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ItfelloutasWemmickhadtoldmeitwould,thatIhadanearlyopportunityofcomparingmyguardian’sestablishmentwiththatofhiscashierandclerk.
Myguardianwasinhisroom,washinghishandswithhisscentedsoap,whenIwentintotheofficefromWalworth;andhecalledmetohim,andgavemetheinvitationformyselfandfriendswhichWemmickhadpreparedmetoreceive.
“Noceremony,”hestipulated,“andnodinnerdress,andsaytomorrow.”
Iaskedhimwhereweshouldcometo(forIhadnoideawherehelived),andIbelieveitwasinhisgeneralobjectiontomakeanythinglikeanadmission,thathereplied,“Comehere,andI’lltakeyouhomewithme.”
Iembracethisopportunityofremarkingthathewashedhisclientsoff,asifhewereasurgeonoradentist.
Hehadaclosetinhisroom,fittedupforthepurpose,whichsmeltofthescentedsoaplikeaperfumer’sshop.
Ithadanunusuallylargejack-towelonarollerinsidethedoor,andhewouldwashhishands,andwipethemanddrythemalloverthistowel,wheneverhecameinfromapolice-courtordismissedaclientfromhisroom.
WhenIandmyfriendsrepairedtohimatsixo’clocknextday,heseemedtohavebeenengagedonacaseofadarkercomplexionthanusual,for,wefoundhimwithhisheadbuttedintothiscloset,notonlywashinghishands,butlavinghisfaceandgarglinghisthroat.
Andevenwhenhehaddoneallthat,andhadgoneallroundthejack-towel,hetookouthispenknifeandscrapedthecaseoutofhisnailsbeforeheputhiscoaton.
Thereweresomepeopleslinkingaboutasusualwhenwepassedoutintothestreet,whowereevidentlyanxioustospeakwithhim;buttherewassomethingsoconclusiveinthehaloofscentedsoapwhichencircledhispresence,thattheygaveitupforthatday.
Aswewalkedalongwestward,hewasrecognizedeverandagainbysomefaceinthecrowdofthestreets,andwheneverthathappenedhetalkedloudertome;butheneverotherwiserecognizedanybody,ortooknoticethatanybodyrecognizedhim.
HeconductedustoGerrard-street,Soho,toahouseonthesouthsideofthatstreet.
Ratherastatelyhouseofitskind,butdolefullyinwantofpainting,andwithdirtywindows.
Hetookouthiskeyandopenedthedoor,andweallwentintoastonehall,bare,gloomy,andlittleused.
So,upadarkbrownstaircaseintoaseriesofthreedarkbrownroomsonthefirstfloor.
Therewerecarvedgarlandsonthepanelledwalls,andashestoodamongthemgivinguswelcome,IknowwhatkindofloopsIthoughttheylookedlike.
Dinnerwaslaidinthebestoftheserooms;thesecondwashisdressing-room;thethird,hisbedroom.
Hetoldusthatheheldthewholehouse,butrarelyusedmoreofitthanwesaw.
Thetablewascomfortablylaid—nosilverintheservice,ofcourse—andatthesideofhischairwasacapaciousdumb-waiter,withavarietyofbottlesanddecantersonit,andfourdishesoffruitfordessert.
Inoticedthroughout,thathekepteverythingunderhisownhand,anddistributedeverythinghimself.
Therewasabookcaseintheroom;Isaw,fromthebacksofthebooks,thattheywereaboutevidence,criminallaw,criminalbiography,trials,actsofparliament,andsuchthings.
Thefurniturewasallverysolidandgood,likehiswatch-chain.
Ithadanofficiallook,however,andtherewasnothingmerelyornamentaltobeseen.
Inacorner,wasalittletableofpaperswithashadedlamp:sothatheseemedtobringtheofficehomewithhiminthatrespecttoo,andtowheelitoutofaneveningandfalltowork.
Ashehadscarcelyseenmythreecompanionsuntilnow—for,heandIhadwalkedtogether—hestoodonthehearth-rug,afterringingthebell,andtookasearchinglookatthem.
Tomysurprise,heseemedatoncetobeprincipallyifnotsolelyinterestedinDrummle.
