English
BentleyDrummle,whowassosulkyafellowthatheeventookupabookasifitswriterhaddonehimaninjury,didnottakeupanacquaintanceinamoreagreeablespirit.
Heavyinfigure,movement,andcomprehension—inthesluggishcomplexionofhisface,andinthelargeawkwardtonguethatseemedtolollaboutinhismouthashehimselflolledaboutinaroom—hewasidle,proud,niggardly,reserved,andsuspicious.
HecameofrichpeopledowninSomersetshire,whohadnursedthiscombinationofqualitiesuntiltheymadethediscoverythatitwasjustofageandablockhead.
Thus,BentleyDrummlehadcometoMr.Pocketwhenhewasaheadtallerthanthatgentleman,andhalfadozenheadsthickerthanmostgentlemen.
Startophadbeenspoiltbyaweakmotherandkeptathomewhenheoughttohavebeenatschool,buthewasdevotedlyattachedtoher,andadmiredherbeyondmeasure.
Hehadawoman’sdelicacyoffeature,andwas—”asyoumaysee,thoughyouneversawher,”saidHerberttome—exactlylikehismother.
ItwasbutnaturalthatIshouldtaketohimmuchmorekindlythantoDrummle,andthat,evenintheearliesteveningsofourboating,heandIshouldpullhomewardabreastofoneanother,conversingfromboattoboat,whileBentleyDrummlecameupinourwakealone,undertheoverhangingbanksandamongtherushes.
Hewouldalwayscreepin-shorelikesomeuncomfortableamphibiouscreature,evenwhenthetidewouldhavesenthimfastuponhisway;andIalwaysthinkofhimascomingafterusinthedarkorbytheback-water,whenourowntwoboatswerebreakingthesunsetorthemoonlightinmid-stream.
Herbertwasmyintimatecompanionandfriend.
Ipresentedhimwithahalf-shareinmyboat,whichwastheoccasionofhisoftencomingdowntoHammersmith;andmypossessionofahalfshareinhischambersoftentookmeuptoLondon.
Weusedtowalkbetweenthetwoplacesatallhours.
Ihaveanaffectionfortheroadyet(thoughitisnotsopleasantaroadasitwasthen),formedintheimpressibilityofuntriedyouthandhope.
WhenIhadbeeninMr.Pocket’sfamilyamonthortwo,Mr.andMrs.Camillaturnedup.CamillawasMr.Pocket’ssister.
Georgiana,whomIhadseenatMissHavisham’sonthesameoccasion,alsoturnedup.
shewasacousin—anindigestivesinglewoman,whocalledherrigidityreligion,andherliverlove.
Thesepeoplehatedmewiththehatredofcupidityanddisappointment.
Asamatterofcourse,theyfawneduponmeinmyprosperitywiththebasestmeanness.
TowardsMr.Pocket,asagrown-upinfantwithnonotionofhisowninterests,theyshowedthecomplacentforbearanceIhadheardthemexpress.
Mrs.Pockettheyheldincontempt;buttheyallowedthepoorsoultohavebeenheavilydisappointedinlife,becausethatshedafeeblereflectedlightuponthemselves.
ThesewerethesurroundingsamongwhichIsettleddown,andappliedmyselftomyeducation.
Isooncontractedexpensivehabits,andbegantospendanamountofmoneythatwithinafewshortmonthsIshouldhavethoughtalmostfabulous;butthroughgoodandevilIstucktomybooks.
Therewasnoothermeritinthis,thanmyhavingsenseenoughtofeelmydeficiencies.
BetweenMr.PocketandHerbertIgotonfast;and,withoneortheotheralwaysatmyelbowtogivemethestartIwanted,andclearobstructionsoutofmyroad,ImusthavebeenasgreatadoltasDrummleifIhaddoneless.
IhadnotseenMr.Wemmickforsomeweeks,whenIthoughtIwouldwritehimanoteandproposetogohomewithhimonacertainevening.
Herepliedthatitwouldgivehimmuchpleasure,andthathewouldexpectmeattheofficeatsixo’clock.
ThitherIwent,andthereIfoundhim,puttingthekeyofhissafedownhisbackastheclockstruck.
“DidyouthinkofwalkingdowntoWalworth?”saidhe.
“Certainly,”saidI,“ifyouapprove.”
“Verymuch,”wasWemmick’sreply,“forIhavehadmylegsunderthedeskallday,andshallbegladtostretchthem.
