^entl Cover him steady, menl' and ia \a\4 Wuift o
ij'i there's nothin'! Why, if I seo one punming
-',- liist iiiglit — tTiming up in ordyr, Damn 'I'ni,
-ir, iLeir tvump, tramp — I see a hondwd. And rb
■ liringl Why, I see tfie mist shake witli the cunnim,
- it was broad day. — But lliis man;" be had said
lie roat, as if he had forgotten niy heiiig there;
i VDU notice anything in him?"
Hb had a, badly bruised face," said I, recalling
'tat 1 hardly knew I kaew.
LNot hcre'i"' exclaimed the man, striking his left
L mwcilessly, with the flat of his hand.
"Veal Therol"
"Where is he?" He crammed what little food was
into the breast of his grey Jacket. "Show me tlie
lif- weut. I'll pull him down, like a bloodhgund.
- this iron on my sore leg! Give us hold of the
i-">y-"
i indicated in what direction the mist had shrouded
[her man, and he looked up at it for an instant.
!i'.' was down on the rank wet grass, filing at hjs
like a madmati, and not minding me or minding
.Mil leg, which had an old chafe upon it and was
ly, hut which he bandied as roughly as if it had
;i')re feeling in it than the file. I waa very much
1 of him again, now that he had worked himself
rilis fierce hurry, and I was likewise very much
. L of keeping away from homo any longer. I told
I innst go; bnt be took no notice, so I thought the
rbing I could do was to slip off. The last I saw
, r I , his head was bent over his knee and he was work-
I ;ird at his fetter, muttering impRtient im.precat\oiia
:,„J at Ml leg. Tbelast J heard of hitSpfstopgiJi.
" a,, and the Slo wag still going. ,^h
<ntHAT hxphotAtiohb.
ii.vS
CHAPTER IV.
I FOLLY expected to find a Constable in the kitchen,""
waiting to take ma up. But not only was there no >
Constable there, bnt no discovery had yet been mado^
of the robbery. Mrs. Joe was prodigiously busy in,^
getting the houae ready for the festivities of the day,'*(*
ivad Joe had been put upon the kitchen door-step to *Bi
keep him out of the dustpan — an article into which ■' ■
his destiny always led him sooner or later, when i
sister was vigorously reaping tlie floors of her cstablish-
ment.
"And where the dence ha' you been?" was Mrs. 'tt^'
Joe's Christmas salutation, when I and my consciencA ;^M
allowed ourselves.
I said I had been down to hear the Carols. "Ahit*
welll" observed Mrs. Joe. "You might ha' done worse." ^■
Not a doubt of it, I thought. -(ij^
"Perhaps if I war'nt a blacksmith's wife, and {what'* 'k
the same thing) a slave with her apron never off, I ^tr^
Khimld have been to hear the Carols," said Mrs. Joe. V^ja
"I'm rather partial to Carols, myself, and that's the %^
beat of reasons for my never hearing any."
Joe, who had ventured into the kitchen after mek
iw the dustpan had retired before us, drew the back otft
Ilia hand across his nose with a conciliatory air when i
Mrs. Joe darted a look at Mm, and, when her eyes 1|
were withdrawn, aecretly crossed his two forefingers, ('
and exhibited them to me, as our token that Mrs. Joa i
was in a cross temper. This was so mucli her normal \
state, that, Joe and I would often, for weeks together, ^ 4
ie, as to oar Sngers, like monumental Crusaders as toj
^^s?
Wa were to have a superb dinner, cunmsUiif^ of u
i t pickled pork and greens, and a pair irt roast
I 'i fowls. A handaome minco-pic had bciin niadi
' [■lay morning (whicli aecoiinted for the mincoTOcat
Ipiing missed), and the pudding waa alroiidy on iho
TLeso extensive airangementh occasioned ui to
I lit ofl' unceremonionsly in respect oi Lieakliu>t,
I an't," said Mrs. Joe, "I an't a goini; tu havt.
. ruial cramming and busting and washing up now,
what I've got before me, 1 promise you!"
-^u, wB had our slices served out, as if wo were
■ ibousand troops on a forced march instead of a
I and boy at home; and we took gulps of milk and
. r, with apologetic countenances, fi-om a jug on
Irosser. In the mean time, Mrs. Joe put clean
■i' cartains np, and tacked a now flowered-flounce
S-. the wide chimney to replace the old one, and
vered the little state parlour across the passage,
,. i[ waa never uncovered at any other time, but
-. (! tbe rest of the year in a cool haao of Bilver
. I-, which even extended to the four little white
'■■.•■ry poodles on the mantelshelf, each with a black
;tnd a basket of flowers in hia mouth, and eacli
iounterpart of the other. Mrs. Joe was, a very
ii liousokoepev, but had an exqitisite art of making
rk-anlioesa more nncomfitrtablo and unacceptable
, liirt itself. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and
■ ■■ people do the same by their religion.
Uy sister having 30 much to do, was going to church
■liuusly; that is to say, Joe and I were going. In.
vnrking clothes, Joe was a weH-fenit characteiislvt-
..Jiiff black'^th; in hia holiday clothes, te waa roote
^^-_.„ f ^ circumstances, thaa anyttrng
CFRXAT BIMIOTATKHTB-
^P else. Nothing that he wore then, fitted him or soen
to belong to him; and everything that he wore th
grazed him. On the present festive occasion he emer;
from his room, whea the blithe bells wore going,
picture of misery, in a ftiU auit of Sunday penitentL.^^
^. As to mo, I think my sister must havo had' Soti
..general idea that 1 was a young ofi'ender whom a
Accoacheur Policeman had taken up (on my birthdai
■ and delivered oyer to her, to be dealt witli aeeordia
to the outraged majesty of the law. I was always treatt
as if I had insisted on being horn, in opposition to t'
dictates of reason, religion, and morality, and agaio,
the dissuading arguments of my best friends. Evi
when I was taken to have a new auit of clothes, t.
tailor had orders to make them like a kind of Hefc
matory, and on do account to let me have the free u
of my limbs.
Joe and I going to church, therefore, must hai
been a moving spectacle for compassion itte minds.
what I suffered outside, was nothing to what I unde
went within. The terrors that had assailed me wbei
ever Mrs. Joe had gone near the pantry, i
room, were only to be equalled by the remorse wit
which my mind dwelt on what my hands had done. Und(
the weight of my wicked secret, I pondered whetht
the Church would be powerful enough to shield i
from the vengeauce of tie terrible young i
divulged to that establishment. I conceived the ideal
that Qie time when the banns were read and when thej
clergyman said, "Te are now to declare iti" would b
the time for me to rise and propose a private cooferenefl
Ao iiie vestry. I am far from being sure that I mi^~
^^^^jgT^etonished oar small congregation. \>7 xtsaat&a
a lUis extreme measure, bnt fnr its bciug Cliriiftiiiati
Day and no Suni^.iy.
Mr. Wopale, tLo clerk at ehurcii, wiis tn dine with
u; and Mr. Hubble the wheelwright and Mrs. Ilabblo;
Bill Uncle Pumblocliook. (Joe's uncle, but Mrs.
«p(«ropriated liim}, who was a well-to-do com-clisndler
lu the nearest town, and drove his nwii cliaise-cnrt. The
iiimer Lour was half-past one. When Joe and I got
'lunie, wi< found the table laid, and Mrs, Joe dresseil
ml] tht^ dinner clreBsing, and the front door unlocktid
r' never was, at any other time) for the comjiauy to
I ^li.T by, and everything most splendid. And still,
! .T word of the robbery.
The time came, without bringing with it any relief
I my feelings, and the company citmi.'. Mr. Wopsle,
^nnted to a Roman nose and a large shining bald fure-
^^hI, huA a dee]) voice which he was nnuomroonly
^^■ftd of; indeed it was understood among ids acquaint-
^™«e that if you could only give bim his head, he w(
' 1 the clergyman into fits; he himself confessed that
■':'■ CiiHTch was "thrown open," meaning to com-
;ioii, be would not deupair of making his mark in
The Church not being "thrown open," he was, as
' we said, onr clerk, Bnt he punished tlie Amens
ji.'ucionsly; and when he gave out the psalm —
■ ■. giving the whole verse — ho looked all round
r-nngregation first, as much as to say, "You have
il my friend overhead; oblige me with yom' opiuioi
Ms Btylel"
i opcnud the door to the company — making he-
■ thitl it was a habit uf oars to open that door — ■
Hf^j'^'f /" ^^■^^^ops'e, next to Mr. an4
f N. B.
Bevereat
N. B, /was not allowed to call him uncle, nnder
"Mrs. Joe," said Uncle Pmnblecliook: a large liar
breathing middle-agod slow mail, with a, mouth like
^^ fish, dull staring eyes, and sandy hair atandiiig uprigl
^L vn liis head, so that he looked as if he had just bee
^H all but choked, and had that mnment come to;
^^L'have brought you, as the compliments of the s
^B son — I have brought you. Mum, a bottle of she
^Hivine — and I have brought you. Mum, a. bottle
^H' port wine."
B Every Christmas Day ho presented himself,
profound novelty, with exactly the same words,
carrying the two bottles like dumbbcllB. Every Chrid
mas Day, Mrs. Joe replied, aa she now replied.
Un — cle Pum — hie — chook! This is kind!" Evoi
Christmas Day, he retorted, aa he now retorted, "It
no more than your merits. And now are you all bol
■bish, and how's Sixpennorth of hal^ence?" mea
ing me.
," We dined on these occasions in the kitchen, a;
adjourned, for the nats and oranges and apples, to t
parlour; which was a change very like Joe's chang
from his working clothes to his Snnday dress,
sister was uncommonly lively on the present occa
»and indeed was generally more gracious in the societ
of Mrs. Hubble than in any other company, I r
'. ter Mrs. Hubble as a little curly sharp-edged poi-son i
sky-bine, who held a conventionally juvenile position
because she had married Mr. Hubble — I don't knoi
at what remote period — when she was laiich youngea
eJ/na he. I rememher Mr. Hubble as a tough high-
^^AouJcfered stooping old manj ot a sa^id'o.'sV^ ixagiwttia
li] bis legs extraordinarily irijo npart: so that iu my
"rt days X always saw somo miles of optm country
:ween them when I met liSrn coming up the lano.
Among tliis gooil company, 1 should have fult my-
!!', even if I Ladn't rohhed the pantry, in ft falBfl
-Ition. Not beuause I was sqiieuzed in nt nn acute
-•\b of the tableciloth, with the table iu my chest,
il tliG Pumbliiohnokian elbow in my eye, nor bocanse
was not allowed to spook (I didn't waJut to speak),
I- because I was regaled with the scaly tips of the
iiinstifrks of the fowls, and with those obscure comers
L porit of which the pig, when living, had had the.
|rt reason to be vain. No; I should not have minded
■t, if they wouhi only have left mo alone. But they
~ ~ 't leave me alone. They seemed to think the
loity lost, if they failed to point the conversa-
I at me, every now and then, and stick the point
Bmo. I might have been au unfortimate little bull
I Spoiiisk arena, I got so smartiiigly touched up by
ifi moral goads.
' It begAu the moment we sat down to dinner.
Wopsle said grace with theatrical declamation — (
w appears to me, something like ft religious cross of
Ghost in Hamlet with Eichard the Third — and'
led witli the very proper aspiration that we might
truly grateful. Upon which my sister fixed mo with
I iuw eye. and said, in a low reproachful voice, "Do you
I liHar that? Be grateful."
"Kspewially," said Mr. Pumblechook, "bo ^atefiil,
ly. to them which brought you up by hand."
Mrs. Hubble shook her head, and contemplatrng
- ■ i^mournful presmti'meat that I should «
"Why ia it that the young
32 OBEAT BSroOTATIOHB.
never g^ratoftil?" Tliia moral mystery seemed too mucl
for the company irntil Mr. Hubble tersely solved it bi
Baying, "Naterally wicions," Everybody then nm]
mared "Tme!" and looked at me in a particularly n
pleasant and personal manner.
Joe'B station and influence were something feeble
(if possible) when there was company, than when thert
was none. But be always aided and comforted m(
when he could, in Home way of his own, and he a
ways did so at dinner-time by giving me gravy,
tliere were any. There being plenty of gravy to-day
Joe apooned into my plate, at this point, about 1
A little later on in the dinner, Mr. Wopsle reviewei
the sermon with some seventy, and intimated — in thi
usual hypothetical case or the Church being "throwi
open" — ■ what kind of sermon fic would have givei
them. After favouring them with some heads of
discourse, be remarked that he considered the subjec
of the day's homily, ill chosen; which -was tho lei
cusaUe, he added, when there were so many subjects^
"going about."
"True again," said Uncle Pumblechook. "You'v
hit it, sir! Plenty of subjects going about, for thera
that know how to put salt upon their tails. That's
what's wanted. A man needn't go far to find a sub-
ject, if he's ready with bis salt-box." Mr. Pumblo^
idiook added, after a short interval of reflection, "Look
lit Pork alone. There's a subject! If you want a sut
ject, look at Pork!"
"True, sir. Many a moral for the young,"
" " ^Wopale; and I knew ho was go™%.^^^
, before lie said it; "might be deduced irom that
1
I*' You listeii to this," said my sister to me, in a
■ re parenthesis.)
Joe gave me some more gravy.
■'Swine," puTBiied Mr. Wopsle, In his deepest voice,
; pointing liis fork at my blushes, as if' lie were
litioning my ehristiau name; "Swine were the com-
. linns of the prodigal. The glattooy of Swine is put
'..re us, as an example to the young." (1 thought
• pretty well in him who had been praising up the
k for being bo plump and juicy.) "What is de-
:;ilila in a pig, ia more detestable in a boy."
"Or girl," fiuggeat«d Mr. Habble.
"Of course, or girl, Mr. Hubble," assented Mr-
]i^le, rather irritably, "but there ia no girl present."
"Besides." said Mr. Pumblochook, turning sharp
me, "think what you've got to be grateful for. If
ii'd been bom a Squeaker - — "
"He was, if ever a child was," said my sister, most
! ■ *^^y- !"■ ' ' Z
Joe e*'''^ ">« ^o'ws ™0''e gravy. *-■
"Well, but I mean a i'our^footed Squeaker," said
Pumblochook. "If you bad been bom such, would
., have been here now? Not you — "
"Unless in that form,'' said Mr, Wopale, nodding
:rds the dijh.
■But I don't mean in that form, sir," returned Mr.
■ I lilccliook, who bad an objection to being inter-
.,..1; "I mean, enjoying himself with his elders and
.-rs, and irajtioviug- himself with thoir conversation,
. rol-li^r ''' '^^ ''^P of lusury. Would he bava
,doii'S- t^M? No, be woalda't And what "woviM
^pM SRHAT BXI^OTATIOtm. ^1
^P Iiave been your deBtination?" turning on me agaiofl
"You would hare been disposed of for so many slu^|
linga according to tlie market price of the article, an^H
Dunstable the butcher would have eome up to yon ajH
you lay in your straw, and he would have whippe^H
you under hia left arm, and with his right he wouI^|
have tucked up his frock to get a penknife from oq^^
of his waistcoat-pocket, and he would have shed you^^
H^ ilood and had your life. No bringing up by han3j|i
^V&en. Not a bit of it!" I'l
^H Joe offered ma more gravy, which I was afraid to *'
■ take. '^
^V "He was a world of trouble to you, ma'am," saict*
^B Mjs. Hubble, commiserating my sister. *
™ "Trouble?" echoed my sister; "trouble?" And ^
then entered on a feaxful catalogue of all the iUnesaes
I had been guilty of, and all the acts of sleepleaaness.j.
X had committed, and all the high places I had tnmblod|i>
from, and all the low places I had tumbled into, andii.
all the injuries I had done myself, and all the timeflii;
she had wished me in my grave and I had contnma-fj'
ciously refused to go there. .
I think the Bomans must have aggravated ondt j
another very much, with their noses. Perhaps, thBy^|^
became the restless people they were, in consequence, t^i
i Anyhow, Mr. Wopsle's Roman nose so aggravated me, t
'during the recital of my misdomeanonrs^ that I should \^
isvQ liked to pull it until he howled. But, all J hadi
endured up to this time, was nothing in comparison ,,
with the awful feelings that took possession of mu
when tho jiause was broken which ensued upon my
^g^fe^^ fflcftitt/. and in whicli paaaii aveYsXnA-j Vai^
M
. at me (as I fett pajnfully conscious) with in-
1 and ftbliorrence.
," said Mr. Pnmblechook, leading the com-
I gently linek to the theme from which thay had
"Pork — regarded as biled — is rich, too;
I it?"
f* Have a little brandy, uncle," said my sister.
' O Heayetis, it had come at last! He would find it
"*M weak, ho would say it was weak, and I was lost!
held tight to the leg of the table under the cloth,
itii both hands, and awMted my fate.
My sister went for the stoue bottle, came back with
■ ■ stone bottle, and poured his brandy out: no one
■■ taking any. The wretched man tiifled with his
^■J — took it up, looked at it through the light, put
■liiwn — prolonged jay mistry. All this time, Mrs.
and Joe were briskly clearing the table for. the
:iiid pudding.
I couldn't keep ray eyes off him. Always holding
. ill by the leg of the table with my hands and feet,
m' the miserable creature finger his glass playfully,
'' it np, smile, throw his head back, and drink the
inly off. Instantly afterwards, the company were
..1.1 with nnspeakable consternation, owing to his
iiiging to his feet, turning round several times in
! iippalling spasmodic whooping-cough dance, and
I 'inhiiig out at the door; he tlien became visible through
I Ihe window, violently plunging and expectorating,
Firmking the most hideous faces, and apparently out of
' ' . iTiind.
t held on tii^ht, while Mrs. Joe and Joe rsm to
J d/do't know Low I Imd ilono it, but I had
■t I Juiil aiurdered Mm gomehoy. In mj
F
■ and,
^B One I
m
ataiiV KspmsTAmom.
I
Mtnation, it was a relief when lie was brought bact
and, surveying the company all ronnd aa if the;/ hai
idissgreed with him, sank down into his chair with tU
One significant gasp, "Tar!"
I had filled up the bottle from the tar-water jiq
I knew he would he worse by-and-by. 1 moved ti
table, like a Medium of the present day, by the vigom
of my unseen hold upon it.
"Tar!" cried my sister, in amazement. "Whjl
ADw ever conld Tar come there?"
I But, Uncle Pumhieehook, who was omnipotent i
that kitchen, wouldn't hear the word, wouldn't
of the subject, imperiously waved it all away with h
hand, and asked for hot gin-and- water. My eiste
who had begun to be alarmingly meditative, had 1
employ herself actively in getting the gin, the hoi
■water, the sugar, and the lemon-peel, and mixing them. '*
For the time at least, I was saved. I still held on the'''*
leg of the table, but clutched it now with the fervonr ^
pf gratitude. *M
By degrees, I became calm enough to release my '•n
graap and partake of pudding. Mr. Pumblechook par- ^.
took of pudding. All partook of pudding. The courso *«
terminated, and Mr. Pumblechook had begun to beam.*!;
under the genial influence of gin-and-Tvater. I began ''*
to think I should get over the day, when ray aistej"
said to Joe, "Clean platea — cold." j
I clutched the leg of the table again immediately!
and pressed it to my bosom as if it had been the conJ
panion of my youth and frjcud of my soul. I foreaaia
what was coming, and I felt that this time I reaUjI
' said my Biatei, aAikftBam^ <
1 her best grace, "yon must tuste, to I
a delightful and delicious present of Unc
ink's!"
hey! Let tLem not hope to taste itl
know," said my alster, rising, '
rouiy pork pie,"
^^mpany tniu-miired their complimentB. Unc
}ok, sensible of having deserved well o
.tures, said — quite vivacionsly, all thi
— "Well, Mrs. Joe, we'll do our best 6
let us have a cut at this same pie."
ster went out to get it, I heard he
the pantry. I saw Mr. Pumblechook balance
I saw re-awakening appetite in the Roman
.' Mr. WopaJe. I beard Mr. Hubble remark
lit of savoury pork pie would lay atop of any-
CDuId mention, and do no hiirm," and I heard
, "Ton shall have some, Pip." I have never
ilately certain whether I uttered a shrill yell
I, merely in spirit, or in the bodily bearing of
laiiy. I felt that I could bear no more, and
run away. I released the leg of the table,
my life.
m no further than the house door, for there
d foremost into a party of soldiers with their
[one of whom held out a pair of handcuffs to^
g: "Here you are, loyk sharp, come
CnmA.T EXPEOTATIOSS.
CHAPTER V.
J apparition of a file of soldiers ringing dow
ihe butt-enda of their loaded n '
caused tLe dinuer-party to rise from table in confiisiOM
and caused Mrs. Joe re-enteiing- the kitchen empty^
handed, to stop short aud stare, in her wonderinj
lament of "Gracious goodness gracious me, what's
— with the — pie!"
The sergeant and I wore in the kitchen whei(
Mrs. Joe stood staring; at which crisis I partially"
recovered the use of my senses. It was the sergeant '
who had spoken to me, and he was now looking^ round
at the company, with hia handcuffs invitingly extended
towards them in his right hand, and his left on ray
shoulder. ^
"Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen," said the '»
sergeant, "but as I have mentioned at the door to thiflJJ
smart young shaver" (which he hadn't),
chase in the name of the King, and I want the blacka
"And pray what might you want with himf
retorted my sister, quick to resent hia being wanted '(
at aU. \
"Missis," returned the gallant sergeant, "speaking ,^
for myself, I shoald reply, the honour and pleasure of 1'
his fine wife's acquaintance; speaking for the King, I \i
answer, a little job done."
This was received as rather neat in the sergeants
►.insomuch that Mr. Pumblechook cried audibly, "Goolf
JtftfainJ"
the '<!
Rthis time picked oat Joe with his eye, "wo have
H ui accident with these, and I find the lock of one
BW goea wrong, and tfa» coupling don't act pretty.
Bdiey are wanted for immediate service, will yoa
Hjr your eye over theni?"
^Boe threw bis eye over thcni, and pronounced that
^Hib wonld necessitate the lighting' of his forge fire,
^BrotUd take nearer two hours than one. "Will it?
^H will you set about it at once, blacksmith," said
^Hff-hand sergeant, "as it's on hja Majesty's service.
^Hif my men can be^r a hand anywhere, they'll
^■S themselves aseful." With that, he called to his
iiMi, who came trooping into the kitchen one after
iiher, and piled their arms in a comer. And then
V stood about, as soldiers do; now, with their hands
■-*;ly clasped before them; now, resting a knee or a
'ulder; now, easing a belt or a pouch; now, opening
door to spit stiffly over their high stocks, out into
jVII these things I saw without then knowing that
iw thont, for I was in an agony of apprehension.
.! beginning to perceive that the handcuffs were not
. ine, and that the military had so far got the better
■■he pic as to put it in the background, I collected
Jrilc more of my scattered wits.
"Would you give me the Time?" said tho sergeant,
■reasing himself to Mr. Pumblechook, as to a man
irie appreciative powers justified the inference that
svas equal to the time.
"It's just gone haU'-paat two."
"Thnt'a not so bad," sa/d tho sergeant, reflectmg-,
. ;/ / was foroed to bait hem nigh two lioorB,
"■ - Mtw At mwAt_jg>it, ^ yourselves 5ioi
^*i!
40 OSBAT 8XPnOTAT»»ra.
the marshes, hereabouts? Not above
reckon?"
P"Just a mile," said Mrs. Joe.
, "That'll do. We begin to close in
, about dusk. A little boforo dusk, my orders are.H
That'll do."
"Convicts, sergeant?" asked Mr. Wopsle,
matter-of-course way.
"Ay!" returned the sergeant, "two. They're pretty
well known to he out on tho mnrsbes still, and they.
■won't try to get clear of 'em before dusk. Anybody;^
here seen anything of any such game?" ^
^i. Everybody, myself excepted, said no, with confi- ■
^Bpmce. Kobody thought of mo.
^^- "Weill" said the sergeant, "they'll find themselvea J^
trapped in a circle, I expect, sooner than they count !•
on. Now, blacksmith! If you're ready, His Majesty ^i*
the King is." *'
Joe had got his coat and waistcoat and cravat off,'*^
and his leather apron on, and passed into the forge. 3
One of the soldiers opened its wooden windows, another ■
lighted the fii-e, another turned to at the bellows, the ''jb
rest stood round the blaze, which was soon roaring. \
Then Joe begun to hammer and clink, hammer and S
clink, and wo all looked on. V
The interest of the impending pui'suit not only U
absorbed the general attention, hut even made my
sister liberal. She drew a pitcher of beer from the
cask, for the soldiers, and invited the sergeant to take
a glass of brandy. But Mr. Pumbiechook said, sharply,
"Give him wine, mum. I'll engage there's no Tar in
that:" so, the sergeant thanked him and said that aaj
^ jT^rred bis drink without tar, ^e -woiAi
!]■■, if it was equally convfnieiiL Wlieu it was
■11 liim, he driuik bis Mnjesty's lieallli nnd Corapli-
ii^. of the Senson, and took it all at a muutblul auA
ii-ked Lis lips.
"Good stuff, eh, aergoant?" said Mr. Piiinlilechook.
'TU tell you something," retitmedthe sergeant;
"I suspect that sfufTs of yo'ii" providing."
Mr- PumLIecLook, with a fat sort of laugh, said,
■'Ay, «y? Why?"
"Because," returned tho sergeant, dapping him
Ki the shoulder, "you're a man that knows what's
"D'ye think so?" said Mr. Pomblechook, with his
:iier laugh. "Have another glass."
■•With you. Hob and nob," returned the sergeant.
The lop of mine to tho foot of yotira — tho foot of
piiirs to the top of mine — Ring once, ring twice —
ilip beat tune on the Musical Glasses! Your health.
Sliiy yon live a thousand years, and never bo a worse
"nlge of the right sort than you are at the present
j"meiit of your lifel"
The sergeant tossed off his glass again and seemed
i|aile ready for another glass. I noticed that Mr.
fttniblccbook in his hospitality appeared to forget that
h had made a present of the wine, but took the bottle
frmn Mrs, Joe and had all the credit of handing it
lAnmt in a gush of joviality. Even I got some. And
be was so very free of the wine that he even called
ffir the other bottle and handed that about with the
riK- liberality, when the first was gone.
As I watdied them while they aJ] stood cAuatetci
1 jic fia^ enjoying themselves so mucli, 1 tiioug^A
=*—fM« good Mace for a dinner my SugV&T
I
f
eKBSv wcvB»tk'rmm.
friend on tlie marshes was. They had not enjoyi
themselvOB a qiiorter ao much, hofore the entertainme
■was brightened with the excitement he furnished. Ai
now, when they were all in lively expectation of "tl
two villains" being tuJten, and when the belloi
seemed to roar for the fugitives, the fire to flare fi
them, the smoke to hurry away in pursuit of ther
Joe to hammer and clink for them, and all the marl
shadows on the wall to shake at them in menace .
the lilaze rose and sank and the redhot sparks droppi
and died, the pale afternoon outside, almost seemed
my pitying young fancy to have turned pale on the
aecoont, poor wretches.
At last, Joe's job was done, and the ringing; ai
waring stopped- As Joe got on hia coat, he mnaten
courage to propose that some of us should go doq
with the soldiers and see what came of the hunt. M
Pumblechook and Mr. Hubble declined, on the plea
B pipe and ladies' society; but Mr. Wopsle said 1
would go, if Joe would. Joe said ho was agreeabl
and he would take me, if Mrs. Joe approved. "W
never should have got leave to go, I am sure, but fc
"MxB. Joe's curiosity to know all about it and how
ended. As it was, she merely stipulated, "If yi
bring the hoy back with his head blown to bits h|
a musket, don't look to me to put it together again.
The sergeant took a polite leave of the ladies, an
parted from Mr. Pumblechook as from a comradi
though I doubt if he were quite as fully sensible i
that gentleman's merits under olid conditions, as whei
something moist was going. His men resumed thei
musketfi and fell in. Mr. Wopsle, Joe, and I, receivi
the tear, oni to b\i«s^
^m
mi after we reached the marshes. When we were
lU oat in the raw air and were steadily moving to-
nrds our biuinetis, I trcaBunably whispered to Joe,
'I hope, Joe, we shan't find thora." And Joe wiiispered
lu me, "I'd give n shiUing if they had cut and run.
We were joined by no Btragglers from the village,
I'T the weather was cold and threatening, the way
ilreary, tlie footing bad, darkness coming on, and the
|>\iple h&d good fires in-doors and were keeping tbo
itj. A few faces hurried to glowing windows and
liii>kfd after us, but none came out. We passed the
(u{;er-iK>8t, and held straight on to the churchyard.
There, we were stopped a few minutes by a signal
him the Hergeant's hand, while two or three of liis
nen dispersed themselves among the graves, and also
riimined the porch. They came in again without
Sliding anytliing, and then we struck out on the open
Dumhes, through the gate at the side of the church-
jartL A bitter sleet come rattling against us here on
dp east wind, and Joe took me on his back.
Sow that we were out upon the dismal wildemesa
they little thought I had beou within eight or
3ar§ and had seen both men hiding, I considered
dio first time, with great dread, if wo should come
them, would my particular convict suppose that
I who had brought the soldiers there? He had
v^iicd me if I was a deceiving imp, and he had said I
''luuld be B fierce young hound if I joined the hunt
itBt him. Would ho believe tliat I was both
hound in treachoroiw caraest, and hail betiajei
44 RRi
There I was, on Joe's back, and there was Joe benead
mo, chargiDg at the ditches like a hunter, and Btimu
lating Mr. Wopsle not to tumble on Lis Roman ii
and to keep up with us. The soldiers were in fron
of us, extended into a pretty wide Hue with an intervi
between man and man. We were taking the course
had begun with, and from which I had diverged ;
the mist. Either the mist was not out again yet, i
the wind had dispelled it. Under the low red glare t
sunset, the beacon, and the gibbet, and the mound c
the Battery, and the opposite shore of the river, we
plain, though all of a watery lead colour.
With my heart thumping like a blacksmith ,
Joe's broad shoulder, I looked all about for any stg
of the convicts. I could see none, I could hear non
Mr. Wopsle had greatly alarmed me more than one
by his blowing and hard breathing; bat I knew ti
Bounds by tliis time, and could dissociate them fron
the object of pursuit, I got a dreadful start, when
thought I heard the file still going; but it was only
sheep bell. The sheep stopped in their eating anc
looked timidly at us; and the cattle, their heads tumet
from the wind and sleet, stared angrily as if they hell
US responsible for both annoyances; but, except thes
tilings, and the shudder of the dying day i
blade of grass, there was no break in the bleak still
ness of the marshes.
The soldiers were moving on in the direction o
the old Battery, and we were moving on a little waj*
behind them, when all of a sudden, we all stopped;
For there bad reached us on the wings i " '
I long shout. It was repeated.
. there seemed to be two ur more sliouta mined
. -ln'T — if one might judge from a confusion in the
4,
I'vi this effect the sergeant and the nearest men were
ikiug nnder their breath, when Joe and I came up.
■ I another moment's liflteniag, Ji)e (who was a good
_' ,1 agreed, and Mr. Wopsle (who was a bad judge)
.'d. The sergeant, a decisive man, ordered that
-■■und should not be answered, but that the course
:ir! be changed, and that his men should mahe
■ida it "at the double." So wo slanted to the right
re the East was), and Joe pounded away so wou-
iilly, that I had trt hold on tight to keep my seat.
Ir was a run indeed now, and what Joe eallcd, in
iiily two words he spoke all the time, "a Winder."
Ml banks and up banks, and over gates, and splash-
. uito dykes, and breaking among course rushes: no
I cared whore ho went. As we camo nearer to the
'boiiliiig, it became more and more apparent that it
tas made by more than one voice. Sometimes, it
temied to stop altogether, and tlien the soldJcr.s stop-
} When it broke ont again, the soldiers made for
1 a greater rate than ever, and we after them.
!■ a while, we had so run it down, that we could
.me voice calling "Murder!" and another voice,
.iivicts! Runawaysl Guard! This way for the ran-
■,- convicts!" Then both voices would seem to be
■ ,1 in a straggle, and then would break out again.
■ 1 when it had come to this, the soldiers ran like
I. and Joe too.
The sergemit ran in Srst, when we had run t\ie
ygg^E^f iiis men ran in cVoaa
QBBA.T SSTBCTAnnaSB.
upon him. Their pieces were cocked and levi
■when we all ran in.
"Here are both men!" panted the sergeant, B^
gling at the bottom of a ditch. "Surrender, you;
and confound you for two wild boasts ! C
asunder!"
Water waa Bplashing, aud mud wae flying,
oaths were being; sworn, and blows were being st»
when some more men went down into the ditch to
the sergeant, and dragged out, separately, my eo^
and the other one. Both were bleeding and pan
and execrating and struggling-, but of course I k
them both directly.
"Mind!" said my conviet wiping blood fi^m.
face with his ragged sleeves, and shaking torn
from his fingers; "/took hira! /give him up to y
Mind that!"
"It's not muck to be particular about,"
sergeant; "it'll do you small good, my man, bein^
the same plight yourself. Handcuffs there!"
"I don't expect it to do me any good,
want it to do me more good than it does now,"
my convict, with a greedy laugk. "I took him.
knows it. That's enough for me,"
The other convict was livid to look at, and, i
ditlon to the old bruised left side of his face, seal
to be bruised and torn all over. He could not s
aa get his breath to speak, until they were both a
rately handcuffed, hut leaned upon a soldier to i
himself from falling.
— "Take notice, guard — he tried to murder ^
' *H first words.
^Ried to murder 1;
a
■ "Try, and not do it? I took him, and giv' him
iliat's what I done. I not only prevented him
g off the raareheB, but I dragged him here —
d him tiiis far en his way hack, lie's a, gen-
ii, if you please, thla villain. Now, the Hulks has
itleman again, through me. Murder himV
Is my while, too, to murder him, when I could do
IB »im1 drag him back!"
e other one still gasped, "He tried — he tried
b — murder me. Bear — hear witness."
PLiwkee here!" said my convict to the sergeant.
We-imnded I got clear of the prison-ship; I made
i md I done it. I could ha' got clear of these
■cold flats likewise — look at my leg y u T^ont
Jnnch iron on it — if I hadn't miJe d scovtry
a here. Let /iw» go freoi' Let /« i proht by
i I found out? Let him make a tool t me
i Bgaini" Once more? No, no, no If I had
Fst the bottom there;" and he made an emphatic
!"'iii? at the ditch*with his manacled hands, 1 d have
I to him with that grip, that you should have hcon
■ (II find him in my hold."
The other fugitive, who was evidently in oitremo
"II' of Ids companion, repeated, "lie tried to murder
1 should have been a dead man if you had not
■■ up."
Ho lies!" said my convict, with fierce energy.
' s a Ijitr bom, and he'll die a liar. Look at hia
, iiin't it written there? Let him turn those eyea oi
.ji mi?. I defy him to do it."
I'lui other, with an effort at n eeoniful Biuile —
(i con!J oof, however, collect the nervous worUVng
li^oatl, into anyjtt expresBlon — looked sX \\ie
4% oasAT BXPBOVAfCIOtffil.
soldiers, and looked about at the marsLes and at tl
sky, but certainly did not look at the speaker.
"Do you see him?" purbued my convict "Do y<
see what a villain he is? Do you see those grovellii
and wandering eyesl' That's how he looked whi
we were tried together. He never looked at me."
The other, always working his dry lips a
ing his eyes restlessly about him far and near, did i
last turn them for a moment on the speaker, with tl
words, "You are not much to look at," and with
half-taunting glance at the bound hands. At that poin
my convict became so frantically exasperated, that h
would have rushed upon him but for the iuterpoaitio
of the soldiers. "Didn't I tell you," said the otha
convict then, "that he would murder me, if he could?
And any one could see that he shook with fear, an
that there broke out upon his lips,- curious white flakec
like thin snow.
"Enough of this parley," said the sergeant. "Ligh
those torches,"
As one of the soldiers, who carried a basket in liei
of a gun, went down on his knee to open it, my con
vict looked round him for the first time, and saw me
I had alighted froiu Joe's back on the brink of thi
ditch when we came up, and had not moved since,
looked at him eagerly when ho looked at me, ant
slightly moved my hands and shook my head. I hat
been waiting for him to soe me, that I might ti-y to
assure him of my innocence. It was not at all expres'
sed to me that ho even comprehended my intention,
lor ho gave me a look that I did not understand, ,'and
it a}l jiassed in a moment. But if he Lad looked at
|-^^W.tfg-<a hmiT ta for a day, I con\i atA ^jctss
GREAT KXraoTATiotm, 49
I ilia face ever afterwards, ns having been more
III.? snltli<!r with tlie bftskpt Motrn got a liplit, and
I il three or four torches, and took one himself and
itiiited the others. It had been almost dark before,
. ii.iw it seemed quite dark, and soon afterwards very
rli. Bcfitre we departed from that spot, four aoldiera
filing iu a. ring, fired twice into the air. Presently
~.i.»' other torches kindled at some distance behind
inii others on tlie marshes on the opposite bank of
iin?r, "All right," said the sergeant. "March."
\Vli had not gone far when three cannon were fired
il of uB with a Boand that aeemed to burst some-
:l' inside my ear. "Ton are expected on board,"
t)ie Bcrgeant to my convict; "they know you are
.'i(;r- Don't straggle, my man. Close up here."
riie two were kept apart, and each walked sur-
ii-d hy a separate guard. I had hold of Jou'a
■ now, and Joe carried one of the torches. Mr.
,.-le had been for going back, but Joe was resolved
■V it ont, so wo went on with the party. There
^1 reasonably good path now, mostly on the edge
,,. river, with a ilivergenoe here and therO whei-e a
t-ame, with a miniature windmill on it and a
(v BluicB-gate. When I looked round, I conid
:lie other lights coming in after us. The torches
^irried, dropped great blotches of fire upon the
., and I could see those, too,, lying smoking and
i:.'. I coald see nothing else but black darkness.
li^-hts warmed the air abont us with their jitcliy
. and the two prisoners aeemed rather to like th&t,
1 the midst of the muaketa. "S^e
? of their lameness , ani they
80 BBEAT BTPECTATIONS.
were so spent, tliat two or three times we had to hi
■while they rested.
After aa hour or so of tliia travelling, wo came
a rongh wooden hut and a landing-place. There w
a guard in the hut, and they cliaUenged, and the w
geant answered. Then, wo went into the hut wh«
there was a sniell of tobacco and whitewash, and
bright fire, and a lamp, and a stand of muskets, ai
a drum, and a low wooden bedstead, like an ovei^on
mangle without the machinery, capable of holdii
about a dozen soldiers all at once. Three or four si
diers who lay upon it in their great-coats, were n
ranch interested in ua, but jnst lifted their heads ai
took a sleepy stai-c, and then lay down again. T
aergeant made some bind of report, and some entry
book, and then the convict whom I call the uth^
ivict was drafted off with his guard, to go on board
K«b
My convict never looked at me, except that once.
While we stood in the hot, he stood before the flra
looking thoughtfully at it, or putting up his feet by
turns upon the hob, and lookiug thouglitfully at them
as if he pitied them for their recent adventuren. Sud-
denly, he turned to the sergeant, audJremarked;
"I wish to say something respecting this cs<:ij,i>.
It may prevent some persons laying under susj)iciiin
alonger me."
"You can say what you like," j-etumed the ser-
geant, standing coolly looking at him with his arms
folded, "but you have no call to say it here. You'll
have opportunity enough to say about it, and hear
about it, before it's done with, yoa kTio>N."
"I know, bat this is another pint, a. &e\ia.T».'i*, wv».\/
^^m^ anakt fHtvBovATiOM. &t
^HA toau can't bitarve; at least / can't- T took
^Kwittles, up at the willage over yonder — where
^^hucfa stands a'most out on the marshes."
^Hfou mean Gtole," said the sergeant.
^^Knd I'll tell you where from. From the hlack-
^^balioal" said the sergeant, staring at Joe.
^^■alloa, Pip!" said Joe, staring at nie.
^^K was some hroken wittles — that's what it was
^^K a dram of liquor, and a pie."
^^HftT6 you happened to miss such an article as a
^■acksmith?" aaked the iiergeant, contideutially.
^^Wy trifo did, at the very moment when you came
^^um't yon know, Pip?"
^^Bo," 8^d my convict, turning hia oyea on Joe in
fTmoody manner, and without the least glance at me;
" you're the blacksmith, are you? Then I'm sony
■ ^^y, Fve eat your pie."
"God knows you're welcome to it — ■ bo far as it
I ever mine," returned Joe, with a saving remem-
..ii?e of Mrs. Joe. "We don't know what you have
.II', hut we wouldn't have you starved to death for
\ poor miserable I'ellow-creatur. — Would us, Pip?"
'ITie something that I had noticed before, clicked
■ throat again, and he turned his back.
\\f (joat had returned, and hia guard were ready, so
t'oflowad him to the landing-place made of rough
■■s and stones, and saw him put into the boat,
■ li was rowed by a crew of convicts like himself.
iiio seemed surprised to see him, or interested m
1^ him, or £-}ad to see bun, or sorry to see "Vmn,
jH'kD » woni, except that somebody in the boali
.^/ aaifto dogs. "Give way, you!" which wa»
r
■62 sbBAt BXpaotATrwffl,
the signal for the dip of the oara. By the light of
torches, we saw the black Hulk lying out a little ^^
from the mud of the shore, like a wicked Noah's e
Cribbed and barred and moored by mabaive ni
chains, the prisonship Boemeil in ray young eyes to
ironed like the prisoners. We aaw the boat go alo
side, and we saw him taken up the side and disappt
Then, the ends of the torches were flung hissing i
the water, and went oat, as if it were all over «
CHAPTER VI.
Mt state of mind regarding the pilfering from, whj
|.I had been so unexpectedly exonerated, did not im
E me to frank disclosure; but I hope it had some difi
r of good at the bottom of it.
" I not recal that I felt any tenderness of (
[" science in reference to Mrs. Joe, when the fear of b«
t was lifted off me. But I loved Joe — -^
''h&pa for no better reason in those early days than fc
cause the dear fellow let me love him — and,
iimer self was not so easily composed. It w
much upon my mind (particulwly when I first saw hi
looking about for liis tile) that I ought to tell Joe t
►whole truth. Yet I did not, and, for the reason that
mistrusted that if I did, he would think mo wurse t
I was. The tear of losing Joe's confidence, and
thenceforth sitting in Iho chimney comer at night st
ring drearily at my for ever lost companion and friea
tied np my tongue. I morbidly represented to mysi
fise if Joe knew it, 1 never afterwards could see hi
3/ tie Hreside feeihig Ids fair -wiBkeii VaAuj-mS. "Sm!
bat lie w»B meclitating on it. Tliat, if Joe knew
uever aAerwards i^nulil see liini glance, however
illy, nt yeBterilay's ment or pudfling when it ttimfi
i-daj'a table, without thinking that lie was debating
lier I had been in the pantry. That, if Joe knew
iiid at any subsequent ^leriod of our joint domestic
remarked that his heer was flat or thick, the con-
that he suspected Tar in it, would bring a rash
id to my facp. In a word, I waa too cowardly
■hat I knew to he right, as I had been too
ly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. I
had no intercourae with the world at that time,
itated nonu of its many inhabitants who act in
manlier. Quite an untaught genius, I made the
oceiy of the line of action for myself.
Ab I was sleepy before we were far away from the
" ip, Joe took me on his back again and carried
!, He must have had a tiresome journey of it,
■- Wopale, being knocked up, wa§ in such a very
temper that if the Church had been thrown open,
'-.-'■iild jirobably have excommunicated the whole ex-
'lition, beginning with Joe and myself. In his lay
^[lacity, lie persisted in sitting down in the damp to
■Kh an inanne extent, that when his coat was taken
oiT to be dried at the kitchen Are, the circumstantial
#ideuce on bis trousers wotdd have hanged him if it
I (! been ft capital ofFence.
I By tbat time, I was staggering on the kitchen floor
5 a little drunkard, through having been newly set
n my feet, and through having been fast aalfcey,
' thruugh waking- hi the heat and lights and iioV&e
J*/ eame to mysdf (with the aid o? a.
- iie shoulders, and the restoratW*
the I
64 OfRBiT GXPBtlTATIOHS.
exclamation "Yah! Was there ever hucIi a boy
firom my Bister) I foond Joe telling them about
viet'B confeaaion, and all theyisitora suggesting'
ways by which he had got into the pantr
Pumblechook made out, aft«r carefully Burvej
premises, that he had first got upon the roo'
forge, and had theu got upon the roof of th)
ami had then let himself down the kitchen chin
a ropo mode of hia bedding cut into strips; ai
Pumblechook was very positive and drove
chaiae-cart — over everybody — it waa agrei
must be so. Mr. Wopsle, indeed, wildly ci
"No!" with the feeble malice of a tired man;
he had no theory, and no coat on, he was nnan
set at naught — not to mention hia smoking f
hind, as he stood with hja hack to the kitchei
draw the damp out: which waa not calculated to
confidence.
Thia was all I heard that night before m
clutched me, as a slumberous offence to the co'
eyesight, and assisted mo up to bed with anch i
hand that I seemed to have fifty boots on, an
dangling them all against the edges of the stai:
state of ^mind, as I have described it, began
was up in the morning, andlasted long after the
had died out, and had ceased to bo mentionoc
on exceptional occasions.
CHAPTER Vn.
i time when I etood in the chtirchyard, read-
mily tombstones, I had just enough learning
3)le to Bpell them out. My constniction even of
'mple meaning was not very correct, for I read
f the Above" as a complimentary reference to
flier's oxaltation to a better world; and if any
ly deceased relations had heeu referred to as
I have no doubt I should have formed the
bpimons of that member of the family. Neither,
y notions of the theological positions to which
echism bound me, at all accurate; for, I have a
memhrance that I supposed my declaration that
"walk in the same all the days of my life,"
B tinder an obligation always to go through the
K from onr house in one particular direction, and
> vary it by turning down by the wheelwright's
r the mill.
1 1 was old enough, I was to bo apprenticed
and until I could assume that dignity I was
1 be what Mi-a, Joe called "Pompeyed," or (as I
■ r it) pampered. Therefore, I was not only odd-
ibont the forge, but if any neighbour happened to
i an extra boy to frighten birds, or pick up stones,
.1 nay such job, I was favoured with the employ-
Tti order, however, that our superior position
it not be compromised thereby, a money-box was
on the kitchen mantelshelf, into which it was
]i:]y made 'known that all my eammga ■wets
■..:l I have Ml imjiression that they -were to ^je,
■^IJI^eeataaJIjr towards the IIr|iiidatiott oi ^M
^HTatioaal Dolit, liut I know I had uo liopc of any pea
^Hpnal participation in the treasure. J
^T Mr, Wopsle'n great-aunt kept an eTening school ■
B|^B Tillage; tliat is to say, she was a ridiculons «
r Irmnan of limited means and unlimited infirmity, wffl
used to go to sleep from six to seven every eveninj
in the society of youth who paid twopence per w%m
each, for the improving opportunity of seeing her «
it. She rented a small cottage, and Mr. Wopsle hfi|
the room up-stairs, where we students used to overhei
hira reading aloud in a most dignified and terrific mai
ner, and occasionally bumping on the ceiling. Th€a
was a fiction that Mr. Wopale "examined" the sckolfti!
once a quarter. What he did on those occasions, wi
to turn up his cuffs, stick np his hair, and give i
Mark Antony's oration over the body of Csesar. Th
was always followed by Collins'a Ode on the Pa
aions, wherein I particularly venerated Mr. Wopsle
Kevengo, throwing his blood-stain'd sword in thundei
down, and taking the War denouncing trumpet with
withering look. It was not with me then, as it w
later life; when I fell into the society of the Pasi
and compared them with Collins and Wopsle, rather to
the disadvantage of both gentlemen.
Mr. Wopslo'fl great-aunt, besides keeping this Educar
tional Institution, kept — in the same room — a littli
general shop. She had no idea what stock she had!
or what the price of anything in it was; but there wa^
a little greasy memorandum-book kept in a drawer,'
which served as a Catalogue of Prices, and hy thid
oracle, Biddy arranged all the shop transactions. Biddy
»vis A/r. Wopsle's ^eat-aunt's granddaughter-, 1 caafcaa
owiniiv '^vt&fi.rmvt. ST
relation sbe was to Mr, "Wopsli?. Slio was an
like myael)'; like mc, too, had been Ijronghl up
id- She was most noticeable, I thought. In re-
of her extremities; for, her hair always wanted
lag, her liands always wanted washing, and her
-a always vanted mending and pulling np at heel.
> description must be received with a week-day
tation. On Sundays, she went to church elaborated.
Much of my iinasBisted self, and more by the help
'■iddy than of J£r. Wopslc's great-aunt, I struggled
ii^li the alphabet as if it had been a biamble-bush;
jng considerably worried and scratched by every
■r. Ai'tor that, 1 fell among those thieves, the nine
res, who seemed every evening to do something"
lo disguise themselvea and baffle recognition. But,
ii-it I began, in a purblind groping way, to read,
:u, and cipher, on the very smallest scale.
One night, I was sitting in the chimney corner with
slate, expending great effoits on the production of
tter to Joe. I think it must have been a full year
r our hunt upon the mar.'ihes, for it was a long time
r, and it was winter and a hard frost. With an
Liibet on the hearth at my feet for reference, I eon-
•■■1 in an hour or two to print and amear this
Ktle:
id dbEr jo i opE U r krWitE wEll i opE i
BoN B baBelL 4 2 teeDgb U JO aN thbN
BoOitt. B aO glOod aN wBn i M pkeNgtD 2 u
ToT lakX an blEvE me mF xn PiP."
fTicre was no inJispensable necessity for my c<na.-
'■'''^SiJ'''^ ''^ *-*' ■'^"'''■' inasmuch as he sat \ief-
^"=-*fff^»«jj| Blone. But, I delivered ftA
pits (HtKAT EXPSOTATIOHB.
writteu commimicatioa (slato and all) with my
band, and Joe received it as a miracle of cradition.
I "I say, Pip, old chap!" cried Joe, opening hia
eyes wide, "what a scholar you are! An't you?"
"I should liko to be," said I, glancing at the i
I as he held it; with a miBgivlng that the writing
rather hilly.
I "Why, bore's a J," said Joe, "and
[ anythink! Here's a J and a 0, Pip, and a J
Joe."
I I had never heard Joe read aloud to any groi
' extent than this monosyllable, and I had
church last Sunday when I accidentally held our Prayi
Book upside down, that it seemed to suit bis
venienee quite as well as if it bad been all i
Wishing to embrace the present occasion of finding; c
whether in teaching Joe I should have to begin qn
at the beginning, I said, "Ah! But read the rg
"The rest, eh, Pip?" said Joe, looking at it w
a slowly searching eye, "One, two, three. Wi
here's three Js, and three Oh, and three J-0, Joes
it, Pip!"
I leaned over Joe, and, with the aid of my fo
finger, read him the whole letter.
"Astonishing!" said Joe, when I had finish
"Tou AHB a scholar."
"How do you spell Gargery, Joe?" I asked
with a TDodest patronage.
"I don't spell it at all," said Joe.
"Bat supposing you did?"
"It can't be auppoBcd," said Joe.
f reading, \too."
L''Are
Jr.e?'
B'Oii-coiiimon. Give me," said Joe, "a good book,
Bgood ne^T^paper, and sit me down afore a good
f and I ask no better. Lord!" he uontiuued, after
^ hia knees a little, "when you do come to a J
|tO, and says you, 'Here, at last, is a J-0, Joo,'
iateresting reading is!"
Ederived from this, that Joe'e edncation, like Steam,
■yet in its infancy. Pursuing the subject, I in-
aie?"
r go to school, Joe, when you were
"No, Pip."
"Why didn't you ever go to school, Joo, when
■iti were as little as me?"
"Well, Pip," said Joe, taking up the poker and
itling himself to his usual occupation when he was
Mi^^htful, of slowly raking the fiie between the lower
I-: "ril teU you. My father, Pip, he were g^iveu to
■d\k, and when he were overtook with drink, he bam-
lyd away at my mother, moat oamerciful. It were
!iiost the only hammering he did, indeed, 'xcepting
myBelf, And he hammered at me with a wigour
p to be equalled by the wigour witb which he didn't
loer at bis anwil. — You're a listening and under-
, Pip?"
1, Joe."
"Consequence, my mother and mo we ran away
from ray father, several times; and then my mother
,ij'd go out to work, and she'd say, 'Joe,' she'd say,
■ A', please God, you abaU have some schooling, diiVl,'
; sbs'dput me to sobaol. But laj father weie fti3.t
^i^ht. A„^ that be couldn't ahtar to te WithoxA
p
PIO WfflAT HiFBOTATftHW.
8u, lie'd come with a most tremenjous crowd a
make such a row a.t the doors of the houses vhere
was, that they used to be obligated to have no ww
[(h us and to give ua up to him. And th
lie took ns homo and hammered us. Which, you b
,f ip," Ba.id Joe, pausing in bis meditative raking of ^
'f-Sre, and looking at me, "were a drawba^ik on :
learning."
"Certainly, poor Joel"
"Though mind you, Pip," said Joe, with a jadic
lionch or two of the poker on the top bar, "renderil
unto all their doo, aud maintaining equal justice
twixt maa and man, my father were that good ii
hart, don't you see?"
I didn't see; but I didn't say so.
"Weill" Joe pursued, "somebody must keep
pot a biling, Pip, or tLo pot won't hile, don't y(
■ know?"
I saw that, aud said so.
'"Consequence, viy father didn't make objeetio!
my going to work; so I went to work at my pT
it calling, which were hie too, if he would have ft
ved it, and I worked tolerable hard, I assure ya
Pip. In time I were able to keep him, and I kep hi
till he went off in a purple Icptic fit. And it v
intentions to have had put upon Ids tombstone th)
"WLatsume'er the failings on his part, Remember
lie were that good in his hart."
Joe recited this couplet with such manifest prit
and careful jsgpicuttjr, that I asked him if h
made it himself ?
"J^ made it," said Joe, "my own s«U. 1^
It was like striking oat a- V>
& in a singlt? blow. I never was so miic-li siir-
KaU my lifti — couldn't credit iny owii cd —
Kin the trnth, hardly lielieved it were my own
■I was saying', Pip, it were my intentions to
K it cut over himi but poetry costs money, cut
Eiu will, mmli or lurge, and it were not done.
Kiontion bearers, all the money that could be
mexe wanted for my mother. She were in pfior
■ quite broke. She weren't long of following,
B, and her share of peace come ronnd at last."
K blae eyes turned a. little watery; he rubbed,
K^tf them, and then the other, in a most nn-
■ and imcomfortable manner, with the round
BitLe top of the poker.
Rrere bat lonesome then," said Joe, "living here
and I got acquainted with your sister. Now,
-Tije looked iinnly at nie, as if he knew I was
I agree with him; "yonr sister ia a fine
1 not help looking at the fire, in an obvious
ibt.
iVEa- family opinions, or whatever the world's
I that subject may be, Pip, your sister is,"
I the top bar with the poker after every word
- figure — of — a — woman ! "
i tliink of nothing better to say than "I am
'c. 80, Joe."
■■ returned Joe, catching me up. "/am
I, Pip. A little redness, or a little matter
r there, what does it signily to Me?"
!(/, j'f it didn't aigoifj to Vim,
^'That's it. y«^M
I
gubAt expectatiosb.
Tl
right, old chap! When I got acquainted with ji
sister, it were the talk how she was bringing you
by hand. Very kiud of Iier too, all the folks said, i
I said, along with all the folks. As to yon," Joe p
eued, with a countenance expressive of seeing someth
very nasty indeed: "if you could have been aware h
small and flahhy and mean you was, dear me, yo
have formed the most contemptible opinions of
self!"
Not exactly relishing this, I said, "Never mil
me, Joe."
"But I did mind you, Pip," ho returned, with ten(
eimplicity. "When 1 offered to your sister to kc
company, and to be asked in church at snch times
she was willing and ready to come to the forge, I s
to her, 'And bring the poor little child. G-od bless
poor little child,' I said to your sister, 'there's ro
for him at the forge!'"
I broke oat crying and begging pardon, and hugj
Joe round the neck: who dropped the poker to hug i
and to say, "Ever the best of friends; an't us, Pi
Don't cry, old chap!"
When this little interruption was over, Joe resume!
"Well, you see, Pip, and here we are! Tha^
about where it lights; here wo are! Now, when yo«
take me in hand in my learning, Pip (and I tell yoU
teforehand I am aivful dull, most awful dull), Mrs. Joe
mustn't see too much of what we're up to. It must be
done, aa I may say, on the sly. And why on the sly?
I'll tell yon why, Pip." i
He had taken up the poker again; without wliicl
1^ doabt if ha could huve jiroc^ded. ui \iS& dnxasd
^ «9
■Tour sisier ie given to goveniraent."
BOiven to govornmcnt, Joe?" I was startled, for
Hgome sltarlowy ide^ (Add I nm afrnid I uuHt ndd,
^BtJ>al Joe Imd divorced her m favour of tbe liorAn
^V Admiralty, or Treasurj.
Hpvon to government," said Joe. "Wliicli I nioan-
B Ihe government of you and myself."
H)b!"
Buid she aa't over partial to having scliolars on
Bvmises," Joe continued, "and in partikler would
H| over partial to my being a scholar, for fear as
mkt rise. Like a sort of i-ebel, don't you see?"
Bras going to retort with an inquiry, and had got
Has "Wliy — " when Joe stopped me.
Btay il bit. I know what you're a going to say,
Baj a bit! I don't deny tliat your sister comes
^■-^nl over us, now and again. I don't deny that
B throw us back-falls, and that she do drop down
^k heavy- At such times as when yonr siRtur is
BiRam-pago, Pip," Joe sank his voice to a whisper
Bfateed at the door, "candour compels fur to ad-
^■t she is a Buster."
rnonnced this word, as if it began with at
^^ capital Bs.
^fhj don't I rise? That were your ohsei-vatiou
Iklvoke it off, Pip?"
^fee, JoB.^'
^Fdl," said Joe, passing the poker into his left
^Ithat he might feel his whisker; and I Lad no
.' of liim whenever he took to tliat placid occupa-
"yoiir sjstar's ii master-mlud. A master-mmi,"
""**°*' -S-T* Jbe was readier with hia defe«=
6i ORBAT BXPECTATIONS.
tiou than I had expected, and completely stopped
by arguing circularly, and answering with a fixed lo
"Her."
"And I an't a maBter-mind," Joe resumed, wl
he had unlixed his look, and got b»ek to his wbisl
"And laat of all, Pip — and this I want to say vi
serous to yoa, old chap — I see so much in my p
mother, of a woman drudging and slaving and brei
ing her honest hart and never getting no peace in heS
mortal days, that I'm dead afeerd of going uTOng iii
the way of not doing what's rigiit by a woman, and
I'd fur rather of the two go wrong the t'other way, a^
be ft little ill-conwenienced myself. I wish it wi
me that got put out, Pip; I wisli there wara't no Tit
ler for you, old chap; I wish I could take it all
myself; hut this Is the up-and-down-nnd-straight on
Pip, and I hope you'll overlook short-comings."
Young as I was, I believe that I dated a new i
. miration of Joe from that night. Wo were equals
terwarda, as we had been before; but, afterwards
' quiet times when I sat looking at Joe and thinki
I about him, I had a new sensation of feeling consuio
I that I was looking up to Joe in m^jMs^i—
"However," said Joe, rising to replenish the fi.
"here's the Dutch-clock a working himself up to bei
equal to striking Eight of 'era, and she's not coi
I home yet! I hope Uncle Pumbleehook's mare
have set a fore-foot on a piece o' ice, and gone
Mrs. Joe made occasional trips with Uncle Pu:
bleehook on market days, to assist him in buying sucl
housohold stuffs and goods as required a woman's judg
^joeae,- Uncle Pumbleehook being a bachelor and
L posing no conSdencos in his domeslw t»;'£VB.ii\.. "XNi
Let-day, and Mrs. Joe whs out on one of thai
Ude the fire and swept the Iiearth, and then
a the door to listen fur the i-.huisc-cart. It
cold niglit, and the wind lilew keenly, and
(TUB white and hard. A man would die to-
.'lyiag out on the marshes. I thought. And
iked at the stars, and considered how awfol
for a man to turn his face up to them as
death, and see no help or pity in all the
nltitade.
lomes the mare," said Joe, "ringing like a
as!"
ound of her iron shoes ujiuu the hard road
masical, as she came along at a much brisker
OsuaL We got a chair out ready for Mrs.
bH&g, and stirred up the fire that they might
* t window, and took a final survey of the
; nothing might be out of its place. When
ipletcd these preparations, they drove up,
to Uie eyes. Mrs. Joe was soon landed, and
Mmblecheok was soon down too, covering tl
tth a cloth, and we were boou all in the kitcht
r BO much cold air in with us that it seemed
U the heat out of the fire.
' said Mrs. Joe, unwrapping herself with
t excitement, and throwing her bonnet hack
'umlders where it bung by the strings: "if
Vt grateful this night, he never will be!"
I as gratefuJ as any hoy possibly ccm\4,
ttomfonned why ho ought to aSBOme
th^^
I
I
"It's only to be hoped," said my sister, "thai ,
won't bo Pompeyed. But I have my fears."
"She Jin't in that line, mum," said Mr. Pnaft^
cliook. "She knows better."
She? I looked at Joe, making the motion
my iipa and eyebrows, "She?" Joe looked at
making: the motion with hh lips and eyebrows, "f
My sister catuhing him in tho act, he drew the
of his hand across his noso with his usual eoncili
r&ii on such occasions, and looked at her.
"Well?" said my sister, in her snappish way.
are yon staring at? Is the house a-firo?"
— "Which some individual," Joe politely hiq
"mentioned — she."
"And she is a she, I suppose?" said my sii
"Unless you call Miss Havisbam a he. And I d<
if oven you'll go so far as that."
"Miss Kavisham, up town?" said Joe.
"Is there any Miss Havisham down town?"
tamed my sister, "She wants this boy to go and j
there. And of course he's going. And he had be
play there," said my sister, shaking her head at
as an*encouragement to be extremely light and
ive, "or I'll work liim."
I had heard of Miss Havisham up town —
body for miles round, bad heard of Miss Havisham
town - — as an immensely rich and grim lady who lii
in a large and dismal bouse barricaded against robbf
and who led a life of seclusion.
"Well to be sure!" said Joe, astounded. "I w(
der how she come to know Pip!"
"JfoudJeJ" cried my sister. "Who said she knew himi
^^^'WJiich some inttividua^ ," 3ao agwti v<*\v
mentioned tbat slio wanted him to go iinil pky
I couldn't she ask Uncle Pumblethiwk if lie
f a boy to go ami play there? Isn't it jost
^sible Uiut Unvlo I'umhlechook may he a
f hers, and that he may sometimcB — wo won't
Brly or half yearly, for that wonld be requi-
much of you — but aomotimes — go there to
rent? And wnlihi't she then ask Uncle Ptim-
t if he inew of a hoy to go and play tliere?
lldn't Uncle Pumllechonk, heing always eon-
and thoughtful for ns — though you may not
, Joseph," in a tone of the deepest reproacli,
were the most callouB of nephews, "then men-
I boy, standing Prancing here" — whieh I
r dedare I was not doing — "that I have for
a willing slave to?"
1 again!" cried Uncle Pumblechook. "Well
wttily pointedl Good indcedl Now Joaeph,
r tbe case."
: Joseph," said my alstcr, still in a reproachful
while Joe apologetically drew the hack of his
6 and across his nose, "you do not-yet —
I may not think it — know the ease. You
rader that you do, but yon do not Joseph. Tor
ot know that Uncle Putnhlachook, heing Ecn-
i for anything we can toll, this boy's fortune
iinade by his going to Miss ilavi sham's, has
1 ttte him into town to-night in his own chaise-
l. to keep him to-night, and to take him with
ysoda to Misa Haviaiam's to-morrow morning.
i my sister, casting oH Vei:
ifdesperatioa, "6ere I stand talkis
5»
kin^^^
eitIiA1< HX?»0TATI0H8.
mere Mooncalfa, with Uncle PumblecrLook waiting;, i
re catching cold at the door, and the boy grimej
irith crock and dirt from the hair of his head to tlq
iole of hie foot!"
With that, she pouaced upon, me, like an e:
R lamb, and mj face was squeezed into wooden bowl
in sinks, and my head was put under taps of watei
butts, and I was soaped, and kneaded, and towelle^
and thumped, and harrowed, and rasped, until I re- -.
ally was quite beside myself. (I may here remark
that I suppose myself to be better acquainted than any
living authority, with the ridgy effect of a wedding-
ring, passing unsympathetically over the human coun-
t tenance.)
■ When my ablutigus were completed, I was put intar'
clean linen of the stiffest character, like a young peofeM
tent into sackcloth, and was tniBsed up in my tightd^|
and fearfullest suit. I was then delivered over to A^H
Pumhiechook, who formally received me as if he we^|
■i^B Sheriff, and who let ofF upon mo the speech that ^M
■knew he had been dying to make all along: "Boy, bH
Hbt ever grateful to all friends, but especially unto the^H
■which brought you up by baud!" H
W "Glood bye, Joel" H
■ "Good bless you, Pip, old chap!" H
t I had never parted ftom him before, and what wItM
I ray feelings and what with soap-suds, I could at firsM
F aea no atara irom the chaise-cart. But they twinkleu
|i,ont one by one, without tlirowing any light on then
|-qnestions why on earth I was going to play at Mian
SBavisham's, and what on earth I was expected tofl
CHAPTER vra.
JIr. Pitmblechook's premises in the Iligh-Btreot of
■ market town, were of a pepper-comy and f'arina-
.-•'fii character, as the premisca of a corn-chandler ftn3
• '^d^man should be. It appeared to mi; that he muBt
a very happy man indeed, to have so many little
-Ti'jrs in his shop; and I wondered when I peeped
> ime or two on the lower tiers, and saw the ticd-
. Iirown paper packets inaide, whether the flower-
ib and balbs ever wanted of a fine day to break
wii of thttse jails, and hloom.
It was in the early morning after my arrival that
f entertained the speculation. On the previous night,
' liad been sent straight to bed in an attic with a
iiing roof, which was so low in the comer where the
■ I > lead was, that I calculated the tiles as being within
!i.ot of my eyebrows. In the same early morning, I
-Kivered « singular affinity between seeds and c
■nivs. Mr. Pumhlechook wore corduroys, and so did
shopman; and somehow, there was a general i '
.i| flavour about the corduroys, so mnch in the natnre
M*ds, and a general air and flavour about the eoods,
rimcli in the nature of corduroys, that I hardly knew
'ich was which. The same opportunity served i
■! untieing that Mr. Pumhlechook appeared to conduct
I" business by looking acroBS the street at the saddler,
I'll appeared to transact his business by keeping his
V" on the coach-maker, who appeared to get on
ii' by putting bis hands in bis pockets and conltem.- ;
'rf/V '■■'"^ ^^^''' "'^'' 't Ai's tiim folded his amia BinJ
-■"■oim'^ gTocer, who stood at Lis door and ya^nw
'^at the cLomist. TJie watulimaker, always ]K>ting o
I little dusk with a magmfjang glitsa at his eye, j
always inspected by a gi-ovip in smock-frocks pot
over him throngli tlio glass of his sliop-window, seei
to be about the only person in the High-street who
Ltode engaged bis attention.
B Mr. Pumblechook and I breakfasted at eight o'clo*
Pin the parlour behind the shop, while the ehopnii
took bis mug of tea and bunch of bread-and-butter (
a sack of peas in the front premises. I considered 1
Pumblechook wretched company. Besides being po
eessed by my sister's idea that a mortifying and pen
Lltential character ought to be imparted to my diet -
KjlteBides giving me as much crumb as possible in coni
F^jination with as little butter, and putting such
quantity of waiin water into my milk that it woul
have been more candid to have left the milk out altc
gether — his conversation consisted of nothing bi
arithmetic. On my politely bidding him Good morp
ing, he said, pompously, "Seven times nine, boyi
And how should / be able to answer, dodged in thai
way, in a strange place, on an empty stomach! I wai
hungry, but before I had swallowed a morsel, he begai
a running sum that lasted all through the breaki'a^
"Seven?" "And four?" "And eighti'" "And a'
"And two?" "And ten?" And so on. And after e«cl
figure was disposed of, it was as much as I could it
to get a bite or a sup, before the next came; whilti
be sat at his ease guessing nothing, and eating bacoB
and hot roll, in (if I may be allowed the expreasionj
a gorging and gomjandising manner.
-for tfuci reaeona, I was very glad when ten
o'clock came and we started for M-iaa Hj).N\Av5ra;»«
71
mgh I was not at all at ray ease regarding tlio niiiniier
which I slinuld. aeqnit myself under that lady's niof.
I "'itliin a qaarter of iiu hour we 'came to Miss Ilavi-
:l.i[u's honsii, which was of old bridk, and dismal, and
I'l .1 ^eat many iron bars to it, Some of the windows
uul Ireeii walled ap; of thosu that remained, all the
^'ifer were ruarily barred. There was a court-yard iu
ituul, and that wan barred; ho, we had to wait, after
r the bell, until some one should come to open
■While we waited at the gate, I peeped in {even
I Mr. Pumblecliook said, "And fourteen?" but I
npded not to hear him), and saw that at the side
I hoase there was a large brewery; no brewing
J on in it, and none seemed to have gone on
Flong long time.
\ witid.ow was raised, and a clear voice demanded
>Vbat name?" To which my conductor replied,
i'limblecliook." The voice returned, "Quite right,"
I'i die window was shut again, aud a young lady
:iiao acroHs the court-yard, with keys in her hand.
■'This," said Mr. Pumhlechook, "is Pip,"
"Tbia ia Pip, is iti'" returned the young lady, who
Tjs Tcry pretty and seemed very proud; "come in,
Pi,.-
Mr. Ptimblechook was coming in also, when she
^]|[K:d him with the gate.
ly"0hl" she said. "Did you wish to see Misa Ha-
Mias Havisham wished to see me," returned
ilechook, discomfited,
kl" said tie ffir!,- "bat yon see she don't,"
-' 'tso SuaUjr, and ia such an undiscwaaViiVe.
Pmublecbook, though in a condWoft
F EXSECTATIOK8.
unffled dignity, could not protest. But he oyod i
severely — as if 7 had done anything to him! ~ ai
departed with the words reproachfully delivered: "Bc»
Let your behaviour here he a credit unto them wM
brought you up by hand!" I waa not free from a
.jrehension that he would come back to propoui
lugh the gate, "And sixteen?" But he didn't.
My yoimg conductress locked the gate, and i
went across the court-yard. It waa paved and elea
but grasB was growing in every crevice. The brewe
buildings had a little lane of communication with
Euid the wooden gates of that lane stood open, and i
the brewery beyond stood open, away to the high e
closing wall, and all was empty and disused. The co
■wind seemed to blow colder there, than outside t
gate; and it made a shrill noise in howling in a^id o
at the open sides of the brewery, like tJie noise of wii
in the rigging of a ship at sea.
She saw me looking at it, and she said, "You ci
driuk without hurt all the strong beer that's brew<
ithere n
"I should think I conld, mias," said I, in a sb
way.
■'Better not try to brew beer there now, or it a
turn out sour, boy; don't you think so?"
"It looks like it, miss."
"Not that anybody means to try," she added, "ft
that's all done with, and the place will stand s
.'u it is, till it falls. As to strong heer, there's enoug
of it in the cellars already, to drown the Manor House
■'Is that the name of this house, mias?"
'One of its names, boy."
more than one, tlien, i
7»
One more. Its otter name was Satis; which ia
(k, ew Latin, or Hebrew, or all three — or all one
■jL' — for enough."
"Enoug^h House," said I; "that's a curious name,
"Yes" she replied; "hut it meant more than it
It inoaut, when it was given, that whoever had
Imuse, could want nothing else. They must have
II easily satisfied in those days, I should think. But
I loiter, boy."
Though she called me "boy" so often, and with a
ichsness that was far from complimentary, she was
iliriut my own age — or very little older. She
i-d much older than I, of course, being a girl, and
. ritttl and self-posBeaaed ; and she was as scomt'ul of
'^ if she had been one-and- twenty, and a queen.
Wi! Trent into the house by a side door — the great
'! entrance had two chains across it outside ~ and
fitst thing I noticed waa, that the paasagos were
i.irk, and that she had loft a candle burning there.
look it iip, and we went through more passages
' rip a Btaircase, and stUl it was all dark, and only
I indle lighted us.
Ai last we came to the door of a room, and she
■ "Go in,"
! answered, more in shyness than politeness, "After
I'd this, she returned: "Don't be ridiculous, boy; I
I tiot going in." And scornfully walked away, aud
- what was worse — took the candle with her.
Thia was verjr ancomfortabJe, and I was ha\t a?Ya!\4.
\a«vver^^//>e only thing to be done being to kivoiite. »A
d:i!d, aud was told from mt\im to eatei:.
/
i
1 entered, tberefnrD, and found myself in a pretty lorg^l
Doom well lighted with wax candles. ISo glimpse ^H
Baylight was to be seen in it It waH a drensinj^-roo^H
Kt I supposed from the furuiture, tLoiigli much cf ^H
was of forms and uses then quite unkno'wn to mo. B^H
i^aminont in it was a draped table with a gilded lool^H
■ iog'glass, and that I made out at first sight to be ^H
.fine lady's dressings-table. ^B
Wliether I should have made out this object ^P*
soon, if there Jiad been no fine lady sitting at it, B''
Peannot say. In an arm-chir, with an elbow resting o^P
tbe table and her head leaning on that hand, sat tha^
strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall ever see.
She was dressed in rich materials — satins, and
lace, and silks — all of white. Her shoes were white.
And she hud a lung white veil dependent from I
lliair, and she had bridal flowers in her hair, but he
bair was white. >Some bright jewels sparkled on hQ
I neck and on her hands, and some other jewels lai
sparkling on the table. Dresses, less splendid than tb
dress she wore, and half-packed trunks, were scatterei
sboiit. She had not (|uite finished di-essing, for sb
had but one shoe on — the other was on the tabl
near her hand —• her veil was but half arranged,
watch and chain were not put on, and some lace f»
her bosom lay with those trinketfl, and with her hand
kerchief, and gloves, and some flowers, and a prayer
book, all confusedly heaped about the looking-glas
It was not in the first moments that I saw all those
things, though I saw more of them in the first moment
than might be supposed. Bnt, I saw that everythin
within my view which ought to be white, had hee
^iite long ago, and had lost its lufltie, adi 'wtk ^»ii
fiv>Sitisomm<y!m.
7B
^Mlow. I SAW tJiat the Uride witliiii tlio \)th\ii\ i\n\a»
WKtliereA like tlic di-ess, and like the flowers, iLiid hud
HSgittnesB left but the brightness of ber suukeii eyva.
Bf.lhat tho dress liud bt'cn pnt upon the rounded &gatG
^Bguig wDinau, and Ibat tbe figure ujion wbicli it
^^Kn^ lootui, bad shrunk to skin and bone. Ouce, I
^Hbn taken to see some ghastly wax-work at thu
^^■GlirCfienting; I knuw nut what iinposaiblo [jer-
^^Klyin^ ill atati;. Oncin, I had boon taken to one
^^■old luoriili uhuntbes to aee a skoletoii in tliu
^HF a rich dress, thnC bad been dag out of a vaidt
^Bthe chui-ch pavement. Now, was- work and
^Bi seemed to have dark ojee that moved and looked
^^B ~L ehunld have cried out, if I could.
^Klto is it?" said the ladj at the table.
^^Kp, ma'am."
^Br- Pamblechuok's boy, ma'am. Come — to
^^bme nearer; let me look at you. Come close."
^^■ras when I stood before her, avoiding her eyes,
^^Rook note of the surrounding objects in detail,
^aw that her watch bad stopped at twenty inimitus
inf, and that a clock in the room had stopped at
iv ininules to nine.
Look at me," said Miss Havisham, "You are not
.1 of a woman who has never seen the sun since
,ere bom?"
I regret to state that I was not afraid of telling
iiormons lie comprehended in the answer "No."
T>o you knoB' wliai I touch here?" she Bwl,
b" Aff ^^^f' "'«-* aj>oa the otJiur, on Uei \^
)
p
ipt OKKkT BXPSCtATIOHB, ^H
"Yes, ma'am." (It made me think of the foQU| J
man.) ^^
"What do I touch?" Bjfl
"Your heart." ^B
"Brokenl" ^1
She uttered the word with an eager look, and vil^H
Btron^ emphasis, and with a weird smtlo that had f^fl
kind of hoast in it. Afterwards, she kept her hanaES
there for a little while, and slowly took them away tkj
if they were heavy. *^
"I am tired," said Misa Havisham. "I TraiwH
dlyersioD, and I have done with men and womei^Q
SI.}'." ■
P I think it will he conceded by my most dispntatiot^^
fgader, that she could hardly have directed an unfortl^|
nate boy to do anything in the wide world more dif^H
cult to be done under the circumstances. E
"I Bometiraea have sick fancies," she went oiflf
and I have a sick fancy that I want to see somfln
17, There, therel" with an impatient movement
the fingers of her right hand; "play, play, playl'j|
For a moment, with the fear of my sister's workinjM
me before my eyes, I had a desperate idea of startlngE
round the room in the assumed character of Mr. Pum-|
blechook's chaise-cart. But, I felt myself s
to the performance that I gave it up, and stood 1
ing at Miss Havisham in what I suppose she took f
a dogged manner, inasmuch as she said, when we hi
taken a good look at each other:
"Are you sullen and obstinate?"
"No, ma'am, I am very sorry for yon, and ve
sorrf' I can't play just now. If yon complain of me
.y Biatet, bo \ -wo'Ai i*;
nv.'UpROVA'ndiM.
7t
^^^fcnld; bat it's so new here, anil so atrange, niid
^^^Be — aiid melancfioly " I stopped, foaring
^^Wit Bay too mui^L, or bad already said it, and wq
^^■annther look at each other.
^^^hfore she spoke again, she tamed her eyes from
^^^kid looked at the dress she wore, and at tlio
^^Hfg^table, and finally at herself in the looking^
^^Hh> new to him," she muttered, "so old to me; so
^^^n to him, so familiar to mo; so melancholy to both
^^B Call Estella."
^^^K ebe was still looking at the reflexion of herself,
^^^B^bt she was still talking to hcrseli, and kept
^^BUll JSstella," she repGntcd, flashing a look at
^^vYoa can do that C^all Estella. At the door."
^^^K stand in the dark in a mysterious passage of
^^Hbwwn bouse, h a wling E Stella to a scornful young
^^^Beither visible nor responsive, and feeling it a
^^^Rd liberty so to roar out her name, was almost
^^^H as playing to order. But, she answered at la^t,
^^^Br light came along the long dai-k passage like
^^^bf Havisham beckoned her to come close, and
^^^p,p a jewel from the table, and tried its effect
iLlJon her fair young bosom and against her pretty
■11 hair. "Your own, one day, my dear, and you
I use it well. Let me see you play cards with this
' With this boyl Wb_y, be is a common labmwiiiig- \
78 OREAT EXPBCTATIOsa.
^only it seomcd so unlikely — "Well? Tou can hi
^hia heart."
"Wliat do yon play, boy?" asked Eatislla of ;
-self, with the frreateat disdain,
"Notliing but beggar my neiglibonr, miss."
"Beggar him," said Miss Havlsham to Estella.
wo sat down to cards.
It was then I began to understand that everytl
in the room had stopped, like the watch and the cl
a long time ago. I noticed that Miss Kavisham
down the jewel exactly on the spot from which
had taken it up. As Estella dealt the cards, I glai
at the dressing-table again, and saw that the shoe D
it, once white, now yellow, hud never been worn,
glanced down at the foot from which tho shoe
absent, and saw that tho silk stocking on it, <
white, now yeUow, had been trodden ragged. WitS
this arrest of everything, this standing atU! of all|
pale decayed objects, not even tho withered hrf
dresa on ijie collapsed form could have looked so ]
grave-clothes, or the long veil so like a shroud.
So she sat, corpae-like, as we played at cards; (
frill inga and trimmings on her bridal dress look
like earthy paper. I knew nothing then, of the
coveries that are occasionally made of bodies buriefl
ancient times, which fall to powder in the momeij
being distinctly seen; but, I have often thought sq
■ that she must have looked as if tlie admission of
natural light of day would have struck her to dust;
"He calls the knaves. Jacks, this lioyl" i
Estella with disdain, before our first game was ■
"And what coai'se hands he haa, And what
GREAT SXFKCTATIONS. "9
I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands
uliire; bnt I began to consider them a very indiffi-rent
lot. Her contempt was sii strong, thai it liecamo
mfutioiLs, nnd I caught it.
She won the game, and I dealt. I misdealt, nn
only natural, when I knew she was lying in wait
fci me to do wrong; and she denounced nie fur a
J, clumsy labouring^lioy.
You say nothing of her," remarked Miss Ha vi sham
tane, as she looked on. "She says many bard things
tlyoii, but you say nothing of her. What do you
tok of her?"
'I don't like to say," I stammered.
'Tell me in my ear," said Misa Ilavishnm, bending
In.
I think pho is very proud," I ro|i!icd, in m.
<lis[ier.
"Anything else?"
r "I tiiink she ia very pre.tty."
"Anything else?"
"J think she is very insulting." (She was looking
ii" then, with a look of supreme, aversion.)
'Anything else?"
' i think I should like to go home."
" .A.nd never see her again, though she is so
"I am not sure that I shouldn't Like to see her
II. hut I should like to go home now."
You shall go soon," said Miss Uavlsham, aloud.
IV the game out."
Saving for the one veird smih at first, 1 eivouVi
-''L~ ^J^i ^^ '^^' ^^'ss JTavisham'8 face cmAA. L
■" " ' ' Kd into a watchful and ^rooiinai
&KBM BTpmrAfTOffK
' Bspresaion — most likely when all the things &1
had become transfixed ' — and it looked (
nothing could ever lift it up again. Her chest
dropped, so that she stooped; and her voice had
ped, so that she Hpoke low, and with a dead lull v
her; altogether, she had the appearance of ha''
dropped, body and soul, within and without, under
weight of a crushing blow.
I played the game, to an end with Eatella, and
beggared me. She threw the cards down on the U
when she had won them aU, as if she despised th(
»for haying been won of me.
"When shall I have you here again?" said
Havisham. "Let me thiak."
I was beginning to remind her that to-day
Wednesday, when she checked me with her foi
impatient movement of the fingers of her right hand.
"There, there! I know nothing of days of ti
week; I know nothing of weeks of the year. "
¥ ■
^H eai
1 down. I^et him have son
lam and look about him while 1:
Eetolla, take hii
eat, and let him r
I. Go, Pip."
I followed the candle down, as I had followed thf
candle up, and she stood it in the plac
found it. Until she opened the side entrance, I haj
fancied, without thinking about it, that it must r
sarily be night-time. The rush of the daylight quiU
confounded me, and made me feel as if I had been i
tlie candle-light of the strange room many hours.
"You are to wait here, you boy," said Eatellai
fa/appeared and closed the door.
81-
k titu opportunity of being alone in the court-
( iook at my etrnree hands and ray conimrin
J opinion ot' those acceasoriBs was not favour-
fiey bad never troubled me before, but tboy
s Tuigar appendagea. I detcnuiued
3 why he had over tauy:ht me lo call thoai!
Is, Jacks, which ought to bu tailed knavua.
) had been rather more genteelly brought
1 I aUould have been so too.
me back, with aomo bread and moat and a
She put the mug down on the
3 yard, and gave me the bread and meat
mc, aa inaolently aa if I were a dog
I was so humiliated, bnrt, apunied, offendod, ^
- I cannot hit upon thu right name for
- God kiiowa what its name was — that
I to ray eyes. The m.onient they sprang
irl looked at me with a quick delight iit
u of them. Thia gave me power
i'[i thpm baek and to look at her; so, ahe gave a
i|irn<ma toas — but with a aenao, I thought, of
K made too sure tliat I waa so wounded — and
when she waa gone, 1 looked about me for a
■ face in, and got behind one of the
B brewery-lane, and leaned ray aleeve against
!, and leaned my forehead on it and cried.
, I kicked the wall, aad took a hard twiat
) bitter were my feelings, and ao aharp
vithout_ a_jaame, that needed counter-
'e bringing up had made me sewsitwa. la
I liavc tbeir e^
vfhosoever brings thorn up, there is nothing bo fl
perceived and so finely ft'lt aa injustice. It ma;
onlj' small injustice that the 'child can be exposet
"but the child is Bmall, and its world is small, hi
rocking-horse stands as many hands high, accordii
scale, as a big-honed Irish liunttr. Within myae!
had sustained, trom my babyhood, a perpetual
with injustice. I had known, li'om the time wh
could speak, that my sister, in her capricious and
lent coercion, was unjust to me. I had cherish*
Iffbfound conviction that her biingiug me up by
'gave her no right to bring me up by jerks. Thrc
all my punishments, disgraces, fasts and vigili
other penitential performances, I had nursed this
suranee; and to my communing so much with it.
solitary and unprotected way, I in great part refe^
fact that I was morally timid and very sensitiTe.
I got rid of my injured feelings for tho time,
kicking them into the brewery wall, and twisting t
out of my hair, and then I smoothed my face with'
sleeve, and came from behmd the gate. The h
and meat were acceptable, and the boor
ing and tingling, and I was soon in spirits to 1
about me.
To be sure, it was a deserted place, down to
pigeon-house in the brewery-yard, which had I
blown crooked on its pole by some high wind,
would have made the pigeons think themselves at
if there had been any pigeons there to he rockedl
it. But, there wore no pigeons in the dovecot
horses in the stable, no pigs in the sty, no malt in
storehouse, no smells of grains and bew in the co
*w tie vat. AM the uses and aceuta t
Ht bave evnporntt^^il with its la.-<l roi'k (>f tiiiinlci'. In
H'j'tfd, there wa» a wildcnieas of empty icnsks, wUit-b
Bi eectam snur ivmcmbrance of better dnye liugvr-
Rdwat them; bat it was too sour to he accepleil aa
Hmpk lA' the beer that was" gwne — and in this
■^ I remciDber those recluses aa being like most
BBehiiuI tlie farthest end of the brewery, was a raiik
pui with an old wall: not so high but tliat I could
p^e up and hold on long enough to look over it,
p "M that the rauk garden was the garden of the
■■*, ftiid that it was overgrown with tangled weeds,
IviliU there was a track upon the green and yellow
pwi as ii' some one sometimes walked there, and that
PWI" was walking away from me even theji. But
|"*wtned to be everywhere. For, when I yielded to
P l*niptatiuu presented by the casks, and began to
!« on tlipm, I saw hev walking on them at the end
jpilie yai-d of casks. She liad her back to me, and
P" iier jin'tty brown hair spread out in her two hands,
[■never looked round, and passed out of my view
^^lly- So, in the brewery itself — by whiuh 1 mean
'^ large paved loftiy place in whieli they used to make
' iwr, and where the brewing utensila still were.
lii'ii J first went into it, and, rather oppressed by its
'"'lu, stood near the door looking about me, I saw
)'»S8 among tlie extinguished fires, and ascend some
'it iron stairs, and go out by a gallery high ovor-
"', as if she were going out into the sky.
Ii was in this place, and at this moment, that a
iir^'u thing happened to my fancy. I thoiig\it it ft.
r tien, lad I thought it a sti-anger t\img
ORBAT BXPECTATlOm,
[ by looking up at the frosty light — towards a gi
I wooden beam in a low nook of the building near
I my right hand, and I saw a figure hanging tl
t by the neck. A figure all in yellow white, with
[ one ahoe to the feet-, and it hung so, that I could
[• that the faded trimmings of the dress were like
k paper, and tliat the face was Miss Havisham'a,
Movement going over the whole countenance as if
were trying to eall to me. In the terror of seeing
figure, and in the terror of being certain that it ',
not been there a moment before, I at first ran from
and then ran towards it. And my terror was greai
. of aU. when I found no figure there.
I Nothing leas than the frosty light of the cheerful s
the sight of people passing beyond the bars of the coi
yard gate, and the reviving influence of the rest of
bread and meat and beer, would have brought mo ron
Even with those aids, I might not have come to u
self as soon as I did, hut that I saw Estella approa
( ing with the keys, to let mo out. She would hi
lir reason for looking down npon me, I thoug
t, if she saw me frightened; and she should have
r reason.
) gave me a triumphant glance
08 if she rejoiced that my hands were so coarse
)t8 were so thick, and abe opened the gate
' stood holding it. E was passing out without lool
I at her, when she touched me with a taunting hand.
"Why don't you cry?"
"Because I don't want to."
"Yon do," said she. "You have been crying
ire b/Uf blind, and you BiB_.Bea,t crying ag(
IVA9TOMH; 8ft
coiitemptnoasly, puslieil me out, aiid
e gate npou me. I wont utraight to Mr. Pnm-
'a, and was iinnKinHely relieved to find Mm
)tne. S'l, leaving; word witli the sliopmnn on
f I was wanted nt Mias Havisliam's ngaia, I
a the four-niile walk to onr forge; pondering,
I • 1 went along, on all I had soon, and deeply ro-
AJviug that I was a comuiuu labouring- boy ; that my
) coai'ae, that my Lootn Wfji'e tldik; that I
Jcjj iuto a despicable hahit of calling kiinveB Jackn;
s much more ignorant than I had coUBidored
t night, and geneTally that I was in a low-lived
Id way.
CHAPTEK rX.
\" I reached Lome, my sistCT was very cnrioua
tiiow all about Miss HaTialiam's, and awkeJ a num-
r uf questions. And I seon fnuud myself getting
Ally bumped from behind in the nape of the neek
.1 rhe small of the back, and having my face igpq-
'^ionsly shoved againat tlic kitchen wall, because I
not answer those questions at aufficieiit length,
if a dread of not being understood bo hidden in
breasts of other young ]jeople to anything like the
■ lit to which it uaed to be hidden in mine — which
■insider probable, as I have no particular reason to
|j('ct myself of having been a monstrosity — it is
■ key to many reservations. I felt convinced that if
'■■scribed MJas Uaviaham's as ray eyes had seen it,
•Nciuld not be nnderatood. Not only that, bnt I felt
iiinced thut Ml/ai Havis/iain too would not bw imdet-
W^fe!£f /jAe^ifasper/ect;^ iucorapreliena^V©
"3 'mpressioD that theie -wouXa \n
sometMng coarse and treacherous in my draggiiiL^
as she really was (ti) sfty nothing of Miss Estulla'
fore the contemplation of Mrs. Joo, Conaequentl;
said as little as I coald, and bad my face shoved agi
the kitchen wall.
The worst of it was that that bullying old Pun
cbook, preyed upon by a devouring cariosity to hi
formed of all I had seen and heard, came gaping
in bis chaise-cart at ton time, to havo the detaiL
vulged to him. And the mere sight of the torn
with his fisby oyes and mouth open, his sandy
iaijuisitively on end and bis waistcoat heaving
windy arithmetic, maJe me vicious in my reticenc
"Well, hoy," Uncle Pumblechook'began, as sod
be was seated in the chair of honour by the fire. '
did you get on up town?"
I answered "Pretty well, 6ir," and my sister
her fiat at me.
"Pretty well?" Mr. Pumblecbook repeated. "Pr
well is no answer. Tell us what yon mean by pr
well, boy?"
Whitewash on the forehead hardens the brain
a state of obstinacy perhaps. Anyhow, with wl
wash from the waU on my forehead, my obstinacy
adamiuitine. I reflected for some time, and then
Bwered aa if I had discovered a new idea, "I i
pretty woU."
My sister with an exclamation of impatience
going to fly at me — I had no shadow of defence,
Joe was busy in the forgo — when Mr. Pumblech
mterposed with "No! Don't lose joxn tftm^t. Iiji
t^j's /.-III to me, tna'nm; leave rti'w \ft.i Xa t"""
GREAT BZPECTATIOXB. 87
echook then turned me towards liim, as if ho
jioing to cut my hair, find said:
Icirat (to get our thoughts in order); Forly-lhrefi
J?"
tealcnl&ted tUo consequences of replying "Four
i Pound," and, finding them against uie, went
r the answer an I could — which wns somewliero
eightpence oS. Mr. Pumblcchook tlien put me
"i my pence-table from "twelve pence make one
t," up to "forty pence make tliree and four
. and then triumphantly demanded, as if he had
Vow/ How much is forty-three pence?"
lich I replied, after a long interval of reflection,
|ft know." And I was so aggravated that I al-
nibt if I did know.
L Fumblechook worked his head like a Rcrew to
[it out of me, and said, "Is forty-three pence
ind sixpence three fardena, for instance?"
"' said I- And although my sister instantly
'"'1 my ears, it was highly gratifying to me to see
the answer spoilt his joke, and brought him to a
■1 stop.
"Boy! WItat like is Miss Havisham?" Mr. Pum-
])"ok began again when he had recovered; fold-
iiis arms tight on his chest and applying the screw.
Very tall and dark," I told him.
Is she, uncle?" asked my sister.
Ur. Pumhiechook winked assent; from which I at
inferred that ho had never accn Miss Haviaham,
^lie was nothing of the kind.
"Clood!" said Mr, PuinbJefiJjook, conceitedly, (J'TVaa
■■,= WSJ- /a Jiave bim! Wo are begraiiiTigr to U*l\4^
^g, J think. Miur""^ ° o -^
SRBAT BXPECTATI0N8,
uncle," returned Mrs. Joo, "I wij
you had him always; you know so well how to d
with him."
"Now, boyl What was she a doing of, when y
went in to-day?" asked Mr. Pumblechook.
»"She was sitting," I snswered, "in a black vel»i
coach."
Mr. Famblochook and Mrs. Joe etarod at c
Mber — as tliey well might — and both repeatai
"Ib a black velvet coach?"
"Tes," Haid I. "And Miss Estella — that's
niece, I think — handed hex in cake and i
coach-window, on a gold plate. And we all had c
and wine on gold plates. And I got up behiud 1
coach to eat mine, because she fold me to."
t"Was anybody eke there?" asked Mr. Pumbl^^
ook.
"Four dogs," said I.
"Large or small?"
"Immense," said I. "And they fought for ■
cutlets, out of a silver basket."
Mr. Pumblochook and Mrs. Joe stared at one i
otheragain, in utter amazement. I waB perfectly frantij
— a reckless witness under the torture — and woul^
have told them anything.
"Where was this coach, in tho name of gracious?*!
asked my sister.
"InMi9flHavisham'srooni."Theystaredagain. '
there weren't any horses to it." I added this saving claused
in the moment of rejecting four richly capariBoneJJL
coursers which I had had wild thoughts of hameasing.fl
"Gao this he possible, uiitleV" aaked Mrs. Joa^
^"Wiat can tho boy mean?"
^^^■r sasAT BxrBflTimoMi SB
^VTU tell yon, Mum," said Mr. I'limblccfiook. "My
^Bm is, it's a sedan-cliRir. She's Higlity, you know
^Huy flighty — ijitite fllglity enough tu pass her
^Bni a aedan-chair."
^B)id you over ei^e h^r iii it, uncle?" asked Mr§.
^^BoT could I?" ho retumCHl, forced to the adinis-
^WSrfa^i I nerer see htr in my lifoi' Nuvtjr clapped
^Kpon her!"
^Boodneaa, uuclel And yet yon havo spoken to
^HPlty, don't you know," said Mr. Pumblechook,
^H, "that when I have boon there, I have been
^Ep to the outside of her door, and the door
^Hood ajar, and she has Kpoke to me that way.
^Bsay you don't know lliti. Mum. Howsever, the
^vent there to pUy. What did you play at,
^B7e played with flags," I said. (I beg to observe
^Bthink of myself with amazement, when 1 recal
^Hb I told on thifi occasion.)
^^Ragsl" echoed my sister.
^T'es," said 1. "Estella waved a blue flag, and I
id a red one, and Miss Haviaham waved one
Jikled ail over with little gold stars, out at the
I li-window. And then we all waved our swords
i iiurralied."
".Swords!'" repeated my sister. "Where did jou
■ -M'ords from?"
riut of a cupboard," said I. "Aud I saw pistole
i; — and jam — And pilh. And tbcre is-aa aw
bat it WHS fill lighted Ug •wV'4'^
J aubat flZpnoTATroiTe. ^^^H
"That's trae. Mum," said Mr. Pumblocliook, '*''-*" ^^^^^B
grave nod. "That's the state of the case, for '^^*^3HS
Tich Fve seen myflelf." And then they both stflT^^^^BiS
. me, and I with an ohtrusive show of artlcssnoss ^^^B^H
y countenance, atared at them, and plaited t]ie rig'^^^H^B
g of my tronsers with my right haod. . ^^|^|
If they had asked me any more questions I shoU^^^^^H
idoubtedly have betrayed myself, for I was even tb^Q^^^H
1 the point of mentioning that there was a baJlooa ^^fl^^^l
.eyard, and should have hazarded the statement hut f^^j|B^B
y invention being divided between that phenomonoS^B'^H
id a bear in the brewery. They were so much oco)4^Bl^|
ed, however, in diacuasing the man-cb I had alreaC^^T ^M
resented for their consideration, thnt I escaped. '-^^jjK^ ^|
Lhject still held them when Joe came in from his ^o'S^^*!^!
have a cup of tea. To whom my sister, more f"^^*^^!
.6 relief of her own mind than for the gratification '^^^^1
3, related my pretended experiences. f^^^ S
Now, when I saw Joe open his blue eyes and rolB ^M
.em all round the kitchen in helpless amazement, E)«^ ^M
as overtaken by penitence; but only as rogardeS'^ J^^
m — not in the least as regarded the otlier twoft ^^M
owarda Joe, and Joe only, I considered myself ^' ^J^
jung monster, while they sat debating what resnllfflt^^J
ould come to me from Miss Havishara's acqualntancwtl ^^3
id favour. They had no doubt that Miss Eavishain y^if^'^
ould "do Bometliing" for me; their doubts related to: HJ§^3
e form that something would take. My sister stood ig^^
it for "property." Mr. Pumblechook was in favoint ii^^
a handsome premium for binding me apprentice toi _^
me genteel trade — say, the com and seed trade fnrvii-^'^
sijince. Joe Fell into the deepeat disgrace with both, %l^^^^
^Saing tho bright suggestion. t\mt 1 mi^\\. oii^ \st4 *.\^e^
aEEAT BXPECTATIOSB. 91
i vith one of the dogs who had fought for tic
Intlets. "If a fool's head can'l express better
s than that," Bald my aistor, "and you have
ywork to do, you had bolter go and do it." So
r Mr. Pumbleuhook had driven off, and whou
} washing up, I stole into the forgo to
1 remained ljy him until he had dune for the
t Then I said, "Before tho fire goes quite out,
isbonld like to tell you something."
mould yon, Pip?" said Joe, drawing hia shocing-
■ the forge. "Then tell us, What is it,
' eaid I, taking hold of his rolled-up shirt
I and twiating it between my finger and thumb,
member all that about Miss Havisham's?"
' said Joe. "I believe you! Won-
i terrible thing, Joe; it ain't true."
lat are yon telling of, Pip?" cried Joe, falling
1 the greatest amazement "You don't mean to
B I do; it's lies, Joe."
lit not all of it? Wliy sure you don't mean to
IS no black welwet co— eh?"
I stood ehakiug my head. "But at least there
Pip. Come, Pip," said Joe, persuasively,
, wam't no weal-cutlete , at least there was
, Joe."
Hoff?" 8"''^ J^^- "-A puppy? Come?"
^^^iiere was nothing at all of tte tml."
-fepe/ess/yonJoe, Joeconlem-pW
n dismay. "Pip, old chap! this won't do,
kwl I say! Where do you expect to go to?"
"It'a terrihle, Joe; an't it?"
"Torrihle?" cried Joe. "Awt'ul! What posBOsi
you?"
"I don't know what possessed me, Joe," I repli€
letting his shirt sleeve go, and Bitting down iu t]
asheH at his feet, hanging my head; "but I wish yi
hadn't taught me to call Knaves at cardB, Jacks; ai
I wisfi my boots weren't so thick nor my hands i
coarse."
And then I told Joe that I felt very miserabl
and that I hadn't been able to explain myself to ~~
Joe and Pumblechook, who were so rude Ja me,
that there had heen a beautiliil young lady at Miss
visham's who was dreadfully proud and that she ha
said I was common, and that I knew J was commoi
and that I wished I was not common, and that the li<
»liad come of it somehow, though I didn't know how.
" This was a case of metaphysics, at least as
iftilt for Joe to deal with, as for me. But Joe
the case altogether out of the region of metaphyai
and by that means vajiquished it.
''There's one thing you may he sure of, Pip," Bu
Joe, after some rumination , "namely, that lies is "
HowsevBT they come, they didn't ought to come,
they eome from the father of lies, and work round tc
the same. Don't you tell no more of 'em, Pip. Thai
ain't the way to get out of being common, old chap
And as to being common, I don't make it out
c/c/ir. Yoa are oucommon in some things. You'
eommon amalL Likewise you're a onconuntm wiio\aa
r EXPB0TATI0X8. 93
, I am i^orant and backward, Joe."
"Why, see what a letter yon wtotfi last niglit.
■ ^ in print even! I've seen letters — Ah! itnJ frum
l.folka! — that I'll swear weren't wrote in print,"
I have learnt next to nothing, Joe. You think
II of me, It's only that."
'Well, Pip," said Joe, "be it so or be it BOn't, you
' he a conunon siiholar aforu yon can be a oneoU'
.. one, 1 should Lope! The king upon his throne,
. hia crown opon his ed, can't sit and write his
of Parliament in jiriut, without havUig bDgon,
liim he were a unpromoted Prince, with the alphabet
-Ah!" added Joe, with a shake of the head that
r';i full of meaning, "and begun at A too, and worked
■.i-.iy to Z. And / know what that is to do, though
ni say I've exactly done it."
i'lic^re was some hope in this piece of wisdoni, and
licr encouraged me.
Whether common ones as to callings and earn-
pursued Joe, reflectively, "mightn't be the better
:iiiliiiiiing for to keep company with common ones,
id of going out to play with oncommon ones —
■ li rumiudsmetohope that there were a flag perhaps?"
No, Joe."
'I'm sorry there weren't a flag, Pip.) Wliether
might be or mightn't be, is a thing as can't be
d into now, without putting your Bister on the
; ii'iige; and that's a thing not to bo' thought of as
l; done intentional. Lookee here, Pip, at what is
lo you by a true Mend. Which tliiB lo -you W»
rncjid^aay. ^ If yon can't get to be oncottimo'Q.
never do it, 1,\no\i^k
94 GREAT EXPECTATI8MB.
going crooked. So don't tell no more on 'em, P
Jive 'woll and die happy."
"You aro not angry with mo, Joey"
"No, old ehap. But boaring in mind tha
wcro which I meantersay of a stunning and onti
sort — alluding to them which bordered on'wi
lets nnd dog-fighting — a sincere ■well-wisher
adwise, Pip, theii being dropped into your med
when you go up-stairs to bed. That's all, oh
and don't never do it no more."
When I got np to my little room and s!
prayers, I did not forget Joe's recomraendation, ;
my young mind was in that disturbed and untl
state, that I thought long after I laid me dow
common Estelta wonld uonsider Joe, a mere
smith: how thick his boots, and how coarse his
I thought how Joe and my sister were then sit
the kitchen, and how I had come up to bed fr
kitchen, and how Miss Havisham and Estella
sat in a kitchen, but were far above the level >
common doings. I fell asleep i-ecalling what I
to do" when I was at Miss Havisham's; as tli
had been there weeks or months, instead of hou
as though it were quite an old subject of remem
instead of one that had arisen only that day.
^ That was a memorable day to me, for il
great changes in me. But, it is the same wi
life. Imagine one seleeted day struck out of
think how different its course would have been.
you who road this, and think for a moment of t
1 chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that
■ have hound you, but for the formation
•MO memoraHe day. ^^^^^^^
CHAPTKR X.
9 fblicitous !cl(!n occurred tu me a morning or
it when I woki;, that the bost atep I ouiild lake
I nwking myself uncouiinon was to got mit ol'
werytJimg she kuew. In piireuniice of this Intui-
tion I mentionoil tii Biddy when I went to
s ^ttat-amit's at night, ithat 1 had a parti-
1 for wisliing to get on in life, nnd that I
i very much obliged to her if slie wonld im-
T learning to me. Biddy, wlio was the moat
t of girls, immediately said she would, and
Begoa tu cany ont her promise within fivo mi-
^ISdactktioual scheme or Course establiahed by
B greal^aunt may be resiilved into tlie fot'
lOpaia. Tlie pupila ate api)Ies and pat straws
■taothBr's backs, niitil Mr- Wopalo's great-anut
iillfft!!! Uw energies, and naade an indiscriminate ti»t-
■ tliiia with a birch-rod. After receiving thechargo
t.vary mark of derision, the piipila formed in lino
"' Imasingly paasod a raggeJ book from band to hand.
b_book had an alphabet in it, some figures aiid ta-
xi, luid a little spelling — that is to say, it had had
fL'. As soon 'as this volume began to circulate, Mr.
' li's gi-eat-anot fell into a state of coma; arising
' from sleep or a rheumatic paroxysm. The pupils
■■ entered among themselves ujion a competitive
imitiatiou on the subject of Boots, with the v'
Brtaining who conlri tread tbo iardoat upon w\\Ciaft
'^.^^J"'^^_''-'^^^'se lasted iiutil Biddy maie a
Qmttd three defaced
(sLaped aa if they had lieen unskilfully cut ofl
chump-end of Komothing), more illegibly printed s
best than any curiosities of literature I have since
with, speckled all over with ironmould, and hs
various specimenH of the insect world smashed bet
their leaves. This part of the Course was ua'
lightened by several single combats between B
and refractory students. Wlien the fights were
Biddy gave oat the number of a page, and the]
all read aloud what we could — or what we cou
— in a frightful chorus; Biddy leading with a
shrill monotonous voiee, and none of us having
least notion of, or reverence for, what we were res
about. When this horrible din had lasted a ce
time, it mechanically awoke Mr. Wopsle's greats
who staggered at a boy foituiiously-. and pnllet
eare. This was understood to terminate the Ci
for the evening, and we emerged into the air
shrieks of intellectual victory. It is fair to rei
that there was no prohibition against any pupil's c
taining himself with a slate or even with the
{when there was any), but that it was not easy to
sue that branch of study in the winter season, oi
count of the little general shop in which the el
were hotden — and which was also Mr. Wopsle's g
aunt's sitting-room and hed-chamher — being but i
ly illuminated through the agency of one low-spi
dip-candle and no snuffers.
It appeared to me that it would take time, t
come uncommon under tliese circumstances: u
thelesB, I resolved to try it, and that very evi
SJddy entered on our special agreement, by impa
JofonaiitUin from her Utt\e <ia.\jj\o^
\.Q^^^^|
S7
tiiiJ«c tbe bead of moist sugar, and lending mn, to
"jjj' at home, a large old English D wliicb slie had
imilAted from the hendiiig «t enino newspaper, and
•liirli I Biipposml, until she told me what it was, to be
t ilwiga for a buckle. ^
Mf course there was a public-houso in the village,
'' 'if course Joe liked aometimes to nmoke his pipe
ri'. I had received strict ordera from my sister to
I 'ill I'nt him at the Three Jolly Bargemen, that even-
Ji;, on my way from school, and bring him home at
I 'v peril. To the Three Jolly Bargemen, therefore,
I I ilirpcted my steps.
I There was a bai' at the Jolty Bargemen, with some
riaingly long chalk scores in it on the wall at the
li- i)f the door, wliieh seemed to mc to be never paid
■ They had been there ever since I could remember,
, -^'1 had grown more than I had. But there was a
■iutity of chalk about our country, and perhaps the
I "iile neglected no opportunity of turning it to account.
I il being Saturday night, I found the landlord look-
I ' mther grimly at these records, but as my biisinesa
■' with Joe and not with him, I merely wished liim
''III livening, and passed into the common room at
■* find of the passage, where there was a bright large
*lien fire, and where Joe was smoking his pipe in
^[luny with 5tr. Wopsle and a stranger. Joe greeted
>! ae usual with "Halloa, Fip, old cbapl" and the
^ent he said that, the stranger tamed his head and
Wed at me.
He was a secret-looking man whom I Imd Tiww
(1 before. His bead was all on one side, and one o(\ia
■ Hwr bidf shut up, as if be were taking aim. B.t ,
ma SBBAT KFECTATIOKS.
rjiis mouth, and lie took it out, anci, after slowly bio
ing all hiB smoke away and looking liard at me t
tlie time, nodded. So, I nodded, and then he noddi
again, and made room on tlio settle beside him that
might sit down there.
But, as I was used to sit teside Joe whenever
itered that placo of resort, I said "No, thank j
and fall into the space Joe made for me on
opposite settle. The s^ange man, after glancing ;
Joe, and seeing that his attention was otherwise engage
nodded to me again when I had taken my seat,
then mbbed Ms leg — in a very odd way, a
tgbrack me.
k "Ton was saying," said the strange man, tun
■o Joe, "that you was a blacksmith."
I "Tes. I said it, yon know," said Joe,
f, "What'll you drink, Mr. — ? Tou didn't mentis
^ur name, hy-the-by."
r Joe mentioned it now, and the strange man call
pim by it. "What'll you drink, Mr. Gargery? At i
expense? To top up with?"
r "Well," said Joe, "to tell yon the truth, I ai
iSnch in the habit of drinking at anybody's expens
lint my own."
[ "Hahit? No," returned the stranger, "but oni
*way, and on a Satiwday night too. Come! Put
Wne to it, Mr. Gargery,"
[ "I wouldn't wish to be stiff company," said Jo(
(. "Rum," repeated the stranger. "And will th
^er gentleman originate a sentimeut?"
QREAT BxrCCTAIIOlWI. W
"Three Rtuhs!" mod the stranger, culling to the
I kadlord. "GiaBscB round!"
"This other gentlemaD," observed Joe, by way of
I intiodncing Mr. Wopsle, "ja a gentlemati that you
'■■luld like to hear give it out. Our clerk at ehureL"
"Ahal" said the stranger, quickly, and cocking his
at me. "The lonely church, right out on the
■ ii^hes, with the graves romid it!"
"That's it," Bsid Joe.
The stranger, with a comfortnble kind of grunt
nVCT his pipe, put his legs up on the settle that ho had
1" idnieelf. lie wore a flapping broad-brimmed trav-
't'-r's hat, and under it a handkerchief tied over hia
■■A in the manner of a cap: bo that he sbowed no
r, Ab he looked at the fire, I thought I saw a cun-
r;i' espreBsiou, followed by a half laugh, come into his
''I am not acquainted with this country, gentlemen,
"111 it Beems a solitary country tijwarda the river."
"Moat marahes is solitary," said Joe.
"No doubt, no doubt Do yon lind any gipsies,
aur, or tramps, or vagrants of any sort out there?"
"No," said Joe; "nouu but a runaway eon^Hct now
ittii iben. And we don't find thfin, easy. Eh, Mr.
WnpgleV"
Ur. Wopsle, with a majestic rememhrance of old
'iisccrafiture, assented; but not warmly.
"Seems you have been out after auch?" asked the
«nmger-
"Once," returned Joe. "Not that we wanted to
Uke them, ^ou undcjstaml; wc went out as \ook.fcT8-o\i-.
£r.^J^' Y"-^^^' ^°'^ ^^P- ■t'itiii't US, Pip?"
GHBAT BXPHOTATIOlffl.
^V The straii{;'er looked at mQ again — still eoekin
Tiis eye, as if he were expressly taking
his invisible gun — and said, "He's a likely youn
parcel of bones that. What is it yon call Iiim?"
^"Pip," said Joe.
"Christened Pip?"
"No, not chriatened Pip."
"Surname Pip?"
"No," said Joe, "it's a kind of a family name whi
gave himself when a infant, and is called by."
"Son of yours?"
"Well," said Joe, meditatively — not, of court
that it could be in any wise necessary to considi
about it, but because it vas the way at the JoU
Bargemen to seem to consider deeply about everythio
ijQtat was discussed over pipes; "well — no. No, I
' "t."
"Newy?" said the ati'ange man.
"Well," said Joe, with the same a])pearance
cofound cogitation, "he is not - — no, not to deceivi
he is not — my newy."
"What the Blue Blazes is he?" asked the atrangei
Which appeared to me to b^an inquiry of unnecesaan
strength.
Mr. Wopsle struck in upon that; as one who kneH
all about relationships, having professional occasioi
bear in mind what female relations a man might
many; and expounded the ties between me and Jo6
Having his hand in, Mr. Wopsle finished off with t
most terrifically snarling passage from Richard thi
Third, and seemed to think he had done quite enougl
ft> Mccoant for it when be added " — as ^.Ve '^witfta-ya^
Ajid here J may remark ihat wlusa Mi. "^ o^iia
attui^asraOTATTOM.
101
le, he considered il a uece'fasar^, p^'^[:qtic^'.
3 to rumple mj Iiair and poke it into my'oyes." •
r canoot conceive wliy everyboity nf his standing who
'sited at our lionso should aways have put me through
le same inflammatury process under similar circ
auees. Tet I do not call to mind that I was ever in
y earlier youth the subject of remark in our k
r[iily cirele, but some large-handed person took Bome
II II ophtbajpiiy stepa to patronise me.
All this while the strange man looked at no body
:: me, and looked at me as if he were determined to
e a shot at me at last, and bring me down.
jpd nothing after offering his Blue Blazea obaerva-
mtil the glasses of rum- and- water were brought;
1 lie made his shot, and a most extraordinary
t was.
t was not a verbal remark, but a proceeding in
i-flhow, and whb pointedly addressed to me. ~
i iiis rum-and-water pointedly at me, and he tasted '
n-and-water pointedly at me. And he stirred it i
1 it: not with a apoon that was brought to
li'bnt with a fit'-.
