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DeemingSundaythebestdayfortakingMr.Wemmick’sWalworthsentiments,IdevotedthenextensuingSundayafternoontoapilgrimagetotheCastle.
Onarrivingbeforethebattlements,IfoundtheUnionJackflyingandthedrawbridgeup;butundeterredbythisshowofdefianceandresistance,Irangatthegate,andwasadmittedinamostpacificmannerbytheAged.
“Myson,sir,”saidtheoldman,aftersecuringthedrawbridge,“ratherhaditinhismindthatyoumighthappentodropin,andheleftwordthathewouldsoonbehomefromhisafternoon’swalk.
Heisveryregularinhiswalks,ismyson.Veryregularineverything,ismyson.”
InoddedattheoldgentlemanasWemmickhimselfmighthavenodded,andwewentinandsatdownbythefireside.
“Youmadeacquaintancewithmyson,sir,”saidtheoldman,inhischirpingway,whilehewarmedhishandsattheblaze,“athisoffice,Iexpect?”Inodded.“Hah!
Ihaveheerdthatmysonisawonderfulhandathisbusiness,sir?”Inoddedhard.“Yes;sotheytellme.HisbusinessistheLaw?”Inoddedharder.
“Whichmakesitmoresurprisinginmyson,”saidtheoldman,“forhewasnotbroughtuptotheLaw,buttotheWine-Coopering.”
CurioustoknowhowtheoldgentlemanstoodinformedconcerningthereputationofMr.Jaggers,Iroaredthatnameathim.
Hethrewmeintothegreatestconfusionbylaughingheartilyandreplyinginaverysprightlymanner,“No,tobesure;you’reright.”
AndtothishourIhavenotthefaintestnotionwhathemeant,orwhatjokehethoughtIhadmade.
AsIcouldnotsittherenoddingathimperpetually,withoutmakingsomeotherattempttointeresthim,Ishoutedatinquirywhetherhisowncallinginlifehadbeen“theWine-Coopering.”
Bydintofstrainingthattermoutofmyselfseveraltimesandtappingtheoldgentlemanonthechesttoassociateitwithhim,Iatlastsucceededinmakingmymeaningunderstood.
“No,”saidtheoldgentleman;“thewarehousing,thewarehousing.
First,overyonder;”heappearedtomeanupthechimney,butIbelieveheintendedtorefermetoLiverpool;“andthenintheCityofLondonhere.
However,havinganinfirmity—forIamhardofhearing,sir—”
Iexpressedinpantomimethegreatestastonishment.
”—Yes,hardofhearing;havingthatinfirmitycominguponme,mysonhewentintotheLaw,andhetookchargeofme,andhebylittleandlittlemadeoutthiselegantandbeautifulproperty.
Butreturningtowhatyousaid,youknow,”pursuedtheoldman,againlaughingheartily,“whatIsayis,Notobesure;you’reright.”
Iwasmodestlywonderingwhethermyutmostingenuitywouldhaveenabledmetosayanythingthatwouldhaveamusedhimhalfasmuchasthisimaginarypleasantry,whenIwasstartledbyasuddenclickinthewallononesideofthechimney,andtheghostlytumblingopenofalittlewoodenflapwith“JOHN”uponit.
Theoldman,followingmyeyes,criedwithgreattriumph,“Myson’scomehome!”andwebothwentouttothedrawbridge.
ItwasworthanymoneytoseeWemmickwavingasalutetomefromtheothersideofthemoat,whenwemighthaveshakenhandsacrossitwiththegreatestease.
TheAgedwassodelightedtoworkthedrawbridge,thatImadenooffertoassisthim,butstoodquietuntilWemmickhadcomeacross,andhadpresentedmetoMissSkiffins:aladybywhomhewasaccompanied.
MissSkiffinswasofawoodenappearance,andwas,likeherescort,inthepost-officebranchoftheservice.
ShemighthavebeensometwoorthreeyearsyoungerthanWemmick,andIjudgedhertostandpossessedofportableproperty.
