English
Thejourneyfromourtowntothemetropolis,wasajourneyofaboutfivehours.
Itwasalittlepastmid-daywhenthefourhorsestage-coachbywhichIwasapassenger,gotintotheraveloftrafficfrayedoutabouttheCrossKeys,Wood-street,Cheapside,London.
WeBritonshadatthattimeparticularlysettledthatitwastreasonabletodoubtourhavingandourbeingthebestofeverything:otherwise,whileIwasscaredbytheimmensityofLondon,IthinkImighthavehadsomefaintdoubtswhetheritwasnotratherugly,crooked,narrow,anddirty.
Mr.Jaggershaddulysentmehisaddress;itwas,LittleBritain,andhehadwrittenafteritonhiscard,“justoutofSmithfield,andclosebythecoach-office.”
Nevertheless,ahackney-coachman,whoseemedtohaveasmanycapestohisgreasygreat-coatashewasyearsold,packedmeupinhiscoachandhemmedmeinwithafoldingandjinglingbarrierofsteps,asifheweregoingtotakemefiftymiles.
Hisgettingonhisbox,whichIremembertohavebeendecoratedwithanoldweather-stainedpea-greenhammerclothmoth-eatenintorags,wasquiteaworkoftime.
Itwasawonderfulequipage,withsixgreatcoronetsoutside,andraggedthingsbehindforIdon’tknowhowmanyfootmentoholdonby,andaharrowbelowthem,topreventamateurfootmenfromyieldingtothetemptation.
Ihadscarcelyhadtimetoenjoythecoachandtothinkhowlikeastraw-yarditwas,andyethowlikearag-shop,andtowonderwhythehorses’nose-bagswerekeptinside,whenIobservedthecoachmanbeginningtogetdown,asifweweregoingtostoppresently.
Andstopwepresentlydid,inagloomystreet,atcertainofficeswithanopendoor,whereonwaspaintedMR.JAGGERS.
“Howmuch?”Iaskedthecoachman.
Thecoachmananswered,“Ashilling—unlessyouwishtomakeitmore.”
InaturallysaidIhadnowishtomakeitmore.
“Thenitmustbeashilling,”observedthecoachman.“Idon’twanttogetintotrouble.Iknowhim!”HedarklyclosedaneyeatMrJaggers’sname,andshookhishead.
Whenhehadgothisshilling,andhadincourseoftimecompletedtheascenttohisbox,andhadgotaway(whichappearedtorelievehismind),Iwentintothefrontofficewithmylittleportmanteauinmyhandandasked,WasMr.Jaggersathome?
“Heisnot,”returnedtheclerk.“HeisinCourtatpresent.AmIaddressingMr.Pip?”
IsignifiedthathewasaddressingMr.Pip.
“Mr.Jaggersleftwordwouldyouwaitinhisroom.Hecouldn’tsayhowlonghemightbe,havingacaseon.Butitstandstoreason,histimebeingvaluable,thathewon’tbelongerthanhecanhelp.”
Withthosewords,theclerkopenedadoor,andusheredmeintoaninnerchamberattheback.
Here,wefoundagentlemanwithoneeye,inavelveteensuitandknee-breeches,whowipedhisnosewithhissleeveonbeinginterruptedintheperusalofthenewspaper.
“Goandwaitoutside,Mike,”saidtheclerk.
IbegantosaythatIhopedIwasnotinterrupting—whentheclerkshovedthisgentlemanoutwithaslittleceremonyasIeversawused,andtossinghisfurcapoutafterhim,leftmealone.
Mr.Jaggers’sroomwaslightedbyaskylightonly,andwasamostdismalplace;theskylight,eccentricallypitchedlikeabrokenhead,andthedistortedadjoininghouseslookingasiftheyhadtwistedthemselvestopeepdownatmethroughit.
Therewerenotsomanypapersabout,asIshouldhaveexpectedtosee;andthereweresomeoddobjectsabout,thatIshouldnothaveexpectedtosee—suchasanoldrustypistol,aswordinascabbard,severalstrange-lookingboxesandpackages,andtwodreadfulcastsonashelf,offacespeculiarlyswollen,andtwitchyaboutthenose.
Mr.Jaggers’sownhigh-backedchairwasofdeadlyblackhorse-hair,withrowsofbrassnailsroundit,likeacoffin;andIfanciedIcouldseehowheleanedbackinit,andbithisforefingerattheclients.
Theroomwasbutsmall,andtheclientsseemedtohavehadahabitofbackingupagainstthewall:thewall,especiallyoppositetoMr.Jaggers’schair,beinggreasywithshoulders.
Irecalled,too,thattheone-eyedgentlemanhadshuffledforthagainstthewallwhenIwastheinnocentcauseofhisbeingturnedout.