Now,I’lltellyouwhatIhavegotforsupper,Mr.Pip.
Ihavegotastewedsteak—whichisofhomepreparation—andacoldroastfowl—whichisfromthecook’s-shop.
Ithinkit’stender,becausethemasteroftheshopwasaJurymaninsomecasesofourstheotherday,andwelethimdowneasy.
IremindedhimofitwhenIboughtthefowl,andIsaid,“Pickusoutagoodone,oldBriton,becauseifwehadchosentokeepyouintheboxanotherdayortwo,wecouldeasilyhavedoneit.”
Hesaidtothat,“Letmemakeyouapresentofthebestfowlintheshop.”Ilethim,ofcourse.
Asfarasitgoes,it’spropertyandportable.
Youdon’tobjecttoanagedparent,Ihope?”
Ireallythoughthewasstillspeakingofthefowl,untilheadded,“BecauseIhavegotanagedparentatmyplace.”Ithensaidwhatpolitenessrequired.
“So,youhaven’tdinedwithMr.Jaggersyet?”hepursued,aswewalkedalong.
“Notyet.”
“Hetoldmesothisafternoonwhenheheardyouwerecoming.Iexpectyou’llhaveaninvitationto-morrow.He’sgoingtoaskyourpals,too.Threeof‘em;ain’tthere?”
AlthoughIwasnotinthehabitofcountingDrummleasoneofmyintimateassociates,Ianswered,“Yes.”
“Well,he’sgoingtoaskthewholegang;”Ihardlyfeltcomplimentedbytheword;“andwhateverhegivesyou,he’llgiveyougood.
Don’tlookforwardtovariety,butyou’llhaveexcellence.
Andthere’sanotherrumthinginhishouse,”proceededWemmick,afteramoment’spause,asiftheremarkfollowedonthehousekeeperunderstood;“heneverletsadoororwindowbefastenedatnight.”
“Isheneverrobbed?”
“That’sit!”returnedWemmick.
“Hesays,andgivesitoutpublicly,“Iwanttoseethemanwho’llrobme.”
Lordblessyou,Ihaveheardhim,ahundredtimesifIhaveheardhimonce,saytoregularcracksmeninourfrontoffice,“YouknowwhereIlive;now,noboltiseverdrawnthere;whydon’tyoudoastrokeofbusinesswithme?Come;can’tItemptyou?”
Notamanofthem,sir,wouldbeboldenoughtotryiton,forloveormoney.”
“Theydreadhimsomuch?”saidI.
“Dreadhim,”saidWemmick.“Ibelieveyoutheydreadhim.Notbutwhathe’sartful,eveninhisdefianceofthem.Nosilver,sir.Britanniametal,everyspoon.”
“Sotheywouldn’thavemuch,”Iobserved,“evenifthey—”
“Ah!Buthewouldhavemuch,”saidWemmick,cuttingmeshort,“andtheyknowit.
He’dhavetheirlives,andthelivesofscoresof‘em.He’dhaveallhecouldget.
Andit’simpossibletosaywhathecouldn’tget,ifhegavehismindtoit.”
Iwasfallingintomeditationonmyguardian’sgreatness,whenWemmickremarked:
“Astotheabsenceofplate,that’sonlyhisnaturaldepth,youknow.Ariver’sitsnaturaldepth,andhe’shisnaturaldepth.Lookathiswatch-chain.That’srealenough.”
“It’sverymassive,”saidI.
“Massive?”repeatedWemmick.“Ithinkso.
Andhiswatchisagoldrepeater,andworthahundredpoundifit’sworthapenny.
Mr.Pip,thereareaboutsevenhundredthievesinthistownwhoknowallaboutthatwatch;there’snotaman,awoman,orachild,amongthem,whowouldn’tidentifythesmallestlinkinthatchain,anddropitasifitwasred-hot,ifinveigledintotouchingit.”
Atfirstwithsuchdiscourse,andafterwardswithconversationofamoregeneralnature,didMr.WemmickandIbeguilethetimeandtheroad,untilhegavemetounderstandthatwehadarrivedinthedistrictofWalworth.
Itappearedtobeacollectionofbacklanes,ditches,andlittlegardens,andtopresenttheaspectofaratherdullretirement.
Wemmick’shousewasalittlewoodencottageinthemidstofplotsofgarden,andthetopofitwascutoutandpaintedlikeabatterymountedwithguns.
“Myowndoing,”saidWemmick.“Lookspretty;don’tit?”