B did this so that n^ody but I saw the file; and
\ he had done it be wiped tlia file and put it in a
It-pocket. I knew it to be Joe's file, and I knew
the knew my convict the moment I saw the instru-
nent I sat gazing at bim, spell-bound. But he now
redined on his settle, taking very little notice of me,
mil talking principally about turnips.
There was a delicioua sense of cloaning-up and
liking a quiet pause befora gving on in life atteaW, la
i/y/^ips on Satnrdajr aJglita, wliich Btinm\atoA 3«
~^o^ifijf an tour longer on Sa.t\u:4ag
HI
I
-'tli(Ip!^;-oil;(if times'. ' Tiie liijt-bour aud tlie rum-
■ Waler miming out togetliet, Joe got up to go, and
me by the hajid.
"Stop half a moment, Mr. Gargery," said
strange man. "I think I've got a bright new ahilli
Momewhere in my pocket, and if I have the boy ak
have it.
He looked it out from a handful of small chanL
folded it in some crumpled paper, and gave it to n
Tours!" said he. "Mind! Your own."
I thanked him, staring at him far beyond the boun
of good manners, and holding tight to Joe. He gai
Joe good-night, and he gave Mr. "Wopslo good-nig
(who went out with us), and he gave me only a Itx
with his aiming eye — no, not a took, for he shut
i^p, bnt wonders may be done with an eye by hiding it
On the way home, if I had been in a humour for
liking, the talk must have been all on my side, for
■. Wopsle parted from us at the door of the Jolly
, and Joe went all the way home with hia
Louth wide open, to rinse the rum out with as much
' air as possible. Bnt I was in a manner stupified by
this turning up of my old^sdeed and old acquaint-
ance, aud could think of nothing else.
My sister was not in a very bad temper when we
presented ourselves in the kitchen, and Joe was encou-
raged by that unusual cii'cumstance to tell her about
the bright shilling. "A bad nn, I'll be bound," said
Mrs. Joe, triumphantly, "or he wouldn't have given it
to the boy! Let's look at it."
/ tooi it out of the paper, ani \\. ^isrvfti tsi \>t. a.
good oae. "Bat iriiat's this?" aaii "Mja. J*!*!, 'Cttno^'m.'s
*II|0*T BYPBCTATIONS. W* i
II (Jie shilliag and catcliing up the jiaper. '"Two
-i'ound notea!'"
Niitliing less than two fat sweltering one-pound
^ that seemed to have been on terms of the womioat
Tiaey with all the cuttle markets in the county.
cMight np his hat ng;ain, and ran witli thorn to the
y Bargemen to restore them to their owner. While
'■•■■■■Ls gono, I Hat down on my usual stool and looked
iLilly at my sister: feeling pretty sure that the man
..III not be there.
I 'ri?9cntly, Joe came back, saying that the man was
:■■■, but that he, Joe, had left word at the Three
ilv Bargemen concerning the notes. Then my eister
'ill tbem up in a piete of paper, and put them
' ii'i' Home dried rose-leaveti in an ornamental teapot on
Hi' top of a press in the statu jjarlour. There, they
(i-uiuinud, a nightmare to me, many and many a night
■III J day.
I had sadly broken sleep when I got to bed, through I
liking of the strange man taking aim at me with his
.^iljle gun, and of the guiltily coarse and common 'i
iil; it was, to be on secret terms of conspiracy with i
. I iota — - a feature in my low career that I had pre- .
iii-ly forgotten. I was Tiannted by the file too. A
III possessed mo that when 1 least expected it, the
' would" reappear. I coaxed myself to sleep by
■ liking of Miss Havisham'a, next Wednesday; and
iiy sleep I saw the file coming at me out of a door
"iiliout seeing who held it, and I screamed myself
ORBAT BSPBCTATIONS.
CHAPTER XI.
At tlie appointed timo I returned to Mies Haf^
-^^wn'a, and 1117 het^itatin^ ring at the gate brought ow— ,
Estella. She locked it after admitting me, as she ha(S^
(tone before, and again preceded me into tlie darltf
passage where her candle stood. She took no notice'
of me until she had the candle in her Land, when shf
looked o¥er her shoulder, superciliously saying, "Tol
are to come this way to-day," and took me
another part of the house.
The passage was a long one and seemed to perva^L
the whole square basement of the Manor House. Wfl
traversed but one side of the square, however, and a
the end of it she stopped, and put her candle dow;
and opened a door. Here, the daylight reappeared,
and I found myself in a small paved court-yaid, the
opposite side of which was formed by a detached dweU:
ing-house, that looked as if it had once belonged to ^
manager or head clei-k of the extinct brewery. There w
a clock in the outer wall of this house. Like the clock ii
Miss Havishara's room and like Miss Havisham'a
it had stopped at twenty minutes to nine.
We went in at the door, which stood opei
into a gloomy room with a low ceiling, on the groanM
floor at the back. There was some company, in tlw
room, and Estella said to me as she joined it, "Yon
are to go and stand there, boy, till you are wanted.'
"There," being the window, I crossed to it, and stood
"there," in a very uncomfortable state of mind, look-3
ing out. \
- It opened to the grotmd, anl \ooWe3. VnX« ?
ion
^^HlinUe comer of tlic neglected garden, upon a rniik
^^^■a|lttage-gtalks, and one box-tree that had been
^^^^^^B0 Ifmg ago, like a {ludding, and had n new
^^^^^^^B top of it, out of sliape aud of a dtfT^rent
^^Hi^^Fthat part of the pudding bad stuck to the
^^^bm and got bomt. This vne my homely thought,
^^H contemplated the hox-trce. There had been Home
^^Bt snow ower-njght, and it lay nowhere el»e to my
^^llwIeJge; bnt, it had not quite melted from the cold
l^iiow of this bit of garden, and the wind caught it
:i in little eddies and threw it at the window, aa if it
;li(d me for coming there.
I divined that my coming had stopped conversa-
■u in the room, and that its other occupants were
"king at me. I could aec nothing of the room except
(• shining of the fire in the window-glasa, but I
■.■ITi'UBd in all my joints with the conscionsnesa that 1
I- linder close inspection.
ITiere were three ladies in the room and one gentle-
.11. Before I had been standing at the window five
ijiites, they somehow conveyed to me that they were
' toadies and humbugs, but that each of them pre-
;ilL'd not to know that the others were toadies and
■ rrEbugs: because the admission -that ho or she did
uw it, would have made him or her/out to he a
.idy and humbug.
They all had a listless and dreary air of waiting
"omebody's pleasure, and the most talkative of the
lidios had to speak quite rigidly to repress a yawn.
This Iftdy, whose name was Camilla, very much re-
mmded me of mj- sister, with the difference that ^a
o/^tT aud {as I found when 1 caught siglvt «i? \ym>
"— *-• em of features. Indeed, "wlicii 1 Vaa^
H her better I begun to think it was a Mercy g
^Kwy features at all, bo very blank and. high v
^■Sead wall of her face.
^V "Poor dear aoul!" said this lady, with an abruf
^KiLBB9 of manner quite my aister's. "Nobody's
VM his own!"
H "It would be much more commendable to be som
•.Iwdy else's enemy," said the gentlemanj "far mo
^P natural"
Br "Cousin John," observed another lady, "we are :
^■'love our neighbour."
^E "Sarah Pocket," returned' Cousin John, "if a n
^Bs not his own neighbour, who is?"
^B Miss Pocket laughed, and Camilla laughed i
^^»)ud (checking a yawn), "The idea!" But I thou^
^B&6y seemed to think it rather a good idea too. T~
^B' other lady who had not spoken yet, said gravely 8
^KCimphatically, "Vei-j/ true!"
HT "Poor soul!" Camilla presently went on (I knei
^Biiey had all been looking at me in the :
^K^lie 13 90 very strange! Would any one i
^Kwhen Tom's wife died, he actually could not be in
^wSuced to see the impoi'tance of tlte children's havin
^yuie deepest of trimmingii to their mourotngi' 'Goo
^K^ord!' says he, 'Camilla, what can it signify so long a
'• the poor bereaved little things are in black?' So lik
Matthew! The idea!"
"Good points in him; good points in him,"
Cousin John; "Heaven forbidl should deny good points
in him; but he never had, and he never will have, any
sense of the proprieties."
"I'oa know I was obliged," saii Caitti.W.a., '
^liffcd to be Brm. I said, 'It YJUi sot hc
my
\
enu* neMOTATioNs.
107
^^^W of {be family.' I told liim lliat without (li?<-|i
^^^fciugs, the family was diggi-acc<d. I ci'ied iiboitt it
^^H bruakfnat tUl diimcr. 1 isjured my digestioti.
^^^ftlt last he Rang oat in his violent way, aiid said
^^Hl 0, 'llien do as you like.' lliank Goodnuss it
^^Vvlvays be a consolation to me to kiiuw that I
^^^ptly went out in a pouring rain and bought the
^^^■ffe paid for thcra, did he not?" asked Estella.
^^^P'b not the question, my dear child, who paid for
^^^V returned Camilla, "/ bou<,rht them. And I shall
^^^Hiink of that with peace, when I wake up in the
^^^Ba nnging of a distant bell, combined with the
^^^K t£ eume cty or call along the passage by which
^^^Bcome, iuterrupted the conversation and caused
^^Hr. to say to me, "Now, boy!" On my turning
^^^H they all looked at me with the utmost cniiteuipt,
^^^H I went out, I heard Sarah Pocket say, "Well
^^^■orel Wkat next!" and Camilla add, with in-
^^^Bdo, "Wttii there ever such a fancy! The i-di-a!"
^^B we were going with our candle along the dork
pM8sge, Estella stopped all of a sudden, and facing
mI said in her taunting manner with her face quite
■■- to mine:
■VVeU?"
■ Well, miss?" I answered, almost falling over her
i i^hecking myself.
:Sli6 stood looking at me, and, of course, I stood
--iiig at her.
"Am I pretty-?'"
.; / think jroa^ ace very jjretty."
108 OBEAT EXPaCTATIOITS. 1
"Not BO much 80 as yoo were last time," said
"Not 80 much HO?" i
"No."
She fired when she asked the last qneetioa, an3
slapped mj face with such force as she had, whi
answered it.
"Now?" said she. "Ton little coarse monster, fl
do you think of me now?"
"I shall not tell you."
"Because you are going to tell, up-stairs. Is 1
it?"
"No," said I, "that's not it."
"Why don't yon cry again, you little wretch?'^
"Because I'll never cry for you again," saii
.Which was, I suppose, as false a declaration as i
was made; for I was inwardly crying for her then,
I know what I know of the pain she cost me aj
wards.
We went on our way up-etairs after this episc
and, as we were going np, we met a gentleman grc^
his way down.
"Who have we here?" asked the gentleman, B
ping and looking at me,
"A boy," said Estella.
He was a hurly man of an exceedingly dark e
pleiion, with an exceedingly large head and a 1
respondingly large hand. He took my chin in his Is
hand and turned np my face to have a look at mo
the light of the candle. He was prematurely bald
the top of his head, and had bushy black eyebr
that wouldn't lie down but stood up bristling.
^ e/'^w were set very deep in his \ieB,l^ ko4
'ejgrceabJjr sfiarp and suspicioua. He tn.! a'
rmyr ncnroTATtOKs. 109
. strong black dots where lilu ln'.Mril and
1 wontd have bt^en if he had lot thoai. He wa)<
ig to no, and I could have had no lorusight then,
Ic ever would be auything to me-, but it happened
I bad this opportunity of obserFing him well.
"Soy of the neighbourhood? Hey?" said he.
W 'Iwi sir," said I.
"H(FF do you come here?"
"ffiss Havisham sent for me, sir," 1 explained.
■ Weill Behave yourself, I have a pretty large
) of boys, aiid you're a bad set of fellows.
■mindl" eaid he, biting the side of lus great fore-
:r as he frowned at me, "you behave yourself!"
Ifith those words, he released me — which I was
: ! iif, for his hand smelt of acented soap — and went
vriy down stairs. I wondered whether he conld be
'Mr; but no, I thought; he couldn't be a doctor,
i" would have a quieter and more persuasive manner.
:i' was not much time to consider the subject, for
H're soon in Miss Havisham's room where she and
i. iliing else were just as I had left them. Estella
:iio standing near the door, and I stood there until
■ Havisham cast her eyes upon me from the dress-
. Mlile.
■ :So!" she said, without being startled or surprised;
liays Jiave worn away, have they?"
Ves, ma'am. To-day is — "
There, there, there!" with the impatient movement
'I lier fingers. "I don't want to know. Are you ready
:o iJuy?"
J wjis obliged to answer In some conftiaioa, "1 ioiit
*tlO oubat bxMotatoobs.
"Not at carils again?" she demanded, with
jng look.
"Tea, ma'aiB^ I could do that, if I was wantei
"Since this houso strikes you old and grave, 1
said Miss Havishain, impatiently, "and you are
willing to play, are yoa willing to work?"
I could answer tliis inquiry with a better heart
I had been able to find for the other question, a
eaid I was quite williug.
"Then go into that opposite room," said she, p«
ing at the door behind me with her withered h
"and wait there till I come."
I crossed the staircase landing, and entered
jroom she indicated. From that room too, the day]
was completely excluded, and it had an airless «
that was oppressive. A fire had been lately kindle
the damp old-fasliioned grate, and it was more disp
to go out than to bum up, and the reluctant sn
which hung in the room seemed colder than the ch
air — like our own marsh mist. Certain wintry bran
of candles on the high chimney-piece faintly lig
the chamber: oi- it would be more expressive to
faintly troubled its darkness. It was spacious, a
dare say had once been handsome, but every diseer
thing in it was covered with dust and mould, and cf
ping to pieces. The most prominent object was a '
table with a table-cloth spread on it, as if a feast
been in preparation when the house and the clock
stopped togetlier. An epergne or centre-piece of i
kind was in the middle of this cloth; it was so hea
overhung with cobwebs that its form was quite
tia^iu'sliable, and, as I looked along tW "jeWww
" which I remember its seemmg to
OncAT exPBOTATtONS. Ill
?j.ii'|lW fungUB, I sftw si)6ck1ed-legged tipi dors with blotchy
■MiM ninning homo to it, and runninff out from it, as
Kfoiae c-ircuiQfitance of the greatest public importance
»wjnst transpired in the spider communitj'.
I Iieard the tniue too, Kittling behind the panFils,
iMiftliy same oecurrenue were important to their in-
Unt, thes black-beetlea took no notice of the
Rigitutinn, Hnd grojied about the hearth in a 2>'*'"^'-'''<*''^
f fMfifljr way. na if they were short-sighted and hard of
I wing, and not on terms with one another.
These crawling things Iiad fascinated my attention
( watehing them from n distance, when Miss
'i*liam laid a hand upon my shoulder. In her other
"I nhe had ii crutch-headed sticJt on whieL she loaned,
I. -lie looked like the Witeli of the place.
'This," said she, pointing to the long table with
I "itick, "is where I will he laid when I am dead.
' i",v iJiall come and look at me here."
With Bome vague misgiving that she might get
■■'I the table then and there and die at onee, the
ii'lik'te realisation of the ghastly waxwork at the
if. I slffank under her touch.
"What do yon think that is?" she asked me, again
"'iTig with her stick; "that, where those cobwebs
"I can't guess what it is, ma'am."
'fl's a great cake. A bride-cake. Mine!"
>lie looked all roimdthe room in a glaring manner,
tlipn said, leaning on me while her hand twitched
i-boulder, "Gome, come, come! Walk me, wa.\t
n this, that the wOrk I had to Ao,
a rouad and round tlie tooto.
113 OaXAT KXPB0TATION8.
Accordiagly, I started at once, and slie leaned i
my shoulder, and we went away at a pace that m
bare been an iraitatioa (founded ou my first ini
under that roof) of Mr. Pumhleehook's ehaise-cart.
She was not physically strong, and after a
time sbe said "Slower!" Still, we went at an impal
fitful speed, and as wo went, she twitehed the i
upon my shoulder, and worked ber mouth, and led
to believe that we were going fast because her thoH|
went fast. After a while she said, "Call Estellal'
I went out ou the landing and roared that name
had done on the previous occasion. When ber ]
appeared, I returned to MissHavisham, and we sti
away again round and round the room.
If only Estella had come to be a spectator of
I should have felt aufficiently "
but, aa she brought with her the three ladies
gentleman whom I had secu below, I didn'
what to do. In my poKteness, I would have stopj
but, MisB Havieham twitched mj shoulder, and
posted on — with a shamefaced consciousness
part that they would think it was all my doing.
"Dear Miss Havisham," said Miss Sarah Poc
"How well you look!"
"I do not," returned MissHavisham. "I am ye]
akin and bone."
Camilla brightened when Miss Pocket mot with
rebnff; and she murmured, as she plaintively cont
plated Miss Havisham, "Poor dear soul! Certa
not to be expected to look well, poor thing.
"And how are won?" said Mias Hnvisbam
US
itopped as a matter of course, only Miss Havistiaiu
Wfti't fltop. We swept on, and I felt tliat I was
-My nbnosioua to CamiUu.
Tiiftok you, IMiasIInvisham," she returned, ''J am
■ I'll ft9 can be expected."
RTiy, what's the matter with |you?" asked Miss
■ ■■■lirtm, with exeeeding sharpnesa.
NiitJiiiig worth mentioning-," replied Cnmilla. "I
I wish to make a display of my feelings, hut X
■ liiibitually UiougLt of you more in the night than
■ I i]iiito equal to."
Then don't thmk of me," retorted Mihb Ha-
Vtay easily said!" remarked Camilla, amiably
ifting a soh, while a hitch came into her upper
iiiiJ her tears overflowed. "Rnymond is a witness
■i ^'inger and sal volatile I am ohliged to take in
■ji;;ht. Raymond is a witness what nervous jork-
I have in my legs. Chokings and nervous jerk-
. Lowfivor, are nothing new to me when I think
itiiieiy of those I love. If I could be less affec- i
(it: and sensitive, I Bliouid have a better digestion
lu iron set of j'nerves. I am sure I witih it could
But as to not thinking of you in the night —
iilca!" Here, a burst of tears.
liio Raymond referred to, I understood to be the
liiuau present, and liim I understood to he Mr.
Iltri. Uq came to the rescue at this point, and said
consolatory and complimentary voice, "Camilla,
'i';ir, it is well known that your family feelings ate
i; dly undermzung- j-oii to the extent of mak.mg
/ rvar legs shorter thau the other."
.-.,„ not aware, " observed the grave lady -WVioac
v- 114 OfXkf BXPSOrA-nONS.
voice I had heard but once, "that to think of any p
Bon is to make a great claim upon that person, i
dear."
IJjBB Sarah Pocket, whom I now saw to be a U
dry brown corrngated old woman, with a sm
that might have been made of walnut-ahelis,
. large mouth like a cat's without the whiskers, suppoi
this position by saying "No, indeed, my dear. Hei
"Thinking is easy enough," said the gi'ave lady
"What is easier, you know?" assented Mis9 Sai
Pocket.
"Oh yes, yes!" cried Camilla, whose ferment!
feelings appeared to rise from her legs to her boa
"It's all very true! It's a weakness to be so affectioni
but I can't help it. No doubt my health would
much better if it was otherwise, still I wouldn't eh
viy disposition if I could. It's the cause of i
suffering', but it's a consolation to know I possess
when I wake up in the night." Here another burst
■ feeling.
Miss Haviaham and I had never stopped all
time, but kept going round and round the room: i
brushing against the skirts of the visitors, and
giving them the whole length of the dismal chamber,
"There's Matthewl" said Camilla. "Ne' ' '
with my natural ties, never coming here to see h«
Miss Havisham isl I have taken to the sofa with
Btaylace cut, and have lain there hours , iuBensible, i
my head over tlie side, and my hair all down, and
feet I don't know where — "
("Much higher than your head, my love," i
Jfc CamiJla.)
-^re gone off into that Bta,te, ^ovot
^K^onsm, „ , „ '"'erjiosed
HS' f»j,»d ,„t,T '° i- •.?/-l^T-
"*=l»l^Btru.kfl
116 8SSAT BxtBCTATlOSH. •
table witli her stick in a new place, filie now ■
"Walk me, walk nie!" and we went on again. I
"I suppose there's nothing to be done," eieli
Camilla, "bnt comply and depart. It's somethrj
have seen the object of one's love and duty, for '
so short a time. I shall think of it with a nielanj
satisfaction when I wake up in the night. Ij
Matthew could have that comfort, but he sets it i
fiance. I am determined not to make a display aj
feelings, but it's very hard to be told one wants t»l
on one's relations — as if one was a Giant — a^
be told to go. The bare ideal" '
Mr. Camilla interposing, as Mrs. Camilla laifl
hand upon her heaving bosom, that lady assumd
nnnatnral fortitude of manner which I supposed j
expressive of an intention to di'op and choke wh«
of view, and kissing her hand to Miss Havishani{
escorted fortli. Sarah Pocket and G^orgiiina contfi
who should remain last; but, Sarah was too kuoi
to be outdone, and ambled round Gcorgiana witM
artful slipperiness, that the latter was obliged to|
precedence. Sarah Pocket then made her separate^
of departing with "Bless you. Miss Havisham dji
and with a smile of forgiving pity on hor walnn^
countenance for tlie weaknesses of the rest. !
While Estella was away lighting them down, '■
Havisham still walked with her hand on my shoi
but more and more slowly. At last she stopped Ij
the fire, and said, after mnttcring and looking'
some seconds;
"This is my birthday, Pip,"
/ was ffoing to wish her many Wg^ tt;\.\mia»,:
'"^ed ber atick.
^^Kon't Bnffer it to be spoken of. I don't suffer
^^Blo WBTO here jaat now, or any one, to speitk of
^^Bey come bere on the day, hut they Aiae not
^Kit."
Hwoonrae I made no further effort to refer ttj It.
"On this day of the year, long before you were
I this heap of decay," stabbing with her cmtched
;ii the pile of uobwehs on the table hut not touch-
1^ "waa brought here. It and I have worn away
iiiT. The mice have gnawed at it, and ttharper
I 'hall teeth of mice have gnawed at me."
ilie held theheadof her Btick against her heart as she
AKxl looking at the table; she in her once white dress,
U yellow and withered; the once white cloth all yellow
ml withered; everything around, in a state to crumble
I I a touch.
l\'beu the ruin is complete," said she, with a
:!yIook, "and when they lay me dead in my bride's
)i un the bride's table — which shall be done, and
(liich will be the finished curse upon him — so much
lie better if it is on this dayl"
She stood looking at tlie table as if she stood look-
Sg at her own figure lying there. I remained quiet.
kella returned, and she too remained quiet It
Eemed to me that we continued thus for a long time.
D tliB heavy air of the room, and the heavy darkness
to brooded in its remoter comers, I even had an
larmJDg fancy that Estella and I would presently
igiu to decay.
\t length, not coming out of her diatraugUt BtsAe
' instant, JHiss Ilaviaham mA.,
0 phy carda; why liave you noXi
'^■retiirand to her room, sail so-t
I
His BXBXT BXPBCTATI0H8.
down as before; I was beggared, as before; and again,
as before, Miaa Havisham watched us all the time, dj
reeled my atteution to Estella's beauty, and made i
notice it tlie more by trying her jewels on Eatella'
breast and hair.
Estolla, for her part, likewise treated me as before;
except that she did not condescend to speak. Wheni
we had played some Lalf-dozeu games, a day was ap
pointed for my return, and I was taken down into ti
yard to be fed in the former dog-like manner. Ther
too, I wa,9 again left to wander about as I liked.
It ie not much to the purpose whether a gate i
that garden wall which I had scrambled up to peq
over on the last occasion waa, on that last occasion*
open or shut. Enough that I saw no gate then,
that I saw one now. As it stood open, and as I knew
that Estella had let the visitors out — for, she had r»-
tnmed with the keys in her hand — I strolled into
the garden and strolled all over it. It was quite i
wildexness, and there were old melon-frames and ci
ber-frames in it, which seemed in their decline to ha?
produced a spontaneous' growth of weak attempts i
pieces of old hats and boots, with now and tJien
weedy offshoot into tho likeness of a battered saucepai
When I had exhausted the garden, and a ^
house with nothing in it but a fallen-down grape-vii
' ftnd some bottles, I found myself in the dismal co
•.upon which I had looked out of window. Never q^
tioning for a moment that the house was now empt;
I looked in at another window, and found myself,
my great surprise, exchanging a broad stare with i
/^/e young gentlemnu with red eyeVila ivai W^A baic
This pala yoaiig gentleman qiuckVy fiis'ft.\|\ftQW
(HIMAT 8XPB0TAT1ON3. 119
,uil reappeared Ijeside me. He had be«n at his books
vhen I had found myself staring at him, and I now
Ktw that he was iaky.
"Halloa!" said he, "young fellow!"
Halloa being a general observation whicli I have.
Bsiially observed to bo best answered by itBolf, / said
"Halloa!" politely omitting young fellow,
"Who let you in?" said he.
"Miss Kstella."
"Who gave you leave to prowl about?"
"]Uiss Eatella."
"Come and fight," said the pale yoimg gentleman.
What could 1 do but follow him? I have often
asked myself the question since; but, what eke could
I do? His manner was eo final, aild I was so aston-
i^liH.d, that I followed where he led, as if I had been
ii;jder a. spell.
"Stop a minute, though," he said, wheeling round
'iifure we had gone many patea. "I ought to give
"II a reason for fighting, too. There it is!" In a most
iiir.ating manner he instantly slapped his hands against
■ r<i? another, daintily flung one of hia legs up behind
Ijiui, pulled my hair, slapped his hands again, dipped
Ills head, and butted it into my stomach.
The bull-like proceeding last mentioned, besides
that it was unq^uestionably to be regarded in the light
of A liberty, was particularly disagreeable just after
biead and meat. I therefore hit out at him and was
going to hit out again, when he said, "Aha! Would
you?" and began dancing backwards and forwards in
ii manner quite ^mpariUleled within my \mateA ex.-
<g!" said he. Heie, ta sW^-sjei.'
r
l90 OHKAT BXPBCTATI0R8.
' from Ilia left leg on to hia right. "Eeg:ular rulea
' Here, he skipped from his right leg on to his li
"Come to the groimd., and go through the prelimii
rieal" Here, he dodged backwards and forwards, a
^^ did all sorts of things while I looked helplessly at hi
^^L . I was secretly afraid of him when I saw him
^^1 fleiterous; but, I felt morally and phyaicaUy convinc
^^B that his light head of hair could have had no busini
^^kii the pit of my etomach, and that I had a right
^^Veonaider it irrelevant when so obtruded on my atte
^^EtiotL Therefore, I followed him without a word, to-
^^t xetired nook of the garden formed by the junction
two walls and screened by some rubbish. On his at
ing me if I was satisfied with the ground, and on i
replying Tes, he begged my leave to absent bimsi
(for a moment, and quickly returned with a bottle
■water and a sponge dipped in vinegar. "Availab
for both," he said, placing these against the wall,
then fell to pulling off, not only bis jacket and
float, but bis shirt too, in a manner at once light-hearti
,1)iiainesBdike, and bloodthirsty.
Although he did not look very healthy — Lavi
pimples on his face, and a breaking out at his moi
— these drtadful prepai-ations quite appalled me.
judged him to be about my own age, but he was mi
taller, and he had a way of spinning himself abi
I that was full of appearance. For the rest, he was
L young gentleman in a gi"ey suit (when not denuded
i battle), with his elbows, knees, wrists, and heels, c
I siderably in advance of the rest of him as to devel
nt
Jfy beart failed me when I saw twii si^aaivQ^
~^'' every demonstration of metlianicaX
131
■ iij^ my anatomy as if he were iniuutely tLooaing
ju.-* tjHue. I never have been so surpriBud in my litVi,
ti 1 was when I let out the first Ihiw, and saw him
lying on Iiis back looking np at me witli a bloody nose
Md his face eieeedingly fore-shortened.
But, he was on hia feet directly, and after sponging
liiipgelf with a great show of dexterity began squaring
sgain. The second greatest sm-prise I have ever had
in my life was seeing him on his hack again, looking
up at me out of a black eye.
Ilis sjiirit inspired mo with great respect. He Beamed
lo have no strength, and ho never <mce hit me hard,
*nd lie was always knocked down; hut, he would be
iji again in a moment, sponging lu'mself or drinking
uHl of the water-bottle, with the greatest satisfaction in
Kcunding himself according to form, and then came at
lire with an air and a show that made me believe be
rtdly was going to do for me at last. He got heavily
bnuseJ, for I am sorry to record that the more I hit
lum, the hardur I hit him; but, he came up again and
igain and again, until at last he got a bad fall with
ftt back of hia head against the wall. Even after that
tnsis in our affairs, he got np and turned round and
Biuad confusedly a few times, not knowing where I was;
Init finally went on his knees to hia sponge and threw
'< U)i: at the same time panting out, "That means you
!!•■ seemed so brave and innocent, that although I
■ not proposed the contest I felt but a gloomy satis-
■11 in my victory. Indeed, I go so far as to W^a
■ ! I regarded myself while dressing as a sptcittft o?
-uri/iiaff wolf, or other wild beast. Howwtx, 1
^^kjjr wiping my sanguinary fate al mXa^
^■93 obhat xzpBOTATicniB.
FTals, and I said, "Can I help yon?" and he said, "
thankee," and I said "Good afternoon," and he s
"Same to you."
When I got Into the com-t-yard, I found EstelK
waiting with the keys. But, she neither aaki
where I had been, nor why I had kept her waiting
and there was a bright flush upon her lace, aa thoog
Bomething had happened to delight her. Instead i
I going straight to the gate, too, nhe stepped back i
Uie passage, and beckoned me.
"Come here! You may kiaa me, if you like."
I kissed her cheek as she turned it to me. I thin]
\ I would have gone through a great deal to kiss I
But, I felt that the kiss was given to 1
1 eoarsB common boy as a piece of money might hav
Itbeen, and that it was worth nothing.
What with the birthday visitors, and what with '^
beards, and what with the fight, my stay had lasted i
Kdong, that when I neared home the light on the (
■j«f sand ofT the point on the marshes was gleamii
I iagainst a black night-sky, and Joe's furnace was fin
ling a path of fire across the road.
CHAPTER Xn.
My mind grew very uneasy on the subject of
I pale young gentleman. The more I thought of
fight, and recalled the paie young gentleman on
back in various stages of puffy and incrimaoned ct
tenance, the more certain it appeared that sometL
would be done to me. I felt tbat thft pB.\ft ■javva^ ^
ileman'a blood was on my bead, ani. fti*,'^ " "
tmxkt nxpBOTAmoira, ISS
VDold avenge it. Without having any definite idea of
the penalties I had incurred, it waa clear to me that
village bojs conld not go stalking about the countrj,
mvaging the houspa of gentlefolks and pitching
■Bill the stadioos yonth of England, without laying
Ivea open to Bevere punishment. For some days,
kept close at home, and looked out at the
door with the greatest caution and trepidatio _
ire going on en errand, lest the oftLtere^of the
County Jail should pounce upon me. The pale young
geutleman's nose Lad stained my tTOusera, and I tried
lo wash out that evidence of my guilt in the dead of
iiig'ht. I hud cut my knuckles against t!ie pale young
MiUeman's teeth, and I twisted my imagination into
1 tluioaand tangles, as I devised incredible ways of
(ceounting for that damnatory circumstance when I
jioald be haled before the Judges,
WTieu the day came round for my return to the
itxae of the deed of violence, my terrors reached their
iwight. Wliether myrmidons of Justice, specially sent
ifiwa from London, would be lying in ambuah behind
ill' gate? Wbcther Miss Ilavisham, preferring to take
■r-onal vengeance for an outrage done to her hoi
i'lit rise in those grave-clothes of hers, draw a pis
.1 shoot me dead? Whether suborned boys —
j;:eroua band of mercenaries — might be engaged
t.ill upon me in the brewery, and cuff me until I
i^ no more? It was high testimony to my confidence
ilie sjiirit of the pale young gentleman, that I ne
i^ined Aim acceesary to these retaliations-, tbe^ ^-
ii-H came into mjr mind as the acts o£ inju^tvoiaa
iC^^i'. ^"'^^'^ °° ^y the state o£ \u6 Tiaa.^
ifpatby with the famUy ieat\tiea-
r
I
191 QBEAT
However, go to Miss Ilavisliam'a I must, and go.
did. And behold.' notliing came of the lato BtruggT
It was not alluded to in any way, and no pale youi
gentleman was to be discovered on tho premises,
found the same gate open, and I explored the gardei
and even looked in at the 'windows of the dotaohi
house; but, my view was suddenly stopped by ti
(^loBed shutters within, and all was lifeless. Only :
the comer where the combat had taken place, could
detect any evidence of the young gentleman's exists
There were traces of liis gore in that spot, ani
covered thom with garden-mould from the eye of n
On the broad landing between Miss Havishon]
llrwn room and that other room in which the loi
table was laid out, I saw a garden-chair — a ligl
chair on wheels, that you pushed from behind. It ha<
been placed there since my last visit, and I entered
that same day, on a regular occupation of pushing
Miss Havisham in this chair (when she was tired of
'alking with her hand upon my shoulder) round her
room, and across the landiug, and round the other
.. Over and over and over again, we would make
lese jonmeys, and sometimes they would last aa lonj
three hours at a stretch. I insensibly fall into t
[geaersA mention of these journeys as numerous, because
It was at once settled that I should return every alter-
nate day at uoon for these purposes, and because 1 a
now going to sum up a period of at least eight or t<
months.
As we began to be more used to one another, Miss
Havisham talked more to me, and asked me such
qaeationa as what had I learnt and w\iaX, "«as \ %oiii?
o be? J told her I was going to ^ aj'stea'Cicfti \
jfje
(WBA'^BXMSOTA'Pimw. 1
e, I belifFetl; and I enlar^d ujxm my knowing
liin^i^ anil wanting to know everything, in the hope ■
I she nii^ht oiTcr some help towards that desirable
I. But, she did not; on the contrary, she seemed '
frrefer my being ignorant. Neither did she e
I- me any money — or anything but my daily '
rer — nor ever stipulate that I uhodd bo paid for '
Estella was always about, and alwnya let me
ind out, but never told me I might kiss her again. |
Sometimes, she would coldly tolerate me; sometimes,
aliu wunld condescend to me; sometimes, she would I:
iinite familiar with me; sometimes, she would tell m
metgotically that she hated me. MissHaviaham would
often ask me in a whisper, or when we were alone,
ta she grow jirettier and prettier, Pip?" And
il eaid yes (for indeed she did), would se-em to
Br.it greedily in secret. Also, when wo played at
■MiB8 Havisham would look on, with a miserly relish
" 8 moods, whatever they were. Ami sometimes,
I hee moods were so many and so contradictory of '
■Wnother that I was punzled what to say or do,
Uiss Havisham would embrace her with lavialt fondness,
Lrmuring BOmetUiug in her ear that sounded like
i'rcak their hearts, my pride and hope, break their 1
irts and have no mercy!" |
Thei-e was a song Joe used to hum fragments of
' ihe forge, of which the burden was Old Clem. This
i.'i not A very ceremonious way of rendering homago
ii [latrnn saint; but, I believe 0!d Clem, atooi W
•■-a relation towards amitha. It was a song AiaA 'ma-
''i'^Ji^^'^ °^ heating upon iron, ana -«».* '
A«™,^ ^, ^^^ ijitroductiou o£ 0\i CYgo
p
c
M36 CraSAV MXSBOTATKMTB.
respeeted name. Thus, you were to liammer bo
round — Old Clem! With a, tliump and a sound -
Old ClemI Beat it out, beat it out — Old Clei
With a clink for the stout — Old Clein! Blow 1
fire, blow the fire — Old Clera! Koaring dryer, bo
I log higher — Old Clem! One day soon after i
Lsppearance of the chair, Miss Havisham sadden
Baying to me, with the irapatient movement ■
fing«ra, "There, there, therol Sing!" I was snrpria
into crooning this ditty aa I pushed her over t'
It happened so to catch her fancy, that she took it i
ifl a low brooding voice as if she were singing i:
> sleep. After that, it became customary with ua
I; have it as we moved about, and Estella would o"
join in; though the whole strain was so subdued, t
when there were three of us, that it made less noise '
the grim old house than the lightest breath of wind.
What could I become with these eurroundingi
How could my character fail to be influenced
I them? Is it to he wondered at if my thoughts wf
k dazed, as my eyes were, when I came out into 1
natural light from the misty yellow rooms?
Perhaps, I might have told Joe about the pi
young gentleman, if I had not previously been betrays
into those enormous inventions to which I have <
fessed. Under the circumstances, I felt that Joe coul
iardly fail to discern in the pale young gentleman, i
appropriate passenger to be put into the black velv)
coach; therefore, I said nothing of him. Besides: tk
shrinking from having Miss Havisham and Estella d'
cussed, which had come upon me in the begini '
grew much more potent as time went on, \ "te\
'vaplete conSilence in no one WtBiifty, Wt,\^
1ST
\Ay everythiug. Why it citmc uaturtil to me
and why Biddy bad a deep eoiicerii in
jthiag 1 told hor, I did not know tlien, thougU I
councils went on in the kitclipu at
rsught with almost insupportable aggravation
leiated spirit. That ass, Piimblecbook,
i come over of a night for the purpose of
' ay prospects with my sister; and I really
K9 (to this hour with less penitence than I
E'feel), that IF these hands conid have taken a
tout of his chaiae-cart, they would have done
J miserable man was n man of that confined
Jof mind, that he could not discuss my pro-
^oot having me before him — - as it were, to
feif on — and be would drag me np from my
lally by the collar) where I was quiet in a
md, putting me before the fire an if I were
I be cooked, would begin by snjdng, "Now,
') this boy! Here is tliis boy which you
mp by band. Hold up your head, boy, and
r grateful unto them which so did do. Now,
1&& respections to this boy!" And then he
^ple my hair the wrong way — - which from
t remembrance, as already hinted, I have in
nied the right of any fellow-creature to do
old hold me before him by the sleeve: a
(of imbecility only to be equalled by himself.
lie^ahd my sister would pair off in such
Bpeculations about Misa Havisham, ani
t she wouJd do with ma and for me, l\i.a.'t\
m— ga/te painfully — to burst into B^\te-
't.I^mblecbook, and pnmipeA. "^Ai
.iiv^y
196 OSBAT BXPBOT&TIOita.
over. In these (lialogncs, my sister spoke of me
she were morally wrenchinff one of my teeth on
every reference ; wliile Pumbiectook himself,
constituted my patron, would sit supervising nie
a depreciatory eye, like the architect of my forti
■who thought himself engaged on a very unremun
tive job.
In these diacussionB, Joe bore no part. Bat,
was often talked at, while they were in progress,
reason of Mrs. Joe's perceiving that he was not fav
able to my being taken from the forge. I was f
old enough now, to he apprenticed to Joe; and w
Joe aat with the poker on his knees thoughtfully
king out the ashes between the lower bars, my i
would 80 distinctly construe that innocent action
opposition on his part, that she would dive at
take the poker out of his hands, shake him, and p
away. There was a most irritating end to every
of these debates. All in a moment, with nothii^
lead up to it, my aiatcr would stop herself in a
and catching sight of me as it wore incidentally,
Bwoop upon me, with "Come! There's enough t
You get along to bed; you've given trouble enough
one night, I liope!" As if I ' ' "
favour to bother my life out.
We went on in this way for a long time, an
spumed likely that we should continue to go
way for a long time, when, one day Miss Havisi
Btopped short as she and I were wnlking, she leal
on my shoulder; and said with some displi
"Toa ai-e growing tall, Pipl"
lagbt it best to liiut, tliicagb. tVe
HP
^baiBtee BxraoTijnoKa. 139 1
intditative look, that tliis miglit bu uccaaioued by cir-
mimstances over which I had n<i ci)utri>I.
She said no more at the time; hut, she presently
tupped and luoked at me again-, and preiieutly again;
luiil after that, looked frowning and moody. On the
\: Jiiy "f my attendancs when our nsual exorcise
n-er, and I had landed her at lier drosuing-table,
■cayed me with a movement of her impatient
Tell me tlie name again of that hlackamith of
'.loe Gargery, ma'am."
Meaning the master yoa were to bo apprenticed
"Yes, Miaa Havishain."
"Vou had better he apprenticed at once. Would
■-;i'irj come liere with you, and bring your inden-
■-, du you tliink?"
I signified that I Lad no doubt be would take it
■ill honour to bo asked.
Then let him come."
At any partioular time, Miss Havisham?"
There, there! I know nothing about times. Let
'■■■' i-irae soon, and come alone with you."
WUi'n I got home at night, and delivered thia mes-
-■' lor .7oQ, my sister "went on the Hampage," in a.
■'■ alarming degrge than at any previous period.
nakud me and Joe whether we auppoaed she was
' tniats under our feet, and how wo dared to use
I ''"Hu, and what company wo graciously thought eta
^ fit for? WheJJ she bad exijausfed a torroiil ut sMiii
I ^mies, nhe threw it candlestick at Joe, buret iiAo a.
I'^^obbiog, got out thg dastpaa — whicV -was ^
GAGAT BXPBOTATIOIIB.
1 yeiy bad eign -^ put on her coarse apron, .
" Ttegan cleaning up to a terrible extent. Not satisfie
with a dry cleimiug, she took to a pnil and ttcrubbin
brush, and eleaned ns out of house and home,
we etood Bhivering in the back yai'd. It w
^o'clock at night before we ventured to creep in
K wid then she asked Joe why he hadn't married a Negrq
■fllave at once? Joe offered no answer, poor fe"
stood feeling his whisker and looking dejectedly
me, as if he thought it really might have been a bet)
speculation.
CHAPTER Xni.
FSB a trial to my feelings, on the next day
jne, to see Joe arraying himself in his Sunday cloth
I accompany me to Miss Havisham'a. However,
Be thought his court-suit necessary to the occasion,
s not for me to tell him that he looked far better
s working dress; the rather, because I knew he ma
maelf so dreadfully uncomfortable, entirely mi i
^ount, and that it was for me he pulled up his shi
0 very high behind, that it made the hair
m of his head stand up like a tuft of feathe
At hreakfaat-time my sister declared her intenti'
of going to town with us, jm^ being left at TJni
Pnmbleehook'a, and called for "when we had done wi
our fine ladies" — a way of putting the ease, frt
which Joe appeared inclined to augur the worst. T
forge was shut up l'i>t the day, and Joe inscribed
chalk upon tho door fas it was Wb cwaXjnu to do <m t
jiay rai-e occasions when he was liot at wotVj ■&« ■
Dable HOUT, accompanied by a eketcli of an arrow
IS^Bcd to be flying in the direction he had taken.
We walked to town, my sister leadbg the way in
I vi?ry large beaver bonnet, and carrying a baaket like
!J'- Great Seal of England in plaited straw, a pair of
: ::iena, a spare shawl, and nn umbrella, though it
11-. a fine bright day. I am not quite clear whether
'"■he articles were carried penitentially or ostentatiously;
I'lif, I rather think they were displayed as articles of
|im|ierty — much as Cleopatra or any other sovereign
Uily on the Eampage might esliibit her wealth in a
1 When we came to Fumble chook's, my sister bounced
I in and left us. As it was almost noon, Joe and I
Mi straight on to Miss Havisham's house. Estella
'Vned the gate aa usual, and, the moment she ap-
' ired, Joe took his hat off and stood weighing it by
I" hrim in both his hands: aa if he had some urgent
'^Ki.D in bis mind for being particular to half a qiisx-
ler of an ounce.
Estella took no notice of either of ns, but led ds
ibe way that I knew so well. I followed next to her,
iml Joe came last. When I looked back at Joe in
I long passage, he was still weighing his hat with
.1 wreastet care, and was coming after us in long
iiiiles on the tips of his toes.
Estella told me we were iiotli to go in, so I took
Ji* liy the coat-cuff and conducted him into Miss Ha-
lisliara's presence. She was seated at her drossing-
ii'lt', and looked round at us immediately.
"Ohl" said she to Joe. "You are the "huaViani
r of this hoy?"
W iznag-iued dear old 3oe\oil
I
OKSi.T EXMCTATIOKS.
ing so unlike himself or so liko some estTiioi'iIiiiarjJ
bird; Btanding, 39 Le did, speechlesa, witb hta tuft tfi
feathers ruffled, and his month open, as if lie wiinted
a. worm.
I "You are the husband," rojjeated Miss Havisham,
"of the sister of this boy V"
It was very aggravating; but, throughout the in.'
terview Joe persisted in addressing Me instead of Miss
Havisham.
"Which I laeantersay, Pip," Joe now observed in
m manner that was at onee expressive of forcible argu-
mentation, strict confidence, and great politeness, "as
X hup and married your sister, and I were at the time
what you might call {if you was any ways inclined) a
single man."
^t "Weill" said Miss Havisham. "And you have
^H .reared the boy, with the intention of taking hiiu for
^H your apprentice; is that so, Mr. Gtargery?"
^K "You know, Pip," replied Joe, "as you and
^H trere ever Iriends, and it were look'd for'nrd to betwi
^B BH, 83 being calc'lated to lead to larks. Not but whd
wK Pip, if yon had ever made objections to the busing
li — such as its being open to black and sut, or bu(
like — not but what they would have been attend
to, don't yon see?"
"Has the boy," said Miss Havisham, "ever ma
any objection? Does he like the trade?"
"Wbioh it is well beknown to yourself, Pip," 1
tamed Joe, strengthening Lis former mixture, of org
mentation, confidence, and politeness, "that it were t
wish of your own hart." (I saw the idea suddenl
break apon him that liB woald adtt.\i\, \i» k^\&^i&
^^&a occasion, before he went on to 8b.^"1 "i^ 'Ci
r
-iPtWen't no objeetion on yonr part, and Pip it *ere the
Lvp.'it wish of your hartl"
It was qiiita in vain for mo to endeavour t<i make
::ii «en£ililu that he ought to Npcak to Miss HaviBhato.
Ik more I made facca and gestures to him to do it,
j 'k more confidential, argumentative, and polit«, he
I jB^rsistod in being to Mo.
I ''Have you brought hiB indentures with you?"
' '•ted Miaa Havisham.
"Well, Pip, you know," replied Joe. as if that
iij a little unreiwonable, "you yourself seo me put
II in my 'at, and therefore you know as they are
.'■," With whii^h he took them out, and gave tliem,
: Id Miss Uaviehani, but to me. I am afraid I was
.;imed of tho dear good fellow — I Inow I was
'limed of him — when I saw that Estella stood at
■ '■■ Ij.ick of Miss Havisham's chair, and that her eyes
ijliad mischievously. I took the indanturea out of
^ Irand and gave them to Misa Uavisham.
"Vou espeeted," said Kiss Haviaham, as she looked
■in over, "no premium with the boy?"
■■Joe!" I remonstrated; for he made no reply at
"Why don't you answer — "
'Pip," returned Joe, cutting mc abort as if he were
II, "which 1 meantersay that were not a queation
Miiring a answer betwixt youiaelf and me, and which
I know the answer to be full well No. You know
!■' bo Ko, Pip, and wherefore ahouJd I say it?"
Alias Havisham glanced at him as if sho under-
■ "■'I what lie really wae, bettor than I had thoaglA
-lldc, Boein^ what be waa t/jere; and took uip aWttXa
_ f:iMi the t»}ih boalde her.
yaraed a premium liorG," glie saii, "wx3*
emxia bx^iotatiorh. 183
im aSBkf SZMOTAtTONS.
here it: is. There are five-iind-tweiity guineas m
bag. Give it to your master, Pip."
Ab if he were absolutely out of his mind with,
wonder awakened in him by her strange figure
atrauge room, Joe, even at this pass, persisted
This is wery liberal on your part, Pip," said
"and it is as such received and grateful welcoi
though never looked for, far nor near nor nowho
And now, old chap," said Joe, conveying to me » i
Bation, first of huming and then of freezing, for I
as if that familiar expreasion were applied to Miss
yisham; "and now, old chap, may we do om- dn
May you and me do our duty, both on us hy one
another, and hy tlicm which your liberal present
have — conweyed — to be - — for tlie satisfactioi
mind — of — theni as never — " here Joe showed ■
he felt he had fallon into frightful diffieuities, until
triumphantly rescued himself with the words, "and ft
myself far he it!" These words had such a round
convincing sound for him that be said them twice.
"Good-by, Pipl" said Miss Havisbam, "Let th
out, Estella."
"Am I to come again, Miss Havisbam?" I askei
"No. Gargery is your master now. Gargf
One word!"
Thus calling him back as I went out of the do
I heard her say to Jije, in a distinct emphatic voi
"The boy has been a good boy here, and that
reward. Of course, as an honest man, you will <
other and no more."
J2bw Joe got out of the room, 1 ^ave
htermine; hni, I know
lie was Btoadily proceeding u pat aire inftteail (if
::\i^ (lowii, and was deaf tn all remnnstrancos uutil
"nt aJlcr him aiid laid hold of liim. In another
:iu!c we were outside the gate, aud it was lotted,
: Estella was gone.
UTien we stood in the daylight alone again, Joe
.i.d Dp against a wall, and said to ino, "Aston-
■;:!" And there he remained eo long, saying "Aa-
^Ijing.'" at intervals, so often, tliat I began to think
-i-iises were never coming back. At length he pro-
.1 il hiu remark into "Pip, I do aseu)% yoa that this
i-ios-ishingl" and 90, by degrees, became conver-
iiiil and able to walk away.
I liave reason to think that Joe's intellects were
^iitpned by tlie encounter they had passed tlirongh,
iiiiit that on our way to Pumblechook's he invented a
mlitle and deep design. My reason is to be found in
'liat took place in Mr. Pumblechook's parlour: where,
'III "ar presenting ourselves, my sister sat in conference
'>i that detested seedsman.
Welli"' cried my sister, addressing us both at
.I'. "And what's happened to you? I wonder yon
'"iniesceud to come back to snch poor society as this,
I sm sure I do!"
"Miss Havisham," said Joe, with a fixed look at
u<f. like an effort of remembrance, "made it wery par-
■ '^liT that we should give her — were it compli-
lis or respects, Pip?"
'fionipliments," 1 said.
"Which that were my own belief," answered Jt«.
lier comjihrncDts to Mrs. J. Gargery — ^"
-.Vaii/i good they'll do me!" observed my Bi6\fi.iv
■"'•'' gratiSed too. '
ISS QBZA.T SXPEOTATIONS.
"And wishing," pursued Joo, with another fixec
look at me, liko another effort of retnfimbrance , "thi
the state of Miss Havisham's elth were sitch aa won]
have — allowed, were it, Pip?"
"Of her having the pleaaure," I added.
"Of ladies' company," eaid Joo. And drew a lot
breath.
"Well!" cried my sister, with a mollified glance ;
Mr. Pnmblechook. "She might have had the politona
to send that message at first, but it'a better late th«
never. And what did she givo young Kantipole bere.
"She giv' him," said Joe, "nothing."
Mrs. Joe was going to break out, but Joo wont o
"What she giv'," said Joe, "she giv' to his friend
'And by his friends,' were her explanation, 'I met
into the hands of his sister Mrs, J. Gargery.' The
were her words; 'Mrs. J. Gargery.' She mayn't ha'
know'd, added Joe, with an appearance of rofloctift
"whether it were Joo, or Jorge."
My sister looked at Piimhlechook: who smootlu
elbows of his wooden arm-chair, and nodded at h
id at the fire, as if he had known all about it b
forehand.
"And how much have you got?" asked my sistc
laughing. Positively, laughing!
"What would present company Hity to ton pound?'
demanded Joe.
"They'd say," returned my sister, curtly, "prefiy
well, Not too much, but pretty well."
"It's more than that, then," said Joe.
That fearful Impostor, Pnmblechook, immediately
nodded, and said, ns he rubbed ^e a.rct« o? Vvt di3J.c.
'It's wore than that, mum."
i
■ ' cmsAT wemtrrATtmm. 137
"Wliy you don't mean to say — '' IjDgan luy sji^toi-.
"Yes 1 do, miim," said Pumliletliook; "but wait a
ii Go on, Joseph. Good in yon! Go on!"
"Wliat would present company say," proceeded Joe,
I'm iweaty pound?"
"Handsome would be the word," returned my
"Well, then," said Joe, "it's more than twenty
' ".iind."
That abjectHypocrite, Pumblechook, noddodagain,
■ ■-A said, with a patronising laugh, "It's more than
I in, mnin. Good again! Follow her up, JoaepliI"
"Then to make an end of it," said Joe, delightedly
banding the bag to my Biat«r; "it's five-aud-twen^
[»nmd."
"It's five-and-twenty pound, mum," echoed that
Lv.Ht of ewiudlora, Pumbleehook, rising to shake hands
■ ill her; "ajid it's no more than your meritB {as Im
iiiitu my opinion waa asked), and I wish you joy of
ilie money! "
If the Villain bad stopped here, his case would
'lavB been sufficiently awful, but he blackened his
-Mi by proceeding to take me into custody, with (
.-lit trt" patronage that left all his former criminality
I. ijshind,
"Now yon see, Joseph and wife," said Pnmblechook,
lie took me by the arm above the elbow, "I am
■'■ i( them that always g(j right through with what
iicyVe begun. This boy must bo bound, out of baud.
lt^8 mjf way. Bound out of hand."
" ■■ s knows, Uncle Pumblecliook," saiiisv^
^ff.,tLe money), "we're deejiy \ieiwj^
'Never mind me, mum," retimiQtl that diabolica
■chandler. "A pleasure's a pleasure, all the worl
But tiiis boy, you know; wo must 1
;^und. I said I'd see to it — to tell you the truth."
The Justicea were sitting in the Town Hall i
at hand, and we at once wont over to have me bo
apprentice to Joe in the Magisterial preaence. I sa]
we went over, but I was pushed over by Pumblechooli
exactly as if I had that moment picked a pocket a
fired a rick; indeed, it waa the general impression i
Court that I had been taken red-handed, tor, i ~
blechook shoved me before him through the crowd, ;
heard some people say, "What's he done?" and othei
'He's a young 'un too, but looks bad, don't he?" On
person of mild and benevolent aspect oven gave b
tract ornamented with a woodcut of a malevolent yc
man fitted up with a perfect sausage-shop of fetten
and entitled To be head in my Cell.
TheHallwas a ijueer place, 1 thought, withhigho
pews in it than a church — and with people hanginj
over the pews looking on — and with mighty Justice
""^ with a powdered Lead) leaning back in chairs
with folded arms, or taking snuff, or going to sle
or writing, or reading the newspapers — and w
some shining black portraits on the walla, which i
unartistic eye regarded an a composition of hardbak
and Bticking-plaister. Here, in a comer, my indenture
were duly signed and attested, and I was "bound;
Mr.' Pumblechook holding mo all the while !
had looked in on our way to the scaffold, to have thoB
little prelimiuarieB disposed of.
Tf^en we had come out again, and bai gut vid <
/*e doys who b&d been put into gteat ii^'iry\^|^
b
I
^pen
^K^e
P'pa.
"ftatioti of seeing me publicly tortured, anil who
:■ mueh disappointed to tind that my friends were
. Iv rallyiag round me, we went back to Pnm-
liciuk's. And there my ulster became so excited by
'weu(y-five guineas, that nothing would serve her
H-e must have a tliouer out of that windfall, at the
ii Boar, and that Pumhieehook must go over in his
i.iLse-cart, and bring the Hubbies and Mr. Wopsle.
%'Il yraB agreed to be done; and a most melancholy
For, it inscrutably appeared to stand
, ip the minds of the whole company, that I
a excfeaceqpe on the entertainment. And to make
they all asked me from time to time — in
■I', whenever they had nothing else to do — why I
'lilt enjoy myself. And what could I possibly do
"II. but say I wits enjoying myself — when I
However, they were grown up and had their own
iv, and they made the most of it. That swindling
■Mubleehook, exalted into the beneficent cnatriver of
whole occasion, actually took the top of the table;
J , when he addressed them on the sabject of my "
iiii; bound, and fiendishly congratulated them on my
iijg liable to imprisonment, if I played at cards,
ink. strong liijuors, kept late hours or had company,
iiiihilged in other vagaries which the form of niy
I rilores appeared to contemplate as next to in-
i-iljlo, he placed me standing on a chair beside him,
IIiiiitTate his remarks.
\Iy only other remembrances of the great fettrsaX
. Tliat tbe/f wouldn't let me go to sleep, \iut -w^ien-
^^dmppisg off, woke me up ao,&. toVii;
^oat, rather late in the ©-vftmi
r
I
*140 6RHAT BJCWlCTA-nOSS.
Mr.Wopsle gave us Collins's ode, and threw Iiia bit
Btain'd sword in thunder down, with such effect,
a waitor cama in. and said, "The CommercialB
neath sent up their complimotita, and it wasi
Tumbler's Ama." That, they were all in ex
Bpirits, on the road home, and sang 0 Lady Fi
Mr. Wopsle taking the bass, and asserting with;]
tremendously strong voice (in reply to the inquisil'
bore who leads that piece of music in a most
nent manner, hy wanting to know all about ever
body's private affaire) that Jie was the man with 1
white locks flowing, and that he was upon the wli
the weakest pilgrim going.
Pinally, I remember that when I got into my 111
bedroom I was tnily wretched, and had a strong a
Tiction on me that I should never like Joe'a trade,
bad liked it once, but once was not now.
CHAPTER XIV.
It is a moat misorahlo thing to feel ashamed
rliome. There may bo black ingratitude in the thi
1 and the punishment may be retributive and well ■
] ecrved; but that it is a miserable thing, I can testif;y
Home bad never been a very pleasant place to ndj
I because of my sister's temper. But, Joe had sanctififl
it, and X had believed in it. I had believed in tS
best parlour as a most elegant saloon; I had believj
in the front door, as a mysterious portal of the Temjw
of State whose solemn opening was attended with i
sacriiice of roast fowls; I had believed in the kitcliei
^ a ciia^ta ikoagh not magnifiwiiv*, apR'ttmeat!, I lia(
''" ' * " miorge as tlio glowvng Toai to TOatJoM
Bpcndence. Witliin a siugic your, all tUis
: wan all cc»rse and comiRtin, n
' ant liavo had Miss Havialiara and KsWlla s
J atconnt.
(nuclx of my tuigracious condition of mind
I lay own faalt, hitw much Miss IlaviHliain'n,
tmy Bister's, ia now of no monient tit me or
e. The change was made in mo; the thing
Well or iU done, oxcnsably or inexcusably,
>,.
it had Beamed to me that when I should at
up my ahirt-fileeves and go into the forgo,
'prentice, I should be distin^ished and happy.
he reality was in my hold, I only felt that I
lity with the dust of tnnallcoal, and that I had"
ipon my daily remembrance to which the anvil
There have been occasions in my later
ipose as in moat liven) when I have felt for a
a thick curtain had fallen on all ita interest
oe, to shut mo out from anj-thing save dull
any more. Never has that curtain dropped
and blank, as when niy way in life lay
iloHt str!Mght bpforo me through the newly-
of apprentieeship to Joe.
iber that at a later period of my "time" I
id about the chuiehyiird on Sunday eyeuiugs
was falling, comparing my own perspective
idy marsh view, and making out aome like-
them by thinking how flat and low both
bow on both there came an unknown way
DUflt and then the sea. I was quite aa 4o-
Srat working-day of my apprent\cea\^^ aa '
•^- hat I am glad to know that 1 1
OSilAV sxrucTAVfoira.
Mthed a murmur to Joe while my indeiitm'ea Inste*
s abont the only thing I am glad to know of myaeS
1 that connexion.
For, though it includes what I proceed to add, al^
RiLhe merit of what I proceed to itdd was Joe's, It ws^l
Baot because I was faithful, but l)ecauso Joe was fait]
I'fiil, that I never ran away and went for a soldier o
Bailor. It was not because I had a strong sonae of
virtue of industry, but because Joe had a strong se
of the virtue of industry, that I worlced with tolerabi
zeal against the grain. It is nut possible to know htt
^^ far the influence of any amiable honest-hearted dub
^L doing man flies out into the world; but it is very pd
^K table to know how it has touched one's self in goid
^P by, and I know right well that any good that int«
mixed itself with my apprenticeship carae of plain coi
tented Joe, and not of restlessly aspiring discoi
tented me.
PWhat I wanted, who can say? How can / sa|
Then I never knew? AVTiat I dreaded was, that i
liome unlucky hour I, being at my grimiest and con
monest, should lift up my eyes and seeEstella lookii^
m at one of the wooden windows of tlie forge. I i
haunted by the fear that she would, sooner or Iat«
find me out, with a black face and hands, doing th
► Coareost part of my work, and would exult over in
•nd despise rae. Often after dark, when I was pullin
Uie bellows for Joe and we were singing Old Clei
^id when the thought how we used to sing it at Mij
Havisliam's would seem to show me Estella's face h
the fire with her pretty hair fluttering in the wind ant
£er eycn scorning me, — often M Bvuiti n. tana \ NtauU
^ok towarda those panels of black tiigta. "m ^Va -^
Jsok
148
e wooden windows then wero, and would fancy
her juat drawing Ler face awny, and would
t she had come at last.
r that, when wo went in to supper, the place
mtius meal would have n more homely Iciok than
f and I would feel more aabamed of home than ever
f own ungracious breast.
CHAPTER XV.
) I was gettinp too big fur Mr. Wopsla'a great-
i Toom, my education under that preposterouH
'"ntdc terminated. Not, however, until Biddy had ira-
irli^rf to me overythii^ she knew, from the little cata-
■■.'lie of prices, to a comic song she had once bought
'■1 .1 halfpenny. Althoitgli the only coherent part of
II.' latter piece of literature were the opening Unea,
- still, in my desire to be wiser, I got this compoai-
11 by heart with the utmost gravity; nor do I recollect
It I qiicstioned its merit, except that I thought (as"
■JI doj the amount of Too rul somewhat iu excess o
iJie poetry. In my hunger for information, I made pro
fiogals to Mr. "Wopale to bestow seme intellectual crumbs
ujjou miii with which he kindly complied. As it turned
"li. however, that he only wanted me for a dramatic
figure, to be contradicted and emljraced. au4 ■^ft-^'s.
' ^^^"^f^ ""^ c7n(flied and stabbed aniVnot^eA
"^fl^s, I soon decliiKid that cft\iM
■H4 QltBAT BXPEOTAnOim.
•if iilBtruction; tlioughnot iiutil Mr. Wopslc i
rfory lia<i BBvorely mauled me.
r Wliatever I acquired, I tried to impart to J(
LTMh statement Bounds so well, that I c
/conscience let it pass nnesplained. I wanted to ma
f (Toe less ignorant and common, that he might
rtTorthier of ray society and less open to Estella's ;
The old Battety out on the marshes was our pla
of study, aad a broken slate and a short piece of slat
pencil were our educational implements: to which Jo
always added a pipe of tobacco. I never knew Joe t
k.ramember anything from one Sunday to another,
feicquire, under my tuition, any piece of informatii
P%hatovcr. Tet he would smoke his pipe at the T
tery with a far more sagacious air than anywhere eli
— even with a learned air — as if he considered him
aelf to be advancing immensely. Dear fellow, I hop
pleasant and quiet out there with the
c passing beyond the earthwork, and som<
imes, when the tide was low, looking as if they b«
longed to sunken ships that were still sailing on
bottom of the water. Whenever I watched the
Standing out to sea with their white sails spread,
somehow thought of Miss Havisham and Estella;
-whenever the light struck aslauL afur off, upon a cloi
or sail or green hill-«ide or water-line, it was just 1
same. Miss HaviRham and Estella and the strange hoi
and the strange life appeared to have something to
with everything that was picturesque.
One Sunday wbeu Joe, gitally eTiiQ^ui!£ hia oi
Md so phuaed Jiimself on tteing "
w
(OaAT SZPBOTATIOm>
! had given him up for the day, I lay nn the
.■.i,..!; I'.ir some time with my thin on my hand
■lii^^es of Mis-s Haviaham and KsteUa all over
■ I , in tbti sky and in the water, until at last
< I III mention a thought concerning them that
' liet'ii much in my head.
"Joe," Bidd I; "don't you think I oug'ht to make
i:- Haviaham a visit?"
, 'Well, Pip," returned Joe, slowly considering.
■Wliat for?"
"What for, Joe? What is any visit made for?"
I "Thore ia some wisits pVaps," said Joe, "as for
ler lemnine open to the question, Pip. But in regard
■! « i«ting Slias Havisham. Sliemiglit tliinkyou wanted
■jiflhiag — expected sometliing of her,"
"Don't yon think I might say that I did not, Joe?"
"\'oQ might, old chap," said Joe. "And she might
:'ilj't it. Similarly elie mightn't."
•Toe felt, as I did, that he had made a point there,
.<i he pulled faai-d at hia pipe to keep himself from
■ikpning it by repetition,
"Ton see, Pip," Joe pursued, as soon as he was
-( that danger, "Miss Havisham done the handsome
iitf by you. When Miss Havisham done the hand-
in' ihing liy you, she called rae back to say to me
'- ilial were all."
I "Yes, Joe. I heard her."
I "AjM,," Joe repeated, very emphatically.
I "Yw, Joe. I tell you, I heard her."
"Which I meantersay, Pip, it might be that her
I meaning were ■ — Mako a end on it! — A.a yo\3i -was\
I - ». ft> rJie North and j'ou to the Soathl — "K-afc-j \a.
ORBAT HXPBOTAWBIW.
I had thought of that too, and it was yoryfar fro
comforting to mo to find that he had thought of it;
it Bcemed to render it moro prohable.
"But, Joe."
"Tes, old chap."
"Here am I, gettiDgon in the first yoar of mytia
tnd since the day of my being bound I have nev
thanked Miss Havisham, or asked after her, or ehoi
lat I remember her."
"That's truB, Pip; and unless you was to turn 1
t a set of shoes all four round — and which I meant(
Hiy a.a even a set of shoes all four round might i
iptahle as a present, in a total wacancy
"I don't mean that sort of remembrance, Joe;
Eclon't mean a present."
But Joe had got the idea of a present in his hei
■ and must harp upon it. "Or even," said L
^Was helped to knocking her up a new chain for tl
' ront door — or say a gross or two of shark-headi
crews for general use — or some light fancy articl
tuch as a toasting-fork when she took her
' - or a gridiron when she took a sprat or si
1 — "
"I don't mean any present at all, Joe," I
"Well," said Joe, still harping on it as though
had particularly pressed it, "if I was yourself, Pip,
wouldn't. No, I would not. For what's a door-chs
when she's got one always up? And shark-headers
open to misrepresentations. And if it wa
i&ri, yon'd go into brasa anil do -joAKsalf nn cre^
^nd the ODCOinmonest workman camX »\io-»( Vvi»w^
'Maim in a gridiron — for a gridiron is a gridiron,"
i JuL>, Btcadi'astl^ impreBsing it upon me, as if he
:i' endeavouring; to rouse me from a fixed delusion,
111 yOQ may haim at wliat you like, but a gridiron
■ liU come out, either by your leave or again your
!'o, and you can't help yourself — "
"My dear Joe," I cried, in desperation, taking hold
' iiis coat, "don't go on in that way. I never thonght
■ ijiaidng Miss Havisham any present"
"No, Pip," Joe assented, as if he had been contend-
-■ tW that, all along; "and what I say to you, is,
■ N m riglit, Pip."
"Vea, Jne; but what I wanted to aay, was, that
m are rather slack just now, if you could give me
lj"lf holiday to-morrow, I think I would go up-towii
:i! make a call on MIbb Eat — Uavixham."
"Which her name," said Joe gravely, "ain't Es-
'■i4[am, Pip, unless she have been rechris'ened."
''I know, Joe, I know. It was a slip of mine.
'' kit do you think of it, Joe?"
In brief, Joe thought that if I thought well of it,
;liought well of it. But, he wafl particular in sti-
l"ilating that if I were not received with cordiality, or
if I were not encouraged to repeat my visit aa a visit
wluch had no ulterior object but was simply one of
gratitude for a favour received, then this experimental
Irip should have no snccessor. By these conditions I
inmised to abide.
Now,. Joe kept a journeyman nt weekly wages
'vliihxe name was Orlick. lie pretended that his chris-
(1 name was Ddlge — a clear impossibility — ^ilJA.
.F.M J) fc/Zotr of that obstinate dispoBition ftvatWw
j^^io to Mare been the pmy of no delvislou
QHEAT BXPHCTATTOHS.
particular, but wilfully to have imposed tbat name npo
the village as an afFront to its nnderstAsding'. He wt
a broad-shouldered looae-Iimbed swartlij' fellow of g
Btren^h, never in a hurry, and always slouching.
never oven seemed to come to his work on purpoe
^—^Jbot would slouch in as if by mere accident; and whi
^■J{|8 went to the Jolly Bargemen to eat his dinner, i
^T'vent away at night, he would slouch out, like Cain t
the Wandering Jew, as if he had no idea where h
waa going and no intention of ever coming back. H
lodged at a sluice-keeper's out on the marshes, and o
working days would come slouching from his hermitag
^^vith his bands in his pockets and his dinner loose'
^K&d in a bundle round his nock and dangling on 1
^■i^ack. On Sundays he mostly lay all day on sluic
^^^ates, or stood against ricks and bams. He alway
^Bilouched, locomotively, with hia eyes on tlie ground
^B^d, when accosted or othcrvcise required to raise them
. he looked up in a half resentful, half puzzled way,
though the only thought he ever had, was, that it w
rather an odd and injurious fact tliat he should nev
be thinking.
This morose jonmeyman had no liking for m
"hen I was very small and timid, he gave me to ui
rBtand that the Devil lived in a black comer of th
forge, and that he knew the fiend very well: al
it was necessary to make np the fire once in
seven years, with a live boy, and that I might c
myself fuel. When I became Joe's 'prentice, ]
perhaps confirmed in some suspicion that I should dis
place him; howbeit, he liked mo still loss. Not tha
ie ever said anything, or did anytbmg, o^nl-j im^iatbi
^g: liostility- I ou]y noticed tiiat \ie aWw^a \)fca.\, "S
^^.^
nJil«iia iu my direction, and that wbenever 1 sang Old
I '^!'-m, he came in ont of time.
Drilge Orlick waa at work and present, npxt day,
' I. -ti 1 remmfled Joe of my half-holiday. He said
"iliing at the moment, for he and Joe had jnst got a
I I'ifce of hot iron between them and I was at the bel-
I !"»s: but by-and-by he said, leaning on liia hammer;
I "Sow, nia5t<:r! Sure you're not a going to favour
■Illy one of us. If Young Pip has a half-holiday, do
uach for Old Orlirk." I suppose he was about five-
'1 twenty, but he usually spoke of himself a
■ ui persoii.
"Why what'll yon do with a half-holiday, if you
J' ! it?" said Joe,
"What'll / do with it! What'll fie do with it? I'll
■ a§ much with it as him" said Orlick.
"As lo Pip, he's going np-town," said Joe.
"Well then as to Old Orlick, he's going np-to»
t''iijned that worthy. "Two can go up-town. T
imly one wot can go up-town."'
"Don't lose your temper," said Joe.
"Shall if I like," growled Orlick. "Some and their
i|i-i.jwningt Now, master! Come. No favouring ii
■ \' rthop. Be a man!"
The master refusing to entertain the subject until
journeyman was iu a better temper, Orlick plunged
tbe furnace, drew oat a red-hot bar, made at me
}i it as it' be were going to run it through laf body,
ilfked it round my head, laid it on the anvil, ham-
iiii.Ted it out — as if it were I, I thought, and the
i^bs were loy apjrt'mg Iilood — and fenaW-j %M.i^
^r^g J"i bad bmumered iimself hot and t\i« imii. t*^^
2 his liammei
^KU/r MMMrrA-nom. 14S
I
i80 GREAT EXPECT A TIOHS.
"Norf, inaetGr!"
"Are you all right now?" demanded Joe.
"Ahl I am aU right," said gruff Old OrUck,
"Then, as in general you stick to your work i
well as most men," said Joe, "let it be a half-hoUda
for alL"
. My sister had been standing silent in the yari
within hearing — she was a most unscrupulous spy an
listener — and she instantly looked in at one of tt
windows.
"Like you, you fool!" said she to Joe, "givin
holidays to great idle hulkers like that. You axe
rich man, upon my life, to waste wages in that i
I wish I was hia master 1"
"You'd be everybody's master, if you durst,"
torted Orlick, with an Ill-favoured grin.
("Let her alone," said Joe.)
"I'd bo a match for all noodles and all rogues,'
returned my sister, beginning to work hetaeU' into
mighty rage. "And I couldn't be a match for th^
noodles without being a match for your maater, '
the dunder-headed king of the noodles. And I couldn't
Ite a match for the rogues, without being a match for
who are the blackest-looking and the worst rogua
;ween this and France. !NowI"
You're a foul shrew, Mother Gargery," growled
the journeyman. "If that makes a judge of rogues,
you ought to be a good'un."
("Let her alone, will you?" said Joe,)
"Wliat did you say?" cried my sister, beginning';
to scream. "What did you say? What did that fel-
'oir Orlick aay to me, Pip? W\io.t OiiJ. lia call nie,i
'^th my husband Btandiiig by? 0\ OV OV "E.ajii.
QREAT EXPECT ATI OMS. l&l
tiipso exclaraatione was a sLrick; and I must remark
[' my aistcr, what Ib eijually true of all the violent
-men I hxve ever Been, that paBsion was no excase
I tier, because It is undeniable that instead of lapsing
iio passion, she conscioiiBly and deliberately took ex-
Kirdiuary pains to force herself into it, and became
iiidly furious by regular stages; "what was the name
II'- ^ave me before the base man who swore to defend
me? OI Hold mel 01"
"Ah-Ii-hl" growled the journeyman, between his
teeth, "I'd hold you, if you was my wife. I'd hold
you under the pump, and choke it out of yoiL"
("I tell you, let her alone," aaid Joe,)
"O! To hear him!" cried my sister, with a clap of
lier hands aqd a scream together — which was her
next stage. "To hear the names he's giving mel That
Urliokl In my own house! Me, a married womaal
AVlth my husband standing by! 01 0!" Here my
sistci, aftef a fit of clappings and ^croamings, beat her
iiaoils upon hor bosom and upon her knees, and threw
ber cap off and pulled her hair down — which were
the last stages on her road to frenity. Being by tiuB
time a perfect Fuiy and a complete success, she made
a dash at tbe door, which I had fortunately locked.
Wliat could the wretched Joe do now, after his
disregarded parenthetical inteixuptions, but stand up to
lis jonrncyman, and ask him what ho meant by inter-
fering betwixt himself and Mrs. Joe; and further whether
be was man enough to come ou? Old Orlick felt that
the situation admitted of nothing less than coming on,
find was on his defence straightway; so, without so
^ucb_ as puUing off their singed and Viumt a^Tfttis,
Mpne another Ilka two giants. "But,Vf ms;
QHEAT EXPECTATI0K3.
in that neighbourfaood could stand up long agBin
■Joe, I never saw the man. Orlick, as if he had bei
of no more account than the pale young gentlema
very Boon among the coal-dust imd in no huny ■
; out of it. Then, Joe unlocked the door ai
picked np my sister, who had dropped insenBible at ti
irindow (but who had seen the fight first, I think), ai
irho waa carried into the house and laid down, and wl
recommended to revive, and would do nothing bi
straggle and clench her Lands in Joe's hair. The
came that singular calm and silence which eueeeed s
uproars; and then, with the vague sensation which
,Jiave always connected with such a lull — namely, th
Sunday, and somebody was dead — I \
6tair8 to dress myself.
When I came down again, I found Joe and Orlib
sweeping up, without any other traces of discompoe
than a slit in one of Orlick'a nostrils, which was neith(
expreasive nor ornamental. A pot of beer had appears
fiom the Jolly Bargemen, and they were sharing it b
faros in a peaceable manner. The lull had a sedatif
and philosophic influence on Joe, who followed me on
into the road to say, as a pai-tiag observation tha
might do me good, "On the Eampage, Pip, and off th
Rampage, Pip — such ia Life!"
With what absurd emotions (for we think the feel
ings that are very serious in a man quite comical in f
boy), I found myself again going to Miss Haviaham's,
matters little liere, Nor how I passed and repassed the
gate many times before I could make up my mind to.
ring. Nor, how I debated whether I should go away
without ringing; nor, how I should undoubtedly have
'lad been my own, to GQaift>« "
^ m
^^fftiae Sarah Pocket ciune to tLe ^ate. No Esiollu.
^^™*How, then? you here again?" said Miss Pocket.
[What do you want?"
I "HTiGu I said that I only camo to see how MisB
navi$haiu was, S«rah evidently deliheratej whether or
nn she should send me about my business. But, un-
' irUliti^ to hazard the responsibility, she let me in, nod
I |in!sent)y brought the sharp message that I was
I "eome op,"
Everything was unchanged, and Miss Havisham
I irsa alone. "Well?" said she, fixing her eyes upon
I we. "I hope ymi want nothing? You'll get nothing."
I "Ko indeed, Miss Havisham. I only wanted you
I ta know that I am doing very well in my apprentice-
t ihip. and am always much obliged to you."
"There, there!" with the old restless fingers. "Coi
■K and then; come on your birthday. - — Ayl" she
■!U(i suddenly, turning herself and her chair towards
v., "you are looking round for Estella? Hey?"
I had been looking round — in fact, for Estella
■ I'.l ! slammered that I hoped she was well.
"Abroad," said Aliss Havisham; "educating for a
ly; far out of reach; prettier than ever; admired by
I who see her. Do you feel that you have loHt he
There was such a malignant enjoyment in her ut-
I'liice of the last words, and she broke into such i
.-i^eahle laugh, that I was at a, loss what to say.
■ii' spared me the trouble of considering, by dismisa-
iiLT me. When the gate was closed upon me by Sarah
"f the walnutsheU countenance, I felt more than ever
(Bwatisfied with my home ami with my trade aai NTiSiv
ything;- and that iras nil I look by that m(A\OTi.
i J" WHa loitering along tiie High-street, \oQViffli
r
i6t CHtnAT UXPBCTATIOKe.
diBconBolatfily at the shop-wiadowtt, and tltinkl
what I shoulil huy if I were a gentleman, who sho
come out of the bookshop hut Mr. Wopslc. Mr. Woj
hail in. his hand the affecting tragedy of George B«
well, in which he had that moment invested sixpoi
with the view of heaping every word of it on the h
of Pamblechook, with whom he was going to drink t
No Booner did he see me, than he appeared to c
that a special Providence had put a 'prentice
way to bo reail at; and he laid hold of me, i
my accompanying him to the PumblechooW
pailouT. As I knew it would be miserable at hoi
find as the nights were dark and the way was drea
and almost any companionship on the road was bet
than none, I made no great reBistanee; consequent
■ffe turned into Pumhlechook's just as the street and 1
ops were lighting up.
As I never assisted at any other representation ■
■George Barnwell, I don't know how long it may n
take; but I know very well that it took until half-p.
3iine o'clock that night, and that when Mr. Wopsle |
" ito Newgate, 1 thought he ne«r would go to i
:affold, he became so much slower than at any forn
.period of his disgraceful career. I thought it a lit
too much that he should complain of being cut shj
his flower after all, as if ho had not been running
seed, leaf after leaf, ever since his course began. '
however, was a mere question of length and i
BomenosB. What stung me, was the identification i|
the whole affair with my unoffending self. Wlien Bat
wall began to go wrong, I declare that I felt positiv^l
ajjologetic, Pumblechook'a indignant stare so taxed g
With it. Wopalc, too, took pains \.o pi'^cat ■n
ffilR&'P RXPW?TATIO|!».
tftS
IB wli&tever;
ice ferocious and mftttdlin , I w»a
T uncle witli no extenunting circum-
; Millwood put mo down lu argument,
; it bocame ahtier monomania in uiy
I daagbttir to care a button for mo; and all E
J fijr my gaaping and procrastinating conduct
i fatal momlnjE^, is, tliat it was worthy of the
1 feebleness of my cliaractcr. Kvon after 1 was
J btmged and Wopsle had closed the book, Pum-
Kik sat staring at me, and shakinj^ his head, and
"Take warning, boy, take waruiiig!" as if it
1 well-known fact that in my private capacity, I
n?naplated murdering a near relation, provided
'ilil only induce one to have the weakneas to become
■'; lienefactor.
It was a very dark night when it was all over,
■ I when I set out with Mr. Wopslo on the walk home.
vijiid town wo found a heavy mist out, and it fell
t and tliick. The turnpike lamp was a blur, quite
-•■'. (if the lamp's usual place apparently, and its rays
'bid solid substance on the fog. We were noticing
:;ii-, and saying how that the mist rose with a change
»f wind from a certain quarter of our marshes, when
w came upon a man slouching under the lee of the
turnpike house.
"Halloa!" we said, fitopping. "Orlick, there?"
"All!" he answered, slouching out. "1 was star
injf by a minute, on the chance of company."
"Zou are late," I remarked.
Orlick not unnaturally answered, "Well? A-hAijouto
I
166 eSEAT SlXPlBtWAnOSB. ,
hid late pfrfnrmance, "we hare been indulging,
Orlick, in an intellectual evening."
Old Orlick growled, aa if he had nothing to
about that, and we all went on together, I asked
presently whether he had been spending his half-i
day up and down town?
"Yes," said he, "all of it. I come in behind y(
self. I didn't see you, but I must have been pi
close behmd you. By-the-by, the gune is go
"At the Hulks?" said I.
"Ay! There's eome of the birds flown from
cages. The guns have been going since dark, ah
Tou'll hear one presently."
In effect, we had not walked many yards ftirt
when the well -remembered boom came towards
deadened by the mist, and heavily rolled away al
the low grounds by the river, as if it were puisu
and threatening the fugitives.
"A good night for cuttiaig off in," said Orli
"We'd be puzzled how to bring down a jail-bird
the wing, to-night."
The subject was a suggestive one to me, a:
thought about it in silence. Mr. Wopsle, as tht
requited uncle of the evening's tragedy, fell to i
tating aloud in hia garden at Camberweil. Orl
with his hands in his pockets, slouched heavily at
side. It was very dark, veiy wet, very muddy,
80 we splashed along. Now and then the sound of
cannon broke upon us again, and again ro'
luikily along the course of the river. I kept my
fc mj'self and my thoughts. Mr, 'WQ'^\e ^eil a
■"" iberwell, and oxceetlingly gaine oii "Bwb."*
and in the greatest agonies at Glastimbury.
Orliek smnetimeB f^'rowled, "B«at it out, beat it out
— old Cleml With a clink fur the stout — old Clem!"
! thongLt he httd been drinking but he was not
Thus we camo to the village. The way by which we
,j in. ached it, tntik us past the Three Jolly Bargemen,
liifli we wore surprised to find — it being eleven
" I'liick — in a state of commotion, with the door wide
"|ii.'n, and unwonted lights that had been hastily caught
!}■ and put down, scattered about. Mr. Wopsle dropped
in to ask what was the matter (surmising that a con-
rict had been taken), but came running out in a great
Irnrry.
"There's something wrong'," said he, without stop-
ping, "up at your place, Pip. Kun ail!"
"What is it?" 1 asked, keeping up with him. So
, did Orlick, at my side.
I "I can't quite understand. The house seema to
ivi? been violently entered when Joe was oat. Sup-
■'■i*d by convicts. Somebody has been attacked and
I We were running too fast to admit of more being
•ud, and wo made no stop until we got into our
Utoken. It was full of people; the whole village was
Ihere, or in the yard; and there was a surgeon, and
tbere was Joe, and there were a group of women, all
on the floor in the midst of the kitchen. ITie unem-
ployed bystanders drew back when tliey saw me, and
W) I became aware of my sister — lying without sense
"T movement on the hare boards where she hai \ie,ca
j^o^tgd dowa by a (cemendons blow on t\ie \iaK>i o^
10 imitnown hand wlieo. Aiet iwsft
168 CffiBAT BEPBCTATtONS.
was turned t'lwarda the fire — deBtined never to be
tlie Rampage again while she ■was wife of Joe.
CHAPTER XVI.
With my head full of George Barnwell, I waa
first dinposcd to bcliere that / must have had soj
hand in the attack upon my siatej-, or at all eyents tl
as her near relation, [lopularly known to be im(
obligations to her, I was a more legitimate object
suspicion than any one else. But when, in the clea
light of nest morning, I began to reconsider the mat
and to hear it discussed around me on all sides, I to
another view of the caae, which was more roasonabl
Joe had been at the Three Jolly Bargemen, sn
king his pipe, from a quarter after eJght o'clock to
quarter before ten. While he was there, my sister had
been seen standing at the kitchen door, and bad ex-
dianged Good Night with a farm-labourer going home.
The man could not be more particular as to the time
at whieh he saw her (he got into dense confusion wlien
- he tried to be), than that it must have been before
nine. When Joe went home at five minutes before ten,
he found hor struck down on the floor, and promptly
called in assistance. The fire had not then burnt nn-
nsually low, nor was the snuff of the candle very long;
I the candle, however, Iiad been blown out.
' Nothing had been taken away from any part of
t the house. Neither, beyond the blowing out of the
I eaadle — whieh stood on a table between the door and
i my sister, and was behind her when she stood facing
JjtSa £re aad was struck — was them aay diaarrange-
fnent of the ^'tchen, excepting aat^i aa AiaVeswil'tai
.:..n(e ill frtUJng am! lileeding'. But, thn-e: was oiio
I Ti^rkable piece of evidence on tlie spot. She hiid lieeu
nruiJc with somotliiii^ Iilnnt and heavy on llie Lead
tnd Apine; after tlio blows w^ra dealt, Bometliing heavy
ts'l been thrown down at her with considerable violence
- -Le liiy OH her face. And on the ground beside hor,
■li'.aJoe picked her np, was a convict'a leg-iron which
'I heen filed asunder.
Now, Joe, examining this iron with a smith's eye,
" bred it to have been filed asunder some time ago.
1 'if hue and cry going off to the Hulks, and people
ining thence to examine the iron, Joe's opinion was
mrrotiorated. They did not undertake to say when it
liail left the prisonshipa to whiuh it undoubtedly had
"ate Ijelouged; but they claimed to know for certain
liiat that particular manacle had not been worn hy
eitter of two convicts who had escaped last night,
furtlier, one of those two was already retaken, and
lud not freed bimnelf of his iron.
Knowing what I knew, I set up an inference of my
cwii here. I believed the iron to be my convict's i'
— the irou I had seen and heard him tiling at, on
iMishefl — but my mind did not accuse him of having
. ii it to its latest use. Tor, I believed one of two
iJiiT persons to have become possessed of it, and t
turned it to this cruel account, Either Orliek, or
range man who had shown me the file.
.Fott, aa to Orliek; he had gone to town exactly as
Isid tts when we picked lum up at the turnpike, he
"Ti^ifl heen aeen about town all the evening, he had been
■I ilivers companies in sevc-ral public-honaea, oai Vfe
"' -^mg A«ci >r/(Zi mj-aelf aad Mr. WopaVe. "Y^iew
-• '^~ agamat him, s8.Ya the tiuanreV-, ani m
i^lSO ti
^^pist
GKSJLT BXPBOV&ISOIW.
iter had qtiarrelletl with him, and with everybod
else about her, tea tbouaund times. As to the straii|
man; if he hud. coidb back for his two hank notes the)
could have been no dispnte abont thcin, because i
Bister was fully prepared to restore them. Beside
there had been no altercation; the assailant had con
in so silently and suddenly that she had been fell(
before she could look round.
:S horrible to think thttt I had provided 1
however undesignedly, but I could hard)
I'ilunk otherwise. I suffered unspeakable trouble whi
I considered and reconsi''ered whether I should .
last dissolve that spell of my childhood, and U
Joe all the story. Por months afterwards, I evBi
day settled the question finally in the negative,
reopened and reargued it nest morning. The i
tention came, after all, to this; — the secret was s
an old one now, had so grown into me and become
part of myself, that I could not tear it away. In add
tiou to the dread that, having led up to bo much u "
chief, it would be now more likely than ever to alienaf?
Joe from me if he believed it, 1 had the further i
straining dread that he would not believe it, but won!
assort it with the fabulous dogs and veal cutlets a
monstroua invention. However, t-tefiaporised with i
self, of course- — for, was I not wavering between righ
and wrong, when the thing is always done! — and r
solved to make a full disclosure if I should see ac
such new occasion as a new chance of helping in tl
discovery of the assailant.
The Constables, and the Bow-street men from Loi
for, this happened in tko days o^ \.te, e
}ated police — were about Xiiift \
r two, and did [ji'otty miiuli whut I have hoard
1^ of like autiini'itioij doing in other nuch cases.
■y took Up several obviously wrong people, and
,' ran their huads very hard against wrong ideas,
persisted iu trying to fit the circumstances to the
IS, instead of trying to extract ideas from the cir-
latances. Also, they stood about the door of the
ly Bargemen, with knowing and rcBer\'ed looks that
d the whole neighbourhood with admiration; and
f Iiad a mysterious manner of taking; tlieir drink,
; was almost as good as taking the culprit But not
te, for they never did it
Long after these conatitutioual powers had disperaed,
sister lay very ill in bed. Her sight was disturbed,
that she saw objects multiplied, and grasped at
onary teacups and wine-glaasea instead of the re-
iea; Uer hearing was greatly impaired; her memory
i; and her speech was unintelligible. When, at last,
came round so far as to bo helped down stairs, it
still necessary to keep my slate always by her,
'. she might indicate in writing what she could not
icate in speech. As she was (very had handwriting
rt) a more than indifferent speller, and as Joe was
lore than indifferent reader, extraordinary complica-
is arose between them, which I was always called
10 solve. The administration of mutton instead of
licine, the substitution of Tea for Joe, and the
;er for bacon, were among the mildest of my own
itakea.
However, her temper was greatly improved, wii
was palien/. A tremulous nncertainty oS t\ve aat\an.
,;// ber limbs goon becamo a part o£ YiCT Tegviax ■
' "^ •Ae^warda. at mtervals of two ox ;' '-"
W
I
W)3 OSBAT SXFECTATIOKS,
ftaonths, she would often put her liauJs to her hei
j»nd would then remain for about a week at a time
, some gloomy aberration of mind. Wa were at a k
. io find a suitable attendant for her, until a circu
^«tance happened conveniently to relieve ua. Mr. Wopsl
■great-aunt conquered a confirmed habit of living in
-which she had fallen, and Biddy became a part of o
eBtablistmient.
It may have been abont a month after my sistei
reappearance in the kitphen, when Biddy came to
with a small speckled box containing the whole of
worldly effects, and became a blessing to the houaebi
Above all, she was a blessing to Joe, for the dear
'fellow was sadly cut up by the constant contemplati(
of the wreck of his wife, and had been accustome
while attending on her of an evening, to turn to r
every now and then and say, with his blue eyes moll
ened, "Such a fine figure of a woman as she once wei
Pip!" Biddy instantly taking the cleverest charge
;i,er as though she had studied her from infancy, Jt
'l>Gcame able in some sort to appreciate the greatt
quiet of his life, and to get down to the Jolly Bargt
men now and then for a change that did him good
It was characteristic of tlie police people that they ha<*
all more or less suspected poor Joe (though he never
knew it), and that they had to a man concurred in rer
garding him as one of the deepest spirita they had
'Over encountered.
Biddy's first triumph in her new office, was to solva
a difficidty that had completely vanquished me. I had.
tried hard at it, but had made nothing of it. Thus it
, Affam and .ngaJn and again, my aiatei ^lal \.tv«*
.Mti tlie alatf^ a cliarncter that looked like a curious
iLiid then with the utmost eagerness hnd culled our
ii'iitioti to it as something sbo partlcularlj wanted. I
■ 1 in vain tried everything proJurlhlo that began
. ,1 T, from tar to toast and tub. At length it had
111/ into my head that the aigd looked like a hammer,
I Lin my lustily calliug that word in my sister's ear,
had begun to haminer i>n the table and had ei-
i-?e(l a quaUfied assent. Thereupon, I Lad brought
;iil out hammers, one after another, hut without
rll. Then I bethought mo of a crutch, the shape
iii^' much the same, amllharrowed one in the village,
■ [ displayed it to my sister with considerable, con-
!■ nee. But she shook her head to that extent when
!■ was shown it, that we were terrified lest in 1
':ik and shattered state she should dislocate her neck.
When my sister found that Biddy was very quick
Nuderstand her, this mysteriona sign reappeared o
slate. Biddy looked thoughtfully at it, heard my
iliinatior, looked thoughtfully at my sister, looked
■ughtfuily at Joe (who was always represented
■ slate by his initial letter), and ran into the forge,
ivad by Joe and me.
~*h,y, of course!" cried Biddy, with an exultant
••Doa't you see? It's him!"
Jrlick, without a doubt! She had lost his nai
1 could only signify him by his hammer. We told
a why we wanted him to come into the kitchen, and
ha slowly laid down his hammer, wiped his brow with
, took another wipe at it with hia a^tow., i
iiiu sioachinff out, with a curious loose ^a.^afeo'sA.
/,./ fa the knees that strongly diatingmsYiei \£a.
/eoafess that I eipQoted ta «f^ -^^ siatex ieTiO^U
OBflAT BXPEOTA-HOMS.
Tiiin, aud iJiat I wiia diBappointed by the different r.
Bult. Sho manifested tlic greatest anxiety to be c
good tenna witli him, was evidently much jdeaged I
bis being at length produced, and motioned that si
wonld have bim ^veii something to drink. She watcb(
^^Jlis couuteoance aa if abe yrere particularly wishful 1
^V-Ise aBsnred that be took kindly to bis reception, si
^B^iowed every possible desire to conciliatp bim, ai
^^raitte was an air of bumblo propitiation in all she dii
^Knich as I have seen pervade the bearing of a child t<
j^B^Wards a hard master. After that day, a day
paased without her drawing the hammer on ber slat
and without Orlick's slouching in and standing dogged
before her, as if he knew no more than I did what
make of it.
• CHAPTER XVn. .
I NOW fell into a regular routine of appreuticesh. ^
life, which was varied, beyond the limits of the villag
and the marshes, by no moro remarkable circumstanc
than the arrival of my birthday and my paying anotht
visit to Miss Havisbam. I found Miss Sarah Focke
still on duty at the gate, I found Miss Havisbam just
as I had left her, and she spoke of Estella in the very
same way, if not In the very same words. The inter-
view lasted but a few minutes, and she gaveme a guinea
when I was going, and told me to come again on my
next birthday. I may mention at once that this be-,
came an annual custom. I tried to decline taking tho
^Tunea on the first occasion, but with no better effect
iAsn caasing her to ask me very angrWy, iS \ t:t5>aiA»4
aioiv? Then, and aftfr that, I took. it.
^ t^BBft.
So nnchangin^ was t)ie dull old house, tbe yellow
. r in die darkeued room, the faduil spectre in the
1- by the dreHaing-tahle glass, that I foU as if the
■/mg of the clocks Lad stoppe.d Time in that mya-
' <im place, and, while I and everytluug elao outside
_iL'w older, it Btood sdll. Daylight never entered
Iwnee as to my thoughts and remembrancea of it,
. more than as to the actual fact. It bewildered
;ind under its influence I continued at heart to hate
' tividc and to be ashamed of home.
Imperceptibly I became conscious of a change in
iitiJJy, however. Her shoes came up at the heel, her
hair grew bright and neat, her hands were always
rlean. She waa not beautiful — she was common, and
("uld net be like Estella — bat sUo was ploaaaut and
nlosome and sweet-tcmpeired. She had not been
'I ns more thau a year (I remember her being newly
iif mourning at the time it struck me), when I ob-
ril to myself one evening that she had curiously
HL'btful and attentive eyes; eyea that were very
I r y and very good.
It came of my lifting up my own eyes from a task
i.is poring at — writing some passages ftom a hook,
niiprove myself in two ways at once by a aort of
.itji*^ni — and seeing Biddy observant of what I
"Hi about. I laid down my pen, and Biddy stopped
ui her needlework without laying it down.
"Biddy," said I, "how do you manage it? Either
I am very stupid, or you are very clever."
""What id /( tlmt I manage? I den't Va«"« " xa-
inrved Biddy, emiling.
^^aoaged oar whole domestic l\?e, aaS. vjoTiiSO
GHBAr ErpECTATTOKS.
■ ■fiilly too; Lut I did not mean that, though that
f trhat I did mean more Hnrpriaing.
"How do yon manage, Biddy," said I, "to
' everything that I leam, and always to keep np
? beginning to he rather vain of my '
ledge, for I spent my hivthdjiy guineas on it, and
aside the greater part of my pocket-money for simi
inveatment; though I have no douht, now, that
little I knew was estremely dear at the price.
"I might as well ask you," said Biddy, "Low yi
r
); because when I come in from the forge of
^ht, any one can aee me turning to at it. But yi
f turn to at it, Biddy,"
I suppose I inust catch it — like a cough," sa
Biddy, quietly; and went on with her sewing.
Pursuing my idea as I leaned back in my woodi
chair and looked at Biddy sewing away with her "
on one side, I began to think her rather an extraoi
nary girl. For, I called to mind now, that she i
equally accomplished in the terms of our trade and '
names of our different sorts of work, and our varii
tools. In short, whatever 1 knew, Biddy knew. Thee
retieally, she was already as good a blacksmith
or better.
"Ton are one of those, Biddy," said I, "who
the most of every chance. Ton never had a chano
before yon came here, and see how improved yo
arel"
Biddjr looked at me for an instant, and went
»g1
r/i/i her
sewing.
tfssa't IP" said she, as she sewod.
your first t£s/^x ■£&«
JSiSAyt" I exclaimed, in amazement. "Why, you
■ crying!"
' No I am not," said BidUy, looking up and laugh-
"What put tbat m your head?"
'Aiiat could have put it in my head, but the glisten-
'<!' a tear as it dropped on her work? I sat silent,
lling what adrndgeshe had been until Mr, Wojiale's ,
:-^iunt success^lly overcame that bad habit of
.-, BO highly desirable to be got rid of by Bome
ill-. I recalled the hopeless circumatances by which
liad been snrroundcd in the miserable little shop
1 he miserable little noisy evening school, with tliat
■ vible old bundle of incompetence always to be
_ .:i'd and shoiddered. I reflected that even in those
mard times there must have been latent in Biddy
! was now developing, for, in my first uneasiness
iliscontent I had fumed to her for help, as a matter
liirsc. Biddy sat (juietly sowing, shedding no more
and while I looked at her and thought about it
ii occurred to me thftt perhaps I had not been suf-
iJtly grateful to Biddy. I might have been too re-
■ rl, and should have patronised her more {though
.jl not use that precise word in my meditations),
.1 my confidence.
Ves, Biddy," I observed, when I had done turn-
. i( over, "yoa were my first teacher, and that at a
■ when we little thought of ever being together like
. in this kitchen."
Ah, poov thing!" replied Biddy. It was like her
liirgetfulncBS, to transfer the remark to 'mj svaXav,
■ lo ffet up and be buBy adout her, making W iB.<iX«
■TiAbh; "tJiat's sadly true 1"
"we must talk togctUei a. 'VA.'^
168 GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
more, as we used to do. And I mlist consult ya
little more, as I used to do. Let us have a (
■walk on the marshes next 8nnda7, Biddy, and a
chat."
My sister was never left alone now; bat Joe ;
than readily undertook the care of her on that Siin
afternoon, and Biddy and I went out together. It
Bummer time and lovely weather. When we had pal
the village and tha church and the chnrchyard.
were out on the marahes and beg'an to see the sail
the ehipa as they sailed on, I began to combine 1
Havisham and Estella with the prospect, in n
way. When we came to the river-side and sat di
on the bank, with the water rippling at our feet, mat
it all more quiet than it would have been wit'
that sound, I resolved that it was a good time
place for the admission of Biddy into my inner
fidence.
"Biddy," said I, after binding her to secrecy,
want to bo a gentleman." »
"Oh, I wouldn't, if I was you!" she returned,
lon't think it would answer."
"Biddy," said I, witli some severity, "I have
ticular reasons for wanting to be a gentleman."
"You know best, Pip; but don't you think yoU
\ happier as you are?"
V "Biddy, ".Icxclaimed, impatiently, "lamnota
happy as I am, I am disguMtcd witli my calling
with my life. I have never taken to either, sin)
was bound. Don't bo absurd."
"Wan I absurd?" said Biddy, quietly raising
Bj-ebrows; "I am sorry for t\vat-, 1 ^iWl tiiesai, \i
onl^ want you to do well, ani lu ^^o coTriCwrtsM
h
^^^^^^ UllliAll WtWOTATIOMB. 199k
^KVeB then, asdcTstnnd ouce for n1! that 1 never
^Hpr can be cdmforialili! — or anything' Ijut miser-
^B — there, Biddy! — unless I can lend a very dif-
^U sort of life from the lil'c I lead now,"
^■Tlu.t'a a pity!" eaid Biddy, ahaking her head
^Bs aoiTowfiil air.
^■OW, I too had BO often thought it a pity, that, in
^■ngular kind of quarrel ivith myself which I was
^m» carrying on, I was half inclined to shed tears
^Rstion and distress when Biddy gave utterance to
^Bntiment and my own. I told her she was right,
^U knew it was much to be regretted, but still it
^ftot to be helped. ^
Hpf I could have settled down," I said to Biddy,
^Kng' up the short grass within reach, much as I
^nice upon a time pulled my feelings ont of my
^Bud kicked them into the hrewery wall: "if I
^Bliftve settled down and been but half as fond of
^■rge as I was when I was little, I know it would
^■been much better for me. You and I and Joe
^B 1)A76 wanted nothing then, and Joe and I would
H^B have gone partners when I was ont of my
fflfl, and I might even have grown up to keep com-
iiiy with you, and we might have sat on this very
uk on a fine Sunday, quite different people. I should
■1'; been good enough for you; shouldn't I, Biddy?"
[Siddy sighed as she looked at the ships sailing on,
•i returned for ajiswer, "Yee; I am not over par-
liliir," It scarcely sounded flattering, but I knew
meant well.
"Inateail of that," said /, plucking up tqoig Eta£&
' ''^'2'^ ■* ^^"'^^ *"■ '^°' "see how 1 am euuie o-o.
QBEAT BXPHCTATKBTSr.
_nify to me, being coarse and ommon, if nobod
had told me so!"
Biddy turned her face anddetdy towards mine, an
looked far more attentively at me than she had looke
tat the sailing; ships.
"It waa neither a very true nor a very polite thin
to say," she remarked, directing her eyes to the ship
igam. "Who said it?"
I was disconcerted, for I had broken away withoi
jnite seeing where I was going. It was not to be s'
Sf now, however, and I answered, "The beaatifi
young lady at Miss Havisham's, and she's more heant
ful than anybody ever was, and I admire her dreai
fully, and I want to he a gentleman on her account
» Having made this lunatic confession, I began to thrq
jaj tom-up grass into the river, as if I had son
Noughts of following it.
"Do you want to be a gentleman, to spite her (
to gain her over?" Biddy quietly asked me, after
ipanse.
"I don't know," I moodily answered.
■ "Because, if it is to spite her," Biddy pursued, '
should think — hnt you know best — that might b
lietter and more independently done ,by caring nothia
for her words. And if it is to gain her over, I shoul
think — but you know best — she was not woi
gaining over."
Exactly what I myself had thought, many t
Exactly what was perfectly manifest to me at the i
ment. But how could I, a poor dazed village ia(
avoid that H'onderful iuconaiateucy mto ■wWii. ^iia\i'
^^d wisest of men fall every day?
k shnkf BzntOTATTom, ITl
r he all quite true," said I to Biddy, "but
r dreadfully."
, I turned oyer on my face when I cnme
; and got a goud grasp on the hair on eacli side
■■ head, and wi'Miclied it well. All the while
■viug the madiiesa of my heart to be so very mad
' riiisplaeed, that I was quite conscious it would
served my face right, if I had lifted it up by
liair, ami knocked it against the
-iimcnt for belonging to such an idiot.
Jijddy was the wisest of girla, and she tried to
III no mure witli me. She put her hand, which
a comfortable hand though roughened by work,
■ ,L my hands, one after another, and gently took
I out of my hair. Then she softly patted my
Idiy in a soothing way, while with my face upon
-locve I cried a little — exactly as I had done in
l>n;wery yard — and felt vaguely convinced that
IS very much ill used by somebody, or by every-
; I can't say which.
1 am glad of one thing," said Biddy, "and that
:l]:it yon havo felt you could give me your con-
.1. e, Pip. And I am glad of another thing, and
i'i, that of course you know you may depend upon
ki.'epiug it and always so far deserv-ing it. If your
'cacher (dear! such a poor one, and so much in
' of being taught herself!) had been your teacher
I.' present time, she thinks she knows what lesson
V, ould set. But it would be a bard one to \fta.Ta.,
yoa have got beyoad her, and it's oS 11.0 u?,
mt& a qniet sigh for me, B\li-y ■£«?»
""'* '"'^ with a freali and. i^Yeaa^i'
' 172 GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
change of voice, "Shall we walk a littls further,
home?"
"Biddy " I cried, getting up, puttbg my arm
her neck, and giving her a kiea, "I shall always
yott everything."
"Till you're a gentleman," said Bid^.
"Ton know 1 never shall be, so that's always.
that I have any occasion to tell you anything, foi
know everything I know ^ as I told yoa at homi
Other night"
"Ah!" said Biddy, quite in a whisper,
looked away at the ships. And then repeatei
her former pleasant change; "shall we walk
^. turther. or go home?"
I Baid to Biddy we would walk a little fui
(|and we did so, and the summer afternoon toned i
',jnto the summer evening, and it was very heau
I began to consider whether I was not more nata
and wholesomely situated, after all, in these
stances, than playing beggar my neighbour by ca
light in the room with the stopped clocks, and I
despised by Eatella. I thought it would be very
for me if I could get her out of my head, with al
rest of those remembrances and fancies, and coul
to work determined to relish what I had to do,
stick to it, and make the best of it. I asked iq
tho question whether J did not surely know tit,
Estella were beside me at that moment insteA
Biddy, she would make me miaerahle? I was obi
to admit that I did know it for a certainty, and I
/ io myself, "Pip, what a fool you are'"
/ We talked a good deal as we waWeA, aai ^
W ^ddy Baid seemed right. Biddy waa
Bros, or Biddy to-day and somebody elfic t^|
KdK would liave derived only pain, and n^7
^B&oin giving me pain; she would fnr ratlitirT
B|dfld her own brenst than mine. How couW
K, that I did not like lier much the better («^
^b," said I, when we were walking hi>mewar^H
H»ii could put me right." S
^■h I cooldl" said Biddy.
^Bponld only got mjsolt' to fall in love with
^Kt don't mind my speaking ao openly to such
^Hoaintance?"
Hfear, not at all!" Hald Biddy. "Don't mindly
Ebould only got myself to do it, that would bo ^
Dg for me."
at you never will, yon see," said Biddy.
did not appear quite ku unlikely to me tttat
B it would have done if we had dia
I before. I tlierefore observed I
laf that. But Biddy said she wits,
'aively. In my heart 1 believed her to
1 yet I took it rather ill, too, that she shoi
tositive on the point.
ten we came near the churuhyard, we had
in embankment, and get over a stile near
[ate. Tliera started up, from the gati
ihea, or from the ooze (which was quite in
IE way), old Orlick.
' "' he growled, "where are you WtT
tttat
I
oald wo be going, but horned '^'■"^^
'^^^J'Sgci-ed if I don't see yoTi 'Vioi^l^
174 CHEAT EXPECTATIONS.
Tliis peniilty of being jiggered wna ti favw
BupposititioTiB cnse of hia. He attached *io dd
meajiing to tlie word that I am aware of, but tiM
like his own pretended christian tiame, to af&ont 1
kind, and convey an idea of something sava
damaging. When I was younger, I had had a ga
belief that if he had jiggered me personally, he t(
have done it with a sharp and twisted hook.
Biddy was much against hia going with i
said to me in a whisper, "Don't let him come;
like him." Aa I did not like him either, I tool
liberty of aaying that wo thanked him but we d
want seeing home. He received that piece of i
mation with a yell of laughter, and dropped back,
came slouching after ua at a little distance.
Curious to know whether Biddy suspected hi
having had a hand in that murderons attack of 11
my sister liad never been able to give any accom
asked her why she did not lite him?
"OhI" she replied, glancing over her should)
he slouched after us, "because I — I am afraii
"Did he ever tell you he liked you?'
indignantly.
"No," aaid Biddy, glancing over he:
again, "he never told me so; but he dances at
whenever he can catch my eye."
However novel and peculiar this testimony c
tacbment, I did not doubt the accuracy of the
jtretation. 1 was very hot indeed upon old 0*
^d»rmg to admire her; ob hot aa i£ 'A ^vxa ml a
makes no differeace to j-oii, you kuoi
r, calmly.
Biddy, it maken no difference to rae; oi
; I don't approve of it."
neitljer," said Biddy. "Though
differonce to you,"
ifly," Bftid I; "hut I must tell you I should
pinion of you, Biddy, if he danced at you
1 consent."
t an eye on Orlick after that night, and,
'CiroiunBtancea were favourable to his dancing
;ot before him, to obscure that demonstration.
rack root in Joe'a establishment, by reason
t'b sudden fancy for him, or I Bhould have
i him dismissed. He quite understood and
L my good intentions, aa I had reason to
because lay mind was not confused
, I complicated its confusion fifty thoa-
by having states and seasons when I was
Biddy was immeasurably better than Eatella,
he plain honest working life to which I was
.nothing in it to be ashamed of, bat offered
at means of self-respect and happiness. At
y, I would decide eonclusiyely that mj dis-
> dear old Joe and the forge was gone, and
I ' growing up in a fair way to be partners
and to keep company with Biddy — when
e confounding remembrance of the
<4ayB would fall upon me, like a 4es\.'m.(i\A^i'4
ad scatter wy wits again. Scatterei. mVa
■time picking up. ^qJ often, \)eioTe"i-"\ia.i-
; tbej would be (Us^peraei uMd^
■■I7B msk'r BSPBCTATIOHB.
1 directions by one stray thought, thnt perhaps after
f Misa Havisham waa going to make my fortune wl
I my time waa out.
If my time had run out, it would have left
[ alill i).t the height of my perjilesitics, I dare aay.
1 never did run out, however, but was brought to a
[ mature end, as I proceed to relate.
CHAPTER XVm.
It was in the fourth year of my apprenticeship
Joe, and it was a Saturday night. There was
' aasembled round the fire at the Thi-oe Jolly Bargeia
attentive to Mr. Wopsle as he read the nowapa]
aloud. Of that group, I was one.
A highly popular murder had been committed, t
Mr. Wopsle was imbrued in blood to the eyehr
Ho gloated over eA'ery abhorrent adjective in
r description, and identified himself with every wit
at the Inquest. He faintly moaned, "I am done i
as the victim, and he barbarously beUowed, 'Til s
I you out," as the murderer. He gave the medical ta
I mony, in pointed imitation of our local practition
and ho piped and shook, aa the aged tumpike-kee|
I who had heard blows, to an extent so very paralj
t a,s to suggest a doubt regarding the mental compete!
I of that witness. The coroner, in Mr. Wopsle'a ha
r became Timon of Athens; the beadle, Coriolanus,
I enjoyed himself tlioroughly, and we all enjoyed (
I selves, and were delightfully comfortable.
wOfF Bfats of mind wo came to tfae -sexiiia. "ffij
^^B
JUVBCTAT10K81
Then, and not Booner, I became nwnre df a stran^p
■ili.mtin leaning over tUe hack of tho settle opposite
li'uking on. There was an expression of. contempt
',\k face, and he bit the eide of n great forefinger
jf watched the group of faces. "Well!" enid tho
ii!.'er to Mr. Wopsle, when the reading was done,
I have BOttled it all to yonr own satisfaction, I
■ 110 doubt/"'
Iherybody started and looked up, as if it were the
iiTer. He looked at everybody coldly and earcasti-
Guilty, of course?" said ho. "Out with it.
Sir," returned Mr. Wopsle, "without having the
. :ur of your acquaintance, I do say Guilty." Upon
, we all took courage to unite in a confirmatory
1 know you do," said the stranger; "I knew you
-III, I told you so. But now I'll ask you a question.
viiu know, or do you not know, that the law of
.-liiud supposes evety man to be innocent, until he
..i,\-ed — proved - — to be guilty?"
Sir," Mr. Wopsle began to reply, "as an Engliah-
■I myself, I "
Come!" said tho stranger, biting his forefinger
lilm. "Don't evade the question. Either you
"■ it, or you dont know it. Which is it to be?"
Hi' stood with hia head on one side and himself on
■ide in a bnllying interrogative manner, and he
"" his forefinger at Mr. Wopsle — as it -^fcrfc \.o
i; liim out — before biting it again.
-.Voir/" sAi'd he. "Do yon know it, or IdTiY -go''
ultt
KTB OBBAT H!tPBOTATR>!ffl,
I "Certainly I know it,'' replied Mr, Wopsle.
I "Certainly you know it. Then why didn't ;
Kty ao at first? Now, I'U ask you aiiotlier questioii
^nking posseasion of Hr. Wopsle, as if he had «
%o him. "Z)o you know that uone of these witneBi
Ibave yet Ijoen croBB-esamined?"
I Mj. Wopsle was heginniiig, "I con only say -
M'lien the stranger stopped him.
[ "What? You won't answer the question, yes
llio? Now, I'll try you again," Tlu^wing his £in(
Ut him again. "Attend to me. Are you aware, i
grou not aware, that none of these witnesses have j
S)6en croBB-examined? Come, I only want on
^m you. Yes, or no?"
