English
“MYDEARMRPIP,
“IwritethisbyrequestofMr.Gargery,fortoletyouknowthatheisgoingtoLondonincompanywithMr.Wopsleandwouldbegladifagreeabletobeallowedtoseeyou.
HewouldcallatBarnard’sHotelTuesdaymorning9o’clock,whenifnotagreeablepleaseleaveword.
Yourpoorsisterismuchthesameaswhenyouleft.
Wetalkofyouinthekitcheneverynight,andwonderwhatyouaresayinganddoing.
Ifnowconsideredinthelightofaliberty,excuseitfortheloveofpoorolddays.Nomore,dearMr.Pip,from
“Youreverobliged,andaffectionateservant,
“BIDDY.”
“P.S.Hewishesmemostparticulartowritewhatlarks.Hesaysyouwillunderstand.
Ihopeanddonotdoubtitwillbeagreeabletoseehimeventhoughagentleman,foryouhadeveragoodheart,andheisaworthyworthyman.
Ihavereadhimallexceptingonlythelastlittlesentence,andhewishesmemostparticulartowriteagainwhatlarks.”
IreceivedthisletterbythepostonMondaymorning,andthereforeitsappointmentwasfornextday.Letmeconfessexactly,withwhatfeelingsIlookedforwardtoJoe’scoming.
Notwithpleasure,thoughIwasboundtohimbysomanyties;no;withconsiderabledisturbance,somemortification,andakeensenseofincongruity.
IfIcouldhavekepthimawaybypayingmoney,Icertainlywouldhavepaidmoney.
Mygreatestreassurancewas,thathewascomingtoBarnard’sInn,nottoHammersmith,andconsequentlywouldnotfallinBentleyDrummle’sway.
IhadlittleobjectiontohisbeingseenbyHerbertorhisfather,forbothofwhomIhadarespect;butIhadthesharpestsensitivenessastohisbeingseenbyDrummle,whomIheldincontempt.
So,throughoutlife,ourworstweaknessesandmeannessesareusuallycommittedforthesakeofthepeoplewhomwemostdespise.
Ihadbeguntobealwaysdecoratingthechambersinsomequiteunnecessaryandinappropriatewayorother,andveryexpensivethosewrestleswithBarnardprovedtobe.
Bythistime,theroomswerevastlydifferentfromwhatIhadfoundthem,andIenjoyedthehonourofoccupyingafewprominentpagesinthebooksofaneighbouringupholsterer.
Ihadgotonsofastoflate,thatIhadevenstartedaboyinboots—topboots—inbondageandslaverytowhomImighthavebeensaidtopassmydays.
For,afterIhadmadethemonster(outoftherefuseofmywasherwoman’sfamily)andhadclothedhimwithabluecoat,canarywaistcoat,whitecravat,creamybreeches,andthebootsalreadymentioned,Ihadtofindhimalittletodoandagreatdealtoeat;andwithbothofthosehorriblerequirementshehauntedmyexistence.
ThisavengingphantomwasorderedtobeondutyateightonTuesdaymorninginthehall(itwastwofeetsquare,aschargedforfloorcloth),andHerbertsuggestedcertainthingsforbreakfastthathethoughtJoewouldlike.
WhileIfeltsincerelyobligedtohimforbeingsointerestedandconsiderate,Ihadanoddhalf-provokedsenseofsuspicionuponme,thatifJoehadbeencomingtoseehim,hewouldn’thavebeenquitesobriskaboutit.
However,IcameintotownontheMondaynighttobereadyforJoe,andIgotupearlyinthemorning,andcausedthesittingroomandbreakfast-tabletoassumetheirmostsplendidappearance.
Unfortunatelythemorningwasdrizzly,andanangelcouldnothaveconcealedthefactthatBarnardwassheddingsootytearsoutsidethewindow,likesomeweakgiantofaSweep.
AsthetimeapproachedIshouldhavelikedtorunaway,buttheAvengerpursuanttoorderswasinthehall,andpresentlyIheardJoeonthestaircase.
IknewitwasJoe,byhisclumsymannerofcomingup-stairs—hisstatebootsbeingalwaystoobigforhim—andbythetimeittookhimtoreadthenamesontheotherfloorsinthecourseofhisascent.
Whenatlasthestoppedoutsideourdoor,Icouldhearhisfingertracingoverthepaintedlettersofmyname,andIafterwardsdistinctlyheardhimbreathinginatthekeyhole.
Finallyhegaveafaintsinglerap,andPepper—suchwasthecompromisingnameoftheavengingboy—announced“Mr.Gargery!”