IsatdownintheclientalchairplacedoveragainstMr.Jaggers’schair,andbecamefascinatedbythedismalatmosphereoftheplace.
Icalledtomindthattheclerkhadthesameairofknowingsomethingtoeverybodyelse’sdisadvantage,ashismasterhad.
Iwonderedhowmanyotherclerkstherewereup-stairs,andwhethertheyallclaimedtohavethesamedetrimentalmasteryoftheirfellow-creatures.
Iwonderedwhatwasthehistoryofalltheoddlitterabouttheroom,andhowitcamethere.
IwonderedwhetherthetwoswollenfaceswereofMr.Jaggers’sfamily,and,ifheweresounfortunateastohavehadapairofsuchill-lookingrelations,whyhestuckthemonthatdustyperchfortheblacksandfliestosettleon,insteadofgivingthemaplaceathome.
OfcourseIhadnoexperienceofaLondonsummerday,andmyspiritsmayhavebeenoppressedbythehotexhaustedair,andbythedustandgritthatlaythickoneverything.
ButIsatwonderingandwaitinginMr.Jaggers’scloseroom,untilIreallycouldnotbearthetwocastsontheshelfaboveMr.Jaggers’schair,andgotupandwentout.
WhenItoldtheclerkthatIwouldtakeaturnintheairwhileIwaited,headvisedmetogoroundthecornerandIshouldcomeintoSmithfield.
So,IcameintoSmithfield;andtheshamefulplace,beingallasmearwithfilthandfatandbloodandfoam,seemedtosticktome.
So,IrubbeditoffwithallpossiblespeedbyturningintoastreetwhereIsawthegreatblackdomeofSaintPaul’sbulgingatmefrombehindagrimstonebuildingwhichabystandersaidwasNewgatePrison.
Followingthewallofthejail,Ifoundtheroadwaycoveredwithstrawtodeadenthenoiseofpassingvehicles;andfromthis,andfromthequantityofpeoplestandingabout,smellingstronglyofspiritsandbeer,Iinferredthatthetrialswereon.
WhileIlookedaboutmehere,anexceedinglydirtyandpartiallydrunkministerofjusticeaskedmeifIwouldliketostepinandhearatrialorso:informingmethathecouldgivemeafrontplaceforhalf-a-crown,whenceIshouldcommandafullviewoftheLordChiefJusticeinhiswigandrobes—mentioningthatawfulpersonagelikewaxwork,andpresentlyofferinghimatthereducedpriceofeighteenpence.
AsIdeclinedtheproposalonthepleaofanappointment,hewassogoodastotakemeintoayardandshowmewherethegallowswaskept,andalsowherepeoplewerepubliclywhipped,andthenheshowedmetheDebtors’Door,outofwhichculpritscametobehanged:heighteningtheinterestofthatdreadfulportalbygivingmetounderstandthat“fouron‘em”wouldcomeoutatthatdoorthedayafterto-morrowateightinthemorning,tobekilledinarow.
Thiswashorrible,andgavemeasickeningideaofLondon:themoresoastheLordChiefJustice’sproprietorwore(fromhishatdowntohisbootsandupagaintohispocket-handkerchiefinclusive)mildewedclothes,whichhadevidentlynotbelongedtohimoriginally,andwhich,Itookitintomyhead,hehadboughtcheapoftheexecutioner.
UnderthesecircumstancesIthoughtmyselfwellridofhimforashilling.
IdroppedintotheofficetoaskifMr.Jaggershadcomeinyet,andIfoundhehadnot,andIstrolledoutagain.
Thistime,ImadethetourofLittleBritain,andturnedintoBartholomewClose;andnowIbecameawarethatotherpeoplewerewaitingaboutforMr.Jaggers,aswellasI.
ThereweretwomenofsecretappearancelounginginBartholomewClose,andthoughtfullyfittingtheirfeetintothecracksofthepavementastheytalkedtogether,oneofwhomsaidtotheotherwhentheyfirstpassedme,that“Jaggerswoulddoitifitwastobedone.”
Therewasaknotofthreemenandtwowomenstandingatacorner,andoneofthewomenwascryingonherdirtyshawl,andtheothercomfortedherbysaying,asshepulledherownshawloverhershoulders,“Jaggersisforhim,‘Melia,andwhatmorecouldyouhave?”
Therewasared-eyedlittleJewwhocameintotheClosewhileIwasloiteringthere,incompanywithasecondlittleJewwhomhesentuponanerrand;andwhilethemessengerwasgone,IremarkedthisJew,whowasofahighlyexcitabletemperament,performingajigofanxietyunderalamp-postandaccompanyinghimself,inakindoffrenzy,withthewords,“OhJaggerth,Jaggerth,Jaggerth!
allotherthithCag-Maggerth,givemeJaggerth!”