[ Mr. Wopsle hesitated, and we all began to concei
tedter a poor opinion of him.
f "Come!" said the stranger, "I'U help you. 1
'don't deserve help, hut I'll help yon. Look at I
awper you hold in your hand. What is it?"
1 "What is it?" repeated Mr. Wopsle, eyeing
leiKch at a loss.
"Ib it," pursued the stranger in his most s
and suspicious manner, "the printed paper you ha'
just been reading from?"
"Undoubtedly."
"Undoubtedly. Now, turn to that paper, and
me whether it distinctly states that the prisoner
pressly said that his legal advisers instructed 1
altogether to reaerve his defence?"
"I read that just now," Mr. Wopsle pleaded.
"Never inind what you read just now, air; I do
jroa whut you read. You may ■ve»A \Vft Lc«
ij'er backwards, if you liko — ati4, -^^Va.^, ^
OBBAT SXPBOTATIOIM.
W
■ ll before to-day. Turn to the paper. No, no,
iny friend; not to the top of the column; you
'1- hotter than that; to the bottom, to the bottom."
iill began to think Mr. Wopsle full of subtorfage.)
'i. Ii:-' Have you found it?"
Here it is," said Mr. Wopsle.
Xi)w, follow that passage with your eye, ami tell
whether it distinctly states that the prisoner es-
-\y said that he was instructed by Lis legal ad-
'- wholly to reserve hie defence^ Cornel Do you
iv that of it?"
Mr, Wopsle answered, "Those ai'e not the exact
'Xot the exact words!" repeated the gentleman,
I ily. "Is that the exact substance?''
'i'es," said Mr. Wopsle.
"Veal" repeated the stranger, looking round at the
: ijf tlic company with his right hand extended to-
i'U the witness, "Wopsle. "And now I ask you
»Wt you say to the con.wience of that man who, with
list passage before his eyes, can lay his head upon
liis pillow after having pronounced a fellow- creature
palty, unheard?"
We all began to suspect that Mr. Wopsle was not
the man we had thought him, and that he was begin-
liag to be found out.
"And that same man, remember," pursued the
Reatleman, throwing bis finger at Mr. Wopsle heavily;
"tliiw same man might bo siinimonod as a juryman
upon this very trial, and, having thus dee.ply towv-
aitted himself, mj^ht return to the bosom oi \i\s iwEti,'^
"^ Aj' /'« ^"""^ "po" his pillow, after 4e\\\ieYa\aVj
— -"'^-^^noo/d well and truly try tVei ' "
1^*
I
I
^^0",
laRAT EXPECTATION.
Joined between Our Sovereign Lord t.lie Eing and 1^
at the bar, and would a true verdict gi
according to the evidence, so help hira God!"
We were all deeply persuaded tbat the onfortoiu
Wopsle had gone too far, and had better atop in 1
;»«ctless career while there was yet time.
The strange gentleman, with an air of anthoH
'aot to be disputed, and with a manner expreBsiTfl^
knowing something secret about every one of UB th
would effectually do for each individual if be cl
disclose it, left the back of the settle, and can
the apace between the two settles, in front of the fii
where he remained standing; his left hand in X
pocket, and he biting the forefinger of his right
"From information I have received," said he, loO
ing round at us as we all quailed before him, "I hxt
reason to believe there is a blacksmith among you, 1)
name Joseph — or Joe - — Gargery. Which is ti
man?"
"Here is the man," said Joe.
The strange gentleman beckoned bim out of
place, and Joe went.
"Ton have an apprentice," pursued the strangt
"commonly known as Pip? Is he here?"
"I am here!" T cried.
The stranger did not recognise me, but I recognii
Lim as the gentleman I had met on the stairs, on 1
occasion of my second visit to Mias Hayisham. ]
appearance was too remarkable for me to Itave fi
gotten. I had known him the moment I saw hi
looking over the spttle, and now that I stood confroi
ing bim with hia hand upon my b\i»>vi\4wc, \ tWt'aj
again ia detail, his large head, \^ 4a.T\s. wsto^wsa
QMAT aiMlOTATIOlrt.
IM
t eyes, Iiis, baaliy black eyebrows, liis large
1, Ms strong black dots of beard and whisker,
Bren the edibII of Bc«ntod soap on Lis great hand.
"! wish to have a private conference with you
1 he, wbeu be had surveyed me at bis leisure.
% little time. Perhaps we had better go
place of residence. I prefer not to anticipate
municatioQ, here; you will impart as much oc
Je of it as you please to your friends afterwards;
ri.iTB nothing to do with that,"
Amidst a wondering silence, we three walked out
' ilie Jolly Bargomen, and in a wondering silence
■ilked home. WhUe going along, the strange gen-
man occasionally looked at me, and occasionally bit
i!if side of hia finger. Aa we neared home, Joe
i:i;iiely acknowledging the occasion as an impressive
uij ceremouioua one, went on ahead to open the front
Our conference was held in the state-parlour
a feebly lighted by one candle.
b began with the strange gentleman's sitting down
9 table, drawing the candle to him, and looking
" 1 his pocket-book. He then put up
iet-book and set the candle a little aside; after
; round it Into the darkness at Joe and me, to
1 which was which. ,. "~ .
My name," he said, "is Jaggers,', and I am a
TTiT in London. I am pretty' vTcll: knfiwn. I have
i-ufti business to ti'ansact with you, and I commence
t.-splaining that it is not of my originating. J£ my
> ii^e had been asked, I should not have been \
i;i3 not wfieJ, and you see me here. Wtat 1 Vava
y rJiecQDSdential agent o£ ajiothct, 1 do.
"182
OBEAT BXPBCTATIOltB.
Findino; tliat ho could not seB us very well 1
where he sat, he got up, and threw one leg over '
back of a chair and leaned upon it; thus having i
foot on the seat of the chair, and one foot o
ground.
"Now, Joseph G-ar^ry, I am the bearer <
offer to relieve you of this young fellow your appi
tice. You would not object to cancel his indentir
at his request and for hia good? You would not y
anything for so doing?"
"Lord forbid that I should want anything for t
standing in Pip's wayl" said Joe, staring.
"Lord forbidding is pious, hut not to the pnrpMi
returned Mr. Jaggers. "The question is, Would y
want anything? Do you want anything."
"The answer is," returned Joe, sternly, "No."
I thought Mr. Jaggers glanced at Joe, as if
considered him a fool for his disinterestedness. But
was too much bewildered between breathless curioai
and surprise, to be sure of it.
"Very well," said Mr. Jaggers, "Kecolloct the i
mission you have made, and don't try to go from'
Who's a going to try?" retorted J
"I don't say anybody is. Do you keep a dog?
" Yes, I do keep a ' _ "'
"Bear in mind then, that Brag^ia a good dog, I
Holdfast is a better. Bear that in mind, will yorf
repeated Mr. Jnggers, shutting his eyes and noddi
Mb head at Joe, as if he were forgiving him somethE
"Now, 1 return to this young fellow. And the c
sjunloatioa I Jiave got to maLlta ia, 'l\uA ^ift"\ioa a
rpectationa.'"
188
I'l.io and I ga§ii(?(i, and looked at one another.
"I am insti'ucted to communicate to him," said Mr.
.LTi^rs, throwing his finger at me, nidcwayB, "that
"ill come into a liandsome property. Further, that
I- tlie desire of the present poHsesuor of that pro-
!v, that ho bo immediately removed from lus pre-
' 'phere of life and from thiH place, and be brought
1^ a gentleman — in a word, as a young fellow of
it fxpectations." " ~
'fv dream was ont; my wild fancy was surpassed
■iipljer reality; Miss Haviabam was going to make
iVmnne on a grand scale.
"Now, Mr. Pip," pursued the lawyer, "I address
■ n-st of what I have to say, to you. You are to
. 'iiTftand first, that it is the request of the person
ir'jin whom I take my ItiBtructions, that you always
tear the name of Pip. You will have no objection,
1 dare say, to your great expectations being encum-
litwd wicb that easy condition. But if you have any
■■■■tion, this is the time to mention it."
My heart was beating bo fast, and there was such
■i^ing in my ears, tliat I could scurcely stammer I
I no objection.
■r should think not! Now you are to understand
!ly, Mr- Pip, tliat the name of the person who ia
■ I liberal benefactor remains a profound secret, until
]n;rsoo chooses to reveal it. I am empowered to
i[i(jn that it is the intention of the person to reveal
I first hand by word of mouth to yourself. "When
intention may be carried out, I cannot &ay, ■&»
r.ia sajF. It may be years hence, Now , 70U osfc
'icdy to anderstand that you are most ■poai\.V»e\'
^Jb^d &om making any inquiry on tliia V( "
I
SBBAT BXFBGTA.TIAK6.
alloaion or reference, however distant, to any 1
dual whomsoeTer as ihe indiridual in all the coM
munications you may have with me. If you have
auspieion in your own breast, keep that suspicion i
your own breast. It is not the least to the purpos
what the reasons of this proHbition are; they may h
the strongest and gravest reaaons,"'or they may be m
whim. That is not for you to inijuire into. The c
dition is laid down. Your acceptance of it, and yoi
observance of it as binding, ia the only remaining oi
dition that I am charged with, by the person froi
whom I take my instructions, and for whom I am lu
otherwise responsible. That person ia the person firoi
whom you derive your expectations, and the secret :
solely held by that person and by me. Again, not
very difficult condition with which to encumber such
rise in fortune; but if you have any objection to i
this is the time to mention it. Speak out."
Once more, I stammered with difficulty that I ha
no objection.
"I should think noti Now, Mr. Pip, I have don
with stipulations." Though ho called me Mr. Pip, an
began rather to make up to me, he still could not g
rid of a certain air of bullying suspicion; and evi
now he occasionally shut his eyes and threw his finge
at me while he spoke, as much as to express that l
knew all kinds of things to my disparagement, i*" '
anly chose to mention them. "Wo como next, to i
details of arrangement. You must know that, altlioi _
I have used the term 'expectations' more than onw
you are not endowed with expectations only. Thertt
already lodged in my hands, a sum o4 muwe^ b
Buitable edacatw
AisAT HirBt^Armim.
18»
please consider rae your gTiardian. tHi!" for
II going to tbftnk him, "I tell you at once, I am
' f my services, or I shouldn't render them. It
QBJdered that you mtist bo bettor educated in ac-
9 with your iillerod position, and that you will
: to tbo importance and necessity of at once
on tbat advantage."
d I had always longed for it.
"Never mind what you have always longed for,
I'. Pip," be retorted; "keep to the record. If you
Li^' for it now, that's enough. Am I answered that
■ii are ready to be placed at once, under some proper
■ -'ir? Is that it?"
I stammered, yes, that was it.
"Good. Now, your inclinations are to he consulted.
1 don't think .that wise, mind, but it's my trust. Have
Villi ever heard of any tutor whom yon would prefer
to another?"
I had never heard of any tutor but Biddy and
'l. Wopflle'a great aunt; so, I replied in the nega-
There is a certain tutor, of whom I have some
'ledge, who I think might suit the purpose," said
Jaggers. "I don't reeoramend him, observe; be-
! I never recommend anybody. The gentleman
■ak of, is one Miv-Mattbew Eodtet."
I canglit at the name directly. Miss Havi-
's relation. The Matthew whom Mr. and Mrs.
Ua had spoken of. The Matthew wbotro ■yVatft
to be Bt Miss HavJalmm's head, when she Xft.-^
io ber bride's dress on the bride's taWe.
^1^1^ tie aawe?" said ilr. Jaggers, \ooVi
Ah
s
H
enBAT ZZFEOTATIONS.
P-Blttewdly at me, and tlion shutting up his eyos whi!
lie waited for my answer.
My answer was, titat I had heard of
"Oh!" said he, "You have heard of the nam
But the question is, what do you say of it?"
aid, or tried to say, that I was much obliged
1 for hiH recommendation —
"No, my lyoung friend!" he interrupted, shi
iiiB great head very slowly. "Recollect yourself!"
Not recollecting myself, I began again that I wt
Btattch obliged to him for his recommendation
"No, my young Mend," he interrupted, shaMa
s head and frowning' and smiling both at once; ''
, no; it's very well done hut it won't do; you
1 young to fix rae with it, Kecommendation is
ford, Mr. Pip. Tiy another."
Correcting myself, I said that I was much oblige
9 him for his mention of Mr. Matthew Pocket —
" That's more like it!" cried Mr, daggers.
- And (I added), I would gladly try that gei
1.
"Good. Ton had better try him in his own bona
1 way shall bo prepared for you, and you can a
njiis son first, who is in London. When will you coi
I said (glancing at Joe, who stood looking on n
tiooleas), that I supposed I could come directly.
"First," said Mr. Jaggers, "you should have aoi
new clothes to come in, and they should not be wo>
ing clotlies. Say this day week. You'll want boi
wonej. Shall I leave you twenty guineas?"
Me produced a long purse, wife fti* gsea-Vcsh.
Z. counted tbem out on Oie '
ORHIT BX^MITATIOSS. 187
r
f th^ra over to mo. 'ITiia w&e tlio first timo ho had
: .kt'o Ills leg from the chair. lie sat astride of tlie
.lir -when he tad pushed the money over, and sat
liri^iag his purse and eyeing Joe~
"Well, Joseph Gargery? You look dumb-foim-
ilerad?"
"I ami" said Joe, in a very decided manner.
"It was nnderstood that you wanted nothing for
foQrdBlf, remember?"
"Il were understood," said Joe. "And it arc under-
(lood. And it ever will ho similar according."
"But what," said Mr, Jaggers, swinging his purae,
■ ivtiat if it was in my instmctions to make you a pro-
iii. as compensation?"
"As compensation what for?" Joe demanded.
"For the loas of his serviceH." I
-Toe laid his hand upon my shoulder with the touch
n woman. I have often tliought him since^ like the ;
1 iiu-hammer, that can crush a man or pat an eggshell,
I tiia combination of strength with gentleness. "Pip
' rhal hearty welcome," said Joe, "to go free with
- services to honour and fortun', as no woi-ds can tell ,
Ml. But if you think as Money can make compen-
"i'lQ to me for the loss of the little child — what
I !ii' to the forge — and ever the best of friends! — "
'.) dear good Joe, whom I was bo ready to leave
il so unthankful to, I sec you again, with your
n^cidar blacksmith's arm before your eyes, and your
i':-id chest heaving, and your voice dying away. O
ir good faithful tender Joe, I feel tlie loviag-tteoshVft
i your band upon my ana, as solemnly this 4a-^ aft \i
,'i,'i'I been the rustle of an ansA's wing'.
/ encouraged Joe at the time. 1 vfaa \o^ ^
rl88 eSEAT aXPEOTATIOSS.
the mazes of my future fortunes, and coiild not retra
the by-patha we had, trodden together. I begged Ji
to be comforted, for [ns he said) we had ever beei
best of friends, and (as I aaid) we ever would I
^^' Joe scooped his eyea with his disengfaged wrist, aB>
^^U}tB were Sent on g-ou^iug himsolf, but said not anoth
^Hpword.
^H Mr. Jaggers had looked on at this, as one who t
^B-cognised in Joe the village idiot and in me bis keep!
^B''When it was over, he said, weighing in hia hand tl
^^P.^nrae he had ceased to swing:
^r "Now, Joseph Gargery, I warn you this is ,
last chance. No half measures with me. If you r
to take a present that I have it in charge to n
you, speak out, and you shall have it. If on the
fc trwy you mean to say — " Here, to his great an:
mont he was stopped h^ Joe's suddenly working rotu
I with every demonstration of a fell pugilistic pn
"Which I mesntersay," cried Joe, "that if j
r eomo into my place bull-haiting and badgering m
f conie out I Which I meantersay as such if you're J
I man, come on! Which I nieantersay that what I aa
I I meantersay and stand or fall by!"
I drew Joe away, and ho immediately becam
L placable; merely stating to me, in an obliging mannt
F »nd as a polite exgost^tory notice to any one whoi
I it might happen to concern, that he were not a goin
to be bnll-haited and badgered in his own place,
Jaggers had risen when Joe demonstrated, and ht(
backed to near the door. Without evincing any in
nation to coTRQ in again, he ttere ift^veieiVia-s
^ietory remarts. They wore tliese.
■ 0«BAT BICPBOTATrnKS. I89
"Well, Mr. Pip, I think the sooner you loave liero
- na you are to be ft gentleman — the bettor. Let
siand for this day week, and you shall receive my
rii^ted address in the mean time. You can take a
vkney-coach at the stage coach*ofiice in London, and
. :'i!ne etraJKht to me. Understand that I expreaa no
■'[liiuon, one way or other, on the trust I undertake.
' am paid for tmdertaking it, and I do ao. Now,
iuijfnitaiid that, finally. Understand that!"
He was throwing his finger at both of ns, and I
iiiili would have gone on, but for liis seeming to think
! I ■ dangerous, and going off.
Something came into my head which indnced me
nm ailer him, as he was going down to the Jolly
jJsr!,'eraen where he had left a hired carriage,
I "I beg your pardon, Mr. Jaggfrs."
I "Halloa!" said he, facing round, "what's the
L nutter?"
I "I wish to be quite right, Mr. Jaggers, iind to keep
' yoar directions; so I thought I had better ask.
'■"iiiild there be any objection to my taking leave of
iiir one I know, about here, before I go away?"
"No," said he, looking as if he hardly under-
"I don't mean in the village only, but up town?"
"No," said he. "No objection."
I thanked him and ran home again, and there I
fonnd that Joe had already locked the front door, and
vacated the state-pariour, and was seated by the kitchen
p with a hand on each knee gazing intently a.t
' {mming coals. / too eat down before. ft\e foa sai.
L^ eoflis, and Dothhg was said ioT a. \c««
Il90 aasAT bxtbotatioxb.
My Bister wag in lier cualiionod chaii' in lier coi
' and Biddy eat at her needlework before tlie fire,
Joe sat next Biddy, and I sat next Joe in the co
opposite my sister. The more I looked into the g\oi
ing coals, the more incapable I became of looking |
■Joe; the longer the silence lasted, the more tmablQl
At length I got out, "Joe, have yon told Biddy?'
"No, Pip," returned Joe, still looking at the fire
md holding his knees tight, as if he had private in-
formation that they intended to make off somewhere,
■"which I left it to yonraelf, Pip."
"I would rather you told, Joe."
"Pip's a gentleman of fortun' then," said Joe,
I God bless him in it!"
Biddy dropped her work and looked at me. Joe
i held his knees uud looked at me. I looked at both a
I ■ them. After a pause, they both heartily congratulate*
t.me; but there was a certam touch of sadness in
lugratulations that I rather resented.
I took it upon myself to impress Biddy (and througl
Biddy, Joe) with the grave obligation I considered i
friends under, to know nothing and t!ay nothing abi
the maker of my fortnne. It would all co
^good time, I observed, and in the mean while nothi
■ivas to be said save that I had come into great
pectations from a mysterious patron. Biddy noddi
aer head thoughtfully at the lire as she took up
work again, and said slie would be very particulai!|
and Joe, still detaining his knees said, "Ay, ay, Pll
ekervaJly partjcklor, Pip;" atil fVienftiB^ con.^ai.MlB;
~"" " ' t and went on to exptCBa ao mw^ii -vwAsaL
of my being a, gentlemnn, that I didn't i
i pftiits were then taken by Biddy to convey
er some idea of what had happened. To the
y belief, tlioBO efforts entirely fp.iled. Slie
md nodded her head a groat many times, and
«ted after Biddy the words "Pip" and "Pro-
But I doubt if they had more meaning in
. an election ery, and I cannot suggest a
tare of her state of mind,
f could have believed it without experience,
W and Biddy became more ut their cheerful
, I became quite gloomy. Dissatisfied with
;, of course I could not be; but it is possible
ty iaTB been, without quite knowing it, dis.-
(rith myself.
t with niy elbow on luy knee and my
my hand, looking into the fire, as those two
loot my going away, and about what they
r without me, and all that. And whenever I
i of them looking at me though never so
^ (And they often looked at me — particularly
I felt offended; as if they were expressing
bust of me. Though Heaven knows they
'. by word or sign.
6»6 times I would get up and look oat at the
ear kitchen door opened at once upon the
I stood open on sirnimer evenings to air the
B Tery stars to which I then raised my eyes,
^d I took to be but poor and humble atarft
ittg oo tiie rustic objects among w\iic\v \ "\ia.i.
i, wliou we Bat at q-os tt|a|
il€2 GBSAT ZXPBfiTATIO^
I per nf brejid-anJ-clieese and beer. "Five more daj
I and tiion the day before the duyl They'll soon go."
"Yes, Pip," observed Joe, Those voice Bonn
\ hollow in his beer mng. "They'll soon go."
"Soon, soon go," said Biddy.
"I have been thinking, Joe, that when I go doi
L town on Monday, and order my new clothes, I si
tell the tailor that I'll come and put them on there,
that ril have them sent to Mr. Pumblechook's.
would he very disagreeable to be stared at by all
people here."
"Mr, and lire. Hubble might like to see yon
your new gen-teel figure too, Pip," said Joe, indust
ously cutting his bread, with his cheese on it, in t
palm of his left hand, and glancing at my nntaati
supper 88 if he thought of the time when we used
[ compare slices. "So might "Wopslo. And the Jol
I Bargemen might take it as a complimeut."
"That's just what I don't want, Joe. They won
make such a business of it — such a coarse and commt
business- — that I couldn't bear myself."
"Ah, that indeed, Pip!" said Joe. "If you conlda!
Iabear yom-self — "
Biddy asked me here, as she sat holding my sisteii
plate, "Have you thoaght about when you'll shol
yourself to Mr. Gargery, and your sister, and me? To
■will show yourself to us; won't you?" ■
"Biddy," I returned with some resentment, "yo
are so exceedingly quick that it's difficult to keep
with you."
("Slie always were quick," observed Joe.)
"If yoa bad waited another momi:!^, "B^ii^ ^
^aJd have Jioard me say that 1 ahafi Vititi^
1
want BXFBOTATIOMB. 198
, a bundle one eveniug — most likely oa the
■ before I go away,''
Biddy said no more. Handsomely forgiving lier, I
<i>Li exchanged an affectionate good night vith her
.,.! Joe, and went np to bed. When 1 got into my
I' room, I eat down and took a long look at it, aa a
II little room thatlshould soon be parted from and
, d above, for ever. It was fumiahed with fresh young
L-im-jnbrances too, and even al the same moment I fell
nto much the same confused division of mind between
it uid the better rooms to which I was going, as I had
Wn in so often between the forge and Miss Havi-
im's, ajid Biddy and Estella,
riie Bun had been shining brightly all day on the
, iif my attic, and the room was warm. Aa I put
«viudow open and stood looking ont, I saw Joe
;;'■ slowly forth at the dark door below, and take a
! or two in the air; and then I saw Biddy come
; liring him a pipe and light it for him. He never
"k'.'d so late, and it seemed to hint to me that he
iKfd comforting, for Bome reason or other.
He presently stood at the door immediately beneath
jic, smoking his pipe, and Biddy stood there too,
qnietly talking to him, and I knew that they talked of
me, for I beard my name mentioned in an endearing
tone by both of tbcm more than once. I would not
lisve listened for more, if I could have heard more: so,
I drew away from the window, and sat down in my
one chair by the bedside, feeling it very sorrowful and
(trange that this first night of my bright fortunes should
he ihe loneliest I had ever inown.
Lookinff towarda the open window, 1 aa.'w Yi^X.
tM^AoB Joe's pipe Soatiag there, and 1 ianssi ' "
I was like a blessing' from Joe — not obtrudei] on 4
r or paraded before me, bnt pervading the air we sban
t together. I put my light out, and crept into bed;
' m uneasy bed now, and I never slept the
I lotmd sleep in it any more.
CHAPTER XIX.
MoRHiNG- made a, considerable difference in m
I general proapect of Life, and brightened it
I that it scarcely seemed the same. What lay heayitl
ind was the consideration that six days inta
I Tened between me and the day of departi
' could not divest myself of a misgiving that somethia
might happen to Loudon In the mean while, and ttui
when I got there, it would he either greatly deta^
rated or clean gone.
Joe and Biddy were very sympathetic and pl(
-Bant when I spoke of our approaching separation; fc
[ tbey only referred to it when I did. After breakfaa
I.Joe brought out my indentures from the press
I the best parlour, and we put tbeiti in the fin
I and I felt that I was free. With aU the novelty
■my .emancipation on me, I went to church with Jo<
I and thought, perhaps tlie clergyman wouldn't hjT
read that about the rich man and the kingdi
I Heaven if he had known all.
After our early dinner I strollod out alone, ptirp<
' Hing to finish off the marslios at once, and get tin
done with. As I passed the church, I felt (as I h^
■ J&A during service in the uiornmg) a. wi\>&afc
I tbo jioor creaturcB wlio "weca
w
r
I lliere, Sunday after Sunday, all their lires throiif;h,
' w\ to lie obecurely at last among the. low green mounds.
iiiinised myself that I would do something for them
I I'f these days, and forraod a plan in outline for
■iun-ing a dinner of rouBt beef and plum-pudding, a
i.int of ale, and a gallon of condescension, upon every-
li-'ily in the villag^e. ^^
If I had often thought before, with Bomothing allied
111 sliame, of my compunionfihip with the fugitive whom
I bud once seen limping among those graves, what
nra my thoughts on this Sunday, when the place re-
uJled the wi'etch, ragged and shivering, with his felon
:ii (ind badge! My comfort was, that it happened a
- time ago, and that he had doubtless been trana-
ii'd a, long way off, and tliat he was dead to me,
I might bo veritably dead into the bargain.
Xo more low wot grounds, no more dykes and '
id's, no more of tjiese grazing cattle - — though they
iiii^d, in tlieir dull manner, to wear a more respect-
■ iiir now, and to face round, in order that they
i.'lit stare as long as possible at the possessor of sucJi
it expectationa — farewell, monotonous acquaint-
■ .■; of my childhood, henceforth I was for London
■■! greatness: not for smith's work in general and for
i'- I made my exultant way to the old Battery, J^d,
iiii; down there to consider the question whether Miss
: .lisham intended mo for Estclla, fell asleep.
When I awoke, I was much surprised to find Joe
iTig beside me, smoking his pipe. He greeted me
ill a cheerful smile on my opening my eyes, and
ii.l:
■.Ja lirinff the last time, Pip, I thnuglit, Ti fe\lw;''
"•%'ifo^ X JM rery gjad ^
mua vAtfyiatiam,
Bwi
&HEAT axPEOTAinoire.
if:
II"
Tliankee, Pip."
You may be sure, dear Joe," I went on, after ^
had shiikea bands, "that I shall never forget you."
"No no, Pip!" said Joe, in a comfortable toi
"'/'m 8ure of that. Ay, ay, old chap! Bless yon,
were only necessary to get it well round in a mai
mind, to be certain on it. But it took a bit of time
get it well round, tbo change come so oncommon plum
didn't it?" ,
Somehow I was not test pleased with Joes beii
so mightily secure of me. I should have liked him
have betrayed emotion, or to have said. "It does j
credit, Pip," or something of that sort. Therefore,
made no remark on Joe's first bead; merely saying
to bis second that the tidings bad indeed coi
denly, but that I bad always wanted to be a gentlema
and had often and often speculated on what I would (
if I ^ere one.
Have you though?" said Joe. "Astonishing!"
It's a pity now, Joe," said I, |"that you did i
get on a little more^ when ve had our lessons her
' 't it?"
"Well, I don't know," returned Joe. 'Tm so awfi
.1. I'm only master of my own trade. It were C
[ways a pity as I was so awful dull; but it's no mo
lof ft pity now, than it was — this day twelvemont
don't you see?"
What I had. meant was, that when I came into b
property and was able to do something for Joe,
would have been much more agreeable if be bad bee
better qualified for a rise in station. He was so j
/eeily luaocent of my meaning, laowOTer,t\\a.tltliflug|
", mention it to Biddy in ^reiftieuae.
aajSAT ffitPDOTATIOKS. 197
, when we had walked home and had had tea,
nook Biddy into our little garden by the Hide of the
■ i;i, and, after tlirowing out in a. general way for the
■vation of her spirits, that I should never forget her,
■ill I had a favour to ask of her, _
"And it ia, Biddy," a«id I, "that you will not omit
ny opportunity of helping Joe on, a little."
"How helping him on?" asked Biddy, with a
steady sort of ghmce.
"Well! Joe is a dear good fellow — in fact, I
^link he is the dearest fellow that over lived — but
i rather backward in some things. For instance,
Biddy, in his learning and his manners."
Although I was looking at Biddy aa I spoke, and
iJtbongh she opened her eyes very wide when I had
■pokim, she did not look at me.
"Oh, his manners! Won't his manners do then?"
■sud Biddy, plucking a black currant leaf,
^^^"My dear Biddy, they do very well here — "
^^■SOhl they do very well here?" interposed Biddy,
^^^Ktg closely at the leaf in her hand.
^^^PSear me out — but if I were to remove Joe into
^^Migher sphere, as I shall hope to remove him when I
iily come into my property, they would hardly do him
"And don't you think he knows that?" asked
''My.
It was saeh a very provoking question (for it had
vi-r in the most distant manner ocetured to me), that
■lid, snappishly, "Biddy, what do you mean?"
Biddy havin"' rubbed the leaf to piocea \ifttwea'Q.
■rhantls — and the smell »f a black curra-o.t >a\ia^
*|y^ siace recalled to lua tiat evening in tVe WV'A
^
'J99 GilEAT ffiCFBOTATWlTS.
ijfarden by the aide of the lane — said, "Have ;
never considered that he may he proud?"
I ' "P^o^dI" I repeated, with disdainful emphaeiB.
f "Ohl there are many kinds of pride," said Bidd
looking' full at me and shaking' her head; "pride
Aol; all of one kind — "
""Weil? What are you stopping for?" eaid I,
"Not all of one kind," resumed Biddy. "He mj
be too prond to let any one take him out of a pla
.fhat he is competent to fill and filla well and with i
Spect To tell yon the truth, I think he is: though
Sounds hold in me to say ho, for you must know h:
£ar better than I do."
"Now, Biddy," said I, "I am very sony to at
fliiB in you. I did not expect to see this inyou. T
are envious, Biddy, and gmdging. You are dissat
Bed on account of mj rise in fortune, and you ca
help showing it."
"If you have the heart to think so," returned Bidd;
"say BO, Say bo over and over again, if yon have t
heart to think so."
"If you have tlie heart to be so, you mean, Biddy,'
Uaid I, in a virtuous and superior tone; "don't put i
.off upon me. I am very sorry to see it, and it's a —
nt's a had side of human nature. I did intend to as&
you to use any little opportunities you might have a£
Iter I was gone, of improving dear Joe. But afta
this, I aak yon nothing. I am extremely sorry
Bee this in you, Biddy," I repeated. "It's a — it'i
bad side of human nature."
"Whether you scold me or approve of me,"
turaed poor Biddy, "you may e^uaWy ift^-ai. M.ys
IT trying to do all that lies in. my ^owei, \ieii4, nA '
GnEAT E
id wliatevcr opluioii you take away of me,
;e no diffei-ence in my remcDilirimce of you.
ideman eliould not be uujnst neitlicr," said
' ig away her head.
warmly repeated that it was a bad side of
lature {in which sentiment, waiving its appli-
since Been reason to tliink I was riglit),
id down the little path away firoin Biddy,
ly went into the liouse, and I went ont at the
[ate and took a dejected stroll until supper-
*a feeling it very sorrowful and utrange that
second night of my brig-ht fortunes, should be
and tmaatisfactory aa the iirst.
loming once more brightened my view, and I
my clemency to Biddy, and wo dropped the
Putting on the best clothes I had, I went
larly as I could hope to find the shops
id presented myself Lefore Mr. Trabb, tlie
'laving his breakfast in the parlour
id his shop, and who did not think it worth Lis
to come out to me, but called me in to him.
Well!" said Mr. Trabb, in a hail-fellow-well-met
of way. "How are yon, and what can I do for
It. Trabb had sliced liis hot roll into throe feather
slipping butter in between the blankets,
covering it up. Ho was a prosperous old bachelor,
his open window looked into a proBperona little
3n and orchai'd, and there was a proaperous iron
let into the wall at the side of his fire^ltiiCa, and.
I not doaht tliat heups of iiis prospevity -wftTC ■^^A.
■-- ■■' '" i^.
i an unpleaaaul t\vvng ^» .
900 QRBAT ■BTPEQTkTjaSS.
have to mention, becsuse it looka like boasting;
have come into a handsome property."
A change pasaed over Mr. Trabb. He forgot
butter in bed, got up from the bedside, and wiped
fingers on the tablecloth, eselaiming, "Lord bleaa;
soul!"
"I am going ap to ray gnardian in London.
I, caaually drawing some guineas out of my po(
and looking at them; "and I want a fashionable >
of clothes to go in. I wish to pay for them," I ad
— otherwise I thought he might only pretend to m
them, "with ready money."
"My dear sir," said Mr. Trabb, as he respectfl
bent his body, opened his arms, and took the lib<
of touching me on the outside of each elbow, " '
hnrt me by mentioning that. May I venture to
gratulate you? Would you do me the favour of
ping into the shop?"
Mr. Trabb's hoy was the most audacious boy i
that country-side. When I had entercH^^e'waa swi
ing the shop, and he had sweetened his labours
sweeping over me. He was still sweeping when I cJ
out into the shop with Mr. Trabb, and he knocked
broom against all possible comers and obstacles, to
press {as I understood it) ec[uality with any blacksm
alive or dead.
"Hold that noise," said Mr. Trabb, with the gres
sternness, "or I'll knock your head off! ~
favour to be seated, sir. Now this," said Mr. Tn
taking down a roll of cloth, and tiding it out in a f
ing manner over the counter, preparatory to gettinj
J/aad imdor it to show the g\oss, "la & ■v«y^
J can recommend it lor youi ■^^
jl^^
cxtise it really 19 estrn. super. But you hLiiII Ree name
others. Give me Number Four, youl" (To the boy,
auii with a dreadfully severe stare: foreseeing the
danger of that miBcreant'a brushing me with it, or ma-
iing aome othe^-atgo^SFTamiliarity.) ^
Mr. Trabb never removed his etem cyo from the
boy until he had deposited number four on the counter
and was at a safe distance again. Then, he commanded
Lim to bring number five and number eight. "And
me have none of your tricks here," said Mr, Trabb,
: yon shall repent it, you young scoundrel, tiie
longest day you have to live,"
Mr. Trabb then bent over number four, and in a
Mit of deferential confidence recommended it to me as
> light article for summer wear, an article much in
i-ugae among the nobility and gentry, an article tliat
■I would ever be an honour to him to reflect upon a
ii^tingnished fellow-townBman's (if he might claim me
i ir a fellow-townsman) having worn. "Are yon bring-
iii; numbers five and eight, you vagabond," said Mr.
i'tabb to the boy after that, "or shall I kick you out
"I tliB shop and bring them myself?"
I selected the materials for a suit, with the assist-
iiice of Mr. Trabb's judgment, and re-entered the par-
!iinr to be measured. For, although Mr. Trabb had
I"}' measure already, and had previously been quite
I'liitented with it, he said apologetically that it "wouldn't
liii under existing circumstances, sir — wouldn't do at
'IL" 80, Mr. Trabb measured and calculated me, in
'(111 parlour, as if I were an estate and he the finest
■['ceies of surveyor, and g-ave himself a\ic\v »: "wotV^. «!
iitmble that I felt that no suit of clothes coa\.4 ^Q%sWtj
^■jWj^^^im for Mb pains. When \ie Wi a.'t V""
SBXAT aXPlCTATIOKS.
lone and had appointed to send the artiulea to
Fuinblechook's on the Thursday evening, he said,
Lis hand upon the parlour lock, "I know, sir,
London gentlemen cannot Le expected to patronise ]
■work, as a rtdo: hut if you would give me a turn no'
tid then in the quality of a townsman, I should great
teem it. Good morning, sir; much obliged. — Dooi"
The last word wan flung at the boy, who had n
uie least notion what it meant. But I saw him <
lapse as hia master ruhhed me out with hia hands, i
mj first decided experience of the stnpendoua po'
of money, was, that it had morally laid upon his ba
Trabb's boy.
/ After this memorable event, I went to the hatter
/ and the bootmaker's, and the hosier's, and felt rathe
tlike Mother Hubbard's dog whose outfit required 1
Jiervices of so many trades. I also went to the coai
'«iEee and took my place for seven o'clock on Saturda
Bioming. It was not necessary to explain everywhei
ibat I had come into a haudaome property; hut whfii
ever I said anything to that effect, it followed that t"
ofBciating tradesman ceased to have his attention t
verted throQgh the window by the High-street, and co
centrated his mind upon me. When I had ordere
everything I wanted, I directed my steps towards Pona
blechook's, and, as I approached that gentleman's plao
»of business, I saw liim atoading at his door.
He was waiting for me with great impatience.
liad been out early with the chaiae-cai't, and had calle
at the forge and heard the news. He had prepared
collation for me in the Barnwell parlour, and he t
ordered bis sliopmati to "come out ot ftie ?,wci^k^" i
^^if sacred person i
"My 3ear friend," said Mr. Pumblechook, taking
ne by both bands, when he. and I and the collation
*ere aJrme, "I give you joy of your good fortune.
Well deservcdj well deserved!"
This was coming to the point, and I thought it a
!eii8ibl£_way of .expressing himself. ''
"To think," said Mr. Pumblechook , after snorting
admiration at mc for some moments, "that 1 nbould
baTe been the humble instrument of leading up to thin,
is a prond reward."
I begged Mr. Pumblechook to remember that no-
lliing was to be ever said or binted, on that point.
"My dear young friend," said Mr. Pumblecbook,
"ifyim will allow ma to call you bo — "
[ murmured "Certainly," and Mr. Pumblechook
(wk me by both hands again, and commnnicated a
ninTeinent to his waistcoat that had an emotional ap-
I (wirance, though it waa rather low down, "My dear'
vuBng finend, rely upon my doing my little all in yoor
il.«"nce, by keeping the fact before the mind of Joseph.
- JoBephI" said Mr. Pumblechook, in tLe way of a
' iHjwasionate adjuration. "Joseph!! Joseph!!!" There-
i"«i he shook his heal and tapped it, expressing his
■iiw of deficiency in Joseph.
"But my dear young friend," said Mr. Parable-
■ li'iok, "you must be hungry, you must he exhausted,
lie seated. Here is a chicken had round from the Boar,
hm is a tongue liad round from the Boar, here's
'ine or two little tilings had round from the Boar,
*''.it I hope yon may not despise. But do I," said Mr,
'■ iinblechook, setting up again the moment afet\iftVafi^
Jomi, "see afore me, bint as I ever Bpoitei -wKxia Vo.
Ji^gjl^'ffiftJ'^anc^f' Andmayl — maTj\— '*
»S04
QBSAT BS7ECTATIQHS.
TliiB May I meant, might he shake hands? I ci
aented, and he 'was fervent, and then sat down agaii
"Hero is wine," said Mr. Pumhlechook. "Let,
I drink. Thanks to Fortuue, and may she ever pick i
her favourites with equal judgment! And yet I cannf
Baid Mr. Pnmhlechook, getting up again, "see af
me One — - and likoways drink to One — witif
again expreaaing — May I — may I — ?"
I said he might, and he shook hands with me agt
[ and emptied his glass and turned it upside down.
did the same; and if I had turned myself upside do
before drinking, the wine«could not have gone m
direct to my head.
Mr. Pnmhlechook helped me to the liver wing, i
; to the best slice of tongue (none of those out-of-t
I way No Thoroughfares of Pork now), and took, co
( paratively speaking, no care of himself at alL "J
poultry, poultry! Ton little thought," said Mr. Pij
blechook, apostrophising the fowl in the dish, "yr}
you was a young fledgling, what was in store for y
^ You little thought Vj'ou was to be refreshment bene
this humble roof for one as -^ Call it a weakness,
yon will," said Mr. Pumblechook, getting up ag(
"but may I? may I — ?"
It began to be unnecessary to repeat the fonjt
saying he might, so he did it at once. How he a
did it so often without wounding'himself with my ka
I don't know.
"And your sister," he resumed, after a little steJ
I eating, "which had the honour of bringing you up-
W^Mid/ It's a sad picter, to refteat tiMi\, ^lin. ■na\tm
"' ■ i fully underBtanding tte Uoiio^a. lAs.'S —
SBBAT HXPHOTATTONe. 806
Peaw lie was about to come at me again, and I
Bd him.
Well ibink her lieahh," said I.
Ah!" cried Mr. Pumblecliook, leaning back in hia
i^batr, quite flaccid with admiration, "that's the wa^
■ 1 know 'eni, sir!" (I don't know who Sir was, but
I i^rtainly was not I, and there was no third person
1 -I'Ut); "that's tlie way you know the noble minded,
Iiir! Ever t'or^ving' and ever affable. It might," said
the servile Pumbleehook, putting down his nntasted
glaas in a hurry and getting up again, "to a common
umou, have the appearanue of repeating — but may
Wien he had done it, he resumed his seat and
I iiik to my sister. "Let us never be blind," said Mr.
i !.ifil)lecbook, "to her faults of temper, but it ia to be
"ju'd she meant well."
At about this time I began to observe that lie was
"iijug flushed in the face; as to myself, I felt all face,
■'i-p(id in wiue and smarting.
I mentioned to Mr. Fumblcchook that I wished to
i-'ii" my new clotlies sent to his house, and he was ec-
! I'ic on my so djstin-^iisTiJpg l"'"' I mentioned my
i^iin for desiring to avoid observation in the village,
!"1 lie landed it to the skies. There was nobody but
![i«elf, he intimated, worthy of my confidence, and —
'■' 'hurt, might he? Then he asked me tenderly if 1
iiii'uiberetl our boyish games at sums, and how we
■ 'l^one together to have me bound apprentice, and,
'■fleet, how he had ever been my favourite fancy aad
'IV chosen friend? If I had takeu ten times a.a ■ma.ii^
/.-tt/ o/'wine aa Iliad, I should have kiio\ni fesA-W
f^l^^^ad Btood in that relation towards me, aTvi aVo'Aa
in my lieart nf hearts have repudiated the idea.
for all tliat, 1 remember feeling; , convinced that I
been much mistaken in him, and that he was a^ sen
practical good-hearted prime fellow.
By degrees he fell to reposing such great confid
in me, aa to ask my advice in reference to hiy
fairs. He mentioned that there ^aa an opportnnhg
a great amalgamation and monopoly of the com
seed trade on those premisesj if enlarged, such as
never occurred before in that, or any other iieigh£
hood. What alone vas wanting to the realisation
vast fortune, he considered to be More Capital. T
were the two little words, more capital. Now if
peared to him (Fumhlechook) that if that capital
got into the buaincas through a sleeping partner.
which sleeping partner would have nothing to 3o
walk in, by self or deputy, whenever he pleased,
examine the hooka — and walk in twice a year
take his profits away in his pocket, to the tune of <
per cent — it appeared to him that that might h
opening for a young gentleman of spirit combined '
property, which would be worthy of his attention.
what did I think? He had great confidence in
opinion, and what did I think? I gave it as my
nion. "Wait a bit!" The united vastneas and
tinctness of this view so struck him, that he no lo
asked if he might shake hands with me, but sail
really must — and did.
We drank all the wine, and Mr. Fumbled
pledged himself over and over again to keep Josep
to the mark (I don't know what mark), and t«
rae eiUcient and constant serviM V^ iwcit kn^
3). Se also made known to mB iox \ivft %t«
Sffl
lii tny life, and certainly after having kept liia secret
■]rliTfu]ly well, lliat ho had always said of me, "That
id no common boy, and mark me, his I'ortun' will
ii.i common fiirtun'." Ho siiid with a tearful smile
'. it was a singiiUr tiling to think of now, and I
I io too. Finally. I went out into tho air with a
I [lorcopliou lliat tlicre was something unwonted in
' I induct of the sunshine, anil found that I had slnm-
Iiitroosly got to the turnpike without having taken any
tcwont of the road.
TLia«, I was roused hy Mr. Pumblechook's haiUng
ino. He was a long way down the sunny street, and
"I" making expressive gestures for me to Btop. I
'■7pud, and he came up hreatlJeHS.
"No, my dear friend," said he, when he had rc-
■I'Tiid wind for speejjb. "Not if I can help it. This
^;l^ion shall not entirely pass without that affability
I vouj part. — May I, as an old friend and well-
■■'■W? Mag I?"
We shook hands for the hundredth time at least,
"I I lie (irdprcd a young carter out of my way with
'i' irreatust indignutiou. Then, he blessL'd me and
""I waving his hand to me until I had passed the
' "k in the road; and then I turned into a field and
■■'1 a long nap under a hedge before I pursued my
1 had scant luggage to take with me to London,
'"■ little of the little I possessed was adapted to my
■"■ station. But I began packing that same afternoon,
'il wildly packed up things that I knew I should want
' limoniing, in a Bction that there was not a mtynynA
iduesday, and Thursday, 'ja.^.ftfei.
308 OSBAT BXPSOTATIOKS.
and on Friday morning I went to Mr. Pumblechofl
to put on my new clotLes and pay my visit to ]
Havisham. Mr. Pmnblechook'a own room waa g
up tu me to dress in, and was decorated with
towels expressly for the event. My clothes were
a disappointment, of course,- Probably every new
eagerly expected garment ever put on since clfl
came in, fell a trifie short of the wearer's expectai
But after I had had my new suit on, some hall
hour, and had gone through an immensity of posta
with Mr. Pnmblechook's very limited dressing-gli
the futile endeavour to see my legs, it seemed to
me better. It being market morning at a neighboo
town some ten miles off, Mr. Pumhlechook waa ni
home. I bad not told him exactly when I meat
leave, and was not likely to shake hands with
again before departing. This was all as it should
and I went out in my now array: fearfully ashame
-iaving to pass the* ahopmou, and suspicions after
that I was at a, personal disadvantage, something
Joo'b in his Sunday suit
I went circuitously to Miss Haviaham's by all
back waya, and rang at the bell constrainedly, on
count of tho stiff long fingers of my gloves. 8i
Pocket came to the gate, and positively reeled i
when she saw me so changed; her walnut-shell c
tenance likewiae, turned from brown to green
yellow,
"You?" said she, "Yon, good gracious? Whj
you want?"
"I am going to London, MissPocket," said I, ''
waat to say good-hy to
'OS not expected, Sot
bhilo fihe went to ask if I were tn be admitted.
E-Toryshort delfiy, she returned and took raeup,
nt tne all the waj.
m Havieham was taking exercise In the room
He long spread table, leaning on her crutched
MPhe room was lighted as of yore, and at the
■f our entrance, she stopped and turned. She
njiut abreast of the rotted bride-cake.
Bn't go, Sarah," she said, "Well, Pip?"
mtart for London, Misg Havisham, to-morrow,"
Bsceedingly careful what I said, "and I thought
BjUd kindly not mind ray taking leave of you."
Btis is a gay figure, Pip," said she, making her
■ stick play round me, as if she, the fairy god-
MVho had changedme, were bestowing the finish-
Kavb come into such good fortune since I saw
■t, BEaa Havisham," I murmured. "And I iim
ftfOl for it, Mias Havisham 1"
R, ay!" said she, looking at the discomfited and
B Sarah with delight. "I have seen Mr. Jaggers.
Bbeard about it, Pip. So you go to-mon-ow?"
B8, Ifiss Havisham."
■id you are adopted hy a rich person?"
wbt, itiaa Havisham.''
Kit named?"
B, Kisfl Havisham."
■id Mr, Jaggers is made your guardian?"
■b, 3[isa Havisham."
■ QOite gloated on these questions and anBW«\ft^
■• iras her enjoyTnont of Sarah Pocket's jeaXois.'a
^ _ "Weill " she wea t on ; "you have a -^TQiav&m^
H^^^^^^^^ggd — deserve it —
abide by Mr. Jagg^ers's instructions." She looked at i
I and looked at SaraL, and Sortdi's countenauce v
I out of her watchful face a cruel smile. "Good-1
t Pipl — you will always keep the name of Pip,
^kuow."
"Yea, Mias Havisham."
"Good-by, Pip!"
She stretched out her hand, and I went down
J my knee and put it to my lips. I had not conaidei
■.liow I should take leave of her; it eame naturally
) at the moment, to do this. She looked at Bar
I Pocket with triumph in her weird eyes, and ho I '
T my fairy godmother, with both her hands on '.
I'lerutched stick, standing in the midst of the dis
lilig^hted room beside the rotten bride-cake that 1
{'hidden in cobwebs.
Sarah Pocket conducted me down as if I wer
■ Ghost who must be seen out. She could not get o
L my appearance, and was in the last dtegree confoundi
fI said "Good-by, Miss Pocket;" but she merely star
I and did not seem collected enough to know that I h
spoken. Clear of the house, I made the best of i
way back to Pumblechook's, took off my new cloth
made them into a bundle, and went back home
my older dress, canying it — to speak the tra
much more at my ease too, though I had the bunj
L to carry.
■ And now those six days which were to hsTfl x
r out so slowly, bad run out fast and were gone, audi
morrow looked mo in the face more steadily thaq
could look at it. As the six evenings had dwin£
away to £vo, to four, to threa, to two, Waii.\3
ujpreciative ot tke soa^W-'^ *:A3w
assix wiratttt-mm.
W
!|t On this last evening, I dressed myself out in
nr clothes for their delight, nnd sat in my spleii-
nntil ledtime. We had b liot supper on the occft-
graced by tlio inevitable roast fowl, and we had
Qip to finish with. "We were ail very low, and
the higher for pretending to be in spirits,
I was ti} have our village at five in the morning,
irn iug my little hand-portmanteau, and I had told
uu tiiat 1 wislied to walk away all alone. I am afraid
— sore afraid — that this pcrpoae originated in my
ease of tlie contrast there would be between me and
f"p, if we went to the coach together. I had pretended
^h myself that there was nothing of this taint in the
increment; but when I went uji to my little room on
\:ist night I felt compelled to admit that it might
~ij, and had an impulse npou me to go down again
: t'Qtreat Joe to walk with ma in the morning. I
All night there were eoaches in my broken sleep,
Kting to wrong places instead of to London, and hav-
ing in the traces, now dogs, now cats, now pigs, now
■"Ml — never horses. Fantastic failures of journeys
'"■'■ii|iipd me until the day dawned and the birds were
L'iiig. Then, I got up and partly dressed, and sat
III' window to take a last look out, and in taking
i-l) asleep.
Biddy was astir so early to get my breakfast, that,
»ltboiigh I did not sleep at the window an hour, I
smelt the amoko of the kitchen fire when I started up
»ith a tenible idea that it must be late in the aftei:-
ttoon, But }oag- aiier that, and long after 1 \iai Wa-ti.
ft« cihkin^ <il' the tea-cupB and was nuVte teai-j , V
■-^ tie reaolatlon to go do- ' ' " « -■
'xemained up there, repeatedly unlocking and unatrappin
my small portmanteau and locking and strapping it u
again, until Biddy called to me that I was late.
It was a hurried breakfast with bo taste in it.
got up from the raeal, saying with a sort of brisknes
as if it had only just occurred to me, "Well! I suj
pose I must be off.'" and then I kissed my sister wh
tvas laughing and nodding and shaking in hi
chair, and kissed Biddy, and threw my arms aroun
Joe's neck. Then I took up my little portmanteau ai
walked out. The last I saw of them waa when I pi
gently heard a scuffle behind me, and looking bac
^^^wv Joe throwing an old shoe after me and Bidd
^^Hirowing another old shoe. I stopped then, to w)
^^^ly hat, and dear old Joe waved his strong right a
above his head, crying huskily "Hooroar!" and Bidd;
put her apron to her face,
I walked away at a good pace, thinking it wa
■- easier to go than I had supposed it would be, and r
fleeting that it would never have done to have had a
old shoo thrown after the coach, in sight of all tl
High-street. I whistled and made nothing of going
But the village was very peaceful and quiet, and th
light mists were solemnly vising as if to show me th
world, and I had been so innocent and little there
and all beyond was so unknown and great, that i
moment with a strong heave and sob I broke into tears
It was by the finger-post at the end of the village, ant
k I laid my hand upon it, and said, "G-ood-by 0 m
B dear, dear friend!"
W Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of on
tsarg, for tbey are rain upon the VjVmimg i'ltt at ewrt!
oT^fyjag oar Lard Hearts. I ■waa \)eVVM oS^kt \ \
^^j than be-fore — more sorry, more aware of my
BWffl ingratitude, more gentle, If I bad cried before, I
sLonld have had Joe with me then.
So subdued I was by those tears, and by their
lireaking otit again In the course of the quiet walk,
that when I was on the coach, and it was clear of the
Uswn, I deliberated with an acbing heart whether I
wiiuld not get down when wa changed horses, and walk
■ '■k. and have another evening at home, and a better
ing. We changed, and I had not made up my
I'l, and still reflected for my comfort that it would
-J quite practicable to get down and walk back, when
re changed again. And while I was occupied with
these deliberations, I would fancy an exact resemblance
lu Joe in some man coming along the road towards us,
Mid my heart would beat high. — As if ho could pos-
alily be there!
We changed again, and ye.t again, and it was now
inn Ute and too far to go back, and I went on. And
mists had all solemnly risen now, and the world
' spread before me.
CHAPTER XX.
1
^^■jB journey &om our town to tlie metropolis, was-
^^Hiey of about five hours. It was a little past
^^^piy when the four-horse stage-coach by which I
Eha a passenger, got into the ravel of ttaffc few^ei
"ut about the Cross-Keys, Wood-street, CVifta.-5ft\i.ia,
Limdim.
Tltom bad „t tt«t time psirticutaly BW.'iL'A
I
6REAT SXPBCTATHHOI.
that it was ti-easonable to doubt our having and t
being the best of everything: otherwise, while I m
Beared by the immenBity of London, I think X mig
have had some faint doubts whether it was not rath
ugly, crooked, narrow, and dirty.
Mr. Jaggera had duly sent mo his addreaa; it i
jtiittle Britain, and he had written after it on hia ca
"just out of Smithfield, and close by the coach-oiS(
Xovertheless, a hackney-coachman, who seemed to ha'
as many capos to bis greasy great-coat as he was
old, packed me up in hia coach and hemmed i
with a folding and jingling barrier of steps, aa if 1
■ere ^ing to take me fifty miles. His gettin_
ix, which I remember to have been decorated with (
lid weather-stained pea-green hammercloth , motheat*
into rags, was quite a work of time. It was a wonder'
equipage, with six great coronets outside, and ragg_
tMngshehind for I don't know how many footmen t
hold on by, and a harrow below them, to prevt
amateur footmen from yielding to the temptation.
I had scarcely had time to enjoy the coach and t
think how like a straw-yard it was, and yet how lik
a rag-shop, and to wonder why the horses' nose-baj
were kept inside, when I observed the coachman I
ginning to get down, as if we were going to stop pi
sently. And stop we presently did, in a gloomy s
at certain ofSces with an open door, whereon was p
Mr. Jaooeks.
"How much?" I asked the coachman.
The coachman answered, "A shilling — ' unless ye
igb to make it more."
I naturally said I had no wisla to ■[&«!&.& v\.
'"™ it must be a shilling," obattv-ii ■*!& -;,(«
I' don't want to get into trouble. / kuow himP'
' closed an eye at Mr. Jaggers's name, and
k his Im&d.
Afhea lie had got liis shilling, and had in course
DM completed the ascent to his bos, and hud got
^fcr]uch appeared to relieve his mind) I weut
^Bjtont office with my little portmanteau in my
^Ba asked, Wss Mr. Jaggers at home?
fle ia not," retui'ued the clerk. "He ia in Court
ri'sent. Am I addressing Mr. Pip?"
riignified that lie was addiesaing Mr. Pip.
'Mr. Jaggera left word would you wait in hia
fe coiddn't say how long he might be, having
But it stands to reason, his time being
that he won't be longer than he can help."
those words, the clerk opened a door, and
red me into an inner chamber at the back. Here
itnnd a gentleman with one eye, in a velveteen
and knee-breeches, who wiped his nose with hia
1' tin heing interrupted in the perusal of the news-
'l>o and wait outside, Mike," said the clerk.
began to say that I hoped I was not intemipting
■ iicu the clerk shoved this gentleman out with aa
cwemony as I ever saw nsed, and tossing his fur
out after him, left me alone.
Ilr. Jaggors's room was lighted by a skylight only,
wafi a, most dismal place; the skylight eccentrically
bed, like a broken head, and the distorted adjoin-
liousea looking as if they had twisted themselves
leep down at me through it. There wei6 noi wi
pajmrs nhoat, as I should have expeuteA \o see.-
'*"'*™" ^Loiy'ects about, t\ia.t\ ft\
die (t«i
not have exjiected to soe — Bach as an old rusty
a Bword in a scabbard, several atrange-Iooking
and puckagoB, and two dreadful casts on a sh
faces peculiarly swollen, and twitchy about the
Mr. Jaggars's own liigh-backed chair was of (
black liorsehair, with rows of brass naila round ;
a coffin; and I fancied I could see how ho leanec
in it, and bit his forefinger at the clients. The
was but small, and the clients seemed to have,
habit of backing up against the wall: for the
especially opposite to Mr. Jaggers'a chair, was i
with shoulders. I recalled, too, that the Mje-eyadl
man Lad shuffled forth against the wall wEen I w
innocent cause of his being turned out.
I sat down in the cUental ' chair placed over a
Mr. Jaggera's chair, and became fascinated by tl
, mal atmosphere of the place. I called to mini
1^ the clerk had the same air of knowing someth:
V everybody else's disadvantage, as his master hi
wondered how many other clerks there were up-
and whether they all claimed to have the same
mental mastery of their fellow- creatures. I woi
what was the history of all the odd litter aboi
room, and how it came there. I wondered w.
the two swollen faces were of Mr. Jaggera's family
if he were so unfortunate as to have bad a p
such ill-looking relations, why he stuck them oi
dusty perch for the blacks and Hies to settle a
stead of giving them a place at home. Of cq
bad no experience of a London summer day, ai
spirits may have been oppressed by the hot exh
Mir, sad by the, dust and grit l\nvt \a.y ftvisk OTi
sat wondering aiv^j^^^^^^
geis's cloae room, until I really ctmld not bear the two
easts on tLe shelf above Jlr.Jaggdrs's cliair and got np
und went out.
When I tolil the clerk that I would take a turn in
the 8Jr while I waited, he advised mo to go round the
corner and I should come into Smithfield. So I came
into Smithfield . and the shameful place, being all
asmeAT with filth and fat and blood and foam, seemed
to stick to me. So I rubbed it off with all possible
speed by turning into a street where I saw the great
Hack dome of Saint Paul's bulging at me from behind
a grim stone building which a bystander Baid was
Newgate Prison. Following the wall of the jail, I
found the roadway covered with straw to deaden the
Dulse of pasHing vehicles; and from this, and from the
quantity of people standing about, smelling strongly of
xpirita and beer, I inferred that the trials were on.
While I looked about me hero, an exceedingly
dirty and partially drunk minister of justice asked me
if I would like to step in and hear a trial or so; in-
iimning me that he could give me a front place for
half-a-erown , whence I should command a full view of
■ he Lord Chief Justice in his wig and robes — men-
iiiiug that awi^ll peraonage like waxwork, and pre-
ntly offering him at the reduced price of eighteen-
i"*nce. As I declined the proposal on the plea of an
iippointraent, he was so good as to take me into a yard
and show me where the gallows was kept, and also
' where people were publicly whipped, and then he
;1ii,wed me the Debtors' Door, out of which culprits
line to be hanged: heightening the mteie'rt, ol Xhwi.
}!v.;dM poiiitl by giving me to understaiii ftia.t '■'"lowj
-a^BSg^rf ccwe out at that door t\ie 4ay a.^e\: 1
ISIS , OffilAT BZPBCTATIWn,
^^V morrow at eig'ht in tho mommg, to be killed in a r
^^H This was horrible, and gare mo a sickBning idea
^^B London; the moro so as the Loid Chief Jiistice'e
^^1 prietor wore (from his bat down to his boots and
^^M again to hia pucket-handkeri;hicf inclusive) mildei
^^B clothes, which had evidently not belonged to 1
^^B originally, and which, I took it into my head,
^^P bong^ht cheap of the executioner. "Under these c
^^ stances I thought myself well rid of him for a shilU
I dropped into the office to ask if Mr. Jaggers 1
come in yet, and I found he had not, and I stroll
^^ out again. This time I nutde the tour of Little Brita
^Hi and turned into Bartholomew Close: and now I beca
^^H aware that other people were waiting about for ]
^^P Jaggers, as well as I. There were two men of Be)
^^ appearance lounging in Bartholomew Close, and thou^
fully fitting their feet into the cracks of the pavemi
as they talked together, one of whom said to the ot'
■when they first passed me, that "Jaggers would Ai
(if it was to bo done." There was a knot of throe n
and two women standing at a corner, and one of :
■women was crying on lier dirty shawl, and tlie ol"
comforted her by saying, as she pulled her own sh
over her shoulders, "Jaggers is for him, 'Melia,
what more could you have?" There was a red-e
little Jew who come into the Close while 1 was loi
ing there, in company with a second little Jew whc
he sent upon an errand; and while the messenger n
gone, 1 remarked this Jew, who was of a highly '
citable temperament, performing a jig of anxiety u "
a lamp-post, and accompanying himself, in a kind
frenzy, with the words, "Oil JaggertV, Ja.g^'srtii.^ '
'" otterth itli Cag-M.&ggertli, gwa ma ',
8I»
f gerth!" These testimonieH to the popularity of my
:iiardian made a deep impression on me, aiiil I admired
A wondered more than ever.
At length, as I was looking out at the Iron gate of
li;LrlhoIoniew Close into Little Britain, I saw Mr. Jag-
I coining across the road towards me. All tho
F ytbo were waiting aaw him at the same time,
: quite a rush at him. Mr. Jaggers,
pttuLg a, hand on mj shoulder and walking me on at
r his ride witLout saying anything to me, addressed him-
I self to his folloTrers.
First, he took the two secret men.
"Now, I have nothing to say to ^oii" saidMr. Jag-
I gas, throwing his finger at them. "I want to know
10 more than I know. As to the result, it's a toss-up.
T liild you from the first it was a toss-up. Have you
, 'iJ Wemmick?"
"WeTnafle the money up this morning, sir," said
r.i- of the men, submissively, wliile the other perused
■li- Jaggerg's face.
''I don't ask you when you made it up, or where,
■I whether you made it up at all. Has Wemmick
-■■ii it?"
"Yes, sir," said both the men together.
"Very well; then you may go. Now, I won't have
'■' B&id Mr. Jaggcrs, waving his hand at them to put
"in behind him. "If you say a word to me, I'll
li:iiw up the case."
"We thought, Mr. daggers — " one of the men
■jan, pulling off liis hat.
"That's what I told you not to dn," Bail ^t, 5a.^-
" -^'"J^oug-htf I think for you-, tWats cao^v^
fu, I know where to fi.-Q.4 ■go'a:
220 OBBAT Bl^SOTAnOira.
don't want you tn find me. Now I won't have it
won't liear a word."
The two men looked at one another tta Mr. Jag
waved them behind again, and humhly fell back
were heard no more.
"And now you!" said Mr. Jaggers, suddenly
ping, and turning on the two women with the ahs
from whom the three men had meekly separated
"Oh! Ameba, is it?"
"Yes, Mr. Jaggera."
"And do you remember," retorted Mr. Jagj
"that but for me you wouldn't be here and couldn'^
"Ob yes, sir!" exclaimed both women
"Lord blesa yon, sir, well we knows that!"
"Then why," said Mr. Jaggers, "do you c
here?"
"My Bill, air!" the crying woman pleaded.
"Now, I tell you what!" said Mj. Jaggers. "I
for all. If you don't know that your Bill's in
hands, I know it. And if you come here, both*
about your Bill, I'll make an example of both 3
Bill and you, and let him slip through my fini
Have you paid Wemmick?"
"Oh yes, sir! Every farden."
"Very well. Then you have done all yon I
got to do. Say another word — one single word
and Wemmick shall give you your money back.''
This terrible threat caused the two women to'
off immediately. No one remained now but the
table Jew, who had already raised the skirts of
JaggerB's coai to his lips ae^eio.\ limea.
ll£,don't know this maul" aa.i'
3!imp devastating strain, "Wtat does this fellow
'"Ma thpar MitLter Jaggertli. Hown brother in
D.iljra,ham Latliaruth!"
"Who's he?" Baid Mr. Jaggers. "Let go of my
"i'he suitor, kisBing the hem of the garment again
'■-v: relinqnishing it, replied, "Habraham Latharath,
Imthpithiou of plate,"
You're too late," said Mr. Jaggers. "I am over
^v■,^y.■'
Holy fatber, Mithter Jaggerth!" cried ray exci-
'i- acquaintance, turning white, "don't thsy you're
ill Habraham Latharuth!"
"I am," said Mr. Jaggors, "and there's an end of
if- Get out of the way."
"Mithter Jaggerth! Half a moment! My hown
cnlhea'th gone to Mithter "Wemmick at thith prethent
minute, to hoffer him hany termth. Mithther JaggerthI
Half a quarter of a moment! If you'd have the cou-
detbenthun to be bought off from the t'other thido —
al haay tbuperior prithel — money no object! — Mithter
Jsggerth — Mithter ^1"
My gnardian threw hia supplicant off with supreme
indifference, and left him dancing on the pavement as
if it were red-hot. Without further interruption, we
reached the front office, whore we found the clerk and
the man in velveteen with the fur cap.
"Here's Mite," said the clerk, getting down from
his stool, and approaching Mr. Jaggers con.&iftTit\s&:5 .
"Ob!" said Mr. Jaggera, turning to tte mMi, V&o
jyg^tJ /oci of hair in the middle oS \i.\.a ^o^er
^^Uead, like tLe Bull ia Cuek Robin pulling at tha \
^Krope; "your man comes on tltis afternoon. Well?"'
^H "Well, Mas'r Jaggere," returned Mike, in the vc
^B:(>f H sufferer from a constitutional cold; "arter a d
^Ko' trouble, I've found one, sir, as might do."
^V "What is he prepared to swear?"
^B "Well, Mas'r Jaggers," said Mike, wiping hia n
^w>n his fur cap this time; "in a general way, anythin
^^m Mr. Jaggera Buddenly became most irate. "Now
^nronied you before," said he, thi'owing his forefingw
^Hlbe terrified client, "that if you ever presumed t
^HSn that way here, I'd make an example of you. 7
B infernal econndrel, how dare you tell me that?"
H The client looked scared, but bewildered too,
^L if he were unconscious what he had done.
^B "Spooney!" said the clerk, in s
KiiiiD a stir with his elbow. "Soft Ileiidl Need yl
H Bay it face to face?"
^ft' "Now, I ask you, you blundering booby," said a
^^Koordian, very sternly, "once more and for the Is
^BBme, what the man you hare brought here Is prepai
^fio swear?"
Mike looked hard at my gnardian, as if he ■»
trying to learn a lesson from hia face, and slowly i
plied, "Ayther to character, or to having been in B
company and never left him all the night in questioi
^L "Now, be carefol. In what station of life is tl
Hiaan?"
^^ Mike looked at his cap, and looked at the floi
and looked at the ceiling, and looked at the clerk, i
even looked at me, before beginning to reply ii
aervona manaei, "We've dressed \vito \!l^ Wta — ^^ ■^
^jr gaaTdian blustered out: _
'inaUT n»KITi.TI0N8. 223
Tou WILL, will ynu?" .
' added the clerk agnin, witli anotbtir I
\ itt.T soma helpless casting about, Mike lirigbleued J
■ I'l'gan aj^aiu: J
"Ho is dressed liio a 'spectable pieman. A sort of
«atryeook."
"Is be hero?" asked my guardian.
"I left bim," said Mike, "a Hettin on some door- \
w round the comer."
"Take liim past that window, nud let me see him." j
Tbe window indicated was tbo office window. We '
three went to it, 'behind tbe wire blind, and pre-
tly saw the client go by in an accidental manner,
1 a niurderous-Iookiug tall individual, in a short
of white linen and a, paper cap. This guileless
fectionur was not by any means sober, and bad a
:k eye in the green stage of recovery, which was
lied over-
"Tell hiia to take bis witness away directly," said
guardian to tbe clerk, in extreme disgust, "and
bun what he means by bringing such a fellow as
My guardian then took mo into his own room, and
le he lunched Btunding, from a Knndwieh-boK anil
iHjket flask of sherry {he seemed to bully bis very
Iwich aa be ate it), informed me what arrangements
bad made for me, 1 was to go to "Barnard's Inn,"
foung Mr. Pocket's rooms, where a bed had been
t in for my accomnjodation; I was to remain with
ng Mr, Pocket until Monday; on Moniay \ luaa \,ti
rM biia to Ids father's house on a ViaVt, \Wt ^
t^ bow I liked it. Also I -was toVi ^\«^^J
SKBAT BXPBCTATIOIW.
fllowance was to bo — it was a very tiboral <
md had handed to me from one of my guardian
.wars, the cards of certain tradesmen with whom
i to deal for all kinds of cIotheH, and such i
things as I could in reason want. "You will find yoi
credit good, Mr, Pip," said my guardian, whose flat
of sherry smelt like a whole cask-full, as ho hastil
refreshed himself, "but I shall by this meana be ab!
to check your hills, and to pull you up if I find yo
outrunning the constable. Of course you'll go ■
BOmeliow, but that's no fault of mine."
After I had pondered a little over this encouragin
|.«entiraeiit, I asked Mr. Jaggcra if I could send for
ijBoach? He said it was not worth while, I was bo ni
Oiy destination; Wemmick should walk round with u
if I pleased.
I then found that Wemmick was the clerk in t
next room. Another clerk was rung down from up
stairs to take his place while he was out, and I ace
janied him into the street, after shaking hands i
[my guardian. We fnuod a new set of people Itngerii^
Routside, but Wemmick made a way among them b;
fcBaying coolly yet decisively, "I. tell you it's no n&
gjss won't have a word to say to one of you;" and ■</
a got clear of them, and went on side by side.
CHAPTER XXI.
Castisq my eyes on Mr. Wemmick as we we
mg, to see what he was like in the light of day,
I'ound him to be a dry man, rather short in staton
wj'ci a square wooden face, wtiisii cs.^es»ion.
J hare been imperfectly cliiyTJcd vtaX mOa ^'
n^ero were sotne mai-ks in It that migbt liave
iples, if tlio material had been Boftcr nsd tlio
t filler, but whicb, as it was, were only dinta.
)1 had mado tbrec or four of these attompta at
ment over his nose, bat had given them up
a effort to smooth them off. I judged him to
: from the frayed condition of Iiis linen,
appeared to have sustained a good many be-
to: for, ho woro at least four niourning rings,
I, Drooch repreaenting a lady anJ "Weeping
It a tomb with an um on it. I noticed, too,
UaI rings and seals hung at liis watch-cLain,
were quite laden with remombrancOB of do-
iends. He had glittering eyes — small, keen,
— and thin wide mottled lips. Ho had had
r the best of my belief, from forty to fifty
you were never in London before?" said Mr.
to rae.
said I. ^H
new liere once," said Mr. Wemmick. "B^^f
of now I " ^1
are well acquainted with it now?"
yes," said Mr. Wemmick. "I know the
h."
A very wicked place?" I asked, more for the
Bomething than for information.
may get cheated, robbed, and murdered, in
Bat there are plenty of people anywhere
that for you."
bad blood between you 8.ii4 toao^
goAen it off a littlti.
don't know about bad blood," TcetMrw
Ljii^Jfcyi
rS9d OSBAT SlCFEOTATIONe.
r
^H Wemmick; "there's aot mncli bad bloi^d about.
^H there's anythiiig to bo got by it."
^M "That makes it worse."
^H "You tliink so?" returned Mr. Wemmiek. "Mj
^H abont the eame, I should say."
^H Kc wore his hat on the back of his head,
^^ looked straight before bim: walking in a self-contaii
^f way as if there were notliing in the streets to cl)
his attention. His mouth was such a post-office c
mouth that he had a mechanical appearance of smiU
We had got to the top of Holbom HOI before I kq
^^ that it was merely a mechanical appearance, and t
^L he was not smiling at all,
^B . "Do yon know where Mr. Matthew Pocket lives
^■/ 1 asked Mr. Wemmiek.
^Hj "Yes," said he, nodding in the direction. "At Ha
^Hv^ersmith, west of London."
^M "Is that far?"
^K "Well! Say five miles."
^M "Do you know him?"
^H "Why, you're a regular cross-examiner!" said 1
^F Wemmiek, looking at me with an approving air. "Yi
I know him. / know him!"
There was an air of toleration or depreciation ab<
his utterance of these words, that rather depressed i
and I was stiU looking sideways at his block of a fi
in search of any encouraging note to the text wl
he said here we were at Barnard's Inn. My depress!
was not alleviated by_ the announcement, for I I
supposed that eatahliahmcnt to be an hotel kept i
Mr. Samard, to which the Blue Boar in our town y
t wero public-bouse. Whereas 1. bow ^moA'&'OTw
mbodied spirit, oi a&cliou, ai^i'^wVoB
rable ^^
Uection of shabby buildings ever squoezadS
a rank corner as a club for Tom-cats. i
lered tliis liayon tlirough a wii^et-gate, antt
gg^ by an intruductoiy passage into a melaM
sqnare that looked to mo like a flat bmyingiij
Ihought it liad the most dismal trees in it, aiuB
' Bparrows, and the most dismal cats, anw
housea (in numbor half a dozen or bo),-I
Bver seen, I thought the windows of the aets
8 into which these honses were divided, were
ige of dilapidated blind and curtain, crippled
cracked glass, dusty decay and miserable
while To Let To Let To Let, glared at
r rooms, as if no new wretches
the vengeance of the soul of Barnard wi
ly appeased by the gradual suicide of the
iupants and their unholy interment under
A frowzy mourning of soot and smoke
1 forlorn creation of Barnard, and it had
IS on its head, and was undergoing penance
iation as a mere dust-hole. Thus far my
jht; while dry rot and wet rot and all the
that rot in negleiijed roof and cellar — rot
moose and bug and coaching-stables near at
IfiB — addressed themselves faintly to my
lell, and moaned, "Try Barnard's Misture."
rfect was this realisation of the first of my
letations, that I looked in dismay at Mr.
'lAh!" said he, mistaking me; "the rotiro-
) you of the coantiy. So it does me,"
SB into a comer and conducted me u^ ■■
— -H^cA appeared to me to te Ao-wV^
"lat one of tbese day a
15*
328 oei
upper lodgcTB would look out at their doors and find
themselves without the means of comiug down -
to a set of chambers on the top floor. Mb. Pocket,
Jtjn., was painted on the door, anil there was a labd
on the letterbox, "Return shortly."
"He liardly thought you'd come so soon," Mr. Wem-
mick explained. "You don't want me any more?"
"No, thank you," said I.
"As I keep the cash," Mr. Wemmick observed,
"we shall most likely meet pretty often. Good day."
"Good day,"
I put out my hand, and Mr. Wemmick at first
looked at it as if he thought I wanted something.
Then he looked at me, and said, correcting himself,
"To be sure! Yes. Tou'ro in the habit of shaking
hands?"
I was rather confused, thinking it must be out of ■
the London fashion, but 8
"I have got so out of it!" said Mr. Wemmick —J
"eycopt at last. Very glad, I'm sure, to make yoM
acquaintance. Good day I"
Whon we had shaken hands and he was
opened the etairease window and had nearly 1:
myself, for the lines had rotted away, and it i
down like the guillotine. Happily it i
that I had not put my head out. After this t
I was content to take a foggy view of the Tnrt thi
the window's encrusting dirt, and to stand dolef
looking out, saying tomyself that London was decidi
overrated.
Mr. Pocket, Junior's, idea of Shortly was not a
5r I had nearly maddened myBft\^ m'Cti \q(Jiiaq% w
}i^aJiom; and had ■writteum-siiam'i-m'CivBijSi
(namv mcpHOTATtom. 239
s in the dirt of every pane in tbo window,
Sre I heard footBtepa on the Btaire. Gradually there
Dse before me the hat, hend, neckcloth, waistcoat,
lusers, boots, of a member of society of about my own
inding. Se had n paper-bag under each arm and a
*tle ofitrawberriea in one hand, and was out of breath.
"Mr. Pip?" Hftid he.
"Mr. Pocket?" said I.
"Dear mel" be exclaimed. "I am extremely aorry;
It I knew there was a coach from your part of the
imtry at mid-day, and I thought you woiUd come
' that OQO, The fact is, I have been out on your
count — not that that is any excuse — for I thoug^ht, j
■ming from the country, yon might like a little fruit
ler dinner, and I went to Covent Garden Market to
A it good."
For a reason that I had, I felt as if ray eyes would
urt out of ray head. I acknowledged iiis attention
coherently, and began to think this was a, dream.
"Dear mel" said Mr. Pocket, Junior. "This door
As he was fast making jam of his fruit by wrest-
ig; with the door while the paper-hags were under his
ms, I begged bim to allow me to hold them. He i
Imqulithed them with an agreeable smile, and com-
ted with the door aa if it were a wild beast, It
dded so suddenly at last, that he staggered back
ion me, and I staggered back upon the opposite door,
id we both laughed. But still I felt as if my eyes
ast start ont of my head, and as if this mvk&t \i% a. I
earn.
•^r^jr eowe in," aaid Mr. Pocket, J\imoT. "Kitow J
I ani rather bare \ieY6.»
230 OBEAT EIPBOTATMHa. '
Lope you'll be able to make out tolerably wdi
Monday. My father thought you would get on
agreeably through to-morrow with me than with
and might like to take a walk about London,
sore I shall be very happy to show London to
As to our table, you wou't fiud that bad, I hope.
it will be supplied from our coffee-houBe here, ai
is only right I should add) at your expense, such 1
Mr. Jaggers's dii-ections. As to our lodging, it'i
by any means splendid, because I have my own 1
to earn, and my father hasn't anything to give mo,
I shouldn't he willing to take it, it' he had. Tl
our sitting-room —just such chairs and tables and o
and so forth, you see, as they could spare from b
You muBtn't give me credit for the tablecloth
spoons and castors, because they come for yon
the coffee-house. This is my little bedroom; n
muaty, but Barnard's is musty. This is your bedr
the furniture's hired for the occasion, but I trust H
answer the pnrpose; if you should want anything,
go and fetch it. 'The chambers are retired, ant
shall be alone together, hut we shan't fight, I
aay. But, dear me, I beg your pardon, you're ho]
the fruit all this time. Fray let me take these
from yon. I am quite ashamed."
As I stood opposite to Mr. Pocket, Junior, del
ing him the bags, One, Two, I saw the startinj
pearance come into his own eyes that I knew to I
mine, and he said, failing back;
"Lord bless me, you're the prowling boy!"
"And j-ou," said I, "are the pale young g«
maa/"
f-wiamovkrKnm.
CIUPTEE XXII.
kle fOODg gentlemnn and I Rtood contes
I another in Barnard's Inn. until ^
ftUghing. "Tho idoa of its being youl" s
its being you!" said I. And then
plated one another afresh, and laughod again.
aid the palu young gentleman, reacliing out
ood humouredly, "it's all over now, I hope,
U be magn<inimou9 in you if you'll forgive
ing knocked you about so."
id from this Bpoech that Mr. Herbert Pocket
■t was the jjaie young gentleman's name)
confounded his intention with his execution,
de a modest reply, and we shook hands
tiadn't come into your good fortune at that
d Herbert Pocket.
said I.
he acquiesced: "I heard it had happened
'. / was rather on the look-ont for good
Q."
•d?';
Miss Havisham had sent for me, to see if
take n fancy to me. But she couldn't — at
Bhe didn't."
Ifht it polite to remark that I was surprised
A.
BSte," said Herbert, laughing, "but a fact.
ad Bent for me on a trial visit, and if I had
if it guccessfally, I suppose 1 Bko\A.i. Va.Nft
led /or; perbapa X sliould kave \jcifcii 'wV^V
^ it to EstQUa."
i:933
OKEAT BSPBOTA^TKUffi.
I
I
"What's tliat?" I asked, with Budden gravity.
lie waa arranging bis frait in. plates while ^
talked, which divided his attention, and was the c
of hiB having made this lapse of a word. "AfHance'
he explained, still busy with the frnit, "Botrotb
What's-his-nained. Any word of that &
"How did you bear your disappointment?"
asked.
"Pooh!" said ho, "I didn't care much for it. Sk
a Tartar."
"MisB Havisham?"
"I don't say no to that, but I meant Eatella. Th
girl's hard and haughty and capricious to the lost t
gree, and has been brought up by Miss Havisham
wreak revenge on all the male sex."
"What relation is she to Miss Havisham?"
"None," said he. "Only adopted."
"Why should she wreak revenge on all the i
8ex? What revenge?"
"Lord, Mr. Pip!"
"No," said I,
"Dear me! I
till dinuei-time. And i
asking you a questio
I told him, and he was attentive until I had finishe
and then biu'st out laughing again, and asked n
was sore afterwards? I didn't ask him if Ae was,
my conviction on that point was perfectly eHtablisbi
"Mr. Jaggers is your guardian, I understand?" '
taid ho. "Don't yon know?"
3 quite a story, and shall be
' let me take the liberty
How did you come there
SBBXT KxasoTVtwim, 238
pitticitor, and lias her confidence wlien nobody else
ThJB was bringing me (I felt) townnls dangerous
ground. I answered with « constraint I made no at-
tempt to disguise, that I had seen Mr. Jaggora in Miss
Havishani'a bouse on the very day of our combat, but
ntiver at any other time, and tliat I believed he had
no recollection of having ever seen me there.
"He was so obliging as to aaggeat my father for
your tutor, and ho called on my father to propose it,
iJf coarse he knew about my father from his connexion
with Miss Havisham. My father ia Miss Havisham's
cousin; not that that implies familiar intercourse bo-
Iween them, for he ia a had courtier and will not pro-
pitiate her." ' /
Herbert Pocket had a frank and eaay way with 1
bim that was very taking. I had never seen any one
ihea, and I have never seen any one since, who more /
slfongly expressed to me, in every look and tone, a
natural incapacity to do anything secret or mean. '
There was something wonderfully hopeful about his
Kcneral air, and something that at the same time whis-
pered to me he would never be very auccessful or
fich. I don't know how this was. T became imbued
with the notion on that first occaaion before we sat
Llo dinner, hut I cannot define hy what means.
yvos still a pale yoang gentleman, and had a
mquered languor about him in the midst of
Mt« and hriakness, that did not seem indicative
l^natural strength. Ho had not a handaomei €*«;«, Wi.
I' was better than handsome: heing eitreme\-y annjMw.
wlcheerfal. His 6gure was a little ungamly , a.6 '"« -
^^ vbea tnjr knnckloB had taken buc\v \\\>ftxtvai
gnSAT BXPBDTATIOKS.
^V"#rith it, but it looked as if it would alwiiys be light an
^^ young;. Whetlier Mr. Trabb'e locnl work would liai
sat more gracefully on liim tliftn on me, may be
question; but I am consciona that be carried off fa
rather old clothes much better than I carried off is
tnew suit.
Ab he wag so commanicative, I felt that lOBervB i
iny part would be a bad return unsuited to our yeai
I therefore told bim my small story, and laid stresB
my being forbidden to inquire who my benefactor w$
I fiirtlier mentioned that as I had been brought up
, blacksmith iu a country place, and knew very little
Ltho ways of politeness, I would take it as a grCi
■]tindne.ss in him if he would give me a hint whenev
saw me at a loss or going wrong.
"With pleasure," said he, "though I venture ■
» Jropbesy that you'll want very few Lints. I dare ss
a shall be often together, and I should like to banii
Eany noodleas restraint between us. Will you do n
ffthe favour to begin at once to call me by my christii
pname, Herbert?"
I thanked him, and said I would. I informed h
I in exchange that my christian name was Philip.
"I don't take to Philip," said he, smiling, "foi
liwunds like a moral boy out of the spelling-book, w
I Iras so lazy that he fell into a pond, or so fat that
teouldn't see out of his eyes, or so avaricioua that
locked up Lis cake till the mice ate it, or so detc
mined to go birds'-nesting that Le got himself eaten "
heara who Jived handy in the neighbourhood. I 1
J'OH what I shoulA like. "We ate bi> W'nB.isw.wia, i
jrou have been a blacksmltli — -«o\A4 ^QM-TKccA'-i'
T shouldn't mind anything tlmt yon propose,"' I
iDswered, "but I don't understand you."
"Would you mind Handel for a familiar name?
riirre's a charming piece of music by Handel, called
:lii- Harmouioufl Bljicksmith."
''I should like it very much."
"Then, my deai' Hanilol," said he, turning round
ij the door opened, "here is the dinner, and I must
kg uf you to tako the top of the table, because the
dinner is of your providing."
This I would nut hear of, so he took the top, and
1 &ced him. It was a nice little dinner — seemed tu
me then, a very Lord Mayor's Feast — and it acquired
additional relish &om being eaten under those inde-
pendent circumstances, witir no old people by, and
«ith London all around'ms. This agaiu was height-
ened by a certain gipsy character tliat set the banquet
off: fur while the table was, aa Mr. Pumblechook
might have said, the lap of luxury — being entirely
fumiahed forth from the ccifFee-house — the circum-
jacent region of sitting-room was of a comparatively
[uistureless and shifty character; imposing on the waiter
the wandering habits of putting the covers on the floor
(where he fell over them), the melted butter in the (;
iinn-cbair, the bread on the book-shelves, the cheese
in the eoal-scuttle, and the boiled fowl into my bed in
[he nest room — where I found much of its parsley
and butter in a state of congelatiou when I retired for
Uie night All this made tlio feast delightful., uvd.
when the waiter whs sot thara to watcli me, tk^ -^iBai-
aaie was without alloy.
2ad made some progress in t^e iimier, Vb
16?
't re
OWBAT BXIVOTATIOm:
W"! reminded Herbert of hia promise to tell me abot
TSisB Havisham.
"True," he replied. "I'll redeem it at once,
me introduce the topic, Handel, by mentioning that :
London it is not the custom to put the knife in t"
mouth — for fear of accidents — and that while t
fork is reserved for that use, it is not put further :
than is necessary. It is scarcely worth mentionin
only it's as well to do as other people do. Also,
spoon is not generally used over-hand, But under, Tli
has two advantages. Tou get at your u
^^ (which after all is the object), and you save a go(
^^Ldoal of the attitude of opening oysters, on the part
^Htbe right elbow."
^^F He offered these friendly suggestions in such
lively way that we bolh laughed and I i
blushed. ^
"Now," he pursued, "concerning Miss Havishai
Misa Havisham, you must know, was a spoilt ehil
Her mother died when she was a baby, and her fath
denied her nothing. Her father was a country gentl
man down in your part of the world, and was a brewe
II don't know why ■it should be a crack thing to be
fcrewer; but it is indisputable that while you t
possibly be genteel and bake, you may be as gente
AS never was and brew. You see it every day."
"Yet a gentleman may not keep a publie-houa
may he?" said I.
"Not on any account," returned Herbert; "but
public-house may keep a gentleman. Well! Mr. B"
visham was very rich and very proud. So was 1
'aug-hter. "
' "MIbs naviaha.m was an onVy chWi"*"
^^VStop a moment, I am coming to tlmt. No, she
^pnS nut au onlj cliild; slie hud a half-brother. Her
j fellier privately married again — his cook, I rather
I liink."
' "I tliouglit he was proud," aaid I.
'My good Handol, so he v/as. He man-iud Iiis
"Lid wit'o jirivatoly, because ho was jiroud, and in
■ ii^e of time slie died. When she was dead, I ap-
licnd lie first told his daughter what he Lad done,
1 then the Boa became a part of the family, residing
ilie house you are acquainted with. As the son
. ■^v a young man, he turned out riotous, extravagant,
:liitiful — altogether bad. At last his father dia-
ii'TJtod him; but he softened when he was dying
'1 left him well off, though not nearly so well off as
li-^ Havisham. Take another glass of wino, and ex-
:-!■ my mentioning that society aa a body does not
jinet one to be so strictly conscientious in emptying
:<'» glass, a9 to turn it bottom upwards with the rim
I one's noBo."
I had been doing this, in an excess of attention to
..' recital. I thanked him and apologised. Ho said,
uit at all," and resumed.
■'Miss Havisham was now an heiress, and you may
;i|.i)«e was looked after as a great mutch. Her halt-
iLorhad now ample means again, but what with debts
.'I what with new madness wasted them moat fearfully
j:iiu. There were stronger differences between him and
!iw than there had boen between him andMafa.tW,«ai.
it is suspected that ieoAerzsAed a deepiiiid mort,aX.^;tVLft.'ga
■- -■ '- -1 havioff inSaenceA the tatUe.r'B aa^cc.
a-HcI part of the etory — mcx*
QSBAT EXPECTATIOWt.
^r breakitiff off, my dear Handel, to remaik tliat a diunor
napkin will not go into a tumbler."
Wliy I was trying to pack mine into my tumble
I am wholly unable to aay. I only know tliat I fonn
inyBelf, with a perseverance worthy of a much bett(
canBB, making the most Btrennoua exertiona, to compre
it within those limits. Again I thanked him and apolog
Bed, and again he said in tlie cheerfnllest u
tat all, I am sure!" and resumed.
"Thero appeared npon the scene — say at th
jaces, or the public balls, or anywhere else yon lik
— a certain man, who made love to Miss Havishad
-I never saw him, for this happened five-and-twant
years ago (before you and I were, Handel), but I hxi
heard my father mention thiit he was a showy-ma
and the kind of man for the purpose. But tJiat 1
was not to be, without ignorance or prejudice, mistake
for a gentleman, my father most strongly asseveratei
P because it is a principle of his that no man who v~~
act a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the w
^gan, a true gentleman in manner. He says,
'Tarnish can hide the grain of the wood; and the i
varnish you put on, the more the grain will exprei
itself Well! This man pursued Miss Havisham closelj
and professed to he devoted to her. I believe she ha
not shown much susceptibility up to that time; but a!
she possessed, certainly came out then, and she pas-
sionately' loved him. There is no doubt that she pel
fectly idolised him. He practised on her affection i
that systematic way, that he got great sums of monfi
from her, and ]ie induced her to buy her brother 01
ofa share in tie brewery (v(li\cV\iBA\iean.'«e.^»i^\s
^uu bjr his father) at an imme-DBft -^nta, uaft*,^
f tiiat when he was her husbaDd lie must bold nail
jiriimge it all. Yoar guardian was not at that time in
Vi-is Haviitham'a councils, aud she was too haughty
I'l too much in love, to he advised by any one. Her
l.uions were poor and scheming, with the exception
I my father; he was poor enough, bnt not time-serring
■ jeslons. The only independent one among them,
II ii'amed her that she was doing too much for this
Qau, and was placing herself too unreservedly in his
power. She took the first opportunity of angrily or-
dering my father out of tho bouse, in bis presence, and
mj father has never seen her since."
I thought of her having said "Matthew will come
ud see me at laiit when I am laid dead upon that
Ubie;" and I asked Herbert whether his father was so
'ii\fiterate against her?
■'It's not that," said he, "bnt she charged him in
J" presence of her intended husband with being dis-
qjpointcd in the hope of fawning upon her for his
own advimcomont, and, if bo were to go to her now,
it would look true — even to him — and even to her.
To return to the man and make an end of him. The
marriage day was fixed, the wedding dresses were
loogbt, the wedding tour was planned out, the wed-
ding guests were invited. The day came, hut not the
Iddegrooni. He wrote her a letter—"
"Which she received," I strack in, "when she
WM dressing for her marriage? At twenty minutes to
"At the hour and minute, "said Herbert, noddm^,"**!,
!.iib she aftenrsn/s stopped aJ] the clocks. ''N^iaX-wsoiYt
/irrfier cbaii that it mont ieartlessly broke tVic TnB.-rc\ft.gS
' i teU jroa, because I don't know. ^WVan. '
CKWAT KCrBOTATIOIta,
m"
^^■540 ORSAT EXPBOTATTOKB.
^H recovered from a bad. illness that she had, she lai
^V whole place waste, as you liavc seen it, aud she 1
^M never emce looked upon tlie light of day."
^H "Is that all the atory?" I askod, after consid
H iug it.
^B "All I know of it; and indeed I only know
^H much, tlffongh piecing it out for myself; for my fatl:
^V always avoids it, and,* even when Miss Havisham i
^^ vited me to go there, told mo no more of it, than
^M was absolutely requisite I should understand. But
^V liave forgotten one thing. It has been supposed til
^ the man to whom she gave her misplaced confident
acted throughout in concert with her Lalf-brother;
it was a conspiracy between them; and that th'
shared the profits."
f"I wonder he didn't marry her and get all i
property," said I.
"He may have been married already, and her crB
mortification may have been a part of her half-broth«
scheme," said Herbert. "Mind! I don't know that."
"What became of the two men?" I askod, af^
I again considering the subject.
"They fell into deeper shame* and degradation -
if there can be deeper — and r
"Axe they alive now?"
"I don't know."
"Yon said just now, that Estella was not relat
to Miss Havisham, but adopted. When adopted?"
Herbert shrugged his shoulders. "There has i
ii-ajv been an Estella, since I have heard of a 1
Havisham. I know no mote. Ajoi tiotf, ^kiAi^' ■
_^, Siially (iirowing off the stoiry s
» perfectly open iin krutainling lietwccn lis. All that
I know abijut Miss HivisLiim, you know."
An I all tint I know," I retorted, "you know."
I iuUy bebevc it. So there can be no competi-
"n jr perplexity between you and me. And as to
lip contbtion on vihich you liold your advancement in
If, — namely that you are not to Inquire or discuss
wlioni you owe it — you may Ihj very sure that it
»1! iic\n he entroaehod upon, or even approached,
\iy me, m by any one belonging to me."
In Iriith, be said this with so mudi delicacy, that
[ fell the subject done with, even though' I should be
;iiii]i^r hh father'M roof for years and years to come.
"I he said it with so much meaning, too, that I felt
■ as perfectly understood Miss Ilavisham to be my
iji'iiefactresK, as I understood the fact myself
It had not occurred to me before, that he had led
up to llie iJieme for the pni-pose of clearing it out of
unt way; but we wore so much the lighter and easier
ftr having broached it, that I now perceived this to be
llie case. We were very gay and sociable, and I asked
him. in the course of conversation, what lie was? He
[I'jilied, "A capitalist — an Insurer of Ships." I sup-
(lOfie he saw me glancing about the room iu search of
wmu tokens of Shipping, or capital, for ho added, "In
the City."
I had grand Ideas of the wealth and importance of
huurcTS of Ships in the City, and I began to think
with awe of having l^d a young Insurer on his back,
'■I;nkened hia enterprising eye, and cut his respenaible
rri ojKin. But, ag-ain, there came upon ma, fox ■ro^
!'',■/: that odd impresaion t/iat Her\icrt PocVct -wo^i:^
^ be yeijr successful or rich.
S43 (UnAT BXPGOTATTOinl.
"I sliall not rest [satisfied with merely employi
my capital iu inauring sbips. I shall buy up w
good Life AsBurauce shares, and cut into the Direct
I shall also do a little in the mining way, I^^oiu
these things will interfere with my chartering a
thousand tons on my own account. I think I shall tr
said he, leaning hack in his chair, "to the East IncE
for silks, shawls, spices, dyes, drugs,
woods. It's an interesting trade."
"And the profits are large?" said I.
"Tremendous!" said he.
I wavered again, and began to tLink here i
greater expectations than my own.
"I think I shall trade, also," said he, puttmg;
thumbs in his waistcoat pockets, "to the West Ind
for sugar, tohacco, and mm. Also to Ceylon, BpecU
"for elephants' tusks."
"You will want a good many ships," said I.
"A perfect fleet," said Jie.
Quite overpowered hy the magnificence of t
transactions, I asked him where the ships lie fom
mostly traded to at p
"I haven't begun insuring yet," he replied.
am looking about me."
Somehow, that pursuit seemed more in \ce&p
with Barnard's Inn. I said (iu a tone of convicti
"Ali-h!"
"Yes. I am in a eoun ting-house, and looking
me."
"Is a counting-house profitable?" I asked.
"To — do you mean to the young fellow who'
ftp" be asked, in reply.
"Yea^ io you.".
He said tbia vith the
6 carefully rockoiiing up and striking a balance.
"N'ot directly profitable. That 19, it doesn't pay me
JiJiiliing, and I have to — keep myself."
'I'liia certainly had not a protitabio appearance,
' I I shook my bead as if I would imply thai it would
!il'licult to lay by mncb accumulative capital from
.. ;» soui'ce of income.
But tbc thing is," said Herbert Pocket, "that you
': about you. Tiiat's the grand thing. You are in
I'liinting-hoiifie, you know, and you look about
U struck me as a singular implication that yua
I'Irt't be out of a counting-house, you know, and
I. about you; but I silently deferred to his expe-
"rben the time comes," said Herbert, "when you
vijur opening. And you go in and you swoop upon
jiJ you make your capital, and then there you are!
Ill iL you have once made your capital, you have
iiiiig to do but employ it"
L'hia was very like bis way of conducting that on-
:ii:er in the garden; very like. His manner of hear-
. Ills poverty, too, exactly corresponded to his man-
ijf bearing that defeat. It seemed to me that he
<k aU blows and bufTcts now, with just the same air
^i he had taken mine then. It was evident that he
had nnthing around him but the simplest necessaries,
I'nr everything that I remarked upon, turned out to have
'""n sent ill on my account from the CQfEee-\i(iU6o at
■■H'whete eJsa
y^f, hiring already made liia fortune ra "\i\a 'J''
^J^^IJJ^^g^^arBlg idtb it tKat 1 M\. t^^iS
341 QBBAT BXPXrTATroiTe,
grateful to iiim for not being puffed np. It w
pleasant nddition to his naturally pleasant ways,
we got on famously. In the evening we went ont
a, walk in the streets, and went half-price to the TheaC
and next day we went to churth at Westminster Abb
and in the afternoon we walked in the Parks; aj
wondered who shod all the horses there, and wii
.Joe did.
' On & moderate computation, it wa^ many moni
that Snnday, since I had left Joe and Biddy, i
epace interposed between myself and them, partool
that expansion, and our marshes were any distance
I That I conld have been at our old church in my
■ diurch-going clothes, on the very last Sunday that o
was, seemed a combination of impossibilities, geog]
phical and social, solar and lunar. Yet in the London
streets so crowded with peojile and so brilliantly lighted
in the dnsk of evening, there were depressing hints of
reproaches' for that I had put the poor old kitchen
i home so far away, and in tiie dead of night, the (oi
steps of some incapable impostor of a porter moonii
' about Barnard's Inn, under pretence of watching
fell hollow on my heart.
On the Monday morning at a quarter before nJB
Herbert wont to the counting-house to report himn
— to look about him, too, I suppose — and I bfl
him company. He was to come away in an hoar ■
two to attend me to Hammersmith, and I was to Wl
about for him. It appeared to me that the eggs frii
which young Insurers were hatched, were iucubatcdi
dast and heat, like the eggs of ostriches, judging fn
tie places to which those roci^veiA gvimXa Tt-^iiwA,.
— a Monday morning. Not dl4 ttie coanSA^s^WiaMJ
^^Hert sssUted, show in my cyea as at all a good Ob-
^^Btoiy; being n back socoitd floor iip a. yard, of a
^^Hh presence in all paiilculars, and with a look into
^^Her baek second fioor rather than a look out.
^^Btraited about until it was noon, and I went upon
^^^^, and I saw Huey men sitting there under the
^^Haboat shipping, whom I took to be great mer-
^^ft, though I uoulJn't understand why they should
^^^B out of spirits. When Herbert came, we went
^^B^d lunch at a celebrated house which I then quite
^^^Ugd, but now believe to have been the most ab-
^^^^n^tltion in Europe, and whexe I could not help
^^^ng, even then, that there was much more gravy
^^K. tablecloths and knives and waitera' clothes, than
^^^B steaks. This collation disposed of at a moderate
^^■(considering the grease, which was not charged
^^HWe went back to Barnard's Inn and got my little
^^Htuteau, and then took coach for Hammersmith.
^^HOnved there at two or three o'clock in the aftcr-
^^K and had very little way to walk to Mr. Pocket's
^^^K Xifting the latch of a gate, we passed direct
^^^fi little garden overlooking the river, where Mr.
^^Hlt'fl dbildren were playing about. And unless I
^^^fre myself on a point where my interests or pre-
^^^BBiDns are certainly not concerned, I saw that Mr.
I^^Trs. Pocket's children were not growing up or ho-
I ID^ brought up, but were tumbling up.
F Kra. Pocket was sitting on a garden chair under a
■■'% reading, with her legs upon another garden clmii-,
I'l Mrs. Pocket's two nursemaids, were Yootmg aXjQ\A
im wii'/e tie clu'Jdrea played. "Mamina," Ba,\i^«t
/^^Qj^ jromg Mr. Pip." Upon '«Vi«iV "Nb
r946 GREAT BXPaOTATlOKS.
Pocket received me with an appearance c
dignity.
"MftBter Alick and Mias Jane," cried (
nurses to two of the cliildren, "if you go a bouat^
^^ np against them bushes you'll fall over into the ri'
^^L-And he drownded, and what'U your p» say then!"
^^V At the same time this nurse picked up Mxe. Fockt
^^r handkerchief, and said, "If that don't make six tin
you've dropped it, MumI" Upon which Mrs. PocJ
laughed and said, "Thauk you, Plopson," and aettli
herself in one chair only, resumed her book. Her col
^^ tenance immediately assumed a knitted and intent
^^L pression as if she had been reading for a week, but
^^M fore she could have read half a. dozen lines, she &
^^r her eyes upon mo, and said, "I hope your manimi
quite well?" This unexpected inquiry put me i
such a difficulty that I began Baying in the absurd
way that if there had been any such pei-son I had
t doubt she would have been quite well and would h
been very much obliged and would have sent her &
pliments, when the nurse came to my rescue.
"Weill" she cried, picking up the pocket-handi
chief, "if that don't make seven times! What a
a doing of this afternoon, Mum!" Mrs. Pocket
ceived her property at first with a look of unnttera
surprise as if she had never seen it before, and t^
with a laugh of recognition, and said, "Thank y
riopson," and forgot me, and went on reading.
I found, now I had leisure to count them, that t]
were no fewer than six little Pockets present, in var:
staffBs of tumbling up. I had scarcely arrived at
iois/ when a seventh waa keaidi 8 ' '
wailing doMaWj.
k
347
"If there (un't Baby!" said Flopeou, appearing to
'liink it most surprising. "Make haste up, MillerB."
>tillers, who van the other nnrae, retired into the
Nil?, and liy degrees the child's wEiiling was hushed
■ 111 stopped, as if it were a young ventriloquist with
'■rjjething in its mouth. Mrs, Pocket read all the time,
' "ml I was curious to know what the hook could be.
I We were waiting, I supposed, for Jlr. Pocket to
I 'jii? out to us; at any rate we waited there, and so I
III (ui opportunity of observing the remark able family
niMiraenon that whenever any of the children utrayed
mil Mrs. Pocket in their play, they always tripped
IlliKmsolves up and tumbled over her — always very
nndi to hor momentary aatouisbnient, and their own
mure enduring lamentation. I was at a loss to account
■■■1' lliis sui-piising circumstance, and could not help giv-
■■■: my miud to speculations about it, until by-and-by
'illers came down with the baby, which baby was
iiiilcd to Flopson, which Plopson was handing it to
■ 1^. Pocket, when she too went fairly head-foremost
ir Mrs. Pocket, baby and all, and was caught by
iiirliert and myself.
"Gracious me, Plopson!" said Mrs. Pocket, looking
'I iier book for a moment, "everybody's tumbling!"
"Gracious you, indeed. Mum!" returned Flopson,
■ify rod in the face; "what have you got there?"
"/ got here, Flopson?" asked Mrs. Pocket.
"Wliy, if it ain't yonr footstool!" cried Flopson.
"ind if yen keep it under your skirts like that, who's
■ l"'lp tumblingi Here! Take the baby, Mum, and
:u- me your book.''
Mrs. Pocket acted on tie advice, and, me-x.'jeiA^
Llier lap, wliile liS
248 EtSSAT HX^BCI-AWOSBi
children pliiyed about it. Tliia had liisted but a "
short timo, when Mrs. Pocket issued summaiy tq
that they were all to be taken into the house fSl
nap. Thus I made the eecond discovery on that i
occasion, that the nurture of the little Pockets uoBsi
f alternately tumbling up and lying down.
Under these circumstances, when FtopBon and :
lera had got the children into the house like t
flock of sheep, and Mr. Pocket came out of it to
my acquaintance, I was not much surprised to find
Mr. Pocket was a gentleman with a rather perple
expression of face, and with his very grey hair
ordered on his head as if he didn't quite see his '
to putting anything straight.
CHAPTER XXin.
Mr. Pocket said he was glad to see me, and
ped I was not sorry to see him. "Por I really
t," Le added, mthhisson's amile, "an alarming ]
nage." He was a young-looking man, in spite of
perplexities and bis very grey hair, and his max
seemed quite natural. I use the word natural, ii
sense of its being unaffected; there was something c
"i bis distraught way, as thongh it would have 1
downright ludicrous but for his own perception tlu
was very near being so. When he bad talked with
a little, be said to 3Irs.-£ocket, with a rather anx;
contraction of his eyebrows, which were black and h,
some. "Belinda, I hope you have welcomed Mr. Pi
.jinJ she looked up from her toot, Mii %tt.\i., "
niletl upon me in an a>jse«. b
Bd me if I liked tlie tastu of orange-flowj
futlie qnestiou had uo boiiriug;, near or remot^^
Bregone or subsequent transactiuu, I cooHider
K been thrown out , like her {ircvious approatlies,
H conTersational condescension.
^■3 out within a few hours, oud may mention
^Mist Mrs. Pocket was the only daughter of a
Hite auddental deceased Knight, who had iu-
^t himself a conviction tliat his deeeaHed father
^ye been made a Barcmet but for somebody's
Wft opposition arising out of entirely personal
fc ' 1 forget wboBS, if 1 ever knew — the
tal'B, the Prime Minister's, the Lord Cliancellor's,
BtHBboi) of Canterbury's, anybody's - — and had
fbdnself on to the nobles of the earth in right
rite enpposititinus fact. I believe he had been
kimse^ for storming the English grammar at
I Kf the pen in a deapentte addreaa engrossed
1 of the laying of the iirst
B building or other, and for handing some
aiage either the trowel or the mortar. Be
y, he had directed Mra. Pocket to be
im lier cradle as one who in the nature
marry a title, and who was to be guarded
squisition of plebeian domestic knowledge.
a watch and ward liad been established
g lady by this judicious parent, that she
) highly ornamental, but perfectly help-
elesSr^WTtb" her ehwracter ttaiB happily
! first bloom of ber youth she had en-
'. Potkef ; who was also in tlie %is.V \Aowta.
£ qaite decided whetliet to tqomlW\. "to
mself in witVi a ^\ti:«.
m
360 asEkT bxpBotAWohb,
hia doing the one or the other was a mere qnestion
time, he and Mrs. Pocket had taken Time hy the ti
lock (when, to judge from its length, it i
have wanted cutting), and had married without
knowledge of tho judicious parent. The jndic
pajent, having nothing to bestow or mthhold hut
blessing, had handsomely settled that dower upon t!
after a short struggle, and had informed Mr. Pw
that hia wifewaa "a treaaure for a Prince." Mr.Po<
had invested the Prince's treasure in the ways of
world ever since, and it was supposed to have brot
in but indifferent iutereat, Still Mrs. Pocket i^ai
general the object of a queer sort of E-iapectfiil i
hecauae she had not married a title; whEe Mr. Pol
was the object of a queer sort of forgiving reproach:
cause he had never got one.
Mr. Pocket took me into the house and showed
ly room: which was a pleasant one, and eo fumia
s that I could use it with comfort for my own pri'
aitting-room. He then knocked at the doota of
other similar rooms, and introduced me tu their oi
panta, by name Drummle and Startop. Dnimmle,
old-looking young man of a heavy order of architect
was whistling. Startop, younger in years and app
ance, waa reading and holding hia head,
t thought himself in danger of exploding it with
strong a charge of knowledge.
Both Mr. and Mrs, Pocket had such a noticeable
of being in somebody else's hands, that I wondi
who really waa in possession of the house and let tl
Jive there, until I found tliis unknown power to bo
^erraata. It waa a smooth way oi %WQ% wa^ "S^
Jo regpeiit of saving trouble-, Wt 'A Vai tVa k^^
08EAT eSPECTATIOKS. 251
nt' lipmg eipenaive, for tLe servants felt it n daty tbey
il to tbt-mselveH to be nice intheir eatiug anddriiik-
. and to keep a, deal of company down Btairs. They
M.d a very liberal table to Mr, and Mrs. Pocket,
it always appeared to me that by far the beat part
h'j house to have boarded in, would have been the
■ lii'ii — always supposing the boarder capable of
' IffencG, for, before I had been there a week, a
.libouring lady with whom the family were per-
. illy unacquainted, wrote in to eaythat aha hsd seou
■ Hits slapping the baby, This greatly distressed Mrs.
kLl, who burst into teara on receiving the note, and
1 it was ■ estraor<liiiary thing that the neighbours
liln't minu ..heir own business.
Hy dogi'ces I learnt, antl chiefly from Herbert, that
I'ocket had been educated at Harrow and at Cam-
■:l-;ii. where he had distinguished himself; but that
■^i he had had the happiness of marryjug Mrs.
I ket veryearlyin life, he had impaired his prospects
L Hid taken up the calling of a Grinder, After grinding
I *nnmher of dull blades — of whom it was remarkable
F 'tist their fathers', when influential, were always going
■ iii^Ip him to preferment, but always forgot to do it
': II the blades had leit the Grindstone -— he had
iiied of that poor work and had come to London.
n;, after gradually failing in loftier hopes, he had
' ii!" with divers who had lacked opportunities or
^•Ifcted them, and had refurbished divers others for
lid occasions, and had turned his acquirements to
iccouut of literary compilation and eorrcction, and
■uvh means, addt'd to some very modetEite 'jra'i'v.e.
^ s&V/ nmintiiined the house I aa^w.
. JPocket had a. toady ixdg\i^io'af-, *
■ 8B2 OEEAT ETWlOTATHWTft
widow lady of that hig'hly sympatlietic nature that
i agreed with evetybody, blessed everybody, and a
r fflnilea and tears on everybody according to circi
I stances. This lady's name was Mrs. Goiter, and I ]
f the bonoTir of taking her down to dinner on the day
'' installation. She gave mo to understand oa
\ 'Btaifs, that it was a blow to dear Mra. Pocket t
dear Mr. Poeket shoald be under the necessity of
ceiving gentlemen to read with him. That did i
extend to Me, she told me, in a gush of love and q
iidence (at that time, I had known her something ]
than five minutes); if they were all like Me, it wo'
b-be quite another thing.
"But dear Mra. Pocket," said Mrs. Coiler, "al
I her early disappointment (not that dear Mr. Pocket i
I to blame in that), requires so much luxury and i
"Yes, ma'am," said I, to stop her, for I was a&i
he was going to cry.
"And she is of so aristocratic a disposition — "
"Yes, ma'am," I said again, with the same obj
s before.
" — that it is hard," said Mrs. Coiler, "t
dear Mr. Pocket's time and attention diverted from d
r Mra. Pocket."
I could not help thinking that it might be hap
t if the butcher's time and attention wore diverted ft
I dear Mjb. Pocket; but I said nothing, and indeed h
enough to do in keeping a, bashful watch upon
company-mann ers.
It came to my knowledge through what passed ]
tjreea Mrs. Pocket and Dnin\n\\e wV^ie "V ■«*» a-Wjcuti
— to my knife and fork, epooii, ^Va^at*, w^^ cfSoss
36S
nments of sclf-deatruotion, that Druinmle, whoBo
' M-iian name was Beutlny, wiia actually the nest heir
T line to a. baronetcy. It further ajiiieared that the
ik I liad seen Mrs. Pocket readins in the garden
V, all aljout titles, and that she knew the exact date
it whit'h her grandpapa would have come into lUe
I book, if he ever liad come at all. Drummle didn't any
f TiiTii:h, but in bis limited way (he stmck mo as a sulky
''ml of fellowj he spoke as one of the oleet, and re-
:iiised Mra. Pocket as a woman and a sister. No
1' lint themselves and Mrs. Coiler the toady neighbour
I'uvcd any interest in thiS^-pBrfW'TbB' "conversation,
"I it appejired to me that it was painful to Herbert;
' !i il. promised to last a lon^ time, when the page
INC in with the announcement of a domestic aHiction.
' »'!is, in effect, that the cnok had mislaid the beef.
■ I iny unntterahle amazement, I now, for the first
■;ii-, saw Mr. Pocket relieve his mind hy going through
liiTJonnance that struck me as very estraordinaiy,
Il which made no impression on anybody else, and
ill which I soon became as familiar as the rest. He
.1 ilown the cai-ving-knife and fork — being engaged
' 'iirving at the moment — put his two hands into
'• liisturbed hah-, and appeared to make an extra-
I l!ii;iry effort to lift himself up by it. Wlien he had
'n' this, and had not lifted himself up at all, he
ii-rly went on with what he was about.