“Pip,”saidhe,puttinghislargehandonmyshoulderandmovingmetothewindow,“Idon’tknowonefromtheother.Who’stheSpider?”
“Thespider?”saidI.
“Theblotchy,sprawly,sulkyfellow.”
“That’sBentleyDrummle,”Ireplied;“theonewiththedelicatefaceisStartop.”
Notmakingtheleastaccountof“theonewiththedelicateface,”hereturned,“BentleyDrummleishisname,isit?Ilikethelookofthatfellow.”
HeimmediatelybegantotalktoDrummle:notatalldeterredbyhisreplyinginhisheavyreticentway,butapparentlyledonbyittoscrewdiscourseoutofhim.
Iwaslookingatthetwo,whentherecamebetweenmeandthem,thehousekeeper,withthefirstdishforthetable.
Shewasawomanofaboutforty,Isupposed—butImayhavethoughtheryoungerthanshewas.
Rathertall,ofalithenimblefigure,extremelypale,withlargefadedeyes,andaquantityofstreaminghair.
Icannotsaywhetheranydiseasedaffectionoftheheartcausedherlipstobepartedasifshewerepanting,andherfacetobearacuriousexpressionofsuddennessandflutter;butIknowthatIhadbeentoseeMacbethatthetheatre,anightortwobefore,andthatherfacelookedtomeasifitwerealldisturbedbyfieryair,likethefacesIhadseenriseoutoftheWitches’caldron.
Shesetthedishon,touchedmyguardianquietlyonthearmwithafingertonotifythatdinnerwasready,andvanished.
Wetookourseatsattheroundtable,andmyguardiankeptDrummleononesideofhim,whileStartopsatontheother.
Itwasanobledishoffishthatthehousekeeperhadputontable,andwehadajointofequallychoicemuttonafterwards,andthenanequallychoicebird.
Sauces,wines,alltheaccessorieswewanted,andallofthebest,weregivenoutbyourhostfromhisdumb-waiter;andwhentheyhadmadethecircuitofthetable,healwaysputthembackagain.
Similarly,hedealtuscleanplatesandknivesandforks,foreachcourse,anddroppedthosejustdisusedintotwobasketsonthegroundbyhischair.
Nootherattendantthanthehousekeeperappeared.
Shesetoneverydish;andIalwayssawinherface,afacerisingoutofthecaldron.
Yearsafterwards,Imadeadreadfullikenessofthatwoman,bycausingafacethathadnoothernaturalresemblancetoitthanitderivedfromflowinghair,topassbehindabowlofflamingspiritsinadarkroom.
Inducedtotakeparticularnoticeofthehousekeeper,bothbyherownstrikingappearanceandbyWemmick’spreparation,Iobservedthatwhenevershewasintheroom,shekepthereyesattentivelyonmyguardian,andthatshewouldremoveherhandsfromanydishsheputbeforehim,hesitatingly,asifshedreadedhiscallingherback,andwantedhimtospeakwhenshewasnigh,ifhehadanythingtosay.
IfanciedthatIcoulddetectinhismanneraconsciousnessofthis,andapurposeofalwaysholdingherinsuspense.
Dinnerwentoffgaily,and,althoughmyguardianseemedtofollowratherthanoriginatesubjects,Iknewthathewrenchedtheweakestpartofourdispositionsoutofus.
Formyself,IfoundthatIwasexpressingmytendencytolavishexpenditure,andtopatronizeHerbert,andtoboastofmygreatprospects,beforeIquiteknewthatIhadopenedmylips.
Itwassowithallofus,butwithnoonemorethanDrummle:thedevelopmentofwhoseinclinationtogirdinagrudgingandsuspiciouswayattherest,wasscrewedoutofhimbeforethefishwastakenoff.
Itwasnotthen,butwhenwehadgottothecheese,thatourconversationturneduponourrowingfeats,andthatDrummlewasralliedforcomingupbehindofanightinthatslowamphibiouswayofhis.
Drummleuponthis,informedourhostthathemuchpreferredourroomtoourcompany,andthatastoskillhewasmorethanourmaster,andthatastostrengthhecouldscatteruslikechaff.