Ihighlycommendedit,IthinkitwasthesmallesthouseIeversaw;withthequeerestgothicwindows(byfarthegreaterpartofthemsham),andagothicdoor,almosttoosmalltogetinat.
“That’sarealflagstaff,yousee,”saidWemmick,“andonSundaysIrunuparealflag.Thenlookhere.AfterIhavecrossedthisbridge,Ihoistitup—so—andcutoffthecommunication.”
Thebridgewasaplank,anditcrossedachasmaboutfourfeetwideandtwodeep.
Butitwasverypleasanttoseethepridewithwhichhehoisteditupandmadeitfast;smilingashedidso,witharelishandnotmerelymechanically.
“Atnineo’clockeverynight,Greenwichtime,”saidWemmick,“thegunfires.Thereheis,yousee!Andwhenyouhearhimgo,Ithinkyou’llsayhe’saStinger.”
Thepieceofordnancereferredto,wasmountedinaseparatefortress,constructedoflattice-work.
Itwasprotectedfromtheweatherbyaningeniouslittletarpaulincontrivanceinthenatureofanumbrella.
“Then,attheback,”saidWemmick,“outofsight,soasnottoimpedetheideaoffortifications—forit’saprinciplewithme,ifyouhaveanidea,carryitoutandkeepitup—Idon’tknowwhetherthat’syouropinion—”
Isaid,decidedly.
”—Attheback,there’sapig,andtherearefowlsandrabbits;then,Iknocktogethermyownlittleframe,yousee,andgrowcucumbers;andyou’lljudgeatsupperwhatsortofasaladIcanraise.
So,sir,”saidWemmick,smilingagain,butseriouslytoo,asheshookhishead,“ifyoucansupposethelittleplacebesieged,itwouldholdoutadevilofatimeinpointofprovisions.”
Then,heconductedmetoaboweraboutadozenyardsoff,butwhichwasapproachedbysuchingenioustwistsofpaththatittookquitealongtimetogetat;andinthisretreatourglasseswerealreadysetforth.
Ourpunchwascoolinginanornamentallake,onwhosemarginthebowerwasraised.
Thispieceofwater(withanislandinthemiddlewhichmighthavebeenthesaladforsupper)wasofacircularform,andhehadconstructedafountaininit,which,whenyousetalittlemillgoingandtookacorkoutofapipe,playedtothatpowerfulextentthatitmadethebackofyourhandquitewet.
“Iammyownengineer,andmyowncarpenter,andmyownplumber,andmyowngardener,andmyownJackofallTrades,”saidWemmick,inacknowledgingmycompliments.“Well;it’sagoodthing,youknow.
ItbrushestheNewgatecobwebsaway,andpleasestheAged.
Youwouldn’tmindbeingatonceintroducedtotheAged,wouldyou?Itwouldn’tputyouout?”
IexpressedthereadinessIfelt,andwewentintothecastle.
There,wefound,sittingbyafire,averyoldmaninaflannelcoat:clean,cheerful,comfortable,andwellcaredfor,butintenselydeaf.
“Wellagedparent,”saidWemmick,shakinghandswithhiminacordialandjocoseway,“howamyou?”
“Allright,John;allright!”repliedtheoldman.
“Here’sMr.Pip,agedparent,”saidWemmick,“andIwishyoucouldhearhisname.Nodawayathim,Mr.Pip;that’swhathelikes.Nodawayathim,ifyouplease,likewinking!”
“Thisisafineplaceofmyson’s,sir,”criedtheoldman,whileInoddedashardasIpossiblycould.“Thisisaprettypleasure-ground,sir.
ThisspotandthesebeautifulworksuponitoughttobekepttogetherbytheNation,aftermyson’stime,forthepeople’senjoyment.”
“You’reasproudofitasPunch;ain’tyou,Aged?”
saidWemmick,contemplatingtheoldman,withhishardfacereallysoftened;“there’sanodforyou;”givinghimatremendousone;“there’sanotherforyou;”givinghimastillmoretremendousone;“youlikethat,don’tyou?
Ifyou’renottired,Mr.Pip—thoughIknowit’stiringtostrangers—willyoutiphimonemore?Youcan’tthinkhowitpleaseshim.”
Itippedhimseveralmore,andhewasingreatspirits.
Welefthimbestirringhimselftofeedthefowls,andwesatdowntoourpunchinthearbour;whereWemmicktoldmeashesmokedapipethatithadtakenhimagoodmanyyearstobringthepropertyuptoitspresentpitchofperfection.