^Ira. Coiler then changed the subject, and began
■ Hatter me. I liked it for a few moments, hut eho
Hi rud me so very grossly that the pleasure was aoo-a,
r. 8ho had a serpentine way of coming cXoaa a.^,
■lim sio j/reiended to be vitally inteieiRtcl "m \W
^^^l^^l^js^ bad left, -whicli -wiva ^.Vio^e^V.^
Bnakey and i'ork-tongued; and when she made an
caaional bounce upon Startop (who said veiy little
her), or upon Drmumle (who said less), I rather en
them for being on the opposite side of the table.
After dinner the children were introduced, and
Coiler made admiring eomroenta on their eyes, nfli
and legs — a sagacioua way of improving their ilil:
There were four little girls, and two little boys,
Bides tlie baby who might have been either, and
baby''s nest Buccesaor who waa as yet neither. T
■were brought in by Plopson and Millers, mudi
though those two non-commissioned officers had \
recruiting somewhere for children and had onlii
these: while Mrs. Pocket looked at the young NoB
that ought to have been, as if she rather thought
tad had the pleasure of inspecting them before,
didn't q^uite know what to make of them,
"Here! Give me your fork, mum, and take
baby," said Plopson. ["Don't take it that way,
you'll get its head under the table."
Thus advised, Mrs. Pocket took it the other n
and got its head upon the table; which was annount
to all present by a prodigious concussioi
"Dear', dearl Give it me back,
riopson; "and Miss Jane, come sod dance to ha
do!"
One of the little girls: a mere mite who si
have prematurely taken upon herself some charge
the others; stepped out of her place by me, and Aai
to and from the baby until it left off crying,
laughed. Then alt the cbiVdiea \wi^%i, »w
J'ocfcef fwlio in the mean tune WA W\k»
' lift biniaelf up I>y Uie hair) laughed, liiiJ we all
,;-!ii>il «ud WMu glad.
FlopBon, by diut of doubling the baby at the joints
■■..■ :i Dutch doll, then gut it safely into Mrs. Pocket's
,1, and gave it th« nutcrackers to play with; at the
III' time recommending Mrs. Pocket to take notice
■ 1 the handles of that insti-ument were not likely to
..•■p with its eyes, and sharply charging MisB Jane
liKik after the same. Then, the two nurses left the
■ in, and had a lively scuffle on the staircase with a
. -Ipated page who had waited at diimer, and who
1 I'learly lost half his buttons at the gaming-tahle.
I was made very uneasy in my mind by Mrs.
I 'kut's falling into a discussion with Drummle re-
. I ting two baronetcies while she ate a sliced orange
'i[jod in sugar and wine, and forgetting all about the
liy un ber lap: who did most appalling things with
- nutcrackers. At length, little Jane pei-ceiving its
■mig brains to be imperiled, softly left her place,
' ii: with many small artifices coaxed the dangerous
iipria away. Mrs. Pocket finishing her orange at
1 -wipttt the same time and not approving of this, said to
naughty child, how dare you? Go and sit
I this instant!"
ma dear," lisped the little girl, "baby ood
n put hith eyeth out."
"How dare you tell me so!" retorted Mrs. Pocket.
'I and sit down in your chair this moment!"
Mrs. Pocket's dignity was so crushing, that I felt
II'' abashed: as if I myself had done sombtVoi^ Vo
Pocket, fiomiiS
nSS ssfiAt axpsOTAnOKfl.
[end ni tLo table, "how can you he sn unreasonab
[Jane only intevferocL for tlie protection of baby."
I "I will not allow anybody to interfere," said
[ Pocket. "I am snrpriaed, Matthew, that yon shci
[ expose me to the affront of interlerence."
"Good God!" cried Mr. Pocket, in an outhn
desolate desperation. "Are infants to be
I crackered !ut5 their tombs, and ie nobody to
■ m?"
"I will not be interfered with by Jane," said
I 'Pocket, with n majestic glance at that innouent
^offender. "I hope I know my poor grandpapa's p
[tlon. Jane, indeed!"
Mr. Pocket got his hands in his hair again, i
"ihia time really did lift himaelf some inches out of
chair. "Hear this!" he helplessly exclaimed to
elements. "Babies are to be nntcrackerod dead,
people's poor grandpapa's poaitions!" Then he
hlmdelf down again, and became silent.
We all looked awkwardly at the tablecloth wi
I this was going on. A pause succeeded, during wh
f the honest and irrepressible baby made a series of lei
T and crows at little June, who appeared to me to
[ the only member of the family (irrespective of servai
with whom it had any decided acquaintance.
"Mr. Drummle," said Mrs. Pocket, "will you r
■jfor riopson? Jane, you undutiful little tiling, gg i
3 down. Now baby darling', come with raal"
The baby was the soul of honour, and protea
^h all its might. It doubled itself up the wrong v
Irer Mrs. Pocket's arm, exhibited a pair of ksit
Koes and dimpled atiklea to l\ift cotk^wk^ vo. U«u
T aofi face, and waa cfurieA oat va ft\ft\a^is«. \
vMl&T aaatnAvmM. 967
iiiitiny. And it gnined its point after all, for I saw
iDiiugli tlie window within a few minutes, being
.-nl by little Jaiio.
It bappencd that tbe other five cliildrcn were left
iniJ at tlic dinner- table, throug;h Flopson's having
II' private engagement and their not being anybody
11 huBineas. I thus became aware of the mutual re-
nins between them and Mr, Pocket, which were ex-
i.ilitied in the following miuiner. Mr. Pocket, with
normal perplexity of bis face heightened and his
I rumpled, looked at them for somo minnteB as if
iniildn't make out liow thoy came to be boarding
1 1 lodging in that eatahlishiuent, and why they hadn't
■ 11 billeted by Nature on somebody else. Then, in
'i^tant Miasionaiy way he asked them certain quea-
■I' — as why little joe had tliat hole in his frill:
': ' «aid, Pa, I'lopaon waa going to mend it when she
'i time — and how little Fanny tame by that whit-
■'.: who said, Pa, Millers was going to poultice it
■■■■■It she didn't forget. Then, he melted into parental
I'ilrruess, and gave them a shilling apiece and told
■IN to go and play; and tlien as they went out, with
i"Ui.i vcxy Htr()ng effort to lift himaelf up by the hair he
(iiimisseii the hopeless subject.
In till! evening there was rowing on t]ie river. As
Ilmmmle and Startop had eauh a boat, I resolved to
■■' iiji mine, and to eiit them both out. I was pretty
"'1 at most exercises in whicli country-boys are adepts,
-'■ iis I was conscious of wanting elegance of style for
' Thames — not to say for other waters — I at
' '- engaged to plnce myself under the tmliou ft^ &b
' n prize-wberry who plied at our staws, a.^o.i-
258 OBBAT EXrECTATIONSi
practical authority confused me very much, by say
I had the arm of a blacksmith. If he could
known how nearly tho compliment lost him his pt
I doubt if he woijd liave paid it.
There 'was a suppcr-tray after we got home at n
and I think we should all have enjoyed ourselves,
for a rather disagreeable domestic occurrence. Mr. Po
was in good spirits, when a housemaid came in,
said, "if you please, sir, I should wish to apeal
you."
"Speak to your master?" said Mrs. Pocket,
dignity was roused again. "How can you thinl
Buch a thing? Go and apeak to Flopson. Or
to me — at some other time."
"Beggingyour pardon, ma'am?" returned tiie ho
maid, "I should wish to speak at once, and to sj
to master."
Hereupon, Mr. Pocket went out of the room ani
made the best of oui'selves until be came lack.
"This is a pretty thing, Belinda!" said Mr. Pof
rotnming with a conntenanee expressive of grief
despair. "Here's the cook lying insensibly dmnl
the kitchen floor, with a large himdle of fresh bi
made up in the cupboard ready to sell for grease!'
Mrs. Pocket instantly showed much amiable i
tion, and said, "This is, that odious Sopliia's doinj
"What do you mean, Belinda?" demanded
Pocket.
"Sophia has told you," said Mrs. Pocket. "
I not see her with my own eyes and hear her with
own ears, come into the room just now and ask to sj
to you?"
^^^fit has she not taken me &v^
fettuned Mr. Pocket, "and shown me the woman, and
'I- luindle too?"
'.ind do you defend her, Matthew," said Mrs. Pocket,
■ making mischief,"
Mr. Pocket uttered a diaraal groan.
Am I, grandpapa's granddaughter, to he nothing
:'ii' house?" said Mrs. Pocket. "Bosidea, the cook
alwaya been a very nice respectful woman, and
i in the most natural manner when she came to look
: the situation, that she felt 1 was bom to he a
I'Lere was a sofa where Mr. Pocket stood, and ha
i|.'i.'d npon it in the attitude of the Dying Gladiator.
i in tiiat attitude he said, with a hollow voice,
"d night, Mr. Pip," when I deemed it advisahle
■ '■■■.! to bed and leave him.
CHAPTER XXIV.
.\fter two or three days, when I had established
T'lt' in my room and had gone backwards and for-
j iJils to London several times, and had ordered all I
j "Aiited of my tradesmen, Mr. Pocket and I had a long
I tiiV togetlior. He knew more of my intended career
'iiiii I knew myself, for he referred to his having been
1 1 by Mr. Jaggers that t was not designed for any
ii-inion, and that I should be well enough educated
!iiy destiny if I could "hold my own" with the
■■ r.i^e of young men in prosperous circumata:nce&. I.
||iii!sced, of courau, inowing- nothing to Ae aoTi.\.x«c3 .
lie ndnsed mjr atteDdiag certain places yu "LoTi-iQ'a^
'^iciiegniBition of suoh mere rudimonts as Y "fls ' "'
fiflo ■ fissAt feii#emTiow!. ■
and my investing liira with the functions of expl
and director of all my studiea. He lioped that
intelligent assistance I sliould meet with little to
courage me , and sLould soon be able to
pense with any aid hut his. Through his way of
ing this, and much more to similar purpose, Le p
himself on confidential terms with me in an admi
manner; and I may state at once that he was al
so KealoUB and honourable in fulfilling bia compact
me, that he made me zealous and honourable il
filling mine with him. If he had shown indifFe
as a master, I have no doubt I should have reti
the compliment as a pupil; ho gave mo no sucfa ex
and each of us did the other justice. Nor did I
regard hiln as having anything ludicrous abont hi
or anything but what was serious, honest, and go(
in hiB tutor communication with me.
Wben these points wore settled, and so far ca
out as that I bad begun to work in earnest, it occi
to me that if I coald retain my bedroom in Bam
Inn, my life would bo agreeably varied, while
mamiers would he none the worse for Herbert's sol
Mr, Pocket did not object to this arrangement,
urged that before any step could possibly be taki
it, it must he submitted to my guardian. I feU
his delicacy arose out of the consideration that iba
would save Herbert some expense, so I went q
Little Britain and imparted my wish to Mr. Jagg<
"If I could buy the furniture now hired for
said I, "and one or two other little things, I si
be 5(iite at liorae there."
"Go it!" said Mr. JaggeTs, "wVife a '^a*."V«(
told yon j-oti'd get on. "WeW. ^ww TwaiJu''
^ awUT I1XP8OTATI0H8. 981
eaii I didn't know hovr much.
Oome!" retorted Mr. Jaggers. "How mueli? Fifty
iids?"
■'Oh, not nearly so much."
"Five pounds?" said Mr. Jaggers.
This was such a great tail that I said In discomfi-
:i'. "Oh! more than that."
"Mure tlian that, eh?" retorted Mr. Jaggers, lying
III riiit for me, with his hands in his pockets, his head
'in one side, and his eyes ou the wall behind me; "how
"inch more?"
"It is so difficult to fix a sum," said I, hesitating.
"Come!" said Mr. Jaggers. "Let's get at it. Twice
fo; will that do?. Three times five; will that do?
fntir times five; will that do?"
I said I thought that would do handsomely.
"Four times five will do hiindaomoly, will it?"
snii Mr. Jaggers, knitting his brows. "Now, what do
Ji"! uuike of four times five?"
"What do I miike of it?"
"Ah!" said Mr. Jaggers; "how much?"
"I aujjpose you make it tweuty pounds, " said I,
-.liling.
"Never mind what /make it, my friend," observed
''; Jaggers, with a knowing and contradictory toss
: Ills head. "I want to know what you make it."
"Twenty pounds, of course."
"Wemmickl" said Mr. Jaggers, opening his office
■"'I'. "Take Mr. Fiji's written order, and pay him
"■nty pounds."
This strongly marked way of doing Vrasine** ■«iB.\ii
Jnin^/r marked impression on mo, and tVa.\. -aiA <s1
Mr. Jaggers never \au^
File wore great bright creakiug boots, and in polsi
llimself on these boots, with his large heud bent do'
and bia eyebrows joined together, awaiting an answ
lie Bometimes caused the boots to creak, as if fj
laughed in a dry and suspicious way. As be happen
I to go out now, and as Weminick was brisk and tall
/tive, I said to Wemmick that I hardly knew what
jmake of Mr. Jsggei's's manner.
"Tell him that, and he'll take it as a complin
answered Wemmick; "lie don't mean that you ghou
know what to make of it. — OhI" for I looked 8
|irised, "it's not personal; it's professional: only p
ftssionaJ."
Wemmick was at his desk, lunching — and ci
— on a dry bard biscuit; pieces of which he thp
from time to time into his slit of a mouth,
■were posting them,
"Always seems to me," said Wemmick, '
had set a man-trap and was watching it. Sudden^
— click — you're caught!"
Without remarking that man-traps were no
the amenities of life, I said I supposed he i
skilful?
"Deep," said Wemmick, "as Australia." Pointin
with his pen at the office floor, to express that A
was understood for the purposes of the figure, to 1
^K symmetrically on the opposite spot of the globe. '
^C there was anything deeper," added Wemmick, brinj
^P his pen to paper, "he'd be it."
Then, I said I supposed he had a fine busineH
and Wemmick said "Ca-pi-tall" Theu, I asked !
ciere were many clerks? To 'N\iic\i.\ie tc^XwA-,
^^ "We doij't ma much into doTVa, XiecoM^
{SKUkT BSMCtATWM; 988
ii" niio Jnggers, (lud people won't Lave Lim at se-
: I'l Land. 'i'Lere are only ftiur of ns. Wuuld you
: lo see 'em? You arc one of us, as I may say."
! aecepted tLe offer. When Mr. Wemmick had
' r .ill his biBcnit into tlie post, and had paid me my
■di-y from a casb-box in a safe, the key of which
■ lie kept somewhere dovm Ids back and produced
111 hia coat*colkc like an iron pigtail, wO went up-
LiLS. The house was dark and shabby, and the greasy
■niidere that had left their mark in Mr, Jaggera's
nil, seemed to have been shuffling' up and down the
'..lii'case for years. In tlie front first floor, a elerk who
L luoked something between a publican and a rat-catcher
I ^ a large pale puffed swollen man — was attentively
[ engaged ,with three or four people of shabby appear-
■i:m-, whom ho treated as unceremoniously as every-
■■!>- seemed to be treated who contributea to >Ir.
' i;,';,'ers's coffers. "Getting evidence together," said
''i Wemmick, as we came out, "for the Bailey." In
■ llii' room over that, a little flabby terrier of a clerk
i iiilii dangling hair (bis cropping seemed to have been
'iir^otten when he was a puppy) was similarly engaged
■lu a man with weak eyes, whom Mr, Wemmick
.' -icnted to me as a smelter who kept his pot always
'iliug, and who would melt me anything I pleased —
I'l who was in an excessive white- perspiration, as if
Lad been trying bis art on himself. In a back
' III, a higlirsbonldered man with a face-ache tied up
iliity flannel, who was dressed in old black clothes
ii bore the appearance of having been waxed, waa
"']itag over his work of making fair co-pVea li? 'Oaft
■'■^ ^' the other twQ g-eatJemen, for Mr. Ja^'sa'^'
TLis was all the cstabliBbment. "When ^
down stairs again, Wemmiek led me into my gaardi
room, and aaid, "This you've seen already."
"Pray," said I, as the two odious easts with
twitchy leer upon them caught my sight again, "w
likenesses are those?"
"These?" said Wemmiek, getting upon a c
and blowing the dast off the horrible heads b(
bringing them down. "These are two celebrated t
Famous clients of ours that got us a world of
This ehap (why you muat have eomo down i
night and been peeping into the inkstand, to gi
blot npon your eyebrow, you old rascall) murderec
master, and, considering that he wasn't bronght u
eridonce, didn't plan it badly."
"Is it like him?" I asked, recoiling from the b:
as Wemmiek spat upon his eyebrow and gave it a
with his sleeve.
"Like him? It's himself, you know. The cast
made in Newgate, directly after he was taken d
Ton had a particular fancy for mo, hadn't you,
Artful?" said Wemmiek. lie then explained
affectionate apostrophe, by touching his brooch
presenting the lady and the weeping willow at
tomb with the am upon it, and saying, "Had it i
for me, expresal"
"la the lady anybody?" said I.
"No," returned Wemmiek. "Only his game,
liked your bit of game, didn't you?) No; ('
of a lady in the case, Mr. Pip, except one -
wasn't of this slender lady-like sort, and you won
inve caught her looking nSler flm ^tu — \)KifiSH.
WH8 something to drink mfg
being tlius directed tf> his lii-oocli, he put. iloivii tho
ciist, and |)DliBhed tho brooch with hia pDcket-linnd'
kerchief.
"Did that other creature come to the same end?"
I asked, "He has the same look."
"You're right," said Wemmick, "it's the g^enuine
Irrnk- Much as if one nostril was caught up with i
liorsehair and a little fish-hook. Yes, he came to the
.;nip end; quite the natural end liere, I assure you.
.!■ forged wiHa, this blade did, if ho didn't also put
.■■ ^apposed teetatora to sleep too. You w
^nanly Cove, though" (Mr. Wemmick was again
i-i^tro^rising), "and you said you could write Greek.
■ lii, Bonnceahio! What a liar you were. I never met
jell a liar as youl" Before putting his late friend
1 11 Lis ajielf again, Wemmick touched the largest c"
111- raouriJng rings, and said, "Sent out to buy it for
nn', only the day before."
While be waB putting up the other cast and coming
il'iwii from the chair, the thought crossed my mind
tli^i nil bis [jersonal jewellery was derived from like
"'iiirces. As he had shown no diffidence
'■■1, I ventured on the liberty of asking him the
|||i'«ion, when he stood before me, dusting his hands.
"Oh yes," ho returned, "these are all gifts of that
hiiji!. One bringa another, you see; that's the way of
! 1 always take 'em. They're curiosities. And
'iiy're property. They may not be worth much,
'id' all, they're property and portable. It don't signify
■' you with your hr'ilUant look-out, but as Xo vft-gwM.,
liiUns-^tar always is, "Get lioVi oE ^oAbM^
ratEAT BXPHCTATIOSBi
When I Lad rendered liomage to tliis liglit,
nt on to say, in a friendly manner:
"If at any odd time wliea you have notliing belt
I do, you wouldn't mind coming over to see me
KWalworth, I could offer you a bed, and I should c
'"!r-it"an bonour. I have not much to ahow y
ittt Buch two or three curiosities as I have got, ;
night like to look over; nnd I am fond of a bit
BG^rden and a summer-house."
B' I said I ehonld bo delighted to accept his hoB[
|.4ality.
"Thank'ee," said be, "then we'll consider that it
lome off, when convenient to you. llave you dint
■Vith Mr. Jaggei-s yet?"
"Not yet."
"Well," said Wemmiek, "he'll give you wine, i
j^ooJ wine, I'll give you punch, and not bad pone
Bj&.nd now I'll tell you siimething. When you go :
Idine with Mr. Jaggcrs, look at his housekeeper."
"Shall I see something very uncommon?"
"Well," said Wemmiek, "you'll see a wild bea
ed. Not so very uncommon, you'll tell me.
reply, that depends on the original wildnesa of
beast, and the amount of taming. It won't lower y
opinion of Mr. Jaggcrs's powers. Keep your
ton it."
I told him I would do so with all the interest ai
curiosity that his preparation awakened. As I w
taking my departure, he asked me if I would like
devote five minutes to seeing Mr. Jaggers "at it?"
for several reasons, and not least because I didi
clearly know what Mr. Jaggera "woiAi \se. ^crasiS
. "at," I replied ia the af&rmativc. "^e K^eA.'
City, and came np In a crowded jjo lice-court, where a
blood-re lati OB (in the murderous eease) of the deceased
with the fanciful taste in brooches, was standing at
die liar, iincomt'ortahly chewing something; while my
fiiardian had a woman under examination or cross-
lininatiou — I don't know which — and wus striking
, iiud the bench, and everybody present, with awo.
miybody, of whatsoever degree, said a word that he
int approve of, he instantly required to have it
' I: '.'11 down." If auyhody wouldn't make an ad-
-iiiQ, Le said, "I'll have it out of you!" and if
tiody made an admission, he said, "Now I have
youl" The magistrates shivered under a single
■ •>{ his linger. Thieves and thief-takers hung iu
kI rapture on his words, and shrank when a hair
iiis eyebrows turned in their direction. Which side
tMis on, I cotddn't make out, for he seemed to me
''•: grinding the whole place in a mill; I only know
I when I stole out on tiptoe ho was not on the
1' i)f the benuh, for he was making the logs of the
; [,-ontleman who presided, quite convulsive under
' (able, by his denunciationa of his conduct as the
"I'scntative of British law and justice in that chair
i' day.
CHAPTER XXV.
ISbntlby Drummle, who was so sulky a fellow
il he even took up a hook as if its writer had done
■ ■ iin injury, did not take up an acqaamtaacft va. a.
'■■ ^^abh spii-it. Heavy iu figure, movenveiA..
'odg^^iaa — in the sluggish com^Yesi
2S8 ORBAT BXPBOTAITOKB.
liiB fac<>, aud in the large awkward tongue that soemet
to loll about IE hia mouth as he Iiimself lolled abon
ill a room — he waa idle, proud, njggaidl?» reserved
and HUBjiicioua. He came of rich people down i
mersptshire, who had nursed this combination of qiia
litics, until they made the discovevy that it was just a
age and a blockhead. S Thus Ecntlcy DiTimmle I
come to Mr. Pocket when he was a head taller thai
that gentleman, and half a dozen heads thicker t
moat gentlemen.
Startop had been spoilt by a weak mother aui
kept at Tiome when he ought to have been at school
but he was, devotedly attached to her, and admired lie
beyond measure. He had a woman's delicacy of feft
tm-e, and waa — "aa you may see, though you neve
saw her," said Herbert to me — exactly like his dm
ther. It was but natural that I should take to Hi
much more kindly than to Drummle, and thst even i
the earliest evenings of oar boating, he and I ahonl
pull homeward abreast of one another, conversing fi
boat to boat, while Hentley Dmmmlo came up in on
wake alone, under the overhanging banks and a
the mshea. He would always creep in-shore like sonH
uncomfortable amphibious creature, even when the tiA
would have sent him fast upon his way; and I alway
think of him as coming after us in the dark or by t*
back-water, when our own two boats were brealdj
the sunset or the moonlight in mid-atream.
Herbert was mj intimate companion and friend
I presented him with a half-share in my boat, wMc
was the occasion of his often coming down to Htutun^
smith; and ray possession of a ^iaNS-^»sft \^ \ffla i^m
^ffB often took mo up to 1.oti4oii. "S^c-aat^ •■
I' ^^ tffcSAT WTPBCTATTOm!. 889
lietween tlie two places at all hours. ] ImTfi an .iffac-
tion for flio road yi't (though it is not so pleaaant a
fnad as it was then), t'ormed in the impressibility of
nnlTied yonth and hope,
Wlieii I had been in Mr. Pocket's family a month
i"n, Mr. and Mi-8. Camilla turned up. Camilla was
I'gC^pi.'a piafftr. (Jeorgiaiia, whom I Lad seen at
- llavisliam'H on tlie same occasion, also turned up.
was a cousin — an indigestive single woman, who
'■■•'] her rigidity rtOigion, and her liver love. Titewi
■ jili.' hated mo with tho hatrod of cupidity and dia-
. |i>iintment. As a matter of com-se; they fawned upon
uit: iu my prosperity with the biisest meanness. To-
wards Mr. Pocket, as a grown-up infant with no notion
lit hiB own interests, they showed the complacent for-
liBarancc I had heard them express, Mrs. Pocket they
lield in contempt; hut they allowed the poor soul to
hive been Iieavily ilisappointed in life, because that
slii'd a feeble reflected light upon themaelven.
Those were the surroundings among which I settled
'l"«-n, and applied myself t" my education, I soon
I'liitracted expensive habits, and began to spend aii
STiionnt of money that within a few short months I
"Imnld have thought almost fabulous, but through good
and evil I stuck to my books. There was no other
iiiriL in this, than my having sense enough to feel my
•i''ii'nciefl, Betweun Mr. Potkct and Herbert I |got
I'iist; and, with one or the other always at my elbow
;;ivo me the start I wanted, and clear obstructions
'lilt of my road, J must have been as great a dolt as
brummlo if 1 h*(3 done /ess.
^^^ "ot seen Mr. (Pemniick for Bome -ww^, 'flVe*.
SnW write him a note j\nd T;iYO'^o*e ^o
i
I'ftTO QKEkt SXPBCTAWOWBi
itli liim on a certain evening. He replied
it would give him much pleasure, and that ho t
expect me at the office at six o'clock. Thither I we
and there I found him, putting the key t " ' "
down Ms back a^ the clock struck .
"Did you think of walking down to Walworth
f said he,
"Certainly," said I, "if you approve."
"Very much," was 'Weinniick''8 reply, "for I ha
I had my legs under the desk all day, and shall be gl
to stretch them. Now, I'll tell you what I have (
for supper, Mr. Pip. I have got as
which is of home preparation — and a cold roast fff
— which is from the cook's-shop. I think it's tendi
B the master of the shop was a Juryman in ei
f ours the other day, and we let him down a
I I reminded him of it when I bought the fowl, an
r eaid, 'Pick us out a good one, old Briton, becauaa
} had chosen to keep you in the box another day
I two, we coald easily have done it.' He said to tk
'" i make you a present of the best fowl i
I shop.' I let him, of course. As far as it goes
r property and portable. You don't object to an ag
I parent, I hope?"
I really thought he was still speaking of the foj
1 until he added, "Because I have got an aged paa
I at my place." I then said what politeness required
"So, you haven't dined with Mi. Jaggers yet?",
r pursued, as we walked along.
"Not yet."
"He told me so thie attermwiu ■^iViwa'^ieVwrai.;;
I expect yorftt, \\a.-ve ?
27J
^Br. He's going to ask your pals, too. Tlireo
^B; ain't there?"
^Khough I was not in the habit of cotmting
^Hble aa one of my intimate aesociatos, I ooBwered
^HVell, he's going to ask the whole gang;" I
^•"felt complimented by the word; "and whatever
^ves you, ho'U give you good. Don't look forward
^ftne^, but you'll have excellence. And there's
^Br turn thing in his house," proceeded Wemmick,
^^B moment's pause, as if the remark fallowed on
^Kisekeeper understood; "he never lets a door or
^B^ be fastened at night."
^ hfl never robbed?'"'
^Hrii&t'a it!" returned Wemmick. "He says and
ma 'it out publicly, 'I want to see the man who'll
ill me.' Tjord blesa you, I have heard him, a hundred
men if I have heard him once, ' say to regular cracka-
;«ji iu our front office, 'You know where I live; now,
■ ''lilt is ever drawn there; why don't you do a stroke
'iii-iiness with me? Come; can't I tempt you?' Not
luan of them, sir, would be bold enough to try it on,
II love or money."
"They dread him bo much?" said I.
"Dread him," said Wemmick. "I believe you they
refill hiin. Not but what he's artful, even in his de-
'nw of them. No silver, eir. Britannia metal, every
"So they wouldn't have much," I observed, "even
"Ah! But ie would have much," aiiH "'Wranmv'^.
ind they know it. Ra'A "Viave 'Oofc-vt
/ scores of 'om. He" d \ia,v*i
■ 872
Cnt«AT BXI>«CTAinOMR.
, coul'l get. And it's impossible to say what he cuuldl
get, if lie gave his mind to it."
ts falling into meditation on my guardii
greatness, when Wemmick remarked:
"Aa to the absence of plntc, that's only his nftti
depth, you know. A river's its niitural depth, and li
' his natural depth. Look nt his watch-chain. Tht
real enough."
"It's veiy massive," said I.
"Massive?" repeated Wemmick. "I think so, A
his watch is a gold repeater, and worth a hundf
pound if it's worth a penny. Mr. Pip, there are ahoul
iven hundred thieves in this town who know all ahoul
that watch; there's not a man, a woman, or a ehihl
among them, who wouldn't identify the smallest iigk
'n that chain, and drop it as if it was red-hot, if ,^
,-eigled into touching it."
At Gist with such discourse, and afterwards
I converHation- of a more general natnre, did Mr. Wfi
r mtck and I heguile the time and the road, until
I* gave me to understand that we had arrived in
.district of Walworth.
It appeared to he. a collection of back lati
I dltchoH, and little gardens, and to present the as|t
[ of a rather dull retbement. Wemmick'
little wooden cottage in the midst of plots of gard
and the top of it was cut out and painted like a 1
tery mounted with guns.
"My own doing," said Wemmick. "Looks pi
don't it?"
I highly commended it. 1 Mi:^ \
"5 ever saw; wit\i tW (\*j
<nSAT BXFBCTATIOMB.
r the greater part of them sliam), and a gothic
f almoBt too fimall to get in at.
"That's a real flagstaff, yon see," said Wemmick,
"and on Sundays I run np a real flag. Then look
tere. After I have crossed this bridg-o, I hoist tt up —
90 — and cut off the cominunication."
The hridge was a plank, and it crossed a chasm
ibottt four feet wide and two deep. But it was very
pleasant to seo the pride with which he hoisted it up
and made it fast; smiling as he did so, with a relish
and not merely mechanically.
''At nine o'clock every night, Greenwich time,"
said Wemmick, "the gun fires. There he is, you seel
And when you hear him go, I think you'll say he's a
Blinger."
The piece of ordnance referred to, was mounted in
a separate fortress, constructed of lattice-work. It was
protected from tlie weather by an ingenious little tar-
jwiilin contrivance in the nature of an umbrella.
"Then, at the bajjk," said Wemmick, "out of sight,
.!s not to impede the idea of fortifications — for ifd
I iLucIple with me, if you have an idea, cany it out
■mi keep it up; I don't know whether that's your opi-
T said, decidedly,
"At the back, there's a pig, and there are fowls
I rabbits; then I knock together my own little
.I!', you see, and grow cucumbers; and you'll judge
■iijiper what sort of a salad I can raise. So, sir,"
I Wemmick, smiling again, but seriously too as ho
ik his head, "// j-ou can suppose t\\e \.\tt\.a -^saft
-nvd, it would hold out a devil of a t\iae m y>^^
Vti 0RBA¥ WCTBCVA-HOWS.
r
^B Then iie conducted me to a bower about a doz
^ftjartla off, but wliich was approached by auch ingenio
^H^hvists of path that it took quite a long time to get
^K&nd in this retreat our glasses were ab-eady set fo(
^ft'Ouc punch was cooling in an ornamental lake,
^Hffhose margin the bower was raised. This pie
^H Water (with an islund in the middle which i
^Fltave been the salad for supper) was of a ciren
form, and he had constructed a fountain in it, wl '
wben you set a little mill going and took a cotk
of a pipe, played to that powerful extent that it n
kthe hack of your hand quite wet.
"I am my oVn engineer, and my own cai'pent
Knd my own plumber, and my own gardener, and i
own Jack of all Trades," said Wemmick, in ackno
lodging my compliments. "Well; it's a good thii
you know. It brushes the Newgate cobwebs away, i
pleases the Aged. You wouldn't mind being at on
f introduced to the Aged, would you? It wouldn't J
you out?"
I expressed the readiness I felt, and we went ix
the Castle. There we found, sitting by a fire, a ve
' old man iu a flannel coat: clean, cheerful, comfortab
and weU cared for, hut intensely deaf.
"Well, aged parent," said Wemmick, shaking baa
I with him in a cordial and jocose way, "how are you
t "All right, John; ail right!" replied the old n
ir ■ " " ~
■ 1 "Here's Mr. Pip, aged parent," said Wemmii
r nd I wish you uould bear his name. Kod away
IW, Mr. Pip; that's what he likes. Nod away at hi
Vyou please, like winking!"
" "Tbia is a fine place ai my soii^'i, w" triisA
i mm, while I nodded as Aiati att\ ^««SqV5 <
OKEiLT SSFXDTATIOKa.
^fl
"This 19 a pretty pleasure-groimi, sir. This spot and
these bc-atitiful works upon it oii^ht to be kept tifgothitr
by the Nation, after my son's time, tat the people's en-
jnympnt."
" You're as proud of it as Puncli ; ain't yon, Aged?"
mid Wenunick, ceutemplating the old man with his
Wil face really softened; "ihfri^s a nod for you;"
giving him a tremendous odp; "there's another for you;"
ffivinp him a still more, tremendous one; "you like that,
dou't yon? If you're not tired, Mr. Pip — though I
know it's tiring to strangora — will you lip him one
more? Ytm can't thiuk bow it pleases him."
I lipped him several more, and be was in great
spirits. We" letl. him beatirring himself to feed the
fowls, and we aat down to our punch in tlie arhoor;
vliere Wemmick told me as be smoked a pipe that it
had taken him a good many years to bring the pro-
(lerty up to its present pitth of perfection.
"Is it your own, Mr. Wemmick?"
"Oil yes," said Wemmick, "I have got hold of it,
■ bit at a time. It's a freehold, by George!"
,"l8 it, indeed? I hope Mr. Jaggers admires it?"
"Never seen it," said Wemmick, "Never heard of
Never seen the Aged. Never heard of him. No;
;"' office is one thing, and private life is another.
IVlien I go into the office, I leave the Castle behind
■'I'', and when I come into the Castle, I leave the of-
lii'.' behind me. If it's not in any way disagreeable
'■' yon, you'll oblige me by doing the same. I don't
■li-li it profesaiimally spoken about."
'jf course I felt mf goad faith invoHy.l 'm "Oaa do-
■ n-iuiee a/' Ilia request. I'lio punch being 'jerj Mft«,.
•^liere drinkiug it And talking, unl\\ 'A ^SMi^ '
moat nine o'clocb. "Getting near gun-fire," aaid "W
mick then, aa he laid down liis pipe; "it's the Ag
treat."
Proceeding into the Castle again, we found
^ed beating the polter, with expectant eyes, as a
nmary to the perfbnuance of this great nightly (
mony. Wemmick stood with his watch i ' ' '
until the moment was come for him to take the :
liot poker from the Aged, and repair to the ba±(
He took it, and went out, and presently the 3ti3
went off with a Bang that shook the crazy little
of a cottage as if it must fall to pieces, and ma
glass and teacup in it ring. Upon this, the Aged
who I believe would have been blown out o" ' '
!r hat for holding on by the elbows — cried
exultingly, "He's fired! I heerd hiin!" and In'
at the old gentleman until it is no figure of speec
declare that I absolutely could not see him.
The interval between that time and supper "W
mick devoted to showing me his collection of cm
They were mostly of a felonious character; i
prising the pen with which a celebrated forgery '
1 committed, a distinguished razor or two,
locks of hair, and several manuscript confessions w
under condemnation — upon which Mr. Wenunick
particular value aa being, to use his own words, "
of 'em Lies, sir." These were agreeably dispe
among small specimens of china and glass, various;
trifles made by the proprietor of the museum, ai
.cco-stoppers carved by the Aged. They i
displayed in that chamber of the Castle into whi(
Jiad been Stat inducted, anl w\i\c\\ servei, ■m*. ^
tie ffeneral sitting-room but aa \,\ws Vitd
J
ORBAT BCraOTATIONa. STTIi
might judge from a saucejian on the hob, and a brazen
bijou over the fireplace designed for the aaapenaion of
L I'oaBting-jiick.
There was a neat little girl in attendance, who
'■'"ked after the Aged in the day. When she had laid
ilic BTipper-clotii, the bridge was lowered to give her
■i'-ana of egresa, and ahe withdrew for the night. The
jjiper was excellent; and though the Castle was ra-
iImt subject to diy-njt inaomuch that it tasted like a
■ :i'\ ant, and though the pig might have been farther
IT, I waa heartily pleaaed with my [whole entertaln-
iiii.'Qt Nor waa there any drawback on my little turret
licdroom, beyond there being such a very thin ceiling
between me and the flagstaff that when I lay down on
my back in bed, it seemed as if I had to balance that
pole on my forehead all night,
Wemmick was up early in the moniing, and I am
afraid I heard liira cleaning my boota. After that, he
foU to gardening, and I saw him from ray gothic window
pretending to employ the Aged, and nodding at him
in a moat devoted manner. Onr breakfast waa aa good
as the supper, and at half-past eight precisely we started
fii[' Little Britain. By degrees, Wemmick got dryer
I'll harder aa we went along, and his mouth tightened
■lo a post-office again. At last, when we got to his
■ bee of busineas and he pulled ont hia key from his
irtl-coUar, he looked aa unconscioua of his Walworth
.ri.perty aa if the Castle and the drawbridge and the
irliour and the lake and the fountain and the Aged,
■ .id all been blown into apaee together by the laat iV
■li.ii'ge of the Stinger.
OHBAT BXPaOTAlTOMS,
CHAPTER XXVI.
It fell out, as 'Wemmick had told me it wi
that I had an early npportunity of comparing my j
dian'a eatabliBbment with that of hta caEhier and t
My guardian was in his room, washing his Landa
hifl acented aoaji, w\ien I wont into the office from '
worth; and ho called mo to him, and gaTO me th<
vitation for myself and friends whiuh Wemmick'
prepared me to receive. "No ceremony," ho stipul
"and no dinner dress, and say to-raorrow." I
him where we ahould come to [for I had no idea
Le lived), and I believe it waa in his general obji
to make anything' like an admiaaion, that he rep
"Come heio, and I'll take yon home with mo."
brace thia opportunity of remarking that he
his clients off, as if he wore a surgeon or a
He had a closet in hia room, fitted up for the pur]
which smelt of the acented soap like a perfumer'a
It had an unuaaally large jack-towel on a roller i
the door, and he would wash his handa, and wipe
and dry them all over this towel, whenever he
in from a police-court or diamisaod a client fronc
room. Wlien I and my friends repaired to him i
o'clock next day, ho acomed to have been engagi
a case of a darker complexion than usual, for wo ft
him with his head butted into thia cloaet, not
washing hia hands, but laving his face and gar{
his throat. And even when he had done all tliat,
had gone all round the Jacktowol, he took out his
im'fe and scraped the caaa out o? Vva. TMaaNitit
pat liia coat oa.
I Eciiuc pBople slinking about as usual
1 ont into tlie street who were evidently
9 to apeak with him; liut there was something
IBclnfliTe in the lialo of scented soap which cacirclcd
nee, that they gave it up for that day, As
Kilked along; westward, he was recogaised ever
i^ajn by Bome face in tlie crowd of the streets,
■whenever that happened he tallied louder to me;
) never otherwise recognised anybody, or took
6 that anybody recognised him.
ed UB to Gerrard-atreot, Soho, to a honse
6 south side of that street Katlier a, stately house
a kind, but dolefully in wont of paiutiug, and with
'ity windows. He took out his key and opened the
:«ir, and we all went into a stone hall, bare, gloomy,
':iil little used. So, up a dark brown staircase into a
ncs of three dark brown rooms on the first floor.
I iiere were carved garlands on the panelled walls, and
> be stood among them giving uB welcome, I know
"lint kind of loops I thought they looked like.
Dinner was laid in the best of these rooms; the se-
'iind was his dressing-room; the tlurd his bedroom, He.
''I'i us thiit he held the whole house, but rarely used
'■'fu of it than we saw. The table was comfortably
id — no silver in the service, of course- — and at the
'!i^ iif his chair was a capacious dumb-waitei:, with a
j'iuty of buttles and decanters on it, and four dishes
I li'iiit for dessert. I noticed throughout, that he kept
'irythiug tmder bis own hand, and distributed every-
liing himself.
There was a bookcaso in tha room- \ aa.'w , ^twa.
E3I
lO GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
I such things. The furniture waa all ver
Bolid and good, like Lis watch-chain. It had an o£E
eial look, however, and there was notliing merely ai
narnental to be seen. In a comer, wuh a litdo talil
I of papers with a shaded lamp; so that he seemed
bring the office home with htm in that respect too, s
io wheel it out of an evening and fall to work.
As be had scarcely seen my three companions unl^
BOW — for he and I had walked together — he stood
on the hearth-rug, after ringing the bell, and took t
Marching look at them. To my tnirprise, he seemed,
Mt once to be principally if not solely interested iU'
Druramle.
"Pip," said he, putting his large Land oi
Aonlder and moving me to the window, "I don't knoif
me from the other. Who's the Spider?"
- "The spider?" said I.
' "The blotchy, sprawly, sulky fellow."
"That's Bentley Drummlo," I replied; "the 01
■with the delicate face is Startop."
Not making the least account of "the one with tl
delicate face," he returned. "'Bentley Drummle is li
name, is it? I like the look of that fellow."
He immediately began to talk to Drummle; not
all deterred by his replying in his heavy ^reticent wa
bat apparently led on by it to screw discourse out
him. I was looking at the two, when there came h
tween me and them, the housekeeper, with the first di^
for the table.
She was a woman of about forty, I supposed -
hut I may have thought her older than she was, as ifc
j'g tie manner of youth to do. ^Laftiei \.afi., oS a. U<ths
DidJe Sgure, extremely pa\e, mxV \»ss4 S.*S«&.>3«
^^unbl
i quantity of streaming; hair. I cannot say
ner any diseased affection oi' the Leart caused her
Tfpa to be parted as if she were panting, and her face
la benr a curious oxprei^gion of suddenness aud flutter;
but I know that I had been to see Macbeth at the
tlieatre, a uight or two before, and that her face looked
to me as if it were all disturbed by fiery air, like the
faces I had seen rise out of the Witches' caldron.
She set the dish on, touched my guardian quietly
on the arm with a finger to notify that dinner was
ready, and vanished. We took our seats at the round
table, and my guardian kept Drummlu on one side of
turn, whOe Startop sat on the other. It was a noble
lish of fish that the housekeeper had put ou table, aud
ire had a joint of equally choice mutton afterwards,
md then an equally choice bird. Sauces, wines, all
ie accessories we wanted, and all of the best, were
nren out by our host from his dumb-waiter; and when.
ley had made the circuit of the table, he always put
hem back again. Similarly, ho dealt us clean plates
md knives and forks, for each course, and dropped
hose just disused into two baskets on the ground by
lis chair. No other attendant than the housekeeper
ippeared. She set ou every dish; aud I always saw
a her face, a face rising out of the caldron. Years af-
enrards, I made a dreadful likeness of that woman,
>y cansing a face that had no other natural reaem-
ilaiice to it than it derived from flowing hair, to pass
leliiiid a bowl of flaming spirits in a dark room.
Induced to take particular notice of the houses
Itaaper, both by her own striking appeataucft aiiiVj
^emmicks preparation, I observed that -wVieiievftt ^^^
g roam, abe ki
OBB&T BXPEOTATIOKS.
gnardian, and that she would remove her hands fro
sny dish she put before hiin, hesitatingly, as if e'
dreaded bis calling her hack, and wanted him to speak
when she was nigh, if he had anytliing to say-
^cied that I could detect in his manner a conseioi
of this, and a purpose of always holding hep n
ipense.
Dinner went off gaily, and, although my guatdiai
seemed to follow rather than originate subjects,
knew, that he wrenched the weakest part of onr d)
positions out of us. For myself, I found that I i
expressing my tendency tu lavish expenditure, and )
p^onise Herbert, and to boast of my great prospect
before I quite knew that I had opened my lips. ,
■Was so with all of ub, but with no one more tha
Drummle: the development of whose inclination to g
in a grudging and Buapicious way at the rest, wa
screwed out of him before the fish was taken off.
It was not then, but when we had got to the dhee
that our conversation turned upon our rowing feat
and that Drummle was rallied for coming up 1 " '
of a night in that slow amphibious way of his. Dmm
npon this, informed oiu" host that he much preferred o
room to our company, and that as to skill he was rat
than our master, and that as to strength he could scatti
us like chaff. By some invisible agency, my guardii
ivound him up to a pitch little short of ferowty aboa
tliis triflo; and he fell to baring and spanning his an
lo show how muscular it was, and we all fell to barii
itud spanning our arms in a ridiculous manner.
Now, the housekeeper was at that time clearing i
I'ible; my guardian, taking no \ie&i o^ Vnx, W* ■%
ho side of hia face turned tiom\\etT ^ '"""
^tumx-t wepnrytkTwm. 98S
lu Ills chair biting the side of his foi-pfiiigcr and show-
ing ta interest in Drummle, that, to me, was quite in-
etjilicahle. Soddeoly, he clapped hia large hand on
the housekeeper's, like a trap, as Bh<i stretched it acrosB
lie table. 80 suddenly aud smartly did ha do this,
that wc all stopped in our foaliah contention.
"If you talk of Btrenfrth," said Mr. Jaggors, 'TU
siow you a wrist. Molly, let them nee your wrist"
Hijr entrapped hand was on the table, but she had
already put her other hand behind ber waist. "Master,"
ehe said, in a low voice, with her eyea attentively and
(Llreatingiy fixed upon him. "Don't!"
"/'Il show you a WTist," repeated Mr. Jaggers,
nitb an immovable determination to show it. "Molly,
let them see your wrist."
"Master," she again mnrmnied. "Please!"
"Molly," said Mr. daggers, not looking at her, but
obstinately looking at the. opposite aide of the room,
"let them see both your wrists. Show them. Come!"
He took bis hand from hers, and turned that wrist
(i|> on the table. She brought her other hand from be-
iiind her, and held the two out side by side. The last
■iiist was much disfigured — deeply scarred and scarred
uross and across, When flie held her hands out, she
I ik her eyes from Mr. Jaggers, and turned them watch-
' illy on every one of the rest of us in succession.
"There's power here," said Mr. Jaggers, coolly
.:jcing out the- siagwjL-Jvitb his forefinger. "Very few
II -n have the power of wrist that this woman has. It's
riiarkaWe what mere force of grip there is in these
inds, I have had oceasioti to notice many \iKni&-,\«A.
tixat respect, n\aii.'H 01 'wcnisaai'
I
Willie he said these words in a leisurely critici
style, she continued to look at every one of ue
^lar BQCcession as we sat. The niomcDt he ceased,
she looked at him again. "That'll do, Molly," said Mr
Jaggere, giving her a slight nod; "you have been a;'
mired, and can go." She withdrew her hands ai
went out of the room, and Mr. Jaggors, putting tl
decanters on from his dumb-waiter, fiUed his glass ai
passed round the wine.
"At half-past nine, gentlemen," said he, "we ma
break up. Pray make the best use of your time.
am glad to see you all, Mr. Drummie, I drink
If his object in singling out Drummie were to brii
out still more, it perfectly succeeded. In a solk
■ ■ ■ )fffi
triumph, Drummie showed hia morose depreciation of
rest of us, in a more and more offensive degree until h&
became downright intolerable. Through all his stagei
Mr. Jaggers followed lum with the same strange ii
terest. He actually seemed to serve as a zest to M
Jaggers's wine.
In our boyish want of discretion I dare say wa tod
too much to drink, and I know we talked too mnd
We became particularly h6t upon some boorish 8n»
of Drummle'a, to the effect that we were too free wil
our money. It led to my remarking, with more lei
than discretion, that it came with a bad grace froi
him, to whom Startop had lent money
but a week or so before.
"Well," retorted Drummie: "he'll be paid.'
"I don't mean to imply that he won't," said I, "bu
A might ma&e you hold yoor toi\gttft b^icimX
mouey, I should think.''
GREAT KfWWTATIOW. 881
" Yoa should think!" retorted Drummle. "Oh
Ivord!"'
"I daro say," I went on, meaning to be very severe,
tLat you wouldn't lend money to any of
aited it."
"You are right," said Draramle. "I wouldn't lenS'
k of yon a. sixpence. I wouldn't lend anybody
'Bather mean to borrow under those circiimstancea,
I should Bay."
" YoH should say," repeated Drummle. "Oh Lordl
This was so very aggravating — the more espe-
cially, as I foimd myself making no way against
surly obtUBBness — - that I said, disregarding Herbert'*
efforts to check me;
"Come, Mr. Drummle, since we are on the subject,
ni tell yoii what passed between Herbert here and me,
when you borrowed that money."
"/ don't want to know what passed between Herbert
Uiare and you," growled Drummle, And I think ha
added in n lower growl, that we might both go to the
devil and shake ourselves,
"I'll tell you, however," said I, "whether you want
to know or not. We said that as you put it in your
pocket vary glud to get it, you seemed to be immensely
amused at his being so weak as to lend it."
Drummle laaghed oatright, and sat laughing in oar
faces, with his hands in his pockets and his round
shoaltlers raised: plainly signifying that it was quite
trui', and that he despised us as aitses all.
Hereupon, Startop took Jiim in hand, l\\w\^ "«\'0o.
:i machJieUer^ grace than I had shovm, !W\i exVw
iwe agreoable. Startop, \ieiva%"
OKEAI" BXPKOTATIORe.
I lively Lrig^lit young' fellow, and I>riimiiile being
t oppoHite, the latter was always diaposed to rei
as a direct personal affrnnt. He now retorted
I a. coarse lampish way, and Startop tried to tarn
discussion aside witli some Rmull pleasantry that m
US all laugh. Resenting this little sucuess more t
anything, Drummle without any threat or warning pnl
his hiinds out of his pockets, dropped his round eht
ders, swore, took up a large glaBs, and would bf
flVig it at his adversary's head, but for our entertain!
dexterously seizing it at the instant when it was rail
for that purpose.
"Gentlemen," said Mr. Jaggers, deliberately pntti
[ down the glass, and hauling out his gold repeater
its masBive chain, "I am exceedingly sorry to annom
f that it's half-past nine." ^
On this hint we all rose to depart. Before
k to the street door, Startop was cheerily calling Drama
' "old boy," as if nothing had happened. But the q
' boy was so far from responding, that he would
even walk to ITammersmith on the same side of
way; so, Herbert and I, who remained In town, m
I them going down the street on opposite sides; Start
leading, and Drummle lagging behind in the shaji
of the houses, much as he was wont to follow in k
As the door was not yet shut, I thought I
leave Herbert there for a moment, and
, again to say a word to ray guai'dian. I found huB
■ ig-rooni surrounded by his stock of b<
already hard at it, washing his hands
I told him that I had coma u\i a
-was that anytking A\BRgve«s.Vi\e
^ound huB
ck of bo^l
J
I'Turreil, iiml tliat I liopeil he would not biHiiie me
"Pooli!" Hftid lie, Bluicing lis face, and Hpeaking-
iiirough tbe. water-dmps; "it's notliiiig, Pi|i. I like
liiat Spider though."
He had titrued towards me iiow, imd was shaking
Ills hpad, and blowing, and towelling- hinmelf.
"I iim glad yoii like kim, sir," said I — "bnt £
"No, DO," my guardiau assented, "don't have too
iMHL-h to do with him. Keep as clear of him a§ yon
uiiu. But I like the fellow, Pip; he is one of the tme
I a<*t. Wiiy, if I was a fortune-teller — "
Looking out of the towel, he caught my eye.
"Butl am not a fortune-teller," he said, letting hiB
ad drop into a festoon of towel, and towelling away
his two ears. "You know what I am, don't yon?
Good night, Pip."
"Good night, air."
In about a month after that, tlie Spider's time with
ACr, Pocket was up for good, and, to the great relief
(if all the house but Mrs. I'ocket, he went liome to the
family hole.
CHAPTER XXVII.
"My Dear Mr. Pip,
"I write this by request of Jlr. &ai'gery, for to let
iU know that lie is going ,to London in uom^arv^ ti?
. Wopsle and would be glad if agreeab\e to \i& ^-
vcd^tQ Bee you. He would call at llama,T^%"B-sJ«
!. u'clock, when M Tiot agteealt
ORB AT BRPBCTATTONB.
f please leave word, Your poor sister is much the s
1 when yoa left. We talk of yoa in the kitcl
every night, and wonder what you are saying -,
If now considered in the light of a liberty, i
cuse it for the love of poor old days. No more, dQ
Mr. Pip, from
"Tour ever obliged, and affectionate
"Servant,
BiDDr.
?.S. He wishes me most particular to write u
I larks. Ho says you will understand. I hope and
\ not doubt it will be agreeable to see him even thon,
a gentleman, for you had ever a good heart and he
'orthy man. I have read him all, excepting o
the last little sentence, and he wishes me most j
, ticular to write again what larhs."
I received this letter by the post on Monday m(
> ing, and therefore its appointment was for next da
lo confess exactly, with what feelings I lookt
forward to Joe's coming.
i^ Not with pleasure, though I was bound to hinn |
1 many ties; no; with considerable diatui'bance, t
, mortification, and a keen sense of incongruity. 1£\
could have kept him away by paying money, I a
tftinly would have paid money. My greatest reaS
ranee was, that he was coming to Barnard's Inn, not'
Hammersmith, and consequently would not fall
»Bentley Dmmmle's way. I had little objection to 1
bein^ seen by Herbert or his father, for both of wh
Jiad a respect; hut 1 \ia4 t\ie ^Kr^a\. sRmKiJivjwB
to hia hmng seen by DrummXii ■^VQ-m.\\v€ii.\a..
tempt. Ba, tlirougliout life, (iiir ^orat weaknesses and
usually committed for tLe sake of llie
■ iijile wlioiu we most despise,
1 liad be^im to be always decorating the cliambers
J jiime quite unnecessary and inappropriate way i
I'liiT, and very expensive those wrestles with Barnard
;irnved to be. By this time, the rooms were vastly
iliflerent from what I had found them, and I enjoyed
ilie honour of occupying a few prominent pages in
iiouka of a neighbouring upholsterer. I had got on so
f«Bt of late, that I had even started a boy in boots -i—
tup hoots — in bondage and slavery to whom I might
Wu been said to pass my days. For, after I had
made the monster (out of the refuse of my washerwo-
inaii's family) and had clothed him with a blue coat,
Mnmy waistcoat, white cravat, creamy breeches, and
die boots already mentioned, I had to find him a little
to do and a great deaf to eat; and with both of those
liorrible requirements he haunted my existence.
This avenging phantom was ordered to be on duty
U eight on Tuesday m.onmig in the hall (it was i
feet square, as charged for tloOTcloth), and Herbert sag-
certain things for breakfast that ho thought Joe
like. While- 1 felt sincerely obliged to him for
to interested and considerate, I had an odd half-
iked sense of suspicion upon me, that if Joe had
teen coming to see Imt, he wouldn't have been quite
so brisk about it.
However, I came into town on the Monday night
to be ready for Joe, and I got up early in the mi
g, and caused the sitting'-room and brea.Wa»V\,tOtt\fe Xa
isnme tlieir moat splendid appearance. UniottvniaitOcJ
moniuig was drizzly, and an angel eou\4 -Q.Qt "\iW
T^aelaliem. J. -^
390 GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
concealed ths fact that Barnard was ahedtUng s<
tears outside the window, like some weak giant i
Sweep.
As tho time approached I should have tiked to :
away, but the Avenger pursuant to orders was in
hall, and presently I heard Joe on the staircase,
knew it was Joe by his clumsy
Btaira — liis state boots being always too big for ]
— and by the time it took him to read the named
the other floors in the course of his ascent. "Whs*
last he stopped outside our door, I could hear his fia
tracing over the painted letters of ray name, and I
terwards distinctly heard him breathing in at the )l
hole. Finally ho gave a faint single rap, and Pe[
— such was the compromising name of the aveng
boy — announced "Mr. Gargeiy!" I thought he
ver would have done wiping his feet, and that I md
'have gone out to im him o£F the mat, but at last'
"Joe, how are you, Joe?"
"Pip, how ARE you, Pip?"
With his good honest face all glowing and shin
and his hat put down on the floor between ua, he eai
both my hands and worked them straight up and dc
aa if I had been the last-patented Pump.
"I am glad to see you, Joe. Give me your ha
But Joo, taking it up carefully with both hi
like a bird's-nest with eggs in it, wouldn't hear of ;
ing with that piece of property, and persisted in el
ing talking over it in a most uncomfortable way.
"Which you have tliat gvOTfai" wcA Je*.,
swelled, and that gent\eS«\t^-^ "" -■
^^^^^^^^^aS^n^S^R
liirJe before he discovered tliia word; "as to be sure
j"ii are a honoar to your king; and coiintrj'."
1 "And you, Joe, look wonderfnlly well."
"Thank God," eaid Joe, "I'm ekerval to moBt.
' And your sister, she.'a no worse than she were. And
Sillily, she's ever right and ready. And all friends is
■' Ijiidkerder, if not no forsrdor. 'Ccjjtin' Wopsle; he'a
All this time (still with both hunda taking great
ic of the bird's-ueat), Joe was rolling; his eyos round
III round the room, and round and round the ilowered
■i(tf>ni of my dressing-^wn.
"Had .1 drop, Joe?"
"Why yes," said Joe, lowering; his voice, "he's left
■ Ohiirch, and went into the playacting;. Which the
iiliiyncting' have likeways broug;ht hint to London along
litli me. And his wish were," said Joe, getting the
liJrdVnest under liis left arm for the moment and gro-
|ilrig in it for an egg with his right; "if no offence, as
would 'and you that."
I took what Joe gave me, and found it to he the
L cnunpled playbill of a small metropolitan theatre, au-
ing the first appearance in that very week of
ideb^ted Provincial Amatem* of Itoscian renown,
S iHliqae performance in the highest tragic walk
r Kational Bard has lately occaHioned so great a.
' 1 local dramatic circles."
"Were you at his performance, Joe?" I inquired,
"I icfi-e," said Joe, with emphasis and solemnity.
"Was there a great senaation?"
"Why," said Joe, "yea, there certara\y -WCTe a, -5"!;^
I .;f orsogv-peel. Paitickler, when he see fce ^juo'si'
~*^^omj8ri£ jsir, whether \t ^ei<
»S93
GffiSAT wcPsorx'Fiom.
f
^F latod to keep a, man tip tri hia work with a good 1
" to be coQtiniwally cutting in betwixt liim and the GI^
with 'Amen!' A man may have had a miafortnn' i
been in the Church," said Joe, lowering his y
argumentative and feeling tone, "but that is
why you should put him out at such a time. "WMj
I meantersay, if the ghost of a man's own father c
not he allowed to claim bis attention,
I Still more, when hia monming 'at is unfortunately n
BO small as that the weight of the black feathers bnd
it off, try to keep it on how you may."
A ghost-seeing effect in Joe's own countenance |
formed me that Herbert had entered the i
presented Joe to Herbert, who held out hia hand; )
Joe backed from it, and held on by the hird's-nest. '
"Tour servant. Sir," said Joe, "which I hopaj
you and Pip" — here his eye fell on the Aveii
who was putting some toast on table, and so pla
denoted an intention to make that young gentlen
one of the family, that I frowned it down and c
him more — "I meantersay, yon two gentlet
which I hope aa you get your elths in this cloae ep^
For the present may be a. werry good inn, accord
to London opinions," said Joe, confidentially,
believe its character do stand I; but I wouldn't ke«
»pig in it myself — not in the case that I wished j
to fatten wholesome and to eat with a meller flavj
on him."
Having home this flattering testimony to the e
of our dwelling-place, and having incidentally ehol
this tendency to call me "sir," Joe, being invitetljj
sii down to fable, looked a\V Toitni 'ftift t
^able spot on wliich to deposit "Vaa "^laV -
' aREAV BXPBOTATIMni, 3
"Illy on some very few rare substances in nature that
i( c:oald find a restinf^place — and ultimately stood it
III! an extreme corner of the cliimney-piece, from which
i; ever afterwords fell off at intervala.
"Do you take tea, or coffee, Mr. Gargery?" asked
ifcrhert, who always presided of a morning.
"Tliankee, Sir," said Joe, stiff from head to foot,
1 11 take whichever is most agreeable to yourself."
"What do yon say to coffee?"
"Thankee, Sir," returned Joe, eyidently dispirited
v tiie proposal, "since you are so kind as make chice
' roffet;, I will not run coatrairy to your own opinions.
n't you never find it a little 'eating?" .
"Say tea then," said Herbert, pouring it out
Here Joe's hat tumbled off the mantelpiece, and he
i out of his chair and picked it np, aud fitted it
& same exact spot. As if it were an absolute poiot
i breeding that it should tumble off again soon.
r "Wlien did you come to town, Mr. Gargejy?"
"Were it yesterday afternoon?" said Joe, after
DDgluDg behind his hand, as if he had had time to
catch the whooping-cough since he came. "No it were
not. Yes it were. Yes. It were yesterday afternoon"
(with an appearance of mingled wisdom, relief, and
strict impartiality).
"Have you seen anything of London, yet?"
"Why, yea, Sir," said Joe, "me and Wopsle went
"IT straight to look at the Blacking Ware'ua. But
'iiiJo't find that it come up to its likeness in, the red
.i!l>t at the shop doors; which I meantersay," added
Hi.', in an explanafwy manner, "aa it is iVexa i.tii."«i.
.' arehhectooralooral."
Jielieve Joe would 'have \)roVoTi?.e&. *
I
:1 (iiiigLtily exjireasive to my mind of Bome arcIiC
tecture that I know) into a perfect OhoruB, but tVir Li*
attention Leing pmvitleutially attracted by his liat-
wliicli waa toppling. Indeed, it demiinded from him m
constant attention, and a quickness uf eye and Land^^
very like tliat exacted by iricket-keeping. Hft ma(
extraordinary play with it, and showed the greats
akill; now, rushing at it and catehiug it neatJy as
dropped; now, merely stopping it midway, beatings
up, and humouring it in various parts of the room a
against a good deal of the pattern of the paper on 1
wall, before lio felt it safe to close with it; final]
.Splashing it into the slop-basin, where I took the liheri
of laying hands upon it
As to his shirt-collar, and his coat-collar, th^ yrS
■perplexing to reflect upon — insoluble mysterieB boti
Why should a man scrape himself to that extent, be>
fere he could consider himself full dressed? Why should
rhe suppose it necessary to be purified by suffering f
Ihb LoSday clothes? Then he fell into such unaoconi
able fits of meditation, with his fork midway betvei
his plate and his mouth; had his eyes attracted in bu(
.strange directions; was afflicted with such remarkat
coughs; sat so far from the table, and dropped st
more than ho ate, and pretended that he hac
dropped it; that I was heartily glad when Herbert 1«
us for the City.
I had neither the good sense nor the good feelil
to know that this was all my fault, and that if I t
been easier with Joe, Joe would have been easier w
me. I felt impatient of him and out of temper w
which condition Ke \1ea5e4 taa^a ol %ift «
^ Ds tiro being now alone, Sir" — bep:un J()e.
"Jm," I iutemipteil, pettJBhlj', "Uow oan you call
m Sir?"
Joe looked at me for a single instant with some-
■liiii^ faintly like veproacli. Ilttedy prejiosterous as his
iJYirat wan, and as his collars were, I was conseions of
■I sort of dignity in the look.
"Us two being now alone," resumed Joe, "and me
liHving the latentions and abilities to stay not many
uiuiites more, I will now conclude - — leastways begin
-- tu mention what have led to my having had the
|iri'Mtnt honour. For was it not," said Joe, with bis
■M air of Incid ex[io8ition, "that uiy only wish were
■ ' lio useful to you, I should not have had the honour
■li breaking wittles in the company and abode of gen-
tliTuen."
I was so unwilling to see the look again, that I
[Dade no remonstrance against this tone.
"Well, Sir," pursued Joe, "thiH is how it were. I
ware at the Bargemen t'other night, Pip;" whenever
te subaided into affection, he called me Pip, and when-
ever he relapsed into politeness be called me Sir; "when
tliere come up in his shay-cart, Pumhlechook. Which
that same identical," said Joe, going down a new track,
"do comb my 'air the wrong way aometimes, awfitl,
by giving out up and down town as it wor him which
aver bad your infant compaiiionation and were looked
lipon as a play-fellow by yourself."
"Konsense. It was you, Joe."
"Which I fully believed it were, Pip," Haid Joe,
i.;liUy tossing his head, "tliough it Bignity VvVfe. "nww
/. WeU, Pip; (Ais same identical, ■*'\i\«\i \iis -ma
to hlustexoas, come to me at t\ke"Basi
•996 GKBAT BXPBOTATIom.
(wot a pipe and n, pint of beer do give refii
ment to iha working maD, Sir, and do not over s
late), and his word were, 'Joseph, Miss HaviBbam
wiali to speak to you."'
"Misa Havisham, Joe?"
"'She wish,' were Pumblechook's word, 'to speal
yon,'" Joe sat and rolled his eyea at the ceiling.
'Tes, Joe? Go on, please."
"Next day. Sir," said Joe, looking at i
were a loag way off, "having cleaned myself, I go
I Bee Mias A."
"Miss A., Joe? Mias HaTisham?"
"Wliich I say, Sir," replied Joe, with an
legal formality, as if he were making his will,
A., or otherways Havisham, Her expression ai
aa foUering! 'Mr. Gargery. Ton air in coirespondt
with Mr. Pip?' Having had a letter from you, I i
able to say 'I am.' (When I married your sister,
I said 'I will;' and when I answered your friend, '.
I said 'I am.') 'Would you tell him, then,' said
'that which Estella has come home and would be j
to see him.'"
I fait my face fire up as I looked at Joe, I I
one remote cause of its firing, may have been my <
sciouaness that if I had known his eiTand, I aht
have given him more encouragement.
"Biddy," pursued Joe, "when I got home
asked her fur to write the message to you,
hung back. Biddy says, 'I know he will he very j
to have it by word of mouth, it ia holiday-time,
want to see him, gol' I have now tcnuliai.^'
miag from his ctalr, " ani, ^'^'^ , ^ ■»
L -ti^t^LiIgS
vel] iind ever proapering to a greater and ti greater
"But you are not going now, Joe?"
"Yes I am," said Joe,
"But you are coming back to dinner, Joo?"
"No I am not," said Joe.
Our eyes met, and all the "Sir" melted out of
that manly heart as he gave me his band.
"Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever ho many
iMirtings welded together, as I may say, and one man's
I lilauksmith, and one's a whitesmith, and one'ti a gold-
iiith, and one's a coppersmith. Diwisiona among snch
'Hist come, and must be met as they come. If there's
<^n any fault at all to-day, it's mine. Tou and me
I- not two figures to he together in London; nor yet
nnywhercH else but what is private, and heknown, and
imdcrBtood among friends. It ain't that I am proud,
but that I want to be right, as you shall never see me
DO more in these clothea. I'm wrong in these clothes.
Vm wrong out of the forge, the kitchen, or off th'
muabes. You -won't find half bo much fault in me if
yon think of me in my forge dress, with my hammer
ill lay hand, or even my pipe. You won't find half
1 mnch fault in me if, supposing as you should ever
■ l-ih to see me, you come and put your bead in at the
1 irtj'c window and see Joe the blacksmith, there at the
■ ill] anvil, in the old burnt apron, sticking to the old
ivork. I'm awftil dall, but I hope I've beat out some-
lUing nigh the rights of this at last. And so God
bless you, dear old Pip, old chap, God bless youl"
I had not been mistaken in my fancy &a.t "Oawt^i
a^ioiple dignity iu him. The fasluon o? V\& Jwa**
its way -when \ie B-joVa "Oo-s
1
OltSAT tgxPflOTJMnOKS.
I words, tlian it cnnld come iii its way in Heaven,
[I touched nie gently on tlie forehead, and went out.
r BOon Hs I could recover myself sufficiently, I horri
I out after Iiim and loiiked for blm in the ncighboii
I streets; but he was gone.
CHAPTER XXVIIT.
It waa clear that I must repair to our town »«
I <iay, and in the first flow of my repentance it if
t equally clear that I must stay at Joe's. But when
I had secured my box-place by to-nioiTow's coach i
I had been down to Mr. Pocket's and back, I was fl
J by any means convinced on the last point, and beg
I'io invent reasons and make excuses for putting up
\ 'tke Blue Boar. I should be an inconvenience at Jof
not expected, and my heil would not be r
I; I should be too far from Miss Havisham's, and i
B exacting and mightn't like it. All other awiiidl<
an earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and 7
tiSneh pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a eari
f diing. That I should innocently take a bad half-cio'
|.«f somebody eUe's manufacture, is reasonable enooj
L but that I should knowingly reckon the B^uriou^ o
of my own make, as good money! An obliging strau^
under pretence of compactly folding up my bank no
for security's sake, abstracts the notes and gives 1
nutshells; but what ia his sleight of hand to 1
when I fold up my own nutshells and pass them
jijyseif as notes!
Having settled that 1 must go \ft 'ftiKi'ffimss'S
_znr miad waa much distuvbeiV \>7 is(^ '"' ^"^
^^Wfl take tlie Avenger. It was tempting to tliiok nf
^^K expGiuiTG M<:i^enaiy publicly airing Iiis boots in
^^B*nfava}^ of tho Bluo Boar's poeting-yanl; it was
^^Btt mleun to imiigine liim (casually produced in
^^Btulor's shop niid confounding the disreap tactful sen-
Hp of TFabb'e boy. On the other hand, IVabb'e boy
^b^ worm himself into hia intimncy and tell him
^nogg; or, reeklcaa and desperate wretch as I knew he
BmU be, might hoot him in the High-atreet. My pa-
^MteSI, too, might hear of him, and not approve. On
Hfrvbole, I resolved U> leave the Avenger behind.
^Bu 'was the afternoon coach by which I had taken
^^^^Bcfl^ and, as winter had now come round, I shonld
^KniTe at my destination until two or three hours
^BStim'k.. Our time of starting from the Cross Keys
s'.iB two o'clock. I arrived on the gi-ound with «
I i.irter of an hour to spare, attended by the Avenger
- if I may connect that expression with one who
viT attended on me if he could possibly help it.
At tliat time it was customary to carry Convicts
I iown to the dockyards by stage-coach. As I had often
I teard of them in the capacity of outsi de-pass engers,
' than once seen them on the high road
dwigling their ironed legs over the coach roof, I had
no cause to be surprised when Herbert, meeting me in
tlie yard, came v^ aiid told me there were two convicts
gning down with me. But I bad a reason that was an
w, for constitutionally faltering whenever
I heard the word convict.
""Ton don't mind them, Handoli"' said Herbert,
if yoo. iiisC^ "^'
300 OKBAT BXPBCIAtlOira. ■
"1 can't pretend that I do like them, and I t
pose you don't particularly. But I don't mind tlie
"See! There they are," said Herbert, "coming
of the Tap. What a dej^aded and vile sight it isl'
They had been treating their guard, I suppose,
they had a gaoler n'ith them, and all three c&me
■wiping their mouths on their hands. The two convi
were handcuffed together, and had irons on their U
— irona of a pattern that I knew well. They won
the dresa that I likewise kuew well. Their keeper baJ
a brace of pistols, and carried a thick-knobbed blud-
geon under his arm; but he was on terms of got"
understanding with them, and stood, with them be
him, looking on at the putting-to of the h(
with an air as if they were an interesting Exhibi
not formally open at the moment, and ho the Cui
One was a taller and Ktoutor man than the other,
appeared as a matter of course, according to the
rious ways of the world both convict and free, to
had allotted to him the smallest suit of clothes,
arms and legs were like great pincushions of th(
shapes, and hia attire disguised him absurdly;
knew his half-closed eye at one glance. Thjoa
atood the man whom I had seen on the settle
the Three Jolly Eaigemen on a Saturday night,
and who had brought me down with hia
gun.
It was easy to make sure that as yet he kiiQW-S
no more than if he had never seen me in his life,
looked across at me, and his eye appratsei
chain, and then he incidentally spat and said i
iiing to the other convict, a,iA.i 'ii^wj \wv^«fA, ■
j/aed tieniseiveB round ■wilU a i^i^ife t>'i *iK« «
Wicie, and looked at something else. The great
nnmliera on their hacks, aa if they were atreet doora;
titir coai'sc mangy ungainly outer auri'aco, aa if they
I'MB lower animala; their ironed legs, upologeticftlly
^landed with pocket-hnndkerchiefa ; and the way in
Thlch all present looked at them and kept from them;
Bade them (as Herbert litid said) a most diaagresable
•ad degraded spectacle.
But this waa not the worst of it. It came out that
llie whole of the back of the cnaoh had been taken by
family removing from London, and that there were
10 places for the two prisoners but on the seat in iront
tehind the coachman. Hereupon, a choleric gentle-
■M nu), who had taken the fourth place on that aeat, flew
T foto a moat violent passion, and said that it was a
i'lwicli of contract to mix him up with such villanoua
■iiipany, and that it was poiaououa and pornicioua
111 infamous and shameful and I don't know what
L'.ij. At this time the coach was ready and the coach-
ui»a impatient, and we were all preparing to get up,
md the prisoners had come over with thoir keeper —
lirinsfing with them that curious Uavour of bread-
poidtice, baiBe, rope-yarn, and hearthstone, which
iitenda the convict presence.
"Don't take it so much amiss, sir," pleaded the
keeper to the angry passenger; "I'll sit nest you my-
wlf. I'll put 'em on the outside of the row. They
won't interfere with you, sir. You needn't know they're
Uiere."
"And don't blame me" gi-owled the convict I had
Bilsed. "/ iiou't want to go, I am lynte xtiafiL-j
■ behhifl. Aa far as I am cuneemci any Qu^
; to m^ place."
I
^^tresi
"Or mine," said the other, gruffly. "/ ■would]
have incoraiaoded none of you, if I'd a had my t
Then they both laughed, aad began cracking ni^
and spitting the ahella about, — As I really think
should have liked to do myself, if I had been in tb
place and bo despised.
At length it was voted that there was no help i
the angry gentleman, and that he must either gO'
his chance company or remain behind. So he got i
his place, still making complaints, and the keeper i
into the place, next him, and the convicts hauled thffl
selves up as well as they could, and the convict I k
recognised sat behind me with his breath on t'
of my head.
"Good-by, Handel!" Herbert called out aa i
started. I thought what a blessed fortune it was tl
he had found another name for me than Pip.
It is impossible to express with what acutenesB
felt the convict's breathing, not ouly on the back
my bead, but all along my spine. The sensation f
like being touched in the marrow with some pungi
and searching acid, and it set my very teeth on ed|
He seemed to have more breathing business to do tb
another man, and to make more noise in doing it: i
I was conscious of growing high- shouldered on one a
in my ehrinking endeavours to fend him off.
The weather was miserably raw, and the two cni
the cold. It made us all lethargic before we had g
far, and when we had left the Half-way House h(wli
we habitually doited and shivered and were silent.
dozed off, royaelf, in considering the question whet
/ ought to restore a coup\e o? ^orniia &M\m??^ \a \
■ttao before losing sigAit o£ liinv, a.ni'Ww'-A, <j
U8&T sx^EotAHoinr.
903
rbe done. In the act. of dipping forward as if I
* §10(110; to batLo ftmong tte liorsea, 1 woke in a
iifflit and took the question lip again.
iitit I mtiBt liave lost it longer than I had thought,
■iii'e, ahhough I could recognise nothing in the dark-
'11H Mil the fitful lights and shadows of our lamps, I,
'■- 'ni marsh country in the cold damp wind that blew
1' us. Cowering forward for warmth and to make me
■ ^iTocn against the wind, the convicts were closer to
■ii- than before. The very first words I heard them
.' iiTuhange as I became conscious, were the words of
■iiy own thonght "Two One Pound notes."
"How did he get 'em?" said the convict I had
"How should I know?" returned the other. "He
Ul 'em stowed away somehows. Giv him by friends,
1 ospect."
"I wish," said the other, with a bitter curse upon
liie cold, "that I had 'em here."
"Two one pound notes, or friends?'"
"Two one povmd notes. I'd sell all the friends I
ever had, for one, and think it a blessed good bargain.
Well? So he says — ?"
"So he says," resumed the convict I had recognised
— "it was all said and done in half a minute, he)jind
a pile of timber in the Dockyard — 'you're a going to
be discharged?' Yes, I was. Would I find out that
hoy that had fed him and kop his secret, and give
him them two one pound notes? Yea, I would. And
I did.'
font jron," ^rrowled the other.
JCaa.
I
1^304 BREAT EXPECTATIONS,
have Leen a green one. Mean to say he knowed
thing of you?"
'Not a ha'porth. Different ganga and di£Fei
ships. He was tried again for prison breaking,
made a, Lifer."
"And T^as that — Honour! — the only time ;
worked out, in this part of the country?"
"The only time."
"What might have been yonr opinion of the ph
"A moat heaatly place. Mndbank, mist, awa
and work; work, swamp, mist, and mudbank."
They both eJt£Ei"att:d the place in very str
language, and gradually growled themselves out
had nothing left to say.
After overhearing this dialogue, I should asaurt
have got down and been loft in the solitude and di
neaa of the highway, but for feeling certain that
man had no siiBpiciou of my identity. Indeed, I ,
not only so changed in the coiarae of nature, bit
differently dreBsed and so differently circumstan
that it was not at all likely he could have known
■without accidental help. Still, the coincidence
being together on the coach, was aulBciently Strang
fill me with a diead that some other coincidence m
at any moment connect me, in hia hearing, with
name. For thia reason, I resolved to alight aa sooi
we touched the town, and put myself out of his h
ing. This device I executed successfully. My li
portmanteau was in the boot under my feetj I had
to turn a hinge to get it out; I threw it down bs
me, got down after it, and was left at the first li
on the first stonea of the town 5a,-Jwji«\A. Aa to
', tbey went theii way "w'^V &» towSq..
knew at wliat point they would be spirited off to the
fiver. In my fancy, I saw the hoat with its convict
CWT waiting for them at the aUmewaahed stairs, —
sgain heard the gruff "Give way, you!" like an order
to dogs — again saw the wicked Noali'a Ark lying
tvt in the black water.
I coald not have said what I was afraid of, for my
fear was altogether undefined and vague, but there was
P'eat fear upon me. As I walked on to the hotel, I
felt that a dread, much exceeding the mere apprehen-
<inii of a painful or disagrceablo recognition, made me
tremble. 1 am confident that it took no distinctness of
sbapo, and that it was the revival for a few minutes
uf iJie terror of childhood.
The coffee-room at the Blue Boar was empty, and
1 !md not only ordered my dinner there, but bad sat
!iwn to it, before the waiter knew me. As soon aa
''•'T he had apologised for tlie reiBJasness of his me-
!iiiiiy, he asked me if he should send Boots for Mr.
Parablechook?
"No," said I, "certainly not."
The waiter (it was he who had brought up the
foeat Kemonstraace from the Commercials on the day
*lien I was bound) appeared surprised, and took the
earliest opportunity of putting a dirty old copy of a
local newspaper so directly in my way, that I took it
up and read this paragraph:
"Our readers will learn, not altogether without
interest, in reference to the recent romantic rise
fortune of a young artificer in iron ot t\i\9 ii.«\^iii'
hood (irhai a theme, by the way, for the ma^t "^ea. <S.
tov as yet not aniversaily ackno-wledgei V»''»niam«
30fi GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
TooBY, the poet of onr columnsl), that the yoi
earliest patron, companion, and friend, was a hig
respected individual not entirely unconnected with'
corn and seed trade, and whose eminently convert
and commodinns business premises are situate with
hundred miles of the High-street. It is not wh
irrespective of our personal feelings that we re
HiH as the Mentor of our young Telemachus, for
I goofl to know that our town produced the foondf
the latter's fortunes. Does the thought-contracted 1
of the local Bage or the lustrous eye of local Bei
inquire whose fortunes? We beiievo that Qui
, Matays was the Blaoksmith of Antwerp. Verb. 8
■ I entertain a conviction, based upon large experia
that if in the days of my prosperity I had gons to
North Pole, I should have met BO!uebi>dy there, •*
dering Esquimaux or civilised man, who would i
told me that Pumblechook was my earliest patron
the founder of my fortunes.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Betimes in the morning I was up and out
was too early yet to go to Miss Havisham's, i
loitered into the country on Miss Havisham's aid
town — which waa not Joe's side; I could go t
o-morrow — thinking about my patroness, and p!
king brilliant pictures of her plans tor me.
She had adopted Estella, she had
t adopted me, and it could not fail to be her inten
Wio bring us together. She Teaervei 'A W to&
Zate house, admit tbe 6\mB\i\B.ft Sift
Moms, set the clocks a going and tlie cold lieartlia i
tiUzinj;, tear duwu tlif eobwelia, deatroy tlie vermii
— in sliort, do all the shining deeds of the young
iuiight of romance, and many the PrincesB, I had
.'<i[i|ied to look at the house as I passed; and its
ii'.Lred red brick walls, blocked windows, and strong;
KiTcii ivy clasping even the Ktacks of chimneys with
iis twigs and tendi-ns, as if with sinewy old arms, Lad
imAe up a rich attractive mystery, of which I was the
licro. Estella was the inspiration of it, and the heart
ul' it, of course. Hut, though she bad taken such
B'raBg possession of me, though my fancy and my
bope were so set up(ui her, though lier influence on my
knjish life and character had been all-powerful, I did
nnt, even that romantic morning, invest her with any
Utributes save those she poseessod. I mention this
lliis place, of a fixed purpose, because it is the clue by
ifliich 1 am to be followed into my poor labyrinth.
Aecording to my experience, the conventional notion
iif a lover cannot be always true. The unqualified
truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a
lum, I loved her because I fouud her irresistible. Once
for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not
nlways, that I loved her against reason, against pro-
mise, against peace, against hope, against happiness,
iiirniust all discouragement that could he. Onoa for
.11; I loved her none the leas because I knew it, and
: liad no more influence in restraining me, than if I
' id devoutly believed her to be 1
I so shaped out my walk as to arrive at tha
-I til at my old time. When I Viai tuiig ^\. 'Cwi
■11 aidi an anstmily iaud, I turned m^ \ja^ "a^
gme, trid/eJtned to jeet mv breath, anfli ygg^
PSOS HRHAT HXPBOTimross.
^F beating of my lieiut moderately quiet. I heard i
side door open and steps come across the court-j
but I pretended not to hear, even when the gate sv
on its rusty hinges.
Being at last touched on the shoulder, I atari
and turned. I started much more naturally then,
find myself confronted by a ujaa in a sober grey drs
The last man I should Lave expected to see in
place of porter at Miss Havisham's door.
t\ "Orlickl"
'^ 'rSli7~"ywmig master, there's more changes 1
yours. But come in, come in. It's opposed to
I orders to hold the gate open."
I entered and he swung it, and locked it, and ta
I the key out. "YesI" said he, facing round,
I doggedly preceding me a few steps towards the Loui
'"Here I ami" ^
"How did you come here?"
"I come here," he retorted, "on my legs.
I .my boi brought alongside me in a barrow."
"Are you here for good?"
"I ain't here for hai-m, young master, I suppose
I was not 80 sure of that. I had leisure to enti
t tain the retort in my mind, while he slowly lifted i
f heavy glance from the pavement, up my legs .
[ arms, to my face.
"Then you have left the forge?" I said.
"Do this look like a forge?" replied Orb'cfc, a*
ing hia glance all round him with an air of inji
"Now, do it look like it?"
1 asked him how long he had left Gargerji
/bz-gvP
K "One day is so like anoAiet \
I OaaiXT raiPBOTATiOMS. 309
!li:it I tlon't know witliout casting it up. However,
! I Mne bere some time eince you left."
■'I could have toKl you timt, Orliiik."
"Ah!" said he, dryly. "But then you've got to
'■■■ ^ M'holar."
By this time we had come to the house, where I
i'Hii'l his room to he one just within the side door,
nili a little window in it looking on the court-yard.
!!• its small proportions, it was not unlike the kind of
I '^icQ usually assigned to a gate-porter in Paris. Certain
■ I ysj were hanging on the wall, to which he now added
11 state key; and his patchwork- covered bed was in a
iirlii inner division or rocess. The whole had a slo-
■iily confined and sleepy look, like a cage for a
'■i;^f)in dormouse: while he, looming dark and heavy
II ihe shadow of a comer by the window, looked like
ii' huiaan dormouse for whom it was Utted up -^ as
;i'leed he was.
"I never saw this room before," I remarked; "but
. there used to be no Porter here."
"No," said he; "not till it got about that there
ms no protection on the premises, and it come to be
■'iisidered dangerous, with convicts and Tag and Eag
"111 BoUaJl going up and duwn. And then I was re-
Niimended to tho place as a man who could give
uan as good as he brought, and I took it.
I It's easier than bellowsing and hammering. — That's
I loaded, that is."
My eye had been caught by a gun with a hraes-
Wnnd stock over the chimney-piece, and his eye had
followed mine.
"Well," said I, not desirous of mote noiYSft'K.a'a.d'B
(/Iffo up to Miss Havisham?"
"Burn me, if I know!" liQ retorted, first stretchi
lumself and then aliaking himself; "my ordere
here, young; master. I give this here helJ a rap
this here hammer, and you go ou along the paaaa
till you meet Bomebody."
"I am expected, I believe?"
"Burn me twice over, if I can say!" said he.
Upon that, I turned down the long passage wl
I had first trodden in my thick hoots, and he made
sell Bound. At the end of the passage, while the
frae Btill reverberating, I found Sarah Pocket: i
;d to have now become constitutionally gt
tnd yellow hy reason of me.
"""i!" said she. "You, is it, Mr. Pip?"
is. Miss Pocket. I am glad to tell yon t
'. Pocket and family are all well."
"Are they any wiser?" said Sarah, witli a disi
diake of the head; "they had better he wiser, ti
Ah, Matthew, Matthew! You know your w^
Tolerably, for I had gone up the staircase
many a time. I ascended it now, in lighl
ioota than of yore, and tapped in my old way at
r of Miss Haviaham's room. "Pip's rap " " "
Wer say, immediately; "come in, Pip."
B was in her ehsiir near the old table, in th
dress, with her two hands crossed on her stiuk,
chin resting on them, and her eyes on the fire.
near her, with the white shoe that had never
worn, in her hand, and her head bent as she looked
/>, was an elegant lady whom I hiid never seen.
"Come in , Pip ," Miss 'Q.a.\\ft\v!Wtt ctsu&fi
mutter, irithoiit looking tovitiSl ot w^'-. '"'^<*«*~!
h<^w do you do, Pip? so yon kJss my hand as if I
-■-r-rt: a queen, eh? — WeJlr"'
riho looked U|i at me snddenly, only moving her
i.s, and repeated in a grimly playful manner,
"Well?"
"I beard, Miss Haviaham," said I, rather at
I'i'iS, "that you were so kind aa to wish me to come
L'l see you, and I came directly."
■'"Well?"
The lady wlyuB-rTiad never seen before, lifted up
' r eyes and loeked archly at me, and then I saw that
'I eyes were EstuUa'e eyes. But she was so much
■. iiiged, was so mucli more beautiful, so much more
■ iLiiiuly in all things winning admiration, had made
ill wutiderfid advance, that I seemed to have made
■lit. I fancied, as I looked at her, that I slipped
■[".lesaly back into the coarse and common boy again.
' ' Llie sense of distance and disparity that came upon
mt, and the inaccessibility that came about her!
1 She gave me her hand. I stammered something
\ iilinat the pleasure I felt in seeing her again, and
iiliout my having looked forward to it for a long, long
"Do you find her much changed, Pip?" asked
*!jhs llavisham with her greedy look, and striking her
•lick upon a chair tliat stood between them, as a sign
I'j me to sit down there.
"When I came In, Miss Haviaham, I thought there
''■!is nothing of Estella in the face or figure; but now
i ill settles down so curiously into tlie iA4 "'
'■tViaty Yoa flre not going to say, mtcj XNiia "^
.vJZ,;"- Mas HaYisbum interrapteS^'^ ™ "
n BXPBCTATtOKS,
proud and Inaulting and you wanted to go away fi
her. Don't you remember?"
I said confusedly that that waa long ago, and
I knew no better thou, and the like. Estella
with perfect composure, and said she had no donl
my having been quite right, and of her having
very diaagreeable.
"In he changed?" Miss Havishara asked her.
"Very much," said Eatella, looking at me.
"Less coarse and common?" said Miss HavisI
playing with Estella's hair.
Estella laughed, and looked at the shoe in
hand, and laughed again, and looked at me, and
the shoe down. She treated me as a boy still, but
lured me on.
"We sat in the dreamy room among the old stn
influences which had so wrought upon mo, and I le
that she had but juat come home from Prance.
that she was going to London. Proud and wilfu
of old, she had brought those qualities into such
jectlon to her beauty that it was impossible and oi
nature — or I thought so - — to separate them
her beauty. Truly it was impossible to diaaociato
presence from all those wretched hankerings
money and gentility that had disturbed my boyi
— from all those iil-regulated aspirations that had
made me ashamed of home and Joe — from all t;
visions that had raised her face in the glowing
struck it out of the iron on the anvil, estracted it
the darkness of night to look in at the wooden wii
of the forge and flit away. In a word, it was in
aible for me to separate ber , m l^ie ■jja*. ot '-oi '?taa
4'eijt, from the innormoBt lite oS ^"''"
ai8
Hettled that I Bhoitld stny there all the
e day, and return to the hotel at night, and
1 to-morrow, When we had conversed for a
i MisB Harisham seiit as two out to wiilk in the
. gardea; on our coming in by-and-by, ahe
[ shotild wheel her about a little as iu timea of
, Estella and I went out into the garden hj the
rough which I had strayed to my encounter with
■■■ pale young gentleman, now Herbert; I, trembling
I spirit and worsiiipping; tho very hem of her dresa;
I' , i^uite composed and most decidedly not worshipping
',1- hem of mine. As we drew near to the place of en-
I inter, she stopped and said:
''I must havo been a singular little creature to hide
:J see that light that day: but I did, and I enjoyed
" ti/ry much."
"You rewarded me very much."
"Did I?" she replied, in an incidental and forget-
i way. "I remember I entertained a great objection
to your adversary, because I took it ill that he should
» brought here to pester me with his company."
^fie and I are great friends now," said I.
I you? I think I recollect though, that you
E*dai hia father?"
[e the admission with reluctance, for it seemed
boyish look, and she already treated me
enough like a hoy.
your change of fortune and prospects, yon
1.' changed _your companions,'' said Ea^fiMa..
"NatarAlly, " said I.
" sie added, in a "havi^tj 'i.aoS
oitsAT tsM.men.'rmm.
fit company for you once, would be quift
Unfit company for you now."
In my conscience, I doubt very much whetber
had any lingering inteiitinn left, of going' to see Jfl
but if 1 bad, this observation put it to Sight
"You had no idea of your impending good for
in those times?" said Eatella, with a slight wave
hef hand, signifying in the fighting times.
"Not the least."
The air of completeneaa and superiority with n
ahe walked at my side, and the sir of youthfnlni
and BubmiBsion with which I walked at hers, maii
contrast that I strongly felt. It would have ]
in me more than it did, if I had not regarded r
:iis eliciting it by being so set apart for ber and a
ed to her.
The garden waa too overgrown and rank for walkin
IB with ease, and after wo had made the round e~
twiee or thrice, we came out again into the Iwew
yard. I showed Ler to a nicety where I had a
her walking on the casks, tliat first old day, and
flaid, with a cold and careless look in that directio:
"Did 1?" I reminded ber where she bad come out c
ffthe house and given me my meat and drink, and slu
I said, "I don't remember." "Not remember that yc
made me cry?" said I. "Ko," said she, and Bho<
bet head and looked about her. I verily believe tl
her not lememhering and not minding in the leg
made me cry again, inwardly — and that is I
sharpest crying of all.
"i'oB must know," said "Eatefta., coQ^ewien^^^^
-IlliaDt and beauliSviV -woift;
feo heuTt — ii' that has anything to Jo with my
I got through aiiine Jargon to the effect that I took
[lo liberty of doubting that. That I knew better,
'hut there eould he no sach beanty without it
"OhI I have a heart to be Btebiie4 in or ahot in,
have no doubt," said Estelta, "and, of course, if it
cased to beat I should cease to be. But you know
fhat I mean. I have no Moftneas there, uo — syin-
lalliy — sentiment — - nonsense."
Wljat wan it that was borne iu ujjon my iilind
»lien she stood still and looked attentively at me?
Anything: that I had seen in Miss Huvisham? No.
tn some of her looks and gestures there was that tinge
"I' ri'semblaiiee to Miss Havisham which may often be
lici'd to have teen acquired by eliildren, from grown
-iiiis with whom tliey have been much associated
I -ecluded, and which, when childhood is past, will
luce a remarkable occasional likeness of espreasion
'.M'cn taees that are otlicrwise quite different. And
1 eonld not trace thia to Miss Hiivisham. I looked
-iiii, and though she was still looking at me, the
'Ng^'estion was gone.
What was it?
"I am serious," said Estella, not so nmcli with a
f'own (for her brow was smooth) as with a darkening
111' her face; "if we are to be thrown mueh together,
jmi Lad better believe it at once. No!" imperiously
Sopping me as I opened my lips. "I have not be-
ituwed my tenderness anywhere. I have never had
any such thino-."
la another moment we were in the Ijtcwex-j %(i\ot\V^
"***'' ' ■ fed to the Mgli gsiWexy -n\vc\&^
tr.1,
CWB&V »IPBfl*SWOW».
her ffoioff out on that same first day, a
told me she remembered to have heen up there,
to have seen me standing scared below. Aa my
followed her white hand, again the same dim sagg
tion that I could not possibly grasp, crossed me. I
involuntary start oeeaBioned her to lay her hand np
my arm. Instantly the ghost passed once more , a
tras gone.
What ttaa it?
"What is the matter?" asked Estella. "Are y
flcared again?"
"I should be, if I believed what you said ji
now," I replied, to turn it off.
"Then you don't? Very well. It is said, at ■;
rate. Miss Havisham will soon be expecting you-
your old post, though I think that might he laid a^
now, with other old belongings. Let us make E
more round of the garden, and tlten go in. Con
You shall not shed tears for my cruelty to-day; j
ehall be my Page, and give me your shoulder."
Her handsome dress had trailed upon the groui
She held it in one hand now, and with the
lightly touched my shoulder as we walked,
walked round the ruined garden twice or thi
more, and it was all in bloom for me. H' the g
and yellow growth of weed in the chinks of the
wall, had been the most precious flowers that c
blew it could not have been more cherished in
K'
There was no discrepancy of years between us,
Temove her far from me; we were of nearly the si
igv, tboagb of course t\ie age \,o\4 ^m tootb> ^o.'^rai <
tan in mine ; hut tho air oi \B.a.tc&s.sMi\tY Vmfis
saMUT BnBoiri.na»s. SIT
Pand her manner gave licr, tormented me i
_ Pof my delight, ami at the hoiglit of the »
iFeit that our patroness had chosen us fur one another.
Pretched boy!
At last we went back into the house, and there I
:i<!, with surprise, that my guardian had cume down
■ic Miaa Havisbara on biialness and wonld come
. k to dinner. The old wintry branchea of chande-
lers in the room where the mouldering table was spread,
lad been lighted while wo were ont, and Miss Havi-
thtun was in her chair and waiting for me,
Jt was like pushing the chair itself back into the
-1 , when we began fho old slow circuit round about
iLshes of the bridal feast. But, in the funereal
II, with that figure of the grave fallen back in the
I lising its eyes upon her, Estella looked more
Jy| and beautiful than het'oro, and I was under
■ ii^'er enchantment.
The time so melted away, that our early dinner-
II drew close at hand, and Estella left us to pre-
I herself. We had stopped near the centre of the
I' table, and Miss Havialiam, with one of her
Ni'red arms stretched out of the chair, rested that
■ mhed hand upon the yellow cloth. Aa Estella
ki'ii hack over her shoalder before going out at
4uor, Mias Havishom kissed that hand to her,
ill a ravenous intensity that was of its kind quite
. I'lful.
Then, Estella being gone and wo two left alone,
■iic tinned to me, and said in a whisper:
"le she beautifijJ, graceful, well-grovfn'i 1^0 -^ci\s.
■bodjr mast who sees her, Miss "H.aviiiVa,TQ.:'
^^^eryl
'Sis eaxkv expsoTAneuvB,
Slie drew an Rrm round my neck, and drew
ad close down to hers as she sat in the chair.
her, love her, love hetl How does she use yon?"
— BeioTe I could answer (if I could have anBWt
} difficult a question at all), ahe repeated, "Lovo
love her, love herl If sho favours you, love het
ehe wounds you, love her. If she tears your 1
pieces - — - and as it gets older and stronger, it will i
deeper — love her, love ber, love her!"
Never had I seen such passionate eagerness as
joined to her utterance of these words. I could
the muscles of the thin ami round my neck, swell i
the vehomence that possessed her.
"Hear me, Pip! I adopted her to be lovei
bred her and educated her, to be loved. I devels
p into what she is, that she might he loved. I
her!"
She said the word ot\en enou^i, and there a
I no doubt that she meant to say it; but if the o
repeated word had been hate instead of love — des
- revenge — dire death — it could not have n
from her lips more like a curse.
"ril tell you," said she, in the same hurried ]
BtonBte whisper, "what real love is. It is blind ^
tion, unquestioning self-humiliation, utter suhmisa
WuBt and belief against yourself and against the wj
Scorld, giving up your whole heart and soul tO'
jmiter — as I did!"
"When she came to that, and to a wild cry \
followed that, I caught her round the waist. For
I up in the chair, in her shroud of a dress,
,atruck at the air as if aho wo\)i\4 ■&& ^otto.'VtK^^;^
Herself against the wall anl taWca ifcwL ^^jj
^tSBAV SXPECTATIOKS. 819
Ptiiie passed in a few seconds. As I drew her
Into her ehair, I was conscious of a scent that I
bV, and turning, saw my guardian in the room.
He always carried (I have not yet mentioned it,
hink) a pocket-handkerchief of rich silk and of ini-
iing proportions, which was of great value to him in
I profession. I have seen him so terrify a client or
ffitDRSS by ceremoniously unfolding this pocket-hand-
rchief as if he were immediately going to blow his
86, and then pausing, as if he knew he should not
ve time to do it before such client or witness com-
itted himself, that the Hclf-committal has followed di-
ctly, quite as a matter of course. When I saw him
the room, he had this expressive pocket-handker-
u°f in both hands, and was looking at us. On meet-
. (iiy eye, he said plainly, by a momentary and
if [lausfi in that attitude, "Indeed? Singular!" and
■ jiut the handkerchief to its right use with wonder-
! '■ffi;ct.
Miss Havisham had seen him as soon as I, and
'it (like everybody else) afraid of him. She made a
•fong attempt to compose herself, and stammered that
"iis as punctual as ever.
As punctual as ever," he repeated, coming up to
"iHow do you do, Pip. Shall I give you a ride,
i ■ Havisham? Once round?) And ao you are here,
'ip?"
I told him when I had ajrived, and how Kiss
h^■isham had wished me to come and see Estella. To
ii!i he replied, "Ah! Very fine young lady!" Then
1 ii'-hed Miss HavisJiam in her chair tcfoxii \iHa,
1 of Ms Inrge bands, and put l\\e otVct \TvV\'ft
A*^ — ■'*"-"-f pocket were fuU oi 8B<:Ta>j^^
'Well, Pip! now often have you seen Hiss
tella before?" sttid lie, wlieu lie came to a stop.
"How often?
"Ah! How many times. Ten thousand times?'
"Ohl Certainly not so many."
"Twice?"
" JaggerB," interposed MisB Havisham, mach to I
relief; "leave my Pip alone, and go with him to yn
dinner."
He complied, and we groped our way down (
dark stairs together. While we were still on our il
to those detached apartments across the paved yard
the back, he asked me how often I had seen 1
Havisham eat and drink; offering me a breadth
choice, as usual, between a hundred times and c
I considered, and said, "Never." ^—
"And never will, Pip," he retorted, with a trovia
snule. "She has never allowed herself to be seen doj
either, since she lived this present life of hers.
wanders about in the night, and then lays hftuds
Buch food as she takes."
"Pray, sir," said I, "may I ask you a question
"You may," said he, "and I may decline to \
«wer it. Put your question."
■'Estella's name. la it Havisham, or — ?" 1 1
nothing to add.
"Or what?" said he.
"Ib it Havisham?"
"It is Havisham."
This brought ns to the dinner-table, where she
Barab Pocket awaited us. Mr. Jaggera presided,. .
'.iella sat opposite to him, 1 Wei m.^ ^«ftii «m
fend. We dined very -weW, ani ^«3a 'aw.wA! «
M»UM.
W
_Kd-8ervant wliom I had never seun in :lI1 my cooi-
f wd goinga, but wlio, t'ur auytbiiig I know, had
' 1 that myaterious house the whole time. After
, a bottle of choice old port was {ilaced before
r guardiaa (he was evidently well acquainted with
1 vintage), and the two ladies left as.
-Anything to eijual the determined reticence of Mr.
g under that roof, I never saw elsewhere, evea
■_ fajm. He kept his very looks to himself, and
ely directed hia eyes to Kstella's face once during
jr. When she spoke to him, he listened, and in
B «ouT8Q answered, but never looked at her that I
On the other hand, she oilen looked at
I, with interest and curiimity, if not distrust, but his
) iiever showed the least consciousness. Through-
I dinner ho took a dry delight in making Surah
i'lfket greener and yellower, by often referring in
■'iiversation with mo to my expectations; but here,
'^iiin, he showed no consciousness, and even made it
ijiyear that he extorted — and even did extort, though
I don't know how — those refei-ences out of my inno-
■ ^cut self.
And when he and I were left alone together, he
'sl with an air upon him of general lying by in con-
■'■'luence of information he possessed, that really was
'•") much for me. He cross-examined his very wine
"lien he had nothing else. in hand. He held it he-
iwten himself and the candle, tasted the port, rolled it ,
lu Ills mouth, swallowed it, looked at the port again,
'fflelt it, tried it, drank it, filled again, and cru
'^nmined the glass again, until I was aa nervoaa a;
I liad knonu the wine to be telling Hm 8om.e\,\AT\^ \ai
»'- disadrantage. Three or four times I ieetiV^ t\iO\i^
r ESPECTATIONa,
Ith'
I
I would start conversation; bnt whenever he sair g
, going to ask him anything, he looked at me with'
f glass in his hand, and rolling his wine abont in '
I month, as if requesting me to take notice that it 1
" no nae, for he couldn't answer.
I think Miss Pocket was conscious that the s^
of me involved her in the danger of heing goadei
' madness, and perhaps tearing off her cap — which t.
a very hideous one, in the nature of a muslin mop '
and strewing the ground with her hair — which I
suredly Lad never grown on tier head. She did 1
appear when we afterwards went up to Mias Havighal
room, and we four played at whiat. In the inters
Miss Havisham, iu a fantastic way, had put some I
tlie moat beautiful jewels from her dressing-table in
£stella's hair, and about her bosom and arms; anS
saw even my guardian look at her from under )
thick eyebrows, and raise them a little, when her loi
Ilinesa was before bim, with those rich flushes of gliU
and colour in it.
Of the manner and extent to which he took (
trumps into custody, and came out with mean lit
cards at the ends of hands, before which the glory
our Kings and Queens was utterly abased, I say J*
thing; -nor of the feeling that I had, respecting 1
looking upon us personally in the light of three VI
obvious and poor riddles that he had found out H
ago. What I suffered from, was the incompatibfl
between his cold presence and my feelings towv
Estella. It was not that I knew I could never bear
epeak to him about her, that I know I could ntf
bear to hear him creak \iis \jooVi a\. Vw , \!oa.t X fa
' conld never bear to see ^i^nv -wa.ftV^ta'aaiviadl
GREAT EXPECTATIONS- 323
, that my admiratioa aliould Vie witliiii a foot or
two uf LIm — it was, that my feelings sliouJd be in
I the smne j.lace witL liim — tliat; was the agouising
I drcunwtance.
We played until nine o'clock, and then it was ar-
!3.}igei tliat when Estella came to London I eliould be
urawamed of her coming aud should meet her at the
-"Wh; and then I took leave of her, and touched her
'inil left her.
My guardian lay at the Boar in the next room to
niine, Far into the night, Miss Havisham's words,
"We her, love her, love her!" sounded in my ears.
I adapted them for my own repetition, and said to my
■ lliiw, "I love her, I love her, I love herl" hundreds
I times. Then, a burst of gratitude eame upon me,
■lit she should be destined for me, once the black-
iiith's boy. Then,' I thought if she were, ns I feared,
y no means rapturously grateful for that destiny yet,
lii.i] would she begin to be interested in me? Wben
li iiUd I awaken the heart within her, that was mute
a'i sleeping now?
AL me! I thought those were high and great emo-
■ 'Jis. But I never thought there was anything low
'1 sniall in my keeping away from Joe, because I
.ji'iv she would be contemptuous of him. It was hut
■ lay gone, and Joe had brought the tears into
1' eyes; they had soon dried, God forgive me! soon
COLLECTION
BKITISH AUTHORS.
AT EIPECTATIOSS BY CHARIES DICKENS,
IS TWO TOLL'MES,
V»L. U.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
CHAPTER I.
A.i'TER well conaideriug tlie matter while I was
>ig at tlie BluG Bofir in the morning, I resolved
!1 my guardian that 1 douhted Orlick's being the
sort of man Ui fill a post of trtist at Mias Har
lui's. "Why of coui'ae he is not the right sort of
l^ip," Maid my guardian, comfortably satisiied
"haad on the general head, "because the man
ijilfi the post of tniBt never is the right sort of
It seemed qnite to put him into spirits, to find
T this particular post was not exceptionally held by
i right sort of man, and he listened in a satisfied
omer while I told him what knowledge I had of
lick. "Very good, Pip," he observed, when I had
ndiided, "I'll go round presently, and pay our friend
llather alajraed by this summary action, I was
I Httlo delay, and even liinted that our friend him-
;iiight be difficult to deal with. "Oh no ho won't,"
, I my guardian, making his pocket-handkerchief-point
iIj perfect confidence; "I should like to see him argue
'■ ijuestion with me,"
As wo were going- back together to "Lonioti \i^ flas.
)i!-daj' ooacb, and as I Lreakfiisted unAcT SMck "wmcrii
Fumbleohook thatl coald seuicely hold m.-^ ft-we,*2»»
gave uifi an fipportunity of saying that I wanted a
and that I would go on along the London-road
Mr. Jaggers was occupied, if he would let the e
man know that I would gfit into my place when
taken. I was thus oualiled to fly from the Blue
immediately after breakfast. By then making a
of about a couple of miles into the open conntry
back of FumblecLook's premises, I got round int
HigliBtreet again, a little beyond that pitfall.
'" ' 1 comparative security.
IB interesting to be in the quiet old town
more, and it was not disagreeable to be here and
suddenly recognised and stared after. One or tf
the tradespeople even darted out of their shops
went a little way down the street before me, that
might turn, ae if they Lad forgotten something,
1 face to face — on which occasions I
know whether they or X made the worse pretence;
of not doing it, or I of not seeing it. Still my pof
was a distinguished one, and I was not at all dia
fied with it, until Fata threw me in the way of
nniimited miscreant, Trabb's boy.
Casting my eyes along the street at a certain
of my progress, I beheld Trabb's boy approac
lashing himself with an empty blue bag, Dea
that a serene and unconscious contemplation of
would best beseem roe, and would be most like;
quell his evil mind, I advanced with that expre
of countenance, and was rather congratulating m
on my success, when suddenly the knees of Tn
■Jwy smote together, his hair uprose, his cap fell cd
trembled violently in every Aiwii, s\».%5p[*i. wii
Lwying to the "co^^i^ " "^"""^^
mm
I KSMDOTAnOHS.
M fHglltencd!" feigned to be in a parosyam of terror
htilI contrition, owasioned by the dignity of my ap-
ii-nranee. As I passed liim, his teeth loudly cliattered
! Iits head, and with cTery mark of extreme homilia-
UoQ, he prostrated himself in the duet.
BlThis was a hard thing to bear, bat this was nothing.
1 not advanced another two hundred yards, when,
^ ineiprossible terror, amaaement, and indignation,
"b beheld Trabb's boy approaching. He was coming
[ a narrow comer. His bine bag was slung over
Moulder,, honest industry beamed in his eyes, n
rmlnadon to proceed to Trabb'8 with cheerful brisk-
B was indicated in bis gait With a shock he became
' uware of mo, and was severely visited as before; but
this time liis motion was rotatory, and he staggered
'natid and round me with knees more afHicted, and
> Jtli uplifted hands aa if beseeching for mercy.
:iiirwinf,'H were hailed with the greatest joy by a knot
'1 'peetatora, and I felt utterly confounded.
I had not got as much further down the street &(
'111' post-office, when I again beheld Trabii's boy shoot-
iiif; round liy a haek way. This time he was entirely
'imaged. He wore the blue bag in the manner of my
t'twit-coat, and was strutting along the pavement to-
«:tr(ls me on the opposite side of die street, attended
I17 a company of delighted young friends to whom "
Iriini time to time exclaimed, with a wave of his hand,
'llon't know yahl" Words cannot state the amount
"f aggravation and injury wreaked upon me by Tr
liiy, when, passing abreast of me, he pulled up his
liirt-coUar, twined his side-hab, stiick an arm a^Htftw,
»iil^ieked extravagiintly by, wriggling \na ^o^«i
'' '^fJK^^aad drawling to iiis attcndaBts , "TloiiltVvioal
1*
4 CHUtAT BXPIKTUTJOm.
yfth, don't know yala, pon my soul don't know ]
The disgrace attendant on his immediately niten
taking to crowing and purBuing me across the b
■with crows as from an exceoding'ly dejected fowl
bad known me when I waa a blacksmith, culm'
the diBgracB with which I left the town, and v
to Bpea,k, ejected by it into the open country.
But unlesa I had taken the lite of Trabb's ha,
that occasion, I really do not evea now i
could have done save endure. To have struggled
him in the street, or to have exacted any 1
compense from him than his heart's best blood y
have been futile and degrading. Moreover, he yt
boy whom no man could hurt; an invulnerable
dodging serpent who, when chased into a c
out again between liis captor's legs, scornfully yel
I wrote, however, to Mr. Trabb by next day's pos
say that Mr, Pip must decline to deal further with
who could so far forget what he owed to the
interests of society, as to employ a boy who i
Loathing in every respectable mind.
The coach, with Mr. Jaggers inside, came i
due time, and I took my box-seat again, and a
in London safe — but not sound, for lay heart
gone. As soon as I arrived, I sent a penitential
fish and barrel of oysters to Joe (as reparation fo
having gone myself), and then weut on ~~
I found Herbert dining on cold meat, and delii
to welcome rae back. Having despatched The Av(
to the coffee-house for an addition to the dim
ihat I must open my bieaat tXia.'s. -serj eM&\ca^ ^
'I'ead and chmn. As contiBawwaa oaj.^ <& -iw
r^r^ > ffiZAT BXPBCTATtOHS. fi
lion with The Aveugcr in the hall, which uoiild merely
be regarded in tho li^ht of aa autc-chamber to the
1(e;hole, I sent bim to the Play, A better proof of
the severity of my bondage to that taskmaster could
ititruely be afforded, than the degrading shifts to -which
i " IS eoMstantly driven to find him employnient. So
I" is extremity, that I sometimea sent him to Hyde
ili-comw to flcB what o'clock it was.
iJiunex done and we sitting with our feet upon the
'l''r, 1 said to Herbert, "My dear Herbert, I have
■ji-diing very particular to tell yon."
"Hy dear Handel," he returned, "I shall esteem
i respect your confidence."
"It concerns myself, Herbert," said I, "and one
'■"'I jierBOn."
Herbert crossed his feet, looked at the fire with his
'I on one side, and having looked at it in vain for
■11' time, looked at mo because I didn't go on.
'Herbert," said I, laying my hand upon his knee.
I love — I adore — Estella."
Instead of being transfixed, Herbert replied io an
•-} mattei-iif- coarse way. "Exactly. Well?"
"ft]!, Herbert? Is that all you say? Well?"
That next, I mean?" said Herbert. "Of course
r that:'
V do you know it?" said I.
r do I know it, Handel? Why, from you."
Briiever told yon."
J^old me! You have never told me when yon
Ffot your btor cut, but I have had senses to per-
wi've it. Tou have always adored her, cvm 6\B.sa "V
luve hjoms you. Ton brought yom adotaVion »ai.
"""^ Mteau here, together- Tolij '
^ncpii have always told me all day lung. '^\Tieii yi
^Hlald me your own. story, you told me plaiuly that y
^Bbegan adorisg her the first time you saw her, wli
^^wou were very young mdeed."
^H' "Very well, then," suld I, to whom this was a d
^Band nnt unwelcome light, "I have never loft off adon
H'.^er. And she has come back a most beautifitl a
^K",Biost elegant creature. And I saw her yesterday. A
Hyf 1 adored her before, I now doubly adore her,"
^H| "Lucky for you then, Handel," said Herbert, "ti
^^frou are picked nut for her and allotted to her. "Wi
^^Bat eneroaching on forbidden ground, we may ventu
^^Bo say that there can be no doubt between ouraelvea
^^poat fact. Have you any idea yet, of Estclla's viei
^Hcm the adoration question?"
^F I shook my head gloomily. "Ohl She is tbousai
B^'Of miles away, from me," said I.
H "Patience, my dear Handel: time enough,
^B enough. But you have aomething more to say?"
^B "I am ashamed to say it," I retume<I, "and ]
^■k's no worse to sSy it than to think it. You call i
^Ba lucky fellow. Of course, I am. I wa.s a blacksmitl
^nboy but yesterday; I am — what shall 1 say I am -<
^B "Say, a good fellow, if you want a phrase,"
H'tamed Herbert, smiling, and clapping his hand on
back of mine, "a good fellow with impetuosily t
hesitation, boldness and diffidence, action and drau
ing, curionsly mixed in him."