Ithoughtheneverwouldhavedonewipinghisfeet,andthatImusthavegoneouttolifthimoffthemat,butatlasthecamein.
“Joe,howareyou,Joe?”
“Pip,howAIRyou,Pip?”
Withhisgoodhonestfaceallglowingandshining,andhishatputdownonthefloorbetweenus,hecaughtbothmyhandsandworkedthemstraightupanddown,asifIhadbeenthelastpatentedPump.
“Iamgladtoseeyou,Joe.Givemeyourhat.”
ButJoe,takingitupcarefullywithbothhands,likeabird’s-nestwitheggsinit,wouldn’thearofpartingwiththatpieceofproperty,andpersistedinstandingtalkingoveritinamostuncomfortableway.
“Whichyouhavethatgrowed,”saidJoe,“andthatswelled,andthatgentle-folked;”Joeconsideredalittlebeforehediscoveredthisword;“astobesureyouareahonourtoyourkingandcountry.”
“Andyou,Joe,lookwonderfullywell.”
“ThankGod,”saidJoe,“I’mekervaltomost.
Andyoursister,she’snoworsethanshewere.AndBiddy,she’severrightandready.
Andallfriendsisnobackerder,ifnotnoforarder.‘CeptinWopsle;he’shadadrop.”
Allthistime(stillwithbothhandstakinggreatcareofthebird’s-nest),Joewasrollinghiseyesroundandroundtheroom,androundandroundthefloweredpatternofmydressing-gown.
“Hadadrop,Joe?”
“Whyyes,”saidJoe,loweringhisvoice,“he’slefttheChurch,andwentintotheplayacting.
WhichtheplayactinghavelikewaysbroughthimtoLondonalongwithme.
Andhiswishwere,”saidJoe,gettingthebird’s-nestunderhisleftarmforthemomentandgropinginitforaneggwithhisright;“ifnooffence,asIwould‘andyouthat.”
ItookwhatJoegaveme,andfoundittobethecrumpledplaybillofasmallmetropolitantheatre,announcingthefirstappearance,inthatveryweek,of“thecelebratedProvincialAmateurofRoscianrenown,whoseuniqueperformanceinthehighesttragicwalkofourNationalBardhaslatelyoccasionedsogreatasensationinlocaldramaticcircles.”
“Wereyouathisperformance,Joe?”Iinquired.
“Iwere,”saidJoe,withemphasisandsolemnity.
“Wasthereagreatsensation?”
“Why,”saidJoe,“yes,therecertainlywereapeckoforange-peel.Partickler,whenheseetheghost.
ThoughIputittoyourself,sir,whetheritwerecalc’latedtokeepamanuptohisworkwithagoodhart,tobecontiniwallycuttinginbetwixthimandtheGhostwith“Amen!”
Amanmayhavehadamisfortun’andbeenintheChurch,”saidJoe,loweringhisvoicetoanargumentativeandfeelingtone,“butthatisnoreasonwhyyoushouldputhimoutatsuchatime.
WhichImeantersay,iftheghostofaman’sownfathercannotbeallowedtoclaimhisattention,whatcan,Sir?
Stillmore,whenhismourning“atisunfortunatelymadesosmallasthattheweightoftheblackfeathersbringsitoff,trytokeepitonhowyoumay.”
Aghost-seeingeffectinJoe’sowncountenanceinformedmethatHerberthadenteredtheroom.
So,IpresentedJoetoHerbert,whoheldouthishand;butJoebackedfromit,andheldonbythebird’s-nest.
“Yourservant,Sir,”saidJoe,“whichIhopeasyouandPip”—herehiseyefellontheAvenger,whowasputtingsometoastontable,andsoplainlydenotedanintentiontomakethatyounggentlemanoneofthefamily,thatIfrowneditdownandconfusedhimmore—”Imeantersay,youtwogentlemen—whichIhopeasyougetyourelthsinthisclosespot?
Forthepresentmaybeawerrygoodinn,accordingtoLondonopinions,”saidJoe,confidentially,“andIbelieveitscharacterdostandi;butIwouldn’tkeepapiginitmyself—notinthecasethatIwishedhimtofattenwholesomeandtoeatwithamellerflavouronhim.”
Havingbornethisflatteringtestimonytothemeritsofourdwelling-place,andhavingincidentallyshownthistendencytocallme“sir,”Joe,beinginvitedtositdowntotable,lookedallroundtheroomforasuitablespotonwhichtodeposithishat—asifitwereonlyonsomeveryfewraresubstancesinnaturethatitcouldfindarestingplace—andultimatelystooditonanextremecornerofthechimney-piece,fromwhichiteverafterwardsfelloffatintervals.