“Isityourown,Mr.Wemmick?”
“Oyes,”saidWemmick,“Ihavegotholdofit,abitatatime.It’safreehold,byGeorge!”
“Isit,indeed?IhopeMr.Jaggersadmiresit?”
“Neverseenit,”saidWemmick.“Neverheardofit.NeverseentheAged.Neverheardofhim.
No;theofficeisonething,andprivatelifeisanother.
WhenIgointotheoffice,IleavetheCastlebehindme,andwhenIcomeintotheCastle,Ileavetheofficebehindme.
Ifit’snotinanywaydisagreeabletoyou,you’llobligemebydoingthesame.
Idon’twishitprofessionallyspokenabout.”
OfcourseIfeltmygoodfaithinvolvedintheobservanceofhisrequest.
Thepunchbeingverynice,wesattheredrinkingitandtalking,untilitwasalmostnineo’clock.
“Gettingneargun-fire,”saidWemmickthen,ashelaiddownhispipe;“it’stheAged’streat.”
ProceedingintotheCastleagain,wefoundtheAgedheatingthepoker,withexpectanteyes,asapreliminarytotheperformanceofthisgreatnightlyceremony.
Wemmickstoodwithhiswatchinhishand,untilthemomentwascomeforhimtotakethered-hotpokerfromtheAged,andrepairtothebattery.
Hetookit,andwentout,andpresentlytheStingerwentoffwithaBangthatshookthecrazylittleboxofacottageasifitmustfalltopieces,andmadeeveryglassandteacupinitring.
Uponthis,theAged—whoIbelievewouldhavebeenblownoutofhisarm-chairbutforholdingonbytheelbows—criedoutexultingly,“He’sfired!Iheerdhim!”
andInoddedattheoldgentlemanuntilitisnofigureofspeechtodeclarethatIabsolutelycouldnotseehim.
Theintervalbetweenthattimeandsupper,Wemmickdevotedtoshowingmehiscollectionofcuriosities.
Theyweremostlyofafeloniouscharacter;comprisingthepenwithwhichacelebratedforgeryhadbeencommitted,adistinguishedrazorortwo,somelocksofhair,andseveralmanuscriptconfessionswrittenundercondemnation—uponwhichMr.Wemmicksetparticularvalueasbeing,tousehisownwords,“everyoneof‘emLies,sir.”
Thesewereagreeablydispersedamongsmallspecimensofchinaandglass,variousneattriflesmadebytheproprietorofthemuseum,andsometobacco-stopperscarvedbytheAged.
TheywerealldisplayedinthatchamberoftheCastleintowhichIhadbeenfirstinducted,andwhichserved,notonlyasthegeneralsitting-roombutasthekitchentoo,ifImightjudgefromasaucepanonthehob,andabrazenbijouoverthefireplacedesignedforthesuspensionofaroasting-jack.
Therewasaneatlittlegirlinattendance,wholookedaftertheAgedintheday.
Whenshehadlaidthesupper-cloth,thebridgewasloweredtogivehermeansofegress,andshewithdrewforthenight.
Thesupperwasexcellent;andthoughtheCastlewasrathersubjecttodry-rotinsomuchthatittastedlikeabadnut,andthoughthepigmighthavebeenfartheroff,Iwasheartilypleasedwithmywholeentertainment.
Norwasthereanydrawbackonmylittleturretbedroom,beyondtherebeingsuchaverythinceilingbetweenmeandtheflagstaff,thatwhenIlaydownonmybackinbed,itseemedasifIhadtobalancethatpoleonmyforeheadallnight.
Wemmickwasupearlyinthemorning,andIamafraidIheardhimcleaningmyboots.
Afterthat,hefelltogardening,andIsawhimfrommygothicwindowpretendingtoemploytheAged,andnoddingathiminamostdevotedmanner.
Ourbreakfastwasasgoodasthesupper,andathalf-pasteightpreciselywestartedforLittleBritain.
Bydegrees,Wemmickgotdryerandharderaswewentalong,andhismouthtightenedintoapost-officeagain.
Atlast,whenwegottohisplaceofbusinessandhepulledouthiskeyfromhiscoat-collar,helookedasunconsciousofhisWalworthpropertyasiftheCastleandthedrawbridgeandthearbourandthelakeandthefountainandtheAged,hadallbeenblownintospacetogetherbythelastdischargeoftheStinger.
Share this article to
FINISH