I stopped for a moment to consider whether the
really was this mixture in my character. On the wh^
J by DO means recognised the aaaXysis, Wi. Vtuiu^t
noi worth disputing.
t I fuk wh»t I am to call myself to-t
I weut on, "I suggest wUat I have
: Yoa say I am lacky. I know 1 Lave dune
10 raiae mysoll' in life, and tl*t Fortnnu alone
; that is being very luijky. And yot
unk of Estella — "
in don't you, you know?" Herbert tl
faia eyes on the fire; which I thought kind
tic of him.)
"hen, my dear Herbert, I cannot tell you
t ttud uucertjiiu I feel, aud how exposed
of chances. Avoiding forbidden ground
1st now, I may still say that on the constancy
saon (naming no person) all my expectations
And at the best, how indefinite and unsatis-
lily to know so vaguely what they are!" In
Is, I relieved my mind of what had always
I more or less, though no doubt most aini;e
\ Handel," Herbert replied, in his gay hope-
^'it seems to me that in the despondency of
:■ passion, we are looking into our gift-horse's
!h a magnifying glass. Likewise, it seems to
concentrating our attention on that examina-
ultogether overlook one of the beat points of
d. Didn't you tell rao that yonr guardian,
en, told you in the beginning, that you were
red with espectationa only? And even if he
6ld you so — though that is a very largo If,
■- could you believe that of all men in London,
re is the man to hold his present iiiaSXwQa
3 unless be were sure of liifl gto\m4'i"
r coald not deny that tMa was a aticti-a^
1
ORBAT EXPEOTATIOtrS.
}
X Baiil it (people often do so, in bucIi cases) like a
ther reliictntit concession to tmth and justice;
I wanted to deny it!
"T should thfbk it was a stroog point," said Herba
"and I should think yon would be puzzled to ima^
a stronger; as to the rest, yo« must hide his clieri
time. You'll bo oae-and-twcnty before yon kiK
where you are, and then perliaps you'l! get flome ft
'ther enlightenment. At all events, you'll be nei
getting it, for it mTist come at last,"
"What a hopeful disposition you have!" saic
gratefiilly admiring his cheery ways.
"I ought to have," said Herbert, "for I have
much else. I must acknowledge, by-the-by, that f
good sense of what I have just said is not my o\
but my father's. The only remark I ever heard 1
make on your stoiy, was the final one; 'The thing
settled and done, or Mr. Jaggera would not be in
And now before I say anything more about my fat4
or my father's son, and repay confidence with coi
dence, I want to make myself seriously disagreeable
you for a moment — positively repulsive."
"You won't succeed," said I.
"Oh yes I shalll" said he. "One, two, three, a
BOW I am in for it. Handel, my good fellow j" tfaon]
he spoke in this light tone, be was very much !
earnest: "I have been thinking since wo have bo
talking with our feet on this fender, that Kstella sn
cannot be a condition of yonr inheritance, if she
never referred to by your guardian. Am I right in
anderstandiag wliat you have to\i me, aa \,\«fc ta ;
r^^rred to her, directly ox inSin
S'cver even liinte.d, fur instance, that yoiir patron might
j^ve views as to your marriage ultimately?"
"Now, Handel, I am quite free from the flavotu' of
iir grapes, upon my soul and hononrl Not being
■i.imd to her, can yoa not detach youMelf from her?
- I told yon I should be disagree alile."
I turned my head aside, for, with a rush and a
jWfep, like the old marsh winds coming up from the
wa, a feeling like tbit which had subdued me on the
looming when I left the forge, when the mists wore
Boleranly rising, and when I laid my hand npon the
Tillage finger-post, smote upon my heart again. There
iraa silence between us for a little while.
"Yea; but my dear Handel," Herbert went on, aa
''we had been talking instead of silent, "it's having
'■'■II go strongly rooted in the breast of a boy whom
"itiire and circumstances made so romantic, renders it
■ ry serious, Think of her bringing-up, and think of
'ili*8 Havisham. Think of what she is herself (now I
111 rejralsive and you abominate me). This may lead
■ niiaerablo things."
"I know it, Herbert," said I, with my bead still
iiiiTicd away, "but I can't help it,"
'" n't detach yourseli'?"
Yon
can't try, Handel?
No.
Imposs
ble!"
Well
" said
Herbert,
I getting up with a lively
liake aa if he had been asleep, and stirring the fire;
iiijw m endeavour to make myself agvceabXe agaAtO"
So iia treat round the room and filiook t\i6 cvoWMsa
w^Bi tie obasTB in their 'places, tidiei \ii.e
L« ^g
anil 80 furth that were lyiug about, looked into
hall, peeped into llie letter-box, shut tbe door,
came baek to Ms cliair by the fire: where be sat do
narsla^ his left log in both arms.
"I was going to aay a word or two, Ilandel,
coruing my father and my father's eon. I am afra
is scarcely necessary for my father's son to remark
my father's establishment is not particularly brill
in its housekeeping,"
"There is always plenty, Herbert," said I: to
something encouraging.
"Oh yes! and so the dustman says, I believe,
the strongest approval, and so does the marine s
shop in the back street. Gravely, Handel, for the
ject is grave enough, you know how it is, as well I
do. I suppose there was a time once, when my fal
had not given matters up; but if there ever wh«,
time is gone. May I ask you if you have ever hod
opportunity of remarking down in your part of
country, that the children of not exactly suitable t
riages, are alyaya moat particularly anxious to be i
This was such a singular question, that I a&
Mm in return, "Is it so?"
"I don't know," said Herbext, "that's what I v
to know. Because it is decidedly the case with
My poor sister Charlotte who was nest me and i
before she was fourteen, was a striking example. L
Jane is the same. In her desire to he matiimoni
estubhshcd, you might suppose bor to have passed
short existence in the perpetual contemplation of
zaesiic bliss. Little Aliek in a. itoiik ^la,* siJacsA^ 0
arrangements for liia umou Vttti «. «oiX:S^J». -jwon^
GREAT BXPECTATIONS. 11
•■'•n st Kew. And indeed, I think we aro all engngeil,
■ -u.iipt t.lie baliy."
"Then you are?" said I.
"T ara," said Herbert; "but it's a. aecret"
I assured him of my kee^jing the socret, and begged
■ bn favoured with further particulars. He had spoken
■ "ensibly and i'celinply of ray weakness that I wanted
:" know something about his strength.
"May I ask the name?" I said.
"Name of Clara," said Herbert.
"Live in London?"
"Yea. Perhaps I ought to mention," eaid Herbert,
«lio Lad become curiously crestfallen and meek, since
*e entered on the interesting theme, "that she is ra-
Ifwr litlow my motlier's nonsensical family notions.
Htr Bitber had to do with the vietaalling of passenger-
'Iii]i8. I think he was a species of purser."
"What is he now?" said T.
"He's an invalid now," replied Herbert.
"Living on ~?"
"On the first floor," said Herbert. Which was not
*- idl what I meant, for I had inteudod my question to
'i'l'ly to his means. "I have never seen him, for ho
"-ii always kept his room overhead, since I have known
' 'iifa. But I have heard him congtantly. He makes
iTi'iiiendous rows — roars, and pegs at the floor with
"'noe frightful inatrument." In looking at me and then
l.iiighjng heartily, Herbert for the time recovered his
''•'i«\ hvely manner.
"Don't you expect to see him?" aaid l.
Oh yea, I constantly expect to aee liim" xetaTas^
I
GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
Herbert, "because I never hear him without especting
Miira to come tumbling through the ceiling. Bat I don't
know how long the rafters may hold."
"When he had once more laughed heartily, he he-
eame meek again, and told me that the moment he be-
ligan to realise Capital, it waa his intention to majryi
"V>is young lady. Ho added as a self-evident propan-
Ion, engendering low spirits, "But you can't zatarf^
you know, while you're looking about you." |
As we contemplated the fire, and as I thought what
a difBcult vision to realise this same Capital sometimes
was, I put my hands in my pockets. A folded piecfl
of paper in one of them attracting my attention, I'
opened it and found it to be the playbill I had
ceived from Joe, relative to the celebrated pro vim
amateur of Eoscian renown. "And bless my liei
X involuntarily added aloud, "it's to-njght!"
This changed the subject in an instant, and
Ub hurriedly resolve to go to. the play. So, when
'had pledged myself to comfort and abet Herbert
kSair of his heart by all practicable and impractical
means, and when Herbert had told me that his
anced already knew mo by reputation and that I shoi
be presented to her, and when we had warmly ahak<
hands upon our mutual confidence, we blew out
candles, made up our fire, locked our door, and ist
forth in quest of Mr. Wopsle and Denmark.
CHAPTER II.
Oh our arrival in Deumnrk, we found the king' and
queen of that country olevaied in two arm-uhairB on a
kitciien-Cable, holding a Court. The whole of the
Danish tiohilitj- were in attendance; consiBting o"
noble boy in the wash-leather hoota of a gigantic
cestor, a venerable Pear with a dirty face who aeei
to have risen from the people late in life, and the
Danish chivalry with a comb in its hair and a pair of
wltite silk lege, and presenting on the whole a fcmi
appeajanee. My gifted townsman stood gloomily apart,
with folded arms, and I could have wished that his
curls and forehead had been more probable.
Several curious little circumatanceB transpired as
the action proceeded. The late king of the country
not only appeared to have been troubled with a cough
at the time of his decease, but to have taken it with
liim to the tomh and to have brought it back. The
royal phantom also carried a. ghostly manuscript round
its truneht;on, to which it had the appearance of occa-
-i>.<milly referring, and that, too, with an air of anxiety
.ml a tendency to lose the place of reference which were
^ii^'gestive of a state of mortality. It was this, I
i.ive, which led to the Shade's being advised hy the
jiiilery to "turn over!" — a recommendation which it
;iiik extremely ill. It was likewise to be noted of this
i-ijijestic spirit that whereas it always appeared with
>u Jur of having been out a long time and walked
iniinense distance, it perceptibly camo from a c\o9a\^
mlig'uoas wall This occasioned its terroia t« \)e
" -Mrely. Tko Qaeon of Denmaik.., & ■*
' bu3om lady, though no doubt liiHtorically brazen, n
conudered by the public to have too mnuh brasB ahf
her; her chin being attached to her diadem by a brO
band of that metal (as if she had a gorgeoufl tootbad
her waist being encircled by another, and each of |
arms by another, so that she was openly mentioned
[ "the kettle-drum." Tlie noble buy in the ancesM
' boots, was inconsistent; representing himself, as it wa)
in one breath, as an able seaman., a strolling actor^
grftvedigger, a clergyman, and a person of the «tm<
importance at a Coiu^ fencing-match, on the anthoH
of whose practised eye and nice discrimination i
[ finest gtrokes were judged. This gradually led to-
I want of toleration for him, and even — on his b^
detected in boly orders, and declining to perform H
funeral service — to the general indignation takl]
the form of nuts. Lastly, Ophelia was a prey to Bti
Blow musical madness, that when, in course of ti4
she had taken off her wbitc muslin scarf, folded it t
I and buried it, a sulky man who had been long coofi
, impatient nose against an iron bar in tlte front if
of the gallery, growled, "Now the baby's put to i
I let's have supper!" which, to say the least of it, ^
1 ont of keeping. '
Upon my unfortunate townsman all these incida
[ accumulated with playful effect. Whenever that 1
decided Prince had to ask a question or state a doa
the public helped him out with it. As for examp
I on tlie question whether 'twas nobler in the mindi
L Buffer, some roared yes, and some no, and some iai
J ning to both opinions said "toss up for it;" and qi
wa Debating Society aroBe. "VJW'ttVte s.'^eA.-wVai, »ha
*'"■''• fellowB as he do crstw\m5 \niVww«o. ms^
u
Bpr'lie was encouraged with load crit^s of "Ueiir,
^r' When he appeared with his stocking disordered
disorder expresBed, according to usage, by one very
t fold in the top, wliieh I suppose to be always got
with a flat iron), a conversation took place in the
lory respecting the paleness of his leg, and whether
ras oceasioncd by the turn the ghost had given him.
his taking the recorders — very like a little hlack
a that hud jast buen played in the orchoBtra and
ded out at the door — ho was called upon unani-
isly tfir Rule Britannia. When he recommended
pUyer not to saw the air thus, tlic sulky man said,
id don't gou do it, neither; yon're a deal worse than
/" And I grieve to add (hat peals of laughter
it«d Mr. Wopsle on every one of these occasions.
Bnt his' greatest trials were in the churchyai'd: whieh
the appearance of a primeval forest, with a kind
imall ecclesiastical wash-house on one side and a
rpike-gate on the other. Mr. Wopsle in a compre-
Hve black cloak being descried entering at the
ipike, the gravedigger was admonished in a friendly
■, "Look out! itere's the undertaker a coming to
how you're a getting on with your work!" I bo-
3 it is well known in a eonalitntional country that
Wopsle could not possibly have returned the skull,
r moralising over it, without dusting his fingera on
hite napkin taken from his breast; but even tliat
icent and indispensable action did not pass without
comment "Wai-ter!" The arrival of the body for
nnent, in an emjity black box with the lid tumbling
I, was the signal for a general joy Vf^iieh ■sj&ft two-Oc
meed by the discovery, amon^ the Ijeateta, o^ »».
"fc^ obnoxious to identificatioii.
p tended Mr. Wopsle through his struggle with L(u
on the brink of the orchestra and the grave,
slackened no more until he had tumbled the king
the kituhen-table, and died by inches from the a
upward.
I We bad made some pale efforts in the beginning
r applaud Mr. Wopale; but they were too hopeless to
persisted in. Therefore wo had sat, feeling keenly
him, but laughing, neyertheleHs, from ear to ear.
laughed in spite of myself all the time, the whole thl
was so dioll; and yet I had a latent impression i
there was something decidedly fine in Mr. Wopa
elocution — not for old associations' sake, I am afii
hnt because It was very slow, very dreary, very up4
and down-hill, and very unlike any way iu which s
I man in any natural circumstancea of life or deatlt e'
r expressed himself about anything. When the trage
I "was over, and he had been called for and hootedj
[ said to Herbert, "Let us go at once, or perhaps
[ shall meet him,"
We made all the haste we could down stairs,
^ we were not quick enough either, Standing at the i
I Jewish man with an unnaturally heavy sa
Lof eyebrow, who caught my eye as we advanced,
^flaid, when we came up with him:
"Mr. Pip and friend?"
Identity of Mr. Pip and friend confessed.
"Mr. Waldengarver," said the man, "would bag
t to have the honour."
"Waldengarver?" I repeated — when Herbert t
Itnured in my ear, "Probably Wopsle."
"Oii.'"BaidI. "Yea. StaW'se tftWw^ ^*iM?"
ps, please." N^^i^av "««i.i
■||-'J, he tnmed and aaked, "How did you think ho
■ 'lied? — 1 dressed him."
[ don't know what he had looked like, except a
■iiiHi-al; with Oie addition of a large Danish eun or
ir hanging round his neck by a blue ribbou, that had
vi.n him the appearance of being insiu'ed in some ex-
i.irdinary Fire Office. But I said he bad looked
"Wlien be come to the grave," said our conductor,
I" showed bis cloak beautiful. But, judging from the
.m;,', it looked to me that when he see the ghost in
II' queen's apartment, he might have made more of
[ liis gtockinga."
I modestly assented, and wo all fell tlirongh a little
I dirty swing-door, into a sort of hot packing-case imme-
I ifiately behind it. Here Mr. Wopsle was divesting
f himself of his Danish garments, and hero there was just
a for us to look at him over one another's shoulders,
by keeping the packing-case door, or lid, wide open.
■'Gentlemen," said Mr. Wopsle, "I am proud to see
II I hope, Mr. Pip, you will excuse my sending
iiiiL I had the happiness to know you in former
■iiis, and the Drama has ever had a claim which has
■ 1- been acknowledged, on the noble and the affiuent."
.lleanwhile, Mr, Waldengarver, in a frightful per-
■i^ition, was trying to get himself out of his princely
"Skin the stockings off, Mr. Waldengarver," said
■ owner of that property, "or you'll bust 'em. Bust
. , and you'll bust five-aud-thirty shillings. Shake-
tie never was complimented with a finer ^ajit. '^e*.'^
it. inj-onr cbair aoir, flnd leave 'em to mer
With that, he weat upon hia knees, ao.i'be!
V98 mxi.V' utpsmtmimk
K flay his victim; who, on the first stocking coining
H would certainly have fallen over backwHrd with
H chair, but for there being no room to fall anyhow-
H I had been ii&aid until then to say a, word a'
H the play. But then, Mr. Waldengar\'er looked a
V na eompiacentiy, .and said:
H "Gentleinen, how did it seem to you, to go
■ front?"
^m Herbert said from behind (itt the same time pok
B me), "capitally." 80 I said "capitally,"
H , "How did you like my reading of the charaol
H: gentlemen?" said Mr. Waldengarver, almost, if %
H -quite, with patronage.
B Herbert said from behind (again poking me), "m
■ - give and conciete." So I said boldly, as if I had i
H- ginated it, and must insist upon it, "massivG and c
H "I am glad to have your approbation, gentlen
H'gaid Mr. Waldengarver, with an air of dignity, in s\
H^ of his being ground against the wall at the time, a
H" iolding on by the seat of the chair.
H "Bnt I'll tell you one thing, Mr, Waldengarv)
B said the man who was on his knees, "in which j
H' out in your reading. Now mind! I don't care '
■ says contraiiy; I tell yon so. You're out in yonr i
" ing of Hamlet when you get your legs in profile.
last Hamlet as I dressed, made the same mistakes
his reading at rehearsal, till I got him to put a lai
red wafer on each of his shins, and then at that
hearaal (which was the last) I went in front, eir, to i
baek of the pit, and whenever his reading brought li
iato pro&le, I called out '1 ioi^^: *fc<i wa -^a-feal'
— at night Im reading was ^^'
asaA.1 sxraoTAiiOBs. 19
it, Waldengarver BiDileJ at me, aa mucli as ta say
I I'aitht'ul depeiideDt — I overlook Lis foUy;" and
'ni n said aloud, ''My view is a little clasBic and
'■!"Ughtfiil for tlicm here; but tliey will improve, they
■ ill improve."
Uerbert and I said together, Oh, no doubt they
'I'.iild improve.
"Did yon observe, gentlemen," said Mr. Walden-
. liver, "that there was a man in the gallery who en-
' iivoured to cast derision on the service — I moan,
ill' representation?""
We basely replied that we rather thought we had
noticed such a man. I added, "He was dmnk, no
Arabt."
"Oh dear no, sir,"_aaid Mr. Wopale, "not drunk.
His empli^«t would see to that, sir. His employer
wonld noi allow him to he drunk."
"Tou know his employery" said I.
Mr. Wopslo shut his eyes, and opened them again;
performing both ceremonies very slowly. "You mast
liave observed, gentlemen," said he, "an ignorant and
a blatant ass, with a. rasping throat and a countenance
expreBsivo of low malignity, who went throngh — I
will not say auBtained — the r61o (if I may use a
French expression) of Claudius King of Denmark.
r That is his employer, gentlemen. Sueh is the pro-
WitLout distinctly knowing whether I should have
■'■n more sorry for Mr. Wopsle if ho had been in
-|>air, I was so sorry for Lim as it was, that I took
:■ opportunity of hia turning' round to fe.a\e "^na ^l^a!;a*
;i tm — wJiich jostled US out at tl\e ioOTWR-j — •«>
^^^Herbert what he thought of liaviwg \v\m ' ''
80 OBXAT BXPECTAnOXS.
supper? Herbert' saitl he thought it would bo Id]
do so; therefore I invited him, and he vent to
nard'a with ns, wrapped np to the eyes, and ■
onr best for him, and he sat nntil two o'clock
morning, reviewing hi a success and developiii|
plans. I forget in detail what they were, bnt I hi
general reuollectiou that he was to begin with ret
the Drama, and to end with crushing it; inasmui
his decease would leave it utterly bereft and with
chance or hope.
Miserably I went to bed after all, and
thought of Estello, and miserably dreamed that iB
pectations were all cancelled, and that I had ta
my hand in marriage to Herbert's Clara, or play Hj
to Miss Havisham's Ghost, before twenty tlii
people', without knowing twenty words "L^h
CHAPTER III.
One day when I was busy with my books aw
Pocket, I received a note by the post, the mew
side of which threw me into a great flutter; for,
I had never seen the handwriting in which it
dressed, I divined whose hand it was. It had'i
beginning, as Dear Mr. Pip, or Dear Pip, or Dei
or Dear Anything, bnt ran thus:
If there had been time, I should probably
ordered several suits ot c\ol\\eB ^ot i\ft^ ^sctnawin
^^ae was not, I ^aa tsun \a \)e^ t:n^\May||a
21
', My appetite yonished instantly, and I knew no
r rest until tlie day arrived. Not that its ar-
brouglit me cither; for, then I was woi-ee tban
:, and began haunting the coach-otfice in Wood-
■ t, Cheapaide, before the coach had left the Blue
ir in our town. For all that I knew this perfectly
I . I still felt aa if it were not safe to let the coach-
.' I. be out of my sight longer than five minutes at a
mil.'; and in this condition of unreason I had per-
lunned the first half-hour of a watch of four or five
liiiurs, when Mr, Wemiuick ran against me.
'"Halloa, Mr. Pip," saitl he; "how do you do? I
:iiJJ hardly have thought this waa your heat."
I captained that 1 was waiting to meet somebody
!■ was coming up by coach, and I inquired after the
.-'Av and the Aged.
'Both flourishing, thankye," said Wemmiek, "and
tkiilarly the Aged. He's in wonderful feather. He'll
'ighty-two next birthday. I have a notion of firing
.'ity-two times, if the neighbourhood shouldn't com-
III, and that cannon of mine should prove equal to
■ jii-essure. However, this is not London talk. Where
'111 you think I am going to?"
"To the officei"' said I, for he was tending in that
Jirection.
"Next thing to it," returned Wemmiek, "I am
going to Newgate. We are in a bankers-parcel case
just at present, and I have been down the road taking
a sqoint at the scene of action, and thereupon must
have a word or two with our client."
"Did your client commit the robbery?" \ a^sA-
"Bless j-our soul and body, no," anavjetfei. N^ "en
^KPT (frp/r- "Bat be is accftagd ^JiS,- , %S ^^
33 aitsAT zxractATiom.
you or I bo. Eitlior of us might be accused of it,
"Only neither of na is," I remarked.
"Tah!" said Wemmick, touching me on the b
with his forefinger; "you're a deep one, Mr-Pipf
you like to have a look nt Newgate? Have yoo
to spare?"
I had BO much time to spare, that the pra
came as a relief, notwithstanding its irreconcila
with my latent desire to keep my eye
ofliee. Muttering that I would make the im
whether I had time to walk with him, I went inti
office, and ascertained from the clerk with the
precision and much to the trying of his temper,
earliest moment at which the coach could be oxp
- — which I knew beforehand, quite as well as I
then rejoined Mr. Wemmick, and affecting to ci
my watch and to be sorprised by the information
roceivad, accepted his offer.
We were at Newgate in a few minutes, an
passed through the lodge where some fetters
hanging u]i on the bare walls among the prison
into the interior of the jaiL ^t that time, jails
' much neglected, and the period of exaggerated rei
consequent on all public wrong-doing — and whj
always ita heaviest and longest punishment — wa
far off. So, felons were not lodged and fed bettei
soldiers (to say nothing of paupers), and seldom ai
to their prisons with the excusable object of impr
the flavour of their eoup. It was visiting time
Wemmick took me in; and a potman was goin
mds with beur; and 1.\e pVao^iet!,
I Wn.r IS«P8CTATIOIW. 28
! ;t frouzy, ugly, disorderly, depressiinf' scene it
It strnck mo that Wemmick walkud among the
■ luere, much as a gardener might walk among hia
■ Mrs, This was first put into my head by Lis seeing
liLint that had come up in the night, and saying,
lj.1t, Captain Tom? Are you there? Ah, indeed!"
i ilso, "Is that Black Bill behind tlie cistern? Why,
■ ilu't look for you these two months; how do you
I vonrselt'?" Equally in his stopping at the bars
I ittendiag to anxious whisperers — always singly
Wemmick with his post-office in an immovable state,
l:id at them while in conference, aa if he weJ-e ta-
1.- particular notice of the advance they had made,
I last observed, towards coming out in fall blow at
■II- trial.
111! was highly popular, and I found that he took
I'.imiliar department of Mr. Jaggers'a business:
'i:;h something of the state of Mr. Jaggera hung
|''.>iit him too, forbidding approach beyond certain
iimiiB, His personal recognition of each successive
iiJcnt was comprised in a nod, and in his settling hia
^■'Mi a little easier on his head with both hands, and
iirii lightening the post-office, and putting his hands
III Ills pockets. In one or t,wo instances, there was a
■iifliculty respecting the raising of fees, and then Mr.
> iiimick, backing as far as possible &om the insuffi-
i: money produced, said, "It's no use, my hoy. I'm
. a subordinate. I can't take it. Don't go on in
."Ml way with a subordinate. If you are unable to
make np your qnanturn, my boy, you. hoA baUKt ^-
draas yoaise}f to a principal; there arc ■pVewty nl \;Tai.-
24 0HB4T ESPE0TATIOS9.
wortli the wliile of one, may be worth the wh
another; thut'a my recommendation to you, spe
as a subordinate. Don't try on nseless lueaBores.
should you! Now, who's next?"
ThuB, we walked through Wemmick'a grcenll
nntil be turned to me and said, "Notice the S
shall shake Lands with." I should have d(
out the preparation, as he had shaken hands wil
one yet.
Almost as soon as he had spoken, a portly up
man (wliora I can sea now, as I write) in a welt
olive-coloured frock-coat, with a pecnliar pallor
spreading; the red in his complexion, and eyes
went wandering about when he tried to fix them, ■
up to a comer of the bars, and put his hand t
hat — which had a greasy and fatty surface likft
broth - — with a half-serious and half-jocose mi]
salute. '
"Colonel, to you!" said Wemmick; "how are.
Colonel?"
- "All right, Mr. Wemmick.'
"Everything was done that could he done, bu
evidence was too strong for us, Colonel."
"Yes, it was too strong, sir — but /
"No, no," said Wemmick, coolly, "yoK don't
Then, turning to me, "Served His Majestyi
man. Was a soldier in the line and bought hi)
charge."
I said, "Indeed?" and the man's eyes looki
me, and then looked over my head, and then li
all round me, and tben ha iiww Wa baud
"1 think I sliall be out of this on Monday^, sir," he
Mid w Wemtnick.
"Perhaps," returned my friend, "but there's no
knowing."
"I am glad to have the chance of bidding yon
. ii'l-by, Mr. Weramick," said the man, Btretching out
- liand between two bars.
"Thankye," said Wemmiok, shaking hands with
.nu, "Same to you, Colonel."
''If what I had upon me when taken, had been
jval, Mr, Wemmifk," said the man, unwilling to let
lii^ hand go, "I should have asked the favoiu" of your
ivL'aring another ring — in acknowledgment of your
itttntionB."
"I'll accept the will for the deed," said Wemmick.
'By-the-by i yon were quite a pigeon-fancier." The
mim looked up at the sky. "I am told you had a re-
fuwkable breed of tumblers. Could you commiaaion
my friend of yours to bring me a pair, if you've no
further use for 'em?"
"It shall be done, sir."
"AU right," Bsid Wemmick, "they shall be taken
care of Goad aftei'noon. Colonel. Good-by!" They
shook hands again, and as we walked away "Wemmick
laid to mo, "A Coiner, a very good workman. The
Beeorder's report is made to-day, and he is sure to bo
jxecuted on Monday. Btill yuu see, as far as it goes,
k pair of pigeons ai'c portable property, all the same."
^ith that, he looked back, and nodded at his dead
Vmt, and then cast his eyea about him in walking
■ i>f the yard, as if he were conaideiing "wWl (I'Oasst.
M'ould go best in its place.
AswȣaBie out oftheppfffn ^hrftTigK^^ ^S^
r
GBEAT EXPBCTATIONB.
found that the great importance of iny gUEwdian
appreciated by the turnkeys, uo Ices than by tl
whom they held in eliarge. "Well, Mr. Wemmii
Haid the turnkey, who kept us between the twn stad
and spiked lodge gates, and carefully locked one
fore he unlocked the other, "what's Mr. Jaggers gi
to do with that watersiile murder?
to make it manslaughter, or what's he going to m
of it?"
"Why don't you ask him?" returned Wemmid
"Oh yea, I dare ssyl" said the turnkey.
"Now, that's the way with them here, Mr. F
remarked Wemmick, turning: to mc with the post-o
elongated. "They don't mind what they ask uf
the subordinate; hut yon'll never catch 'em asking
questions of my principal."
"Is this young gentleman one of the 'prentice
articled ones of your office?" asked the tumkej-j '
a grin at Mr. Wemmick's humour.
"There he goes again, yon see!" cried Wemra
"I told yon so! Asks another question of the
dinate before his first is dry! Well, supposing Ht,
is one of them?"
"Why then," said the tiimkoy, grinning again,
knows what Mr. Jaggors is."
"Yah!" cried Wemmick, suddenly hitting oi
the turnkey in a facetions way, "you're as dum
one of your own keys when you have to do witb
principal, you know yon are. Let us out, you old
or I'll get him to bring an action of false imprj
jnent against you."
turnkey laugbel, a^^^^»
OBBAT EXPECTATIONS. 27
■ 'n(i langbing at us over the spikes of tbo wicket wLen
'li'Sceiided the Bteps Into the street-
"Mmd yjii, Mr. Pip," aaid Wemmick, ^avely in
t-vir, as he took my arm to be more confidential;
1 iliiii't know that Mr. Jaggors does a better thing
ill tfie way in which he keeps himself bo high. He's
Lys so high. His constant height is of a piece with
irantense abilities. That Colonel durst no more
I'liit; leave of A»n, than that turnkey durst ask him his
lintentions respecting a case. Then, between his height
and them, he slips in his subordin.iite — don't you
ht;? — and so he has 'em, soul and body."
I was very much impresaed, and not for the first
1 1", by my guardian's subtlety, To confess the truth,
■ ly heartily wished, and not for the first time, that
: mid had some other gnardian of minor abilities.
Sir, Wcmmiek and I parted at the office in Little
Britain, where suppliants for Mr. Jaggers's notice were
linji;pring about a» usual, and I returned to my watch
in the street of the coach-office, with some three hours
on hand. I consumed the whole time in thinking how
ttrange it was that I should be encompassed by all this
UiQt of prison and crime; that in my childhood oat on
onr lonely marshes on a winter evening I should have
hit encountered it; that it should have reappeared on
two occasions, starting out like a stain that was faded
bnt not gone; that it sho^d in this new way pervade
my fortune and advancement. While my mind was
ihna engaged, I thought of the beautiful young Estella,
proud and refined, coming towards me, and I thought
with absolute abhorrence of the contrast \ie\,-wftfci
rl wished that Wemmict \iad ■n.oV tw*. to.^-
J not yielded to him and gosa,^^^
28 QBBAT ESPECTATIONS,
BO that, of all days in the year on this day
not have had Newgate in my breath and on my elcri
I beat the prison dust off my feet as I sauntered
and Ito, and I shook it out of my dresa, and I exhi
ita air from my lungs. So contaminated did I feel^
membering who was coining, that the coach i
quickly after all, and I was not yet free from the
ing consciousueafi of Mr. Wemmick's uonaerrafi
when I saw her face at the coach window and
hand waving to me.
What 'caa the nameless shadow which again
that one instant bad passed?
CHAPTER IV.
In her fitrred travelling-dress, Estella seemed '
delicately beautiful than she bad ever seemed
even in my eyes. Her manner was more winning
she had cared to let it be to me before, and I thoi
I saw Miss Haviabam's influence in th
We stood in the Inn Yard while she pointed
her luggage to me, and when it was all collect)
remembered — having forgotten everything but
self in the mean while — that I know nothing of
destination.
"I am going to Eicbmond," she told me.
lesson is, that there are two Richmonda, one in Sm
and one in Yorkshire, and that mine is the Buj
Kichmond. The distance is ten miles. I am to
a carriage, and yon are to take me. This is my pi
tmd yoa are to pay my ctatgea omI ot it, Oh.^
iiie purael Vf a \tB.\& nn OonSsfc.
OBEAT EXPECTATIONS.
kit to obey our msti-actions. We are not free to follow
1 giyia^ ma ths parse,
: meaning in her words. 91
■lij them slightingly, but not with disploasnre.
"A caiTiage will have to be sent for, Estella. "Will
ujii rest here a little?"
"fes, I am to rest hero a little, and I i
uiuk Bome tea, and you are to take care of me the
She drew her arm through mine, as if it mnat b
ii'ijiip, and I requested a waiter who hnd been staring
(at the coach like a raan who had never seen such t
tiling in Lis life, to show us a private sitting-room.
Upon that, he pulled out a napkin
i:ngic clue without wbieh he. couldn't find the way up-
'iJrs, and led us to the black hole of the establish-
■.i'lit: fitted up with a diminishing mirror {quite i
ii|ierllH0U3 article eonsidariiig the hole's propoTtious)
lii anchovy sauce-cruet, and somebody's pattens. On
iv objecting to this, retreat, he took us into another
rmiin with a dtnner-table for thirty, and in the grate
a scorched leaf of a copy-hook under a huahel of coal-
dust. Having looked at this extinct conflagration and
shaken his head, he took my order: which, proving to
be merely "Some tea for the lady," sent him out of
the room in a very low state of mind.
I was, and I am, sensible that the air of this cham-
^r, in its strong combination of stable with soup-
in*k, might have led one to infer that the coaching
|)artment was not doing well, and lbs,\, vVe wAiet-
g proprietor was Ijoijiag io-vm t\e \iO'cafts ^ot 'Ca.^
"■et tlie vooia "Sia-i
■•^g
30 mmifr-ismAfpiffmiik
to me, Estellfl, being in it. I thought that vith 1
could have been happy there for life. {I was not s
happy there at the time, observe, and I kne
■weU.)
"Where are you going to, at Eichmond?" I
Estella.
"I am going to live," said she, "at a great
pense, with a lady there, who has the power —
says she has - — of taking me aboat and introdl
me, and showing people to me and showing n
people."
"I suppose you will he glad of variety and
miration?"
"Tea, I Buppose so."
She answered so carelessly, that I said, "you b]
of yourseli' as if you were Home one else."
"Where did yon learn how I speak of otl
Come, come," said £atelta, smiling delightfully,
ranst not expect me to go to school to you; I
talk in my own way. How do you thrive with
Pocket?"
"I live quite pleasantly there; at least — " II
pearcd to me that I was losing a chance.
"At least?" repeated Estolla.
"As pleasantly as I could anywhere, away
you."
"You Hilly hoy," said Estella, quite compoa
"how can you talk such nonsense? Your frientt
Matthew, I believe, is superior to the rest at
family?"
"Very superior indeed. He is nobody's enemy
"Don't add bat bis oww,^^ vnVe-fiiQaei. ^a-oiUflL.
/ iaie that class of man. Bu\, \v« t'i«&i '% «
' ^ GREAT fiXPECTATlONS. 31
fated, and above small jealousy and spite, I have
beard?"
"I am Bure I Lavo every reason to say so."
"Ton have not every reason to say so of the rest
of hig [jcople," said Estella, nodding at mc with an
espresfiion of face that was at once grave and rallying,
"for they beset Miss Havisham with reports and in-
BinuatioHB to yonr disadvantage. They watch you,
misrepresent you, write letters about you {anonymous
wmetimes), and you are the torment and the occupa-
tion of their lives. You can sciircely realise to your-
m11' the hatred those people feel for you."
"They do mo no harm, I hope?" said I.
Instead of answering, Estella burst out laughing.
ITiis was very singnlai' to mo, and I looked at her in
"i-ideiabli; perplexity. When she left off — and she
■! not laughed languidly but with real enjoyment —
ii'l, in my diffldent way with her, "I hope I may
i<[ii>sB that you would not be amused if they did me
"No, no, you may to sure of that," said Estella.
I nil may he certain that I langh because they fail.
"h, those people with Miss Havisham, and the tortures
they undergo!" She laughed again, and even now
when she had told me why, her laughter was very
singular to me, for I could not doubt its being genuine,
and yet it seemed too much for the occasion. I thought
there must really be something more here than I
knew; she saw the thought in my mind, and an-
swered it.
"It is not easy for even yon," aail l.s'tc&a., '■'■'yi
knpTT wiai satisfaction it gives me to'aeii feoaft -^ws^
SDjoyable Bensu ot Vte
52 WWAT BU'BltftATIOSB. •
I Lave when tliey are mado ridiculous. For yoa
not bronglit up in that strange hou90 from a
baby. — 1 was. You Bad. not your little wite shani
by their intriguing against yon, supprosaed and dol
leas, nader the mask of sympathy and pity and
not that ia soft and sootliing. — I had. Ton dii
gradually open your round uhildish eyes iridar
■wider to the discovery of that impostor of a w
who calciilateB her stores of peace of mind for
wakes np in the night. — I did."
[t was no laughing matter with Estella nowi
she summoning these remembrances from
shallow place. I would not have been the can
that look of hers, for all my expectations in a. he
"Two things I can tell you," said Estella. "'.
notwithstanding the proverb that constant dr^
will wear away a atone, you may set your mini
rest that these people never will - — ■ never would,
hundred years — impair your ground with Mias-
visham, in any parlicular, great or small. Secon
am beholden to you as the cause of their beJn
busy and so mean in vain, and there is m;
npon it."
As she gave it mo playfully — for her
id had been but momentary — I held it and
it to my lips. "Ton ridiculous boy," said ~
"will you never take wamingi* Or do yon kias
hand in the spirit in which I once let you
cheek ?"
"What was it?" said I.
"I must think a moment. A spirit of conterap
He Jkwners and plotters."
"if I eny yes, may I tiss
m»i.r mtracTATTONS.
BB6ti Hhould have aHked bcfofo yon touched the,
iF' But, yes, if you like."
I leaned down, and her calm face was like a
tue's. "Now," said Estclla, gliding away the in-
tit 1 touched her cheek, "yon are to take care that
lare aome tea, and you are to take me to Rich-
■nd."
Her reverting to tliis tone as if onr aaaodation
re forced ujion us and we were mere puppets, gavo
I pain; but everything in our intercourse did give
! pain. Whatever her tone with me happened to
. I could put no trust in it, and build no hope on
■lid yet I went on against trust and against hope.
' repeat it a thousand times? So it always was.
I rang for the tea, and the waiter, reappearing
(li his magic clue, brought in by degrees some fifty
junctB to that refreshment, but of tea not a glimpse,
leaboard, cups and saucers, plates, knives and forks
lolnding carvers), spoons (various), salt-cellars, a
wk little raufiin confined with tho utmost precaution
iler a strong iron cover, Moses in the buUrushes
[lified by a soft bit of butter in a quantity of pars-
I, a pale loaf with a powdered head, two proof im-
Cssions of tho bars of tho kitchen fireplace on triaa-
W bits of bread, and ultimately a fat family urn:
iich the waiter staggered' in with, expressing in his
Butenance burden and suffering. After a prolonged
smce at this stage of the entertainment, he at length
me back with a casket of precious appearance con-
ining twigs. These I steeped in hot watw, wai *a
pm the whole of these appliances extcactei «a& wi?
l^oa't kuow what, for Eatella.
Jill paid, sud the waiter remembctfti'
»M
OMUT irU*PWWT0S9.
I Mtler not fargott^n, and tlie chambermaid taken
[ taoaiimtiou — in a word, the whole faoOBe bt
t job) a (tUe of contempt and animosity, and T^
I pone much lightened — we got into our posl
I sod drove away. Turning into Cheapside and r
np Ncwgatc-str«;t, we were soon under the w
which I was eo ashamed.
''What place is that?" Estella asked me.
I made a foolish pretence of not at first recogni
it, and then told her. As she looked at it, and i
in her head again, mnminring "Wretches!" I w
not bave confessed to my visit for any considerati*
"Mr. Jaggers," said f, by way of patting it ni
on somebody else, "has the reputation of being i
in the secrets of that disDia! place than any ma
London."
"He is more in the secrets of e\-ery place, 111
f said Eatella, in a low voice.
"You have been accustomed to see him i
suppose?"
"I have been accuatomed to see him at i
intervals, ever since I can remember. But I 1
him no better now, than I did before I could s
plainly. What Js your own experience of him?
you advance with himi""
"Once habituated to his distruslfwl manner,'
I, "I bave done very well."
. "Are you intimate?"
I "I have dined with him at his private house.
I "I fancy," said Estolla, shrinking, "that mi
u carious place."
LhI'/' is a curious pl&ce'^
^Bfi|bDnl(l hav« beea ctaty o? iwwia'iva^tK^ ^
aaSLT mcpwrtArtom. S5
too freely evon vith her; but I siionld liave gone on
irii the subject so far as tn describe the dinner in
. iiird-Btreet, if we had not then come into n sudden
. LIU of gas. It seemed, while it lusted, to bo all alight
hi alive with that inexplicable feeling I had had lie-
I '.■; and when we were out of it, I was as much dazed
I a, few moments as if I had been in Ligbtning.
So, we fell into other talk, and it was principally
:"iit the way by which we were traveUing, and about
li.it parts of London lay on this side of it, and what
'I tliat. The great city was almost new to her, she
'il me, for she had never left Miss Ilaviflham's neigh-
•iii'liood until she had gone to France, and she had
inly passed through London then in going and re-
eling. I asked her if my guardian had any charge
"t lier while she remained here? To that she emphati-
nUj said "God forbid!" and no more.
It was impossible for me to avoid seeing that she
Mi'il to attract me; that she made herself winning;
I'i'l would Lave won me even if the task had needed
!ins. Yet this made me none the happier, for, even
^iio had not taken that tone of our being disposed
I liy others, I should have felt that she held my heart
luT hand because she wilfully chose to do it, andj,
i liecause it would have wrung any tendemess in
Iii-r, to crush it and throw it away.
When we passed through Hammersmith, I showed
W where Jlr. Matthew Pocket lived, and said it was
10 great way from Richmond, and thiit I hoped I
■'.muld see her soinetimeB.
"Oh yes, jou are to see me; you aie to eotiie -wViea.
■V f/uoJc proper; yon are to be ineG.tiQii.ei. Xq 'Obs
JjjjMZiJ^ed you are already mentwned." -m
GREAT BXPECTATIONS.
11
Iise
I inquired was it a large houBehold she was goi^
to be a member of?
"No; there are ouly two\ mother and daogliU
The mother is a lady of some station, I believe, tIioq|
not averse to increasing her incoiae." '
"I wonder Miss Havisham could part with y<
again so soon."
"It ia a part of Miss Havisham'
Pip," said Estella, with a sigh, as if she were tirt
"I am to write to her constantly and sec hor regulftri
and report how I go on- — I and the jewels — for tl^
are nearly all mine now."
It was the first time she had ever called me \iy
name. Of course she did so, parposely, and knew
I should treasure it up.
»We came to Eichmond all too soon, and our dt
nation there, was a house by the Green; a staid
house, where hoops and powder and patches, embrl
dered coats, rolled stockings, ruffles and swords, bd
had their court days many a time. Some ancient
before the house were still cut into fashions as fbnj
and unnatural as the hoops and wigs and stiff skin
but their own allotted places in the gi-eat prooeBsioB.
the dead wei'e not far off, and they would boob dt!
into them and go the silent way of the rest.
^m A hell with an old voice — which I dare say,
^^ its time had often said to the bouse, Here
^H farthingale, Hero is the diamond-hilted sword, HJa
^r are the shoes with red heels and the blue solitaire, -
i sounded gravely in the moonlight, and two chen
coloaied maids came tiatteraig oit to receive ~~
The doorway soon absoibci Wt Vos.^, mA.^
m^e her hand and a smWc, auft aaXi ^w>i ■»
OKEAT BSPBCTATI0N8, 37
I absorbed likewise. And still I stood looking at
, thinking; how happy I should be if I lived
B with her, and knowing that I never was happy
B her, but always miserable.
■I got into the carriage to he taken bnck to Ham-
nith, and I got in with a bad heart-ache, and I
I got out with a worse heart-ache. At our own door, I
P ftinnd little Jane Pocket coming home from a little
p.irfy escorted by her little lover; and I envied ber
itile lover, in spite of his being subject to Flopson.
Mr. Pocket was oat lecturing; for, ho was a most
l-lj^htftil lecturer on domestic economy, and his treat-
i'Ls on' the management of children and servants were
"iisidered the very beat text-books on those themes.
I'lit Mrs. Pocket was at liome, and was in a little
liiliculty, on account of this baby's having been ac-
' Jinraodated with a needle-case to keep him quiet
iiiring the unaccountable absence (with a relative in
'\ic Foot Guards) of Millors. And more needles were
iiii'ibing thau it could be regarded as quite wholesome
■ii a patient of such tender years either to apply ei-
riially or to take as a tonic
Mr. Pocket being justly celebrated for giving most
^i'i:!lent practical advice, and for having a clear and
"iiiid perception of things and a highly judicious
jiid, I had some notion in my heart-ache of begging
nn to accept my confidence. But happening to look
1 1 at Mrs. Pocket as she eat reading her book of digni-
-|'^ after prescribing Bed as a sovereign remedy for
i':\hy, I thought — Well — No, I wouldn't.
.ofiiuii! ajasouvfoaih
CHAPTER V.
I As I bad grown accustomed to my expectation
B had insensibly liegun to notice tlieir effect upon i
E and those around me. Their influence on jay own
I acter, I djaguised trom ipy recognition as mueli as :
K sible, but I knew very well that it was not aU g
ft I lived in a state of chronic uneasiness respecting
W behaviour to Joe. My conscience was not by
■ means comfortable about Biddy. When I woke uj
■ the night — like Camilla — I used to think,
I weariness on ray spirits, that I should have been i
I pier and better if I had never seen Miss Havisht
I face, and had risen to manhood content to be parti
K with Joe in the honest old forgo. Many a time o
■ evening, when I sat alone, looking at the fire, I thoU]
■ after all there was no fire like the forge fire and
I kitchen fire at home.
■ Yet Estella was so inseparable fi'om all my restl
I ness and disc^uiet of mind, that I really fell into i
I fusion as to the limits of my own part in its pro(
I* tion. That is to say, supposing I had had n
I tations, and yet had Estella to think of, I could
I make out to vty satisfaction that I should have c
I much better. Now, concerning the influence of my
B Bition on others, I was in no such difficulty, and i
ft perceived — though dimly enough, perhaps — tlu
■ was not beneficial to anybody, and, above all,
■ was not beneficial to Herbert. My lavish habits
W his easy nature into expenses that he could not afii
mpormpted the simplicity ai \na Wi^i, Mii 4asSsa.hfe6
bge^rilii anxieties and regrets. \ ■«&.* ti-A «S. «
morseful for having imwittingly set tliuse otLei- branclies
of the Pocket family to tho poor arts they practised:
bLc;iuBe such littleneai^es wkcq tlieir natural bunt, and
\i'i)u!d have been evoked by anybody else, if I bad left
1 Blumbering. But Herbert's was a very different
, and it often caused mo a twinge to think that I
liad done him evil service in crowding his sparely-
fnmiabed chambers with incongruous ujjbolatery work,
and placing the canary-breasted Avenger at bis dis-
posal,
So now, as an infallible way of making little ease
great ease, I began to contract a quantity of debt. I
fiinld hardly begin but Herbert must begin too, so he
||"U followed. At Startop's suggestion, we jiut our
■■iivi-9 down for election into a elub called The I'in.che!
I' the Grove; the object of which institution I have
I'l'ver divined, if it wore not that the membei's should
Jiiie expensively onceafortuight, to qnarrel among them-
i-lvoa as much as possible after dinner, and to cause
IS waiters to get drunk on the stairs. I know that
iiiifsa gratifying social ends were so invariably aeeom-
liiished, that Herbert and I nndorstood nothing else to
■"■ referred to in the first standing toast of the society:
'^hich ran "Gentlemen, may the present promotion of
i.'"od feeling ever reign predominant among the Finches
'il' the Orove."
The Finches spent their money foolishly (the Hotel
1' I' {lined at was in Co vent-garden), and the first Finch
I "iiw, when I had the honour of joining the Grove,
uiis Bentley Drummte: at that time floundering about
i'lva in a cab of his own, and doing a giftaX. ifcaX. <A
l.iiiia^ lo the postii at the street comets. Oc,casio"tta&T
l^n^f Ilia equipage lie^j^
40 GREAT EXPEOTATIONS. I
tlie iipran-, and I saw liim on one occasion dcliTer
self at the door of the Grove in this rniinlentionaL
— like coals. But here I anticipate a little, for I
not a Finch, and could not be, according to the sa
laws of the society, until I came of age.
In my confidence in my own reaoureee, I w
willingly have taken Herbert's expenses on mj
hut Herbert was proud, and I could make no .
proposal to faim. So, be got into difKcnlties in e
direction, and continued to look about him. Whei
gradually fell into keeping late hotire and late i
pany, I noticed that he looked about him with a
spondent eye at breakfast-time; that he began to
about him more hopefully about mid-day; tha
drooped when he came in to dinner; that he set
to descry Capital in the distance rather dearly, i
dinner; that he all but realised Capital towards '
night: and that at about two o'clock in the mon
he became so deeply despondent again as to tal
buying a rifle and going to America, with a gei
purpose of compelling buffaloes to make his fortun
I was usually at Hammersmith about half the n
and when I was at Hammersmith I haunted I^chm
whereof separately by-and-by. Herbert would t
come to Hammersmith when I was there, and I t
at those seasons liis father would occasionally i
some passing perception that the opening he was I
ing for, had not appeared yet. But in the gei
tumbling up of the family, his tumbling ont is
Homewhere, was a thing to transact itself somehoir,
the mean time Mr. Pocket grew greyer, and
opener to lift himself out <ii ^na ■^CT^\ftij«SH«J^
^^^j^ilf^e Mrs. Pocket tn^V^ ^^ -ikQ^jaH
fflM&T aXPKWATIOltt. 41
■ 1 footstool, read her book of dignities, loat her pocket-
jidkenihief, told us about her grandpapa, and taught
' j'oung idea how to shoot, by shooting it into bed
■ ] fiiever it attracted her notice.
As I am now generalising a period of my life with
11 ijbject of clearing the way before me, I can scarcely
^11 better than by at ones completing tho description
1(11' usual manners and customs at Bamard'tt Inn.
We spent aa mueh money as we could, and got as\
;li: for it as people could make tip their minds to I
- ■ us. We were always more or less miserable, and 1.
i-t of oui- acquaintance were in the same condition. I
i iji-re was a gay fiction among us that we were con- I
iritly enjoying ourselyes, and a skeleton truth that I
-■ never did. To the best of my belief, our case was I
ui the last aspect a rather common one. J
Every morning, with an air ever new, Herbert
*ent into the City to look about him. I often paid
lim a vjsit in the dark back-room in which he con-
sorted with an ink-jar, a hat-peg, a coal-box, a string-
box, an almanack, a desk and stciol, and a ruler; and
I do not remember that I ever saw Hm do anything
I i' bat look about biro. If we nil did what we under-
'•■'■ to do, as faithfully as Herbert did, we might live
a Republic of the Virtues. He had nothing else to
poor fellow, except at a certain hour of every after-
■u to "go to Lloyd's" — in observance of a cere-
■iiy of seeing his principal, I think. He never did
1 fbing else in coim.es:ion with Lloyd's that I could
"1 ont, except come back again. When he felt his
I' unusually serious, and that he posUwft\y nroa'i.SKA
1 'ipeniiiff, lie would go on 'Change al tVife \iaK^ \\Ttt(i,
— *" '- and oat, in a kind of gloQia^ c^t^^g
}
figure, iimong tlie assombled magnates- "For;
tyB Herbert to me, coming horns to dinner oa one t
lese special occasiuax, "I fitxl tlie truth to be, Handeli
t an opening won't comu to one , but one must gt-
t — 80 I have been."
If we had been losa attached to one another, I tlui
muBt have hated one another regularly every moi
. I detested the chambers beyond cspvcssioii
that period of repentance, and could not enUTire t
sight of the Avenger's livery: which had a more «
pensive and a less remunerative appearance then, th
at any other time in the four-and-twenty hours. .
got more and more into debt, breakfast became b
illower and hollower form, and, being on one occasion
'at breakfaat-time threatened {by letter) with legal prfr'
ceedinga, "not onwholly unconnected," as my lo«4'
paper might put it, "with jewellery," I went BO ftir a*
to seize the Avenger by his blue collar and shake h'
off his feet — BO that he was actually in the air, Ul
a booted Cupid — for presuming to suppose that i
Vanted a roll.
At certain times — meaning at uncertain times, (
they depended on our humour — I would say to Hi
bert, as il' it were a remarkable discovery:
"My dear Herbert, we are getting on badly."
"My dear Handel," Herbert would say to mi
all sincerity, "if you will believe me, those very n
were on my lips, by a strange coincidence."
"Then, Herbert," I would respond, "let na loa
into our affairs."
Wc always derived profound satisfaction from i
iJog an appointment for tVia ^-m^oae. \ aV-sa^? (J
Mua was business, t\iis w&a XXio in«5 ■■ ^
iliing, this was the way to take the foe by the throat.
AiiJ I know Herbeii: thought ao too.
We ordejeil sorafithing rather epeuial for (lumer,
witli a bottle of something BimiUrly out of the coniinon
■iiv, in order tliat our miads might be fortified for the
■ Hion, and we might come well up to the mark.
' in.T over, we produced a biindle of pens, a copious
, ii|y of ink, and a goodly show of writing and blot-
iiuf,' paper. For, there was sometliiug very comfortable
in having plenty of stationery.
I would then take a sheet of paper, and write
iitniss the top of it, in a neat hand, the heading, "Me-
i"j,iTidiun of Pip's debts;" with Barnard's Inn and the
■ ■ very carefully added. Herbert would also take a
' t of paper, and wiite across it with similar tbrma-
-, "Memorandum of Herbert's debts."
iJaeh of us would then refer to a confused heap of
I'lfl at his side, which had beeu thrown into drawers,
lij into holes in pockets, half-burnt in lighting can-'
-, fJtuck for weeks into the looking-glaaa, and other-
■I ilamaged. The sound of our pens going, refreshed
i.sceedingly, insomueh that I sometimes found it dlf-
II lilt to distinguish between this edifying bnsiness pro-
I'lciling and actaally paying the money. In point of
uiiTltorious character , the two things seemed about
.,«al.
Wlien we had written a little while, I would ask
H'lijert how ho got on? Herbert probably would have
'"11 scratching his head in a most rueful manner at
lifjht of his accumulating figures.
"They are mounting up, Handel," HwAmA ■sjwils.i.
'npon my life, tbey ai-e moanting Ui[)."
■^Be £rm, Herbert," I would retort, ■p\y\ii6
CffiBAT BST^OTATTOKa.
'pen ivitli great asaiduity. "Look the tiling in thi
Look into your affaire. Stare them out of -
nance."
"So I would, Handel, only they are Btaring t
of countenance."
However, my detennined manner would ha'
effect, and Herbert would fall to work again. A
time, he would give up once more, on the plea t'
had not got Cohbs'e hUl, or Lohbs's, or Nobbs's,
case might be.
"Then, Herbert, estimate it; estimate it in
nnmbere, and put it down."
""What a fellow of reanurce you arel" my 1
would reply, with admiration. "Really your bu!
powers are very remarkable."
I thought so too, I established with myat
these occasions, the reputation of a first-rate n
business — prompt, decisive, energetic, clear,
headed. When I had got all my responBibilitiea
upon my list, I compared eadi with the bill,
ticked it o£ My self-approval when I ticked an
was quite a luxurious sensation. When I had no
ticks to make, I folded all my bills up uniformly, <
eted each on the back, and tied the whole ii
symmetrical bundle. Then, I did the same for Ha
(who modestly said he had not my administrativ
nius), and felt that I had brought his a&aiis il
focus for him.
My business habits had one other bright
which I called, "leaving a Margin." For exai
supposing Herbert's debts to be one hundred and
four pounds four-and-two-Tpeiica, \ vio-iii. %«:^, "*
i3a.rgin, and put tHem do'ww at Vko
WAT HJtPBCTATIOKB. 45
1 to be four times as much, I woulil
rmargin, and put tliem dowu at seven btmdred.
d the higbest opinion of the wisdom of this same
gin, but I am bound to acknowledge that on look-
back, I deem it to have been an expensive device,
we always ran into new debt immediately, to the
extent of the marg^in, and Bometimos, in the sense
eedom and solvency it imparted, got pretty far on
another margin.
Sut there was a calm, a rest, a virtuous hush, eon-
ent on these esaminatioas of our affairs that gave
for the time, an admirable opinion of myself.
hed by my exertions, my method, and Herbert's
iliments, I would sit with liia symmetrical bundle
my own on the table before me among the sta-
rry, and feel like a Bank of some sort, rather than
ivate individual.
IVe shut our outer door on these solemn occa-
I, in order that wo might not be interrupted. I
fallen into my serene state one evening, when we
d a letter di'opped through the slit in the said door,
fall on the ground. "It's for you, Handel," said
»ert, going out and coming back with it, "and I
there is nothing the matter." This was in allu-
to ita heavy black seal and border,
rhe letter was signed Trabb & Co., and its cou-
i were eiropiy, that I was an honoured sir, and
they begged to inform me that Mrs, J. Gtargery
departed this life on Monday last, at twenty mi-
i past six iu the evening, and that my attendance
requested at the intarment on Monday uesA. aS.
' o 'eJoct ia the a^ernoon.
Flff eSBA* BWECtATIOSlf.
CHAPTER VI.
It was the firat time that a grave had open6
my road of life, and the gap it made in the sn
ground was wondBrful. The fig^are of my Bister i
chair hy the kitchen fire, haunted me night and
That the place cnuld possibly he, without her,
Bomothing my mind seemed unahle to compaHs;
whereas she had seldom or never been in my thou
of late, I had now the strangest ideas that she
coming towards me in the street, or that s
presently knock at the door. In my rooms
which she had never been at all associated, there
at once the blankness of death and a perpetual I
gestion of the sound of hi'i voice or the turn of
face or figure, as if she were still alive and had b
often there.
Whatever my fortimes might have been,
scarcely have recalled my sister with much tenderl
Bat I suppose there is a shock of regret which ]
exist without much tenderness. Under its infltf
(and perhaps to make up for the want i
feeling) I was seized with a violent indignation agl
the assailant from whom she had suffered so much;
I felt that on sufficient proof I could have revengei
pursued Orlick, or any one else, to the last extr
Having written to Joe, to offer consolation, i
assure him that I should come to the funeral, I pll
the intermediate days in the curious state of r '
have glanced at. I went down early iu the e
and alighted at the Bine Boar in good time to 1
rfiver to the forge.
H^favHS fine summer weaOiei agKoi, swii, s&V-*
SWU.T BSpnTrATTOm. 47
1
nlong, the time when I waa a little holplpss creature,
nl ray sister did not spare me, vividly returned. But
)■ retumod with a pentla touo upon them that
iwned even the edf^e of Tickler. For now, the very
I'.ith of the beans and clover whispered to my heart
lliat the day must come when it would he well for my
memory that others walking in the sunshine Bhould be
softened as they thoug^ht of me.
At last I came witliin sight of the house, and saw
tlwt Trabh and Co. had put in a funereal execution
and taken poaseasion. Two dismally absurd persons,
Mch ostentatioasly exhibiting a crutch done up in a
blMk handage — as if that inntniment could possibly
Mmmiuiicate any comfort to anybody — were posted
»t ike front door; aud in one of them I recognised a.
i ii4.boy discharged from the Boar for turning a young
I i[i!e into a sawpit on their bridal morning, in con-
■|i[ence of intoxication rendering it necessary for him
■ ride his horse clasped round the neck with both
ills. All the children of the village, and most of the
"^iien, were admiring' these sable warders and the
'■r<(d windows of the house and forge; and aa I came
I , ono of the two warders (the postboy) knocked at
"■ dnor — implying that I waa far too much exhausted
'. ^'lief, to have strength remaining to knock for rayaelf.
iVnother sable warder (a carpenter, wlio had once
liii two geoso for a waget) opened the door, and
lived me into the best parlour. Here, Mr. Trabb had
iliiin unto himself the beat table, and had got all the
ivi's np, and was holding a kind of blaek Bazaar,
■ ;ili the aid of a qnauthy of black pins. M \\ie wio-
/// o/'ny iimval, he bad jnst finished iputtvag wiv&t-
'*■-' -'—.0 black long-clothcs, \itc aa Mt\cas
48 QlfflAT BXPBCWATTOSS.
baby; so he held out hia hand for mine. But I,
\iy the action, and confused by the occasion,
handa with liim with every testimony of warm affect
Poor deaj* Joe, entangled in a little black i '
tied in a large bow under bis chin, wna seated aparj
the upper end of the room; where, jib chief r
he had evidently been stationed by Trabb, Wha
bent down and said to him, "Dear Joe, how areyoi
he said, "Pip, old chap, you knowed her when
were a fine figure of a —" and clasped my hand 1
Biddy, looking very neat and modest in her bli
dress, went quietly here and there, and was veiy h<
ful. When I had spoken to Biddy, as I thought it i
a time for talking I went and sat down near Joe, I
there began to wonder in what part of the house it''
she — my sister — was. The air of the parlour ba
faint with the smell of sweet cake, I looked about'
the table of refreshments; it was scarcely visible ffl
one had got accustomed to the gloom, but there wi
cut-up plum cake upon it, and there were cut
oranges, and sandwiches, and biscuits, and two !
canters that I knew very well as ornaments, but ]
never seen used in all my life; one full of port,
one of sherry. Standing at this table, I became c
Bcious of the servile Pumblechook in a black cloak 1
several yards of hatband, who was alternately stufl
himself, and making obsequious movements to i
my attention. The moment he succeeded, he came 0
to me {breathing sheiTy and crumbs), and said i
fiobdued voice, "May I, dear sir?" and did, I (
fed Mr. and Mrs. HiibViVa-, t5 '
tot speechless paroxysm in ^
^ osBAT sxE'sxnMna.asa. 49
iiig to "follow," and were all in toiirse of being tied
;i separately {by Trabb) into ridiculous bundles.
"Wbiiih I meanteraay, Pip," Joe whispered me, aa
. were being what Mr. Trabb called "formed" in the
Lilour, two and two — and it waa dreadfully like ft
[ireparation for some grim kind of dance; "which I
meanteFBay, air, as I would in preference have carried
I ber to the church myself, along with three or four
1 friendly ones wot come to it with willing hai'ta and
I wias, but it were considered wot the neighbours would
I look down on such and would bo of opinions as it were
ing in respect."
pocket-handkerchiefs out, all!" cried Mr. Trabb
■ point, in a depressed business-like voice, "Poeket-
fflohiefs out! "We are ready!"
we all put our pocket-handkerchiefs to our
if our nosea were bleeding, and filed out two
; Joe andl; Biddy andPumblechook; Mr. and
Habble. The remains of my poor sister had been
I bniught round by the kitchen door; and, it being a
It of Undertaking ceremony that the Bis hearers
I'i^t be stifled and blinded under a horrible black
Ivet housing with a white border, the whole looked
■'li a blind monster with twelve human legs, shuffling
111 blundering along, under the guidance of two
|'i|}(.'r8 — the postboy and his comrade.
The neighbourhood, however, highly approved of
li'.Je arrangements, and we were much admired as we
lilt thr6ugL the village; the more youthful and
ijrnrous part of the community making T
iii'l then to cut ns off, and lying in wait Vo \
- 'It points of vantage. At such timfca t\io laoicti t
'■''■.jjii amoDg tbcm called out in an. e
K^ our Gmorgence round some comer of expectano]!
^^J/ere they cornel" "Jivre they arel" and we were a
B^t dieered. In this progress I 'was much annoyed b
Rite abject Pumblechook, who, being behind me, pef*'
K^sted. all the way as a. delicate attention in arranging;
rjmy streaming hatband and smoothing my cloak.
LthonghtB were further distracted by the excess jve p
of Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, who wero surpassingly con-'
ceited and vainglorious in being members c "
tinguiahed a procession.
And now, the range of marshes lay clear beforft
_ UB, with the sails of the ships on the river growing (s
' " j and we went into the uhtirchyard, close to t'
paves of my unknown parents, Philip Pirrip, late i
'i parish, and Also Georgiana, Wife of the Aboit
L&nd there, my sister was laid quietly in the eart
Jrhile the larks sang high above it, and the li^
Efrind strewed it with beautiful shadows of clouds and
Of the conduct of the worldly-minded Pnrablechook-
Jffhile this was doing, I desire to say no more than ''
i all addressed to me; and that even when
noble passages were read which remind humanity hi
it brought nothing into the world and can take n<
out, and how it fleeth like a shadow and never coi
nueth long in one stay, I heard him cough a reeer
tion of the case of a young gentleman who cams '
expectediy into large property. When we got ba
he had the hardihood to tell me that he wished ;
sister coatd have known I had doae her so nw
Jionour, and to hint that she would have considered
reasoaH-bly purchased, at the, Ytwe. *^Ve.t &Kit.\\t,.
that, bo di-ank all the rest o? tVe sJaatrj, wt&.l&s.''
I oamAm BxmoTAKOss. 51
liwHk tbe port, and the two talked (which I have since
''i^''ired til he cnstomaiy in such caaea), aa if they
' iif quite another raiie from tbe deccaaed, and were
; '1 ioualy immortal, i^inally, ho went away with Mr.
.1 ilrs. Huhble — to make an evening of it, I felt
■^rc, and to teU tbe Jolly Bargemen that he was
tlii^ founder of mj fortunes and my earliest bene-
fiictor.
When they were all gone, and when Trahb and
men — but not hia boy: I looked for him — bad
I'jjiupd their mnramery into baga, and were gone
ii. tlie houae felt wholesomer. Soon afterwarda,
iiiilily, Jot', and I, had a cold dinner together; but we
'liiK.'d in tbe best parlour, not in the old kitchen, and
■l"(i was so Bsceedingly particular what he did with
Iti^ knife anil fork and the salt-cellar and what not,
ibdt there was great restraint upon us. But after
iliiinfr, when I made him take his pipe, and when I
liid loitered with him about the forge, and when we
! ilowu together on the great block of stone outside
«(.■ got on better. I noticed that after tbe funeral
I changed liis clothes 8o far, as to make a compro-
.■!■ between liia Simday dreaa and working dress; in
ii !i the dear fellow looked natural and like the Man
rie was very much pleased by my asking if I
-jlit sleep in my own little room, aud I was pleased
: for I felt that I had done rather a great thing in
iliiig the request. When tlw shadows of evening
M.' closing in, I took an opportunity of getting into
■ trarden with Bidd/ for a little, talk.
"Biddf^, " mid I, "I think you migkl ta.ve ■wiv'iX.si^
■^^le about these sad matters." _
69
OHBAT BSPIOTATIOSS.
"Do you, Mj. Pip?" said Biddy. "I should h
written if I had thought that."
Don't suppose that I mean to be unkind, Bid
■when I say I consider thut you ought to have thoq
that"
Do you, Mr. Pip?"
ihe was so quiet, and had such an orderly, g<
and pretty way with her, that I did not like the thoo
" making; her cry again. After looking a little at
downcast eyes, as she walked heside me, I gave
that point.
"I suppose it will be difficult for yon to rem
now, Biddy dear?" i
Oh! I can't do so, Mr. Pip," said Biddy, i
of regret, but still of quiet conviction. "I h
been speaking to Mrs. Hubble, and I am going to
to-morrow. I hope we shall be able to take eoms i
of Mr. Gargery, together, until ho settles down."
"How are you going to live, Biddy? If you fl
"How ami going to live?" repeated Biddy, stiiti
n, with a momentary flush upon her face.
'on, Ml. Pip. I am going to try to get the plao
ietress in tie new school nearly finished here, I
tie well recommended by all the neighbours, ao
'liape I can bo industrious and patient, and teach :
self while I teach others. You know, Mr. Pip,"
sued Biddy, with a smile, as she raised her eyei
oy face, "the new schools are nut like the old,
,t a good deal from you after that time, and
since then to improve."
■^tbink you would a\waya"mi'etQ'^fc%"
aWBAT BTMOTATieifB. S3
'Ahl Except in my bad eide of human nature,"
nnred Biddy.
it was not so much a. reproach, as an irresistible
tiiinking aloud. Weill I thought I would g'ive up that
IKiInt loo. So, I walked a little further with Biddy,
looking aileutly at her downcast eyes.
"I Lave not heard the particulars of my sister's
iestii, Biddy."
"They are very slight, poor thing. She had been
ia uae of her bad states — though they had got better
I'l'late, rather than worse — for four days, when she
wune out of it in the evening, just at tea-time, and
wid quite plainly, 'Joe.' As she had never said any
wrd for a long while, I ran and fetched inMr. Qargery
ftom the forge. She made signs to me that she wanted
'■'m to sit down close to her, and wanted me to put
11 1 arms round his neck. 80 I put them round his
I'l'k, and she laid her hand down on his shoulder
iNite content and aatistied. And au she presently said
li'c' again, and once 'Pardon,' and once 'Pip.' And
■I "he never lifted her head up any more, and it was
ii^t an hour later when we laid it down on her own
fl, because we found she was gone."
Biddy cried; the darkeuing garden, and the lane,
ml the stars that were coming out, were blurred in
own fiig;ht,
"Nothing was ever discovered, Biddy?"
"Nothing."
you know what is become of Orlick?"
I ahould think from the colour of his clothes ttaS.
working' in tie guarriea."
"'^uTso yon iiave seen him tbeu*? — "Wil «
*f tha.t dark tree in tlie \auti?" ^^
OSBAT BSPHCTATIOWSr.
"I saw him tliera, on the night she di
"That was not the last time either, Bid^i
"No; I have aeon Iiini there, sioce we have
walking here. — It U of no use," aaid Biddy, li
ber baud upon my arm as I was for running out,
know I would not deceive you; he was not thi
minute, and he is gone."
It revived my utmost indignation to find tha
was still pursued by this fellow, and I felt invet
against him. I told her bo, and told her that I it
spend any money or take any pains to drive his
of that country. By degrees she led mc into
temperate talk, aud she told me how Joe loved
and how Joe never complained of anything
didn't say, of me; she had no need; I knew wba
meant — but ever did his duty in his way of
with a strong hand, a quiet tongue, and a g
"Indeed, it would be bard to say too mud
him," said I; "and Biddy, we must often BpM
these things, for of course I shall be often down
now, I am not going to leave poor Joe alone."
Biddy said never a single word.
"Biddy, don't you hear me?"
"Yes, Mr. Pip."
"Not to mention your calling me llr. Pip —
appears to me to he in bad taste, Biddy — wbl
"What do I mean?" asked Biddy, timidly.
"Biddy," said I, in a virtuously self-aew
"I must request to feno-w ^hat you mei
this?" said Eiddy,
n't echo," I retorted. "Ton used uot to
i not!" said Biddy. "0 Mr. Pip! Used!"
JffcHI I rather thought I would give op that point
f After another silent tuni in the gurden, I fell
a the maiu position.
iddy," said I, "I made a remark respecting my
J- down hero often, to aee Joe, which you. re-
l with a marked silence. Have the goodness,
a tell me why."
B you quite sure, then, that you will c
1 often?" asked Biddy, stopping in the
I mHph walk, and looking at me under tho stars with
■ ticnr and honest eye,
''Oh dear me!" said I, as if I found myself com-
,11 I'd to give up Biddy in despair. "This really is a
' ly bad side of human nature! Don't say any more,
' )"ipii please, Biddy. This shocks me very much."
For which cogent reason I kept Biddy at a distance
'iiing supper, aTldT'^whon I went up to my own old
"li.' room, took as stately a leave of her as I could,
1 iny murmui'ing soul, deem reconcilahle with the
"injhyard and the event of the day. As often as I
■ restless in the night, and that was every quarter
■ .111 hour, I reflected what an uukindness, what an
' lULj, what an injustice, Biddy had done ma.
Early in the morning, I was to go. Early in the
"Miing, I was out, and, looking in, unseen, at one
tlii^ wooden windows of the forge. There I stood, for
■imloa, looking at Joe, already at work with a glow
luialth and strength upon his face that TOaia \V ^ww
■/' He bright sua of the life in atoie Sor V\\ft. -w'«^
r aCTBOTAWftflS.
^r "Grood-hy, dear Job! — No, doa't wipe it ofi
Tor God's sake, give me your blackened handl -
shall be down soon, and often."
"Never too soon, sir," said Joe, "and never
often, Pip!"
Biddy was waitbg for me at the kitchen door, J
with a mug of new milk and a crust of bread. "Biddy,"
said I, when I gave her my hand at parting, "I am |
not angry, hut I am hurt"
"No, don't be hurt," she pleaded quite pathetically;]
"let only me he hurt, if I have been ungenerous."
Once more, the mists were rising as I walked!
away. If they disclosed to me, as I suspect they did, I
that I should not come back, and that Biddy '
quite tight, all I can say is — they were quite rightl
PJtoo.
I ' CHAPTER VII.
Herbebt and I went on from had to wcose, in tliel
way of increasing our debts, looking into our afMi^l
leaving Margins, and the like exemplary transactions; F
and Time went on, whether or no, as lie has a vray (^1
doing; and I came of age — in fulfilment of Herbert^ ■
prediction, that I should do so, before I knew whrae 1 1
Herhert himself bad come of age, eight months hi" I
fore me. As he had nothing else than his m^ority W 1
come into, the event did not make a profound sensa- '
tJon in -Barnard's Inn. Bat -we had. looked forwaid M
mjr oae-and-twentictli Ijirthday, Vi'Cti. a wo-wi ^S^
Melons and anticipaticma, £ot '«e\i^\'<>*^er
th»t my gnardian cnutd hardly help saying; something
definite on that
I haA taken care to have it well understood i
Little Britain, wliea my birthday was. On the day
Tiefore it, I received an official note from Wemmick,
informing me that Mr. Jaggcra would be glad if I
would p.all upon liim at five in the aftemofin of the
^^jjicioua day. This convinced ua that something
great was to happen, and threw me into an unosnal
flutter when I repaired to my guardian's office, a model
of punctuality.
In the outer office Wemmick offered me his <
-i^ttnlations, and incidentally rubbed the side of
■luso with (1 folded piece of tissue-paper that I liked
•111' look of. But he said nothing respecting it, and
ijijtioned me with a nod into my guardian's room. It
■liis November, and my guardian was standing before
||i-i fire leaning bis back against the chimney-piece,
".ith his hands under his coat-tails.
"Well, Pip," said he, "I must call you Mr. Pip to-
''■iiy. Congratulations, Mr. Pip."
We shook hands — he was always a remarkably
>li(irt shaker — and I thanked him.
"Take a chair, Mr. Pip," said my guardian.
As I sat down, and he preserved bia attitude and
iipnt his brows at his boots, -I felt at a disadvantage,
ivliich reminded me of that old time when I had been
I'lit npun a tombstone. The two ghastly casts on
sliflf were not far from him, and their exijteBawB. '^aa
"'' if they were nmking a stupid apoT^Veiftivt tt.\.\sxK^
■'al^d to the converaa,tion'.
yowig friend," my guardiem ■\sfe?,«>-
■n flRBAT BIttseTATIOM, ^B
Kif I were a witnei^s in the box, "I am going to have^|
BVord or two with yoii." ^M
I "If you please, sir." M
r "What do you suppose," said Mr, .Taggers, bendiu^fl
U^rward to look at the ground, and then throwing luf^a
Kead back to look at the ceiling, "what do you snp-fl
^noBO you ar6 living at the rate of?" ■
J^ "At the rate of, sir?" ^B
"At," repeated Mr. daggers, still looking at tl^|
ceiling, "tiio — rate — of?" And then looked ^^|
.round the room, and paused with his pocket-handk^^l
chief in his hand, half way to his nose. ^H
I had looked into my affairs so often, that I li^^|
thoroughly destroyed any slight notion I might ev^H
bave bad of their beaiings. Reluctantly, I confess^H
myself quite unable to answer the question. TIi^H
reply seemed agreeable to Mr. Jaggers, who said, ^H
thought so!" and blew his nose with an air of sati^H
g &ction. ^1
"Now, I have asked you a question, my friend,"T
Biaid Mr. Jaggers. "Have you anything to ask me?" I
"Of course it would be a great relief to me to ask |
Fyou several questions, sir; but I remember your pro-
hibition."
"Ask one," said Mr. Jaggers.
"Is my benefactor to be made known to me 1
k-day?"
"No. Ask another."
"Is that confidence to be imparted to me Boon?" J
"Waive that, a moment," said Mj'. Jaggers
t another."
I looked about me, Wt tVeift a.-^-5e5a^i, Va ■\«.^
f jiosaiblo escape from the mt^^ii;
5 to receive, air?" On that, Mr, Jaggers aaid,
Bopiantly, "I thouglit we should come, to it!" and
»jled to Weramick to give him that piece of paper.
Wemniiek appeared, iianded it in, and disappeared.
"Now, Mr, Pip," said Mr, Jaggera, "attend, if you
•'k'ase. You have been drawing pretty freely here;
\i.iiir name occurs pretty often in Wemmick's cash-
liiiiik; but you are in debt, of course?"
"I am afraid I must say ycu, sir."
"Yon know you must say yes; don't you?" said
Ifiv Jaggers.
"Yes, air."
"I don't ask you what you owe, becanae you don't
know; and if you did know, you wouldn't tell me;
ym would say less. Yes, yes, my friend," cried Mr.
Jaggera, waving his forefinger to stop me, as I made
k show of protesting: "it's likely enough that you
[hint you wouldn't, but you would. You'll excuse
nie, but I know better than you. Now, take this piece
of paper in your hand. You Lave got it? Very good.
Kow, unfold it and tell me what it is."
"This is a bank-note," said I, "for five hundred
pounda,'"
"That is a bank-note," repeated Mr. Jaggera, "for
ive hnndrod pounds. And a very handsome sum of
money too, I think. You conaider it so?"
"How could I do otherwise!"
"Ah! But answer the question," aaid Mr. Jaggers.
"Undoubtedly."
"You consider it, undoubtedly, a handso-nwi wwa. cS.
■Ai'-y. Now, tiat liRndsomo sum of inoae.'^ , "E\'5 , Na
, ,.: om/. It is R present to you on tbia 6-M i ™^
1^^ ot^oux expectations. And at th.e T:a.Vtt qI \Nirii
aRSAT ESTECTATrOTO.
Lanilsomc sum of money per annum, and at
rate, yon are to live nntil the donor of tlie wholl
pears. That is to Bay, yon will now take your
affairs entirely into your own hands, and you. will
from Wemmitk one hundred and twenty-five p<
per quarter, until you are in comrai
f'onntain-head, and no longer with the more agent
I have told you before, I am the mere agent,
eeute my instructions, and I am paid for doing
think them injudicious, but I am not paid for g
any opinion on their merits."
I was beginning to express ray gratitude
henefautor for the great liberality with which 1
treated, when Mr. Jaggers stopped me. "I
paid, Pip," said he, coolly, "to carry yoor wo]
any one;" and then gathered up his coat-tails,
had gathered up the subject, and stood frowning
boots as if he suspected them of designs against
After a pause, I hinted:
"There was a question jnst now, Mr. Js
which you desired me to waive for a moment
I am doing nothing wrong iii asking it again?'
"What is it?" said he.
I might have known that he would never he
out; but it took me aback to have tu shape the
tion afresh, as if it were quite new. "Is it lik^
said, after hesitating, "that my patron, the foa
liead you have spoken of, Mr. Jaggers, will boo
there I delicately stopped.
"WiiJ soon what?" said Mr, Jaggers. "Tti
question as it stauds, youtnu'w;'
^^.'■WiiS soon come to LionioB.;'' *«!&.
^^
6J
ft precise form of worils, "ar sununou mo
lere else?"
"Now here," replied Mr. Jaggers, fixing me for the
i time with hia dark deep-Bct eyes, "we muat revert
<lii.' evoniug when we first enconntered one another
■"' yjor Tillage. What did I tell you then, Pip?"
"You told me, Mr. Jaggers, that it might be years
■"■■wii when that person appeared."
'\1aat so," Baid Mr. Jaggers, "that's ray answer."
As we looked full at one another, I felt my breath
'"^•- quicker in my strong desire to get something out
■'■ iiim. And as I felt that it came quicker, and as I
I' ili.it he saw that it came (juicker, I felt that I had
■ cliance than ever of getting anything out of hira.
Do you suppose it will Btill be years hence, Mr.
Mr. Jaggers shook his head — not in negativing
i!"' question, but in altogether negativing tbo notion
lilt bo could anyhow be got to answer it — and the
I liorrible casts of the twitched faces looked, when
lyoB strayed np to them, as if they had eome to a
lii in their suspended attention, and were going to
"Conjel" said Mr. Jaggers, warming the backs of
lii.H legs with the backs of his warmed bands, "I'll be
Jilain with yon, my friend Pip. That's a question I
oiust not be asked. You'll understand that, better,
*Leu I tell you it's a question that might compromise
rae. Come! I'll go a little further with yon; Til say
"imetbing more."
He bent doivn so low to frown at Vis "booXa, 'Ooi^'v.
V_ Haw abJe to rab the eeHvea of hia lega m 'tlB-'& ^a»s»
"WLen that person discloses," said Mr. Jugp
Btraighteoing himself, "you and that person will Bet
. yonr own affairs. When that person discloses, my p
in thJ8 buainesa will uease and determine. Whan t
' person discloses, it will not be necessary for metoltB
tnything about it. And tbat'a all I have got to Sii^
We looked at one another nntil I witbdrer ■
' eyes, and looked thongbtfnlly at the floor. Trom I
last speech I derived the notion that Miss Havishl
for some reason or no reason, had not taken Hm i
her confidence as to her designing me for !Estolla; I
resented this, and felt a jealousy abont it; c
he really did object to that scheme, and would li
nothing to do with it. When. I raised my eyes agi
I found that be bad been shrewdly looking at i
I the time, and was doing so still.
"If that is all you have to say, sir," I remail
here can be nothing left for me to say,"
He nodded assent, and pulled out his thief-dreft
watch, and asked me where I was going to dine?
replied at my own chambers, with Herbert. Ab »
cessary sequence, I asked Mm if be would favou^
with bis company, and he promptly accepted the ii
tation. But he insisted on walkuig home with me,
order that I might make no extra preparation for 1
■ and first he had a letter or two to write, and {of con
I had his bands to wash. So, I said I woold go into
I outer office and talk to Wemmick.
The fact was, that when the five hundred pon
had eorae into my pocket, a thought had come into
bead wliicb bad been often there before; an"
pe&ted to me that Wemmck waa a. ^wii -yst*
^wise with, concerning aut'k tto^^^- ^
^" - (4bAT BSPBOTATIOm. 09
tbad already locked up bis safe, and made pre-
■ tbr going home. He had left bis desk, brongbt
mm greasy office caadle-BtickB and stood them
■itb die BDufiers on a slab near the door, ready
Knguifibed; he bad raked He fire low, put bis
K|^eat-coat ready, and was beating himself all
Rbest with bie safe-key, as an athletic exerciac
EWemmick," said I, "I want to ask your opi-
um very desirous to serve a friend."
baick tightened biti post-office and shook hia
ir if his opinion were dead against any fatal
|b of that sort.
yb friend," I pursued, "is trying to get on in
nal life, but has no money and finds it dlfScult
beartening to make a beginniog. Now, I want
If to help him to a beginning."
£tb money down?" said Wemmick, in a tone
jm any sawdust.
fill some money down," I replied, for an uneasy
^nce shot across me of that symmetrical bundle
Is at home; "with some money down, and per-
ke anticipation of my expectations."
tPip," said Wemmick, "I should like just to
fe with you on my fingers, if you please, the
K the various bridges up as high as Chelsea
iLet's Bee: there's London, one; Southwark,
■nkfriars, three; Waterloo, fonrj Westminster,
Bxhall, six." Eo had checked off each bridge
fen, with tlie handle of hia safe-key on the i^&lm.
Hnd. "There's aa many aa six, you see, Va
eiiitaad you," said \
r
*6t eBBAT BXPBOTATIOSS,'
"CliooBo your bridge, Mr. Pip," i-etumed Wemtoij
I "and take a walk upon your bridge, and pitcb yj
money into tiie Thames over the centre arch of j
bridge, and you know the end of it. Serve a fifii
with it, and you may know the end of it too -
it's a less ploasant and profitable end."
I could have posted a newspaper in hia mouth,
made it so wide after saying this.
I "This is very discouraging," said I.
"Meant to he," said Wemmick.
"Then is'it your opinion," I inquired, with e
little indignation, "that a man should never — "
" — Invest portable property m a friend?"
Wemmick. "Certainly he should not. Unless be wa
to get rid of the friend — and then It becomes a qn
tion how much portable property it may be woi"
get rid of him."
"And that," said I, "is your deliberate opini
Mr. Wemmick?"
"That," he returned "is my deliberate opinion
this office."
"Ah!" said I, pressing him, for I thought I B
him near a loophole here; "but would that I
opinion at Walworth?"
Mr. Pip," he replied, with gravity, "Walwortll
one place, and this office is another. Much as the A]
is one person, and Mr. Jaggers is another. They n
not be confounded together. My Walworth s(»ttiiiii
must be taken at Walworth; none hut my ofGcial i
timents can be taken in this office."
"Very well," said I, muc>i ■!e&ftMfti.,"'Oiss«.^
'ok yoa up at WaWort\i, -jout — "^ *"
aaUT BXPECTATIONB.
f.Pip," he retnrnei], "jou will be welcome there,
mvate and jwrsimal capacity."
\Ve had held this converBation in a low voioe, well
■viiig my guardian's ears to be the sliarpest fif the
I. 111. As he now appeared in his doorway, towelling
lis bands, Wemmick got on his great-coat and stood
ly to flnnff i;rat the eandloB. We all three went into
(he street together, and from the door-step "Wommick
Fiimod his way, and Mr. .Jagg^ers and I turned oure.
i could not help wishing more than once that even-
that Mr. Jaggers had had an Aged in Gerrwd-
rt, or a Stinger, or a Something, or a Somebody,
. (inijend his brows a little. It was an uncomfortable
■ ijiiiiiderfttion on a twenty-first birthday, that coming
■:l age at all seemed hardly worth while in such a
jiiju'ded and suspicious world as he made of it. He
■i;is a thousand times better informed and cleverer
:iwn Wemmick, and yet I would a thousand times
'ilier have had Wemmick to dinner. And Mr. Jaggers
ii'le not mo alone intensely melancholy, because, after
Mas gone, Herbert said of himself, with his eyes
111 on the lire, that he thought he must have com-
j.thd a felony and forgotten it, he felt so dejected
■iinl guilty.
CHAPTER VIII.
I)ebming Sunday the best day for taking Mr. Wem-
.1 k'a Walworth sentiments, I devoted the next ensuing
-Miday afternoon to a pilgrimage to the Castle. On
arriving before the battlements, 1 found. &.» ^Siivs-o.
Juck Spog- and the drawbridge tip-, Wt iHv.i&tevt'*&.
"y#fr aioy of deSance and reaetance, X -raaig, ait- '^ *
66 QRGAT EXPECTATIONS.
gate, and vms admitted in a most piiufic manne
the Aged.
"My son, §ir," said the old man, after
the drawbridge, "rather had it in bis mind that
might happen to drop in, and he left word
would soon be home from his afternoon's walk,
very regular in his walks, is my son. Very regal
everything, is my son."
I nodded at the old gentleman as Wemmlub
self might have nodded, and we went in and sat
ly the fireside.
"Ton made acq^naintance with my son, sir,''
the old man, in his chirping way, while he wanne<
hands at the blane, "at his office, I expect?" I no
"Hah! 1 have heerd that my son is a wonddrfftl
at his business, sir?" I nodded hard, "Tes; so
tell me. His business is the Law?" I nodded ha
"Which makes it more surprising in :
old man, "for he was not brought np to the Law
D the Wine-Coopering."
Curious to know how the old gentleman stoo
formed concerning tlie reputation of Mr, Jagge
roared that name at him. Ho threw me into the |
est confusion by laughing heartily and replying
very sprightly manner, "No, to be sure; you're r
And to this hour I have not the faintest notion
he meant, or what joke he thought I bad made.
Ab I could not sit there nodding at bim perpetu
without making some other attempt to interest hi
shouted an inquiry whether his own calling in
Men "the Wine- Coopering." "B'j S\\A
fenn out of injaclf seYerft\ t™^^ a.i>^^ \K5Y™ft
9n*T HXPBOTA'nonH.- 67
a OQ the cbeet to associate it witli liim, I at
racceeded in making my meaning KnderBtood,
"No," said the old gentleman; "the warehousing,
I warehotising. First, over yonder;" he appeared to
an np the chimney, hut I believe he intended to
BT me to Liverpool; "und then in the City of Lon-
(I here. However, having an infirmity — for I am
rd of hearing, eir — "
I expressed in pantomime the greatest astonish-
int.
" — Tes, hard of hearing; having that infirmity
ning upon me, ray aon he went into the Law, and
took charge of me, and he by little and little made
t this elegant and beautiful property. But returning
what yon said, yon know," pursued the old man,
ain laughing heartily, "what I say is. No to he Bure;
lU're right."
I waa modestly "wondering whether my utmost in-
ttuity would have enabled me to say anything that
)iild have amused him half ae much as this imaginary
Basantry, when I was startled by a sudden click in
e wall on one side of the cbimney, and the ghostly
mbling open of a little wooden flap with "John"
ion it The old man, following my eyes, cried with
«at triumph "My son's come home I" and we both
ent out to the drawbridge.
It was worth any money to see Weramick waving
remote salute to me from the other side of the moat,
hen we might have shaken hands across it with the
twteat ease. The Ag'ed was so de'\igii\.e,4 \n -siw?*.
\B drawbridge, that I made no offer to asftVftt '\iKv,^'*\
ret uatil Wemmick had come acioas.
presented me tn Misa SkifGnsi a lady by whom hi
accompanied.
MiasShiffins was of a wooden appearance,
la, Eke hor escurt, in the post office branch o
service. She might have been some two or three
younger than Weinmick, and I judged her to
scBsed of portable property. The cut of her
from the woiat upward, both before and behind,
her figure very like a hoy's kite; and I might
pronounced her gown a little too decidedly or
and her gloves a little too intensely green. But
seemed to he a good oort of fellow, and showed a
regard fur the Aged, I was not long in dist
that she was a frequent visitor at the Castle; foi
our going in, and my complimenting Wemmick
ingenious contrivance for announcing himself to
Aged, he begged me to give my attention for a
ment to the other side of the chimney, and disappc
Presently another click came, and another little
tumbled open with "Miss Skiffins" on it; then
SkifBns shut up, and John tumbled open; then
Skiffins and John both tumbled open together,
finally shut up together. On Wemmick's return
working these mechanical appliances, I expressed
great admiration with which I regarded them, am
'1, "Well you know, they're both pleasant and
to the Aged. And by George, sir, it's a
worth mentioning, that of all the people who ooi
this gate, the secret of those pnlla is only known I
Aged, Miss Skiffins, and me!"
"And Mr. Wemmick made them ," added
^SM/Sng, "with his own lianda om\- oS Vra w'frei Vea
While Mias Skiffins was taking oSXisb.
lier greau gloves during tlte evening as an
id visible sign that ihere was company),
'Vi'mmiek invited me to take a walk with liim round
!.i property, and see how the island looked in winter-
tune. Thinking that he did tliis to give ma an oppor-
tunity of taking hia Walworth sentimenta, I seised the
apportanity as soon as we were out of the Caetle.
Having thought of tho matter with ewe, I ap-
Jitoaehed my anbject as if I had never hinted at it before.
I informed Wemmick that I was anxions in behalf of
Herbert Pocket, and I told him how we had first met,
mil how we had fought. I glanced at Herbert's home,
inil at his character, and at his having no means hut
tnch as he was dependent on hie father for: those, tin-
I'Main and unpunctual. I alluded to the advantages
I hud derived in my first rawness and ignorance from
U) socioty, and I confessed that I feared I hod hnt ill
rep«d them, and tliat he might have done better with-
on( me and my expectations. Keeping Miss Havisham
ill rhe background at a great distance, I still hinted at
■ I" possibility of my having competed with him in his
"I'jiects, and all the certainty of his possessing a
iiorons soul, and being far above any mean distrusts,
' i^ilifttions, or designs. For all these reasons {I told
'■''(■uimick), and because he was my young companion
liul friend, and I had a great affection for him,
■i'lted my own good fortune to reflect some rays upon
■irii, and therefore I sought advice from Wemmick's
ipcrienee and knowledge of men and affairs, how I
"il'l best try with my resources to help Herbert to
■iiifl present income — say of a hundred a ■;jeas., \»
■;) him in good hope and iieart — asi gtaAsv!&^ \»:
"~mto some amall jiartnerehip. l\>e%£efi''^«""^
70 OttSAT EXPECTATIONS.
miek, in conclusion, to understand that my help
always be rendered without Herbert's knowled)
snspiciou, and that there was no one else in the
with whom I could advise. I wound up by layini
hand upon his shoulder, and saying, "I can't help
fiding ia you, though I know it must be trouble
to you; hut that is your fault, in having ever bn
Wemmick was silent for a little while, and
said, with a kind of start, "Well you know, Mr,
I must tell you one thing. This is devilish got
you."
"Say you'll help me to he good then," said I
"Ecod," replied Wemmick, shaking his !
"that's not my trade."
j^"Nor is this your trading-place," said I.
"Yoa are right," he returned. "You hit th«
on the head. Mr. Pip, I'll put on my considering
and I think all you want to do, may he done b;
grees. Skiffina (that's her brother)
and agent. I'll look him up and go to work for
"I thank yon ten thousand times."
"On the contrary," said he, "I thank you
though we are strictly in our private and pet
capacity, still it may he mentioned that there are
gate cobwebs about, and it brushes them away."
After a little further conversation to the same
we returned into the Caatle, where we found
Skiffina preparing tea. The responsible duty of m»
the toast was delegated to the Aged, and that
old gentleman was bo intent upon it that
some danger of mcV^iag ^i\a ft-^a*. ,It_wi
meal that we ■wete gt'
71
B reality. The Aged prepared sucli a haystack
red toast, that I iiould scarcely see him over it
0 it simmered on an iron Htaad hooked on to the top-
Jar; while Mies SkJffiua brewed ttucU a jorum of tea
iliat the pi^ in the back premises became strongly ex-
)ited, and repeatedly expreaeed his desire to participate
in the entertainment.
The flag had been struck and the gun had been
fired, at the right moment of time, and I felt as snngly
ful off from the rest of Walworth as if the moat were
tliiity feet wide by as many deep. Nothing disturbed
Uie tranquillity of the Castle, but the occasional tum-
IjliDg open of John and Kiss SkifGns: which little
doors were a prey to some Bpasmodic infirmity tltat
made me sympathetically uncomfortable until I got
used to it. I inferred from the methodical nature of
%fe Skiffins's arrangements that she made tea there
every Sunday night; and I rather suspected that a
cUssic brooch she wore, representing the profile of an
oiiilBsirable female with a very straight nose and a
'try new moon, was a piece of portable property tbat
liiid been given her by Wemmiek.
We ate the whole of the toast and drank tea in
■l"irtion, and it was deUghtfal to see how warm and
' isy we all got after it. The Aged especially, might
liave passed for some clean old chief of a savage tribe,
just oiled. After a short pauae of repose. Miss Skiffiua
"— in the absence of the little servant who, it seemed,
f«ired to tlie bosom of her family on Sunday after-
noons — washed up the tea-things in a tr'\KvQ^ \a&^-
Uke aadttfin- maimer that compromiBed n.oue o^
gloves again, and we 4sti"w
tilt! tire, and Wemmick said, "Now Aged Fanl
ue t!iG paper."
Wemmick explained to mo while the A^d (
spectacles out, that tliis was according to custom
that it gave the old gentleman infinite satiafact
read the news aloud. "I won't offer an apolog}',
"Wemmick, "for he isn't capable of many pleaaa
are you, Aged P.?"
"All right, John, all right," returned the aii
seeing himself Epoken to.
"Only tip him a nod every now and then wl
looks off hia paper," said Wenunitk, "and hell
happy as a king. We arc all attention. Aged C
"All right, John, all right!" returned the cl
old man: so busy and so pleased, that it re^l
quite charming.
The Aged's reading reminded me of the clai
Mr. Wopsle'a great-aunt's, with the pleasanter p«
rity that it seemed to come through a keyhole,
wanted the candles close to him, and as he was »
on the verge of putting either hia head or the
paper into them, ho required as much watcHi^
powder-mill. But Wemmick was equally antinn
gentle in his vigilance, and the Aged read on
unconscious of lus many rescues. Whenever he
at us, we all expressed the greateat interest tuid
ment, and nodded until he resumed again.
As Wemmick and Mias Skiffins sat side by
and as I sat in a shadowy corner, I observed
and gradual elongation of Mr. Wemmick'a
powerfully auggeative of his slowly and grft
stealing Jiis arm round Misa SVi^ii^
" " le X saw his \iand a^^oa
TS
; but at that moment Miss t^kifiins neatly
L witli the green glove, unwauud hie arni
f it were an article of dress, and with the
leliberAtion laid it on the table before her.
I composure while she did this was one
tst remarkable sights I have ever seen, and if
e thought the act consistent with abstraction
il should have deemed that Misa Skiffins per-
; mechanically.
>d-by, I noticed Wemmick'a arm beginning to
; again, and gradually fading out of view.
iftenrards, his mouth began to widen iigain.
I interval of suspense on my part that was
bralling and almost painful, 1 saw his hand
ti the other side of Miss Skifflns. Instantly,
EBns stopped it with the neatness of a placid
A oS that girdle or cestus as bufore, and laid
f table. Taking the table to represent the path
I am justified in stating that during the
1 of the Aged's reading, 'Wpmmick's arm
l^ng from the path of virtue and being re-
lit by Miss Skiflins.
it, the Aged read himself into a light slambeT.
\ the time for Wemmick to produce a little
' truy of glasses, and a black bottle with a
topped cork, representing some clerical digni-
•Tubicuud and social aspect. With the aid of
ilianues we all had something warm to drink:
, the Aged, who was soon awake again. Miss
tixed, and I observed that she and Wemmick
Of course I kne-w \j^\fti '0(vko
[ gee Mise Skiffina home, and imifcT Oae ti:
^i^ioaght I bad beet go fitat-. wtinVS.
^^
^
K 74 mtsi^ ^BvpBO^A'mimf
tsking a cordial leave of the Ageil, and having j
a pleasant evening. ;|
Before a week was out, I reeeived a. notejl
Wemmick, dated Walworth, stating that he hopi
liad made soma advance in that matter appertain
our private and pergonal capacities, and that he i
he glad if I could come and see him again up
So, I went out to Walworth again, and yet again
yet again, and I saw him by appointment in th«
several times, but never held any communication
him on the subject in or near Little Britain. Til
shot was that we found a worthy young merchij
shipping-broker, not hing established in bnainessj
wanted intelligent help, and who wanted capital
who in due coiirse of time and receipt would M
partner. Between him and me, seeret articles!
signed of which Herbert was the subject, and I
him half of my five hundred pounds down, and enj
for sundry other payments: some, to fall due at Q
dates out of my income: some, contingent on inyoj
into my property. Misa SkifBns's brother conj
the negotiation; Wemmick pervaded it throughoiS
never appeared in it. \
The whole business was so cleverly manage^
Herbert had not the least suspicion of my handil
in it. I never shall forget the radiant face with ij
he came Lome one afternoon, and told me, as a a
piece of news, of his having fallen in with on«
riker (the young merchant's name), and of Clad
having shown an extraordinary inclination til
him, and of his belief that the opening had c
Jast. Day by day as h'la to^es gtft'w ftara^giE! |
face brighter, he must \ia,ve 'iiOM^"^''
i friend, for I had the greatuBt diffi-
in restraining my teara of triumpli when I saw
I happy. At length, the thing being done, and
liiiviDg that day entered Clairiker's Houtie, and he
iving Iftlked to me for a whole evening in a flush of
[ilcusiire and succees, I did really cry in good earnest
whan I went to bed, to think that my expectations had
done some good to somebody.
A great event in my life, the turning-point of my
, ii»w-4jpea8 on my view. Bat before I proceed to
. i.ite it, and before I pass on to all the changes it
lived, I must give one chapter to Estella. It ia not
iiiai:h to give to the theme tha,t so long tilled my heart.
CHAPTER IX,
If that staid old bouse near the Green at Richmond
should ever come to be haunted when 1 am dead, it
will be haunted, surely, by my ghost. 0 the many,
ni*ny nights and days through which the unquiet spirit
within me haunted that house when Eutella lived
there! Let my body be where it would, my spirit was
ulwiiya wandering, wandering, wandering, about that
iiouse.
The lady with whom EateLla was placed, Mrs.
Brmtdley by name, was a widow, with one daughter
leverol years older than Estella. The mother looked
^ouag, and the daughter looked old; the mother's com-
plexion was pink, and the daughter's was yellow; the
aother set up for frivolity, and the da.ng\AeT Iwc 'CaR»-
ogjr. Tl/er were in what ia called a goui ■joaiSJvwR,
S^wffdj and were visited by, i '
? tJXPECTATlONS.
Little if anj cDmmunitf of feeling stibsisteil bel
th«m and Eatella, but the understanding -was i
lished that they were necessary (o her, and ths
was neceseary to them. Mrs. Brandley had
a friend of Miss Havisham's before the time oi
Beclueioa.
In Mrs. Brandley's house and out of Mrs. Branc
bouse, I suffered every kind and degree of tortura
fistella could cause me. The nature of my rela
with her, which placed me on terms of familiarity
out placing me on terms of favour, conduced fa
distraction. She made use of me to tease orthe
mirers, and she turned the very familiarity bet
herself and me, to the account of putting a coi
slight on my devotion to her. If I had been her
tary, steward, half-brother, poor relation — if I
been a younger brother of her appointed husba
I could not have seemed to myself, further ba
hopes when I was nearest to her. The privili
calling her by her name and hearing her call I
mine, became under the circumstances an aggrav
of my trials; and while I think it likely that it (
maddened her other lovers, I know too certainli
it almost maddened me.
She had admirers without end. Ko doubt
jealousy made an admirer of every one who
her; but there were more than enough of them wi
that.
I saw her often at Bichmond, I beard of her
in town, and I used often to take her and the Bran
on the water; there were picnics, f^te days,
operas, concerts, parties, a.\\w)T\fi o^ ^«£ai«&, t!b
which I pursued ter — aui 'she^ "wft^* s^ ~-'--
mitAt'Vtfiao-Pkrtom, 77
me. I never had one hour's happmesB in her society,
and yet my mind all round the four-and-twenty hours
Toa harping on tho happiness of huving her with ine
unto death.
Throughout this part of our intercourse — anil it
insied, as will jireseDtly he seen, for what I then
thought a lonw time — she habitually reverted to that
tuns which expressed that our association was forced
apoa xxB. Thf-re were other times when she would come
lo it sudden check in this tone and in al) her many
tHDPs, and would seem to pity me.
"Pip, Pip," Bhe said one evening, coming to such
> check, when we sat apart at a darkening window
III' the house in Richmond; "will you never h^6
»wning?"
"Of what?"
"Of me."
"Warning not to he attracted hy you, do you moan,
flslellaP"
"Do I mean! If you don't know what I mean, you
ure blind."
I should have replied that Love was commonly re-
|ii[tpd blind, but for the reason that I always was re-
trained — and this was not the least of my miseries
— by a feeling that it was ungenerous to press myself
||]ii'n hor, when she knew that she could not choose
i: iibey Miss Havisham. My dread always was, that
knowledge on her part laid me under a heavy dia-
uitage with her pride, and made me the subject of
■iit-lliouB struggle in her bosom.
■At any rate," said I, "I have no wartvmg gvfca.
JMH BOW, toryon wrote to me to come to ^laa^^^
78 dltBAT BIMIOTA"nKWfl>
"That's true," said Estella, with a cold i
Bmile that always chilled me.
After looking at the twilight without, for a I
whUe, she went on to say;
"The time has come round when Miss Havia
wishes to have me for a day. at Satis. Yon^aie t
me there, sad bring me back, if you will. She
rather I did not travel alone, and objects to recei^
my maid, for she has a sensitive horror of being td
of by such people. Can you take me?"
"Can I take yon, Estellal"
"You can then? The day after to-morrow, if
please. You are to pay all charges ont of my p
Yon hear the condition of yonr going?"
"And must obey," said I.
This was all the preparation I received for
visit, or for others like it; Miss Havisham never n
to me, nor had I ever bo much as seen her handwril
We went down on the next day but one, and ^
her in the room where I had first beheld her, and
needless to add that there was no change i
House.
She was even more dreadfully fond of Estella '
she had been when I last saw them together;
the word advisedly, for there was something j
dreadful in the energy of her looks and embraoes.
hung upon Estella's beauty, hung- upon her '
hung upon her gestures, and sat mumbling her
trembling fingers while she looked at her, as thi
she were devouring the beautiful creature she
reared.
From JEstella she lootei sA "ma, "siSiCa a, uam
glance (hat seemed to -pry mto m^ \i«a.T\. imi-^
»
"How doc3 §]iB nso you, Pip; how does she
you?" she aaked ran again, with her witch-like
igerness, even in Eatella's hearing. But when we
it by her flickering fire at nigbt, she was most weird;
ir then, keeping EstcUa's Imnd drawn through her
III and clutclicd in her own hand, she extorted &om
I , l-y dint of referring back to what Estella had told
i-i in her regular letters, the nainea and eonditions of
16 men whom she had fascinated; and as Kins Ha-
iBhtan dwelt upon this roll, with the intensity of a
lind mortally hurt and diseased, she sat with her
thcr hand on her crutched stick, and her chin on
iFii, and her wan bright eyes glaring at me, a very
! saw In this, wretched though it made me, and
iiti.i- the sense of dependence and even of degi'adation
i.K it awakened, — I saw in this, thai Estella waaA
; To wreak Misa Havisham's revenge on men, and
..if she was not to be given to me until she had gra- |
I it for a term. 1 saw in this, a reason for her [
■ 1 beforehand assigned to me. Sending her out to
:^(i:t and torment and do mischief, l^Iisa Havisham I
em her with the malicious assurance that she was
tyoad the reach of all admirers, and that all who
liked upon that cast were secured to lose. I saw in
HI, that I, too, was tormented by a perveraion of in-
fmnity, even while the prize was reaerved for me. ij
iw in this, the reason for my being staved off so long,
id the reason for my late guardian's declining to com-
it himself to the formal knowledge of such a scheme.
I a word, I saw in this, Miaa Havialiam as WsA-Vet
en and tiinre before my eyes, and aWa^ft Va-i V?A
^^l^^^^mi^jud I saw in t\iis t\ie 4^>S^^
r
I
80 B^ah•p uvmoTAttonB.
shadow uf the darkened and nuhualtLy house i
her life was liidden ftom the sun.
The candles that lighted that room of hera 1
placed in sconces on the wall. They were high 1
the ground, and they humt with the steady d
artifiiiiivl light in air that is seldom renewed, i
looked round at them, and at the pale gloom i
made, and at the stopped clock, and at the widt
articles of bridal dreas upon the table and the gnu
and at her own awful figure with its ghostly reflM
thrown large by the fire u]>on the ceiling and the 1
I saw in everything the construction that n
come to, repeated and thrown back to me. My Uion
passed into the great room across the landing where
table was spread, and I saw it written, as it ti
the falls of the cobwebs from the centre-piece, ii
crawlings of the spiders on the cloth, in the trao
the mice as they betook their little quickened li
beliind the panels, and in the gropings and p&iu
of the beetles on the door.
It happened on the occasion of this visit thai I
sharp words arose between EstcUa and Miss V^
sham. It was the first time I had ever seen them
posed.
We were seated by the fire as just now descr
and Miss Havisham still had Estclla's arm d
through her own, and still clutched Estella's hai
hers, when Estella gradually began to detach he
She had' shown a proud impatience more than one
fore, and had rather endured that fierce affection
_ accepted or returned it
"Whutl" said Mibb "&.B.Vva\va,isi, Susa\iia5 her^
"are you tirei
I ^ ^^
"Only a little tired of my§e-lf," replied EstolU,/
lisengaging her onn, and mo\-ing to the great chimnej-J
piece, where she stood looking down &t the iire. \
"Speak the truth, you ingrate!" cried Misa Ha-
Tiaham, passionately striking her stick upon the floor;
"yoa are tired of me."
Estella looked at her with perfect compoaure, and
again looked down ;it the fire. Her graceful figure
and her beautiful face expressed a seli'-poBBessed in-
^flerence to the wild heat of tbe other, that wa9 almost
anel
"Ton stock and stoncl" exclaimed Miss Harisham.
"Tou cold, cold heartl"
"What?" said Estclla, preserving her attitude of
indifference as she leaned against the great chinmey-
piin,.f. ,ind. only moving her eyes; "do you reproach me
■ In'ing cold? You?"
"Are you not?" was the fierce retort.
"You should know," said Estella. "I am what you /
'i>^i:' made me. Take all the praise, take all the hUme; /
i'il« all the success, take all the failnre; in short, I
i'Il- me." \
"0, look at her, look at herl" cried Miss Havis-
iiarr^, bitterly. "Look at her, so hard and thankless,
'ii the hearth where she waa reared! Where I took her
liil" this wretched breast when it was first bleeding
from its stabs, and where I hove lavished years of
leadernees upon her!"
"Atleaat_I was no partytp the jiorapact /' said/
EstelET^or if I could walk and speak, when it wna
made, it was as much as I could do. But ■wtB.t ■wwsii,
yon have? Yoa Lave been very gotii to me, an.i\ o^e.
fvervtliing- to you. Wbatj ironld- tq^. Ua.Tft^"
^TSS GRI
^1 "Love," replied the other.
^H '"You have it."
^B "I have not," aaid Miss Havisham.
^m "Mother hj adoptioo," retorted Eatella,
^" parting trtim the eaay grace of her attitude, dm
raising her voice as the other did, never yielding eitl
to anger or tendemeaa, "Mother by adoptio:
said that I owe everything to yon. All I poBseBS
I freely yours, AH that you have given me, is at yt
command to have again. Beyond that, I have notWi
1 And if you ask me to give you what you n
Ime, my gratitude and duty cannot do imposHibilitit
^^ "Did I never give her iove!" cried Miss Havisha
turning wildly to me. "Did I never give her a ImJ
ing love, inseparable from jealousy at all times, A
from Bharp pain, while she speaks thus to me! Let 1
II me mad, let her call me mad!"
"Why should I call you mad," returned Este
!, of all people? Does any one live, who knows f
set purposes you have, half as well as I do? Does f
one live, who knows what a steady memory you ha
half as well as I do? I, who hsi
hearth on the little stool that is ei
there, learning your lessons and looking up into y(
face, when your face was strange and frightened I
"Soon forgottenl" moaned Miss Havisham. "T
Booo forgottenl"
"No, not forgotten," retorted Estella. "Not i
P gotten, but treasured up in my memoiy.
you found me false to your teaching? When havQ ;
Woad me unmindful of yoni Ve^oW; When have ■
I giving adnuB^oii. ^eta " ^a \cra^tu^
OHEAT EXPECTATIOSa, 83
-'in with Li?r baud, "to anytliing that you excluded?
So proud, BO proud!" moaned Miss HaviBham,
:-ljiug away her grey hair with both her liands, '
"Who taught mo t(j^ be^proud?" returned Eatella.
■ H Go"^fajsed me when I leamt my lesson?"
"80 bard, so hard!" moaned Miss Havisham, with
!icr former action,
"Who tau^t _me to bo Lard?" returned Estella.
■Uin praised me when 1 learnt my lesson?"
But to be proud aud hard to me.'" Mjbs Ha-
ilitim quite shrieked, as she stretched out her arms,
'Eatella, Estella, Estella, to be proud and hard to
Estella looked at her for a moment with a kind
III' calm wonder, but was not otherwise disturbed;
"lii'H the moment was past she looked down at the
"I cannot think," said Eatella, raising her eyes
■r a sileniie, "why you should be so unreasonable
■ 11 I come to see you after a separation. I have
■ 1 1'v forgotten your wrongs and their causes. I hare
iifver been unfaithful to you or your schooling. I
have never shown any weakness that I tan charge my-
self with."
"Wonld it be weakness to return my love?" es-
claimed Miss Havisham. "But yea, yes, she would
call it bo!"
"I begin to think," said Estella, in a musing -way,
after another moment of calm wonder, "that I almost
iinderatand how this comes about. Xf you \ibA \i\o\v^X
r adapted daughter irholly in. the 4a,tV nwcSsoa-
e rooms, and bad never lei lira "^tatr ''"'
6*
84 GBBAT ESPBCTATIONB.
there v/a.s such a thing as the daylight by whld
has never once seen yonr face — if you had dona
and then, for a purpoae had wanted her to nndwi
the daylight and know all about it, you would
been disappointed and angry?"
Mias Haviaham, with her head in her
making a low moaning, and swaying herself
chair, but gave no answer.
"Or," said Estella, "— ^ which in a nearec cas
if you had taught her, from the dawn of her iatelligi
with your utmost energy and might, thai there
such a thing as daylight, but that it was made I
her enemy and destroyer, and she must alwayi
against it, for it had blighted you and would
blight her; — if you had done this, and then, I
purpoae, had wanted her to take naturally to the
light and she could not do it, you would have
disappointed and angry?"
Miss Havisham sat listening (or it seemed so
could not see her faee), but still made
"So," said Estella, "I must be taken as I
xa made. The success is not mine, the faihira
ine, but the two together make me."