Thesetestimoniestothepopularityofmyguardianmadeadeepimpressiononme,andIadmiredandwonderedmorethanever.
Atlength,asIwaslookingoutattheirongateofBartholomewCloseintoLittleBritain,IsawMr.Jaggerscomingacrosstheroadtowardsme.
Alltheotherswhowerewaiting,sawhimatthesametime,andtherewasquitearushathim.
Mr.Jaggers,puttingahandonmyshoulderandwalkingmeonathissidewithoutsayinganythingtome,addressedhimselftohisfollowers.
First,hetookthetwosecretmen.
“Now,Ihavenothingtosaytoyou,”saidMr.Jaggers,throwinghisfingeratthem.“IwanttoknownomorethanIknow.Astotheresult,it’satoss-up.
Itoldyoufromthefirstitwasatoss-up.HaveyoupaidWemmick?”
“Wemadethemoneyupthismorning,sir,”saidoneofthemen,submissively,whiletheotherperusedMr.Jaggers’sface.
“Idon’taskyouwhenyoumadeitup,orwhere,orwhetheryoumadeitupatall.HasWemmickgotit?”
“Yes,sir,”saidboththementogether.
“Verywell;thenyoumaygo.Now,Iwon’thaveit!”saidMrJaggers,wavinghishandatthemtoputthembehindhim.“Ifyousayawordtome,I’llthrowupthecase.”
“Wethought,Mr.Jaggers—”oneofthemenbegan,pullingoffhishat.
“That’swhatItoldyounottodo,”saidMr.Jaggers.“Youthought!Ithinkforyou;that’senoughforyou.
IfIwantyou,Iknowwheretofindyou;Idon’twantyoutofindme.NowIwon’thaveit.Iwon’thearaword.”
ThetwomenlookedatoneanotherasMr.Jaggerswavedthembehindagain,andhumblyfellbackandwereheardnomore.
“Andnowyou!”saidMr.Jaggers,suddenlystopping,andturningonthetwowomenwiththeshawls,fromwhomthethreemenhadmeeklyseparated.—”Oh!Amelia,isit?”
“Yes,Mr.Jaggers.”
“Anddoyouremember,”retortedMr.Jaggers,“thatbutformeyouwouldn’tbehereandcouldn’tbehere?”
“Ohyes,sir!”exclaimedbothwomentogether.“Lordblessyou,sir,wellweknowsthat!”
“Thenwhy,”saidMr.Jaggers,“doyoucomehere?”
“MyBill,sir!”thecryingwomanpleaded.
“Now,Itellyouwhat!”saidMr.Jaggers.“Onceforall.
Ifyoudon’tknowthatyourBill’singoodhands,Iknowit.
Andifyoucomehere,botheringaboutyourBill,I’llmakeanexampleofbothyourBillandyou,andlethimslipthroughmyfingers.HaveyoupaidWemmick?”
“Ohyes,sir!Everyfarden.”
“Verywell.Thenyouhavedoneallyouhavegottodo.Sayanotherword—onesingleword—andWemmickshallgiveyouyourmoneyback.”
Thisterriblethreatcausedthetwowomentofalloffimmediately.NooneremainednowbuttheexcitableJew,whohadalreadyraisedtheskirtsofMr.Jaggers’scoattohislipsseveraltimes.
“Idon’tknowthisman!”saidMr.Jaggers,inthesamedevastatingstrain:“Whatdoesthisfellowwant?”
“MathearMithterJaggerth.HownbrothertoHabrahamLatharuth?”
“Who’she?”saidMr.Jaggers.“Letgoofmycoat.”
Thesuitor,kissingthehemofthegarmentagainbeforerelinquishingit,replied,“HabrahamLatharuth,onthuthpithionofplate.”
“You’retoolate,”saidMr.Jaggers.“Iamovertheway.”
“Holyfather,MithterJaggerth!”criedmyexcitableacquaintance,turningwhite,“don’tthayyou’reagainHabrahamLatharuth!”
“Iam,”saidMr.Jaggers,“andthere’sanendofit.Getoutoftheway.”
“MithterJaggerth!Halfamoment!
Myhowncuthen’thgonetoMithterWemmickatthithprethentminute,tohofferhimhanytermth.MithterJaggerth!Halfaquarterofamoment!
Ifyou’dhavethecondethenthuntobeboughtofffromthet’otherthide—athanythuperiorprithe!—moneynoobject!—MithterJaggerth—Mithter—!”
Myguardianthrewhissupplicantoffwithsupremeindifference,andlefthimdancingonthepavementasifitwerered-hot.
Withoutfurtherinterruption,wereachedthefrontoffice,wherewefoundtheclerkandthemaninvelveteenwiththefurcap.
“Here’sMike,”saidtheclerk,gettingdownfromhisstool,andapproachingMr.Jaggersconfidentially.