Bysomeinvisibleagency,myguardianwoundhimuptoapitchlittleshortofferocityaboutthistrifle;andhefelltobaringandspanninghisarmtoshowhowmuscularitwas,andweallfelltobaringandspanningourarmsinaridiculousmanner.
Now,thehousekeeperwasatthattimeclearingthetable;myguardian,takingnoheedofher,butwiththesideofhisfaceturnedfromher,wasleaningbackinhischairbitingthesideofhisforefingerandshowinganinterestinDrummle,that,tome,wasquiteinexplicable.
Suddenly,heclappedhislargehandonthehousekeeper’s,likeatrap,asshestretcheditacrossthetable.
Sosuddenlyandsmartlydidhedothis,thatweallstoppedinourfoolishcontention.
“Ifyoutalkofstrength,”saidMr.Jaggers,“I’llshowyouawrist.Molly,letthemseeyourwrist.”
Herentrappedhandwasonthetable,butshehadalreadyputherotherhandbehindherwaist.“Master,”shesaid,inalowvoice,withhereyesattentivelyandentreatinglyfixeduponhim.“Don’t.”
“I’llshowyouawrist,”repeatedMr.Jaggers,withanimmovabledeterminationtoshowit.“Molly,letthemseeyourwrist.”
“Master,”sheagainmurmured.“Please!”
“Molly,”saidMr.Jaggers,notlookingather,butobstinatelylookingattheoppositesideoftheroom,“letthemseebothyourwrists.Showthem.Come!”
Hetookhishandfromhers,andturnedthatwristuponthetable.
Shebroughtherotherhandfrombehindher,andheldthetwooutsidebyside.
Thelastwristwasmuchdisfigured—deeplyscarredandscarredacrossandacross.
Whensheheldherhandsout,shetookhereyesfromMr.Jaggers,andturnedthemwatchfullyoneveryoneoftherestofusinsuccession.
“There’spowerhere,”saidMr.Jaggers,coollytracingoutthesinewswithhisforefinger.
“Veryfewmenhavethepowerofwristthatthiswomanhas.
It’sremarkablewhatmereforceofgripthereisinthesehands.
Ihavehadoccasiontonoticemanyhands;butIneversawstrongerinthatrespect,man’sorwoman’s,thanthese.”
Whilehesaidthesewordsinaleisurelycriticalstyle,shecontinuedtolookateveryoneofusinregularsuccessionaswesat.
Themomentheceased,shelookedathimagain.
“That’lldo,Molly,”saidMr.Jaggers,givingheraslightnod;“youhavebeenadmired,andcango.”
Shewithdrewherhandsandwentoutoftheroom,andMr.Jaggers,puttingthedecantersonfromhisdumbwaiter,filledhisglassandpassedroundthewine.
“Athalf-pastnine,gentlemen,”saidhe,“wemustbreakup.Praymakethebestuseofyourtime.Iamgladtoseeyouall.Mr.Drummle,Idrinktoyou.”
IfhisobjectinsinglingoutDrummleweretobringhimoutstillmore,itperfectlysucceeded.
Inasulkytriumph,Drummleshowedhismorosedepreciationoftherestofus,inamoreandmoreoffensivedegreeuntilhebecamedownrightintolerable.
Throughallhisstages,Mr.Jaggersfollowedhimwiththesamestrangeinterest.
HeactuallyseemedtoserveasazesttoMr.Jaggers’swine.
InourboyishwantofdiscretionIdaresaywetooktoomuchtodrink,andIknowwetalkedtoomuch.
webecameparticularlyhotuponsomeboorishsneerofDrummle’s,totheeffectthatweweretoofreewithourmoney.
Itledtomyremarking,withmorezealthandiscretion,thatitcamewithabadgracefromhim,towhomStartophadlentmoneyinmypresencebutaweekorsobefore.
“Well,”retortedDrummle;“he’llbepaid.”
“Idon’tmeantoimplythathewon’t,”saidI,“butitmightmakeyouholdyourtongueaboutusandourmoney,Ishouldthink.”
“Youshouldthink!”retortedDrummle.“OhLord!”
“Idaresay,”Iwenton,meaningtobeverysevere,“thatyouwouldn’tlendmoneytoanyofus,ifwewantedit.”
“Youareright,”saidDrummle.“Iwouldn’tlendoneofyouasixpence.Iwouldn’tlendanybodyasixpence.”