Uias Havisham had settled down, I hardly
how, upon the floor, among the faded bridal relics
which it was strewn. I took advantage of the mii
— I had sought one froni the first — to leave the
after beseeching Estella's attention to her, with a, ;
ment of my hand. When I left, Estella was
rtanding by the great chimney-piece, just as ihf
•tood throughout. Miss Ilavisham's grey hair v:
Mdri^ upon the ground, simou^ t\«. o'Cmei 'cMa.l -wi
*nrf was a miserable siglA to eee.
OUUT BXmCTATtOIM: 6fi
BiTM with a depressed heart that I walked m the
^t for an hoiiT and more, about the coiirt-yard,
uTiJ about the brewery, and about the rumed garden.
^MiiR I at last took couriig'e to return to the room, I
I'miud Ketella Bitting at KiRH UaTisham's knee, taking
lip some 3tit«hes in one of those old articles of dress
iljHt were dropping to pieces, und of which I hare oftaa
'i^en remin<Ied since bj the faded tatters of old bannera
''i"t I have seen hanging np in cathedrslB. After-
liils, Estella and I played cards, as of yoro — only
■ liere skilful now, and played French games — and
ilie evening wore away, and I went to bed.
i lay in that separate building aeruss the court-
'1. It was the first time I had ever lain down to
' in Satis Eouse, and sleep refused to come near
A thousand Miss Havishams haunted me. Bhe
- iin this side of my pillow, on tliat, at the head of
' lied, at the foot, behind tho half-opened door of the
' ^^i^g-^oom, in the dressing-room, in the room over-
l;<'iJ, in tho room beneath — everywhere. At last,
itlien the night was slow to creep on towards two
"'flock, I felt that I absolutely could no longer bear
'■ place as a place to lie down in, and that I must
! up, 1 therefore got up and put on ray clothes, and
ii^ ijut across the yard into the long stone passage,
■ ■■-jgning to gain the outer court-yard and walk there
lii[ the relief of my mind. But I was no sooner in the
fiassage than I extinguished my candle; for, I saw Uiss
Uaridiain going along it in a ghostly manner, making
a low cry. I followed her at a distance, and
go np the staircase. She carried a bare eawAW m ^i«t
hmd, which sJie had probably taken from dtvc o^ 'i^ive.
i^A Aar o-R-a room, and was a moaX tt'nw
I
Ject hy its light. Standing at the bottom of thi
rtaircase, I felt the mildewed air of the feast-chambai
without eeeing her open the door, and I heard h<
iralking there, and so across into her own room, an
BO acrosa again into that', never ceasing the low etj
After a time, I tried in the dark both to get oat, an
to go back, hut I could do neither until some streak
of day strayed in and showed me where to lay n
hands. During the whole interval, whenever I we
to the bottom of the staircase, I heard her footStB
B&w her light pass above, and heard her ceaselet
low cry.
Before we left next day, there was no revival o
difference between her and Estella, nor wm it evt
revived on any similar occasion; and there were
similar occasions, to the best of my remembrance. .
did Miss Havisham's manner towards Estella in
wise change, except that I believed it to have s
thing like fear infosed among its former characterUtif
It is impossible to tnra this leaf of my life, witlw
patting Bentley Drummle'a name upon it; or 1 wonl
very gladly.
On a certain occasion when the Finches were *
Bombled in force, and when good feeling was I
promoted in the usual manner by nobody's
Trith anybody else, the presiding Finch called 1
Grove to order, forasmuch as Mr. Drummle had n
yet toasted a lady; which, according to the solenmco
Htitution of the society, it was the brute's turn to '
that day. I thought I saw him leer in an ugly W
while the decanters were gova^ to'a.'iii, but
;ke^^*
'aa my indignant surprise whon he called
rcomponj to pledge bim to "Estella!" ^h
dla -nrho?" aaid I. ^M
«r yon mind," retorted DmmnilG, ^^^
of where?" eaid I. "You are bound. ^B
tore." "Wliich he was, as a Fineh.
EUchmond, gentlemen," sitid Drummlc, putting
£ the question, "and a peerless beauty."
he ^ew about peerless beauties, a mean
idiot! I wliispered Herbert.
ow that lady," said Herbert, across the table,
toast had been honoured.
fon?" said Dmnimle.
BO do I," I added, with a scarlet face,
yon?" said Drummle. "O'l, Lord!"
Lsras the only retort — except glass or crocker^
' 3 heavy creature was capable of making; but
aa highly incensed by it as if it had been
ith wit, and I immediately rose in my place
that I could not but regard it as being like
Qrable Pinch's impudence to come down to
— we always talked about coming down
I, as a neat Parliamentary turn of expres-
Kwn to that Grove, proposing a lady of whom
nothing. Mr. Drummle upon this, starting
nded what I meant by that? Whereupon, I
the eitremo reply that I believed he knew
IS to be found.
her it was possible in a Christian country to
ithout blood, after this, was a question on
i Finches were divided. The dftbaXe. u-^d^ '■*.
velx indeed, that at least si-x rnQtcVouoOT^^*
lid BJx more, during the diecumcs
believed they knew where they were to be fouad.
ever, it was decided at last (the Grave being' i
of Honour) that if Mr. Dnimmlo would bring m
slight a certificate frum the lady, importing thi
had the hoaonr of her acquftintance, Mr. Pip
press hia reg;ret, aa a, ^eutleman and a Finch
"having been betrayed into a warmth which."
day was appointed for the production (lest our hi
should take cold Ji-om delay), and next day Cms
appeared with a. polite little avowal in Estelhi'i
that she had had the honour of dancing vitll
several times. This left me no course bat to r
that I had been ''betrayed into a warmth which,
on the whole to repudiate, as untenable, the idea
I was to be found anywhere. Drummle and I the
snorting at one another for an hour, while the C
engaged in indiscriminate contradiction, and finally
pramotion of good feeling was declared to h&re
ahead at an amazing rate.
I tell this lightly, but it was no light thing to
For, I cannot adequately express what pain it gav
to think that Estella should show any favour to a
temptible, clumHy, sulky booby, so very far beh
average. To the present moment, I believe it to
been referable to some pure fire of generosity xoA
intersBtedness in my love for her, that I eonid
dure the thought of her stooping to that hound.
doubt I should have been miserable whomsoever
had favoured; but a worthier object woidd have o
me a different kind and degree of distress.
It was P,aay for me to find out, and I did aooi
oat, that Uniminle had begaa W 'sifift-^ Vkt eh
I allowed him to '
W Mas always in purauit irf' her, auil hp and I crossed
mm iinotlier every day. He lidd on, in a duJl persistent
"ny, and Estella held him on; nnw with eneourage-
ment, now with disconragement, now alraost flattering
liim. now openly despising him, now knowing him very
"'i?I], now scarcely remembering who he was.
The Spider, as Mr. Jaggers had culled hlni, ■wnn
ii^td to lying in wait, however, and Lad the patience
tf liifi tribe. Added to that, he had a bleekhead con-
Mence in his money and in his family greatness, which
wmetimea did him good service — almost taking the
[ilace of eoncontration and determined purpose. So,
the Spider, doggedly watching Estella, outwatched
Msiiy brigjiter insects, and would often uncoil himself
und drop at the right nick of time.
At a certain Asaemhly Ball at Richmond (there
used to be Assembly Balls at most places then), where
Kstella had outshone all other beauties, this blundering
liruinnile so bung about her, and with so much tolera-
liim on her part, that.I resolved to apeak to her con-
I'cming iiim, I took the next opportimityr which was
"lien she was waiting for Mrs. Brandley to take her
liome, and was sitting apart among some flowers, ready
to go. I was with her, for I almost always accompanied
diem to and from such places,
e you tired, Estella?"
lather, Pip."
■ou should be."
My rather, I should not be; for I have my letter
pSonse to write, before I go to alefc^,"
mtiag- to-nigbt'a triumpb?" sa\4\. '■'"'ft^vt^i
■ 90 OREAT EXPECTATIONS.
"Wli.it do you mean? I didn't know there '
been any."
"Estella," said I, "do look at that fellow in
comer yonder, who is looking over liere at ns."
I "Why Bhould I look at him?" returned Esb
with ber eyes on me instead. "What is
fellow in the comer yonder — to use your words
that I need look at?"
"Indeed, that is the very question I want to
you," said I. "For he has been hovering about
' all night."
"Moths, and all sorts of ugly creatures,"
Estella, with a glance towards him, "hover aboi
lighted candle. Can the candle help it?"
"No," I returned; "but cannot the Estella help
"Weill" said she, laughing, after a moment, ''
haps. Yes. AnyUiing you like.
"But, Estella, do hear me speak. It makes
wretched that you should encourage a man s
despised as Drummle. Tou know he is despised."'
"Well?" said she.
"You know he is as ungainly within, as witl
A deficient, ill-tempered, lowering, stupid fellow."
"Well?" said she,
"Ton know be has nothing to recommend him
money, and a ridiculous roll of addle-headed prede
Bors; now, don't you?"
"Well?" said she again; and each time a
she opened her lovely eyes the wider.
To overcome the difficulty of getting past that
nosyllable, I took it from her, and said, repeatii
^itb emphasis, "WeQ'. Ikeii, I.Vb.'i. \ft -^Vg is, w
HpNo
onfiJiT BXPUCVAtrnm: 9t
'Now, if I could have believed that she favoured
with any idea of making me — me —
I'l'tched, I should have boen in better heart aboat it;
if in that habitual way of hers, she put me so en-
ifcly out of the question, that I could believe nothing
"■■ kind.
'Pip," said Estella, casting her glance over the
foolish about its effect on you. It
its effect on others, and may be meant to
liace. It's not worth discussing."
"Yes it is," said I, "because I cannot bear that
should say, 'she throws away her graces and
on a mere boor, the lowest in the crowd.'"
hear it," said Estella.
'Obi don't be so proud Estella, and so inflexible."
"Calls mo proud and inflexible in this hreathl"
lid Estella, opening ber hands. "And in his last breath
rqiroaehed me for stooping to a hoorl"
"There is no doubt you do," Baid I, something
iiiiriedly, "for I have seen you give him looks and
'iniles this very night, such as you never give to —
"Do you want me then," said Estella, turning sud-
il'iily with a fixed and serious, if not angry, look, "to
Jweive and entpap you?"
"Do you deceive and entrap him, Estella?"
I "Tes, and many others — all of them but you.
I Here is Mrs. Brandley. I'll say no more."
And now that I have given the one chapter to the
"iir.me that so filled ray heart, and so often maAe \\
-■ and ache ttgaja, 1 pass on, unhmdeirei, ^.o 'Ow
ided over me longer yet-,
F
■ tha
OHBAT gTWWM'HWWft
that had begun to lie prepared for, before I knew Qii
the world held Eatella, and in the days when her tub
intelligence was reciBiTing' ita fii'9t dlsturtiona &om 10
Huvisham'a wnsting hands.
In the Easteni Ktory, the heavy filab that waa
fall on the bed of state in the flush of conquest H
elowly wrought out of the quarry, the tunnel fw ti
rope to hold it in its place was slowly carried throt
the leagues of rock, the slab waa slowly raised i
fitted in the roof, the rope waa rove to it and sloi .
taken through the miles of hollow to the great 'iri
ring. All heiug made ready with much lahour, a
the hour come, the aultan wae aroused in the dead
the night, and the sharpened axe that waa to sever ^
rope from the great ii-on ring was put into his ha:
and he struck with it, and the rope parted and ragi
sway, and the ceiling fell. So, in my ease; all '
work, near and afar, that tended to the end, had bi
sompliahed; and in an inatant tlie blow was stmt
ftud the roof of my Btrongliold dropped upon me.
CHAPTEE X.
I WAS three-and-twenty years of age. Not anoti
word had I heard to enlighten mo on the subject of n
apectationa, and my twenty-third birthday waa a wM
Ugone. We had left Bamard'a Inn more than a
ed in the Temple. Our chambers were in
teiieourt, down by the river.
Mr. Pocket and I had for some time parted
MBf as to our original rc\at\oiM, feow^-^a vMti
' best terms, ■Notwitb.ftVaQ.Kmg -otj vn)^'^^
to anything — which I hope arose out of the
and incomplete tenure on which I held mj
VHiM — I hud a taste for reading, and read regulariy
U many hours a day. That matter of Hcrhort'B was
Btill progressing, nnd ererything with me waa as I have
Wu^ht it down to the close of the last chapter.
Business had taken Herbert on a journey to Mar*
•aiUes, I was alone, and had a dull sense of being
lione. Dispirited and anxious, long hoping that to-
aorrow or next week would clear my way. and long
diuppointed, I sadly miused the cheerful face and
[fady response of my triend.
It was wretched weather; stormy and wet, stormy
ii'l wet; and mud, mud, mud, deep in all the streets.
Hiiy after day, u vast heavy veil had been driving
' ii-r London Irom the East, iind it drove still, as if in
ii' East there were an Ktemity of cloud Mid wind.
""I fiirious had been the gusts, that high buildings in
fijwii had bad the lead stripped off their roofs; and in
the country, trees had been torn up, and sails of wind-
nulls cnrried away; and gloomy accounts had come in
from the coast, of shipwreck and death. Violent blasts
il' r.dn had accompanied these rages of wind, and the
' i\~ just closed as I sat down to read had been tha
■■-mt of all.
Alterations have been made in that part of the
^mple since that time, and it has not now no lonoly
t^Kracter as it had then, nor is it so exposed to the
river. We lived at the top of the last hoose, and the
nind rushing up the river shook the house that night,
1,1' discharges of cannon, or breaking ai a aes., "^V«o
III' rain eanie with it and dashed against t\ie ■wVfiiwwS'
/ tig^t, igmas my eyes to thorn ks t\t.ey
that I migiit have fancied mysell in a storm-bi
lighthouse. Occasionally, the smoke came rolling <
the chimney aa though it could not bear to go out
such a night; and when I set the doors open and lo
down the staircase, the staircase lamps were blown
and when I shaded my face with my hands and lo
through the black windows (opening thejn ever so 1
was out of the question in the teeth of such wind
rain) I saw that the lamps in the court were blown
and that the lamps on the bridges and the sbore
shuddering, and that the coal fires in barges oi
river were being carried away before the wind like
hot splashes in the rain.
I read with my watch upon the table, pnrpOEdi
close my hook at eleven o'clock. As I shut it, J
Paul's, and all the many church-clocks in the Cit
some leading, some accompanying, some followin
struck that hourl The sound was curionsly flawe
the wind; and I was listening, and thinking how
wind assailed it and tore it, when I heard a fo
on the stair.
What nervous folly made me start, and ai
connect it with the footstep of my dead sister, m
not. It was past in a moment, and I listened a
and heard the footstep stumble in coming
bering then that the staircase-lights were blown oi
took up my reading-lamp and went out to the
head. Whoever was below had stopped on
lamp, for all was quiet.
"There is some one down there, is there not
called out, looking down,
"Tea," said a voice Sium. \\ve iMVnesa ^Moeatib
t floor do you -wi
"The top. Mr. Pip."
"That IB my name. — There is nothing the matter?"
"Nothing the matter," returned the voice. And
le man came on.
I stood with my lamp held out over the stairrail,
ad he slowly came within its lig-fat. It was a shaded
timp, to shine upon a book, and its circle of light was
"eiy contracted; so that he was in it for a mero in-
it&Bt, and then out of it. In the instant, I had seen
k face that was strange to me, looking up witli an in-
eomprebengilile aii of being touched and pleased by
the sight of me.
Moving the lamp as the man moved, I made out
that he was substantially dressed, but roughly: like a
Yiiyager by sea. That he had long iron grey hair.
Tliat his age was about sixty. That he was a mus-
ciiliir man, strong on his legs, and that he was browned
Had hardened by exposure to weather. As he ascended
It stair or two, and the light of my lamp included
* , I saw, with a stupid kind of amazement, that
holding out both his hands to me.
'ay what is your business?" I asked him.
y business?" he repeated, pausing. "Ah! Yes.
explain my business, by your leave."
you wish to come in?"
," he replied; "I wish to come in, Master,"
I bad asked him the question inhospitably enough,
for I resented the sort of bright and gratified recogni-
tion that still shone in his face. I resented it, because
it seemed to imply that he expected mo to respond to
it But I took him into the room I bad just Uit, swvi,
having' *fi* ^''^ iajn^j on tha table, asked \\im aa ciV-Ni-T j
w^^Qoid, to espJma itimself. ^^■■1
^^■'96 OBSA.T BXP»OTATIOinU
^H He Inokei-l about him with the strangQet air
^^K air of wondering pleasure, an if he had some
^^H'tiiB things be admired ~ — and he pulled off i
^^V outer coat, and liis hat. Then I mw that his h
^^B WBB furrowed and hald, and that the long iron f
^^H hair grew only on its sides. But I saw nothmg
^^H in the least explained him. On tho contraiy, I
^^B him next moment, once more holding out both his hi
^V to me.
^V "What do you mean?" said I, half suspecting 1
^H to be mad.
^r He stopped in his looking at me, and slowly mbl
his right hand over his head. "It's disapinting t
man," he said, in a coarse broken voice, "arter ha*
looked for'ard so distant and come so fur; but yo\
not to blame for that — neither on as is to blame
that, ril speak in half a minute. Give me hal
minute, please."
He sat down in a chair that stood before the J
I and covered his forehead with his large brown t
hands. I looked at him attentively then, and r
a little from him; but I did not know him,
"There's no one nigh," said he, looking over
shoulder; "is there?"
"Why do you, a stranger coming into my rooma
this time of the night, ask that question?" said I.
"You're a game one," he returned, shaking hie h«
at me with a deliberate affection, at once most nn'
ligible and most exasperating; "I'm glad yon'va gi
up, a game onel But don't catch hold of me. 1
bo sorry afterwards to have done it."
I relinquished the intention Vft \vwS. ie*jwited,
kaew Mm! Even yet, 1 coisii ■swiVxeaA^"
97
torp, but I tnew him! If the "wind and the rain hud
driven away the intervening years, had scattered all
the intervening objects, had swept na to the chnrdi-
yard where we first stood face to face nn such different
levels, I could not have known my convict more dis-
tinctly than I knew him now, as he sut in the choir
brfore the fire. No need tn take a file from his pocket
Bod show it to mo; uo nocd to take the handkerchief
from his neck and twist it round bin head; no need to
lio^ himself with both his arms, and take a shivering;
torn across the room, looking back at me for recogni-
tion. I knew him before hi) gave me one of those aids,
lliongh, a moment before, I had not been conscious of
remotely suspecting his identity.
He came back to where I stood, and again held out
both his hands. Not knowing what to do — for, in
my astonishment I had lost my self-posaession — I re-
liictBntly gave him my hands. He grasped them heart-
ily, raised them to hia lips, kissed them, and still held
them.
"Yon acted noble, my hoy," said ho. "Noble,
Pip! And I have never forgot it!"
At a change in his matuier aa if he were even going
to embrace me, I laid a hand upon his breast and put
him away.
"Stay!" said I. "Keep offi If you are grateful
to me for what I did when I was a little child, I hope
JOM have shown your gratitude by mending your way
of life. If you have come here to thank me, it waa
not necessary. Still, however you have found me out,
there must be something good in the f ctlia^ V\va.\. Vb,*
brougbt jou Aero, and I will not YC^xAaa -^&w.,'Vi'^'^
'I mast understand that — \ ■"
tWr r^ti .
I
) eitEAV mt.'FBfyr&vmmt.
My attention was so attracted by tlie singularity
hiB fixed look at me, tliat the words died away on 1
tongue.
"You was a saying," lie observed, when
confronted one another in silence, "that surely I n
nnderatand. Wtat, surely must I understand?"
"That I cannot wish to renew that chance i
course with you of long ago, under tlieae dift'erent ■
cumatancea. I am glad to believe you have repen
and recovered yourself. I am glad to tell you bo.
am glad that, thinking I deserve to ho thanked,
have come to thank me. But our ways are diffe
ways, none the leas. You are wet, and you look wH
WUl you drink something before you go?"
"tad replaced his neckerchief loosely, and 1
stood, keenly observant of me, biting a long end
"I think," he answered, still with the end at his i
and atill observant of me, "that I will di'ink (I thl
»you) afore I go."
There was a tray ready on a aide-table. I brom
it to the table near the lire, and asked him what'
woidd have? He touched one of the bottles witfa
I looking at it or speaking, and I made him aome '
rum-and-water. I tried to keep my hand steady t
I did 30, hut his look at me .is he. leaned back in
_, chair with the long draggled end of his neckerchief
^U tween his teeth — evidently forgotten — m
^1 hand very difficult to master. When at last I put I
^B glass to bim, I saw with new amazement that his «
^B were full of tears.
^^ Up to this time I had remained standing, not
^H disguise thai I wislied liim gwae. ^mV \ ■w«a Wi&
^fer the Boftened aspect ot ^\ie moQ, waft. 'i'^a. *J|
I SUSAT &TPBCITATIONS. 99
ii(iroacIi. "I hope." said I, humodly putting somc-
'liing inlo n glass for myself, and drawing a chair to
'a' whip, "tliat you will not think I spoke harshly to
■ju just now. I had no intention of doing' it, and I
I am SDiry for it if I did. I wish you well, and
liappy!"
As I put my glass to my lips, he glanced with hut-
prise lit the end of hia neckerchief, dropping from his
mouth wfacu he opened it, anil Btretuhed out his hand.
I gave him mine, and then he drank, and drew his
sleeve acriiss his eyes and forehead.
"How are you living?" I asked him.
"I've Iieen a sheep-farmer, Ktock-hroeder, other
trades besides, away in the new world," said he;
"many a. thousand miles of stormy water off from
this."
"I hope you have done well?"
"fve done wonderful well. There's others went
oat alongex me as has done well too, hut no man has
done nigh as well as rae. I'm famous for it."
"I am glad to hear it."
"I liope to hoar you say so, my dear boy,"
"Without stopping to try to understand those words
or the tone in which they wei-e spoken, I turned off to
■ point that had just come into my mind.
"Have you ever seen a messenger yon once sent
to me," I inqoired, "since he undertook that trust?"
"Never set eyes upon Lim. I wam't likely
w it."
''He came faithfully, and ho brought me the two
I. -pound notes. I was a poor boy tlien, as -jonVwiw,
J fo a poor boy they were a little, iortw.\w. "^nA-
^^00, I have done well since, and jou iw * '
r^pay them back. You can put them to some other po>
boy's use." I took out my purse.
He watched me as I laid my purse upon the tab
and opened it, and ho watched me as I separated t
e-pound notes from its contents. They were clef
L^d new, and I spread them out and handed them oti
) him. Still watching me, he laid them one upon i
'other, folded them long-wise, gave them a twist,
3 to them at the lamp, and dropped the ashes i
^ the tray. ^^
"May I make so hold," he said then, with a ami
^:&at was like a frown, and with a frown that '
a smile, "as ask yon how yon have done 'well,
I yon and me was oat on them lone shiverinl;
rshea?"
"How?"
"Ah!"
He emptied his glass, got up, and stood at the sid
of the fire, with his heavy brown hand on the mante
shelf. He put a foot up to the bars, to dry and war
it, and the wet boot began to steam ; but he neitl
looked at it, nor at the fire, but steadily looked at n
It was only now that I began to tremble.
When my lips had parted and had shaped sod
words that were without sound, I forced myself to t '
him (though I could not do it distinctly), that I hi
been chosen to succeed to some property.
"Might a mere wannint ask what propflrtyt
I faltered, "I don't know."
"Might a mere wannint ask whose property?
said be.
m I faltered again, "1 don't V-aOTit' .
101
''Could I moke a guess, I wonder,'' said Llic Con-
vicf, "at your income sinco you come of agel As to
the first figure now. Five?"
With my faeart beating liie a heavy hammer of
foordered action, I rose out of my chair, and stood
with iny hand upon the back of it, looking wildly at
tiin.
"Concerning a guardian," he went on. "There
ought to have been some gnardian, or such-like, while
you was a minor. Some lawyer, maybe. As to the
Gnt letter of that lawyer's name now. Would it
leJ?"
All the truth of my position came flashiag on me;
and its disappointments, dangers, disgraces, conse-
■juences of all kinds, rushed iu in such a multitude
that I ^was borne down by them and had to struggle
for every breath I drew.
"Put it," he resumed, "as the employer of that
lawyer whose name begun with a J, and might be
Jaggers -^ put it as he had come over sea to Ports-
montb, and had lauded there, and had wanted to come
DD lo you. 'However, you have found me out,' you
says just now. Well! However did I find you out?
Why, I wrote from Portsmouth to ti person in London,
for particulars of your address. That person's name?
Why, Wemmiek."
I could not have spoken one word, though it had
reen to save my life. I stood, with a hand on the
ihair-back and a hand on my breast, where I seemed
a be suffocating - — I stood so, looking wildly at him,
mtil I grasped at the chair, when the toom Vit^on \a
» nod tarn. He caught me, drew m.« to 'iJafe aola.,
pi^ cushions, and bent, on. ona"
before mei bringing tbe face tbat I now well
membered, and that I shuddered at, vexy neai
^.juine.
j "Yes, Pip, dear boy, I've made a gentleman
/ you! It's me wot baa done it! I swore tbat time, i
as over I earned a guinea, tbat guinea sbuuld go
you. I swore arterwarda, sure as ever I spec'lated a
1 got rich, you should get rich. I lived rough, that J
should live smooth; I worked bard, tbat you should
above work. What odds, dear boy? Do I tell it,
you to feei a obligation? Not a bit. 1 tell it, fur j
Ji to know as that there hunted dunghill dog wot y
^L kep life in, got bis bead so high tbat be could makf
■ gentleman — and, Pip, youVe him!"
f~ The abhoiTence in which I held tbe man, the d
I had of him, the repugnance with which I shrS
from him, could not have been exceeded i' '--
been some terrible beast.
"Look'ee bore, Pip. Pm yQur.secqndJatiier^ Ton
my Bon — more to me nor any sou. Pva put i
money , only for jrm to spend. When I was a h
out shepherd in a solitary but, not seeing no faces 1
faces of sheep till I half forgot wot men's and n
faces wos like, I see youm. I drops my knife ma
a time in that hut v?hcn I was a eating my dinner
my supper, and I says, 'Here's the hoy again, a lo<
ing at me whiles I eats and drinkal' I see you the
a many times, as plain as ever I see you on tJ
misty marshes. 'Lord strike me deadi' I says e
time — and I goes out in the air to say it under ;
open heavens- — 'but wot, if I gets liberty and moi
I'Jl make that boy a gentVemanV iiiii\ iavift it. Wj
^Jook at you, dear boyl l.oo^ a-^ tVaaaVettt V ■
t for a lord! A lord? Ah! You slisll show
i lords for wagers, «ad beat cm!"
s heat nnd triumph, niid in liis kuuvrluilgo that
1 been nearly fitiutiii^, he did not rcnrnrk
iwption of all this. It wns tho ouo grmn of relief
"Look'M herel" he went on, tiiking ray watch out
\ a! my pouket, and turning' towards him n ring on mj
linjer, while I reeoiled from his touch as if he lini
" i-ii a snake, "a gold 'un and a heauty; t/int'g a gen-
I'man's, T hope! A diamond, ail sot round with rubion:
'■'('.« a gentleman's, I hope! Look at your linun; fiuo
•diA beautiful! Look at your clotlies; better ain't to be
.ii! And your books too," turning his oyos round, the
__n>om, "mounting up, on their shelves, by hundreds!
t yoB read 'em; don't you? 1 boo you'd boon
" ■ 1 when I come in. Ha, lia, hal You dhall
I 'em to me, deiur boy! And if they're in foreign
i wot I don't unilerstaud, 1 ahull bo jiist as
s if r did."
I-Again he look both my hands and put (hem to hlit
, while my blood ran cold within me.
"Don't you mind talking, Pip," said he, after again
drawing his sleeve over his eyes and forcheail, as tlio
in his throat which I well remeniliorcd —
nil J he was all the more horrible to me that ho wa* su
"K'h in earnest; "you can't do better nor keep quiet,
iivir boy. You ain't looked slowly forward to this (w
i have; you wosn't prepared for this, as I won.
didn't you never think it might be mei"'
"O no, no, no, " I returned. "Never, neietV
i,U KOI IDA, and Hin^'!^
^^^Neiver a soul in it but my own self and Mr. Ji
^B gers."
^H "Was there no one else?" I asked.
^H "No," said he, with a glance of Burpriee; "»
^H eke ehouid there he? And, dear boy, bow g^od-Ioi
^M ing you have growed! There's bright eyes somevhoi
^H — eh? Isn't there bright eyes somewheres, wot j
^H love the thoughbi on?"
■ 0 Estella, Estella!
^M "They shall be yonm, dear buy, if money can b
^H 'em. Not that a gentleman like you, so well set up
^H you, can't win 'em off of bis own game; but
^H fihail back you! Let me finish wot I was a telling yo
^H dear boy. From that there liut and that there biril
^H out, I got money left me by my master (which di
^H and bad been the same as me}, and got my lifaq
^M and went for myself. In every single thing I i
^H for, I went for you. 'Lord strike a blight upon it^
^B Hays, wotever it was I went for, 'if it ain't for bis
It all prospered wonderful. Aa I giv' you to and
stand just now, I'm famous for it. It was the man
left me, and the gains of the first few year wot I et
^1 home to Mr. Jaggers — all for you — when he £
^B come arter you, agreeable to my letter."
^H 0, that he had never come! That he had left
^^L at the forge — far from contented, yet, by compari«
^■happy!
^H| "And then, dear boy, it was a recompense to 1)
^Kr look'ee here, to know in secret that I was makinj
I gentleman. The blood horses of them colonists m^
. fiing up the dust over mo as I was walking; what j
/ eajr? I aays to myself, Tm maltvQ^ aSieJAsK ^-entlen
^ nor ever you'll beT ■When oi^e o^'eoi ML-^ft\n a»sS
GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 105
was tt coDvict, a few year ng'o, and is a ignorant
ion follow aow, for all ho's iuuky,' wLat do I say?
«ya to myself, 'If I aiu't a gentleman, nor yet ain't
■ no learning, I'm the owner of such. All on you
stock and land; which on you owns a Lrought-up
on ^nllemao?' This way I kep' myself a going.
ihia way I held oteady afore my mind that I woald
certain come one day and see my boy, and make
lyself known to him, on his own ground."
He laid his hand on my shoulder. I shuddered at
!ri' thought that for anything I knew, hia hand might
11? stained with blood.
"It wam't easy, Pip, for me to le-ave them parts,
nnr yet it warn't safe. But I held to it, and the hard-
n it was, the stronger I held, for I was determined,
nr! my mind firm made up. At last I done it. Dear
■..y, I done it!"
I tried to collect my thoughts, but I was stunned.
throughout, I had seemed to myself to attend more to
ijrind and rain than to him; even now, I could not
rate Hs voice from those voices, thoiigh those wi
and his was silent.
"Where will you put me?" he asked, presently.
"I must be put somewherea, dear boy."
To sleep?" said I.
Yes. Aad to sleep long and sound," he an-
"cred; "for I've been sea-tossed and sea-waahed,
ii'iiiths and months."
"My friend and companion," said I, rising from
be sofa, "is absent; you must have his room."
"He won't come back to-morrow; will he?"
"No," said I, answering almost metVwQina&j , \!v
ofmj- atmoBt efforts; "not to-moin:o"« ." ^
I
I
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
'Because look'ee here, dear boy," lie said, drapp
voice, and laying a long- fing-er on my breast ia
impressive manner, "caution is necessary."
"How do you mean? Caution?"
"By G — , it's Doathl"
^ "Wtat'B deatli?"
"I was sent for life. It^s death to come bl
There's been overmuch coming back of late yean, i
I should of a. certainty be hanged if took."
Ifothing was needed bat this; the wretched m
after loiiding wretched me with his gold and all
chains for years, had risked his life to come
and I held it there in my keeping! If I had loT
him instead of abhorring him; if I had been attrae
to Lim by the strongest admiration and affection,
stead of shrinking from him with the strongest i
pugnance; it could have been no worse. On the c
trary, it would have been better, for his preservat
would then have naturally and tenderly addressed j
My first care was to close the shutters, so that
light might be seen from without, and then to c\
and make fast the doors. While I did so, he atooci
the table drinking rum and eating biscuit; and whoi
saw him thus engaged, I saw my convict
marshes at his meal again. It almost seemed
me as if he must stoop down presently, to file &t
leg.
When I bad gone into Herbert's room, uid 1
shut off any other communication between it and
staircase than through the room in which onr
sation bad been held, 1 aakel Viia \? \\ft woald gtf
bed? Be said yea, but asVei toi ^w wnu
ORBAT EXPECTATIONS, 107
fteutleman's lineu" to put on in tlie moruing. I
lipiaght it ont, and laid it ready for him, and my
Hood again ran cold when he agnhi took me by both
liands to give me good night.
I got away from him, without knowing how I did
it, and mended the fire in the room where we had
lj''i-n together, and sat down by it, afraid to go to
bed. Fur an hour or more, I rumained too stunned to
tliiuk, and it was cot until 1 began to think, that I
began fully to know how wredted I was, and
Bow the ship in wliich I had sailed was gone to
pieces.
I Miss Havisham's intentions towards me, all a mere
dream; Estellu not designed for me; I only suffered in
^;itis House an a convenience, a sting for the greedy
'^I^Liions, a model with a mechanical heart to practise.
I when no other practice was at hand; thoite were the
: -I smarts I had. But, sharpest and deepest paiu oT~^
dl — it was for the convict, guilty of I knew not
I what crimes and liable to be taken out of those rooms
I Bhere I sat thinking, and hanged at the Old Bailey
duor, that I had deserted Joe.
I would not have gone back to Joe now, I would
il have gone hack to Biddy now, for any considera-
i^n; simply, I suppose, because my sense of my own
■ oithless conduct to them was greater than every con-
sideration. No wisdom on earth could have given me
tlie comfort that I should have derived from their sim-
plici^ and fidelity; but I could never, never, never,
undo what I had done.
In every rage of wind and rush of rain, I heo.td.
^axavers. Twice, I could have sworn ftiet* 'S^aa
md whiaperiag at the outer Iooil.
108 SHUT jf*FB0tMtfftm. 1
these feaTB upon me, 1 began either to imagine a
cal that I had had mTBterions wamin^ of thia n
approach. That for weeks gone by, I had passed 1
in the streets which I had thought like his. '
tliQse likenesses had grown more numerous, as he, i
ing over the sea, had drawn nearer. That his vn>
spirit had somehow sent these mesBengers to mine,
that now on this stormy niglit he was as good ai
word, and with mo.
Crowding up with these reflections came thi
flection that I had seen him with my childish ejt
be a desperately violent man; that I had heard
other convict reiterate that he had tried to mv
him; that I had seen him down In the ditch tei
and fighting like a wild beast. Out of such
membrances I brought into the light of the fire, a '.
formed teiTor that it might not be safe to be ahu
there with him in the dead of tlie wild solitary n
This dilated until it filled the room, and impelled a
take a candle and go in and look at my dreadful bui
He had rolled a handkerchief round his head,
his face was set and lowering in his sleep. Bn
was asleep, and qnietly too, though he had a {
lying on the pillow. Assured of this, I softly remi
the key to the outaide of his door, and turned 3
him before I again sat down by the fire. Grradus
slipped from tho chair and lay on the floor. Wl
awoke, without having parted in my sleep witb
perception of my wretchedness, the clocks of the ]
ward ehui'clies were striking five, the candlea
wasted out, the fire was dead, and the wind and
intensiSed the thick black iattne.*.*.
CHAPTER XI.
It waa fortuuate fur me, tbat I had to take pre-
cantionB to ensure (so far as I could) the aafety of my
J dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressiug on me vhen
I J nwoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourae
;il a distance. *
The impossibility of keeping him conecalod in the
■li^imbera waa aelt-evident. It could not he done, and
Ik: attempt to do it would inevitably engender auspj-
■ ^iii. True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but
I was looked after by an infiammatory old female,
;-sisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her
lii'ce, and to keep a room secret from them would be
■'■ invite euriosity and exaggeration. They both had
■■ 'ilk eyes, which I had long attributed to their chroni-
iilly looking in at keyholes, and they were always at
l.iuid when not wanted; indeed that was their only
■liable quality besides larceny. Not to get up a
ivstery with these people, I resolved to announce in
liie morning that my uncle had unexpectedly come
Irom the country.
This course I decided on while I was yet groping
about in the darkness for the means of getting a light.
Kot stumbling on the means after all, I was fain to go
lilt to the adjacent Lodge and get the watchman there
■ 1 come with hia lantern. Now, in groping my way
iiiwq the hlack staircaae I fell over something, and
tliat something was a man crouching in a corner.
As the man made no answer when I a»k.9,<L \i\-s&
what he did there, bat eladed my touc^i to siewsft, "
jMt to the Lodge and urged the -watctmaii to wn
*10 ORBAT BXPBCVAttOSB.
qiiiiikly; telling him of the incident on the *
I ' lack. The wind being as fierce as ever, we did
care to endanger the light in the lantern by rekindli
the extinguished lamps on the staircase, bat
examined the staireiine from the bottom to the top a
found no one there. It then occurred to me as posBil
that the man m^ht have slipped into my rooniB;
lighting my candle at the watchman's, and leavi
him standing at the door, I examined them care^il!
inclnding the room in which my dreaded guest 1
asleep. All was quiet, and assuredly no other i
»W8fl in those chambers.
It troubled me that there should have been a luri
on the staira, on that night of all nights in the yoi
and I asked the watchman, on the chance of elikiti
some hopeful esplanation as I handed him a dram
the door, whether he had admitted at hia gate s
gentlemen who had perceptibly been dining out? 5
I he said; at different times of the night, three. C
lived in Fountain-court, and the other two lived in '
Lane, and he had seen them all go home. Again, t
only other man who dwelt in the honae of which g
chambers formed a part, had been in the country .
some weeks; and he certainly had not returned
the night, because we bad seen his door with his B
on it as we came up-staira.
"The night being so bad, sij;," said the watchma
u he gave me back my glass, "uncommon few ha
come in at my gate. Besides them three gentleni
that I have named, I don't call to mind onotl
WDCe about eleven o'clock, when a stranger oskeS 1
"Mj nnele," I mottexed.
OBEAT EXTECTATIOKS. Ill
"Ten saw him, sir?"
"Yes. Oil yes."
"Likewise the persna with him?"
"Peratra with him!" I repeated.
"I judged the parson tn be with him," returned the
Tiitchman. "The person stopped when he stopped to
'I'tke inquiry of mo, and the person took this way
■ibi'n he look this way,"
I "What sort of person?"
(The watdimiiH had not partieularly noticed; he
tliuuld say, h working person; to the best of his belief,
I lj<- had a dnst-coloured kind of clothes on, under a
ink coat. The wateJiman made more light of the
I liter than I did, and naturally; not having my rea-
■"!! for attacfaing weight to it.
^Vlien I had got rid of liim, which I thought it
' !1 to do without prolonging explanations, my mind
,-. much troubled by these two cncumatancos taken
I'ip'i'ther. Whereas they were easy of innocent solution
L ajiart — as, for instance, eome diner-out or diner-at-
I home, who had not gone near this watchman's gate,
f might have strayed to my staircsse and dropped asleep
i!ji le — .lud my nameless visitor might have brought
iiie one with him to show him the way - — still,
;ued, they had an ugly look to one as prone to
l-Hti'ust and fear as the changes of a few hours had
L luade me.
I I lighted my fire, whicL burnt with a raw pale
f flare at that time of the morning, and fell into a doze
■'■'i'nre it. I seemed to have been dozing a whole night
lif II the clocks struck six. As there was M.\ aB.\iisas
1 ii id/f between me and davlielit, "L loiei. a,ewm,i
^asiiy, with prolix, ctnwi
EHtBAV -'BX«!IO¥Aq^«im.
about notljing;, in my ears; Dow, milking thuncli
tte wind in the cliimiiey; at lengtli falling off ii
profound alecp from whicli tbo daylight
3
All thia time I had never been aLle to
own aitnation, nor could I do so yot. I had not
power to attend to it. I was greatly dejected
distressed, hut in an incoherent wholesale sort of
As to forming any plan for the future, I could as
have formed an elephant. When I opened the shiil
and looked out at the wet wild morning, all )
leaden hue; when I walked from room to room;
I sat down again shivering, before the fire, waitin
my laundress to appear; I thought how misera
was, but hardly knew why, or how long I h&A
so, or on what day of the week I made the
or even who I was that made it.
At length the old woman and the niece came id
the latter with a head not easily distinguishahle M
her dusty broom — and testified surprise at sigH
me and the fire. To whom I imparted how my M
had come in the night and was then asleep, and i
the breakfast preparations were to be modified
cordingly. Then I washed and dressed while ti
knocked the furniture about and made a dust, and'
in a sort of dream or sleep-waking, I found m]
sitting by the fire again, waiting for — Him
come to breakfast,
By-and-by, his door opened and
could not bring myself to bear the sight of him,
thought he had a worse looV \i-j io.-3-\\;^ht.
^^^do not even know " sa.iA-\, ft'fi«^
atMia flzpxoTA-isnis.
»
.. (lis seat at tliy taliie, "hy what name to call you.
live given out that you ore my uncle."
"Tliat's it, dear boy! Call me uncle."
'Yob aeeumed Eoine name, I suppose, on board
"Tea, dear boy, I took tbe name of Prjuis."
Do you meaii to keep tliat name?"
"Why, yes, dear boy, it's as good as another —
^,l(i!.s you'd like another."
"What is your real name?" I asked bim in a whisper.
"Magwitcji," he answered, in the same tone;
"iins'^n*0!bei."
"What were you brought up to be?"
"A warmint, dear boy."
Ho answered quite seriously, and used tlie word as
J' it denoted some profession.
"When you carao into tbe Temple last night — "
ml I, pausing to wonder whether that could really
iiflve been last night, which seemed so long ago,
"Yes, dear hoy?"
"When you came in at the gate and asked the
,fatchman the way here, had you aoy one with you?"
'i me? No, dear hoy."
there was some one there?"
n't take particular notice," he said, dubiously,
inowing the ways of the place. Bat I think
18 a person, too, come in alonger me."
B you known in London?"
3 notl" said he, giving his neck a jerk with
r that made me turn hot and sick,
■on known in London, once?"
a- and above, dear boy. 1 nvb-s vti "Oaft ■^t^
114 «M« «Hi
"Were you — tried — in London?"
"Which time?" said he, Ttith a
"The last time."
He nodded. "Firat knowed Mr. Jagger
It was on my lips to ask Tiim what h
for, but lie took up a knife, gave it a fit
with the words, "And whatever I done ia worked ||
and paid fori" fell to at his hreakfast.
He ate in a ravenous way that was very d
able, and all his actions were uncouth, noisy,
greedy. Some of hia teeth had failed him b'
him eat on the marshes, and as he turned his food
Ids mouth, and turned his head sidewaya to bring
strongest fangs to heai' upon it, he looked temWy 3
a hungry old dog. If I had begun with any appfll
ho would have taken it away, and I should have
much as I did — repelled from him by an inanrmoa
able aversion, and gloomily looking at the doth.
"I'm a heavy grubber, dear boy," be aiud,
polite kind of apology when he had made an en
his meal, "but I always waa. If it had been in-i
constitution to he a lighter grubber, I might ha'
into lighter trouble. Similarly, In
When I was first hii-ed out aa shepherd t'other i
the world, it's my belief I should ha' turned i
molloncolly-mad sheep myaelf, if I hadn't a had !
As he said so, he got up from table, and put
his hand into the breast of the peacoat he ^
brong-ht out a short black pipe, and a handful of 1(
tobacco of the kind that is ca\\Bi.'Se\gc(AM!*A. 1
' Aie pipe, he put the smt^W
19 if hi§ pocket were a drawer. Then he took a Uvo
coal fl'oin the fire with the tongs, and lighted his pipe
at it, and tlien turned round on the hearthrug with
Jiis back to the fire, and went through his favonrite
iidion of holding oat hoth his bands for mine,
"And this," said ho, dandling my hands up and
il-iivn in Lis, as he puffed at his pipe; "and this is the
fTciitleman what I made! The real genuine One! It
(inea me good fur to look at you, Pip, AU I stip'kte,
is, to stand by and look at you, dear boy!"
I released my hanJa as soon aa I could, and found
that I was beginning slowly to settle down to the con-
templation of my condition. "What I was chained to,\
uid how heavily, hecame intelligible to me, as ITieardl
bia hoarse voice, and sat looking up at hiH forrowedl
bald head with its Jron_grey_hajr at the sides. J
"I mustn't see my gentleman a footing it in the
mire of the streets; there mustn't he no mnd on hia
boots. My gentleman rauat have horses, Pipl Horses
lo ride, and horaes to drive, and horsea for hia servant
lo ride and drive as well. Shall colonists have their
lioraoa (and hlood 'una, if yon pleaae, good Lord!) and
Hot my London gentleman? No, no. We'll show 'em
another pair of shoes than that, Pip; won't «s?"
He took out of his pocket a great thick pocket-
book, bursting with papers, and tossed it on the table.
"There's something worth spending in that there
linok, dear boy. It's yourn. All I've got ain't mine;
it's yourn. Don't you he afeord on it. There's more
vhere that corao from. I've come to the old country
fiu" to see my ^ntleman spend Ma motie'Y ^il^ii «■ %«&-
That'll be my pleasure. My i^\e,a.wKfe ''^^^'^
" I do it. And Wast you sWV' Va
I OKBAT BXPXOTATKHW.
looking round the room and snjipping bis fingaffi
■once with a loud snap, "blast you every one, from tin
judge in bis wig, to tbo colonist a, stirring up the dn^
I'll show a better gentleman than the whole kit O!
^^j)ut together!"
^^t "StopI" said I, almost in a frenzy of fear and d
^^H^e, "I want to speak to you. I want to know t'
^^Bfe to be done. I want to know how you e
^^■out of damger, how long you are going to stay,
^^Kprojects you have."
^^BT "Look'ee here, Pip," said he, laying his hand m
^^V^my arm in a suddenly altered and subdued i
"first of all, look'ee here. I forgot myself half a n
nute ago. What I said was low; that's what it wfi
low. Look'ee here, Pip. Look over it. I ain't a goin
[to bo low."
"First," I resumed, half groaning, "what precan-
s can be taken against your being recognised ai
ed?"
"No, dear boy," he said, in the same tone as b
1, "that don't go first. Lowneas goes first. I aJi
look so many year'to make a gentleman, not witbot
' knowing what's due to him. Look'ee here, Pip.
low; that's what I was; low. Look ovef it, dear boyi
Some sense of the grimly-ludicrous moved me to
t totful laugh, as I replied, "I Imve looked c ' ~
I Heaven's name, don't harp upon iti"
"Yes, but look'eo here," he pei^isted. "Dear bo
fl ain't come so fur to be low. Now, go on, dear bp
, was a saying — " "
"How are you to be guarded from the danger you
jpre incurred?" , .
, dear boy, tha Aon^w s
IPM informed agea, the danger ain't so mueli to
There's Jaggers, and there's Wemmick, and
I'-'s yon. Who else is there to inform?"
"I* there no chance person who might identiiy you
(lie street?" said 1.
''Well," he returned, "there ain't many. Nor yet
I don't intend to adyertise myself in the papers by the
name of A.M. come hack from Botany Bay; and years
ll»7G rolled away, imd who's to gain by it? Still,
look'ee here, Pip. If the danger had been fifty times
u great, 1 should ha' come to aee you, mind you, just
the same."
"And how long do you reroain?"
"How hmg?" said he, taking his black pipe from
Uj mouth, and dropping his jaw as he stared at me,
fin not a going back, I've come for good."
"Where are you to live?" said I. "What is to he
iliine with you? Where will you be safe?"
"Dear boy," he returned, "there's disguising wigs
can be bought for money, and there's hair powder, and
spectacles, and black clothes — shorts and what not.
Others has done it safe afore, and what others has
iloue afore, others can do agen. As to the where and
liow of living, dear boy, give me your own opinions
"You take it smoothly now," said I, "but you
were very serious last night, when you swore it waa
Death."
"And 30 I swear it is Death," said he, putting his
pipe back in hia mouth, "and Death by the rope, in
the open street not fur from thb, and it's serious thai.
ebaald i'ally understand it to ^)e so. '^\«i.\. "Cmsq-,
a done? Here 1 am. T&
I
I
p
^
'nd be aa bad as to stand ground — worse. Berade
Pip, I'm here, because I've meant it by you, years a
years. As to what I dare, I'm a old bird now, as 1
dared all manner of traps since first he w&s GeAgei
andPin not afeerd to perch upon a scarecrow. If thwrf
Death hid inside of it, there is, and let birr; come out
And ril face him, and then I'll believe in him and ii
afore. And now let me have a look at my gentlemai
Once more he_too|ijiia_hyjioth hands and surveys
me with an air of admiring proprietorship: smoluq
with g;reat complacency all the while.
It appeared to me that I could do no better tha
secure him some quiet lodging hard by, of which fa
might take possession when Herbert returned: whom'
expected in two or three days. That the secret mtn
be confided to Herbert as a matter of unavoidable na
cessity, even if I could have put the immense relief-
should derive from sharing it with liim out i
qnestion, was plain to me. But it was by no mei
plain to Mr. Provis (I resolved to call him by tha
name), who reserved his consent to Herbert's partii^
pation until he should have seen him and formed k
favourable judgment of his physiognomy. "And eveaT
then, dear boy," said he, pulling a greasy little claspedj
black Testament out of his pocket, "we'll have him o
his oath."
To state that my terrible patron carried th^ li
black book about the world solely to swear people o
in cases of emergency, would be to state what I nev*
guite established — but this I can say, that I i
I^ew him put It to any ot\vet n.^- T^Vft >»»&.
' tie appearance o£ having \ie«^ *\flVa ^Mim. «
CHEAT BXI-ECTATI0N8. 119
. ! iif justice, and perhaps Ms tnowk-dge of its au-
■ii'iits combined with his own experience in that
. gave him a reliance on its powers aa a sort of
1 spell or chami. On this first occasion of his pro-
if'j^ it, I recalled how he had nrnde mo awoar fide-
iu the churchyard long ago, and how he had de-
'H'd himself last night as always swearing to his
'Uitions in his solitude.
As he was at present dressed in a seafaring alop
r. in which he looked aa if he had some parrots and
.:irs to dispose of, I next discussed with him what
" ss he should weai. Ite cherished an extraordinary
L liulief ill the virtues of "shorta" as a disguise, and had
I in his own mind sketched a dress for himself that
i wrinld have made him something between a dean and
I 'li^utist. It was with considorahle difficulty that I
■II him over to the assumption of a dress more like
jiiiisperoua farmer's; and we arranged that he should
■ liis hair close and wear a little powder. Lastly, as
lii\d not yet been seen by the laundress or her niece,
was to keep himself out of their view until his
Niiige of dress was made.
It would seem a simple matter to decide on these
I n'(^ cautions; hut in my dazed, not to say distracted,
~t!\(i:, il took 80 long, that I did not get out to further
i[n'jn, until two or three In the afternoon. He was to
ii"iatn shut up in the chambers while I was gone, and
«;is on no account to open the door.
There being to my knowledge a respectable lodglng-
lioiise in Esaex-street, the back of which looked into
the Temple, and was almost within hail of my windows,
I 6rsf of nl! repaired to that house, a'ni "sias. ■«! W.-
^^e as to secure the second flooi iot m-j iMi.O«
I then went firom shop to shop, making stw
ea as were necessary to the change in iis
e. This husinesa trunsacted, I turned my £
, my own account, to Little Britain. Mr. Jaggei
m&s at hie desk, bat, seeing me enter, got up immi
iately and stood before his fire,
"Now, Pip," aaid he, "be careful."
"I will, sir," I returned. For, I had thought wet
of what I was going to say coming along,
"Don't connnit yourself," said Mr. Jaggers, "f
don't commit any one. You understand — any o
, Don't tell me anything; I am not curious."
Of course I saw that he knew the man 1
le.
"1 merely want, Mr. Jaggera," aaid I, "to assni
Ibyself that what I have been told is true, I have n
Vope of its being untrue, but at least I may verify ifi
Mr. Jaggers nodded. "But did you say 'told,'
Informed'?" he asked me, with his head on one aid
Rsnd not looking at me, but looking in a listening wi
KSt the floor. "Told would seem to imply verbal col
■"mnnication. Tou can't have verbal communjcatio
^■with a man in New South Wales, you know."
"I will say, informed, Mr. Jaggers."
"Good."
_ "I have been infonned by a person named Al
Kj(agwitch, that he ia the benefactor so long n
fto me."
"That is the man," said Mr. Jaggers, " — in TSi
" South Wales."
"And only he?" said I.
"And only he," aaid Mr. iJaggBrft.
_ "/ am not so tmreasonabVe, aii, , "
SRBAT HXPBCTAnom. 191
wonaible for my mistakes and wrong- conclusions;
I always supposed it was Miss Havisham.''
"As you aay, Pip," returned Mr. Jaggcrs, turning
lis eyes npon me coolly, and taking a bite at his fore-
inser, "I am not at all responsible for that."
"And yet it looked so like it, sir," I pleaded with
.I'H-ncast heart.
Not a particle of evidence, Pip," said Mr. Jaggers,
iiiaking his head and gathering up hia skirts, "Take
nnthing on its looks; take everything on evidence.
There's do better rule."
"I have no more to 'say," said I, with a sigh, after
sUmding silent for a little while. "I have verified my
information, and there an end,"
"And Magwitch — in New South Wales — having
at last disclosed himself," said Mr. Jaggera, "you will
comprehend, Pip, how rigidly throughout my commu-
aication with you, I have always adhered to the strict
line of fact. There baa never been the least departure
fnim the strict lino of fact. You are quite aware of
that?"
"Quite, sir."
"I communicated to Magwitch — in New South
Wales — when be first wrote to me — from New
Sunth Wales — the caution that he must not expect
me ever to deviate from the strict line of fact. I also
communicated to him another caution. He appeared
to me to have obscurely hinted in hia letter at some
listant idea he had of seeing you in England here, I
;antioned him that I must hear no more of that; that
le was expatriated for the term of liia wa.t'wtaX.VSfiia^ «mS>
hat bis presenting himself in this countx^ ■wo^ii&.'Vi'a «
*" f felony, rendering him. ■!" '" '
i^/e
I
■13 DRBAT KXIveXATHBIB.
ijenalty of tLe law. I g;ave Magwitcli tLat cautioi
itaid Mr. JsggerB, looking hard at me; "I wrote it
ttjew Soutli Wales, He guided himself bj it,
Houbt."
r "No doubt," said I.
L "I have been informed by Wemmitk," pursued 1
STaggew, Btill looking hard at me, "that he has recejvi
19 letter, under date Portsmouth, from a colonist of t"
'Bame of Purvis, or — "
"Or Provis," I snggested.
"Or Provis — thank you, Pip. Perhaps it
.Provis? Perhaps you know it's ProviH?"
'. "Tea," said I.
I "Tou know it's Provis. A letter, under date Poi
'inouth, from a colonist of the name of Provis,
for the particulars of your address, on behalf of
witth. Wemmiek sent liim the particulars, I und(
stand, by return of post. Probably it is throughProi
that you have received the explanation ofMagwitch-
in New South "Wales?"
"It came through Provis," I replied.
"Good day, Pip," said Mr. Jaggets, offering 1
hand; "glad to have seen you. In writing by post
Magwitch — in New South Wales — or in co:
municating with him through Provis, have the
ness to mention that the particulars and vouchers
our long account shall be sent to you, together W
the balance; for there is atiU a balance
Good-day, Pip!"
We shook hands, and he looked hard at me
-long as he could see me. I turned at the door, and
still looking liard at me, ■WXiiXe ■Cai ^o_N>te
tbe shelf seemed to be ttyio^
A, and to Force ont of tlieir swollen ijiroats, "0,
wuut a man he isl"
Wenomiek was out, and though he had been at his
iealc he could have done nothing for me. I went
Btraight back to the Temple, whei-e I found the terrible
Provis drinking rum-and-water and smoking negro-he»3,
iu -safety.
Next day the clothes I had ordered, all came home,
sad he put them on, Whatever he put on became hi>n
lesB (it dismalij seomed to me) than what he had worn
before. To my thinking, there was Bometbing in bin;
di.it made it hopeless tn attempt to disguise him. The
II' I dressed him and the better I dressed him, the
■ he looked like the slouching fugitive on the
.^hes. This effect on my anxious fancy was partly
(ible, no doubt, to his old face and manner grow-
. (iiore familiar to me; but I believe too that lie
,:£ri'd one of hia legs as if there were still a weight
imti on it, and that from head to foot there was
I Convict in the very grain of the man.
The influences of his solitary hut-life were upon
Mm besides, and gave him a savage air that no dress
wuld tame; added to these, were the influences of hia
ij|>-cquent branded life among men, and crowning aU,
!iis eiinsciousness that he was dodging and hiding now.
ill all his ways of sitting and standing, and eating and
drinking — of brooding about, in a high-shouldered
reluctant style — of taking out his great hom-handled
jsck-knife and wiping it on his legs and cutting his
food — of lifting light glasses and cupa to hia lipa,
as if they were clumsy pannikins — of cW^^yw^ ^
wed^ off Ills bread, and soaking up -wVOci 'A 'Cofe \«^
I^^Cf of^avj- round and round \iiB ^\a
124 e/tmw ■BxvBovATmm.
make the most of aa allowance, and tLen Arym
fingerends on it, and then swallowing it —
iraya and a thnusand other small namoless i
ariaing every minute in the day, there was Prii
Felon, Bondsman, plain as plain could be.
It had been his own idea to wear that torn
powder, and I had conceded the powder after
coming the shorts. But I can compare the effect
when on, to nothing but the probable effect of i
upon the dead; ao awful was the manner in '
everything in him that it was most desirable to n
started through that thin layer of pretence, and a
to come blazing oat at the crown of his head. ]
abandoned as soon as tried, and he wore his gi
hair cut short.
Words cannot tell what a sense I had, at tie
time, of the dreadful mystery that he was to me.
lie fell asleep of an evening with his knotted l
clenching the sides of the easy-chair, and Ms bald
tattooed with deep wrinkles falling forward <
breast, I would sit and look at him, wondenng
he had done, and loading him with all the c
the Calendar, until the impulse was powerful on i
start up and fly from him. Every hour s
my abhorrence of him, that I even think I might
yielded to this impulse in the first agonies of heii
haunted, notwithstanding all he had done for me,
the risk he ran, but for the knowledge that Si
must soon come back. Once, I actually did 8
of bed in the night, and begin to dress myself i
worst clothes, hurriedly intending to leave him
w/ch ererytbing else I poaaeaaftl, aai e.'riaA ^wt
as a private soldier.
QHEAT EXPECTATIONS.
^^Houbt If a ghost could have heen more terrible to
T^^p in those lonely rooms in the long evenings and
. nights, with the wind and the rain always rushing
A ghost could not have been taken and hanged
■A!y account, and the consideration that he could be,
jid the dread that he would ba, were no small addition
0 my horrors. When he was not asleep or playing a
implicated kind of Patience with a ragged pack of
lards of his own — - a game that I never saw before or
face, and in which he recorded his winnings by stick-
Bg his jack-knife into the table — - when he was not
ngaged in either of these pursuits, he would aak me
ta read to him — "'Foreign language, dear boy!"
While I complied, he, not comprehending a single
irotd, would stand before the fire surveying me with
the air of an Exhibitor, and I would see him, between
ihe fingers of the hand with which I shaded my face,
appealing in damb show to the furniture to take notice
of my proficiency. The imaginary student pnrsued by
the misshapen creature he had impiously made, was
not more wretched than I, pursued by the creature
wiiD hod made me, and recoiling from him with a,
Mi'onger repulsion, the more he admired me and the
funder he was of me.
This is written of, I am sensible, 'as if it had lasted
» year. It lasted about five days. Expecting Herbert
all the time, I dared not go out, except when I took
Pfovis for an airing after dark. At length, one evening
wiieu dinner was over and I had dropped into a slumber
qaite worn out — for my nights had been agitated and
my rest broken by fearful dreams — I was roasad ti^
lhe_ welcome footstep on the staircase. ?tq"Tv?., -^Vti
"" ' ) too, staggered np at tke -no^^sa ^
and in an instant I saw Ms jauk-knife Bhming in
hand.
"Quiet! It'a Herbert!" I said; and Herbert
bursting in, with tbo airy freshness of six bu
miles of France upon him.
"Handel, my dear fellow, how are you, and
how are yon, and again how are jouV I seem to
been gone a twelvemonth! Why, so I must have
for you have grown quite thin and pale! Hande1|<
— Halloa! I beg your pardon."
He was stopped in his rattling on and in his
king hands with mo, by seeing Provis. Provis, reg
ing him with a fixed attention, was slowly pnttii
his jack-knife, and groping in aiiother pocket for .
thing else.
"Herbert, my dear friend," said I, shutdng
double doora, while Herbert stood staring and woi
ing, "something very atrange has happened. Th
— a visitor of mine."
"It's all right, dear boy!" said Provis coming'
ward, with bis little clasped black book, and that
dressing himself to Herbert. "Take it in yoar :
hand. Lord Strike you dead on the spot if you
split in any way sumever! Kiss it!"
"Do 80, as he wishes it," I said to Herbert.
Herbert, looking at me with a friendly uneaainesB
amaaement, complied, and Previa immediately si
hands with him, said, "Now you're on your oat]
know. And never believe nie on mine, if Pip
make a gentleman on you!"
BBSAT EXPECTATIOKS.
CHAPTER XII.
1 shotild I attempt to describe tlio astonish-
Pand disquiet of Herbert, when he and I and
'i Bat dowu before the fire, and I rocouutod the
wliule of the secret. Enough that I saw my own
feelings reflected in Herbert's face, and, not' least
among them, my repugnance towards the man who bad
(lano so much for me.
What would alono have set a division between that
man and ub, if there had been no other dividing cir-
ciiDiBtance, was his triumph in my story. Saving hia
tfnublesome sense of having been "low" on one occa-
sion since bis return — on which point he began to
hold forth to Herbert, the moment my revelation was
fiuished — he had no perception of the possibility of
Hiy finding any fault with my good tortune. His boast
that he had made me a gentleman, and that he bad
come to BOB me support the character on his ample
fesoarces, was made for me quite as much as for hjm-
"clf; and that it was a highly agreeable boast to both
of us, and that we must both bo very proud of it, was
'1 conclusion quite established in his own mind.
"Though, look'ce here, Pip's comrade," ho said to
Herbert, after having discoursed for soma time, "I
know very well that once since I come back — for
balf a minute — I've been low. I said to Pip, I
knowed as I had been low. But don't you ft'et yoor-
kbH on that score. I ain't made Pip a gentleman, and
Pip ain't agoing to make you a gentleman, ticrt. ^"as ■n*.
lot to Icoon- wbat'a due to yo both. Heai \ni-j, »,\A-
' " 'ffq may count u^on mo a!™^
I
[
8REAT EXPEGTATIOSS.
having a gen-teel muzzle on. Muzzled I have 1
aincB that half a minute when I was betrayed i
lownesa, muzzled I am at the present time, and n
I ever will he,"
Herbert eaid, "CeTtainly," but looked as if til
were no specific consolation in this, and remained
plexed and dismayed. We were anxious for the
when he would ^ to his lodging, and leave ui
gether, but he was evidently jealous of leaving
together, and sat late. It was midnight before I b
him round to Essex-street, and saw him safely in
his own dark door. When it closed upon him, I
perienced the first moment of relief I had known S
the night of his arrival.
Never quite free from an uneasy remembranot
the man on the stairs, I had always looked about
in taking my guest out after dark, and in bring
him back; and I looked about me now. Di^cnl
it is in a large city to avoid the suspicion of b«
watched, when the mind is conscious of danger in 1
regard, I could not persuade myself that any of
people within sight cared about my movementa. !
few who were passing, passed on their several n
and the street was empty when I turned back into
Temple. Nobody had come out at the gate with
nobody went in at the gate with me. As I crc
the fountain, I saw his lighted back windows lool
bright and quiet, and when I stood for a. few mom'
the doorway of the building where I lived,
going up the stairs. Garden-court was as etill
lifeless as the staircase was when I ascended it.
Herbert received me ■w^l\i ti^ftti ww«,, aad I
wver felt before, so b\esae3Ay, -wV&x. \'^. "-a \i4 \
Wlien te had sjjokci
1 sount! words of
Siy and eDCOuragenient, we Kat down to consider
question, What was to be done?
The chair that Provis had occupied still remaining
re it had stood — for he had a barrack way with
of banging aboat one spot, in one unsettled
iner, and going through one round of obserTances
I his pipe and bis uegro-head and his jack-knife
bis pack of cards, and what not, as if it were all
down for him on a slate — I say, his chair remaining
ire it had stood, Herbert unconsciously took it, but
t moment started ont of it, pushed it away, and
t another. He had no occasion to say after that,
: he had conceived an aversion for my patron,
her had I occasion to confess my own. We inter-
oged that eonfidence without shaping a syllable.
"What," said I to Herbert, when he was safe in
ther chair, "what is to he done?"
"My poor dear Handel," he replied, holding his
d, "I am too stunned to think."
"80 was I, Herbert, when the blow first fell.
1, something must be done. He ia intent upon
lous new expenses — horses, and carriages, and
ish appearances of all kinds. Ho must he stopped,
lehow."
"You mean that you can't accept — ?"
"How can I?" I interposed, as Herbert paused,
bink of him! Look at him!"
An involnntary shudder passed over both of us.
"Yet I am afraid the dreadful truth is, Herbert,
t he is attached to me, strongly attached to tiaa.
IS there ever such a fatel"
f.'Jfj' poor dear HandeJ," Hetbra
130 GREAT EIPEOTATIONe-
"Then," said I, "after all, stopping short hc)
never taking another penny from him, think wl
owe him already! Then again: I am heavily in
— very heavily for me, who have niiw no expectatii
at all — and I have been bred to no ealHiig, aai
am fit for nothing."
"Well, well, well!" Herbert remonstrated. "Dc
say fit for nothing."
"What am I fit for? I know only one thing
I am fit for, and that ia, to go for n soldier. A.
might have gone, my dear Herbert, but for the
spect of taking counsel with your friendship
affection."
Of course I broke down there ; and of course '.
bert, beyond seizing a warm grip of my band, pretraii
not to know it. ;
"Anyhow, my dear Handel," said he presett
"soldiering won't do. If you were to renounce i
patronage and these favours, I suppose yoa would
so with some faint hope of one day repaying what ~
have already had. Not very strong, that hope, if
went soldiering! Besides, it's absurd- Tou would
infinitely better in Clarriker's house, small as it is.
am working up towards a partnership, you know."
Poor fellowl He little suspected with wl
money.
"But there is another question ," said Herli
"This is an ignorant determined man, who has ||
bad one fixed idea. More than that, he seems to,
(I may misjudge him) to bo a man of a desperate
fierce character."
'/ knov Jig ia," I letxraied. ""Let «sa tell you
■ - WnV '■ *
MtPXOTATIOKS.
niy narrative; of that encounta
Iher convict.
thenl" said Herbert; "thialt of this!
e at the peril of his life, for tlie roaliBatiaj
id idea. lu the moment of realiaatio
and waiting, you. cut tlie ground from under
istroy his idea, and make his gains worthless
)o you see uothiug that he might do, under
ointment?"
Herbert, and dreamed of it ev^
fatal night of his arrival. Notliiiig 1
lights BO distinctly, as his putting himself ■
of being taken."
yon may rely upon it," said Herbert, '
Id be great danger of bis doing it.
■er over yna as long as he remains in __
that would be his reckless course if you ftw
so struck by the horror of this idea, whid&iB
ed Qpon me from the first, and the working
ioh would make me regard myself, in soma
1 murderer, that I could not rest in my chair
pacing to and fro. I said to Herbert, mean-
t even if Provis were recognised and taken
' himself, I should be wretched as the cause,
innocently. Tes; even though I was so
in having him at large and noar me, and
'h I would far far rather have worked at the
be days of mj life, than I would have ever
ore was no raving off the c^utisfe-a., "^NisS.
K^^d the maiu thing to \<ci ^.o^t^T ^^^
ORE AT EXPECTATIONS-
1
' Herbert, "ia to ^fA him out of Eiiglaud.
' have to go with him, iind thcii he may be indoi
go."
"But get hhn where I will, could I preyent
1 coming back?"
"My good Handel, is it not obvious that (
Newgate in the next street, there must be far grea
I hazard in your breaking your mind to him and tnak)
f Lim reckless, here, than elsewhere. If a pretext to
1 away could be made out of that other convict,
, of anything else in his life, now."
"There, again!" said I, stopping before Herfc
with my open hands held out as if they contained
desperation of the case. "I know nothing of Ma
It has almost made me mad to ait here of a night
see him before me, so bound up with my fortunes
nisfortunes, and yet so unknown to me, except as
miserable wretch who terrified me two days in
childhood ! "
Herbert got up, and linked his ana in mine,
we slowly walked to and fro together, studying
carpet.
"Handel," said Herbert, stopping, "you feel
vinced that you can take no further benefits from
do you?"
"PuUy. Surely you would, too, if you were a
"And you feel convinced that you must la
with him?"
"Herbert, can you ask me?"
"And you have, and are bound to bave,
J tenderness for the life be Vas i:»Vfti wa. ^w<«,
%that you muat save bim, if ^o^s^ViVe,, ttt
^^r -mMiT stnoTiifKim, 138
^k Then you must get him out of Englnnd before
^^b s finger to extricate yourself. That dune,
^Be youTGelf, in Heaven's name, and we'll see it
^nther, dear old boy."
^was a comfort to shake Lands upon it, and walk
^■down again, with only that done.
^bsT, Herhort," said I, "with refereuce to gaining
BChowledge of hia hiHtory. There ib hut one way
""tnow of. T must ask him point-blank.''
'■'yes. Ask him," said Herbert, "when we sit at
ifefast in the morning." For he had said, on
P' ave of Herbert, that he would come to break-
UB.
this project formed, we went to bed. I had
eat dreams eonceming him, and woke unre-
I woke, too, to recover the fear which I had
in the night, of his being found out as a returned
ispoi-t. Waking, I never lost that fear.
He came round at the appointed time^ took out his
L-knife, and sat down to his meal. He was full of
IB "for his gentleman's coming out eti'ong, and like
eatleman," and urged me to begin speedily upon
pocket-hook, which he had left in my posaeasion.
considered the chambers and his ovm lodging as
porary residences, and advised me to look out at
B for "a fashionahle crib" in which he could have
ahake-dowu," near Hyde Park. AVhen be had
le an end of his breakfast, and was wiping bis
fe on his leg, I said to him without a word of
^ce:
"After you were gone last night, 1 \«\4 ts*^ ttveiA
hg struggle that the soldiers founi yo'
two came up, Toix^
"Remember!" said he. "I think boI"
! want to know something cibout that man
L abont yuu. It is strange to know no more ab
I either, and partieuJai'ly you, than I was able to tell 1
I night. Is not tins as good a time as another for I
I knowing raoreV
"Well!" he said, after consideration. "You're
I your oath, you know, Pip's comrade?"
"Assuredly,'' replied Herbert.
"Ab to anything I say, you know," he insish
"The oath applies to all."
"I understand it to do so."
"And look'ee here! Whatever I done, is wori
Out and paid for," he insisted again.
"So be it."
He took out his black pipe and was going to £
' with negro-head, when, looking at the timgle of tohi
. in his hand, he seemed to think it might perplex
' thread of his narratiye. He put it back again, Bt
fais pipe in a button-hole of his coat, spread a hand
each knee, aod, after turning an angry eye on
for a few silent moments, looked round at us and i
what follows.
CHAPTER XIII.
"Deak boy and Pip's comrade. I am not a gi
fiir to tell you my life, like a song or a story-)
~ it to give it you short and handy, VAl put it at
:o a mouthful of English. In jail and out of jail
' and out of jail, io jaj\ ani om.'I: o^ iwi, ~'
^H&nes
9HEAT mrPBCTATIQHS. ISB"
t I got Hhipped off, niter Pip stood my
'Tve been done everyttiag to, pretty well — ox-
»pt hanged. I've been locked up, as much as a silver
li;;i-kettle, Pve been carted bere and carted there, and
put out of this town and put out of tbat town, and
stuck in thii stocfca, and whipped and worried and
ilrovo. Tve no mere notion where I was bom than
joii have — if sn much. I tirat beeome aware of my-
self, down in Essex, a thieving tnrnips for my living.
Summnn had run away from nne — a man — a tinker
— and he'd took the lire with hJra, and left me wery
cirtd.
"I know'd my name to be Magwitch, chrisen'd Abel.
H'lw did I know it? Mnch as I know'd the birds'
aamea in the hedges to be chaffinch, sparrer, thrush. I
might have thought it was all lies together, only as
lie birda' names come out true, I supposed mine did.
"80 fur as I could find, there warn't a soul that
See young Abel Magwitch, with as little on him as in
liini, bnt wot caught fright at him, and either drove
liim off, or took him up. I was took up, took up,
tank up, to that extent that I reg'larly grow'd up
tCHik up.
"This is the way it was, that when I was a ragged
little creetur as much to be pitied as ever I see (not
that I looked in the glass, for there wam't many in-
s'des of ftimished houses known to me), / got the name
"f being hardened. 'This is a terrible hardened one,'
'iipy says to prison wiaitors, picking out me. 'May be
"aid to live in jails, this boy.' Then ftve^ \(itJ».>ii i*.
*^ ^d I looked at them, and tkey meaft^aafi. "01.-3 Ve.'sA,
^B^ 'em — tbey bad better a measvaei "nv"? ■*"*
^86 tffiBAT BXTBOTAiiMB,
a<;li — and othere on 'em giv me tracts what I coiild
read, and made me Bpeecbes what I couldn't imnerHttH
They always went on agen me aliimt the DeviL
what the Devi! was I to do? I mast put nomethi
into my stomach, musn't 1? — Howsomever, I'd:
ting low, and I know wliat's due. Dear boy and Pi
comrade, don't yon be afeerd of me being low.
"Tramping, begging, thieving, working sonietiB
when I could — though that i
may think, till you put the question whether ;
would ha' been over ready to give me work youis^l
- a bit of a poacher, a bit of a laboure
■ waggoner, a bit of a haymaker, a bit of a hawker,
lliit of most things tbat don't pay and lead to troul
1 1 got to he a man, A deserting soldier in aTravelli
L Eest, wot lay hid up to the chin under a lot of tat
I' learnt me to read; and a travelling Giant wot Higi
' " I name tit a penny a time leamt me to write.
L wam't locked up as often now as formerly, but I i
[ out my good share of key-metai still.
"At Epsom races, a matter of over twenty J
[ ago, I got acqaainted wi' a man whose skull I'd d*
r this poker, like the claw of a lobster, if I'd go
I this hob. His right name was Cqmp^jMn; i
I that's the man, dear boy, wot you see me pounding'
I the ditch, according to wot you truly (old your e
I rade arter I was gone last night.
"He set up fur a gentleman, this Compeyson, .
I'he'd been to a public boarding-school and had learni
*" as a smooth one to talk, and was a dab at i
I Tfa/a of gentlefolks. He was good-looking too. It i
night aftire tlio great rate, ■sjV'Bft\ {tsaaiN^
[» henth ih a bootli tliat 1 tnWi " ""^"^
was a sitting among tlio tables when I went in,
le landlord (ffbicb had a knowledge of me, and
as a sporting one) called liim out, and said, 'I ttink
is 13 a. man that might suit yoa' — meaning I was.
"Coinpeyson, he looks at me very noticing, and I
ok at liim. H<i has a watch and a cliain and a ring
td a breast-pin and a LandBomo suit of clothes.
'"To judge from appearances, you're out of luck,'
ys Compeyson to me,
'"Yes, master, and I've never been in it much,' (I
rae out of Kingston Jail last on a vagrancy committal,
ot but wot it might have been for something else;
It it warn't.)
'"Luck changes,' says Compeyson; 'perhaps yours
going to change.'
"I says, 'I hope it may be so. There's room-'
"'Wbat can you do?' says Compeyson.
"'Eat and drink,' I says; 'if you'll find the mate-
ds.'
"Compeyson laughed, looked at me again very
iticing, giv me five shillings, and appointed me for
M night. Same place.
"I wont lo Compeyson, next night, same place, and
jiopeyson took me on to be his man and pardner.
ad what was Compeyson's business in which we was
go pardnera? Compeyson's business was the swind-
>g, handwriting forging, stolen bank-note passing,
id such-like. All sorts of traps as Compeyson could
I with hi« head, and keep his own legs out of and
t the profits from and let b '
impeyson's business. He'd n(
fj he Tf/iB as cold as deatli,
&il afore meation%i
i^sfU
I
(m«AT fiXPSOTATtOHB.
ere was another ia with Corapeyson, as was
L.rthur — not as being so chrisen'd, but at »
, He was in a Decline, and was a Bhadow M'
\ look at. Him and Compeyson Lad been in a bad tiling
, ■with a rich lady some yejira afore, and they'd made »
pot of money by it; butCompeyson betted and gameii,
and he'd have run tliroiigh the king's taxcB. 80 Artbur
was a dying, and a dying poor and with the honort
on hiia, and Oompeyaou'H wife {which CompeysoB
kicked mostly) was a having pity on him when aba
could, and Compeyson was a having pity on nothlnf
and nobody.
_ "I might a took, warning by Ai-thur, but I didn't
I And I won't pretend I wos partick'ler — for where '1
be the good on it, dear boy and eomrade? 80 I I
wi' Compeyson, and a poor tool I was in his hand^
Arthur Uved at the top of Compeyson's house (ovfl
nigh Brentford it was), and Compeyson kept a carefip
account agen him for board and lodging, in case
diould ever get better to work it out. But Arthur sol
settled the account, The second or third time as ev)
I see him, he come a tearing down into Compeysoi
parlour late at night, in only a flannel gown, with I
hair all in a sweat, and be aaya to Compeyson'a
'Sally, she really is up-stairs aJonger me now, and
can't get rid of her. She's all in white,' he says,
white flowers in her hair, and she's awful mad,
she's got a shroud hanging over her arm, and she
she'll put it on me at five in the morning.'
"Says Compeyson: 'Why, you fool, don't you )au
she's got a living body? And how should she bs
there, M'j'thout coming througii \iiQ ioM
window, and up the staiisV
OHBAT K IPtW ATfOSB.
^^B Am't knotr hovr she's tbere.' siivs Arthur,
HwEog ilntadfn] with the horrors, 'bnt she's standiug
10 tho comer at the foot of the bed, Avful mad. And
"m where her heart's broke — you broke it! — there's
itops of hlood-'
■Compcyson spoke hardy, bat be was always a
Miward. 'Go np alonger this drivelling siek miin,' be
»aj» to his wife, 'and Magwitch, lend her a hand, will
yon'f But he oever come nigh himself.
"Coropeyfton's wife and me took him up to bed
*gen, and be raved most dreadful. 'Why look at her!'
W cries out. "She's a shaking the shroud at mel
iiaa't yon see her? Look at her eyes! Ain't it awful
'u see her so mad?' Nest, he cries, 'She'll put it on
Be, and then I'm done for! Tate it away from her,
tske it away!' And then be catehed hold of us, and
ktp on a talking to her, and answering of her, till 1
liiilf believed I Bee her myself.
■' Com pey son's wife, being used to him, giv bim
wme liquor to get the horrors off, and by-and-by ho
luieled. 'Oh, she's gone! Has her keeper been for
W?' he says. 'Yes,' says Compeyson's wife, 'Did
pa tell him to lock her and bar her in?' 'Yes.' 'And
to take that ugly thing away from her?' 'Yes, yes,
(Jl right' 'You're a good creetur,' he says, 'don't
le»ve me, whatever you do, and thank you!'
"He rested pretty quiet till it might want a. few
minutes of five, and then he starts up with a scream,
nod screams out, 'Here she is! She's got the shroud
>gain. She's unfolding it. She's coming out of tht
Dorner. Bho's coming to the bed. H.o\4 me Xio'Ca
e of each side — don't let "her tQutii ■roi "«''^'*^
jfijnissed me tha,t time. Don't Xe^^^sit *C^
I imVAT HKP«0*FAW(ffl8.
jSt over my aliouldei's. Don't let her lift i
It round me. She's lifting me up. Keep me downl
Tien he lifted himself up hard, and was dead.
"Compeyaon took it easy aa a good riddance to
Jioih sides. Him and mo was soon busy, and first i
wore me (being ever artful) on my owa book — tbi
! little black hook, dear boy, what I ewore yo"!
pomrade on,
"Not to go into the things that Compeyaon p
md I done — which 'ud take a week — Pll simplj
t».y to you, dear hoy, and Pip's comrade, that that a
■'^t me iuto such nets as made me his black slave.
Jwas always in debt to him, always under his thiunl
[ always a working, always a getting into dnngor. F
was younger than me, but he'd got craft, and he'd g
learning, and ho overmatched ma five hundred tiro
told and no mercy. My Missis as I had the bard tin
wi' — Stop though! I ain't brought lifr i
He looked about him in a confused way, as if i
r bad lost his place in the book of his remembrance; i
be turned his face to the fire, and spread his I
r on his knees, and lifted them off and put Aa
I OS again.
"There ain't no need to go into it," he said, loo
[ ing round once more. "The time wi' Compeyson ■»
a'most as hard a time as ever I had; that said,
said. Did I tell you as I was tried, alone, for t
' demeanour, while with Compeyson?"
I answered, No.
"Weil!" he said, "I wa.', and got convicted.
1 took np on suspicion, that was twice e
I the four or five yeai fbat ii \aa'wA-, >«is. e
' wantijig. At last, me ani Com-ec^M- "
ir*^ «aafcT ii»aOTATiosa. lit
committed for felony — on a cliarge of putting stolen
uiHes in circulation — and there was other charges
lieMnd. C'ompoyson. aaya to me, 'Separate doi'cncGB,
iiu commmiication,' ami that was ail. And I was no
miserablQ poor, that I said oil the clothes I had,
nwipt what bung on my back, afore I could get
Jaggers.
"When we was put in the dock, I noticed first of
*ll what a gentleman Compeyson looked, wi' his curly
Wir and his black clothes and his white pocket-liand-
fepn^iier, and what a common sort of wretch I looked.
^Vken the prosecution opened and the evidence was
put short, afare-hand, I noticed how heavy it all bore
"« me, and bow light on him. When the evidence
"as 'giv in the box, I noticed how it was always me
lliat had come for'ard, and could be swore to, how it
ifas always mo that the money had been paid to, bow
't wns always mc that had seemed to work the thing
md get the profit. But, when the defence come on,
thea I see the plan plainer; for, says the counsellor for
Compeyson, 'My lord and gentlemen, bere you has
afore yon, side by side, two persona as your eyes can
Bepnrate wide; one, the younger, well brought up, who
will be spoke to as such; one, tho elder, ill brought
up, who will be apoke to as such; one, the younger,
Hildom if ever seen in these bere transactions, and only
lOfipected; t'other, the elder, alwaya Been in 'em and
always wi' his guilt brought home. Can you doubt, if
tiiere is hut one in It, which is the one, and, if there
is two in it, which is much the worst one?' And such-
like, And when it come to character, ■wa.nv'^. \V: Q.t>\Q.-
feysnn as had been to the Bcliool, ani ■we.nix. S
~ li-fellowB as waa i
^biS
GREAT ESPECTATIOHS.
I
as Lad been know'd by witnesses
claba and societies, aud uowt to bia disadvanta^
And warn't it me as bad been tried aforo, nnd as Iw
Ijoen know'd up hill and down dale in Bridewells an
Lock-Ups? And when it come to 8peecb-makal(
wam't it Compeyson as could speak to 'em wi' bia f»
dropping every now and then into his white pocket
handkercber — ah! and wi' v
— and wam't it me as could only say, 'Glenllemeili
this man at my side is a most precious rascal?' An
when the verdict come, wam't It Compeyson as 91
jecommended to inercy on account of good charaoh
bad company, and giving up all the infonnati(
could agen me, and wam't it me a§ got never
'ord but Guilty? And when I says to Compey«o
Once out of this court, I'll smash that face of yoanii
ain't it Compeyson as prays the Judge
aod gets two turnkeys stood betwixt ua? And wti
we're sentenced, ain't it him as gots seven year U
me fourteen, and ain't it him as tbe Judge is bob
.for, because be might a done so well, and ain't it t
as the Judge perceives to be a old offender of wiole
passion, likely to come to worse?"
He had worked himself into a state of great e
citement, but he checked it, took two or three ehc
breaths, swallowed as often, and stretching out Ms h
towards me said, in a reassuring maouer, "I ain
going to be low, dear boyi"
He had so heated himself that he took out
handkerchief and wiped bis face and bead and I
and bands, before be could go on.
"I bad said to CompeysoTv t\\a.t Ti woaaV tbaj f
)/Lis, and I swore Lorl sra
aSEAT EXPECTATIONS. 113
Itbe same prison-ship, but I coutdu't get at liim
ihongh I tried. At last I tome behind him
l3 hit liim on the cheek to turn bini round and get a
isshiag one at him, wht^n 1 was seen and seized.
Iio bluck-hule of that ship wam't a strong one, to a
dge of black-holes that could swim and dive. I
3Bped to the iihore, and I was a hiding among the
iyes there, envying l.hem as was in 'em and all over,
len first I see my huy!"
He tegarded me with a look of affection that made
n almost abhorrent to me again, though I had felt
iat pity for him.
"By my boy, I was giv to understand as Compey-
1 was out on them marshes too. Upon my soul, I
If believe he escaped in his terror, to get ijuit of
:', not knowing It was me as had got ashore. I
nted liiin down. I smashed his face. 'And now,*
fi I, 'as the worst thing I can do, caring nothing for
'self, I'll drag yon back.' And I'd have swum off,
iring him by the hair, if it had come to that, and
a got him aboard without the soldiers.
"Of course he'd much the best of it to the last —
' cliaracter was so good. He had escaped when he
s made half wild by me and my murderous inten-
Ds; and his punishment was light. I was put in
Qs, brought to trial again, and sent for life. I
n't stop for life, dear boy and Pip's comrade, being
He. wiped himself again, as he had done before,
I then slowly took his tangle of tobacco from
]iocket, and plucked his pipe from his button.- talft,
slow]_^ £}}ed it, and began to sn\oVc.\
tked, after a BiVencK. _^^^^^
pHi OKEAT EXPECTATIONS.
"Ib who deai], dear boy'?"
"CompeyBon,''
"He hopes / am, if he's alive, you may bo sm'
\ with a fierce look. "I never heei'd no more of Iiini'"
Herbert had been writing with his pencil Id A"
1 cover of a book. He aoftly pushed the book over W
' me, as Previa stood smoking with hiB eyCB on the fiw
and I read in it:
"Yonng HBviBhaio'i nsme was Arlhnr. Oompejioii ts Uw mW "W
ifeMBd to be Mian HBvlHhani's lovor.''
I shut the book and nodded slightly to Ht^berti
I and put the book by; but we neither of ns Baid sdJ"
thing, and both looked at Provis as he stood smoking
I by the fire.
CHAPTER XIV.
Why should I pause to ask how mucli of mj
Bhrinking from Provis might be traced to Estellal' Wty
should I loiter on my ro.id, to compare the state of
mind in which I had tried to rid myself of the stain o'
the prison before meeting her at the eoach-oftice, witt
the state of mind in which I now reflected on the
abyss between Estelk in her pride and beauty, anA
the returned transport whom I harboured? The road
would be none the smoother for it, the end would bu
none the better for it, he would not be helped, nor I
extenuated.
X new fear had been engendered in my mind by
Ms narrative; or ralliet, V\a ■narta'CCTt tai ^iven form
-flnd purpose to the Eear t\va.\. "«i» siittsA^ ■CaKtt. V
OBBAT SZmOTATKUIB.
alive and bIiouIiI discover his retm
doubt the consequence. That Com
in mortal fear of him, aeither of the
much hotter than I; and that any and
man had been described to be, would Lm
lease himself for good from a, dreaded enemjl
ife means of becoming an informer,
I be imagined,
had I breathed, and never would I breath
I resolved — a word of Estella to Pro
d to Herbert that before I could go abrc
e both EstelU and Wm Eavisham. This wai
^were left alone on tiiii night of the day whei
Wt
0 Bictui
hie story. I resolved
it day, and I went.
Jr presenting myself at Mrs. Brandley's,
d was called to tell me that Estella had
puntry. Where? To Satis House, as i
', I said, for she had never yet gone thi
when was she coming back? There
jreaervation in the answer which increased
and the answer was, that her maid believt
ily coming back at all for a little while.
B nothing of this, except that it was mc
Suld make nothing of it, and I went boi
nmplete discomfiture.
er night-consultation with Herbert after Proi
home (I always took him home, and alwai
dl about me), led us to the conclnsion thi
jlotild be said about going abroad until T
from Miss Havisham's. In rtie
id I were to consider sepurateVy ■wVa-^- ^■'^
\.Q
'^jW
■tif
ifraskr vxvmerjjesfm.
I
pretence of being afraid that he was under auapicit
obBervation; or whether I, who had never yet b
abroad, should propose an expedition. We both kn
that I had but to propose anything', and he would 0
sent. We agreed that his remaining many days in
present hazard was not to be thought of.
Next day, I had the meannOBii to feign that I
nnder a binding iiromise to go down to Joe; hut 1 1
capable of almost any meanness towards Joe <
name. Provis was to be Btrictly carefol while I
gone, and Herbert was to take the charge of h'
I had taken. I was to be absent only one night, i
on my return, the gratification of his impatience
my starting as a gentleman on a greater scale, wf
be begun. It occurred to me then, and as I s
wards found to Herbert also, that he might be beai
away across the water, on that pretence — as, to t
purchases, or the like.
Having thus cleared the way for my expeditioi
Miss Httvisham'a, I set ofl' by the early morning et
before it was yet light, and was out on the open c
try-road when the day came creeping on, hating
whimpering and shivering, and wrapped in pat^
cloud and rags of mist, like a be^ar. Whea
drove up to the Blue Boar after a drizzly ride,
should I aee come out under the gateway,
pick in hand, to look at the coach, but E
Dmmmlel
he protended not to see me, I pretended n
n. It was a very lame pretence on both «
the lamer, becauso we both went into the cc "
where lie had just fimeVieid li\a VxcsMasft, vo^ /^k
r
IWBAT BHPaOTATIOSS.
for I Tciy well knew why he liad i
Pretending to rend a smeary newspaper long out
"I' date, which had nothing half so legible in its local
news, as the foreign matter of coffee, pieklcB, fish
«a.iice8, gra^i melted hutter, and wine, with which it
v&B sprinkled all over, as if it had taken the uioaslea
in a highly irregular form, I sat at my table while he
siood before the fire. By degrees it became an enor-
miias injury to me that he stood before the fire, and I
got up, detei-mined to have my share of it. I had to
i"it my hand behind his legs for the poker when I
■ III up to the fireplace to atir the fire, bnt still pre-
■-'li'd not to know him.
"Is this a cut?" said Mr. Drummle.
"Oh!" said I, poker in hand; "it's you, is it? How
'1" you do? I was wondering who it was, who kept
fill' fire off."
With that, I poked tremendously, and having done
"I. jiliinted myself side by side with Mr. Drummle, my
Iiijiilders squared and my bock to the fire.
"You have just come down?" said Mr. Drummle,
"iging me a little away with his shoulder.
"Yes," said I, edging liim a little away with my
sbuulder.
"Beastly place," said Drummle. — "Tour part of
till- conntry, I think?"
"Tea," I assented. "I am told it's very like your
^linipshire."
"Not in the least like it," said Drummle.
ifere Mr. Driimzzile looked at \\vi \ji>i>t&, «g^- V
'.,</ at nunc, and thea Mr. Drummle \iioVci a.t
Ijg^l^^^old^ lit hxH.
r
I
148 ORkAT KsnGTi-nom.
"Ilavc you been Lere long?" I asked, determul
not to yield an inch of tlie fire,
"Long enough to he tired of it," retnrtl
Drummle, protending to yawn, but equally i'
mined.
"Do you stay hero long?"
"Can't say," answered Mr. Druranile. "Do yon?
"Can't say," said 1.
I felt here, through a tingling in my blood, that
Mr. Drnmmle'a shoulder had claimed another I
breadth of room, I should have jerked hitp into I
window; equally, that if luy own shoulder had u ~
a similar claim, Mr. Drummle would have jerfc
me into the nearest box. He whistled a little. So diet
"Large tract of moi'shea about here, I believe
said Drummle.
"Yes. What of that?" said I.
Mr. Drummle looked at me, and then at my boo
and then said, "Oh!" and laughed.
"Are you amused, Mr. Drummle?"
"Jfo," said he, "not partieularly. I am going (
for a ride in the saddle. I mean to explor
marshes for amusement. Out-of-the-way villages thj
they tell me. Curious little public- houses — ■
smithies — and that. Waiter!"
"Yes, sb."
"la that horse of mine ready?"
"Brought round to the door, sir."
"I say. Look here, you sir. The lady w<
to-day- the weather won't do."
"Very good, sir."
. "And I don't dinfi, teca.ttae Tta. ^^omsj, ■«!
I
susAT vm^irrom.
'ery good, sir.
Drummle glanced at me, with an insolent
triumph on his great-jowled face that cut me to the
tenrt, dull as he was, and bo exasperated me, that I
wit iacliiied to take him in my arras as the robber in
'li'.' F^tory-book is said to have taken the old lady, and
■liii him on the fire.
'.)iie tiling was manifest to both of Qs, and that
"as that nntil relief came, neither of us could relin-
ijnish the fire. There we stood, well squared up be-
ftire it, shoulder to shoulder, and foot to foot with our
lands behind us, not budging- an inch. The horse waa
'Tsihie outside in the drizzle at the door, my breakfast
ifas put oil table, Dnimmle's was cleared away, the
Waiter invited me to begin, I nodded, we both stood
niir ground.
"Have you been to the Grove since?" said
iJrammle.
''No," said I, "I had qiute enough of the Finches
lie last time I was there."
"Was that when we had a differeuce of opi-
nion?"
"Yes," I replied, very shortly.
"Come, come! They let you off easily enough,"
Bneered Drummle. "You shouldn't have lost yonr
lumpei."
"Mr. I>rummle," said I, "you arc not competent to
give advice on that subject. When I lose my temper
(not that I admit having done so on that o
'lon't throw glasses."
"I do," said Drammle.
A/ier glnncing a,t him once or twice ia an mraft^.^'i^-
<^^f smouldering ftpoctty, I said;
»
I "Mr. Di'uiumlG, 1 did not seek, tlii^ converaatii
I and I don't think it an agreeable one."
I "I am sure it's not," said he, supercilioudy d<
I bis Hboulder; "I don't think anything' about it"
I "And tlierofore," I wont on, "with your leavS(
I will BUggeat that we hold no kind of conunonication
[ future."
"Quite my opinion," said Drummle, "and ■y/hd
I should have suggested myself, or done — more liki
— without suggesting. But don't lose your teni|
■ Haven't you lost enough without that?"
"What do you mean, sir?"
"Wai-terl" said Drummle, by way of anafK
' ing me.
1 The waiter rei _ _
"Look here, you sir. You quite understand d
the young lady don't ride to-day, and that I dins
the young lady'
"Quite 80, 6
I When the waiter had felt my fast-cooling tea
I with the palm of his hand, and had looked implorlnj
at me, aud had gone out, Drummle, careful not
move the shoulder nest me, took a cigar ftom
pocket and bit the end off, but showed no sign
stirring. Choking and boiling aa I was, I felt that
could not go a word further, without introducing .
tella's name, which I could not endure to hear Mm
tcr; and therefore I looked stonily at the oppot
wall, as if there were no one present, and forced a
self to silence. How long we might have remained
this ridiculous position it is impossible to say, bat
the jflcursion of three OarW'mg iaimfeta — \^^ «&."
the waiter, I think — ■w\w) comft "inUi ■Oaa
nnbitltoning their great-coats and mbbinp tjjeir hands,
luil before whom, as they charged at the fire, we witb
nhliged to give way.
I saw hiio tlirough the window, seizing his hoi-se's
inanti, and mounting in hia bhinde.ring brutal manner,
and sidling and backing away. I thought he was gone,
when he came back, calling for a light for the cigar in
Ilia mouth, which he had forgotten. A man in a dust-
flolonred dress appeared with what was wanted — I
could not have said from where: whether from the inn
ynrd, or the street, or where not — and as Drummle
Igauiid down from the saddle and lighted his cigar and
laaghcd, with a jerk of his head towards the coffeo-
hwra windows, the slouching shoulders and ragged
0»ii of this man, whose back was towards me, re-
Bilnded me of Orlick.
Too heavily out of sorts to care much at the time
"kotlier it were he or no, or after all to touch the
l<ri:,ikfafit, I washed the weather and the journey from
"ly tace and handa, and went out to the memorable
"Id Louse that it would have been bo much the better
f'lr me never to have entered, never to have seen.
CHAPTER XVI.
In the room where the drea sing-table stood and
*iiere the was candles burnt on the wall, I found Miss
Kuvtaham and Estella; Miss Havisham seated on a
•ettee near the fire, and Estella on a cushion at her
feet. Eatclla was knitting, and MisH Havislmm was
looking on. They both raised their eyes a.a \ "NeaX, Na,
wi Iwdi aawaa alteration in me. 1 detVvfti 'Cg.bA., tc»3«'
9^ they interchanged.
BSaiJt VXPOTTAVWSa.
1
' "And what wind," said Mias Havisham, "blw
yon here, Pip?"
Though she looked steadily at me, I saw thftt M
was rather confiiaed. Estella, pausing for a mooa
in her knitting with her eyes u|jon mc, and then g(A
on, I fancied that I read in the action of her finga
[ as plainly aa if »he had told me in the dumb alphabt
I that she perceived I had discovered my real I
"Miss Havisham," said I, "I went to Richnwi
yesterday to speak to Estella; and finding that t
[ wind had hlown li^r here, I followed."
Miss Havisham motioning to mo for the diird ■
fourth time to sit down, I took the chair by the dressiil
I table which I had often seen her occupy. With i
that min at my feet and about me, it seemed a natd
place for me, that day.
"What I had to say to Estella, Miss Havishani,
) will aay before you, presently — in a few momen
I It will not surprise you, it will not displease ji
' I am as unhappy as yoa can ever have meant me to 1>
Miss Havisham continued to look steadily at I
I could see in the action of Estella's fingers aa th
I worked, that she attended to what I said; but s'
not look up.
"I have found out who my patron is. It ii
I fortunate discovery, and is not likely ever to enrich!
I in reputation, station, fortune, anything. There I
reasons why I must Bay no more of that. It is notl
secret, but another's."
as silent for a while, looking at £steU& «
Iconsjdering how to go 011, ^\aB "fi.si.-na'araft i«^»ai;
""^ -- get your secret, Wv ano'i^i.w'a' Nfl^ia^^J
lES
KQRI
on you first caused me to be brought here,
viaham; when I belonged to lie village over
fSaiei that I wish I had never left; I suppose I did
wily come here, as any other chauee hoy might have
Kline — as a kind oi' servant, to gratify a want or a
riiiia, and to he paid for it?"
"Ah, Pip," replied Miaa Havisham, steadily nodding
lep head; "you did."
"And that Mr. JaggerB — "'
"Mr. Jaggers," said Miss Havisham, taking me up
n a firm tone, "had nothing to do with it, and knew
lothing of it. His being my lawyer, and his being
be lawyer of your patron, is a coincidence. He holds
be same relation towards numbers of people, and it
lught easily arise. Be that aa it may, it did arise,
Jid was not brought about by any one."
Any one might have seen in her haggard face that
bere was no suppression or evasion so far.
"But when I fell into the mistake I have so long
imained in, at least yon led me on?" said I.
"Yes," she returned, again nodding steadily, "I
It you go on."
"Was that kind?"
"Who am I," cried Miss Havisham, striking her
ick upon the floor and flashing into wrath so suddenly
mt Estella glanced up at her in surprise, "who am I,
God's sake, that I should be kind!"
It was a weak complaint to have made, and I had
nt meant to make it. I told her so, as she sat biood-
ig after this outhiu-st.
'Well, well, well!" she said. "What aXWi"
r was liboraUy paid for my old atteTiiance. ^«.t«-,
^ to soothe ber, "in being appretAicei , ko-^-
r
m
ISi GBBAT SXTBOTUiHHn.
have asked tliese qneationa only for my own infor
tion. Wbat follows has another (and I liope more i
mtu'eBted) purpose. Id humouring my mistake, Misai
visham, you punisbed — practiaed on — periiapS ;
will supply whatever term oxpreaees your intenl
without offence — your self-seeking relationa?"
"I did," aaid bIic. "Why, they would have it
So would you. What has been my history, tla|
ahoald he at the pains of entreating either them,
you, not to have it sol You made your own Bnaiea.
never made them." " " "~ -^——~
Waiting until she was quiet again — for this, i
flashed out of her in a wild and sudden way —
went on.
"I have heen thrown among one family of your
lations, Miss Haviaham, and have been conBtao!
among them aince I went to London, 1 know theiB^
b&ve been as honeatiy under my delusion aa I myW
And I should be false and hose if I did not tell
whether it is acceptable to you or no, and whether
are inclined to give credence to it or no, that
deeply wrong both Mr. Matthew Pocket and his
Herbert, if you suppose them to he otherwise
generous, upright, open, and incapable of any
designing or mean."
"They are your friends," said Miss Kavisham.
"Thoy made themselves my friends," said I, ''
they supposed me to have superseded them; and
Sarah Pocket, Misa Georgiana, and Mistress Oi
were not my friends, I think."
This contrasting of them with the rest
ghd to see, to do t^ero gooi ■m'&Vei. 'ftW
'v for a littie
eSSAT EXPEGTATIOHS. l$fi
fbat do yon want for them?"
nly," BaitI I, "that yiju would not confound them
'llh the others. They may be. of the same blood, but,
elieve me, they are not of the same nature."
StiU looking at me keenly, MisB Havisham re-
puted;
''Wliat do you want for them?"
"I am not so cunning', you see," 1 said, in answer,
insciouB that I reddened a little, "as that I could
ide from you, even if I desired, that I do want some-
wg. 3disH ilavisham, if you would spare the money
1 do my friend Herbert a lasting service in L'fe, but
■liich from the nature of the case muat he done with-
lil Ids knowledge, I could show you how."
"WLy must it be done without his knowledge?"
lu asked, settling her hands upon her stick, that she
light regard me the more attentively.
"Betiause," said I, "I began tlie serviee myself
lore than two years ago, without his knowledge, and
don't want to he betrayed. Why I fail in my ability
I fiuiab it, I cannot explain. It is a part of the secret
'invh jB another person's and not mine."
She gradually withdrew lier eyes from me and
imed thejn on the lire. After watching^ it for what
[ipeared in the silence and by the light of the slowly
^firing candles to be a long time, ahe was roused by
II.' i^oilapso of some of the red coals, and looked to-
n'lic me again ■ — at first vacantly — then with a
'ii'lually concentrating attention. All this time, Estella
litted on. When Miss Havisham had fixed her at-
, she said, speaking BA \i t\iete VBA.\iWsi.
r dialogue:
I
156
"Eatelln," said I, turning to ber
to coniniand my- trembling voice, "j'ou knov 1 li
you. You know that I liave loved you long J
dearly."
SliB raiaad her oyea to my face, on being thna
diesaed, and her fingers plied their work, and she lool
at me with an unmoved countenance. I saw that K
Havisham glanced from me to her, and fi-om her to :
"I ehould have said thia sooner, but for my I
mistake. It induced me to hope that Miss Hsvis
meant us for one another. While I thought yon e
not help yourself, as it were, I refrained from say
it. But I must say it now."
Preserving her nnmoved countenance, and ■»
fingers still going, Estella shook her Lead.
"I know," said I, in answer to that action;
know. I have no hope that I shall ever call you m
£stella. I am ignorant wliat may become of me 7
Boon, how poor X may be, or where I may go. fl
I love you. I have loved you ever since I first i
you in this Louse."
Looking at me perfectly unmoved and with
fingers buay, she shook Ler head again.
"It would have been cruel in Miss Havishami '■
rihly cruel, to practise on the susceptibility »J a ]
boy, and to torture me through all these years wil
vain hope and an idle pnrsuit, if she had reflected on
gravity of what she did. But I think she did not
think that in the endurance of her own auffering,
forgot mine. Estella."
I saw Miss Havisham put her hand to Lei 1
and bold it there, aa aba eat WWav?^\i-^ ^w^i^^ "
find at me.
SR< IIXFBI!T:A.TIOIia.
3S7
I seems," said Eatells, very cftlinly, "that tlicre
Snthnents, fancies - — I don't know how to call
a — which I am not able to comprehend. When
say you love mc, I know what you mean, aa a
1 of words; but nothing more. You address nothing
ay breast, you touch nothing there. I don't care
what you say at all. I have tried to warn you of
; now, have I not?"
I said in a miserable manner, "Tea."
"Yes. But you would not be warned, for you
ight I didn't mean it. Now, did you not?"
"I thought and hoped you could not mean it. Ton,
oung, untried, and beautiful, Estella! Surely it is
in Nature."
"It is in my nature," she returned. And then she
sd, with a stress upon the words, "It is in the na-
formed within me. I make a great difference be-
m you and all other people when I say so much.
in do no more."
"Is it not true," said I, "that Bentley Dnimmle is
owu here, and pursuing you?"
"It is quite true," she replied, referring to him with
indifference of utter contempt.
"That you encourage him, and ride out with him,
that he dines with you this very day?"
She seemed a little surprised that I should know
but again replied, "Quite true."
"You cannot love him, Estella!"
Her fingers stopped for the first time, as she re-
iEd rather angrily, "What have I told you? Do
1 atill think , in spite of it, that 1 do not TUftaft. ■^Vto.
■ry him, "Elste^LaKl
GREAT EXPECTATIOKS.
"1
d conaiderei ■*
She looked towards Miss Havisliaiu, aud c
ftbt a moment with her work in her hands. Then slrt
Bftid, "Why not tell you the truthV I am going K
married to him."
I dropped my face into my hands, hut was able (
mtrol myself better than I could have expeWed, <
idering what agony it gave me to hear her say tJ
r Words. When I raised my face again, there was f
a ghastly look upon Miss Havisham's, that it impreaM
me, even in my passionate hurry and grief,
"Estella, dearest dearest EsteUa, do not let 1
^^ Havisham lead you into this fatal step, Pnt me asia
^L for ever — you have done ao, I well know -
^H stow yourself on some worthier person than I
^F Uiss Havisham gives yon to him, as the greatest sli^
and injury that could be done to the many far baW
men who admire yon, and to the few who truly lo^
you. Among those few, there may be one who 1
ITOU even as dearly, though he has not loved you i
long, as I. Take liim, and I can hear it bettfir, t
your sake!"
My earneatnesa awoke a wonder in her that seenii
as if it would have been touched with compaasioQ,
die could have rendered me at all intelligib"
own mind.
"I am going," she said again, in a gentler voie
"to be married to him. The preparations for my (H*
■riage are making, and I shall be married soon. ^^
do you injuriou§ly introduce the i "
ty adoption? It is my own act."
"Your own act, Estclla, to fling yourself away np"
« hrute?"
"On whom abouVd \ fi-i'ag ^
GKEiT ES!'ECTATI0S8,
Rwitll a smile. "Sbould T Sing mysi'If away
10 man who would the eoonest feel (if people do
oh things) that I took nothing to bim? Therel
II is done. I shall do well enough, and m will my
Insband. As to leading mo into what ynu call this
ittal step, Mise Ha^^Hhftm would have had mn wait,
Ud not marry yet; but I am tired of the life I have
Ud, which hus very few charms for me. and I am
willing enough to change it. Say no more. We Bliall
oever understand each other."
"Such a mean hrute, such a stupid brute!" I urged
b despair.
"Don't be afraid of my being a blessing to him,"
said Estella; "I shall not be that. Come! Here is
(ay hand. Do we part on this, you visionary hoy —
"O Estella!" I answered, as my bitter tears fell
fnat on her hand, do what I would to restrain them;
"ei-pn if I remained in England and could hold my
111 up with the rest, how could I see you Dmmmle's
■Sonsense," she returned, "nonsense. This will
; in no time."
"Never, Estella!"
"You will get me out of your thoughts in a week."
"Ont of my thoughts! You are part of. my exiatence,-
part of myself. Tou have been in every line I have
•vjT read since I first came here, tlie rough common
•Wy wliose poor heart yon wounded even then. You
"We been in every prospect I have ever seen since —
Jwi the river, on the sails of the ships, on tlie tomAxcs,
*,tlie doudg. in the light, in the da,rk-tt(iaft, !.■& &fe
in tJto soa, in llie
160 GREAT BKPBOTATIONS.
have been the embodiment of every graceful fauey
my mind has ever become acquainted with. The flt
of which the strongest London buildinge are ma^,
not more real, or more impossible to be displaced^
your hands, than your presence and influence
Deen to me, there and everywhere, and will be.
tella, to the last hour of my life, you caimot cl
amain part of my character, part of the little
I, part of the evil, But, in this separation I
Boeiate you only with the good, and I will fiuthfB
hold you to that always, for you must have dons
far more good than harm, let me feci now what
distress I may. 0 God bless you, God forgave
In what ecstasy of unhappiness I got thesa hrol
I words out of myself, I don't know. The rhaps
I welled up within me, like blood from an inward won]
and gushed out. I held her hand to my lips b
lingering momenta, and so I left her. But ever Bi
I wards, I remembered — and soon afterwards i
stronger reason — that while Estella looked at
merely with incredulous wonder, the spectral figl
of Miss Havisham, her hand still covering her hi
Beemed all resolved into a ghastly stare of pity
remorse.
All done, all gonel 80 much was done and g
that when I went out at the gate, the light of the tl
seemed of a darker colour than when I went in, ]
hile, I hid myself among some lanes and by-p«(
md then struck off to walk all the way to Loii4
For, I had by that time come to myself so fitr, bi
consider that I cou\4 not, 5,0 taiV Vs tlwa inn and
I Drammlc there; thai 1 co\iil ■ao'i. Niftw V» MS.-TOif^
be spoken to; that 1 could do nothing
r myself aa tire mjaelf oat.
■ past midnight vrben I urossod LondoD Bridge.
k tliQ narrow intricacies of tbe titreets which at
^ traided westward near the Middlesex shore of^
, my readiest accesa to the Temple was cl<
rrer-eide, througli Wliiteiriars.
1 to-morrow, but I bad my keys, and if H<
B gone to bed, could get to bed myself withi
seldom happened that I
i gate after the Temple was closed, and
' muddy and weary, 1 did not take it
night-porter examined me with much attention
J the gate a little way open for me to pass in.
'9 memory, I mentioned my name.
£ not quite sure, sir, but I thought ao. Here's
. The messenger that brought it, said would
) good as read it by my lantern."
itoh Hurpriaed by the request, I took the note. It
lirected to Philip Pip, Esquire, and on the top of
dge.
h at
e of I
I
t iU 1
ripliu
opened it,
i. read inside
M't qo home.''
the words, "Please read thib,
the watchman holding up I
in Wemmick'a writing:
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
CHAPTEE XVII.
1
Tttsnino from the Temple gate as soon as I &
read the wftming, I made the best of my vr&j to Flfll
street, and there got a lato hackney chariot and dn
to the Huinmuma m Covent Garden. In those tim«
) always to he got there at any hour ofl
night, and the chamberlain, letting me in at his reii
wicket, lighted the candle next in order on his slu
and showed me straight into the bedroom next in oti
1 his list. It was a sort of vault on the ground A
at the back, with a despotic monster of a four-p
bedstead in it, straddling over the whole place, pniti
one of his arbitrary legs into the fireplace and anotl
into the doorway, and squeezing the wretched Ijj
washing-stand in quite a Divinely Righteous manna
As I had asked for a night-Ugbt, the chambed
had brought me in, before he left me, the good J
constitutional rushlight of those virtuous days — i
object like the ghost of a walking-cane, which instad
broke its back if it were touched, which nothing ca
ever be lighted at, and which was placed in solitt
confinement at the bottom of a high tin tower, |
forated with round holes that made a staringly WB
awake pattern on the walls. When I had got ii
bed, and lay there footsore, weary, and wretched,
found that I could no more close my own eyes tbu
could close the eyes of this foolish Argus. And tbi
in the gloom and death of the night, we Btared at t
BBotber.
I doleful n\gU\ ^ow
GREAT BXPECTATIOHB. 163
low long! There was an inhospitable tiinell in the
room, of cold Boot and hot dust; and, as I looked up
nto the corners of the tester over my head, I thought
shat a number of lilue-bottlu flies from the butchers',
md earwigs from the market, and grubs from the
Minntry, must be holding on up there, lying by for
laxt Bumraer. This led me to speculate whether any
)f them ever tumbled down, and then I fancied that I
felt light falls on my face — a disagreeable turn of
iought, suggesting other and more objectionable ap-
proaches up my back. When I had lain a'wake a little
while, those extraordinary voices with which silence
teems, began to make themselves audible. The closet
wiiiapered, the fireplace sighed, the little washing-stand
ticked, and one guitar-string played occasionally jn
the chest of drawers. At about the same time the eyes
on the wall acquired a new expression, and in every
One of those staring rounds I saw written. Don't go
HOME.