“Oh!”saidMr.Jaggers,turningtotheman,whowaspullingalockofhairinthemiddleofhisforehead,liketheBullinCockRobinpullingatthebell-rope;“yourmancomesonthisafternoon.Well?”
“Well,Mas’rJaggers,”returnedMike,inthevoiceofasuffererfromaconstitutionalcold;“arteradealo’trouble,I’vefoundone,sir,asmightdo.”
“Whatishepreparedtoswear?”
“Well,Mas’rJaggers,”saidMike,wipinghisnoseonhisfurcapthistime;“inageneralway,anythink.”
Mr.Jaggerssuddenlybecamemostirate.“Now,Iwarnedyoubefore,”saidhe,throwinghisforefingerattheterrifiedclient,“thatifyoueverpresumedtotalkinthatwayhere,I’dmakeanexampleofyou.
Youinfernalscoundrel,howdareyoutellMEthat?”
Theclientlookedscared,butbewilderedtoo,asifhewereunconsciouswhathehaddone.
“Spooney!”saidtheclerk,inalowvoice,givinghimastirwithhiselbow.“SoftHead!Needyousayitfacetoface?”
“Now,Iaskyou,youblunderingbooby,”saidmyguardian,verysternly,“oncemoreandforthelasttime,whatthemanyouhavebroughthereispreparedtoswear?”
Mikelookedhardatmyguardian,asifheweretryingtolearnalessonfromhisface,andslowlyreplied,“Aythertocharacter,ortohavingbeeninhiscompanyandneverlefthimallthenightinquestion.”
“Now,becareful.Inwhatstationoflifeisthisman?”
Mikelookedathiscap,andlookedatthefloor,andlookedattheceiling,andlookedattheclerk,andevenlookedatme,beforebeginningtoreplyinanervousmanner,“We’vedressedhimuplike—”whenmyguardianblusteredout:
“What?YouWILL,willyou?”
(“Spooney!”addedtheclerkagain,withanotherstir.)
Aftersomehelplesscastingabout,Mikebrightenedandbeganagain:
“Heisdressedlikea‘spectablepieman.Asortofapastry-cook.”
“Ishehere?”askedmyguardian.
“Ilefthim,”saidMike,“asettinonsomedoorstepsroundthecorner.”
“Takehimpastthatwindow,andletmeseehim.”
Thewindowindicated,wastheofficewindow.
Weallthreewenttoit,behindthewireblind,andpresentlysawtheclientgobyinanaccidentalmanner,withamurderous-lookingtallindividual,inashortsuitofwhitelinenandapapercap.
Thisguilelessconfectionerwasnotbyanymeanssober,andhadablackeyeinthegreenstageofrecovery,whichwaspaintedover.
“Tellhimtotakehiswitnessawaydirectly,”saidmyguardiantotheclerk,inextremedisgust,“andaskhimwhathemeansbybringingsuchafellowasthat.”
Myguardianthentookmeintohisownroom,andwhilehelunched,standing,fromasandwich-boxandapocketflaskofsherry(heseemedtobullyhisverysandwichasheateit),informedmewhatarrangementshehadmadeforme.
Iwastogoto“Barnard’sInn,”toyoungMr.Pocket’srooms,whereabedhadbeensentinformyaccommodation;IwastoremainwithyoungMr.PocketuntilMonday;onMondayIwastogowithhimtohisfather’shouseonavisit,thatImighttryhowIlikedit.
Also,Iwastoldwhatmyallowancewastobe—itwasaveryliberalone—andhadhandedtomefromoneofmyguardian’sdrawers,thecardsofcertaintradesmenwithwhomIwastodealforallkindsofclothes,andsuchotherthingsasIcouldinreasonwant.
“Youwillfindyourcreditgood,Mr.Pip,”saidmyguardian,whoseflaskofsherrysmeltlikeawholecask-full,ashehastilyrefreshedhimself,“butIshallbythismeansbeabletocheckyourbills,andtopullyouupifIfindyououtrunningtheconstable.
Ofcourseyou’llgowrongsomehow,butthat’snofaultofmine.”
AfterIhadponderedalittleoverthisencouragingsentiment,IaskedMr.JaggersifIcouldsendforacoach?
Hesaiditwasnotworthwhile,Iwassonearmydestination;Wemmickshouldwalkroundwithme,ifIpleased.
IthenfoundthatWemmickwastheclerkinthenextroom.
Anotherclerkwasrungdownfromup-stairstotakehisplacewhilehewasout,andIaccompaniedhimintothestreet,aftershakinghandswithmyguardian.
Wefoundanewsetofpeoplelingeringoutside,butWemmickmadeawayamongthembysayingcoollyyetdecisively,“Itellyouit’snouse;hewon’thaveawordtosaytooneofyou;”andwesoongotclearofthem,andwentonsidebyside.
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