“Rathermeantoborrowunderthosecircumstances,Ishouldsay.”
“Youshouldsay,”repeatedDrummle.“OhLord!”
Thiswassoveryaggravating—themoreespeciallyasIfoundmyselfmakingnowayagainsthissurlyobtuseness—thatIsaid,disregardingHerbert’seffortstocheckme:
“Come,Mr.Drummle,sinceweareonthesubject,I’lltellyouwhatpassedbetweenHerberthereandme,whenyouborrowedthatmoney.”
“Idon’twanttoknowwhatpassedbetweenHerbertthereandyou,”growledDrummle.AndIthinkheaddedinalowergrowl,thatwemightbothgotothedevilandshakeourselves.
“I’lltellyou,however,”saidI,“whetheryouwanttoknowornot.
Wesaidthatasyouputitinyourpocketverygladtogetit,youseemedtobeimmenselyamusedathisbeingsoweakastolendit.”
Drummlelaughedoutright,andsatlaughinginourfaces,withhishandsinhispocketsandhisroundshouldersraised:plainlysignifyingthatitwasquitetrue,andthathedespisedus,asassesall.
HereuponStartoptookhiminhand,thoughwithamuchbettergracethanIhadshown,andexhortedhimtobealittlemoreagreeable.
Startop,beingalivelybrightyoungfellow,andDrummlebeingtheexactopposite,thelatterwasalwaysdisposedtoresenthimasadirectpersonalaffront.
Henowretortedinacoarselumpishway,andStartoptriedtoturnthediscussionasidewithsomesmallpleasantrythatmadeusalllaugh.
Resentingthislittlesuccessmorethananything,Drummle,withoutanythreatorwarning,pulledhishandsoutofhispockets,droppedhisroundshoulders,swore,tookupalargeglass,andwouldhaveflungitathisadversary’shead,butforourentertainer’sdexterouslyseizingitattheinstantwhenitwasraisedforthatpurpose.
“Gentlemen,”saidMr.Jaggers,deliberatelyputtingdowntheglass,andhaulingouthisgoldrepeaterbyitsmassivechain,“Iamexceedinglysorrytoannouncethatit’shalf-pastnine.”
Onthishintweallrosetodepart.Beforewegottothestreetdoor,StartopwascheerilycallingDrummle“oldboy,”asifnothinghadhappened.
Buttheoldboywassofarfromresponding,thathewouldnotevenwalktoHammersmithonthesamesideoftheway;so,HerbertandI,whoremainedintown,sawthemgoingdownthestreetonoppositesides;Startopleading,andDrummlelaggingbehindintheshadowofthehouses,muchashewaswonttofollowinhisboat.
Asthedoorwasnotyetshut,IthoughtIwouldleaveHerbertthereforamoment,andrunup-stairsagaintosayawordtomyguardian.
Ifoundhiminhisdressing-roomsurroundedbyhisstockofboots,alreadyhardatit,washinghishandsofus.
ItoldhimIhadcomeupagaintosayhowsorryIwasthatanythingdisagreeableshouldhaveoccurred,andthatIhopedhewouldnotblamememuch.
“Pooh!”saidhe,sluicinghisface,andspeakingthroughthewater-drops;“it’snothing,Pip.IlikethatSpiderthough.”
Hehadturnedtowardsmenow,andwasshakinghishead,andblowing,andtowellinghimself.
“Iamgladyoulikehim,sir,”saidI—”butIdon’t.”
“No,no,”myguardianassented;“don’thavetoomuchtodowithhim.Keepasclearofhimasyoucan.ButIlikethefellow,Pip;heisoneofthetruesort.Why,ifIwasafortune-teller—”
Lookingoutofthetowel,hecaughtmyeye.
“ButIamnotafortune-teller,”hesaid,lettinghisheaddropintoafestoonoftowel,andtowellingawayathistwoears.“YouknowwhatIam,don’tyou?Good-night,Pip.”
“Good-night,sir.”
Inaboutamonthafterthat,theSpider’stimewithMr.Pocketwasupforgood,and,tothegreatreliefofallthehousebutMrs.Pocket,hewenthometothefamilyhole.
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