Whatever nigbt-fancies and night-ooises crowded
on me, they never warded off this Don't go home. It
plaited itself into whatever I thought of, as a bodily
pBJn would have done. Not long before, I had read
in the newspapers bow a gentleman unknown had corns
!o the Hummums in the night, and had gone to bed,
«nd had destroyed himself, and had been found in the
ooming weltering in blood. It came into my head
liat he must have occupied this very vault of mine,
Mid I got out of bed to assure myself that there were
no red marks about; then opened the door to look out
into the passages, and cheer myself with the com-
JJanionship of a distant light, near whitU 1 tae^ ■&&
^mberlain to be dozing. But all Hub vVmft, -wV^ "V
f 164 QBEAT BXPECTATIOHS.
^■l6'
^^B was not to g;o home, and what hod happened at hots
^^ft and when I should go home, and whether PtotIs W
^^B safe at home, were questions occupying 01;" mind
^^m busily, thnt one might have suppoeed there could
^1^ no room in it for any other theme. Even when
thought of Estella, and how we had parted that d
for ever, and when I recalled all the circumatancea I
our parting, and all her looks and I
I action of her fingers while she knitted — even then
■was pursuing, here and there and everywhere,
caution Don't go home. When at last I dozed,
dieer exhaustion of mind and body, it became a v
shadowy verb which I had to conjugate. Imperftti
mood, present tense: Do not thou go home, let h
not go home, Let us not go home, do not ye or y
go home, let not them go home. Then, pot^tiallyi
may not and I cannot go home: and I might not, cot
not, woiild not, and should not go home ; until I felt tl
I was going distracted, and rolled over on the pilloi
»and looked at the staring rounds upon the wall agu
I had loft directions that I was to be called
eeven; for it was plain that I must see Wemmii
before seeing any one else, and equally plain that tl
was a case in which his Walworth sentiments, ml
could be taken. It was a relief to get out of die rot
where the night had been so miserable, and I need
no second knocking at the door to startle me from V
nneasy bed.
The Castle battlements arose upon my view
eight o'clock. The little servant happening to
entering the fortress with two hot rolb, I pa*
through the postein ttni ctoaaeA 'Cne. ixa.-K\rtvl^^ in 1
^ company, and bo camii V^'iKo^'t oria.'i'MuatnsBi&Ssfift'
JFof "Wemmick aa lie waa making tea for hiJH
Rrtbe Aged. An open door afforded a pergpectifl
if the Aged in bed. "J
lalloa, Mr. Pip!" Baid Wemmick. "You flU
borae, then?" H
Tes," I retained; "hut I didn't go home." V
That's all right," said he, rubbing his hands. "J
note for you at each of the Temple gates, on ifl
fc^ Which gate did you come to?" ^t
W go roond to the others in the course of tfl
ra destroy the notea," said Wemmick; "it's a
■ule never to leave documentary evidence if you
elp it, because you don't know when it may
t in. I'm going to take a liberty with yoi
ould you mind toasting tl '
P.?"
aid I should he delighted to do it.
"hen you can go about your work, Mary Anni
Wemmick to the little servant; "which leaves
raelves, don't you see, Mr. Pip?" he
ig, as she disappeared.
hanked him for his friendship and caution, and
leourse proceeded in a low tone, while I toasted
•ed's sausage and he buttered the crumb of the
I roU.
Tow, Mr. Pip, you know," said Wemmick, "
understand one another. We are in our privi
TBonal capacities, and we have been engaged
dentia^ transaction before to-da.y. 0¥Eic\a\ *kq&-
are one thing. We are extra officiaV."
vdMly assented. I waa bo very cervoMSi
I
lay
1
md
ted
the
I had abeady lighted the Aged's sausage like a WiKbi ml
and been obliged to blow it out.
"I accidentally hc^rd, yesterday morning,"
Wemmiek, "being in a certain place where I onci
»yoE — even between yon and me, it's as well not t
Jmention names when avoidable — "
"Much better not," said I. "I understand yon*"
"I board there, by chance, yesterday momini
Baid Wemmiek, "that a certain person not altogeth
of imcolonial pursuits, and not unpossessed of portab
property - — I don't know who it may really h
n't name this person — "
"Not necessary," said I.
" — had made some little stir in a certain part
Hlie world where a good many people go, not alv>|
"h gratification of their own inclinations, and not qi^
rrespective of the government expense — "
In watching his face, I made quite a firework
rithe Aged's sausage, and greatly discomposed boti
|"6wn attention and Wemmick's; for which I apolog
- by disappearing from such place, and \
ire heard of thereabouts. From which,"
Wemmiek, "conjectures had been raised and tbeori
formed. I also heard that you at your chambers
Garden-court, Temple, had been watched, and n '
be watched again."
L "By whom?" said I.
I "1 wouldn't go into that," said Wemmiek, evasivel
"it might clash with official responsibilities. I ha*
it, as 1 have in my time heard othor curious thinga I
the same place. I don't tell it you on ioformatil
received. I heard it."
He took the toaBting-lotV oai BB»a»%% ^
1S7
(kA, and set forth the Aged's breakfast neatly
,,_, -little tray. Previous to placing it before him, he
^eot into the Aged's room with a clean white cloth,
red tied the same nndej the old gentleman's chin, and
propped him up, and put iiis nightcap on one side, and
gave him quite a rakish air. Then he placed his
breakiast before him with great care, and said, "All
right, ain't you. Aged P.?" To which the cheerfnl
Aged replied, "All right, John, my hoy, all right!"
Ai there seemed to be a tacit understanding that the
A^d was not in a presentable state, and was therefore
to be considered iaviaible, I made a pretence of being
in complete ignorance of these proceedings.
"This watching of me at my chambers (which I i
have once had rea-i^on to suspect)," I said to Wemmick !
when he came hack, "is inseparable from the person to
wliora you have adverted; is it?"
Wemmick looked very sorions. "I couldn't under-
take to say that, of my own knowledge. I mean, I
coaldn't undertake to say it was at first. But it either
IB, or it will be, or it's in great danger of being."
As I saw that he was restrained by fealty to Little
Britain from saying as much as he could, and as I
knew with thankfulness to him how far out of his way
iie went to say what he did, I could not press him.
Bat I told him, after a little meditation over the fire,
Ibut I would like to ask him a question, subject to his
answering or not answering, as he deemed right, and
snre that his course would be right. He paused in
Wb breakfast, and crossing his arms, and pinching his
'birt-sleeves {his notion of in-door comfott. "^as \ci «v\.
witionf ao^fr coat), be nodded to me oin^, \» yo.^ tb^
L J68 QRBAT BXPECTATiONS.
h«.|i
^^H - " Tou ha.ve heard of a man of bad ch&ra^ter, wboSS J
^^■bne name is CompeyaoaP"
^^1 He answered with one other nod.
^^^ "Is he living?"
^^K One other nod.
^^P "Is he in London?"
^U He gave me one other nod, compressed the p
^F ofB.ce exceedingly, gave me one last nod, and iFent e
with his breakfast.
"Now," said Wenunick, "qnestioning being overj
which he emphasised and repeated for my guidanc
^^ "I come to what I did after hearing what I heard.
^^L went to Garden-court to find you; not finding you,
^^K vent to Clarrikcr's to find ]V[r. Herbert."
^V "And him you found?" said I, with great a
"And him I found. Without mentioning I
names or going into any details, I gave him to und
stand that if he was aware of anybody — Tom,
^^ or Richard — being about the chambers, or about )
^^L immediate neigh boorhood, he had better get Tom, Jw
^H or Richard, out of the way while you were out oft
^H way."
^H "He would he greatly puzzled what to do?'
^^1 "He was puzzled what to do; not the less, becW
^H I gave him my opinion that it was not safe to try
^W get Tom, Jack, or Richard, too far out of the way
present. Mr. Pip, I'll tell you something. Under «
isting circumstances there is no place like a great i!
when you are once in it. Don't break cover too soi
Lie close. Wait tiU things slacken, before yon toy t
open, even for foreign air."
I thanked bim foi 1ms vaXariiAte aisSiua- »a
^^Jum what Herbert hal ioaj
I QRBAT EXPECTATIONS. 169
"Mr. Herbert," said Wemiiiick, "after being all of
a Leap for bolf an hour, etmck oat a plan. He men-
lioned to me as a secret, that he is courting' a yoang
my who has, as no doubt you arc aware, a bedridden
Pa. Which Pa, having been in the Purser line of life,
lies a-bed in a bow-window where he can see the ships
Bsil up and down the river. You are acquainted with
llie young lady, most probably?"
"Not personally," said I.
The truth was, that she had objected to me as an
expensive companion who did Herbert no good, and
that when Herbert had first proposed to present me to
her she had received the pi-opoaal with such very mo-
derate warmth, tliat Herbert had feit himself obliged
to confide the state of the case to me, with a view to
the passage of a little time before I made her ac-
quaintance. When I had begun to advance Herbert's
prospects by stealth, I had been able to bear this with
cheerful philosophy; he and his affianced, for their
port, had naturally not been very anxiona to introduce
B third person into their intei-views; and thus, although
I was assured that I had risen in Clara's esteem, and
although the young lady and I had long regularly
interchanged messages and remembrances by Herbert,
I had never seen her. However, I did not trouble
Wemmiek with these particulars.
"The house with the bow-window," said Wenunick,
"being by the river-side, down the Pool there between
Limehouse and Greenwich, and being kept, it seems,
liy a very respectable widow who has a furnished upper
floor to let, Mr. Herbert put it to me, wl\a,\. 4\i \ 'Oii\\it
of thai as a temporary tenement for ToKi, 5aOs., '^t
gW/* JVoTT, I thought very weW ot \t, ^o^ ^^c"'
i
QSEAT BXPSOTATIOKS;
Preasons I'll give you. That is to say. Firstly. It'9 1
altogetLer out of all youi' beats, and is well away fro
the iisual heap of stJ'Gets great and small. Second!
Without going near it yunrself , you i:ould always he
of the safety of Tom, Jack, or Richard, through S
Herbert. Thirdly. After a while and when it mig
prudent, if yon should want to slip Tom, Jadi
or Richard, on board a, foreign packet-boat, there be :
Much comforted by these consideratioos, I thanke
■ Wemmick again and again, and begged Ikim to "p
|«eed.
"Weil, sir! Mr. Herbert threw himself into i
fbusiness with a will, and by nine o'clock last night i
■ housed Tom, Jack or Richard — whichever it i
I'be — you and I don't want to know — quite sncc
I inlly. At the old lodgings it was understood that i
I summoned to Dover, and in fact he was tiki
r down the Dover road and cornered out of it. No'
another gi-eat advantage of all this, is, that it was doi
without you, and when, if any one v
himself about yom' movements, you must be knowa t
I bo ever so many miles off and quite otherwise «
gaged. This diverts suspicion and confttses it; andfi
the same reason I recommended that even if you csBi
back last night, you should not go home. It brings i
more confusion, and you want confusion."
Wemmick, haying finished his breakfast, is
looked at his watch, and began to get his coat on.
"And now, Mr. Pip," said he, with bis hands sti
in the sleeves, "I have probably done the most I el
to; hut if I can ever do mote — ^q-ki «. '^itsoe'
9«if of view, and in a slri.tt\7 ^wsaXfi w^i "i
b
o
I
I'
171
capacity — _I shall be glad to do it. Here's
There can be no harm in yonr going here to-night and
seeing for yourself that all is well with Tom, Jack or
Kichard, before yon go home — which ia another rea-
son for your not going home last night. But after you
iiavB gone home, don't go back here. You are very
welcome, I am sure, Mr. Pip;" his hands wore now
out of his sleeves, and I wan shaking them; "and let
me finally impress one important point upon yon." He
luid his hands upon my shoulders, and added in a
solemn whisper; "Avail yourself of this evening to lay
lold of his portable property. Yott don't know what
may happen to him. Don't let anything happen to the
prtable property."
Quite despairing of making my mind clear to Wem-
mick on this point, I forbore to try.
"'l'4me's up," said Wemniick, "and I must be off.
If you had nothing more pressing to do than to keep
hpre till dark, that's what 1 should advise. You look
very mnch worried, and it would do you good to have
a perfectly quiet day with the Aged - — he'll be up
presently — and a little hit of — you remember the
pig?"
"Of course," said I.
"Well; and a little bit of him. That sausage you
t&sated was his, and he was in all respects a first-rater,
Do try him, if it is only for old acquaintance' sake.
Good-by, Aged Parent!" in a cheery shout.
"All right, John; all right, my boy!" piped the
old man from within.
I soon feU asleep before WeiumiGWa fat, wcift- 'Co-'si
^ged and I enjoyed one anotlver'a aoii\e\,5 \>^ ^sffiav?,
*few isiore it more or less all " . - - - -
Pl72 flREAT EXPECTATIONS.
f
^^Fpork for dinner, and greens groim on the estate, i
1^^ I nodded at the Aged with » good intention wienevf
I failed to do it accidentally. When it was quite dal
I left the Aged preparing the fire for toast; and I i
^^^ ferred from the number of teacnps , as well as from 1
^^Lglances at the two little doors in the wall, that DC
^^Bfikiffins wafi expected.
B tha
^^ and
CHAPTER XVIII.
Eight o'clock had struck before I got into t
[ that was scented, not diaagreeahly, by the chips al
shavings of the long-shore hoat-hnilders, and mast 0
and block makers. All that water-side region of t!
upper and lower Pool below Bridge, was nnknoi
ground to me, and when I struck down by the rivJ
I found that the spot I wanted was not where I h
^_ supposed it to be, and was anything hut easy to fii
^U. It was called Hill Pond Bank, Chinks's Basin; an^
^Hk had no other guide to Chinics's Basin than the 0
^Rfireen Copper Kope-Walk.
^^ It matters not what stranded ships repairing in i
^K docks I lost myself among, what old hulls of ahipB '
^H cottrae of being Icnocked to pieces, what ooze and slii
^B and other dregs of tide, what yards of ship-bnildl
and ship-breakers, what rusty anchors blindly Htb
into the ground though for years off duty, what mo
tainous country of accumulated casks and timber, .
how many rope-walks that were not the Old Gr9
Copper. After several times falling short of
nation and as often ovec-aWiAia^ i.\., I ci
^ _pectedly round a comer, \\^on "^Ki "?wA.^»a^
til
^Ht iroeh kind of place, all circamstances coneidered,
pHme the wind from the river had room to tnm itself
round; and there were two or three trees in it, and
there was the stump of a ruined windmiU, and there
was the Old Green Copper E«pe-Walk — whose long
and narrow vista I could trace in tlie moonlig^ht, along
ft series of wooden frames set in the ground, that looked
ilka saperannaated hayniakiug-rakes which had grown
"1(1 aud lost most of their teeth.
■Selecting from the few queer houses upon Mill
I'tiiid Bank, a house with a wooden front and three
siiiriea of how-window (not hay-windows, which is an-
(itiier thing), I looked at the plate upon the door, and
tead there, Mi's. Whimplo. That heing the name I
(ranted, I knocked, and an elderly woman of a pleasant
and thriving appearance responded. She was imraedi-
aiely deposed, however, by Herbert, who silently led
me into the parlour and shut the door. It was an odd
sttnsatiou to sec his very familiar face established quite
lit homo in that very unfamiliar room and region; and
I found myself looking at him, much as I looked at
iLe corner- cupboard with the glass and china, the shelb
upon the chimney-piece, and the coloured engravings
on the wall, representing the death of Captain Cook, a
ship-launch, and his Majesty King George Third in a
»ttttc-co8chman's wig, leather-breeches, and top-boots,
irn the terrace at Windsor.
"AU is well, Handel," said Herbert, "and he is
qnite satisfied, though eager to see you. My dear girl
is with her father; and if you'll wait till she comes
down, I'll make you known to her, and tkcn. ~Nfe'^ %o
up-8tairs. — TAai'g her father!"
^^Ihad become aware of an alatmiug gso^flWii^ o'^'
"and you may sap]
3.B persists, too, in ki
in his room, and sen
1 shelyes over his h
i room must be Uko
head, and had probably expressed I
countenance.
"I am afraid he is a Bad old rascal," eatd Herb
smiling, "but I have never seen him. Don't yon (
rum? He is always at it."
"At rum?" said I.
"Yes," returned Herbert,
how mild it makes his gout. ]
ing' all the provisions up-st)iira
them out. Ho keeps them oi
and v>ili weigh them all. Hii
chandler's shop."
While he thus spoke, the growling; noise 1
L prolonged roar, and then died away.
"What else ean he the consequence," said Herh
L explanation, "if he loili cut the chi
L with the gout in his right hand — and everywh
else — can't expect to get through a Double Gloueei
} without hurting himself."
He seemed to have hurt himself very much, fitf
j gave another furious r
"To have Provis for an upper lodger is qnitl
godsend to Mrs. Whimpie," said Herbert, "for of W
'e in general won't stand that noise. A con
place, Handel; isn't it?"
It was a curious place, indeed; hut remarb
well kept and clean.
"Mrs. Whimpie," said Herbert, when I told tiin
"is the best of housewives, and I really do not b
what my Clara would do without her motherly i
For, Clara has no mother of her own, Handel, and
[_Telation in the world but q\4 tii:viS!«i.i^Ta."
rely that's not Via tvamft , '&^m\i^'"^^J
(IRBAT EXPECTATIOIfS, 175
KNo, no," 6aid Herbert, "that's my aame for him.
lame is Mr. Barley. But wbut a blessing it is for
on of my father aud mother to lovo a girl who
10 relationa, and who can neyer bother herself, or
ody else, about her familyl"
Herbert had told me on former occasions, and now
I minded me, that be first knew MIbb Clara Barley
hljcn she was completing her education at an estab-
I -liraent at Hammersmith, and that on her being re-
I illfd home to nurse her father, he and she had con-
i'.tp-d their affection to the motherly Mrs. Whimple, by
'ilium it had been fostered and regulated with equal
i.iiidness and discretion, ever since. It was understood '
Liil nothing of a tender nature could be confided to
"M Barley, by reason of bis being totally unequal to
■y consideration of any subject more psychological
■Vin Gout, Rum, and Purser's stores.
As we were thus conversing In a low tone while
' *l'l Barley's sustained growl vibrated in the beam that
'"dsacd the ceiling, the room door opened, and a very
[TF'tty alight dark-eyed girl of twenty or so, came in
■iith a basket in her hand: whom Herbert tenderly re-
iifved of the basket, and presented blushing, as "Clara."
f Jihe really was a most charming girl, and might have
, pLissed for a captive fairy whom that truculent Ogre,
llld Barley, had pressed into his sprvice.'
"Look here," said Herbert, showing me the basket
>'it(i a compassionate and tender smile after we had
■liked a little; "here's poor Clara's supper, served out
'•fry night. Here's her allowance of bread, and here's
l.i'v slice of cheese, and here's her rum — ■wVi\s.\i. \
This 13 JU>. Barley's breakfast fov Vo-iaoTtQ's.
•j)oked. Two mutt " ""^
176 QBEAT EKPECTATIOSS.
potatoes, some split peas, a little flour, two oimc
butter, a piach of salt, and all tliis black peppar.
fitewed ap together aud taken, hot, and it's a nice
for the gout, I should think!"
There was something so natural and
Clara's resigned way of looking at these stores in
aa Herbert pointed them out, — and something
fiding, loving, and innocent, in her modest
yielding herself to Herbert's embracing aim
something so gentle in her, so much needing protc
on Mill Pond Bank, by Chinks's Basin, and the
Green Copper Rope- Walk, with Old Barley groi
in the beam — that I would not have undoni
engagement between her and Herbert, for all the m
in the pocket-book I had never opene~
I was looking at her with pleasure and admin
when suddenly the growl swelled into a roar a
and a frightful bumping noise was heard above,
a giant with a wooden leg were trying to b(
through the ceiling to come at us. Upon this I
said to Herbert, "Papa wants me, darling!" ani
"There's an unconscionable old shark for j
said Herbert. "What do yoa suppose he wants
Haudel?"
"I don't know," said I. "Something to drink
"That's iti" cried Herbert, as if I had ma
gness of Qstraordinary merit. "He keeps his
ready-miied in a little tub on the table. Wait a
ment, and you'il hear Clara lift him up to take
— There he goes!" Another roar, with a proh
shake at the end. "TSo-w " «ki&- SesAiwt, as tt
succeeded by silence, ''Me imisA-a^."
OSKJlT BSraOTATIOin.
pi&e growl resonnded in the beat
1 agaia on his back!"
I returning soon afterwards, Herbert accoi
3 up-Btairs to see our charge. As we pai
" I door, he was heard hoarsely muttei
I strain that rose and fell like wind,
pBe&ain; in which I substitute good wish)
ing quite the reverse,
y! Bless your eyes, here's old Bill Barley.-'
1. Bill Barley, bless your eyes. Here's old
ley on the flat of his back, by the Lord.
i the flat of his back, like a drifting old dead
H your old Bill Barley, bless your ey(
in of eonsolation, Herbert informed
Ible Barley would commune with himself
ind night together; often, while it was light,
i the same time, one eye at a telescope which
I on his bed for the convenience of sweeping
I two cabin I'ooms at the top of the liouf
1 and airy, and in which Mr. Barlq
f andible than below, I found Provis comfort-'
He expressed no alarm, and seemed to
Sthat was worth mentioning; but it struck me
was softened — indefinably, for I could not
I how, and could never afterwards recal how,
^ed; but certainly.
jopp«ntunity that the day's rest had given me
had resulted in my fully determining to
g to him respecting Compeyson. For las^'Omsi^
I his ajtimmity towards tlie ma.ti mV^t. w'C&w-
B(o bis seeking him out and nis^u'o^ oa.^^^
m
I -iY8 OHEAT ESPEOTATIONS.
1 destruction. Therefore, when Herbert &ad 1
down with him bj hia fire, I aaked him first 0
whether he relied on Wemmick's judgment and BOi
of information?
"Ay, ay, dear boyl" he answered, with ■
nod, "Jag'gers'B knows."
"Then I have talked with Wemmick," said I, "^
have come to tell jou what caution be gave me, i
•what advice."
This I did accurBtely, with the reservation
mentioned; and I told him how Wemmick had i
in Newgate prison (whether from otBcers or puis
I could not say), that he was under some suepii
and that my chambers had been watched; how T*^
mick had recommended his keeping close for a i
and my keeping away from him; and what W(
had said about getting bim abroad. I added,
coarse, when the time came, I should go with bini
should follow close upon him, as might be safe
Wemmick's judgment. "What was to follow that, J
not touch upon; neither indeed was I at all del
eomfortable about it in my own mind, now that I
him in that so^er condition, and in declared pid
my sake. As to altering my way of living, by
larging my expenses, I put it to him whether in
present unsettled and difiicult circumstanoeB,
not be simply ridiculous, if it were no worse?
He could not deny this, and indeed was very
sonable throughout. His coming back was a
he said, and he bad always known it to be a venl
He would do nothing to make it a desperate ^
and be had very Utt\e £eB.t o? Vis satKi^ -mitK bu^
ITS
Bbeit, vbo had been looking at the fire and
ing, Lere said that something had come into his
nghts arifling out of Wemmick's suggestion, which
aight be worth while to jiursue. "We are both good
termen, Handel, and could take him down the river
selves when the right time comes. No boat would
n he hired for the purpose, and no boatmen; that
aid save at leaat a chance of suspicion, and any
lace ia worth saving. Never mind the season; don't
1 think it might be a good thing if you began at
ie to kee]i a boat at the Temple stairs, and were in
I habit of rowing np and down the river? You fall
u that habit, and then who notices or minds? Do
twenty times or fifty times, and there is nothing
)cial in your doing it the twenty-first or fifty-first."
I liked this scheme, and Provis was quite elated by
We agreed that it should be carried into execution,
i that Provis should never recognise us if wo came
low Bridge and rowed past Mill Pond Bank. But
further agreed that he should pull down the blind
that part of bis window which gave upon the east,
euever ho saw us and all was right
Our conference being now ended, and everything
anged, I rose to go; remarking to Herbert that he
i I had better not go home together, and that I
iiUd take half an hour's start of hira. "I don't like
leave you here," I said to Provis, "though I can-
t doubt your being safer here than near me. Good-
"Dear hoy," he answered, clasping my Lands, "T
n't know when we may meet again, aivi Y io^^t Y-Js-e.
ooil-b/- S/iy Good Nightl"
*"*"''""' t will go rcg«\ar\y \>c\,w
180 OKI
aad when the time comefi you may he certain I i
be ready. Good night. Good night!"'
We thought it best that he should stay in his
rooms, and we left him on the landing outside hia t
holding a light over the Htair-rail to light aa down si
Looking back, at him, I thought of that first nlgl
his return when our positions were reversed, and i
I little suppoflod my heart could ever be as heavy
anxious at parting from him as it was now.
Old Barley was growling and swearing when
repassed his door, with no appearance of having cet
or of meaning to cease. When wo got to the tot
the stairs, I asked Herbert whether he had presa
the name of Provis? He replied, certainly not, and
the lodger was Mr. Campbell. He also explained
the utmost known of Mr. Campbell there, was, tha
(Herbert) had Mr. Campbell consigned to him, ui2
a strong personal interest in his being well eared
and living a secluded life. So, [when we went into
parlour where Mrs. Whimple and Clara were seate
work, I said nothing of my own interest ia
Campbell, hut kept it to myself.
When I had taken leave of tho pretty gentle i
eyed girl, and the motherly woman who had not
lived her honest sympathy with a little affair of
love, I felt as if the old Green Copper Rope Walk
grown quite a different place. Old Barley might b
old as the hills, and might swear like a whole fiel
troopers, but there were redeeming youth and trust
hope enough in Chiuks's Basin, to fill it to overflow
And then I thought of Estella, and of our parting,
went home very sadly.
things were aa (\xuet vn. 'i^SiP; TKtaiJia aa ■
381
bid aeen them. The windows of the roomB on that
side, lately oiicupied by Provis, were dark and still,
iind there was no lounger in Garden-court. I walked
past the fountain twite or thrice before I descended the
steps that were between lue and my vooms, but I was
quite alone. Herbert coming to my bedaide when he
came in — for I went straight to bed, dispirited and
fatigued — made the same report. Opening one of the
windows after tliat, he looked out into the moonlight,
and told me that the pavement was as sulenmly empty
IS the pavement of any Outhedral at that same hour.
Next day, I set myself to get the boat. It waa
"I'ri done, and the boat was brought round to the
iiiiile-stairs, and lay where I could reach her within a
iteor two. Then, I began to go out, as for training and
pactice; sometimes alone, sometimes with Herbert. I
»aB often out in cold, rain, and sleet, but nobody took
iimch note of mo after I had been out a few times.
At first, I kept above Blackfriars Bridge; but, as the
huws of the tides changed, I took towards London
Bridge. It was Old London Bridge in those days, and
at certain states of the tide there was a race and fall
of water there which gave it a had reputation. But I
tiiEw well enough how to "shoot" the bridge after
seeing it done, and so began to row about among the
shipping in the Pool, and down to Erith. The first
time I passed Mill Pond Bank, Ilerbert and I were
pnlling a pair of oars; and, both in going and return-
ing, we saw the blind towards the cast come down.
Herbert was rarely there less frequently tlian three
times in a week, and he never brought me a, em^a
Word of intelligeDce that waa at all alaj:TO\n5. ¥.\:^,"^
1182 GREAT EXPBCTATIOHS.
get rid of the notion of being watched. Once r
U is a haunting idea; how many nndesigning peiHOnSi
auBpected of watching me it wonld be hard to caletdiA
In abort, I was always full of fears for thiB n
man who wag in hiding. Herbert had sometimea n
fa) me that he found it pleasant to stand at one of o
windows after dark, when the tide was running Aa«
iind to think that it was flowing, witli cverytbinf i
bore, towards Clai'a. But I thought with dread thi
it was flowing towards Magwitch, and that any blad
mark on its surface might be his pursuers , going BwiiUj
silently, and suroly, to take him.
CHAPTER XIX.
Some weeks passed without bringing any chang*
I We waited for Wemniick, and he made no sign. K
I had never known hira out of Little Britain, :
Bjiad never enjoyed the privilege of being on a fanub*
y footing at the Castle, I might have doubted him; i
for a moment, knowing him as I did. ^^
My worldly affairs began to wear a gloomy appM*
1 ance, and I was pressed for money by more than W'
I creditor. Even I myself began to know the want oi
I inoney (I mean of ready money in my own pocke*)
land to relieve it by converting some easily spared tf
I tides of jewellery into cash. But I had quite dett*
mined that it would be a heartless fraud to take iW*^
money from my patron in the existing state of my M
certain thoughts and plans. Therefore, I bad sent ihil
ihe unopened poukel-booV \)'5 "B.efti«A., \a Wld. iii«
_^>ra keeping, and 1 Ml aUmi I'i mjSwJvwKwti. — -*
183
ilicr it WHS a false kind or a true, I hardly know —
iii not having profited hy his genei'osity since his reve-
lation of himself.
As the time wore on, an impression settled heavily
Dpon me that Estella was married. Fearful of having
it confirmed, though it was all but a conviction, I
avoided the newspapers, and begged Herbert (to whom
I had confided the circmnstances of our last interview)
never to speak of her to me. Wiy I hoarded up this
last wretched little rag of the robe of hope that was
rent and given to the winds, bow do I know! Why
iid you who read this, commit that not dissimilar in-
consietency of your own last year, last month, last
Week?
It was an unhappy life that I lived, and its one do-
minant anxiety, towering over all its other anxieties
like a high mountain above a range of mountains, ne-
VM disappeared from my view. Still, no new cause
for fear arose. Let me start &om my bed as I would,
"iti the terror ireah upon rao that he was discovered;
kt me sit listening as I would, with dread, for Herbert's
teiuming step at night, lest it should be fleeter than
ordinary, and winged with evil news; for all that, and
Biiich more to like purpose, the round of things went
on. Condemned to inaction and a state of constant
'egtlesanesa and suspense, I rowed about in my boat,
ftnd waited, waited, waited as I beat could.
There were states of the tide when, having been
down the river, I could not get back through the eddy-
chafed arches and starlings of old London Bridge; then,
Ileft my boat at a wharf near the Custom House, tu
Iw brou^it up aferwards to the TemipVe BtaVt*. "V "ww^j
^^^^^o^^ne^us, as it served W laaSs^ "oie. ^=<)|H
r BKPKCTATIONS.
^H inj' boat a^ commoner incideat among tbe watei-lids
^H people there. From this sljglit occaaioiL, sprang nt
^H meetings tLat I have, now to tell of. *
^P One afternoon, kte in thtt month of February, '
^^ came ashore at the wharf at dusk. I had pulled do*
aa tax SA Greenwich witli the ebb tide, and had tuiM
with the tide. It had been a fine bright day, but M
become foggy as the sun dropped, and I had had fl
I feel my way hock among the shipping, pretty eM
faily. Both in going and retai-nlug I had seen ^
«igtial in bis window. All well.
As it was a raw evening and I waa cold, I thou^
I would comfort myself with dinner at once; and M,
tad hours of dejection and solitude before me if I wa
home to the Temple, I thought I would afterwMdB f
to the play. The theatre where Mr. Wopsle lu
achieved his questionable triumph, was in that wator-eii
neighbourhood (it is nowhere now), and to that diestl
1 resolved to go. I was aware that JIi'. Wopale hj
not succeeded in reviving the Drama, but, on the ow
trary, had rather partaken of its decline. He had bes
t ominously heard of, through the playbills, as a fwthfi
Black, in eonnoxion with a. little girl of noble M
and a monkey. And Herbert had seen him as a pi
datory Tartar of comic propensities, with a face liko-
red brick, and an outrageous hat all over bells. ,
I dined at what Herbert and I used to call a GW
graphical chop-house — where there were maps oftl
world in porter-pot rims on every half-yard of the tsH
cloths, and charts of gravy on every one of the knii^
— to tbia day there ia scwceVj a. wi^lt fthoij-hoaw I
^(ie Lord JUajor'a domimo'na 'w^usii '
^
k *
ipi'irore oat the time in dozing over crumbs, sta-
^t gaa, and baking' in n hot blast of dinners. By-
i-by, I roTiBsd myself and went to play.
There, I found a virtuima boatswain in his Majesty's
fice — a most escellcut man, though I could have
hed his trousere not quite so tight in some places
[ not qaite so loose in others — who knocked all
little raen'a hata over their eyes, though he was
y generous and bravo, and who wouldn't hear of
'body's paying lanes, though he was very patriotic.
had a hag of money in his pocket, like a pudding
the cloth, and on that property married a young per-
, in bed-furniture, with great rejoicings; the whole
lulation of Portsmouth (nine in number at the last
nsus) turning out on the beach, to mb their own
ide and shake everybody else's, and sing "Fill, fill!"
certain dark-complexioned Swab, however, who
tUdn't fill, or do anything else that was proposed to
a, and whose heart was openly stated (by the boat-
iin) to be as black as Lis iigure-head, proposed to
J other Swabs to get all mankind into difficulties;
ich was so effectually done (the Swab family having
laiderable political influence) that it took half the
ining to set things right, and then it was only
mght about through an honest little grouer with a
ite hat, black gaiters, and red nose, getting into a
ok, with a gridiron, and listening, and coming out,
i knocking everybody down from behind with the
dlron wliom he couldn't confute with what he had
irheard. This led to Mr. Wopsle's (who had never
in beard of before) coming in with a star ani %aAet
us a pjeplpoteatiary of great power iVcecS. 'bci-vQ. 'Cos-
BgsA^, to aay thaTTte Swabs -wftte bW. \a "" *'
imfi OBEAT EXPECT ATI 0N8. W|
prison on the spot, and that he had brought ttuj
swain down the Union Jack, tta a slight acknoj
ment of his public services. The boatswain, xwa
for the first time, respectfiilly dried hia eyes (
Jack, and then cheering np and addressing Mr. 1
as Your Honour, solicited permission to take 1>|
the fin. Mr. Wopsia conceding has fin with a gn
digni^, was immediately shoved into a dusty \
while everybody danced a hornpipe; and, frort
comer, surveying the public with a discontents
became aware of me.
The second piece was the lajit now grand i
Christmas pantomime, in the first scene of whi
pained me to suspect that I detected Mr. Wopel]
red worsted legs under a highly magnified pho8|
countenance and a shock of red curtain-tiinge i|
hair, engaged in the manufacture of thnuderbolll
mine, and displaying great cowardice when his gij
master came home (very hoarse) to dinner. B
presently presented himself under worthier i^
stances; for, the Genius of Youthful Love being in
of assistance — on account of the parental brutal
an ignorant farmer who opposed the choice (
daughter's heart, by purposely falling upon the i
in a flour sack, out oi' the first-floor window — '
moned a Ecntentious Enchanter; and he, comit
&om the antipodes rather unsteadily, after an app^l
violent journey, proved ta be Mr. Wopsle in a|
crowned hat, with a necromantic work in one ^
under his arm. The business of this enchanter oai|
being principally to be talked at, sun^ at, buttj
danced at, and flashed, at ^VW foes, pS vMiflaaM
jft^ted a good deal of t\m& ou ^^^^|yfi|
irith great surprise, that he devoted it to ataring
^direction aa if Le wore lost in amazement.
There was amoething so remarkuble in the increar
I glare of Mr. Wopale's oye, and he seemed to be
ling so ma.nj things over in his mind and to grow
:onluaed, that I could not make it out. I sat think-
of it, lon^ after he had ascended to the clonds in
irge watch-case, and still I could not make it oat.
as stil] thinking of it when I came out of thu theatre
liour aftenvai'da, and found him waiting for me near
door.
"How do you do?" said I, shaking hands with him
we tnmed down the street together. "I saw that
"Saw you, Mr. Pip!" he returned. "Tea, of coorae
iw you. But who else was there I"
"Who else?"
"It is the strangest thing," said Mr. Wopslo, drift-
into hia lost look again; "and yet I could awear
Becoming alarmed, I entreated Mr. Wopsle to es-
n his meaning.
"Whether I should have noticed him at firat but
your being there," said Mr. Wopale, going on in
same lost way, "I can't be positive; yet I think I
dd."
Involuntaiity I looked round me, as I was accus-
look round me when I went home; for these
terioas words gave me a chill.
Oh! Ho cant bo in sight," said Kr. Wopale.
wont out, before I went off. I aavi livm ^o,"
Uaring the reason that I had, for \>emg was^vivsvia,,
fpected this jjoor actor. I mlstixi - - —
188 oreat expectations.
to entrap me into some admlBsion. Therefore, I gl«
at him as we walked on together, but said notldng
"I had a ridiculous foDuy that he must be with
Mr. Pip, till 1 saw that you were quite i
him, sitting behind you there, like a ghost."
My foiTuer chill crept over me again, but I v
solved not to speak yet, for it waa quite coii
with his words that he might be set on to indnc<
to connect these reterences with Provis. Of com
was perfectly sure and safe that Previa had not I
there.
"I dare say you wonder at me, Mr. Pip; in(
I see you do. But it ia so very straugel ~
hardly believe what I am going to tell you.
hardly believe it myself, if you told me."
"Indeed?" said I,
"No, indeed, ilr. Pip, you remembex in old ti
a certain Christmas Day, when you were quite s
and I dined at Gargery's, and some soldiers c
the door to get a pair of handcuff n
"I remember it very well."
"And you remember that there was a chua I
two convicts, and that we joined in it, and that Gar
took you on his back, and that I took the lead
you kept up with me as well aa you could?'
"I remember it all very well." Better ihdn
thought — except the last clause.
"And you remember that we came np with
two in a ditch, and that there was a scuffle bet
them, and that one of tbem had been severely hai
and much mauled about the face, by the other?"
"I see it all beioie me"
tnd that the aolAiwa W^VWii ^^
l-tiie centre, and that we went on to uee the last
over the black marshes, with the torchlight
ing on their faces — I am particular about that;
[ the totcUight Hhiniug on their faces, when there
an outer ring of darit night all about us?"
"Yes," said I. "I remember all that."
"Then, Mr. Pip, one of those two prisoners aat
ind you to-night. I saw him over your shoulder."
"Steady!" I thought. I asked him then, "Which
be two do you suppose you saw?"
"The one who had been mauled," he answered
lily, "and I'll swear I saw LJm! Tho more I think
im, the more certain I am of him."
"This is very curious!" said I, with the best aa-
ption I could put on, of its being nothing more to
"Very curious indeed I"
I cannot exaggerate t!io enhanced disquiet into
ch this conversation threw me, or the special and
iliar ten-or I felt at Compeyson's having been he-
] me "like a ghost." Tor, if he had ever been
of my thoughts for a few moments togetlier since
hiding had begun, it was in those very moments
n he was closest to me; and to think that I should
io unconscious and off my guard after a!! my care,
as if I had shut an avenue of a hundred doors to
p him out, and then had found him at my elbow.
)uid not doubt either that he was there, because
as there, and that however slight an appearance of
^r there might he about us, danger was always
r and active.
I put such questions to Mr. Wopsle aa, W\w,\i ivV
"b conid not teW lae \.\v3.\,-, Vii &w«
-'190 OBBiT EXPBCTATTOHS.
not until be had seen bim fur some time thst
gan to identify him; but he bnd frotn the firat t
associated bim with me, and known biin as so
belonging to me in the old village time. How
dressed? Prosperously,, but not noticeably othen
be tbougbt, in black. Was his face at all disfigt
No, he believed not I believed not, too, for al^
in jay brooding state I had taken no especial
of tbe people behind me, I thought it likely tj
face at all disfigured would have attracted my
When Mr. Wopsle bad imparted to me all tl
coald recai or I extract, and when I bad treated
to a little appropriate refreshment after the fatigfo
the evening, we parted. It was between twelva
one o'clock when I reached the Temple, and the ,
were shut. No one was near me when I went in
went home.
Herbert had come in, and we held a very sa
council by the fira. But there was nothing to be i
saving to communicate to Wemmick what I had
night found out, and to remind him that we *
for bis hint. As I thought that I might corapK
bim if I went too often to the Castle, I mads
communication by letter. I wrote
bed, and went out and posted it; and again no
was near me. Herbert and I agi-eed that we conl
nothing else but be very cautious. And wo were
cautious indeed — more cautious than before,' if
were possible — and I for my part never went
Chinks's Basin, except when I rowed by, and tt
unly looked at MillPoni^a^ ^»^\"*A.w!i.et anji
CHAPTER XX.
nd of tlie two mootings I'eferred
occurred about a week iifter tJie &Bt.
left my boat at the wharf below Bridge;
IB an hour earlier in the afternoon; and,
where to dine, I had strolled up into CLeap-
itroUing along it. surely the most im-
1 all the busy concourse, when a large
upon niy shoulder, by some one over-
B. It was Mr. Jaggers's hand, and he passed
1 my arm,
ire are going in the same direction, Pip,
together. Where are you bound for?"
the Temple, I think," said I.
^t you know?" said Mr. Jaggers.
1," I returned, glad for once to get the h
■examination, "I do not know, 1
made up my mind."
going to dine?" said Mr. Jaggera. "T(
d admitting that, I suppose?"
1 returned, "I don't mind admitting that"
are not engaged?"
I't mind admitting also, that I am not
t," said Mr. Joggers, "come ajid dine with
going to excuse myself, when he added,
ek'B coming." So I changed my excuse into
ance — the few words I Lad uttctei sfct^Aia^
tegJBn'mg of either — a,Ti4 -wb 'weo.X. ^■wo.'^,
' " to Little Bnta-Va, '■^'
I
192 GREAT EXPECTATIOSB.
lights were springing up brilllantlj in the ahojn
dows, and the street lamp -lighters, scarcely fin
ground enough to plant their ladders on in tfae n
of the afternoon's bustle, were skipping up and (
and running in and out, opening more red eyea in
gathering fog than my rushlight tower at tha 1
mums had opened white eyea in the ghostly wall.
At the office in Little Britain there was the i
letter-writing, hand-washing, candle-anuffing, and
locking, that closed the business of the day. J
stood idle by Mr. Jnggcrs'a fire, its rising and fa
flame made the two casts on the shelf look as if
were playing a diabolical game at bo-peep with
while the pair of coarse fat office candles that A
lighted Mr. Jaggers as he wrote in a comer,
decorated with dirty winding-sheets, as if in
membrance of a host of hanged clients.
We went to Grerrard-streot, all three together,
hackney-coach: and as soon as we got there, d!
was served. Although I should not have thongl
making, in that place, the most distant reference "
much as a look to Wemmick's "Walworth sentii
yet I should have bad no abjection to catchin|
eye now and then in a friendly way. But it w
to be done. He turned his eyes on Mr. Jaggera
ever he raised them from the table, and was t
and distant to me as if there were twin
and this was the wrong one.
"Did you send that note of Miss HaviBham
Mr. Pip, Wemmick?" Mr. Jaggers asked, soon
we beg&n dinner.
r," returael "^fc\KmA«^s ""'*■ "«»* ^w
^Hvlien you brought Mr. Pip into the office. Here
Bf He handed it to his principal, instead of to me.
"It's a nitte of two IJues, Pip," siud Mr. Jaggers,
landing it on, "sent up to me by Miss Havisham, on
LCconnt of her not being sure of your address. She
ells me that she wants to see you on a little matter
if buaineaa you mentioned to her. You'll go downi*"
"Tea," said I, casting my eyes over the note,
which was exactly in those terms.
"When do you think of going down?"
''I have an impending engagement," said I, glan-
iug at Wemmicfe, who wus putting fish into the post-
iiffice, "that renders me rather uncertain of my time.
At once, I think."
"If Mr. Pip has the intention of going at once,"
(aid Wemmick to Mr. Jaggers, "he needn't write an
loawer, you know."
Eeceiving this as an intimation that it was best
lot to delay, I settled tbat I wonld go to-morrow, and
aid 80. Wemmick drank a glass of wine and looked
vith a grimly satisfied air at Mr. Jaggers, but not
It me.
"So, Pipl our friend the Spider," said Mr. Jaggers,
'b;w played his cards. He has won the pool."
It was as much as I could do to assent.
"Hah! He is a promising fellow — in his way —
lut he may not have it all his own way. The stronger
fill win in the end, but the sti'onger has to be found
iQt first. If he should turn to, and heat her — "
"Surely," I interrapted, with a burning face and
ji-art, "you do not seriously think that be ia wiowQiti^ j
iiimgh for that, Mr. Jaggers?^^ 1
"/ didn't say so, Pip. I am putting a. >ias»^^^
^^nv^
va
QUE AT EXPKCTA-nONS.
he Bhould turn to and beat her, he may poBsibly
the strength on his side; if it should be a questioD
intellect, he cortaiidy wiU not. It would be di*
work to give an opinion how a i'eilow of that i
torn oat in suuh circumstances, because it's a
between two results."
"May I ask what they are?"
"A fellow like our friend the Spider," answe
Mr. Jaggers, "either heats, or cringes. He may
and growl, or cringe and not growl; hut he
beats or cringes. Ask Wemmick /«> opinion."
"Either heats or cringes," said Wemmick, no*
all addressing himself to me.
"So here's to Mrs. Bentley Dmmmle," smd .
Jaggers, taking a decanter of choicer wine from
dumb-waiter, and filling for each of us and for h
self, "and may the question of supremacy be Bed
to the lady's aatisfaction ! To the satisfaction of
lady ami the gentleman, it never will he. Now, Mo
Molly, Molly, Molly, Low slow you are to-dayt"
She was at his elbow when he addressed her,
ting a dish upon the table. As she withdrew
hands from it, she fell back a atep or two, Dervoi
muttering some excuse, and a certain action of
fingers as she spoke arrested my attention.
"What's the matter?" said Mr. Jaggers.
"Nothing. Only the subject we were speak
of," said I, "was rather painful to me,"
The action of her fingers was like the ai
knitting. She stood looking at ber master, not uni
standing whether she was free to go, or whether
Jiad more to say to lier tmi "wo\Ai n?a.\iist ^aak if
i^d go. Her look was \ei7 \tAwA. ftMsA^,^
■ (KBAT BXraOTATIOITS. IWl
Bgtly encb eyes and suth hands, on a memoiv
Bnion very lately!
HiamiBsed her, and she glided out of the room.
Kremained before me, as plainly as if she were
Ire. I looked at those hands, I looked at those i
P looked at that flowing hair; and I compared
S&i other hands, other eyes, other hair, dtat I
P, and with what those might be after twenty
ffft brutal husband and a stormy life. I looked
H' those hands and eyes of the housekeeper,
Might of the inexplicable feeling that had come
n when I last walked — not alone — in the
garden, and through the deserted breweryii
'it how the same feeling had come back when
face looking at me, and a hand waving to me,
ige-coach window; and Iv^w it had come back
id had flashed about me like Lightning, when
ised in a carriage — not alone — through a
•lare of light in a dark street. I thought how
it of association had helped that identification
^leatre, and how such a link, wanting before,
riveted for me now, when I had passed by a
iwift from Estella'a name to the fingers with
Siting action, and the attentive eyes. And I
llutely certain that this woman was Estella's
Jaggers had seen me with Estella, and was
}y to have missed the sentiments I had been at
to conceal. He nodded when I said the snb-
painful to me, clapped me on the back, put
e wine again, and went on with K\5 AvHnwt.
tmce more, did the houseWfte^d'! tfc-UYS^'^i
her gtay in the room "waa ■very AyhA, «sii-
Mr. Jaggers was sliarp mth her. But lier hands
Estella's hands, and her eyes were Estella's eyes,
if she had TGuppeured ii hundred timos I could
been neither moro sure nor less sure that my col
tion was the tnitli.
It was a dull evening, for Wemmick drew hifl
when it came round, quite aa a matter of buainei
just as he might have drawn his salary when
came round — and with his eyee on his chief, s
a Btate of perpetual readiness for cross-examina
As to the quantity of wine, hia post-ofBee was a
different and ready as any other post-offica foi
quantity of letters. From my point of view, Be
the wrong twin all the time, and only ext^maUy-
the Wemmick of Walworth.
We took our loare early, and left together, 1
when we wore groping among Mr. Jaggers's atoo
boots for our hats, I felt that the right twin wa
his way back; and we had not gcme half a d
yards down Gerrard- street in the Walworth dirft"
before I found that I was walking arm-in-arm witJ
right twin, and that the wrong twin had evapoi
into the evening air.
"Well!" said Wemmick, "that's over,
wonderful man, without hia living likeness; bat I
that I have to screw myself up wlien I dine with
— and I dine more comfortahly, unscrewed."
I felt that this was a good statement of the I
and told him so.
"Wouldn't Bay it to anybody hut yonrBCif,"
flnswered. "I know that what is said between
and me, goes no t'urtlier."
^Ked daughter, MrH. Bentley Drumnile? He siiid no.
^RfToid being too abnipt, I then spoke of tUe Aged,
Wd of Misa Skiffius. He looked rather ely when I
inentioned MIhs Skiffius, and stopped in the street to
liliff his nose with a roll of the head and a flourish,
not quite free from latent hoaatfulness.
"Wemmiek," aaid I, "do you remember telling me
before I first wont to Mr. Jaggers's private house, to
Mtice that housekeeper?"
"Did I?" he replied. "All, I dare say I did.
Draee take me," he added, suddenly, "I know I did.
[ find I am not quite unscrewed yet."
"A wild beast tamed, you called her," said I.
"And what do i/ou call her?" said he.
"The same. How did Mr. Jaggors tamo her,
'Vemraick?"
"That^H bis secret. She has beon with him many
I long year."
"I wish you would toll me her story. I feel a
mrticular interest in being acquainted with it. Tou
mow that what is said between yon and me goes no
iirthor."
"Well!" Weramick replied, "I don't know her
tory — that is, I don't know all of it. But what I
lo know, I'll tell you. We are in our private and
"ersonal capacities, of conrse."
"Of course,"
"A score of years ago, that woman was tried at
lie Old Bailey for murder, and was acquitted. 8he
'aa a very handsome young woman, and I believe had
e gipsy blood in her. Anyhow, it was hot
m
'ten it B
s up, as yoa may aujipoae.
J acquit
I HREAT EXPECTATIONS.
"Mr. Jaggers was for her," pursaed Wemmick, H
t look full of meaning, "and worked the case i
I WKJ quite astonishing. It was a desperate case, i
s comparatively early days with him then, /
[ he worked it to general admiration; in fact, it n
I almost be said to have made him. He worked H ii
I self at the police-office, day after day for many di
contending againat even a committal; and at lie tt
■where he couldn't work it himself, sat under Coon
and — every one knew — put in all the salt i
pepper. The murdered person y
a good ten years older, very much larger, and v!
much stronger. It was a. case of jealousy. They bo
led tramping lives, and this woman in GMrard-stn
here had heen married very young, ovm the broomati
I (as we say), to a tramping man, and^lvas a perfe
fiiry in point of jealousy. The murdered troman -
more a match for the man, certainly, in point of yes
— was found dead in a ham near Hounslow Heai
There had heen a violent struggle, perhaps a fi^
She was bruised and scratched and torn, and hod b
held by the throat at last and choked. Now, Ha
was no reasonable evidence to implicate any person V
this woman, and, on the improbabilities of her harjl
been able to do it, Mr. Jaggers principally rested l
case. Yon may be sure," said Wemmick, toudiing I
on the sleeve, "that he never dwelt upon the strei^
of her bands then, though he Bometiraes does now."
I had told Wemmick of his showing us her wriat
that day of the dinner party.
"Well, sir!" Wemmick went on; "it happened <^
happened, don't you see'? — \.\ia.\. V\v\ft -^ovaan was.
very artfully dressed from,
GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 199
■b, that she lookod mucli sligliter than shv really wak;
■ particnlaj, lier sleeves are always remembered to
lifive been bo Bkilfully contrived, that her arms had
Siite a delicate look. She had only a bruise or two
'otit her — nothing for a tramp — but tJie backs of
iiM hands were lacerated, and the question wa«, was it
with finger-nails? Now, Mr. Jaggera showed that she
W striig'gled through a great lot of brambles which
W(e not as iiigh as her face; hut which she could not
iiaye got through and kept her hands out of; and bits
of those brambles were actually found in her skin and
put in evidence, as well as the fact that the brambles
in question were found on examination to have been
Itruken through, and to have little shreda of her dress
ind little spots ol' blood upon them here and there.
But the boldest point he made, was this. It was-
attempted to be set up in proof of her jealousy, that
*he was uuder'sfrong suspicion of having, at about the
time of the murder, fi-antically destroyed her child by
Ihis man ■ — some three yeara old — to revenge her-
'elf upon liim. Mr. Jaggers worked that, in this way.
'We say these are not marks of finge:^naila, but marks
nf brambles, and we show you the brambles. Ton say
ihey are marks of finger-nails, and you set up the
tiypotheais that she destroyed her child. You must ae-
!Bpt all consequences of that hypothesis. For anything
ifB know, she may have destroyed her child, and the child
■0 clinging to her may have scratched her hands, "What
ieji? You are not trying her for the murder of her
Mid; why don't you? As to this case, if yon rvill
lave scratches, we say that, for anything we kno'w,
Fou may haro accounted for them, aBsamm^ ^ot '&Na
ifai irf" alignment that tou have not mvenJtei "fi^^
1,200 GBBAT BXPECTATIONa.
JTo sum up, Bir," said Weinmick, "Mr. Jaggers wi
Itltogether too many for the Jury, and tliey gave in."
;, "lias slie been in his service ever since?"
I "Yes; but not only that," said WemmJck.
vent into his Bcrrice immediately after her
tamed as she ia now. She has ainee been taught
thing and another in the way of her duties, but
was tamed from the beginning."
■ "Do you remember the sex of the child?"
"Said to have been a girl,"
"Yon have nothing more to say to me to-night?"
"Nothing, I got your letter and destroyed
» Sothing."
We exchanged a cordial Good Night, and I w
home with new matter for my thoughts, though n
I, no relief from the old.
CHAPTER XXL
I
^^■i PiTTTiNG Misa Havisham's note in my pocket,
^^Flt might serve as my credentials for so sooi
mg at Satis House, In case lier waywarduoM) uiuu
lead her to express any surprise at seeing me, I we
down again by the coach next day. But I alighted
^^ the Half-way House, and breakfasted there, and walfa
^K the rest of the distance; for I sought to got into t
^K town quietly, by the uufrequented ways, and to lea'
^H it in the same manner.
^B The best light of the day was gone when I ]
^H along the quiet echoing courts behind the Higb-
^K ^^ nooks of ruin wUeie iW o\i TOoiikft had
^^melr refectories and gai&euB, &:&&,
^Bm^SS
201
ffiUa were now pressed into the serviue of liumblo
Biibds and stables, wete almost as silent as tlie old
nonks in their graves. The cathednil chimes had at
onco a gadder and a more remote sound to me, as I
liarried on avoiding obsarvatioa, than they had ever
had before; so, the swell of the old organ Tvas borne
Uuuy ears like funeral music; and the rooks, as the^
!iovcred about tho grey tower and swmig in the bare
liigli trees of the priory-garden, seemed to call to me
liat the place was changed, and that Estella was gone
ont of it for ever.
An elderly woman whom I had Been before as one
of the servants who lived in the supplementary liouso
scroBs the back court-yard, opened the gate. The
liglited candle stood in the dark passage within, as of
old, and I took it up and ascended the staircase alone.
Miss llavisham was not in her own room, hut was in
ite larger room across tLc landing. Looking in at the
door, after knocking in vain, 1 saw her sitting on the
liearth in a ragged chair, close before, and lost in the
Mntflioplation of, the ashy fire.
Doing as I had often done, I went in, and stood,
'unching the old chimney-piece, where she could see
me when she raised her eyes. 'J'here was an air of
utter loneliness upon her that would have moved me
to pity though she had wilfully done me a deeper
injury than I could charge Ler with. As I stood com-
paasionating her, and thinking how in the progress of
time I too had come to be a part of the wrecked
fnrtunes of that bouse, her eyes rested on me. She
'tared, and said in a low voice, "Is it rcall"
"It is J, Pip. Mr. Jaggera gave lae ■^o^'w tvtfuB.
' '.and lb ' -'
302 ORGAT BXPBCTATIONe. ^^^^|
"Thank you. Thank yon." ^^|
As I broQg^bt another of the ragged cliB^^
hearth and sat down, I remarked a uew expreasH
her face, as if she were afraid of me. J
"I want," she said, "to pursne that snbjed
mentioned to me when you were last here, and toj
yon that I am not all stone. But perhaps yd
never believe, now, that there is anything huiq
my heart?" J
When I said some reassuring words, she Btm
ont her tremulous right hand, as though ahe were]
to tODch me; but she recalled it again before I n
stood the action, or knew how to receive it. ]
"Yon said, speaking for your friend, that yoaJ
tell me how to do something useful and good. |
thing that you would like done, is it not?" J
"Something that I would like done, Teija
much." ]
"What is it?" j
I began explaining to her that secret history I
partnership. I had not got far into it, when I u
from her look that she was thinking in a digra
way of me, rather than of what I said. It se^
be so, for when I stopped speaking, many moi
passed before ahe showed that she was conscia
the fact. i
"Do you break off," she asked then, with her i
air of being afraid of me, "because you hate M
much to bear to speak to me?" ]
"No, no," I answered, "how can you think at _
Havisham! I stopped because I tbought yon wd
following what I said,"
. _ "Perhaps I was not," she a
can you think 8oJ
tbought yon wd
GREAT ESPECTATIOSS.
^Head. "Begin ngttin, anil let me look at some-
^Be. Stayl Now tell in.'."
She aet her hauda upon her stick in the resolute
' that srnaetinies was habitual to her, and looked at
fire with a strong expression of forcing' herself to
ud. I went on with my explanation, and told her
■ I had hoped to complete the transaction out of
means, but how in this I was disappointed. That
t of the subject (I reminded her) involved matters
ch could fonn no part of my explanation, for tliey
e the weighty sGcreta of another.
"So!" said she, assenting with her head, but not
ting at me. "And how much money is wanting to
iplete the purchase?"
1 was rather afraid of stating it, for it sounded a
;e sum. "Nine hundred [ ' ""
''If I give you the money for this purpose, will jl
p my secret as you have kept your own?'"
"Quite as faithfully."
"And your miad will be more at rest?"
"Much more at rest."
"Are you very unhappy now?"
She aaked this question, still without looking at
hut in an unwonted tone of sympathy. I could
reply at the moment, for my voice failed me. She
her left arm across the crutched head of her stick,
softly laid her forehead on it.
"I am far from happy, MissHavisham; but I have
ir causes of disquiet than any you know of. They
the secrets I have mentioned."
After a little whBe, she raised \iei: Wa.i aiiii. XtidtHSi-
"It 19 tujble in you to tell mo that yaa. liavi
causes of unhappincBa. Is it true?"
"Too true."
n I only serve you, Pip, by serving youi 1
ng that as done, is there nothing I can
yon yourself?"
"Nothing. I thank you for the quegtjon. I
you even more for the tone of the question, Bq
is nothing."
She presently rose from her seat, and lookecl
the blighted room for the meana of writing. '
were none there, and she took from her pocket a '
set of ivory tablets, mounted in tarnished goii
wrote upon them with a pencil in a case of tat
gold that hung from her neck.
"You are still on friendly terms with Mr. Jag
"Quite. I dined with him yesterday."
"This ia an authority to him to pay yoi
money, to lay out at your irresponBible discreti
your friend. I keep no money here, but if yon
rather Mr. Jaggers knew nothing of the matter,
send it to you."
"Thank you, Miss Havisham; I hare not th
objection to receiving it from him."
She read me what she had written, and ■
direct and clear, and evidently intended to absoJ
from any suspicion of profiting by the receipt
money. I took the tablets from her hand,
trembled again, and it tremhietl more as she tn
the chain to which the pencil was attached, at
/( in mine. All this aW i\i -wVOnQUt ViwititLg at-i
^^'My name is on &e ti6tV«.f- "^^j^
r flllEAT EXPEOTATIONS. 205
ite under my name, 'I forgive her,' thongh ever so
1^ after my broken, heart ia dust — pray do itl"
"0 Mias HaviBham," said I, "I can do it now.
lere have been sora mistakea, and my life has been
bUnd and thankless one, and I want t'orgiveneas and
rection far too much to be hitter with you."
She tamed her face to me for the first time uince
e had averted it, and, to my amazement, I may even
(1 to my terror, dropped on her knees at my feet;
ill ber folded hands raised to me m the manner in
litli, when her poor heart was young and fresh and
lulc, they must often have been raised to Heaven
im her mother's side.
To see her with her white hair and her worn face
.eeling at my feet, gave me a shock through all my
.me. I entreated her to rise, and got my arms about
r to help her np; but she only pressed that hand of
ae which was nearest to her grasp, and hung her
!id over it and wept. I had never seen her shed a
iT before, and, in the hope that the relief might do
c good, I bent over her without speaking. She was
t kneeling now, hut was down upon the ground.
" 0 ! " she cried , despairingly. "What have I
ne! What have I donel"
"If you mean, Mies Havisham, what have you done
injure me, let me anawer. Very little. I should
ve loved her under any circumstances. — Is she
irried?"
"Yes."
It was a needless question, for a new desolation in
; desolate house had told me so.
"What have I donel What \iavft \ i(«w,V" 'Svw
<^rber hands, and crushed tst^^^^^^^^^J
206
ORB AT EXPECTATIONS,
returned to this cry, over and over again. "What hi
I done!"
I knew not how to answer, or how to comfort ll
That she had done a grievous thing in taking an
pressionablc child to mould into the form that I
I wild resentment, spumed affection, and wounded pi'
} found vengeance in, I knew full well. But that,
_ shutting out the light of day, she had a"
Wy infinitely more; that, in seclusion, she had seclni
I ] herself from a thousand natural and healing ini
I / that, her mind, brooding solitary, had grown diseas
I ^ as all minds do and must and will that reverse ~
1^ appointed order of their Maker; I knew equally t
And could I look upon her without compassion, bm
her punishment in the ruin she was, in her profirt
un^tness for this earth on which she was placed,
the vanity of sorrow which had become a ma
mania, like the vanity of penitence, the vanity
remorse, the vanity of unworthiness, and other monstl*
vanities that have been curses in this world?
"Until you spoke to her the other day, and
[ saw in you a looking-glass that showed me w.
once felt myself, I did not know what I had
"What have I done! What have I done!" And
again, twenty, fifty times over. What had she done;
"Miss Havisham," I said, when her cry died ai
"you may dismiss me from your mind and coiucic
But Estella is a different case, and if you can i
indo any scrap of what you have done amiss in ke^
i part of her right nature away from her, it wil
better to do that, than to bemoan the past throu|^
hundred years,"
"Tea, yes, I kno-w Vt. "B^A, V\^ — -hs^ TS
^^Rfras an earnest vomaDly compasaion for me in
jj^Rv affection. "My dearl Believe this; when she
rat came to me, I meant to save her from misery like
7 own. At flrat I meant no more."
"Well, well!" said I. "I hope so."
"But as she grew, and pTomised to be very beautifnl,
gradually did worse, and with my praises, and with
V teachings, and with this figure of myself always
ifore Ler a warning to back and point my lessons, I
ole her heart away and put ice in its place."
"Bettor," I could not help saying, "to have left
ir a natural heart, even to be braised or broken."
With that, Miss Havisham looked distractedly at
e for a. while, and then burst out again, What had
"If you knew all my story," she pleaded, "you
ould have some compassion for me and a better under-
anding of me."
"Miss Havisham," I answered, as delicately as I
mid, "I believe I may say that I do know your story,
id have known it ever since I first letl this neigh-
inrhood. It has inspired me with great commisera-
)n, and I hope I understand it and its Influences.
(ies~vrbat has passed between us give me any excuse
t asking you a question relative to Estella? Not as
,e is, but as she was when she first came here?"
She wns seated on the ground, with her arms on
e ragged chair, and her head leaning on them. She
oked fiill at me when I said this, and replied, "Go
"Whose child was Estella-"
She shook ber head.
I
OK BAT EXPECTATION8-
She shook her heati again.
"But Mr. Jaggers brought her here, or aent i
here?"
"Brought her here."
"Will yon tell me how that eame about?"
She answ-ered in a low whisper and with |
caution: "I had been shut up in these i
time (I don't Imow how long; you know what time tl
clocks keep here), when I tuld him that I wantedi
little girl to rear and love, and save from my fate, [
had first seen him when I sent for him to lay a
place waste for me; having read of him in the new
papers, before I and the world parted. He told nW I
that he would look about him for such an orphan chiU.
One night he brought her here asleep, and I called her
Estella."
"Might I ask her age then?"
"Two or three. She herself knows nothing, bu'
that she was left an orphan and I adopted her."
So convinced I was of that woman's being ^'^^
mother, that I wanted no evidence to establish the M
in my own mind. But to any mind, I thought, tl"*
connexion here was clear and straight.
What more could I hope to do by prolonging tbe
interview? I had succeeded on behalf of Herbert, Mi**
Havisham had told me all she kaew of Estella, I W
said and done what I could to ease her mind. No
matter with what other words we parted; we parted.
Twilight was closing in when I went down stwrt
into the natural air. I called to the woman who l)«o
opened the gate when I entered, that I would b"'
trouble her just yet, but ^o\i4 -wa-W xwmd. the piM*
before leaving. For 1 lial a 'pteatsntoattos.'^-"'*
md. the pIM*
p "*
be there again, and I fult tlmt the dying lighl
tited to my last view of it.
' the wilderness of casks that I had walked on
long ago, and on which tlie ruin of years liad fallen
rfnce, rotting them in many places, and leaving minia-
ture Bwamps and pools of water upon those that stood
On end, I made my way to the ruined garden. I weni
all round it; round by tlie comer where Herbert and ]
nad fought our battle ; round by the paths where
Estella and I had walked. So cold, so lonely, so
dreary all!
Taking the brewery on my way back, I raieed the
Wsty latch of a little door at the garden end of it,
and walked throngl. I was going out at the oppositt
floor — Hot easy to open now, for the damp wood hao
ttarted and swelled, and the hinges were yielding, and
tliB threshold was encumbered with a growth of fungut
— when I turned my head to look back. A childisl
association revived with wonderful force in the mnmeol
ff the slight action, and I fancied that I saw Misf
Havisham hanging to the beam. So strong was the
impression, that 1 stood under the beam shuddering
&om head to foot before I knew it waa a fancy —
tiumgh to be sure I was there in an instant.
The monmfnlncss of the place and time, and th(
great terror of this illusion, though it was but momcn
tary, caused me to feel an indescribable awe as I cam*
«at between the open wooden gates where I bad one*
■wrong my hair after Eatella had wrung my heart
Passing on into the front com-t-yard, I hesitated whethei
to call the woman to let me out at l\ie Vx^ei ^^.a •:
JkS/VA slw had the kej, or first to go u-j-fi'tEMft mA
210 OBEA.T EXPECTATIONS.
r
^^M sure myself that Miss Havisham was as safe a&d wdl
^^B I liad leil her. I tuoli the lutter course and went i
^H I looked into the room where I bad left her, !
^^P eaw her seated ia the ragged chair upoa the hea
^^r dose to tlie fire, with her back towards me. In I
T' moment when I was withdrawing my head to
quietly away, I saw a great flaming liglit spring I
la the same moment I saw her running at me, slirii
ing, with a whirl of fire blazingj all about her,
soaring at least as many feet above her head aa I
was high.
I had a double-caped great-coat on, and over i
I arm another thick coat. That I got them off, clol
with her, threw her down, and got them over her; l'
I dragged the great cloth from the table for the si
purpose, and with it dragged down the heap of »t((
nesB In the midst, and all the ugly things that shelta
there; that we were on the ground struggling like I
sperate enemies, and that the closer I covered her, i
more wildly she shrieked and tried to free herself; tl
this occurred I knew tlirougb the result, but not throu
anything I felt, or thought, or know I did- I kn
nothing until I knew that we were on the floor by I
great table, and that patches of tinder yet alight t
floating in the smoky air, which, a moment ago, I
been her faded bridal _d
Then I looked round and saw the disturbed beel
and spiders running away over the floor, and the J
Tants coming in with breathless cries at the dow.
still held her forcibly down with all my strength, J
a prisoner who might escape; and I doubt if I
iaew who she was, or why -wa Wl atrnggled, or tj
she bad been in flames, oi 'Aia-t 'i^'^^ei S ' ^^
CHEAT EXPBOTATIONS. 211
[ saw the patches of tinder that had been her gar-
, no longer alight but falling in a black shower
fke was insenBible, and I was afraid to have her
Fon toached. Assistance was sent for and
I her until it came , aa if I unreasonably fancied
\ I did) that if I let her go, the fire would break
llgain and consume her. When I got up, on the
'b coming to her with other aid, I waa astonished
) that both my hands were burnt; for I had no
■edge of it through the seuse of feeling.
1 examination it was pronounced that she had re-
J3 hurts, but that they of themselves were
far from hopeless; the danger lay, however, mainly in
the nervous shock. By the surgeon's diiectionB, her
lied was carried into that room and laid upon the great
table: which happened to be well suited to the dressing
ct her injuries. When I saw her again an hour aftei^
wards, she lay indeed whore I had seen her strike
hei stick, and had heard her say that she would lie
one day.
Though every vestige of her dress was burnt, as
^ey told me, she still had something of her old ghastly
bridal appearance; for, they had covered her to the
throat with white cotton-wool, and as she lay with a
white sheet loosely overlying that, the phantom air of
Bdmething that had been and was changed, was still
Upon her.
I found, on questioning the servants, that Eatella
Was in Paris, and I got a promise from the surgeon
^liat he would write to her hy the nest post. Mias Ha.-
''iabam's famJiy I took upon myself ■, mten^n^ \.o wswi-
vltb Mr. Matthew Pocket Oiiiy, «&&- Vw^a' '""
GREAT ESPECTATI0N8.
^^ coUeci
^^bi th;
0 do as he liked about informing the rest. This I d
' next day, through Herbert, as aoou as I returned i
There was a stage that evening when she spok^
collectedly of what had happened, though with a c
"a terrible vivacity. Towards midnight ehe began tn
Wander in her speech, and aflier that it gradually set
I that she said innumerable times in a low solemn
voice, "What have I donel" And then, "When slii>
first came, I meant to save her (rom misery like mine."
And then, "Take the pencU and write under my name,
'I forgive her!'" She never changed the order o"
three aentences, but she sometimes left out a word in
one or other of them; never putting in another wor4
but always leaving a blank and going on to the nert
^■^irord.
^^F- As I could do no service there, and as I had, near
^^vliome, that pressing reason for anxiety and fear whi<J
^Hteven her wanderings could not drive out of n
^H I decided in the course of the night that I would r
^B tnm by the early morning coach: walking t
^F or so, and being taken up clear of the town. At abo
EUx o'clock of the morning, therefore, I leaned over L—^
and touched her lips with mine, just as they sai^^
not stopping for being touched, "Take the pencil ait '^
write under my name, 'I forgive her.""
It V
r in that
B the first and the last time that I e
way.
And I never saw her more.
. m&AT BZP&OTATfOItB. 318
CHAPTER XXII.
[ bands had been dresacd twico or Uirice in the
and again in the morning, My left arm was a
S*ood deal bumsd to the elbow, and, less severely, 8,9
high as the ahoulder; it waa very pftinfuJ, but the
flames had set iu that direction, and I felt thankful it
wan no worse. My right hand was not so badly burnt
hut that I could move the fingers. It was bandaged,
of course, but much less inconveniently than my left
hand and arm; those I carried in a sling-, and I could
only wear my coat like a clonk, looae over my shoulders
and fastened at the neck. My hair had been caught
liy the fli'e, hut not my head or face.
When Herbert had been down to Hammersmith
and seen his father, he came back to me at our
ehftmbera, and devoted the day to attending on me.
He was the kindest of nurses, and at stated times took
"ff the bandages, and steeped them in the cooling liquid
•hat was kept ready, and put them on again, with a pa-
'ient tenderness that I was deeply grateful for.
At first, as I lay quiet on the sofa, I found it pain-
ttlly difficult, I might say impossible, to get rid of the
•DpcesBion of the glare of the flames, their hurry and
'"ise, and the fierce burning smell. If I dozed for a
minute, I was awakened by Miss Havisham's cries, and
'y her running at me witli all that height of fire above
^ head. This pain of the mind was much harder to
ttive against than any bodily jiaiu 1 safievft«S.\, mA
ferbert, seeing that, did his utmost to \\(Ai m^ ».'»»».-
Neither of ub spoke of the boat, but we boti
tnought of it. That was made apparent by oar aroid-
ance of the subject, and by our agreeing — without
agreement — to make my recovery of the use of my
hands, a, question of bo many hours, not of bo many
weeks.
My first question when I saw Herbert had been, of
courae, whether all was well down the river? Aa he
replied in the affirmative, with perfect confidence iw!
cheerfulnesB, we did not resume the subject uatil ft*
day was wearing away. But then, as Herbert changed
the bandages, more by the light of the fire than by
the outer light, he went back to it apontaneously.
"I sat with Provis last night, Handel, two good
"Where was Clara?"
"Dear little thing!" said Herbert. "She was 115
down with Gniffandgrim all the evening. He W**
perpetually pegging at the floor the moment she Ifl"
his sight. I doubt if he can hold out long, thoug^
What with rum and pepper — and pepper ai
— I should think hia pegging must be nearly 1
"And then you will be married, Herbert?"
"How can I take care of the dear child otherwise.
— Lay your arm out upon the back of the sofa,
dear boy, and I'U sit down here, and get the bam
off so gradually that you shall not know when
comes. I was speaking of Provis. Do yon knoi
Handel, he improves?"
"I said to you I thought he was softened, whe
I last saw him."
"■So you did. And tJoAw^s. S«,-«sv.'i-
'catiVe last night, aai Wii -nw. lan^*
1
Mfid
^gtanii
I tbt lit
P EXPECTATIONS.
'Sou reHtember iiis breaking off here about some woman
j.fttt te had had great trouble witli. — Did I hurt
I had started, but not under bis touch. His words
Ud given me a start.
"I had forgotten that, Herbert, but I remember it
Mw yott speak of it,"
— "'Well! He went into that part of his life, and a
■jfc.'wild part it is. Shall I tell you? Or wonld it
^^hr you just now?"
^I^ell me by all means. Every wordl"
^Bterbert bent forward to look at me more nearly,
as if my reply had been rather more hurried or mora
eager than he could quite account for. "Tour head ia
«ool?" he said, touching it.
"Quite," said I. "Tell me what Provis said, my
dear Herbert."
"It seems," said Herbert, "^ there's a bandage
'iff moat cbarmingly, and now comes the cool one —
■fiakea you shrink at first, my poor dear fellow, don't
t? but it will be comfortable presently — it seema
hat the woman was a young woman, and a jealous
^oman, and a revengeful woman; revengeful, Handel,
*> the last degree."
"To what last degree?"
"Murder, — Does it strike too cold on that sensi-
ive place?"
"I don't feel it. How did she murder? Whom
■^i she murder?"
"Why, the deed may not have merited quite bo
^oihlo a name," said Herbert, "but she was tried for
t, and Mr. Jaggera defended her, aniV ^ft t^yifi.^'C^.isa
^ that defence first made hia name. kaQ^wii- ^a "gtCT^
I
316 GREAT EXPBOTATIONS.
1 another and a stronger woman who was tbe
victim, and there had been a struggle — in a barn-
"Who began it, or Uow fair it was, or Low imfair, mftj
be doubtful; but how it ended, is certainly not donlit-
fiil, for the victim wan found throttled."
Ib "Was the woman brought in guiltyV"
I "No; she was acquitted. — M7 poor Handel, I
Burt yonl"
* "It is impossible to be gentler, Herbert. Yes? Ww*
else?"
"This acquitted young woman and Provis," s(Ua
Herbert, "had a little ebild; a little child of whom
Provis was exceedingly fond. On the evening of tio
very night when the object of her jealousy »"»»
» strangled, as I tell you, the young woman presentM J
herself before ProVis for one moment, and swore tta'
she would destroy the child (which ■
Bion), and he should never see it again; then *
vanished. — There's the worst ann comfortably i:
sling once more, and now there remains hut the rigW
hand, which is a far easier job. I can do it better t
this light than by a stronger, for my hand ia steadi^
when I don't see the poor blistered patches ' "
distinctly. — You don't think your breathing is affec
niy dear boy? You seem to breathe quickly."
t "Perhaps I do, Herbert. Did the woman kee'JJ
her oath?"
"There comes the darkest part of Provis's
Bh.
r
"That 18, he says she did."
"Why, of course, m^ leatVo'j" ^sftasrawl Horbffl*
\ a tone of surpriae,
QBE AT BKPBOTATiONS.
217
■er look at me. "He says it all. I have no
[ to be sure."
whether," pursued Herbert, "he had nsed
i'e mother ill, or whether he had used the
lother well, Previa doesn't say; but she had
Hue four or five years of the wretched life he
[ t4> Q8 at this fireside, and he seems to have
for her, and forbearance towards her, There-
ing he should be called upon to depose about
lyed child, and so be the cause of her death,
imself (much as he grieved for the child), kept
k, as he says, out of the way and out uf
and was only vaguely talked of aa a certain
id Abel, out of whom the jealousy arose.
acquittal ehe disappeared, and thus he lust
and the child's mother."
loment, my dear boy," said Herbert, "nnd 1
That evil genios, Compeyson, the worst
among many seoundrels, knowing of his
out of the way at that time, and of bis rea-
doing so, of course afterwards held the knuw-
his head as a means of keeping him poorer,
:ing him harder. It was clear last night thaX
id the point of Provia's hatred."
it to know," said I, "and particularly, Her-
told you when this happened?"
icularly? Let me remember, then, what he
fjto that. His expression was, 'a round score
and a'moat directly after 1 UioV ■vy^ '^
Haw old were you wbei\ ■jow. catae. "^^'^^
little ciiirch-yard?"
P318 GREAT BXPECTATIOHS.
"I diink in my seventh year."
"Ay. It had Luppened some tLree or four yeai
then, he said, and you bron^ht into his mind the litt
girl BO tragically lost, who would have been aboi
I your age."
"Herbert," said I after a short Bilonce, in
way, "can you see me best by the light of the windoi
or the light of the fire?"
"By the firelight," answered Herbert, coming do!
"Look at me."
"I do look at you, my dear boy."
"Touch me."
"I do touch you, my dear boy."
"Yon are not airaid that I am in any fever, (
that my head is much disordered by the accident f
last night?"
"N-no, my dear boy," said Herbert, after taking
time to examine me. "You are rather excited, !
jfyou are quite yourself."
"I know I am quite myself. And the man
K'bsve in hiding down the river, ia Eatella's Father."
CHAPTER XXIII.
What purpose I had in view when I was hot 0
L tracing ont and proving Estella's parentage, I cann'
I. say. It will presently be seen that the question ff'
l.iiot before me in a distinct shape, until it was put b>
I fore me by a wiser head than my own.
But when Herbert anl 1 \ia4'\ic\4 a\a ■uwsoieBWJ'
tverBHtion, I was seized VrtV
Higlit to hsDt tbe matter doira — that I ought
t it rest, but that I nnght to see Mr. Jaggna,
e at the bare tmth. 1 really do not know
I felt that I (iid thU for Eetella's sake, «r
I was glad to transfer to the man in whoso
Ittion I vaa bo mnch contemed, some rays of
interest that had so long sorrounded her.
the latter possibility may be the nearer to the
way, I coold scarcely be withheld from going
Gerrard-gtreet that night. Herbert's representa-
' « if I did. I should probably be laid up and
useless, when our fugitive's safety would depend
e, slone restrained my impatience. On the un-
ling, again and again reiterated, that come what
I was to go to Mr. Jaggers to-morrow, I at
submitted to keep qalet, and to have my hurts
after, and to stay at home. Early next mom-
went out together, and at the comer of Giltspur-
by Smithfield, I left Herbert to go his way into
ty, and took my way to Little Hritain.
'here were periodical occasions when Sir, Jaggers
Wemmitk went over the office accounts, and
cd off the vouchers, and put all things straight.
lose occasions Wemmick took his books and papers
It. Jaggers's room, and one of the up-staira clerks
down into the outer office. Finding such clerk
''emmick's post that' morning, I knew what was
but I was not sorry to have Mr. Jaggers
Vemmick together, as Wemmick would then hear
raself that I said nothing to compromise, kvn^.
y appearance with my arm bamla^cS. waft, ■ci"^ s^ww-
irer m^ shoulders, favoureim^ (jtijetX. t^'Ooa^"
220
ORSAV^JEMMMCMlMt
I had sent Mr. Jag'gera a brief account of tl
as soon as I Lad arrived iu town, yet I hi
him all the details now; and the speciality o
cation caused our talk to be less dry and iiat_
less strictly regulated by the rules of evidence, Ul
had been before. While I described the disaster,
JaggerB stood, according to his wont, before the
Wemmick leaned back in his chair, staring at
with his hands in the pockets of his trousers, am
pen put horizontally into the post. The two b:
casts, always inseparable in my mind Irom the ot
proceedings, seemed to be congestively considt
whether they didn't smell fire at the present raonu
My narrative finished, and their questions esh.iii
I then produced Miss Havisham's authority to ra
the nine hundred pounds for Herbert. Mr. Jagg
eyes retired a little deeper into his head when I hai
him the tablets, bat be presently handed them ovi
Wemmick, with instructions to draw the cheque fo
signature. While that was in course of being (tw
looked on at Weramick as he wrote, and Mr. J:ii:
poising and swaying himself on Ids well-poliahed li
looked on at me. "I am sorry, Pip," said |
put the cheque in my pocket, when he had i
"that wc do nothing for yov."
"Miss Havisham was good enongh to &ak^
returned, "whether she could do nothing for mei^
told her No."
"Everybody should know his (
Mr. Jaggers. And I saw Wemmick's lips 1
worth "portable property."
"I siiould not have toVi twit's
*se
Jaggers; "but every laan ouglit to kiiow Lin
ness best."
"Every man's business," Bftid Wemmick, rather re-
lachfiiUy towards me, "is portable property."
As I thoug^ht the time was now come for pursoing
i tlieme I had at heart, I said, taming on Mr.
^gers:
"I did ask something of Miss Havisham, however,
I asked her to give me some infonnotion relative
her adopted daughter, and she gave mo all she
jsessed."
"Did she?" said Mr. Jaggiws, bending forward to
ik at his boots and then straightening himself. "Ilalil
ion't think I should have done so, if I had been
Bs Havisham. But she ought to know her own busi-
"I know more of the history of Mias Havisham's
[ipted child, than Miss Havisham herself does, sir.
mow her mother."
Mr. Jaggers looked at me inquiringly, and repeated
[other?"
"I have seen her mother within these three days."
"Tcs?" said Mr. Jaggers.
"And BO have you, air. And you have seen her
ti more recently,"
"Yes?" said Mr. Jaggers.
"Perhaps I know more of Estella's history than
Ml you do," said I. "I know her father too."
A certain stop that Mr. Jaggers came to in hia
■aner - — he was too self-possessed to change his
Jmer, hut he could not help its being brought to an.
lefinsbly attentive stop — aasutel me iXYa.*!. V^ SA-
" iter was. T'ina \ VaA. *s^ ^
suepected from Provix's accouat (as Herbert hwl
livored it) of his having kept himself dark; iriu
pieced on to the fact that he himself was no!
Jaggers's client until some four years later, and
he could have no reason for claiming his ide
But I could not be sure of this uncousciousneii
Mr, Jaggers's part before, though I was quite
it now.
"So? You know the young lady's father, P
said Mr. Jaggers.
"Yes," I replied, "And his name id Provia —
New South Wales."
Even Mr. Jaggeia started when I said those w
It was the slightest start that could escape a roan,
most carefully repressed and the soonest checked,
he did start, though he made it a part of the autii]
taking out his poeket-handkerchief. How Wei
received the announcement I am unable to say,
was afraid to look at Imn just then, lest Mr. Jagg
aharpness should detect that there had been some
munication unknown to him between us.
"And on what evidence, Pip?" asked Mr. Jag
very coolly, aa he paused with his handkerchief
way to his nose, "does ProvLs make this tlujm?"
"He does not make it," said I, "and has
made it, and has no knowledge or belief that
daughter is in existence."
For once, the powerful pocket-handkerchief fa
My reply was so unexpected that Mr. Jaggers put
handkerchief back into his pocket without compl'
the usual performance, folded his arms, and Ic
•th stem atteation at me, t\n>\v^ ■wS.iii
KM3U.T Exz>EOTi.iioin. 9S3
a I told liini all I knew, and how I knew it,
i one reservation that I loft Iiim to inter tliat
_, ti-om Miss Harisliam whut I in fact knew from
ffemmiek. I was very careful indeiid as to tliat. Nor
iliil I look towards Wemmiek until I had finished all
I liad to tell, and had boon for some time silently'
Heeling Mr. Jaggere's look. When I did at last turn
my eyes in Wemmick's direction , I found that ho had
unposted his pen, and was intent upon the table before
"Hah!" said Mr, Jaggera at last, aa he moved
towards the papers on the table. " — What item
wm it you were at, Wenimiek, when Mr. Pip came
iu?"
But I could not submit to be thrown off in that
vay, and I made a passionate, almost an indignant,
appeal to him to be more frank and manly with me.
I reminded him of the false hopes into which I had
lajBed, the length of time they had lasted, and the dis-
covery I had made; and I hinted at the danger that
Weighed upon my apints. I represented myself as being
surely worthy of some little confidence from him, in re-
tnm for the confidence I had just now imparted, I said
that I did not blame him, or suspcet him, or mistrust
lull, but I wanted assurance of the trath from him.
And if he asked me why I wanted it and why I thought
I had any right to it, I wonld tell hini, little as he
cared for such poor dreams, that I had loved Estella
dearly and long, and that, although I liad lost her and
must live a bereaved life, whatever concerned her was
still nearer and dearei- to me than anything else in the
•rorld. And seeing that Mr. Jaggets Sptuui. <^Aft, 'Su&.
n^ilent, and apparently quite o\iivaB:Ve, ,
sA-^^
224 ORBAT EXPECTATIONS.
appeal, I twned to Wetmnick, and said, "Weomu*
I know you to be a muu with a gentle heart. I bt
BBea joar pleasant home, and your old fatLer, audi
the innocent clieorful playful ways with which you i
fresh your business life. And I cntrent you to say
word for me to Mr. Jagg^s, and to represent to iu
that, al) circnm stances considered, he otig^ht to be mo
open with mo!"
I have never seen two men look more oddly at ft
another than Mr. Jaggers and Wemmick did aAor ti
apostrophe. At first, a misgiving crossed me ik
Wemmick would be instantly dismissed from his b
ployment; hut it melted as I saw Mr. JaggoiB rel
into something like a smile, and Wemmict bccoi
holder.
"What's all this?" said Mr. Jaggera. "YonTfi
rtm old father, and you with pleasant and plaj4
^vays?"
"Well!" retomed Wemmick. "If I don't bring'
[ here, what does it matter?"
[ "Pip," said Mr. Jaggers, laying hia band upon-,
r arm, and smiling openly, "this man must be the nmrtl
I cunning impostor in all London."
"Not a bit of it," returned Wemmick, growing
fc- bolder and holder. "I think you're another."
Again they exchanged their former odd looks, eAf''
1 apparently still distrustful that the other was talting
fliim in.
"You with a pleasant home?" said Mr. Jaggers.
"Since it don't interfere with business," retamcj
I .TTemmick, "let it be bo. "So-* , \ Voot «;t Y^ft*. ^'
Aoaldn't wonder if you in\gV\.\ie. " " """
^u&ve a pleasant homo of ^our oirn, one of tlieso
K'lien you're tired of this work."
^Kfaggora nodded liis head retroBjiectivoly two or
^BneB, and actually dicw a sigli. "Pip," said
WSt won't talk about 'poor dreams;' you know
Bpont such ItliingB than I, having' much fresher
^Bce of that kind. But about thia other matter.
Ka case to you. Mindl I admit uotLing."
Hviutfid for mo to dendare that I quite nnderstood
Bexpreaaly said tliat he admitted nothing.
Bbw, Pip," said Mr. Jaggers, "pat thia case. Put
t&B that a woman, under such circumstances as
have mentioned, held her child concealed, and was
;ed to communicate the fact to her legal adviser,
is representing to her that he must know, with an
~ the latitude of his defence, how the fact Htood
iat child. Put the case that at the same time
1 trust to find a chUd for an eccentric rich
|.Kdopt and bring up."
^llow you, sir."
t the case that ho lived in an atmosphere of
tnd that all he saw of children, was, their being
rated in great numbers for certain destruction,
the case that he often saw children solenmly tried
eriminal bar, where they were held up to be seen;
he case that he habitually knew of their being im-
ncd, whipped, transported, neglected, cast out,
ified in all ways for the hangman, and growing up
B hanged. Put the case that pretty nigh all the
ren he saw in his daily business life, he had reason
lok upon aa so much spawn, to AevAiyy vbXm 'Aifc
! to come to hie net — to \ie \>T««»tt'<&ft^ i
fe«r(,«
\&
I
OEEAT BXPEOTATJONS.
efended, forsworn, made orphans, be-devilled BOmf
I follow you, sir."
Put the case, Pip, that here was one pretty lltt
Id out of the heap, who could bo saved; whom H
Father believed dead, and dared make no stir ahontj I
to whom, over the motliet, the legal adviser had tl
'■power; 'I know what you did, and tow you did 1
Tiiu came so and go, this was your manner of attw
and this the manner of resistance, you wont bo and «
you did such and such things to divert suBpicion.
have tracked you through it all, and I tell it yon J
Part with the child, unless it should be necessary '
produce it to clear yon, and then it shall be produM
Give the child into my Iiands, and I will do my b*
to hring you off. If yon are saved, yonr child is ssvf
too; if you are lost, your child ts still saved,' Put tl
case that this was done, and that the woman *
cleared."
"I understand yon perfectly."
"But that I make no admissions?"
" That you make no admissions." And "Wenunil
repeated, "!No admissions."
"Put the case, Pip, that passion and the terror
death bad a little shaken the woman's intellects, B~
that when she was set at liberty, she was scared out
ways of the world and went to him to be sheltw
Fut the case that he took her in, and that he k{
down the old wild violent nature whenever he saw
'jnkling of its breaking out, by asserting his poww C
the old way. Do you comprehend the ima^nt
« bet- I
f she U
3 tliftt the chilli grew up, and was
1 for money. That the motlier was Htill living,
bat the father was still living. That the mother and
ther anknown to oue another, were dwelling within
many miles, furlongs, yards if yon. like, of one an-
bw. That the secret was still a secret, except that
TO had got wind of it, Put that last at
TV carefully."
""I do,"
"I ask Wemmick to put it to Mmse/f very
%■■•
And Weramick said, "I do,"
"For whose sake would you reveal the secret?
e father's? I think he would not he much the
t for the mother. For the mother's? I think if
i done such a deed she would be safer where she
B, For the daughter's? I think it would hardly
tvG her, to establish her parentage for the informa-
in of her husband, and to drag her back to disgrace
ter an escape of twenty years, pretty secure to last
r life. But add the case that you had loved her,
p, and had made her the subject of those 'poor
earns' which have, at one time or another, been in
S heads of more men than you think likely, then I
il yon that you had better — and would much sooner
len you had thought well of it — chop off that hand-
ed left hand of yours with your bandag-ed right hand,
d then pass the chopper on to Wemmick there, to
t that off, too."
I looked at Wemmick, whose face was very grave.
5 gravely touched his lips with his forefinger. I did
i Bame. Mr. Jaggera did the same. '''"?i«^,^
isaid the /atto- then, resuming UVaMsa*^
1528 GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
?'what item was it you were at, when Mr. Pip csms
in?"
Staniliiig; by for a little, while they were at wortrF
I ohBerved that tho odd looka thoy had cast at one O^
other were repeated several times: with this <""
now, that each of tLem seemed eaapicloDS, not to <^
conseioQS, of having shown himself in a weak and it
professional light to the other. For this reason, I TOp"
pose, they were now inflexible with one another; of-
Jaggera being highly dictatorial, and Wemmiek ob;
Btinately justifying himself whenever there waa "•*
Bmallest point in ab^^ce for a moment. I had n
.seen them on such ill terms; for geuerally tliey gnt *"
^Very well indeed together.
But they were both happily relieved by the 0
portune appearance of Mike, the client with the fnr «
and the habit of wiping hia nose on his sleeve, w1)D«
I had seen on tho very first day of ray appearanc*
within those walla. This individual, who, either in l*
own person or in that of some member of Lis famUj
«eemed to be always in ti-ouble (which in that plac'^
meant N^ewgate), called to announce that his ddef
daughter was taken up on suspicion of shopliftingf »
he imparted this melancholy circumstance to "Wemniol
Mr. Jaggera standing magisterially before the fire a"
t taking no share in the proceedings, Mike''B eye happen''
to twinkle with a tear.
"Wbat are you about?" demanded Wemmiok, T
(he utmost indignation. "What do you come snivsl
Bng here for?"
"I didn't go to do it, Mr, Wemmiek."
"You did," said "WemioVcV. "^«^ dare ;
^^aot in a £t state to cume >
w
p
I
ft:
ome Iiere without spluttering liko a bad pen. What
lo you moan by it?"
" A man can't help hia feelings, Mr. Wemmick,"
ileaded Mike.
"His what?" demanded Wemmick, quite savagely.
'Say tliat again!"
"Now, look here, my man," said Mr. Jfiggers, ad-
'^tncing a step, and [Minting to the door. "Get out of
"Ice. I'll have no feelings here. Got out,"
serves you right," said Wemmick, "Get out."
the unfortunate Mike very hnmbly withdrew,
Mr. Jaggers and Wemroick appeared to have re-
established their good understanding, and wont to work
»gain with an air of refreshment upon them as if they
liad juHt had lunch.
I
CHAPTER XXIV.
[Fbou Little Britain I went, with my cheque in my
pocket, to Miss SkifSns's brother, the accountant; and
Miaa Skiffins's brother, the accountant, going straight
to Clarriker's and bringing Clarriker to me, I had the
peat satisfaction f>f completing that arrangement. It
Was the only good thing I had done, and the only com-
|ileted thing I had done, einco I ivas first apprised of
niy great expectations.
Clarriker informing me on that occasion that the
affairs of the Kouse were steadily progressing, that he
would now be able to establish a small branch-house
in the East which was much wanted for the extension
of the business, and that Ilerbert in his new partnor-
ihij> capacity would go out and liiko c\\a."c%% tAiS.,^
'^nd that I mast have preparei tor a. iwto^^^^"
^,f f
GREAT EXPECTATIONS,
my friend, even though my own aEFairs hail been mort
"settled. And now indeed I felt as if my lasl; anolwE
were loosening its hold, and I should a
with the winds and waves.
But there was recompense in the joy with wMcll
Herbert came borne of a night and told me of tie*
changes, little imagining that he told me no news, sni
sketched airy pictures of himself conducting Clara Bar-
ley to the limd of the Arabian Nights, and of me goiofi
out to join, tbem, (with a caravan of camels, I believe)
and of our all going up the Nile and seeing woniie'
Without heing sanguine as to my own part in tk
bright plans, I felt that Herbert's way was clearing fsst,
and that old Bill Barley bad hut to stick to bis pepp ~
and rum, and his daughter would soon be bappily pt
Tided for.
We had now got into the month of March. M?
left arm, though it presented uo had symptoms, W
I in the natural course so long to heal that I was »l
unable to get a coat on. My right hand was tolerably
restored; — disfigured, but fait-ly serviceable.
On a Monday morning, when Herbert and I «
at breakfast, I received the following letter from W*"
inick by the post.
■rWeaDEBday , loa i
When I had shown this to Herbert and had put
in the fire — hut not before we had both got it I
heart — we considered what to do. For, of eoor
ay being disabled couH no'w ^ifc ™^ \«a^w W^t out
r eXPCCVATTOKS.
I bave thought it over, ugain and agaiu,"
, "and I think I know a better course 1
a Thames watomiati. Take Startop. A good
B. skilled hand, fund of us, and enthnsiastic and
wahlo."
had thought oi' him, more than o
But how much would you tell him, Herbert?"'^
It is iiecesBury to tell him very little. Lot 8
Be it a mere froak, but a secret one, until i
ng comes: then let him kiiuw that there is urgent
1 for your getting Provis aboard and away.
ith bim?"
'No doubt,"
'Where?"
t had seemed to me, in the many n
tions I had given the point, almost indifferent v
we made for — Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp
lie place signified little, bo that he was got out of
Any foreign steamer that fell in uur way
old ta.ke us up, would do. I had always pro-
myself to get him well down the river in the
tainly well beyond Gravesend which was a
I place for search or inquiry if siispicion were
t. As foreign steamers would leave London at
it the time of high*water, our plan would be to get
Ltbe river by a previous obb-tido, and lie by in
fcriiet spot until wo could pull off to one. The
^Ren one would be due where we lay, wberevet
Bght be, could be calculated pretty nearly, if we
B inquiries beforehand.
Herbert assented to all this, and we went oat \to.-
lateJ^ aiier irreakfast to pYirsue oxit TOvea'L^^p.'Cvaoa..
hand that a steamer for Tlaui\)\ag ■w^'* ^^^"^ ■*
good
c and
il fl!^^^
You
M
232 GKEAT ESFBCTAT10N3. ^
Biiit our purjKiHe best, and wo directed our thoo
chiefly to that vessel. Bat we noted down whit
fordgu steamers would leave London with the 6
tide, and we satisfied ourselves that we knew the I
and colour of each. We then Beparated for a
Louth; I, to got at once snch passports as were ni
aary; Herbert, to nee Startop at his lodgings.
boUi did what wo had to do without any hindn
and when we met again at one o'clock reported it i
I, for my part, was prepared with passports; Hei
Lad seen Startop, and he was more than ready to ,
Those two should pull a pair of oars, we aet
and I would steer; our charge would be sitter,
keep quiet; as speed was not our object, we tb
make way enough. We arranged that Herbert ah
not come home to dinner before going to Mill I
Bank that evening; that he should not go there at
to-morrow evening, Tuesday; that ho should
Provis to come down to some Stairs hard by the h(
on Wednesday, when he saw us apjiroacL, and
sooner; that all the arrangements with him shoub
concluded that Monday night; and that he shonli
conunuuicated with no more in any way, until wb
him on board.
These precautions well understood by both o
I went home.
On opening the outer door of our chambers
my key, I found a letter in tlie box, directed to
a very dirty letter, though not ill-written. It
been dolivored by hand {of course since I left '
and its contents were these:
OmAT BsmOTATIONfl.
I had had load enough upon my mind before the
receipt of thia strange letter. What to do now, I Could
not telL Aid the worst was, that 1 must decide
^ekly, or I shoald miss the afternoon coach, which
ironld take me down in timo for to-night. To-morrow
Bight I could not think of going, for it would be too
lloBC upon the time of the flight. And again, for any-
tliiag I knew, the profFcred information might have
Bome important bearing on the flight itself.
If I had had ample time for consideration, I be-
lieve I should still have gone. Having hardly any
time for consideration — my watch showing me that
t!ie coach started within half an hour — I resolved to
go. I should certainly not have gone, but for the
feferenee to ray Uncle Provis; that, coming on Wem-
niick's letter and the morning's busy preparation,
lumed the scale.
It is so difficult to become clearly possessed o( the
contents of almost any letter, in a violent hurry, that
(had to read this mysterious epistle again, twice, be-
latB ita injunction to mo to be secret got mechanically
into my mind. Yielding to it in the same mechanical
iand of way, I loft a note in pencil for Herbert, telling
liiia that as I should be bo soon going away, I knew
Hot for how long, I had decided to hurry down and
back, to ascertain for myself how Miss Havisham was
feiing, I had then barely time to get my great-uoat,
loefc np the chambers, and make for the cftaaV^ffiuw,
Iff the tiboft by-waya. If I had taYun. o. \i.a.OicQK^-
" Mt and goa^ by tLe streets, I a\iou\4 "^wwa
GREAT fiXJWJTAWOSS.
Fmy aim; going as I did, I cauglit the coacli jnst a
eatne out of tha yard. I was tbe only inside passengfl
jolting away knee-deep in straw, when I came to n
self.
For, I i-eally hod not been myself since the reoe;
Lfif the letter; it had so bewildered me ensuing on I
fliurry of the morning. The morning hurry and flnttt
"lad been great, for, long and anxiausly as I h*'
' waited for Wemmick, bis hint had come like a b
prise at last. And now I began to wonder at mysft
for being in the eoach, and to doubt whether I h
» sufficient reason for being there, and to considl
whether I should get out presently and go back, a
to argue against ever heeding an anonymous aoiOa
sication, and, in short, to pa»s throagh all those pha
of contradiction and indecision to which I suppose ver
few hurried people are stTangere. Still, the r
to Provis by name, mastered everything. I i
as I had reasoned already withont knowing it — '
that be reasoning — in case any harm should befi
him through my not going, how could I ever forgir
myself!
I It was dark before we got down, and the jowm^
seemed long and dreary to me who could see little '
Jit inside, and who conld not go outside in my disable
^tate. Avoiding the Blue Boar, 1 put up at an inn <
.jninor reputation down the town, and ordered f
-dinner. Wbile it was preparing, I went to Satis Hoa
and inquired for Miss Havisham ; she was still reiy '^
though considered something better.
My inn had once been a part of an ancient eceK
Biastical Jiouse, and 1 Amei m a. \Aftfc *i'a*.^*ns».\ w
mon-toom, like a font. A^s^ ^a» ^n\.i!'
ip-
9tS
inner, the old landlord with a shining bald head did
for me. This bringing us into conversation, he was
1 good as to entertain me with my own story — of
lurse with the popular feature that Pumblethook was
ly earliest benefactor and the founder of my for-
"Do yon know the yonng man?" said I.
"Know hira!" repeated the landlord. "Ever since
e was no height at all."
"Does Ue ever come back to this neighbourhood?"
"Ay, he comes back," said the landlord, "to his
reat friends now and again, and gives the cold shoul-
sr to the man that made him."
"What mau is that?"
"Him that I speak of,"' suid the landlord. "Mr.
Whlechook."
"la he ungrateful to no one else?"
"No doubt be would be, if he could," returned the
iiidlord, "but he eau't. And why? Because Pumble-
liuok done everything for liim,"
"Does Pumhiechoob say so?"
"Say so!" replied the landlord, "He han't no call
"But does he say so?"
"It would turn a man's hlood to white wine wine-
ar to hear him tell of it, sk," said the landlord.
I thought, "Yet Joe, dear Joe, you never tell of it.
(ong-suffering and loving Joe, you never complain.
for you, sweet-tempered Biddy!"
"Your appetite'M been touched like, by your acci-
Bttt," said the landlord, glancing at tlifc \iMi4a.^t4- aicm
ii^er mjr coat "Try a tenderer Vil."
1
to brood over the fire. "I can eat no niorE
tftke it away."
I had neyer been struck at so keenly, fa
thank) essneBS to Joe, as through the brazen im]
Pumblochook. The falser ho, the truer Joe;
meaner he, the nobler Joe.
My heart was deeply and most deservedly hiU
as I mused over the fire for an hour or moro.
striking of the clock aroused me, but not Stota is
jection or remorse, and I got up and had my
fastened round my neck, and went out. I hod :
ously sought in my pockets for the letter, that I
refer to it again, but could not find it, and was i
to think that it muat have been dropped in the
of the coach. I knew very well, however, tha
appointed place was the little sluice-hnnso by the
kiln on the marshes, and the hour nine. Towarj
marshes I now went straight, having no time to I
CHAPTER XXV.
It was a dark night, though the full moon
I loft the enclosed lands, and passed out upd
mai'shes. Beyond their dark line there was a i
of clear sky, hardly broad enough to hold the red
moon. In a few minutes she had aacended out o
clear field, in among the piled mountains of clow
There was a melancholy wind, and the
were very dismal. A stranger would have found
insupportable, and even to me they were bo opp(
that I iesitated, half mtVinei to ^o \iMv'fi_ But I
tbem well, 'and could liave ioAmi
997
t'niglit, and had no excuse for returning, being
So, having come there against my incLiuation,
■cut on against it.
The direction that I took, was not that in which
old home lay, nor that in which we had pursued
convicts. My hack was turned towards the difltant
Iks as I walked on, and, though I could see the old
ila away on the spits of sand, I saw them over my
ulder. I knew; the limekiln as well as I knew the
Battery, but they were miles apart; so that if a
it had huen buniing at each point that night, there
jld have been a long strip of the blank horizon be-
:eu the two bright specks.
At first, I had to shut some gates after me, and
I and then to stand still while the cattle that were
ig in the banked-up patliway, arose and blundered
?n among the grass and reeda. But after a little
ile, I seemed to have the whole flats to myself.
It was another half-hour before I drew neai' to the
J. The lime was burning with a sluggish stifling
ill, but the fires were made np and left, and no
'kmen were visible. Hard by, was a small stone-
irry. It lay directly in my way, and had been
'ked that day, as I saw by the tools and barrows
t were lying about.
Coming up again to the marsh level out of this
avatjon — for the lude path lay through it — I
■ a light in the old sluice-house. I quickened my
e, and knocked at the door with my hand. Wait-
for some reply, I looked about me, noticing how
.sluice was abandoned and broken, and ta-w *Sia
se — of wood with a tiled loot — ■wwii.A. ^«^- '^^^
t the weather much longei, tS 'a -w^^»j
even now, anil liow tlie muil and ooze were co&ted
lime, and how the choking vapour of the kiln ere
a ghostly way towards me. Still there was no an
HJid I knocked ngttin. Ko answer etill, and I triei
It rose under my hand, and tlie door yifl
Looking in, I saw a lighted candle on a table, a h
and a mattress on a truckle bedstead. As tliece i
loft above, I called, "Is there any one here?" bi
voice answered. Then I looked at my watch,
finding that It was past nine, called again, "le '
any one here?" There being still no answer, I
out at the door, irresolute what to do.
It wa« beginning to rain fast. Seeing nothing
what I had seen already, I turned back into the h
and stood jnst within the shelter of the doorway,
ing out into the night. While I was considering,
some one must have been there lately and mnst
be coming back, or the candle would not be bur
it came into niy head to look if the wick wer
I turned round to do so, and had taken up the
in my hand, when it was extinguished by some vi
shock, and tbe next thing I comprehended, was,
I had been caught Ln a strong running noose, th
over iiff head from behind.
"]tow," said a suppressed voice with an oath,
got you!"
"What is this?" I cried, struggling. "Who i
Help, help, helpl"
Not only were my arms pulled close to my
but the pressure on roy bad arm caused me eit
pain. Sometimes a stcoTig mwi^a Vwii,
ty criea, And with a hi)t iireath always close to me,l
struggled ineffectually in thu dark, while I
astened tight to the wall. "And now," said the sup-
iressed voice with another oath, "call oat again, and
'11 make short work of finishing youl"
Faint and sick with the pain of my injurod
lewildered by the Eurprise, and yet conscious how
:asily this threat could be put in execution, I desisted,
lad tried to ease roy arm were it ever bo litUeT
t was bound too tight for that. I felt as if, having
leeu bnmt before, it were now being boiled.
The sudden exclusion of the night and the Bubsti-
.ution of black darkness in its place, warned me that
ihe man had closed a shutter. After groping about for
t little, be found the flint and steel he wanted, and
Mgan to strike a light. I strained my sight upon the
(parks that fell among the tinder, and upon which he
Tenthed and breathed, match in hand, but I conld
a hia lips, and the blue point of the match; even
, but fitfully. The tinder was damp — no won-
r there — and one after another the sparks died out.
I The man was in no hurry, and struck again with
I flint and steel. As the sparks fell thick and bright
t him, I could see his hands, and touches of his
, and could make out that he was sjjated and bend-
r the table; but nothing more. Presently I saw
Llue lips again breathing ob the tinder, and then a
1 of light flashed up, and showed me Ojlick.
"Tiom I had looked for, I don't know. I had not
[ for him. Seeing Mm, I fctt that I was in a
rouB strait indeed, and I kept my eyes upon him.
J lighted the candle from the &aritvg ■kw.'uJq. Mifia
meliberation, and dropped itc mataV a.'ai \xtii- ^
^B S40 OREAT BXPECTATI0S3.
^V out. Thon Le put the cimdie itwny ri'im him on th
^ table, BO that he could see nio, and sat with his arm
folded on. the table and looked at me. I made <n
that I was fastened to a stout perpendicular ladder
few inches fi-om the wall — a fixture there — ih
means of ascent to the lofit a^hoye,
"Now," said he, when we had surveyed
_ for some time, "I've got you."
^K "Unbind me. Let me gol"
^K "Ah!" he retomed, "Til let you go. ' 111 let ymf,
^^ftgo to the moon, I'll let jou go to the stars. AH iit
^^Bjgood time."
^^K "Why have you lured mc here?"
^^B "Don't you know?" said he, with a deadly look.
^^V "Why have you set upon me in the dark?"
^m "Because I mean to do it all myself. Oi
^H a secret better than two. Oh yon enemy, you enemyl
^B His enjoyment of the spectacle I furnished, as I
^T Bat with his arms folded on the table, shaking Mb lie*
at me and hugging himself, had a malignity in it &
made me tremble. As I watched him in silence, he p
his hand into the comer at his side, and took np a gQ
with a brass-bonnd stock.
"Do you know this?" said he, making as if U*
would take aim at me. "Do you know where you »*
it afore? Speak, wolfl"
"Yes," I answered.
"You cost me that place. You did. Speak!"
"What else could I do?"
"You did that, and that wonld be enough, witJw'
re. How dared you to come betwixt m* W
l^oang Hoiuan I liked?"
QBBAT EXPBCTATIOKa. 241
""When didn't you? It was you as always give
< 'Id Orliek a bad namo to her."
"Tou gave it to yourself; you gained it for yonr-
11'. I could have done you. no harm, if you had done
"You're a liar. And you'll take any pains, and
■'[Uini any money, Ut drive me out of this country, will
vm?" said he, rejicating my words to Biddy in the
lii*t interview I had with her. "Now, I"1I tell yon a
|iioce of information. It was never so well worth your
iiliile to get me out of thia country as it is to-nigfat.
\l)! If it was all your money twenty times told, to
V' last brass fardou!" As he shook his heavy hand
.1 me, with his mouth snarling like a tiger's, I felt that
! was true.
i"What are you going to do to me?"
"I'm a going," said he, bringing his fiat down upon
"le table with a heavy blow, and rising as the blow
'fill, to give it greater force, 'Tm a going to have your
lift!"
He leaned forward staring at me, slowly unclenched
Ills hand and drew it across his mouth as if his mouth
"atered for me, and sat down again.
"You was always in Old Orlick's way since ever
.Von was a child. You goes out of his way, this pre-
^t'ut night. He'll have no more on you. You're dead."
I felt that I had come to the brink of my grave.
'' or a moment I looked wildly roiind my trap for any
'liaoce of escape; but there was none.
"More than that," said he, folding his arms on the
^able again, "I won't have a, rag of you, I won't have
^ Iwne of you, left on earth. TW pvA yowc\itti.-g \ft.'iasi.
^^^1 — J'd parry two such to it, oa tkj ^«\i&»^^
CVw/ Ecjieilaliuns. U. \&^^^^|
242 QKEAT ESPECTATI0N8.
1
^^V and, let people suppose wiiut tLey miiy of you.
^^^ shall never know notiiing."
My mind, with inconceivahle rapidity, followed out
all the conaeqaonces of such a death. Estella'a father
would believe I had deserted him, would be takon,
I would die accusing me; even Herbert would doubt me,
when he compared the letter I had left for him, willi
the fact that I had called at Mtas Havisham's gate for
«nly a moment; Joe and Biddy would never know hoit
flony I had been that night; none would ever knim'
what I had suffered, how true 1 liad meant to be, wliut
an agony I had passed through. The death cIobb be
fore me was terrible, but far more terrible than death
was the dread of being misremembered after death
And BO quick were my thoughts, that I saw myself de-
spised by unborn generations — Estella's children,
their childreu — while the wretch's words were yt
his lips.
"Now, widf," said he, "afore I kill you like
»- other beast — which is wot I mean to do and wotj
have tied you up for — J'U have a good look st
and a good goad at you. Oh, you enemy!"
It had passed throngh my thoughts to cry out
help again; tliough few could know better than I, i"''
solitary nature of the spot, and tlie hoiMlesmess of ^^■
^^ Bat aa he sat gloating over mc, I was supported by "
^L scornful detestation of him that sealed my lips.
^B all things, I resolved that I would not entreat bim,
^r that I would die making some last poor tesiBttmce
him. Softened as my thoughts of all the rest of r
were in that dire extremity; humbly beseeching part
as I did, of Heaven; TQe\te4 a-tVesuA,, na I was; by
ihoaght that I had taken qq ^wtCTiftXi, ksA iiwiBe
^01
II QREAT DZPECTATIONS. 243
«ld take farewell i>f those who were dear to me,
d explain myself to them, or ask for their com-
ion on my miserable errors; atill, if I could liave
d him, even in dyin^, I would have done it.
le had heen drinking-, and his eyes wore red and
Ishot. Around his neck was slung a tin bottle, as
d ofteu seen his meat and drink slung about him
her days. He brought the bottle to his lips, and
a tiery drink from it; and I smelt the strong
ts that I saw flaro into hJB face.
'Wolfl" said he, folding his arms again, "Old
ik'a a going to tell you soniethink. It was you as
for your shrew sister.''
Vgain my mind, with its former inconceivable
lity, had exhausted the whole subject of the attack
' sister, her Ulness, and her death, before
and hesitating speech had formed these
s you, villain!" said I.
Ltell you it was your doing — I tell you it was
"i you," he retorted, catching up the gun,
r a blow with the stock at the vacant air
"I come upon her from behind, as I come
1 you to-night. / giv' it her! I left her for dead,
if there had been a limekiln aa nigh her as there
iw nigh you, she shouldn't have come to life again,
it warn't Old Orlick aa did it; it was you. You
favoured, and he was bullied and heat. Old Orlick
ed and beat, eh? Now you pays for it. You done
ow you pays for it."