“Doyoutaketea,orcoffee,Mr.Gargery?”askedHerbert,whoalwayspresidedofamorning.
“Thankee,Sir,”saidJoe,stifffromheadtofoot,“I’lltakewhicheverismostagreeabletoyourself.”
“Whatdoyousaytocoffee?”
“Thankee,Sir,”returnedJoe,evidentlydispiritedbytheproposal,“sinceyouaresokindasmakechiceofcoffee,Iwillnotruncontrairytoyourownopinions.
Butdon’tyouneverfinditalittle‘eating?”
“Sayteathen,”saidHerbert,pouringitout.
HereJoe’shattumbledoffthemantel-piece,andhestartedoutofhischairandpickeditup,andfittedittothesameexactspot.
Asifitwereanabsolutepointofgoodbreedingthatitshouldtumbleoffagainsoon.
“Whendidyoucometotown,Mr.Gargery?”
“Wereityesterdayafternoon?”saidJoe,aftercoughingbehindhis
hand,asifhehadhadtimetocatchthewhooping-coughsincehecame.“Noitwerenot.Yesitwere.Yes.Itwereyesterdayafternoon”(withanappearanceofmingledwisdom,relief,and
strictimpartiality).“HaveyouseenanythingofLondon,yet?”
“Why,yes,Sir,”saidJoe,“meandWopslewentoffstraighttolookattheBlackingWare’us.
Butwedidn’tfindthatitcomeuptoitslikenessintheredbillsattheshopdoors;whichImeantersay,”addedJoe,inanexplanatorymanner,“asitistheredrawdtooarchitectooralooral.”
IreallybelieveJoewouldhaveprolongedthisword(mightilyexpressivetomymindofsomearchitecturethatIknow)intoaperfectChorus,butforhisattentionbeingprovidentiallyattractedbyhishat,whichwastoppling.
Indeed,itdemandedfromhimaconstantattention,andaquicknessofeyeandhand,verylikethatexactedbywicket-keeping.
Hemadeextraordinaryplaywithit,andshowedthegreatestskill;now,rushingatitandcatchingitneatlyasitdropped;now,merelystoppingitmidway,beatingitup,andhumouringitinvariouspartsoftheroomandagainstagooddealofthepatternofthepaperonthewall,beforehefeltitsafetoclosewithit;finally,splashingitintotheslop-basin,whereItookthelibertyoflayinghandsuponit.
Astohisshirt-collar,andhiscoat-collar,theywereperplexingtoreflectupon—insolublemysteriesboth.
Whyshouldamanscrapehimselftothatextent,beforehecouldconsiderhimselffulldressed?
Whyshouldhesupposeitnecessarytobepurifiedbysufferingforhisholidayclothes?
Thenhefellintosuchunaccountablefitsofmeditation,withhisforkmidwaybetweenhisplateandhismouth;hadhiseyesattractedinsuchstrangedirections;wasafflictedwithsuchremarkablecoughs;satsofarfromthetable,anddroppedsomuchmorethanheate,andpretendedthathehadn’tdroppedit;thatIwasheartilygladwhenHerbertleftusforthecity.
Ihadneitherthegoodsensenorthegoodfeelingtoknowthatthiswasallmyfault,andthatifIhadbeeneasierwithJoe,Joewouldhavebeeneasierwithme.
Ifeltimpatientofhimandoutoftemperwithhim;inwhichconditionheheapedcoalsoffireonmyhead.
“Ustwobeingnowalone,Sir,”—beganJoe.
“Joe,”Iinterrupted,pettishly,“howcanyoucallme,Sir?”
Joelookedatmeforasingleinstantwithsomethingfaintlylikereproach.Utterlypreposterousashiscravatwas,andashiscollarswere,Iwasconsciousofasortofdignityinthelook.
“Ustwobeingnowalone,”resumedJoe,“andmehavingtheintentionsandabilitiestostaynotmanyminutesmore,Iwillnowconclude—leastwaysbegin—tomentionwhathaveledtomyhavinghadthepresenthonour.
Forwasitnot,”saidJoe,withhisoldairoflucidexposition,“thatmyonlywishweretobeusefultoyou,Ishouldnothavehadthehonourofbreakingwittlesinthecompanyandabodeofgentlemen.”
Iwassounwillingtoseethelookagain,thatImadenoremonstranceagainstthistone.
“Well,Sir,”pursuedJoe,“thisishowitwere.
IwereattheBargement’othernight,Pip;”wheneverhesubsidedintoaffection,hecalledmePip,andwheneverherelapsedintopolitenesshecalledmeSir;“whentherecomeupinhisshay-cart,Pumblechook.