Je drank again, and became more ferocious. 1 a*si
lis tilting of the bottle that t^vete 'waa ^io ^e.«.
rleft in it. I distinctly imlexatooi \SaB.\.Vfc
.^22^
244
GBEAT EXPECTATIONS.
working hiiUBelf up witli its contents to make a
of me. I knew that every drop it held, was a drop W
my life, I knew thiit when I was ebunged into a pH*
of the vaponr that had crept towards mo biit a littl*
while before, like my own warning ghost, he would d"
Hs he had done in my sister's case ~ make all b
to the town, and be eeeu slouching about there, drink)
lug at the ale-houses. Hy rapid mind pursued him *!
the town, made a picture of the street with him in i
and contrasted its lights and life with the lonely maa
and the white vapour creeping over it, into which
should have dissolved.
It wfis not only that I could have Bummed np ye«
and years and years while ho said a dozen words, In
that what he did say presented pictures to me, and lU
■ ^ere words. In the excited and eialted state of u
, I could not think of a place without e
I of persons without seeing them. It is impossible t
vor-state the vividness of these images, and yet I m
a intent, all the time, upon him himself — who wool
3 intent on the tiger crouching to spring! -
pT knew of the slightest action of his fingers.
When he had drunk this second time, he roa
the bench on which he sat, and pushed the table aaid
Then he took op the candle, and shading it wil
his murderous hand bo as to throw its light on D
stood before me, looking at mo and enjoying t
sight.
"Wolf, I'll tell you something more. It Wf
Old Orlick as you tumbled over on your stairs tl
night."
' the staircase w\l\i Ws. CTA\iv%>u.«hed lami^
^ffiAT GXPBCTATIONa. SIS
'atchman'a lantern on the walL I saw the rooms that
i was never to aee again; here, a door half open;
licra, a door elosecl; aU the articles of furniture
"And why was Old Oriick there? TU toll you some-
;Uiig more, wolf. You and her have pretty well hunted
ne out of this country, so far as getting a easy living
in it goes, and I've took up witli new companions, and
new masters. Some of 'cm writes my letters when I
ffaata 'em wrote — do you mind? - — writes my letters,
*uin They writes fifty hands; they're not like sneak-
iig yon, as writes but one. IVe had n firm mind and
I tirm will to have your life, since you was down hero
It your aistor'a burying. I lian't seen a way to get
pill safe, and I've looked arter you to know your ins
iihI outs. For, says Old Oriick to himself, 'Somehow
']■ iiiiothcr ni have himi' What! Wen I looks for you,
I linds your uuule Previa, eh?"
Mill Pond Bank, and Chinks's Basin, and the Old
jreon Cop(ier Hope Walk, al! so clear and plain!
Provia in his rooms, and the signal whose use was
iver, pretty Clara, the good motherly woman, old Bill
Barley on his back, all drifting by, as on the swift
itream of my life fast tunning out to sea!
" YoH with a uncle too! Why, I kuow'd you at
Jlargery's when you was so small a wolf that I could
mve took your weazen betwixt this finger and thumb
lod chucked you away dead (as I'd thoughts o' doing,
idd times, whenlsee you loitering amongst the pollards
m a Sunday), and you hadn't found no uncles then,
Nu, not you! But when Old Oriick tomft ■&« \ft\isas
lliat your uncle Provia had most UVe ■«o\a 'Cn'^i ^*''^
^r ir«( Old Oriick had picked u^, " ~
cm these meaheB ever so many year ag^, and wot be
kep by him till he dropped your siater with it, lik« *
bollock, as he means to drop you — hey? — when he
come for to hear that — hey?" —
In his savage taunting, he flared the candl
me, that I tamed myface aside, to save it
he cried, laughing, after doing it ni
'the burnt child dreads the fire! Old Orlick knoi
you was burnt. Old Orlick knowed you was a smiif
glhig your uncle Provis away, Old Orlick's a matth fM
you and knowed you'd come to-nightl Now I'll tel! you
something more, wolf, and this ends it. There's ihem
that's as good a match for your nncle Provis as Old
Orlick has been for you. Let him 'ware them, when
he's lost his newy! Let him 'ware them, when no xann
can't find a rag of his dear relation's clothes, nor j^
a bone of his body? There's them that can't and liiil
won't have Magwitch — yos, / know the name! —
alive in the same land with them, and that's had sacb
Bare imformation of him when he was alive in anotiM
land, as that ho couldn't and shouldn't leave it nnhfl'
known and put them in danger. P'raps it's them thai
writes fifty hands, and that's not like sneaking you M
writes but one. 'Ware Compeyson, Magwitch, and the
gallows!"
He flared the candle at me again, smoking my face
and hair, and for an instant blinding me, and tnmed
his powerful back as he replaced the light on the table.
I had thought a prayer, and had been with Joe and
Biddy and Herbert, before he turned towards bb
There was a dear a;pi
QKBAT ESPBCTATIOMS. 24T
ble and the opposite wall. Within ihU space he now
mched backwards and forwards. Hie great strength
emed to sit atronger upon hint than ever before, as
' did this with his hands hanging loose and heavy at
a sides, and with bis eyes scowling at me. I had no
airi of hope left. Wild as my inward hurry was, and
mdorful the force of the pictures that rushed by me
stead of thoughts, I could yet cl early understand that
iless he had resolved that I was within a few moments
surely perishing out of all human knowledge, he
)uld never have told me what he had told.
Of a sudden, he stopped, took the cork out of his
ittle, and tossed it away. Light as it was, I heard
fall like a plummet. He swallowed slowly, tilting
I the bottle by little and little, and now he looked at
1 no moi-e. The last few drops of liquor he poured
to the palm of his hand, and licked up. Then with
sudden hurry of violence and swearing horribly,
threw the bottle from him, and stooped, and I
w in his hand a stone-hamraer with a long heavy
The resolution I' had made did not desert me, for,
thout uttering one vain word of appeal to him, I
Buted out with all my might, and straggled with all
r might. It was only ray head and my legs that I
aid move, but to that eitent I struggled with all tho
ce, until then unknown, that was witliin me. In
i same instant I heai'd responsive shouts, saw figures
i a gleam of light dash in at the door, heard voices
3 tumult, and saw Orlick emerge from a struggle of
in as if it were tumbling water; clear the table, ot. *.
ji, and By oat into the mgt
248 GKEiT EXPECTATIOHg.
After a blank, I found that I was lying vsho
on tlie floor, in the same place, witli my bead on i
one's knee. My ayes were lixed uii the ladder ag^
the w«ll, when I came to myself — had opened a
before my mind saw it — and thus aa I recow
consciousness, I knew that I was in the pl&ea whe
had lost it.
Too indifierent at first, oyen to look rannd a
certain who supported me, I was lying looking at
ladder, when there came between me and it, a i
The face of Trabb's boy!
"I think he's all right!" said Trabb's boy,
Bober voice; "but ain't he just pale though!"
At these words, the face of him who enpported
looked over into mine, and I saw my BUppc
to be —
"Herbert! Good Heaveul"
"Soflly," said Herbert. "Gently, HaudeL
be too eager."
"And our old comrade, Startop," I cried, as ha
bent over me.
"liemember what he is going to assist c
Herbert, "and be calm."
The allusion made me spring up; though I droj
again from the pain in my arm. "The time h
gone by, Herbert, has iti* What flight is ta-i
How long have I been here?" For, I had a b
and strong misgiving that I had been ijiag the
long time — a day and night — two days and n'
"The time has not gone by, It is still Moi
nigbt"
GRBAT ESPECTATIOSa. 349
r
^V^&nd you have all to-morrow, Tuesday, to rest
^^ said Herbert, "But you cau't help groaning, my
3ear Haudel What hurt have you got? Can you
stand?"
"Teg, yefl," said I, "I can walk. I have do hurt
'>iit in this throbbing arm."
Tliey laid it bare, and did what they could. It
Wits violently swollen and inflamed, and Icould scarcely
endure to have it touched. But they tore up their hand-
KercluefB to make &eah bandages, and carefully replaced
it in the sling, until we could get to the town and ob-
Wn some cooling lotion to put upou it. In a, little
wLile we had shut the door of the dark and empty
slnice-houBe, and were passing through the quarry on
our way back. Trabb's boy — Trabb's overgrown
young man now - — went before us with a lantern,
wJiich was the light I had seen come in at the door.
But the moon wae a good two hours higher than when
I had last seen the sky, and the night though rainy
waa mueb lighter. The white vapour of the kiln
iras passing from us as we went by, and, as I had
thought a prayer before, I thought a thanksgiving
now,
Entreating Herbert to tell me how he had come to
my rescue ■— which at first he had flatly refused to do,
but had insisted on my remaining quiet ■ — ■ I learnt
tliat I had in my hurry dropped the letter, open, in
our chambers, where be, coming home to bring with
bim Btartop whom he had met in the street on his way
to me, found it, very soon after I was gone. Its tooa
made him nneasy, and the move so \ifte,a»9a <A ''^^"^^^^Ij
g^tfency between it and iVe liaat^ W-Ws "VaaV^
»260 GREAT EXPECTATIONS. I
for him. His uneasiness increaHing instead of Hnbaiding m
after a quarter of an hour's consideration, he set offfoe
I
I
after a quarter of an hoar's consideration, he set offfo
the coach-office, with Startop, who volunteered 1
company, to make inquiry when the next coacli vt
down. Finding that the afternoon's coach wu {
and finding that his uneasiness grew into positive ai
as obstacles came in his way, he resolved to follow i
K post-chaise. So, he and Startop arrived at the filo
Boar, fully especting there to find me, or tidings l
me; but finding neither, went on to Miss Harishaml
where tbey lost me. Hereupon they went back to ti
hotel (doubtless at about the time when I was heaiis
the poptdar local version of my own story) to refi^
themselves, and to got some one to guide them c
npon the marshes. Among the loungers under the Boarl
archway, happened to be Trabb's boy — true to k
ancient habit of happening to be everywhere where 1
had no business — and Trabb's hoy had seen n
passing from Miss Havisham's in the direction of n
dining-place. Thus, Trabb's boy became their gmA
and with him they went out to the sluice-houae: thou
by the town way to the marshes, which I had avoidi
■Now, as they went along, Herbert reflected tliat
might, after all, have been brought there on (
genuine and serviceable eiTand tending to Profit
safety, and bethinking liiinself that in that case int*
mption might be mischievous, left his giiide and Startop I
on the edge of the quarry, and went on by himself,
and stole round the house two or three times, endeavoiu^
ing to ascertain whether all was right within. As ho
could hear nothing but indistinct sounds of one deer
rough voice fthis was wM\e iirj Tn\iv&. -«*a an busy), he
'vea at last began to doabt wWVftt \ ■» "' ""
/ I cried out loudly, and he answered the cries,
shed in, clonely followed by tlie otlier two.
len I told Herbert what had passed within the
he was for our immediately going before a
rate in the town, late at night as it was, and
i oat a warrant. But I had already considered
«, by detaining uh there or binding
me baek, might be fatal to Provis. There was
isaying this difficulty, and we relinquished all
5;ht8 of pursuing Orllck at that time. For the pre-
under the circumstances, we deemed it prudent to
i rather light of the matter to Trahb's boy; who I
ionvinccd would have been much affected by dia-
intment, if he liad known that his intervention
I niB from the limekiln. Not that Trahb's boy
^s malignant nature, hut that he had too much
ivacity, and that it was in his constitution to
■riety and escitement at anybody's expense,
we parted, I presented him with two guineas
i& seemed to meet his views), and told him that I
aorry ever to have had an ill opinion of him (which
1 no impression on him at all).
Eednesday being so close upon us, we determined
■back to London that night, tinee in the post-
H the rather as we should then bo clear away,
E<tbe night's adventure began to be talked of,
i6rt got a large bottle of stuff for my arm, and hy
of having this stuff dropped over it all the night
jgh, I was just able to bear its pain on the journey.
ks daylight when we reached the Temple, and I
at once to bed, and lay in bed all day.
ly terror, as I lay there, of faWmg \\\ wai'Vwi'?,
QBE AT EltPKCTATIONB.
^^K did not disable me of itaelf. It would have d
^^^0, pretty surely, in conjunction witL the mental w
and tear I bnd BuffGred, bnt for the unuatoral sti
upon me that to-mon-ow waa so auxionsly lo^
forward to, charged with such conscqueucea, iU r
0 impenetrahly hidden thoug;h so near!
No precaution could have been more obviom fl
t rotraiaing from communication with him that dsy
t tluB again increased my restlessness. I stairteJ^ I
/ footstep and every sound, believing that he w
UBCovered and taken, and this was the measengerl
le BO. I perHuaded myself that I knew he ifi
i that there was something more upon my mid
n tear or a presentiment; that the fact had Oi
rred, and I bad a mysterioua knowledge of it. i
) day wore on and no ill news came, OB the <i<
losed in and diirkness fell, my overshadowing d
f being disabled by illness before to-morrow momin
Hltogetber mastered mo. My burning arm throbbe
ind my burning head throbbed, and I fancied I w
iginning to wander. I counted up to high uumbe
Fto make sure of myself, and repeated paasages that
knew, in prose and verse. It happened sometkni
that in the mere esoape of a fatigued mind, I dw
for some momenta, or forgot; then I would say to n
self with a stai-t "Now it has come, and I am tuni)
delirious!"
They kept me very quiet all day, and kept I
arm constantly dressed, and gave me cooling diiiJi
Whenever I fell asleep, I awoke with the notion I hi
had in the sliuce-house, that a long time had ^pM
and the opportunity to aa.ve \mQ ■««:& ^tson. AboB
-inidnigbt Igot out of ted aa4-wtTA'wi"B.«^vw*.,jr*
GKE4T BXPBOTATIOSB. 253
I'oaviction tbat I hail been asleep for four- and- twenty
liiiurs, and that Wednesday was jjaet. It was t!ie last
sulf-eKhaiiflting effort of my fretfulness, for, after that,
I slept Boimdly.
Wednesday morning was dawning when I looked
OQt of window. The winking lights npon the bridges
Were already pale, tlie coming sun was like a marsh
of fire on the horizon. The river, Btill dark and mys-
'ei'inns, was spanned hy bridges tiiat were tuming ,
'■'ildiy grey, with here and there at top a warm touch
from tlie burning in the sky. As I looked along the
i^lustered roofs, with Church towers and apirea shooting
into tlie unusually clear air, the sun rose op, and a
vplI seemed to bo drawn frum the river, and millions
'>!' sparkles burst out upon its waters. From me too,
■■■ veil seemed to be dniwn, and I felt strong and
■ivil.
Herbert lay asleep in his bed, and our old fellow-
iiident lay asleep on the sofa. I could not dress my-
'If without help, but I made up the firo, which was
ill burning, and got some coffee ready for them. In
-"()d time they too started up strong and well, and
we admitted the sharp morning air at the windows,
and looked at the tide that was still flowing to-
"When it turns at nine o'clock," said Herbert,
-, "look out for us, and stand ready, you
r there at Mill Pond Bank!"
CHAPTER XXVI.
It was fine of those Marcli days when tha
shines hot nod the wind blows cold: when it is an
in the light, and winter in the shade. We had om
coats with us, and I took a hag. Of all my w(
possessions I took no more than the few necei
that filled the bag. Where I might go, what 1 1
do, or when I might return, were questiona utteri
known to me; nor did I vex my mind with them,
was wholly set on Provis's safety. I only won
for the passing moment, as I stopped at the dooi
looked back, under what altered circumstances I &
next see those rooms, if ever.
We loitered down to the Temple stairs, and
loitering there, as if we were not quite decided
upon the water at all. Of course I had taken
that the hoat should be ready and everything ia (
After a little show of indecision, whiuh ^erB
none to see hut the two or three amphibioua crei
helonging to our Temple stairs, we went on boari
cast off; Herbert in the bow, I. steering. It wa*
about high-water - — half-past eight.
Our plan was this. The tide, beginning U
down at nine, and being with us until three, J
tended still to creep on ntter it had turned, aai
against it until dark. We should then be wdl io
long reaches below Gravesend, between Kent And!
where the river ia broad and solitary, where the 1
eiiie ioiabitanta are very !evj, asil-s^iere looei
hsaas'f are scattered Uero ani \kexft, ^S "^JV^iiMB
■fir wm
GBEAT EXPECTATIONS. 265
H^ ("16 for a rCBting-pIace. There, we meant to lie
"■all night, The steamer for Hamburg, aud the
amer for Rotterdam, would start from London at
ini nine on Thursday morning. We should know
what time to es]ieet them, according to where we
re, and would hail the first; so that if by any
iident we were not taken aboard, we should have
Jtber chance. We knew the distinguishing marks
etich vessel.
The relief of being at last engaged in the execution
the purpose, was so great to me that I felt it difS-
t to realise the condition in which I had been a
' hours before. The crisp air, the sunlight, the
vemcnt on the river, and the moving river itself —
■■ road that ran with us, seeming to sympathise with
animate us, and encourage ua on — fi'eshoned mo
!i new hope. I felt mortified to be of so little use
the boat; but, there were few better oarsmen than
two friends, and they rowed with a steady stroke
t was to last all day.
At that time, the steam-traffic ou the Thames was
below its present extent, and watermen's boats were
more numerous. Of barges, sailing colliers, and
ating-tradors, there were perhaps as many aa now;
, of steam-ships, great and small, not a tithe or a
iutieth part so many. Early as it was, there were
nty of scullers going here and there that morning,
I plenty of barges dropping down with the tide; the
igation of the river between bridges, in an open
t, was a much easier and commoner matter in those
■B than it is in these; and we went ahead aiii<«i%
ly skiffs and wherries, briaWy.
Old Loudon Bridge was aoon ngg^jWO^^^^^^^
!B6 GKEAT EXPECTATIONS.
ingagrate market with its oyster-boats and DatcLmen^
and the White Tower and Traitors' Gate, and we wM'
in among the tiers of shipping. Eefe, were the Lritl
Aberdeen, and Glasgow steamers, loading and iinlosd'
goods, and looking immensely high ont of the water s
we paased alongside; here, were colliors by the but
and score, with the coal-whippors plunging off sti^
on deck, an counterweights to measures of coal swin^
np, which were then rattled over the side into bafgti
Iiere, at her moorings to-morrow's steamer forKotterdU
of which we took good notice; and here to-mcarow'sl
Hamburg, under wliose bowsprit we crossed- And*
1}, sitting in the stem, conld see with a faster h
^teart, Mill Pond Bank and Mill Pond stairs.
I "Is he there?" said Herbert.
"Not yet"
[ "Eight! lie was not to come down till he b
[Can you Bee his signal?"
"Not well from here; but I think I see it. — IfoH
J see him! Pull both. Easy, Herbert. Oarsl
We touched the stairs lightly for a single
"(Bid he was on board and we were ofF again,
a boat-cloak with him, and a black canvas bag,
he looked as like a river-pilot as my heart could baf
wished.
"Dear boy!" he said, putting his arm on Q
»dioalder as he took his seat. "Faithful dear boy, in
dflne. Thankye, thankye!"
Again among the tiers of shipping, in and 0<
avoiding rusty chain-cables, frayed hempen hawsers «
bobbing buoys, sinliing for the moment floating btofa
baskets, scattering floatiivg ck\^* qI -wooi a.ttd shavin
^-cieaving floating scum ot toaV, Va »ai <*""
ORE AT EXPECTATIONS.
ja<l of the John of 8uiidprlan<l making a speecli
windB (as is doitu by many Johiia), and the
t Yarmouth with a firm formaljty of boBom and
bby eyes starttug two indies out of her head,
, hammers going in Bhip-huilderB' yards,
iag at timber, claaliing engines going at things
, pumps going in kaky ahipa, capstans going,
ling out tu sea, and unintelligible sea-creatures
as over the bulwarks at respondent Ughter-
: and out — out at last upon the clearer river,
le ships' boys might take their fenders in, no
Sshing in troubled waters with them over the
1 where the festooned sails might fly out to
he Stairs where we had taken liiin aboard, and
.ee, I had looked warily for any token of our
ilBpected. I bad seen none. We certainly bad
and at that time as certainly we were not,
ttended or followed by any boat. If we bad
ited on by any boat, I should have run in to
jid have obliged her tu go on, or to make her
evident. But, we held our own, without any
Ice of molestation.
Itad his boat-cloak on him, and looked, as I
id, a natural part of the scene. It was remark-
(but perhaps the wretched life he had led, accounted
t), that he wag the le^st anxious of any of us. He
not indifferent, for bo told me that he Loped to
to see his gentleman one of the best of gentlemen
foreign country; he waa not disposed to be \iaaaive,
asigned, as I underatood it-i bu.t, Ve tai. ^io -&u'iAOT>-
Xting danger ialf way. "When it cBimft M.yi& "''¥'=«>•' »|
QRHAT BXPECTATIONH,
E confronted it, but it i
mself.
t come before be tronWet
"If yon knowed, dear boy," he said to me, "Tflu
t is to sit here alonger my dear boy and hare m
moke, arter having been day by day betwixt to
11b, yoa'd envy me. But you don't know wl"
is."
"I think I know the delights of freedom," I *i
' «wered,
"Ah," said he, shaking has head gravely. "B'
you don't know it eq^ual to me. You mnat have bes
under lock and key, dear boy, to know it equal to o
J^ — but I ain't a going to be low."
■ It occurred to me as inconsistent, that for I
rmastering idea, he should have endangered his Ireedfl
and even his life. But I reflected that perhaps freed*
without danger was too much apart from all the h "
of his existence to be to him what it would be to ano
man. I was not for out, since he said, after s:
" 1 little:
"Yon see, dear boy, when I was over yondi
IS'otber side the world, I was always a looking to tl
j and it come flat to be there, for all I wu
■■growing rich. Everybody knowed Mag witch, and ill
Bewitch could come, and Magwitch could go, and nobodj
Ifiead would be troubled about hini. They a"
■/Concerning me here, dear boy — wouldn't be, leaetirit
■ j£ they knowed whei-e I was."
"If all goes well," said I, "you will be j
I'&ee and safe again, within a few bom's."
"Well," he retumpd, drawing a long breath,
pope 30."
269
IF GR]
( dipped his hand in the ■water over the boat's gim-
and eaid, smiling with that softened air upon him
"Ay, I §'pos6 I think bo, dear boy. We'd be
ried to be more quiet and easy-going than we are
But — it's a flowing so soft and pleasant
1 the water, p'raps, as makes me think it — I
^thinking through my smoke just then, that we
e see to the bottom of the nest few hours,
n Bee to the bottom of this river what I
I hold of. Nor yet we can't no more hold their
iiikn I can hold this. And it's run through my
era and gone, you see!" holding up his dripping
d.
"But for your face, I should think you ■were a
e despondent," said I,
"Not a hit on it, dear boy! It comes of flowing
so quiet, and of that there rippling at the hoat'a
d making a sort of a Sunday tune. Maybe I'm a
wing a trifle old besides."
He put his pipe ba^ik in his mouth -with an undis-
)ed espresaion of face, and sat as composed and
tented as if we were already out of England. Yet
was as submissive to a ■word of advice as if he bad
a in constant terror, for, when we ran ashore to get
le' bottles of beer into the boat, and he was stepping
, I hinted that I thought he would be safest where
was, and he said, "Do you, dear boy?" and quietly
down again.
The air felt cold upon the river, but it was a
*ht day, and the sunshine was very eheer\a.«. "^Vt
I ran strong, I took care to lose Twrne o^ "A, ani «^>^
roke carried U3 on thorougtiVj "w^-
hat
to
QKB&T EXPECTATIONS.
leptible degrees, hh the tide ran out, we loaimortj
of the nearer woods and hills, and droppW
lower between the muddy hanks, bnt »
was yet with us when we were off Graveaend. i
charge was wrapped in his cloak,
led within a boat or two's length of the floa
lustom House, and so out to catch the stream, :
ide of two emigrant ships, and under the bows rf*j
large transport with troops on the forecastle looki''
down at ue. And soon the tide began to slacken, )
the craft lying at anchor to swing, and presently H
had all swung round, and the ships that were t'
^vantage of the new tide to get up to the Pool, h
crowd upon us in a fleet, and we kept under i
ihore, as much out of the strength of the tide nov 4
luld, standing carefully off from low shallows «
mud-hanks.
Our oarsmen were so fresh, by dint of having 0«
casionally let her drive with the tide for a minnts fl
,two, that a cjaarter of an hour's rest proved fnll ■
■3nnch as they wanted. We got ashore among ft
■alippery stones while we ate and drank what we h
with us, and looked about It was like my o
country, fiat and monotonous, and with a dim horiJ
while the winding river turned and turned, and
great floating buoys upon it turned and turned,
everything else seemed stranded and still. For, noil
,41ie last of the fleet of ships was round the last 1 "
ipoint we had headed; and the last green barge, i
flBiden, with a brown sail, had followed; and some tu
lighters, shaped like a child's fiist rude I
a boat, lay low in tW tiw.Sl-, a.-ftS. a. littla b|1H
\oal-ligbthQRsa on open ?\\e,a, *'«><^ «k^^ "■■
OKEAT BXPEOTATIONB. 261
d on Htilts and crutches; and e!iiii7 stakes stock ont
the mud, and filimy stones stack out of the mud,
1 red laudmarks and tidemarka stuck out of the
d, and im old landing-stage and an old ronflens
Iding slipped Into the mud, and all about as was
gnation and mud.
We pushed off again, and made what way we could.
ffaa mnch harder work now, but Herbert and Startop
Berered, and rowed, and rowed, and rowed, nntil the
I went down. By that time the river had lifted us a
le, so that we could see above [the bank. Tliere
B the red nun, on the low level of the shore, in a
'pie haze, fast deepening into black; and tbeie was
solitary flat marali; and far away there were the
Qg grounds, betwecin which and uh there seemed to
no life, save here and there in the foreground a
lancboly gull.
As the night was fast failing, and as the moon,
ng past the full, would not rise early, we held a
le council: a short one, for clearly our course was to
by at the first lonely tavern we could find. 80
y piled their oars once more, and I looked out for
rthing like a house. Thus we held on, speaking
le, for four or five dull miles. It was very cold,
1, a collier coming by us, with her galley-fire amo-
[g and flaring, looked like a eoTOfortable home. The
bt was as dark by this time as it would be until
ming; and what light we had, seemed to come more
tn the river than the sky, as the oars in their dip-
g struck at a few reflected stars.
At this difimai time we were evidently a.\V T^ft%fe's.%e&
the idea that we were foUowei. Aa "Aib 'Oi&» ■wuiAs., ^
t irregular intenaS
sue
an
K
^^ an
£'
'Shore; and whenever such a sound
aia to start and look iu tliat direction. Ha
and there, the set of the current had worn down ti
bank into a little creek, and we were all suspiciouB 4
such places, and eyed them ncrvoualy. SometinK
"What was that ripple!" one of us would say in alo
Or another, "Is th^t a boat yonder?" M
;erwafdB, we would fall into a dead silence, and
■would sit impatiently thinking with what
amonnt of noise the oars worked in the thowels.
At length we descried a light and a, roof, and
aently afterwards ran alongside a little causeway mi
.of stones that had heen picked np hard-hy.
""le rest in the boat, I stepped ashore, and found 1
ight to be in a window of a public-house. It W«
dirty place enough, and I dare say not unknown
smuggling adventurers; hut there was a good fire in t
kitchen, and there were egga and bacon to eat, a
various liquors to drink. Also, there were two doub
"bedded rooms — "such as they were," the landlt
.said. No other company was in the house than I
landlord, his wife, and a grizzled male ereatnre, t
"Jack" of the little causeway, who was as slimy*
smeary as if he had been low-water mark too.
With this assistant, I went down to the boat
and we all came ashore, and brought out the oars, I
^ ler, and boat-hook, and all else, and hauled hei
the night. We made a very good meal by I
itchen fire, and then apportioned the hedroomBr H
bert and Startop were to occupy one; I and
the other. We found the air as carefully extbii
from both, as if air were ?a\.aX \ft ^^e-, wad tiien
dirty clothes and ban&o'xaft -wij^t ' ' " "
GREAT ESPBCTATIONB. 26S
kould have thought the family possessed. But, we
oarselves well off, not with BtaDding, for a
ilitary place we could not have found.
lile we were comforting ourselves by the fire
r meal, the Jack — who was sitting ia a comer,
who had a bloated pair of shoes on, which he had
ibited while we were eating our eggs and bacon,
ateresting relics that he had taken a few days ago
1 the feet of a drowned seaman washed ashore —
sd me if we had seen a four-oared galley going up
1 the tide? "When I told him No, he said she must
3 gone down then, and yet she "took up too,"
n she left there.
"They mast ha' thought better on't for some reason
Jiother," said the Jack, "and gone down."
"A fotir-oarod galley, did yoti say?" eaid I.
"A four," said the Jack, "and two sitters."
"Did they como ashore here?"
"They put ia with a stone two-gallon jar, for some
^rd ha' been glad to pison the beer myself,"
B Jack, "or put some rattling physic in it."
ly?"
' know why," said the Jack. He spoke in a
hy voice, as if much mud had washed into his
at.
''He thinks," said the landlord: a weakJy medita-
man with a pale eye, who seemed to rely greatly
lis Jack: "he thinks they was, what they wasn't."
"/ knows what I thinks," observed the Jack.
"You thinks Custiim 'Ua, Jack?" said the landlord.
"I do," said the Jack.
"Then you're wrong, Jack."
"Ami/"
QBE AT EXPECTATIONS.
F
^^H In the iafinitive meaning of his reply and b
^^^BDiindleBB confidence in his views, the Jack took oat
^^^mis bloated shoes off, looked into it, knocked & ft
^^^^tonea out of it on the kitchen floor, and put it 0
^^Eng^'°' ^'' ^^^ ^^'^ with the air of a Jack who «
80 right that he could aflbrd to do anything.
"Wliy, what do you make out that tbsy done if^
their buttona then, Jack?" asked the landlord, vk
I luting weakly.
"Done with their buttona?" returned the Jad
^'Chucked 'em overboard. Swallered 'em. Sowed 'e
to come up small salad. Done widi their Luttons!"
"Don't be cheeky, Jack," remonstrated the bw
lord, in a melancholy and pathetic way.
"A Custum 'Ua officer knows what to do with h
Buttons," said the Jack, repeating the obnoxiouB »
with the greateflt contempt, "whi;n they comes betffil
him and his own light. A Four and t
go hanging and hovering, up with one tide and ioH
with another, and both with and against another, *id
out there being Cuatura 'Us at the bottom of it." f
ing which he went out in disdain; and the landlor
having no one to rely upon, found it impracticable t
pursue the subject.
This dialogue made us all uneaay, and me >*
uneasy. The dismal wind was muttering round o
L fcouse, the tide waa flapping at the shore, and I iii
■'Reeling that we were caged and threatened.
wared galley hovering about in so unusual a way » '
Kattract this notice, was an ugly circnmBtanc& tblt
Biftould not get rid of. When I had induced VrvnS '
' ap to bed, I went ouUVie vAdi ta-j t
865
till Midtbpr council. Whether we sUouJd remain at,
lU house until near the steamer's time, which would
J about one in the afternoon; or whether we should
it off early in the morning; was the question we iii«-
issed. On the whole we deemed it the better conrse
I lie where we were, until within an hour or so of the
earner's time, and then to get out in her traek, and
ift easily with the tide. Having settled to do thia,
e returned into the houne and went to bed.
1 lay down with the greater part of my clothes on,
id slept well for s few honrn. When I awoke, the
ind had risen, and the sign of tie bouse (the Ship}
as creaking iind banging about, with noises that
artled mo, Kiwing softly, for my charge lay fast
ileep, I looked out of the window. It commanded
le causeway where we had hauled up our boat, and,
' my eyes adapted themselves to the light of the
oaded moon, I saw two men looking into her. They
iased by under the window, looking at nothing ekei,
id they did not go down to the landing-place which
could discern to he empty, hut struck across the
larsh in the direction of the Nore.
My first impulse was to call up Herbert, and show
I'll the two men going away. But, reflecting before I
>t into his room, which was nt the bach of the house
"i adjoined mine, that he and Htartop had had a
srder day than I, and were fatigued, I forbore, Going
*ck to njy window, I could see the two men moving
fer the marsh. In that light, however, I soon lost
fern, and feeling very cold, lay down to think of the
itler, and fell asleep again.
We wi-ro ap early. As we wniVkei te a.Tii. ^rs., s^
IP' together, beforQ breakftwt. I dewnft^ ^ t' ^'^ "
^Bf^ecoant trhat I had seen. Again otu- charge waa 4
^" least anxious of tlie party. It was very likely that lJ
men belonged to the Custom House, he said quieU
and that they had no thought of ua. I tried U) ft
suade myself that it was so - — as, indeed, it migj
easily he. However, I proposed that he and I shaa
walk away together to a distant point we could see,
that the boat should tako us aboard there, or as i
there as might prove feasible, at about noon. This h
considered a good precaution, soon after breakfast )
and I set forth, without saying anything at the ta'
He smoked his pipe as we went along, and »
times stopped to clap me on the shoulder. One wonl
have supposed that it was I who was in danger,
he, and that ho was reassuring me. We spoke v
little. As we approached the point, I begged him I
remain in a sheltered place, while I went on to i
noitre; for, it was towards tt that the men had \
ifi the night. He complied and I went on alone. ThK
was no boat off the point, noi any boat drawn up anj
where near it, nor were there any signs of the ni
having embarked there. But, to be sure the tide *
high, and there might have been some footprints ondE
if a When he looked out from his shelter in the d
tance, and saw that I waved my hat to bim to come i
he rejoined me, and there we waited: sometimes lyii
on the bank wrapped in our coats, and Bometim
moving about to warm ourselves: until we flaw o"^
boat coming round. We got aboard easily, and rowfi^
out into the track of the steamer. By that timo ••
wanted but ten miaulea oi o
to look ont for her smoke.
267
|!(lt, it was half-past one before we saw her smokR,
Boon afterwards we saw belund it the smuke of
other steamer. As they were coining on. at full
sed, we got the two bags ready, and toijk that op-
rtunity of saying good-by to Herbert and Startop.
e had aJL shaken hands eordially, and neitlier Her-
rt's eyes nor mine nerc quite dry, when I eaw a
ir-oared galley shoot out from under the bank but a
tie way ahead of us, and row out into the same
xk.
A stretch of shore had been as yet between us and
i steamer's smoke, by reason of the bend and wind
the riper; hut now she was visible, coming head on.
called to Herbert and Startop to keep before the
le, that she might see ns lying by for her, and I
jured Provis to sit quite still, wrapped in his cloak.
e answered uheerily, "Trust to me, dear boy," and
t like a statue. Meantime the galley, which was
cy skilfully handled, had crossed vs, let ub come up
itb her, and fallen alongside. Leaving just room
ougb for the play of the oars, she kept alongside,
iftiag when we drifted, and pulling a stroke or two
ben we pulled. Of the two sitters, one held the
dder lines, and looked at us attentively — as did
I the rowers; the other sitter was wrapped up, much
Provis was, and seemed to shrink, and whisper
me instruction to the stecrer as he looked at ns. Not
word was spoken in either boat.
Startop could make out, after a few minutes, which
Jamer was first, and gave me the word "Hamburg,"
a low voice as we sat face to face. She was neaiin^
very fast, and the beating of tet ^a.iSift'a ^«^
I
[tely upon lis, vrhen tlie galley bailed ub. I ao-
Wered.
"You have a. returned Transport there," sad t
who held the lines. "That'a the mnn, wrappt!
the cloak. His name is Abel Mag;witch, oth«
I apprehend that man, and call upon him ta
inder, and you to assist."
At the same moment, nitbont gi^'ng any andibbj
direction to his crew, he ran the galley aboard ofm
They bad pnlled one sudden stroke ahead,
their oars in, had run athwart, ns, and were holding 0|
to oBr gunwale, before we ^ow what they vrtae AoJOl
This caused great confusion on hoard the steamer, «nJ
I heard thorn calling to as, and heard the order ^ven
to Btop the paddles, and heard them stop, but felt hw
driving down, upon us irresistibly. In the aiune m"-
mrait, 1 saw the steeraman of the galley lay his hsuA
on his prisoner's shoulder, and saw that both bd^
were swinging round with the force of the tide, ■M_
saw that all hands on hoard the steamer were i
^ forward quite frantically. Still in
Baw the prisoner start up, lean across his captor, «
pull the cloak from the neck of the shrinking BittW H
the galley. StJU in the same moment, I i
face disclosed, was the face of the other convict of It"*
.ago. Still in the same moment, I saw thu fuse B
backward with a white terror on it that I eball n
I forget, and heai'd a great cry on board the steamn ■
fi loud splash in the water, and felt the boat sink 6
It was but for an instant that I seemed to rtrogff
with a thousand miU-wavK aai «. '^^«l^5.43.&d flwhed _*
IJg'ht; that instant past, ij
V ESPECTATIONS. 2B9
t Herbert wua there, and Startop was there; but
t waa gone, and the two convicts were gone.
Wltat with the crioa aboard the steamer, and the
.ous blowing-off of lier eteam, and her driying on,
'. our driving on, I could not at first distinguish sky
a water or shore from shore; but, the crew of the
ley righted her with groat speed, and, pulling cer-
1 swift strong stroljes aherwl, lay upon their oars,
ry man looking silently and eagerly at the water
)m. Presently a dark object was seen in it, bearing
ards us on the tide. No man spoke, but the steers-
[j held np his hand, and all softly backed water,
I kept tlie boat straight and true before it. As it
le nearer, I saw it to be Magwitoh, swimming, but
swimming freely. Ho was taken on hoard, and
antly manacled at the wrists and ankles.
The galley was kept steady, and the silent eager
k-out at the water was resumed. But, the Rotter-
u steamer now came up, and apparently not nndei'-
ading what had happened, came on at speed. By
time she had been hailed and stopped, both steam-
were drifting away from us, and we were rising
I falling in a troubled wake of water. The look-
) was kept, long after all was still again and the
i steamers were gone; but, everybody knew that it
a liopeloMs now.
At length we gave it up, and pulled nnder the
ire towards the tavern we had lately left, where we
re received with no littl^ Hurpriso. Here, I was able
get some comforts for Magwitch - — Provis no longer
who had received some very severe injury in ihs.
at and a deejj cut in the head.
" \ \a Vwft_5P»
ider the keel of the steamer, and to have been atrni
on the head in rising. The injury to his chest (whi<
rendered hia breathing extremely painful) he thoi
he had received against the side of the galley.
added that he did not pretend to say what he mig;lit x
might not have done to Compeyaon, but, that '
ment hia laying Ms hand on his cloak to identify him,
that villain bad staggered up and ataggered back, and
both gone overboard together; when tie
idden wrenching of him (Magwitch) out of our boat,
id the endeavour of his captor to keep him in it, hsA
He told me in a ivhiaper that they had
igone down, fiercely locked in each other's arms,
'Jtiiat there had been a struggle under water, and tli
Jie had disengaged himself, struck out, and
way.
I never had any reason to doubt the exact troth
what he thus told me. The officer who steered llw
walloy gave the same account of their going overboard.
When I aaked thia office-r's permiaeiou to change
prisoner's wet clothes by purchasing any spare ga^
'ments I could get at the public-house, he gave it re«-
dily: merely observing that he must take charge rf
everything his prisoner had about him. So the pocket-
book which had once been in my hands, passed inM
the officer's. He further gave me leave to aceompu/
the prisoner to London; but, declined to accord tW
grace to my two friends.
The Jack at the Ship was instructed whrae ti<
drowned man had gone down, and undertook to soiiW
for the body in the places where it was likeliest t»
come ashore. His mteTe.a\. m 'to twovery seemed W_
He to be much heig\iteiie,4 'wVea'Wtea^
GREAT BXPECTATI0S8. 271
(lockings oa. Probably, it took about a dozen drowned
nen to fit him out completely; and that may have
leen the reason why the different articles of his dreas
were in various stages of decay.
We remained at the public-house until the tide
limed, and then Magwitch was carried down to the
jalley and put on board. Herbert and Startop were
;o get to London by land, as soon as they could. We
lad a doleful parting, and when I took my place by
Hagwitch's side, I felt that that was my place henceforth
s'hile he lived.
For now, nty repugnance to Iiim had all melted
iway, and in the hunted wounded shackled creature
vho held my band in hia, I only saw a man who had
neant to he ray benefactor, and who had felt affection-
itely, gratefully, and generously, towards me with
jreat constancy through a scries of years, I only
law in him a much better man than I had been to
His breathing became more difficult and painful as
;he night drew on, and often be could not repress a
i^roan. I tried to rest him on the arm I could use,
,n any easy position; but, it was dreadful to think
;hat I could not be sorry at heart for his being badly
burt, since it was unquestionably best that he should
3ie. That there were, still living, people enough who
were able and willing to identify him, I could not
doubt. That he would bo leniently treated, 1 could
not hope. He who had been presented in the worst
light at ■ his trial, who bad since broken prison and
been tried again, who had returned from transportation.
■mder a life sentence, and who \ia4 ow.aavi'a.t^ *«■
vhi SMJil& ftanaa ot^a amga^
P873
yestet
r BXPGCTATIONS.
■turned towards tlio settiug aim we baJ
yesterday laft behind ns, aud as the stream of our
hopes seemed all running back, I lold hiiu how grieT^
I -was to think that he had come home for my sake.
"Dear boy," La anawered, "I'm quite content ti>
take my chauce. I've seeu my boy, and lie can be »
geutloman without me."
No. I had thought about that^ while we had been
thei'e side by side. No. Apart from any incliuaUons
of my own, I understand Wemmiclc'a hint now. I
foresaw that, being convicted, hia poBsessions would lie
forfeited to the Crown.
"Lookee here, dear boy," said he. "It's best m
& gentlemau should not be kauwed to belong to w
now. Only come to see me as if you come by chanL*
alonger Wemmick. Sit where I can see you when I
urn swore to, for the last o' many times, aud 1 donl
mk no more."
"I will never stir from your side," said I, "wheu
I am suffered to be near you. Please God, I will t*
as true to you, as you have been to me!"
I felt hia hand tremble a,n it held mine, and ^
turned his face away as he lay in the bottom oft>
boat, and I heard that old sound in his throat —
ened now, like all the rest of him. It was a gOi
thing that he had touched this point, fur it pnt '
my mind what I might not otherwise have thought
dntil too late: That be need never know how hiBhopM
of enriching me had perished.
CHAPTKE XXVII.
I was taken to tlie Politu Court next day, and
have been immediately committed for trial, liut
hat it was necessary to send down for an old officer
f tie prison-ship from which he had once escaped, to
peak to bis identity. Nobody doubted it; but, Com-
leyson, who had meant to depose to it, was tumbling
'U the tides, dead, and it happened that there was not
it that time any prison officer in London who could
;ive the required evidence. I had gone direct to Mr.
aggers at his private house, on my arrival over-night,
0 retain his assistance, and Mr. Jaggera on the pri-
oner's behalf would admit nothing. It was the sole
eaource, for he told me that the case must be over in
ive minutes when the witness was there, and that no
'ower on earth could prevent ita going against us,
I imparted to Mr. Jaggera my design of keeping
inn in ignorance of the fate of his wealth. Mr. Jag-
^t9 was querulous and angry with me for having "let
t slip through my fingera," and said we must memo-
ialise by-and-hy, and try at all events for some of it.
iut, he did not coiiceal from me that although there
light be many cases in which the forfeiture would not
e exacted, there were no circumstances in this case
3 make it one of them. I understood that, very well.
was not related to the outlaw, or connected with him
y any recognisable tie; he had put hia hand to no
riting or settlement in my favour before his apprehen-
on, and to do so now would be idle. 1 UeA \i.a A^mn-,
id I iinaUf i-esoJved, and ever aitei-WMis tAMs^^
' 274 BEEAT EXPECTATIONS.
uckesed'fl
sh one. '
' the leBolation, that my licort should never bo uckesed'4
with the hopeless taek of attempting to establish one.
There appeared to be reason for BUpposing that tin'
drowned ini'ormor had hoped for a reward out of this
forfcitui-e, and had obtained some accurate knowledge
of Magwitch's afFairn. When hla body was found
I many miles from the fteeno of hia death, and bo hor-
' ribly disfig^iired that he waa only recognisable by tlip
contents of his pockets, notes were still legible, folded
in a case he carried. Among these, were the name of ,
a banking-bonse in New South Wales where a sum of J
money was, aud the designation of certain lands o^
considerable value. Both these heads of informatii^B
I vere in a list that Hagwitch, while in prison, gave ^H
' Wr. Jaggers, of the possessions be supposed I sbool^l
inherit. His ignorance, poor fellow, at last serr^H
him; he never mistrusted hut that my inheritance w1^|
quite safe, with iir. Jaggcrs's aid. ^M
After three days' delay, during which the croi^H
prosecution stood over for the production of the w^M
ness from the prison-ship, the witness came, and CM^H
pleted the easy case. He was committed to take ^^M
trial at the next Sessions, which would come on in i^|
I month. I
L It was at this dark time of my life that Hertm^
I returned home one evening, a good deal cast doiroW
I and said: H
I "My dear Handel, I fear I shall soon have to Ica'^fl
His partner having prepared me for that, I *^H
' Jess surprised than he thought, fl
GKEAT EXPEOTATIOKS. 275
o Cairo, and I am very much afraid I must go,
Llandel, wbea you most need me."
"Herbert, I shall always need you, because I shall
ilways love yon; but my need is no greater now, than
it anotber time."
"Toll will be bo lonely."
"I bave not leisure to think of that," said I, "You
enow that I am always with him to the full extent of
he time allowed, and that I should be with Lim all
lay long, if I could. And when I come away from
lim, you know that my thoughts are with him."
The dreadful condition to which he was brought,
ffBs 80 appalling to both of us, that we could not refer
to it in plainer words.
"My dear fellow, said Herbert, "let the near pro-
spect of our separation - — for, it is very near — be
my justification for troubling you about yourself. Have
yon thought of your future?"
"No, for I have been afraid to think of any fu-
ture."
"But yours cannot be dismissed; indeed, my dear
dear Handel, it must not be dismissed. I wish you would
enter on it now, as far as a few friendly words go,
with me."
"I will," said I.
"In this branch house of ours, Handel, we must
I saw that his delicacy was avoiding the right word,
so I said, "A clerk."
"A clerk. And I hope it is not at all unlikely
that he may expand (as a clerk of your acquaintance
has expanded) into a partner. 'Now, 'Saiii^ -
I
t
rare om
W Thei-e was something charmingly cordial and e
* gaging in Ihe maunei" in which after saying ' "~
Handel," aa if it were the grave beginniag' of a pa
tcntoue business exordium, he had suddeiiiy ^vdd W
that tone, stretched out ills honest hand, and spokiq
like a schoolboy.
"Clara and I have talked about it again and again,"
Herbert pursued, "and the dear little thing begged me
only this evening, with tears in her eyea, to say tf
yon that if you will live with ns when we come together,
she will do her beat to make you happy, and to con-
vince her husband's friend that he is her friend too.
We should get on bo well, Handell"
I thanked her heartily, and I thanked him heartily,
but said I could not yet make sure of joining him
he BO kindly offered. Firstly, my mind was too |
occupied to be able to take in the subject clea
Secondly — TesI Secondly! there was a vague to.
thing lingering in my thonghts that will come out veq
near the end of this slight narrative.
"But if you thought, Herbert, that you could, with- I
out doing any injury to your business, leave the qu* I
tion open for a little while — " |
"For any while," cried Herbert. "Sis months, *
"Not HO long as that," said I. "Two or [hrW |
months at most." J
Herbert was highly delighted when we shook tw* |
on this arrangement, and said he could now take « ~
age to tell me that he believed he mast go avuy "
end of the week.
'And Clara?" saidl.
Tie dear littlej^p^,^' -^.^
GKEAT EXPECTATI0K8, 277
lutifiillj' to her father as long as he lasts; bnt he
von't Iftst long. Mrs. Whimple confides to me that he
a certainly going."
"Not to say an unfeeling thing," said I, "he can-
lot do better than go."
"I B.m afraid that mast he admitted," aaid Herbsf
'and Chen I Bhall come back for the dear little thing, I
md the dear little thing and I will walk quietly into \
he nearest chiirth. Remember! The blessed darling /
;onies of no family, my dear Handel, and never looked I
nto the red hook, and hasn't a notion about har grand-
)apa, What a fortune for the son of my mother!"
On the Saturday in that same week, I took my
eaye of Herbert — full of bright hope, Imt sad and
wrry to leave me — as he sat on one of the seaport
nail coHthea. I went into a coffee-house to write a
little note to Clara, telling her he had gone off, send-
ing hia love to her over and over again, and then went
to ray lonely home — if it deaerved the name, for it
Was now no home to me, attd I had no home any-
where.
On the stairs I encountered Wemmick, who was
coming down, after an unaucceaaful application of his
tnuukles to my door. I had not seen him alone, since
tlio diaastrons isane of the attempted flight; and he
liad come, in his private and personal capacity, to
^y a few worda of explanation in reference to that
failure.
"The late Compeyson," said Wemmick, "had by
ittle and little got at the bottom of half of the regular
'QMnesa now transacted, and it was from the talk of
ome of hia people in trouble (soma o? \usl ^f^u-^e.^s'ssii'^
r in troable) that I heard wUa\. 1 fti.&- V**^
OHEAT ESPBCTATIONS.
my ears open, aeeming tt> liare tliom shnt, nntilj
pbeard that Le was absent, and I thought that warn
B '^le best time for making the attempt. I c
now, thnt it was a part of his policy,
■Tery clerer man, habitually to deeeive h'
You don't blame me, I hope, Mr. Pip?
e I tried to serve you, with all my heart."
am a3 sure of that, Wemniick, as
I and I thank you most earnestly for all i
and IVitindahip."
"Thank you, thank you very much. It's a ^"^M
job," said Wenimick, scratching his head, "and I s
sure yon I haven't been so cut up for & long time.
What I look at, is the sacrifice of so much portable
property. Dear mel"
("What / think of, Wemmick, is the poor owner ol'
tiie property."
"Tes, to be enre," said Wemmick. "Of course
there can be no objection to your being sorry for liim,
and I'd put down s five-pound note myself to get h' '^
out of it. But what I look at, ia this. The late Ci
jHsyson having been beforehand with him in intellige
of liis return, and being so determined to bring hini ij
book , I do not think he could have been sa
Whereas, the portable property certainly could 1
been saved. That's the difference between the prop«
and the owner, don't you see?"
I invited Wemmick to come up-ataire, and refrew |
himaelf with a glass of grog before walking to Wd-
worth. Ho accepted the invitation. While he i ""
drinking his moderate allowance, he said, with n
to lead up to it, and a.ft.ra taving appeared i
GREAT BSPECTATIONS.
279
"Wliiit do you think of my meaning to take a Loli-
day on Monday, Mr. Pip?"
"Why, I Bnppose you have not done such a, thing
these twelve months."
"These twelve years, more likely," said Wemmick.
"Yes. I'm going to take a holiday. Mote than that;
I'm going to take a walk. More than that; I'm going
to ask you to take a walk with me,"
I was about to excuse myself, as being bnt a bad
companion just then, when Wemmick anticipated
"I know your engagements," said he, "and I know
you are out of sorts, Mr. Pip. But if you could oblige^
me, I should take it as a kindness. It ain't a long-
walk, and it's an early one. Say it might occupy yoa
[including breakfast on the walk) from eight to twelve.
Couldn't you stretch a point and manage it?"
He bad done so much for me at various times, that
this was very little to do for him. I said I could
manage it — would manage it — and he was so very
much pleased by my acquiescence, that I was pleased
too. At his particular request, I appointed to call for
him at the Castle at half-post eight on Monday n
ing, and so we parted for the time.
Punctual to my appointment, I rang at the Castle
giite on the Monday morning, and was received by
Wemmick himself; who struck me as looking tightt
than usual, and having a sleeker hat on. Within,
there were two glasses of rum-and-milk prepared, and
two biscuits. The Aged must have been stirring with
the lark, for, glancing into the perspective of his bed-
room, I observed that his bed was empty.
When we had fortified ourseWea ■wVlV xXa rwca.-'
I»^^^md biscuits, and were go\ng out ?at "^»
p
4& that training preparation on ub, I was coneidi
■itbly sarprised to see Wommicfc take up a fishing-to
and put it over his shoulder. "Why, we are not goi
fishing!" said I, "No," returned Wemmick, "bi
like to walk with one."
I thought this odd; however, I said nothing,
'e set off. We went towards Camberwell Green,
we wore thereabouts, Wemmick said suddeal^r
HftUoal Here's a chorchl"
^There was nothing very surprising in that;
in, I was rather surprised, when he aaid, «i if 1
e animated hy a brilliant id
"Let's go in!"
EWe went in, Wemmick leaving his fishing-rod i
t^e poruh, and looked all round. In the mean ti
iWemmick was tliving into his coat-pockets, and geB
Ijumething out of paper there.
"Halloal" said he. "Here's a couple of ptur <
loves! Let's put 'em on! "
As the gloves were white kid gloves, and as
IjOBt-office was widened to its utmost extent, I t
began to have my strong suspicions. They «
1 into certainty when I beheld the Afi
■enteE.jrtiaide door, escorting a lady.
■HailoaT"^at4^W:enrtmctc:-^Eere's Miss Skii&<«
JLet's have a wedding."
^That discreet damsel was attired as nstial, excel
iitat she was now engaged in substituting for her g
kid gloves, a pair of white. The Aged was likewii
occupied in preparing a similar sacrifice for Uie aW
of ^^m|n^ The old gentleman, ho?
so much difficulty in getting hia gloves on, thatWfl
mick found it necesftavy Vo \|U\. ^■
OBSAT EXPECTATIONS. 281
I a pillar, and then to get behind the pillar him-
i puU away at them, while I for my part held
1 gentleman round the waist, that he might pre-
. eqnal and safe resistance. By dint of this
lone scheme, his gloves were got on to per-
ion.
The clerk and clergyman then appearing, we were
ged in order at those fatal rails. True to his notion
seeming to do it all without preparation, I heard
immick aay to himself as he took something' out of
waistcoat- pocket before the service began, "Halloa!
re's a ringi"
fcacted in the capacity of backer, or bcatman, to
Tpdegroom; while a little limp pew opener in a
lOnnet like a baby's, made a feint of being the
I friend of Miss Skiffins. The responsibility of
ing the lady away, devolved upon the Aged, which
to the clergyman's being unintentionally scandalised,
1 it happened thus. When he said, "Who giveth
t woman to be married to this man?" the old gentle-
0, not in the least knowing what point of the cere-
ny we had arrived at, stood most amiably beaming
the ten commandments. Upon which, the clergyman
1 again, "Who giveth this woman to be married to
! man?" The old gentleman being still in a state of
ft estimable unconsciousness, the bridegroom cried
in his accustomed voice, "Xow Aged P. yon know;
n giveth?" To which the Aged replied with great
ikness, before saying t^at //e gave, "All right, John,
right, my boy!" And the clergyman came to so
omy a pause upon it, that I had doubts for the
ment whether we should get coti^iVeNA^Y 'eis)-'^\sA^
I
1 982 OKE
I It was completely done, liowevi'r, and wbea i
were guiog out of chitrcli, Wemmick took the cov
off the font, and put his white gloves in it, and p
the cover on. again. Mrs. Wemraiok, more heedfol>
the future, put her white gloves in her pocket and (
BumEd her green. "jVoit-, Mr, Pip," said Wemmie
triumphantly Bhouldering the fishing-rod i
out, "let mc ask you whether aayhody would Buppoi
this to be a wedding partyl"
Breakfast had hecn ordered at a pleasant litd
tavern, a mile or so away upon the rising-ground b
yond the Green; and there was a hagatelle board in T
room, in case we should desire to unbpud t
after the solemnity. It was pleasant to observe i
Mrs. Wemmick no longer unwound Wemmick's a
when it adapted itself to her figure, but sat in ahigi
backed chair against the wall, like a violoncello inn
case, and submitted to he embraced as that melodioP
instrument might have done.
We had an excellent breakfast, and when any m
declined anything on table, Wemmick said, "Provide
by contract, you know, don't he afraid of it!" I drsn
to the new couple, drank to the Aged, drank to ff^^
Castle, saluted the bride at parting, and made myM
aa agreeable aa I could.
Wemmick came down to the door with ma, anfl
again shook bands with him, and wished him joy.
"Thankcel" said Wemmick, rubbing his 1
"She's such a manager of fowls you have no i
Yoa shall have some eggs, and judge for yourselt
Mj^, Mr. Pipl" calling toe hack, and speaking IC
"This IB altogether a YIa\'«otfti WBlwtafc'o.i.^-^waafc!'
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
28S
Ppi understand. Not to Le mentioned ia Little
ftrin," Hiiid I.
Wemmick nodded. "After wliat you let oat the
lier day, Mr. Jaggers may as well not know of it.
e might think my brain
the kind."
CHAPTER XXVIIL
ithing I
He lay in prison very ill, during the whole interval
itween the committal fui' trial, and the coming round
the Sessions. He had hroken two ribs, they had
Diinded one of hia lunga, and he breathed with great
Lin and difSeulty, which increaaed daily. It was a
nsequence of his hurt, that he spoke bo low as to be
arcely audible; therefore, he spoke very little. But,
was ever ready to listen to me, and it became the
8t duty of my life to say to him, and read to him,
lat I knew he ought to hear.
Being far too ill to remain in the common prison,
was removed, after the first day or so, into tlie in-
mary. This gave me opportiinities of being with him
at I could not otherwise have had. And but for his
ncBS he would have been put in irons, for he was re-
rded as a determined prison-breaker, and I know not
lat else.
Although I saw him every day, it wan for only a
ort time; hence, the regularly recurring spaces of our
paration were long enough to record on his face any
ght changes that occurred in hia physical state. I do
't recollect that I once saw any change \n V\. In^ ■&!»
wasted, and loeeame bVotiVt ■■>igiB>Kgc ^
■fl84
^^B IrorBe, dnj by day, from the day when the prison do
^^B closed npon him.
^^B The kind of suhmiasion or resignation tha'
^^H^owed, w»s tliat of s. man who was tired out. I 8
^^■times derived an impreasion, from hia manner or
^^Ba whispered word or two which escaped him, that
^^Bpondered over the question whether he might have 1m
^^Vft better man under better circumatanees. But,
^^Vnever jnstified himself by a, hint tending that way,
^^H'tried to bend the past out of its eternal shape.
^^B It happened on two or three occasions in u
^^P Hence, that his desperate reputation was alluded to i
one or other of the people in attendance c
smile urossed bis face then, and he turned his eyes o
me with a trustful look, as if he were confident that
thad seen some small redeeming touch in him, even '
long ago as when I was a little child. As to all tl
»8t, he was humble and cqn trite, and I never kne
him complain.
When the Sessions came round, Mr. Jaggers c
an application to be made for the postponement of )»
trial until the following Sessions. It was obvioasl
imade with the assurance that he could not live so lOB
and was refused. The trial eame on at once, W
when he was put to the bar, he waa seated in a ch>
No objection was made to my getting close to tl
dock, on the outside of it, and holding the hand th
he stretched forth to me.
The trial was very short and very clear. S*
things ae could bo said for him, were said — howl
had taken to industi'ious habits, and had thriven l*i'
Aify and reputably. But, nothing could unsay t
&ct that he had ret\imel, ani -waa 'CoKtft \n. -^ftMiia
OKEAT KXPECTATIONS.
of the Judge and Jury. It was impossible to try liim
for that, aud do otherwise than find him G-oilty,
At thftt time, it was tlie custom (els I learnt &om.
my terrible esperiencfl of that SesBions) to devote aj
conclading day to the passing of Sentences, and to
make a finiahing effect with the Sentence of Death.
But for the indelible pieture that my remembrance now
holds before me, I could scarcely believe, even as £
write these words, that I saw two-and-thirty men and
women put before the Judge to receive that sentence
together. Foremost among the two-and-thirty,
seated, that he might get breath enough to keep Ufa
in him.
The whole scene staits out again in the vivid col-
ODrs of the moment, down to the drops of April raia
on the windows of the court, glittering in the rays a!-
April sua. Penned in the dock, as I again stood out-
side it at the comer with his hand in mine, were the
two-and-thirty men and women; some defiant, some
stricken with terror, some sobbing and weeping, some
' 'ivering their faces, some staring gloomily abont.
I'here had been shrieks from among the women con-
I^'icta, but they had been stilled, and a hush bad suc~
ceeded. The eheriffs with their great chains and
gays, other civic gewgaws and monsters, criera, ui
* great gallery full of people — a large theatrical
audience — looked on, as the two-and-thirty and the
Judge were solemnly confronted. Then, the Judge
addressed them. Among the wretched creatures befora
him whom he nrnat single out for apecial address,
•Jie who almost from Ida infancy had been an offender
gainst the laws; who, after re-pealfei S.-os^ris^sraiffl
IttHiiiiliiiMii '
thi
1
P86 GREAT EKl'ECTATIONB.
Ilor ii term of years; and who, undef circutustauceB
g>reat violence and during bad made liia escape a
been re-sentenced to esile for life. That miBeraHble n
would eecm for a time to have become conrincoJ-
his errors, when far removed from the econes of hk i
oSences, and to havo lived a peaceable aud honest I
But in a fatal moment, yielding to those propemJt
and passions, the indulgence of which had bo long n
dered him a scoiuge to eociety, he had quitt^ 1
haven of rest and repentrmce, and bad come back
the country where he waa proswibed. Being here p
sently denounced, be had for a time succeeded inSf
ding the ofdcers of Justice, but being' at lengUi sdw
while in the act of Higbt, he had resisted tbem, ii
had — he best knew whether by e^preas desi^ m :
the blindness of his hardihood — caused the d^ath '
his denouncer, to whom hia whole career was knom
The appointed punishment for his return to the lu
that had cast him out, being Death, and hia case b«ii
this aggravated case, be must prepare himself to Did
The sun was striking in at the great windOT" "
court, through the glittering drops of rain npont
glass, and it made a broad shaft of light betwemft
two-and-tliirty and the Judge, linking both to^
and perhaps reminding some among the audiencf,
both were passing on, with absolute equality, to di
later Judgment that knoweth all things and caaii<
Rising for a moment, a distinct upeck of face i
way of light, the prisoner said, "My Lord, I h*'
leived my sentence of Death from the Almighty, iS
bow to yours," and sat down again. Thexe was son
inahing, aud the Judge went on with what he had I
rest, Tten, tVe^ "«et« «a. ti " " ""*
• ■ GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 287
aud some of them were supported out, and some of
them sauntered out with a haggard look of bravery,
:iiid a few nodded to the gallery, and two or three
hl.niok hands, and others wcut out ehewing the frag-
monts of herb they liad taken frora the aweet herhs ly-
ing about. He went last of all, because of having to
bo helped from hia chair and to go very slowly; and
he held my baud while all the others were removed,
and while the audience got wp (putting tbeb dresaes
iifrbt, as they might at church or elsewliere) and pointed
Jown at this criminal or at that, and most of all at
liim and me.
I earnestly hoped and prayed that he might die
lii:f'iire the Recorder's Eeport was made, but, in the
i|j(;ad of his lingering on, I began that night to write
uut a petition to the Home Seci-etary of State, setting
forth my knowledge of him, and how it was that he
l)ad come hack for my sake. I wrote it as fervently
Hud pathetically as I could, and when I had finished it
and sent it in, I wrote out other petitions to such men
tn authority as I hoped were the most merciful, and
irew up one to the Crown itself. For several days and
lights after he was sentenced I took no rest except
^hen I fell asleep in mj chair, but was wholly ab-
sorbed in these appeals. And after I had sent them
m, I could not keep away from the place where they
Were, but felt as if they were more hopeful and less
desperate when I was near them. In this unreasonable
festlessness and pain of mind, I would roam the streets
of an evening, wandering by those offices and houses
*here I had left the petitions. To the present liour,
'he weary western streets of London oa a. wAi. iftsi--^ ,
r oi^bt, with their rangea oi ateiw ^m.V^'^ ^p'^^"
|;SS8
OHEAT EXPECTATIONS.
Moaa and their long rows of lamps, are melanctoly
3 from tliis association.
The daily visits I could make him were shortened
nd ho was more stnctly kept Seciug, or t'ancy-
Klng, that I was suspected of an intention of eairyinj
wison to him, I asked to he searched before I
1 at his bedside, and told the ofdecr who WW
■ways there, that Z was willing to do anything
P would assure him of the singleness of my deeij
Mobody was hard with him, or with me. There
duty to be done, and it was done, but not
r The officer always gave me the assurance that ha
e, and some other sick prisoners in the room,
! other prisoners who attended on them as
linnrses (malefactcrs, but not incapable of kindness, G'
' be thanked!), always joined in the same report
As the days went on, I noticed more and more Hfit
'ould lie placidly looking at the white ceiling, wii,
an absence of light in his face, until some wonl w
mine brightened it for an instant, and then it wonB
subside again. Sometimes ho was almost, or quite, OH'
able to speak; then, he would juaswei- me with sligb'
pressures on my hand, and I grew to understand bw
meaning Tery well.
The number of the days had risen to ten, wh*"-^
saw a greater change in him than I bad seen yet H"
I .eyes were turned towards the door, and lighted op •*
I X entered.
"Dear boy," he said, as I sat down by his b»'
[ thought you was late. But I knowed j
"It is just the time," said I.
"I »
1 for it 4
■ !■■
II OHBAT BXPB0TATIOS3. 289 |
"You always waits at the gate; don't you, deaj
'?"
"Yes. Not to lose a moment of the time."
"Thank'ee dear boy, thank'ee. God bless youl \
I've never deserted me, dear boy." i
I pressed hig hand in silence, for I could not forget '
t I had once meant to desert him. '
"And what's the best of all,'' he said, "you've been |
re comfortable alonger me, slnue I was under a dark ,
id, than when the sun shono. That's best of all." f
He lay on his back, breathing with great difficulty. '
what he would, and love me though he did, the
it left his face over and again, and a film came
ir the placid look at the white ceiling.
"Are yon in much pain to*day?"
"I don't complain of none, dear hoy." ,
"You never do complain."
He had spoken his last words. He smiled, and I
lerstood his touch to mean that he wished to iifl my
id, and lay it on his breast. I laid it there, and he I
iled again, and put both his hands upon it.
The allotted time ran out, while we were thus;
., looking round, I found the governor of the prison
nding neai' me, and he whispered, "Yon needn't go
." I thanked him gratefuDy, and asked, "Might I
ak to him, if he can hear me?"
The governor stepped aside, and beckoned the
cer away. The change, though it was made with-
noise, drew back the £lm from the placid look at
white ceiling, and he looked most affectionately
CHEAT EXPECTATI0S8.
A gentle pressure on my hsod.
"You bad a child once, whom yon loved and
I
^^H A etronger pressure on loy hand.
^^H "She lived and found powerful friends. She is
^^HKring now. She is a lady and very beautiful, Aoi
^^^^ love her!"
^^B Witb a last faint effort, which would have teen
^^" powerless but for my yielding to it and assisting it, ho
raised niy hand to hia lips. Then, he gently let ft
sink upon his breast again, with his own hands lying
on it, The placid look at the white ceiling caiM
back, and passed away, and his head dropped quietly
on his breast.
Mindful, then, of what we had read together, I
thought of the two men who went up into the Tampk
to pray, slid I knew there were no better words tbat I
could say beside his bed, than "0 Lord, be inercifiu
to him, a sinner I"
t CHAPTER XXIS.
Now that I was left wholiy to myself, I ga"
notice of my intention to quit the chambers in tM
Temple as soon as my tenancy could legally detr^
mine, and in the mean while to underlet them, "
once I put bills up in the windows; for, I was in de^fc
and had scarcely any money, and began to be serio'wj'
alarmed by the state of my affairs, I ought ratlier W
write that I should have been alarmed if I had b""
energy and concentTation enough to help me to tW
clear perception ot any Infti "^k^otA 'Saa * ""
I
OREA.T EXPECTATIONS. 291
3.3 falling very ill. The late stress upon me liad
nabled me to put off illness, hut not to put it away;
knew that it was coming on me now, and I knew
■ery little else, and was even careless as to that.
For a day or two, I lay on the sofa, or on the
loor — anywhere, according as I happened to sink
town — with a hca\-y head and aching limha, and no
nu-pose, and no power. Then there eanie, one night
vhich appeai'ed of great duration, and which teemed
irith anxiety and horror; and when in the morning I
»ied to sit up ic my bed and think of it, I found I
sould not do so.
Whether I really had been down in Garden-court
n the dead of the night, groping about for the boat
hat I supposed to be there-, whether I had tn-o or
hree times come to myself on the staircase with great
error, not knowing how I had got out of bed; whether
had found myself lighting the lamp, possessed by the
lea that he was coming up the stairs, and that the
ghts were blown out; whether I had been iuexpress-
*ly harassed by the distracted talking, laughing, and
loaning, of some one. and had half suspected those
OHnds to be of my own making; wliether there had
'een a closed iron furnace in a dark comer of the
oom, and a voice had called out over and over again
hat Miss Havisham was consuming within it; these
*'ere things that I tried to settle with myself and get
nto some order, as I lay that morning on my bed.
'nt, the vapour of a limekiln would come between me
tod them, disordering them all, and it was through the
'apour at last that I saw two men looking at me,
"Whttt do you want?" I asked, elanvci^-, "\ &.isix.
I GttEAT EXPECTATIONS.
"Well, sir," retnrned one of them, bending d<
Kimd touching me on tlie shoulder, "tfaie is a. im
Ehat you'll soon arrange, I dare say, but you're
Mted."
"What is the debt?"
"Hundred and twenty-three pound, fifteen,
I'Jeweller's account, I think."
"What ia to he done?"
"Tou had better come to my house," said then
i*l keep a very nice house."
I made some attempt to get up and dress myi
■TVlien I nest attended to them, they were stondinj
Pittle off from the bed, looking at mo. I Btill
re.
"Tou see my state," said I. "I would come n
Byou if I could; but indeed I am quite unable. It']
' " 3 from here, I tliink I shall die by the vn,y'
Perhaps they replied, or argued the point, or tr
pto encourage me to believe that I was better thaB
thought. Porasmuch as they hang in my memoiy
only this one slender thread, I don't know what tl
did, except that they forbore to remove me.
. That I had a fever and was avoided, that I suffe
Lgreatly, that I often lost my reason, that the ti
^seemed iuteiTninable, that I confounded irapOfBl
"existences with my own identity; that I waa a br
in the house-wall, and yet entreating to be relw
i'rom the giddy place where the builders had set i
that I was a steel beam of u vast engine, cl»ihilig >
. whirling over a gnlf, and yet that I implored in'
I to have the engine stopped, and my P
) it Jiammered off-, that I passed through these pb*
fdJBease, I know ot m-
r EXPECtATlOm
aome sort know at the time. That I sometl
ruggled w-ith real people, ia the belief that ihey n
nrderers, and that I vould all at once coinprehena
at they meant to do me good, and would than sii '
:hau8ted in their arms, and suffer them to lity i
iwn, I also knew at the time. But, above all,
lew that there was a constant tendency in all these I
loplo — who, when I was very ill, would present all |
nds of estraordinary transformations of the human \
ce, and would be much dilated in size — above
I, I say, I knew that there was an extraordinary
ndency in all tbeae people, sooner or later to settle
iwn into the likeness of Joe.
After I had turned the worst point of my illneas,
began to notice that while all its other features
langed, this one consistent feature did not change.
Tioever came about me, still settled down into Joe.
1 my eyes in the night, and I saw in the great
r at the bedside, Joe. I opened my eyes in the
md, sitting on the window-seiit, smoking his pipe
|he shaded open window, still I saw Joe. I asked
Icooling drink, and the dear hand that gave it me
"ink back on my pillow after drinking,
I the face tliat looked so hopefully and tenderly
9 the face of Joe.
t last, one day, I took conrage, and said, "Is it
ered, "Wliich it
|id the dear old home-vo
f Joe, you break my heart! Look angry at me,
Btrike me, Joe, Tell me of niy in.^a.ty.'oA«i.
Ke so good to me!"
^ Joe hud actually laid bis \\fea5. io'wti c
■jiillo'w at my side and put his arm round my n^U,
Bltis joy that I hnew him.
""Which dear old Pip, old chap," said Joe, "^
1 me was ever friends. And when you're i
■enough to go out for a ride — what larka!"
After which, Joe withdi'ew to the window, ;
(stood with his hack towards me, wiping his eyes. J
I my extreme weakness prevented me from getti
Pttp and going to him, I lay there, penitently whispi
"0 God bless him! O God hies
Christian man!"
Joe's eyes were red when I next found him he»
e; but, I was holding his Land, and we bnth I
"How long, dear Joe?"
"Which you meanteraay, Pip, how long have yo
ess lasted, dear old chap?"
"Tea, Joe."
"It's the end of May, Pip. To-morrow is the fii
[of June."
"And have you been here all the time, dear Jo9^
"Pretty nigh, old chap. Por, as I says to BiA
when the news of your being ill were bronghl '
letter, which it were brought by the post and hg'
formerly single he is now married though imdeq*
1 deal of walking and shoe-leather, but weahh *
a object on lis part, and marriage were tie ^
1 of his hart — "
"It is so delightful to hear you, Joe! But I inl
; you in what you said to Biddy."
"Vi^hieh it were," said Joe, "tliat how yoo oij
5 amongat strangers, and \,\Ya.\, Wb ^qu. and me ht
* GREAT EXPECTATIOSa. 295
prove unacceptftbobble. And Biddy, her word were,
'Go to Lim, without loss of time.' That," aaid Joe,
Bumming up with his judicial air, "were the word of
Biddy. 'Go to him,' Biddy say, 'without loss of time.'
In short, I shouldn't greatly deoeive you," Joe added,
after a tittle grave reflection, "if I represented to you
that the word of that young woman were, 'wilhont a
There Joe cut himself short, and informed mo that
I was to be talked to in great moderation, and that I
was to take a little nourishment at stated frequent
timea, whether I felt incliued for it or not, and that I
was to submit myself to all his orders. So, I kissed
his hand, and lay quiet, while be proceeded to indite
a note to Biddy, with ray love in it. "
Evidently, Biddy had taught Joe to write. Aa I
lay in bed looking at him, it made me, in my weak
state, cry again with pleasure to see the pride with
which he set about his letter. My bedstead, divested
of its eurtaina, bad been removed, with me upon ;'
into the sitting-room, as the airiest and largest, and
the carpet had been taken away, and the room kept
always fresh and wholesome night and day. At my
own writing-table, pushed into a comer and cumbered
with little bottles, Joe now sat down to his great work,
first cbnoaing a pen from the pen-tray as if it wer
ehest of large tools, and tucking up his sleeves aa if he
were going to wield a ci'owhar or sledge-hammer,
was necessary for Joe to hold on heavily to the table
with liU left elbow, and to get his right leg well out
behind him, before he could begin, and when, he did
Kon-Ii. he made every down-Btvoka »a ^uVv^ '^'^ '<
have been six feet long, -wYiiiB a.t 6-ve.v3 \t?-«!w3l
^jjgbi
^P I coi
' I could hear hia pen spluttering extensively. He b
a curiotis idea that the inkstand was on the aide
him where it was not, and constantly dipped hia |
into space, and seemed quite satisfied with the nsi
Occasionally, he was tripped up by some ortbograpliit
stambling-blocfe, but on the whole he got on very n
indied, and when he had signed his name, and h
removed a finishino; blot from the paper to the oroi(
of his head with his two forefingers, he got up i
hovered about the table; trying the effect of his pe
formance from various points of view as it lay thei
with unboimded satisfaction.
Not to make Joe uneasy hy talking too mu«
even if I had been able to talk much, I deferred askii
him about Miss Havisham until next day. He eboo
»lu8 head when I then asked him if she had i
"Is she dead, Joe?"
"Why you see, old chap," said Joe,
.femons trance, and by way of getting at it by degft
,''I wouldn't go so far as to say that, for that's
4o say; but she ain't — "
"Living, Joe?"
"That's nigher where it is," said Joe; "she ain'
living."
"Did she linger long, Joe?"
"Arter you was took ill, pretty much about wh*'
you might call (if you was put to it) a week," sw*
Joe; still determined, on my account, to come "'
everything by degrees,
"Dear Joe, have you heard what becomes oft*
property?"
"Well, old chaj" ftMi 3oft, "it do appear tW
Ol'GAT BKPECTATI0K8. 297
K on Miss Estella. But slie had wrote out a little
Jtfieslien in her own hand a day or two afore the
ident, leaving a cool four thousand to Mr. Matthew
;ket. And why, do you sappose, above all things,
I, she left that cool fonr thousand unto him? 'Because
Pip's account of him the said Matthew.' I am told
Biddy, that air the writing," said Joe, repeating
legal turn as if it did him infinite good, '"acconnt
him the said Matthew.' And a cool four thousand,
I never discovered from whom Joe derived the
ventional temperature of the four thousand pounds,
■b appeared to make the sum of money more to
Kluid he bad a manifest relish in insisting on its
TThis account gave me great joy, as it perfected the
y good thing I had done, I asked Joe whether he
L heard if any of the other relations had any
"Miss Sarah," said Joe, "she have tweuty five
ind perannium fur to huy pills, on account of being
ous. Miss Georgiana, she have twenty pound down.
1. — what's the name of them wild beasts with
aps, old chap?"
"Camels?" said I, wondering why he could possibly
it to know.
Joe nodded. "Mrs. Camels," by which I presently
erstood he meant Camilla, "she have five pound fur
buy mshlighta to put her in spirits when she wake
in the night."
The accuracy of these recitals was sufficieatl^
i to me, to give me great cont-ifctica va 5tv£* J
be
298 GEEAT EXPECTATIO'ra.
fltrong yet, old. chap, that you can take in mare n
one additional shovel-fiill to-day. Old Orlick U
■been a bustin' open a dwelHng-ouae."
"Whose?" swd I.
"Not, I grant you, but what his mancera is giy
to blusterous," said Joe, apologetically; "still,
£Dglialm) ail's ouse is his Castle, and costlca must n
be buBtod 'cept when done in was time. And wotsiune'i
"le failings on his part, he were a com and seedamij
his hart,"
"Is it Piunblechook's house that has been broke
ito, then?"
) it, Pip," eaid Joe; "and they took his ti
and thoy took his cash-bos, and they drinked hw vie
and they partook of his wittlcs, and they slapped h
face, and they pulled his nose, and they tied him i
to hia bedpust, and they giv' him a dozen, and th(
stuffed Ilia mouth full of flowering annuals to preweu
hia crying out. But he knowed Orlick, and Orlick'*
, in the county jail."
. By these approachea we arrived at unrestricted
*■ conversation. 1 was alow to gain strength, but I did
slowly and surely become less weak, and Joe st^yed^
with me, and I fancied I was little Pip again.
For, the tenderness of Joe was so beautifully pr*
portioned to mj need, that I waa like a child i
hands. He would sit and talk to me in the old eotj
fidence, and with the old simplicity, and i
unassertive protecting way, so that 1 would half beli
that all my life since the dsya of the old kitchen *
one of the mental troubles of the fever that i
Sb did everything ioi ma except tbe household ^
for which he had engagoi «■ "^^^ ^
I^^OTBl
299
paying off the laundi-cas on his first arrival. "Wbicli
I do assnre you, Pip," he would often say, in expla-
nation of that liherty; "I found her a tapping: the
spare bed, like a cask of beer, and drawing ofF the
t'eathera in a bucket, for sale. Which she would have
tapped yourn next, and draw'd it off with you a laying^
on it, and waa then a caiTying away the coak gradi-
wally in the soup-tureen and wegetable-dishes, and th©
wine and spirits in your Wellington boots."
We looked forward to the day when I should go
out for a ride, as we had once looked forward to the
day of my apprenticeship. And when the day eame,
and an open carriage was got Into the Lane, Joe-
ivrapped me up, took me in hia arras, carried me down
to it, and put me m, as if I were still the small
helpless creature to whom he had so abundantly given
of the wealth of his great nature.
And Joe got in beside me, and we drove away
together into the country, where the rich summer growth
was already on the trees and on tho grass, and sweet
summer stents hlled all the air. The day happened,
to be Sunday, and when I looked on the lovelinesa
around me, and thought how it had grown and changed,,
and how the little wild flowers had been forming, and
the voices of the birds had been strengthening, by day
and by night, under the sun and under the stars, while
poor I lay burning and tossing on my bed, the mere
remembrance of having burned and tossed there, came
liie a check upon my peace. But, when I heard the
Sunday hells, and looked around a little more upon
the outspread beauty, I felt that I was not nearly,
thankful enough — that 1 was Voo -wfev^
that — and I l^d my \ica,i !>^3g^*
r EXPECTATIONS.
^^n I had laid it long ago when be had taken me t
^^%e Fair or where not, and it was too much for n
young senses.
More composure came to me ailer a while, and t
talked as we used to talk, lying on the grass at th
old Battery. There was no change whatever i
Exactly what he had been in my eyes then, he was i
my eyes still; just as simply faithful, and as simpl
right.
When we got hack again and he lifted me ont
and carried me — eo easily — across the court i
up the stairs, I thought of that eventful Christmas Da;
Pwhen he had carried mc over the marshes. We h»
flot yet made any allusion to my change of forton*
nor did I know how much of my late history he vi
acquainted with. I was ao doubtful of myself now
and put so much trust in him, that I could not satisf
myself whether I ought to refer to it when he di
not.
"Have you heard, Joe," I asked him that eveninj
upon further consideration, as he smoked his pipe i
the window, "who my patron was?"
^H^ "I heerd," returned Joe, "as it were not Mil
^■pEnvisham, old chap."
^^P "Did you hear who it was, Joe?"
^B^ "Weill I heerd as it were a person what aent th(
person what giv' you the bank-notes at the JoII;
Bargemen, Pip."
"So it was."
"Astonishing I" said Joe, in the placidest way,
"Did you hear that he was dead, Joe?" I prO;
Bendy asked, with inereaBm^ IVlti^itft.
^ "Wiich? Him aa Bent ftvft NsMite.- -
GREAT EKPECTATIONS. 301
I "I think," Haid Joe, after meditating a long time,
td looking rather evasively at the window-seat,
did hear tell that how he were something or another
i & general way in that direction,"
"Did you hear anything of his tircumstsnces,
^nie.
"Not partickler, Pip."
"If you would like to hear, Joe — " I was bo-
ginning, when Joe got up and came to my sofa.
Lookee here, old cbap," said Joe, bending ovei
"Ever the best of friends; ain't qb, Pip?"
was ashamed to answer him.
"Wery good, then," said Joe, as if I hod answered;,
all right; that's agreed upon. Then wliy gi>
into subjects, old chap, which as betwixt two seek
must be for ever onnecessary? There's subjects enongh
as betwixt two sech, without onnecessary ones. LordI
To think of your poor sister and her Rampages! And
don't yon remember Tickler?"
"I do indeed, Joe."
"Lookee here, old chap," said Joe. "I done what
I could to keep you and Tickler in sunders, but my
power were not always fully equal to my inclinations,
i'or when your poor sister had a mind to drop into
you, it were not so much," said Joe, in his favourite
argumentative way, "that she dropped into me too, if
I put myself in. opposition to her but that she dropped
into you always heavier for it. I noticed that. It
ain't a grab at a man's whisker, nor yet a shake or
two of a man (to which yom- sister was quite -wfcV-
i-jimfil. that '«d put a man oS £toia ^bVCxq^ ». ''fASI
R 803 GBEAT EXFECTATIOXS.
dropped into, heavier, for that grab of whisker i
inking, then that man naturally up and says to hin
Self, 'Where is the good aa you are a doing? I gra
you I see the 'arm,' says die man, 'but I don't e
the good. I call upon you, sir, theerfore, to pint on
the good.'"
"The man says?" I observed, as Joe waited f(
me to speak.
"The man aaya," Joe assented, "Is he right, tha
in?"
"Dear Joe, he ia always right."
"Well, old chap," said Joe, "then abide by yon
^■■words. If he's always right fwbich in general he
:ly wrong), he's right when he saya this: —
i ^^^J' y^ ^^V '"^y ^'^■'^ matter to yonrsel
f when you was a little child, you kcp it mostly becaus
lyou know'd as J. Gargery's power to part you an
llTickler in sunders, were not fully equal to his inclini
tions. Theerfoi'o, think no more of it as betwiit tw
aeuh, aud do not let us pass remiu'ks upon onnecesaai
subjects. Biddy giv' herself a deal o' trouble with nj
afore I left (for I am most awful dull), aa I shonl
view it in this light, and, viewing it in this light, as
should so put it. Both of which," said Joe, quil
charmed with his logical arrangement, "being doni
now this to yoti a true friend, say. Namely. T
mustn't go a over-doing on it, but you must have y
supper and your wine-and- water, and you must be pu
betwixt the sheets."
The delicacy with which Joe dismissed this theme,
and the sweet tact and kindness with which Biddy —
vho with her woman's wit bad found me out so soou
— bid prepared him ior \t, miAa «. i^w^ Wni^^l
GREAT EXPECTATIONS. 303
in my mind. But whether Joe knew how poor I waa,
ind liow my great expectations had all dissolved, like
HU- own marsh mists before the aun, I could not under-
itand.
Another thing in Joe that I conld not understand
vhcn it first began to develop itself, but which I soon
irrived at a Borrowfnl comprehension of, was tliis: As
'. became stronger and better, Joe became a little less
'asy with me. In my weakness and entire dependence
m liim, the dear fellow had falleji into the old tone,
md called me by the old names, the dear "old Pip,
»ld chap," that now were music in my ears, I too
lad fallen into the old ways, only happy and thankful
hat he let me. But, imperceptibly, though I held by
hem fast, Joe's hold upon them began to slackeu;
md whereas I wondered at this, at first, I soon began
o understand that the cause of it was in me, and that
he fault of it waa all mine.
Ah! Had I given Joe no reason to donbt my con-
itancy, and lo think that in prosperity I sIiouId,grow
•old to him and cast him oif? Had I given Joe's in-
locent heart no cause to feel iu'ftinctively that as I
;ot stronger, his hold upon me would be weaker, and
hat he had better loosen it in time and let me go, be-
'ore I plucked myself away?
It waa on the third or fourth occasion of my going
>ut walking in the Temple Gardens leaning on Joe's
irm, that I saw this change in him very plainly. We
lad been sitting in the bright warm sunlight, looking
it the river, and I chanced to say as we got up;
, Joel I can walk quite sMon^'j.
Mck by myse\t."
304 OSEAT BXPECTATI0!>I3.
"Widcli do not o¥er-do it, Pip," said Joe; "but
aliall be happy fur to see you able, sir."
Tbe last word grated on me; but how could I r
monstratel I walked do further than the gate of tl
gardens, and then pretended to be weaker than I y
and asked Joe for his arm. Joe gave it me, but ^
thoughtful.
I, for my part, was thoughtful too; for, how ba
to check this growing change in Joe, was a great p
plexity to my remorseful thoughts. That I was asbon
to tell him exactly how I was placed, and what I ha
come down to, I do not seek to conceal-, but, I I
my reluctance was not q^niite an unworthy one.
would want to help me out of his little savings,
knew, and I knew that he ought not to help me, ai
that I must not suffer him to do it.
m It was a thoughtful evening with both of ua. Bi
I before we went to hed, I had resolved that I wou
wait over to-morrow, to-morrow being Sunday, ai
would begin my new course with the new week. C
Monday morning I would speak to Joe about tE
change, I would lay aside this last vestige of reaen
I would tell bim what I had in my thoughts (th
Secondly, not yet arrived at), and why I had not d
cided to go out to Herbert, and then the change won]
be conquered for ever. As I cleared, Joe cleared, an
seemed as though he had sympathetically arriTt
a resolution too.
We had a quiet day on the Sunday, and we TOi
Iftut into the country, and then walked in the fields.
"I feel thankful that I have been ill, Joe," I sail
"Dear old Pip, old clia^, you're a'most come ri
30fi
E"It lias been a memorable time for me, Joe."
"Likewaya for myselfi sir," Joe returuod.
"We have had a time together, Joe, that I can
er forget. There were days once, I know, that I.
for a while forget; but I never shall forget these."
"Pip," said Job, appearing a iittle hurried an(l'
troubled, "there has been larka. And, dear sir, what,
have been betwixt ua — have been."
At night, when I had gone to bed, Joe came int»
niy room, as he had done all throagh my recovery.
He asked me if I felt sure that I was as well as in the
I morning?
»"Yea, dear Joe, quite."
"And are always a getting stronger, old chap?''
"Yes, dear Joe, steadily."
Joe patted the coverlet on ray shoulder with his
great good hand, and said, in what I thought a husky-
voice, "-Good night!"
When I got up in the morning, refreshed and
stronger yet, I was full of ray resolution to tell Joe
all, without delay. I would tell him before breakfast
I would dress at once and go to his room and surprise
hiin; for, it was the first day I had been up early.
I went to hia room, and he was not there. Not only
was he not there, but hia box was gone.
I hurried then to the breakfast-table, and on it
found a letter. These were its brief contents.
I
QREIAT fiXPElCTATlOKS.
flnd costs on whicli I had been wrested. Down i
tliat moment I bad vainly Bopposed that lay credito
had withdrawn or suspended proceedings until I Hhoul
be quite recovered. I had never di-eamed of Job
having paid the money; but, Joe had paid it, an
,;t]ie receipt was ia his name.
* What remained for me now, but to follow him Ij
the dear old forge, and there to have out my dbcl
sure to him, and my penitent remonstrtiuce with bii
and there to relieve my raind and heart of that x
served Secondly, which had began as a vague som
thing lingering in my thoughts, and had formed in
a settled purpoae?
^ The purpose was, that I would go to Biddy, tbi
'I would show her how humbled and repentant I ci
back, that I would tell her how I had lost all I o
hoped for, that I would remind her of our old i
fidencea in my first unhappy time. Then, I WDid
say to her, "Biddy, I think you once liked rae v
well, when my errant heart, even while it Btiaya
away from you, was quieter and bettei- with you dia
it ever has been since. If you can like me only bai
as well once more, if you can taku me with all i
faults and disappointments on my head, if yon c
receive me like a forgiven child (and indeed I am
sorry, Biddy, and have as much need of a kushin
voice and a soothing hand), I hope I am a little
thier of you than I was — not much, but a littli
And, Biddy, it shall rest with you to say whethc
I shall work at the forge with Joe, or whether I 8*
tiy for any different occupation down in thia count]
whether we shall go a.way W a. distant plaoe whs
GREAT EXPECTATIONS, 307
wiia offered, until I knew your answer. And now,
dear Biddy, if you can tell me that you will go through
the world with me, you will surely make it a better
world for me, and me a better man for it, and I will
try hard to make it a better world for you,"
Such was my purpose. After three days more of
recovery, I went down to the old place, to put it in
execution; and how I sped iu it, is all I have left to
tell.
CHAPTER XXX.
Tbb tidings of my high fortunes having had a
heavy fall, had got down to my native place and its
neighbourhood, before I got^ there. I found the Blue.
Boar in possesBion of the intelligence, and I found
that it made a great change in the Boat's demeanour..
Whereas the Boar had cultivated my pood opinion
with warm assi^wjty when I wna coming into property,
the Boar was exceedingly cool on the snbject nov
that I was poin^ out of property.
It was evening when I arrived, much fatigued by'
the journey I had eo often made so easily. The Boar'
could nop put me into my usual bedroom, which was
engaged (probably by some one who had expectafions)^
and could only assign me a very indifferent ehamber
among the pigeons and post-el laisc?! up the yard. But,
I had as sound a sleep in that lodging as in the most
superior accommodation the Boar couM have givei
me, and the quality of my dreams was ahou-t tUe, was
as in the best bedroom,
f in tie moming wliUei m^ "btfeaJsAaa'^
T
GBGAT EXPECTATIONS. I^H
getting ready, I strolled round by Satis House, ^focifl
were printed billa on tlie gate, and on bits of csipd
hanging out of the windows, announcing a said bfl
auction of the Household Furniture and Inflects, ned
week. The House itself was to be sold as old builS
ing materials and ]julled down. Lot 1 was maikea
in whitewashed knock-knee letters on the brewhousea
Lot 2 on that part of the main building which haM
been bo long shut up. Other lots were marked off on
other parts of the structure, and the ivy had been toc3
down to make room for the inscriptiooB, and much oA
it trailed low in the dust and was withered aJreadjg
Stepping In for a moment at the opeu gate and lood
ing around me with the uncomfortable air of a strangol
who had no buainesa there, I saw the auctioneer's tdevH
walking on the casks and telling them off for the iid
formation of a catalogue-compiler, pen in hand, wm
made a temporary desk of the wheeled chair I had sfl
often pushed along to the tune of Old Clem. J
When I got back to my breakfast in the Boarv
coffee-room, 1 found Mr. Pumblechook eonversing wi^
the landlord. Mr. Pumblechook (not improved in adi
pearance by his iate nocturnal adventure) was w«iti^
for me, and addressed me in the following terms. \
"Young man, I am sorry to see you brftight Ion
But what else could be expected! What else conla
be expected!" 1
As ho extended his hand with a, magnificently IbM
giving air, and as I was broken by illness and unfa
to quarrel, I took it. J
"William," sftid Mr. Pumblechook to the v^teu
'"pat a muftin on table. And has it come to thiu
&JB it tfome to tidsl" _ _ ^f^H
GREAT EXPECTATIOKS,
>' I frowningly sat down to mj breakfast. Mr.
amblechook stood over me and poured out my tea —
before I could touch tlie teapot — with the air of a
benefactor who was resolved to bo true to the last,
''William," said Mr. Puinblechook, luournfully,
"put the salt on. In happier times," addressing me,
"I think you took sugar? And did you take milk?
Tou did. Sugar and milk, William, bring a water-
cress."
"Thank you," said I, shortly, "but I don't eat
watercresaes."
"You don't eat 'em," returned Mr. Pumhlechook,
sighing and nodding his head several times, as if he
might have expected that, and as if abstinence from
watercresses were conaistent with my downfal. "True.
The simple fruits of the eaith. No. You needn't
bring any, William."
I went on witli my breakfast, and Mr. Pumble-
chook continued to stand over me, staring fishily and
breathing noisily, as he always did.
"Little more than skin and bonel" mused Mr.
Pumblechook, aloud. "And yet when he went away
from here (I may say with my blessing), and 1 spread
afore him my humble store, like the Bee, he was aa
plump as a Peacb!"
This reminded me of the wonderful difference
between the servile manner in which be had offered
hia hand in my new prosperity, saying, "May I?"
and the ostentatious clemency with which he had just
now exhibited the same fat five fingers.
"Hahl" he went on, handing me the hre*A.-«a.i!''
butter, "And air you a going to 3ose^Vi'''
^^ "In IIe:ivc-n's name," sa-id I, ftrVng w^ ft"gi^^2~~
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
^^^felf, "what duos it matteT to you where I am goiDJ
^^^Leave that teapot alone."
^^B It waa tbe worst course I conld have taken,
^^Bnuse it gave Pumblechook tlie opportunity he waw ^^
^^K 'Tes, yonng man," said he, releasing the liandi
of tbe article in qnestion. retiring a stvp or two froi
my table, and speaking for the behoof ot' the landloi
and waiti?r at the door, "I will leave that teap
alone. You are right, young man. For once, yfl
are right, I forgit myself when I take such an ii
terest in your hreakfast, as to wish your frame, ei
hauBted by the debilitating effects of prodigy galitj, (
be stimilated by the 'oleBome nourishrafint of yos
forefathers. And yet," said Pumblechook, tnming I
the landlord and waiter, and pointing me ont at si ^
» length, "this is him as I ever sported with in his d
of happy infancyl Tell me not it cannot be; I
^ou this is him!"
A low murmnr from the two replied. The waite
appeared to be particularly affected.
"This is him," said Pumhlechook, "as I hare tod
in my shay-cart. This is him as I have seen h
up hy hand. This is him untoo the sister of whid
I was uncle by marriage, as her name was Georgianli
M'ria from her own mother, let him deny it if h
can!"
»The waiter seemed convinced that I could M
deny it, and that it gave the case a black look.
"Young man," said Pumblechook, screwing ^
head at me in the old fashion, "you air a going I
Joseph. What does it matter to roe, you ask Ul
where you air a going? I as-'y to you. Sir, you "il '
.S°^S ^^ Joseph." '^
Ckeat expectations. 311
Tlie waiter couglied, as if he modestly invited me
to get over that.
"Now," eaid Pnmblechook , and all thia with A
most exasperating air of saying in the cause of virtue
what was perfectly convincing and concluflive, "I will
tell you what to say to Joseph. Here is Squirea of the
Boar present, known and respected in this town, and
here is William, which his father's name was Potkins
if I do not deceive myself."
"You do not, sir," said William.
"In their presence," pursued Pumhlechook, "I will
tell you, young man, what to say to Joseph. Saya
you, 'Joseph, I have thia day seen my earliest bene-
factor and the founder of my fortun's. I will name no
names, Joseph, bnt so they are pleased to call him
Tip-town, and I have seen that man.'"
"I swear I don't see him here," said I.
"Say that likewise," retorted Pumhlechook. "Say
you said that, and even Joseph will probably betray
surprise."
"There you quite mistake hjm," said I. "I know
better."
"Says you," Pumblechook went on, '"Joseph, I
have seen that man, and that man bears you no malice
and bears me no malice. He knows your character,
Joseph, and is well acquainted with your pig-headedness
and ignorance; and he knows my character, Joseph, and
he knows my want of gratitoode. Yes, Joseph,' says
you," here Pumhlechook shook his head and hand at
me, "'he knows my total deficiency of common human
gratitoode. i/c knows it, Joseph, aa none cb.b., "^Co-u
do itBt know it, Joseph, having "011 taW \o V-rws \'i.,^s'
thatxai do.'" '
CHEAT BXPBCTATIOSB.
Windy donkey as ho was, it really amazed
e could liave the face to talk thus to mine.
"Says you, 'Joseph, he ga.\-e me ii little i
which I wiU now repeat. It was, that in my beii
brought low, he saw the finger of Providence, I
knowed that fino^er when be saw it, Joseph, and 1
saw it plain. It pinted out this writing, Josepl
. lieicavd of bujraLilooiJi: to his ewlicft henrfactor,
^^feunder of fartwi's. But that man said that he did at
^^■igient of what he had done, Joseph. Kot at all. ]
^Hfas right to do it, it was kind to do it, it was bene
^Hnrlent to do it, and he would do it again.'"
^ "It's a pity," said I, Ecornfally, as I finished m;
interrupted hreakfiiat, "that the man did not say whi
he had done and would do again."
"Squires of the Boar!" Pumbleehdok was now ai
dressing the landlord, "and William! I have no ohjet
tions to your mentioning, either np-town or down-t<
if such should be your wishes, that it was right to i
it, kind to do it, benevolent to do it, and that I woiil
do it again."
With those words the Impostor shook tliem both i^
the hand, with an air, and left the house; leaving m
much more astonished than delighted by the virtnea (
that same indefinite "it." I was not long after him i
leaving- the house too, and when I went down the High
street I saw him holding forth (no doubt to the sam<
effect) at his shop door to a select group, who honoured
me with very unfavourable glar
opposite side of the way.
But, it was only the pleasanter to ttim to Biddj
and to Joe, whose great fovbearawie shone more bright!];
^ih&D before, if' that coullXic, (iQ-Q.i.-iB&\,iii.'»SSn.'0[aa\K»a»
GEBAT EXPECTATIONS. 313
^Bjetender. I went towai-da them slowly, for my limba
were weak, but with a sense of incroasing relief as I
drew nearer to them, and a sense of leaving arrogance
and untruth fulness further and further beliiud.
The June weather was delicious. The sky was
blue, tbe larks were soaring high over the green com,
I thought all that countryside more beautiful and peace-
ful by f;ir than I had ever known it to be yet. Many
pleasant pictures of the life that I would lead there,
and of the change for the better that would come over
my charactei' when I had a guiding spirit at my side
whose simple faith and clear home -wisdom I had proved,
beguiled my way. They awakened a tender emotion in
me; for, my heart was softened by my return, and such
a change had come to pass, that I felt like one who
■was toiling home barefoot from distant travel , and
whose wanderings had lasted many years.
The schoolhouse where Biddy was mistress, I had
never seen; but, the little roundabout lane by which I
entered the village for quietness' sake, took me past it,
I was disappointed to find that the day was a holiday;
_ no children were there, and Biddy's house was closed.
^ Some hopeful notion of seeing her busily engaged in
her daily duties, before she saw me, had been in my
mind and was defeated..
But, the forge was a very short distance off, and
I went towards it under the sweet
ing for the clink of Joe's hammer. Long after I ought
to have heard it, and long after I had fancied I heard
it and found it but a fancy, all was still. The Uvoeb
were there, and the white thorns wetft XVietft, wq&. "
jhesDuf-rrees were there, and the'iT V-avca ra:^^
i
GREAT EXPECTAT10K3.
miously when I stopped fo listen; but, the cUn
' I liammer was not in tLe midsummer wind.
Almost feariDg, without knowing wlij, to come i
new of tlie forge, I saw it at last, and saw that it wi
leam of lire, no glittering ahover (
of bellows; all eliut up, and still.
£nt, the house was not deserted, and the best ps
i to be in use, for there were white cuztaii
"fluttering in its window, and the window was open an
gay wiUi flowers. I went softly towards it, meaoin
to peep over the flowers, when Joe and Biddy stoi
before me, arm in arm.
At first Biddy gave a cry, as if she thought it w:
my apparition, but in another moment she was in n
I embrace. I wept to see hei', and she wept to see nn
II, because she looked so fresh and pleasant; she, becaoaS
t looked so worn and white.
p "But dear Biddy, how smart you are!"
r "Yes, dear Pip."
I "And Joe, how smart you are!"
f "Yes, dear old Pip, old chap."
^ I looked at both of them, from one to the Other,
and then —
"It's my wedding-day," cried Biddy, in a burst of
happiness, ''and I am married to Joe!"
*****
They had taken me into the kitchen, and I h»i
laid my head down on the old deal table. Biddy IflU
one of my hands to her lips, and Joe's restoring toucll
was on my shoulder. "Which he wam't strong enonglh
my dear, fur to be surprised," said Joe. And Bidd;
said, "I ought to have tWu^V o^ \t^ Ae,a» Joe, but
my;," Tbfty "wwa W'Ai. wi wwiis^^&'ui'a
317
me, so proud to Bee me, so touched by my coml^is^
them, BO deligbted that I Bhould have come by aoci--
dent to make their day comptete!
My first thought was one of great thankfulness that
I had never breathed tliia last baffled hope to Joe.
How often, while he was with me in my illnesB, had it
risen to my lips. How irrevocable would have beea
bis knowledge of it, if he had remained with me but.
another hour!
"Dear Biddy," said I, "you have the beat husband
in the whole world, and if you eould have seen him by
my bed you would have — But no, you couldn't love
him better than you do."
''No, I couldn't indeed," said Biddy.
"And, dear Joe, you have the best wife in
whole world, and she will make you as happy as E
you deserve to be, you dear, good, noble Joe!"
Joe looked at me with a quivering lip, and fairly
put hia sleeve before his eyes.
"And Joe and Biddy both, as you have been to
church to-day, and are in charity and love with all
mankind, receive my humble thanks for all you have
done for me, and all I have so ill repaidl And when
I say that I am going away within the hour, for I am
soon going abroad, and that I shall never rest until I
have worked for the money with which you have kept
me out of prison, and have sent it to you, don't think,
dear Joe and Biddy, that if I could repay it a ihou-
sand times over, I suppose I could cancel a farthing'
of the debt I owe you, or that I would do so if Ij
couldl "
They were both melted by tlaeaa ■wOTi.'*, »»&■
g]4 / a&EkT BXPBCTATIOSTB.
SI4 J
^ave chili
ut I must saT more. Dear Joe. I bopo jron irill
cfaildrea to love, and that some little fcUov wilt
Mt in thia chimney corner of a winter night, who m^
remind you of another little fellow gone ont of it tat
ever. Uon't tell him, Joe, that I was thankless-, dont
tell him, Biddy, that I was ungenercus and ni^uBtj
only tell him that I honoured you both, hecauae yen
were both so good and true, and that, as your child, I
said it would he natnral to hira to grow np a tatiA
better man than I did."
"I ain't a going," said Joe, from behind his sleere,
"to tell him nothink o' that natar, Pip. Nor Biddy
ain't. Nor yet no one ain't."
"And now, though I know you have already doBfl
it in your own kind hearts, pray tell me, both, Uirt
you forgive me! Pray let me hear yon say the worf»,
that I may carry the Bound of them away with me,
and then 1 shall be able to believe that you can trust
me, and think better of me, in tlie time to cornel"
"O dear old Pip, old chap," said Joe. "G«d
knows as I forgive you, if I have anytiiink to fw"
give!"
"Amen! And God knows I do!" echoed Biddy.
"Now let me go up and look at my old little rttWi
and rest there a few minutes by myself, and then when
I have eaten and drunk vrith you, go with me ai fw
as the finger-post, dear Joe and Biddy, before wfl MJ"
good-by .' "
I sold all I had, and put aside as much as I ix>M
for a composition with my ciaiViOTa — who gave oe
^^^'
? BSPECTATIOSS.
joined Hi^ibert. Within a month, I had r[uitted Enl
laad, and within two months I waa clerk to Clfttrika
and Co., and within four monthB I assumed my &iM
undivided reBponsibility. For, the beam acroas tb|
parlour ceiling at Mill Pond Bank, had then ceased b
tremble under old Bill Barley's growls and was i
peace, and Herbert had gone away to man-y Clara,!
and 1 was left in aolii charge of the Eaetem Branch)
until he brought her back.
Many a year went round, before I was a
in the House; but, I lived happily with Herbert and I
his wife, and lived frugally, and paid my debts, and
maintained a constant correspondence with Biddy and
Joe. It waa not tuitil I became third in the Firm, that
Clarriker betrayed me to Herbert; but, he then de-
clared that the secret of Herbert's partnership had been
I long enough upon hi3 conacience, and he must tell ii
he told it, and Herbert was as much moved e
I amazed, and the dear fellow and I were not the worse
I friends for the long concealment. I must not leave it .
) be supposed that we were ever a great House, or
lat we made mints of money. We were not in a grand ,
'ay of business, but we had a good name, and worked
M our profits, and did very well. We owed so much
} Herbert's ever cheerful industry and readiness, that
I often wondered how I had conceived that old idea of
inaptitude, until I was one day enlightened hy the
Iflection, that perhaps the inaptitude hod nevi
' ' 1 at all, but had been in me.
CHEAT EXPECTATI0X8.
CHAPTEK XXXI,
For elcveii years, I liad not seen Joe nor Bi'di
ith my bodily eyes — tLough tliey hud both 1
before my fancy in tbe East — wben, upon ,
ening; in Deuember, an hour or two after dark,
laid my band suftly on tbe latcb of tbe old kitdn
door. I toucbed it so sotUy that I was not heard, ai
looked in unseen. There, smoking bis pipe in the o
ilace by tbe kitchen firelight, as hale and as etron^
■er though a little gray, sat Joe; and there,
the comer with Joe's leg, and sitting on my OB
lie atool looking at the fi
- . j^.^ ^j^^ name of Pip for your sake, del
old chap," said Joe, delighted when I took ai
stool by tbe child's side (but I did not rumple his
"and wo hoped he might grow a Uttle bit like y*
aud we think he do."
I thought 90 too, and I took him out for a waI
next morning, and wu talked immensely, understandili
one another to perfection. And I took him doWD I
the churehyard, and set him on a certain ton
there, and he showed me from that clevntion irfu<
Btone was sacred to the memory of Philip Pirrip, II
Lgf this Parish, and Also Geor^iana, Wife ct I
Ebove.
P "Biddy," said I, when I talked with her' d
dinner, as her little girl lay sleeping in her lap, "J
t give Pip to me, one of these days; or lend I
at all GFents."
6SBAT BXPECTAT10S8. 319
"So Herbert and Clara say, but I don't think I
shall, Biddy. I have so settled down in their borne,
that it's uot ttt all likely. I am already quite an old
bachelor."
Biddy looked down at her child, and put its little
band to her Upa, and then put the good matronly lian^
with which she iiad touched it, into mine. There was
something in the nction und in the light pressure of
Biddy's wedding-ring, that had a very pretty eloquence
"Dear Pip," said Biddy, "you are sure you don't
irel for her?"
"0 110 ~ 1 Ihiak not, Biddy."
"Ti'll me «B &D oM, old fi-iend. Have you quita
IVirgotten her?"
''My dear Biddy, I have forgotten nothing in my
life that ever bad a foremost place there, and little
that ever had any place there. But that poor dream,
aa I once used to call it, has uil gone by, Biddy, all
gone by!"
Nevertheless, I knew while I said those wonh,
that I secretly intended to revisit the site of the old
houae that evening, alone, for her sake. Yea
Tor Estella'a sake.
1 had heard of her as leading a most unhappy life,
and as being aeparated from iier bualiand, wlio had
used her with great cruelty, and who had become quite'
renowned aa a compound of pride, avarice, brutality,
and meanness. And I had heard of the death of hei
husband, from an accident consequent on his ill-treat-
ment of a horse. This release had befallen U.« ^ww
two years before; for anything 1 Vdcm, aVa^
affoin.
i'
^H The early diniier-hour at Joe's, left me abuudau
^^tof time, without huriying my talk with Biddy, to HI
^Hsrer to the old spot before dark. But, what -with li
^^R«riiig on the way, to look iit old objects and to thii
^fof old times, the day had quite declined when I cai
to the place.
There was no houBe now, no brewery, no bnildi]
whatever left, but the wall of the old garden. T
» cleared space had been enclosed with a rough Seat
■nd, looking over it, I saw that some of the old ii
bftd struck root anew, and was growing green on Is
quiet mounds of ruin. A gate in the fence standii
ajar, I pushed it open, and went in.
A cold silvery mist had veiled the afternoon, ai
the moon was not yet up to scatter it But, the eta
were shining beyond the mist, and the moon wi
coming, and the evening was not dark. I could tr(
out where eveiy part of the old house had been, a
where the brewery had been, and where the gates, a
where the casks. I had done so, and was looki
along the desolate garden-walk, when I beheld a bo
tary figure in it.
The figure showed itself aware of me, as I a
vanced. It had been moving towards me, but it aUy
still. As I drew nearer, I saw it to be tl^ figure
a woman. As I drew nearer yet, it was aUoat to tun
away, when it stopped, and lot me come up with it.
Then, it faltered as if much surprised, and utt«red my
name, and I cried out;
"Estella!"
"I am greatl" changed. I wonder you know me."
The fi-eshuos of tet bea,afj wns indeed gone, but
, I had seen before; what I had never seen before,
I the saddened eofteaed light of the onue proud
I what I had never felt before, waa the friendly
Kich of the once inseiuiblQ bnnd.
We Bat dowu on a bench that was near, and I said,
"After so many years, it is strange that we should
thus meet again, Estella, here where our first d
was! Do you often come back?"
"I have never been here sinci
"Nor I."
The moon began to rise, and I thought of the
placid look at the white ceiling, which had passed
away. Tlie moon began to rise, and I thought of thfl'
pressure on my hand when I had spoken the last worda ■
he had heard on earth.
Estella was the next to break the silence that
ensued between us.
"I have very often hoped and intended to come
back, but have been prevented by many circumstances.
Poor, poor old place!"
The silvery mist was touched with the first rays of
the moonlight, and tiie same rays touched the tears
that dropped from her eyes. Not knowing that I saw
them, and setting herself to get the better of them, she
said quietly;
*"Wcro you wondering, as you walked along, how"
it came to be left in this condition?"
"Yes, Estella."
"The ground belongs to me. It is the only posses-
sion I have not relinquished. Everything else has
gone from me, little by little, but 1 '^wt ltK^\. 'Osia-
was the subject of the only detexiivv&^i i
laade In all the wretched years."
OttSAT^X^tfrAI^Sg.
1
a, voice c
^t
o^e built on?"
"At last it is. I came here tu take leave
1 its change. And you," she said.
racliing interest to a wanderer, "you Hve abroa
StilL"
And do well, I am sure?"
"I work pretty bard for a sufficient living, aa
ifore — Yea, I do well."
"I bave often tbougbt of you," said Eatella.
Have you?"
Of late, very often. There was a long hard tlm
when I kept far from me, the remembrance of ^at i
had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of itl
worth. But, since my duty has not been incompatibl<
with the admission of that remembrance, 1 have given'
it a place in my heart."
"You have always held your place in my heart,'
I answered. And we were silent again, until abe
spoke.
"I little thought," saidEstella, "that I should t^
leave of you in taking leave of this spot, I am VOTJ
glad to do so."
"Glad to part again, Estella? To me, parting
painful thing. To rae, the remembrance of onr last
parting has been ever mournful and painful."
"But you said to me," returned Estella, very
earnestly, '"God bless you, God forgive you!' And if
you could say that to mo then, you will not hesitate
to say that to me now — now, when suffering has been
stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to
twderstand wliat y(i\ir teatV &**.&. \,q Ve. \ Vt««. b
' \t and broken, but — 1 Vo-pft — '"a*» t-Nievoat *
323
1 considerate and good to me as y
s we are friends."
re friends," said I, rising and bending over
fr-, as she rose from the bench.
"And will continue friends apart," said Estella.
I took her hand in mine, and we went out of tho.J
led place; and, as the morning mists had risen long
) whtn I first left the forge, so, the evening miBts
rising now, and in all the broad expanse o{,
I tranquil light they showed to me, I saw the shadow ot
) parting from her,
k
'S^^'F^
P^^H
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