Whichthatsameidentical,”saidJoe,goingdownanewtrack,“docombmy‘airthewrongwaysometimes,awful,bygivingoutupanddowntownasitwerehimwhicheverhadyourinfantcompanionationandwerelookeduponasaplayfellowbyyourself.”
“Nonsense.Itwasyou,Joe.”
“WhichIfullybelieveditwere,Pip,”saidJoe,slightlytossinghishead,“thoughitsignifylittlenow,Sir.
Well,Pip;thissameidentical,whichhismannersisgiventoblusterous,cometomeattheBargemen(wotapipeandapintofbeerdogiverefreshmenttotheworking-man,Sir,anddonotoverstimilate),andhiswordwere,‘Joseph,MissHavishamshewishtospeaktoyou.’”
“MissHavisham,Joe?”
”’Shewish,’werePumblechook’sword,‘tospeaktoyou.’”Joesatandrolledhiseyesattheceiling.
“Yes,Joe?Goon,please.”
“Nextday,Sir,”saidJoe,lookingatmeasifIwerealongwayoff,“havingcleanedmyself,IgoandIseeMissA.”
“MissA.,Joe?MissHavisham?”
“WhichIsay,Sir,”repliedJoe,withanairoflegalformality,asifheweremakinghiswill,“MissA.,orotherwaysHavisham.
Herexpressionairthenasfollering:‘Mr.Gargery.
YouairincorrespondencewithMr.Pip?’
Havinghadaletterfromyou,Iwereabletosay‘Iam.’
(WhenImarriedyoursister,Sir,Isaid‘Iwill;’andwhenIansweredyourfriend,Pip,Isaid‘Iam.’)
‘Wouldyoutellhim,then,’saidshe,‘thatwhichEstellahascomehomeandwouldbegladtoseehim.’”
IfeltmyfacefireupasIlookedatJoe.Ihopeoneremotecauseofitsfiring,mayhavebeenmyconsciousnessthatifIhadknownhiserrand,Ishouldhavegivenhimmoreencouragement.
“Biddy,”pursuedJoe,“whenIgothomeandaskedherfurtowritethemessagetoyou,alittlehungback.
Biddysays,“Iknowhewillbeverygladtohaveitbywordofmouth,itisholidaytime,youwanttoseehim,go!”
Ihavenowconcluded,Sir,”saidJoe,risingfromhischair,“and,Pip,Iwishyoueverwellandeverprosperingtoagreaterandagreaterheighth.”
“Butyouarenotgoingnow,Joe?”
“YesIam,”saidJoe.
“Butyouarecomingbacktodinner,Joe?”
“NoIamnot,”saidJoe.
Oureyesmet,andallthe“Sir”meltedoutofthatmanlyheartashegavemehishand.
“Pip,dearoldchap,lifeismadeofeversomanypartingsweldedtogether,asImaysay,andoneman’sablacksmith,andone’sawhitesmith,andone’sagoldsmith,andone’sacoppersmith.
Diwisionsamongsuchmustcome,andmustbemetastheycome.
Ifthere’sbeenanyfaultatallto-day,it’smine.
YouandmeisnottwofigurestobetogetherinLondon;noryetanywhereselsebutwhatisprivate,andbeknown,andunderstoodamongfriends.
Itain’tthatIamproud,butthatIwanttoberight,asyoushallneverseemenomoreintheseclothes.I’mwrongintheseclothes.
I’mwrongoutoftheforge,thekitchen,oroffth’meshes.
Youwon’tfindhalfsomuchfaultinmeifyouthinkofmeinmyforgedress,withmyhammerinmyhand,orevenmypipe.
Youwon’tfindhalfsomuchfaultinmeif,supposingasyoushouldeverwishtoseeme,youcomeandputyourheadinattheforgewindowandseeJoetheblacksmith,there,attheoldanvil,intheoldburntapron,stickingtotheoldwork.
I’mawfuldull,butIhopeI’vebeatoutsomethingnightherightsofthisatlast.
AndsoGODblessyou,dearoldPip,oldchap,GODblessyou!”
Ihadnotbeenmistakeninmyfancythattherewasasimpledignityinhim.
Thefashionofhisdresscouldnomorecomeinitswaywhenhespokethesewords,thanitcouldcomeinitswayinHeaven.
Hetouchedmegentlyontheforehead,andwentout.
AssoonasIcouldrecovermyselfsufficiently,Ihurriedoutafterhimandlookedforhimintheneighbouringstreets;buthewasgone.
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