Thecutofherdressfromthewaistupward,bothbeforeandbehind,madeherfigureverylikeaboy’skite;andImighthavepronouncedhergownalittletoodecidedlyorange,andherglovesalittletoointenselygreen.
Butsheseemedtobeagoodsortoffellow,andshowedahighregardfortheAged.
IwasnotlongindiscoveringthatshewasafrequentvisitorattheCastle;for,onourgoingin,andmycomplimentingWemmickonhisingeniouscontrivanceforannouncinghimselftotheAged,hebeggedmetogivemyattentionforamomenttotheothersideofthechimney,anddisappeared.
Presentlyanotherclickcame,andanotherlittledoortumbledopenwith“MissSkiffins”onit;thenMissSkiffinsshutupandJohntumbledopen;thenMissSkiffinsandJohnbothtumbledopentogether,andfinallyshutuptogether.
OnWemmick’sreturnfromworkingthesemechanicalappliances,IexpressedthegreatadmirationwithwhichIregardedthem,andhesaid,“Well,youknow,they’rebothpleasantandusefultotheAged.
AndbyGeorge,sir,it’sathingworthmentioning,thatofallthepeoplewhocometothisgate,thesecretofthosepullsisonlyknowntotheAged,MissSkiffins,andme!”
“AndMr.Wemmickmadethem,”addedMissSkiffins,“withhisownhandsoutofhisownhead.”
WhileMissSkiffinswastakingoffherbonnet(sheretainedhergreenglovesduringtheeveningasanoutwardandvisiblesignthattherewascompany),Wemmickinvitedmetotakeawalkwithhimroundtheproperty,andseehowtheislandlookedinwintertime.
ThinkingthathedidthistogivemeanopportunityoftakinghisWalworthsentiments,IseizedtheopportunityassoonaswewereoutoftheCastle.
Havingthoughtofthematterwithcare,IapproachedmysubjectasifIhadneverhintedatitbefore.
IinformedWemmickthatIwasanxiousinbehalfofHerbertPocket,andItoldhimhowwehadfirstmet,andhowwehadfought.
IglancedatHerbert’shome,andathischaracter,andathishavingnomeansbutsuchashewasdependentonhisfatherfor:those,uncertainandunpunctual.
IalludedtotheadvantagesIhadderivedinmyfirstrawnessandignorancefromhissociety,andIconfessedthatIfearedIhadbutillrepaidthem,andthathemighthavedonebetterwithoutmeandmyexpectations.
KeepingMissHavishaminthebackgroundatagreatdistance,Istillhintedatthepossibilityofmyhavingcompetedwithhiminhisprospects,andatthecertaintyofhispossessingageneroussoul,andbeingfaraboveanymeandistrusts,retaliations,ordesigns.
Forallthesereasons(ItoldWemmick),andbecausehewasmyyoungcompanionandfriend,andIhadagreataffectionforhim,Iwishedmyowngoodfortunetoreflectsomeraysuponhim,andthereforeIsoughtadvicefromWemmick’sexperienceandknowledgeofmenandaffairs,howIcouldbesttrywithmyresourcestohelpHerberttosomepresentincome—sayofahundredayear,tokeephimingoodhopeandheart—andgraduallytobuyhimontosomesmallpartnership.
IbeggedWemmick,inconclusion,tounderstandthatmyhelpmustalwaysberenderedwithoutHerbert’sknowledgeorsuspicion,andthattherewasnooneelseintheworldwithwhomIcouldadvise.
Iwoundupbylayingmyhanduponhisshoulder,andsaying,“Ican’thelpconfidinginyou,thoughIknowitmustbetroublesometoyou;butthatisyourfault,inhavingeverbroughtmehere.”
Wemmickwassilentforalittlewhile,andthensaidwithakindofstart,“Wellyouknow,Mr.Pip,Imusttellyouonething.Thisisdevilishgoodofyou.”
“Sayyou’llhelpmetobegoodthen,”saidI.
“Ecod,”repliedWemmick,shakinghishead,“that’snotmytrade.”
“Noristhisyourtrading-place,”saidI.
“Youareright,”hereturned.“Youhitthenailonthehead.
Mr.Pip,I’llputonmyconsidering-cap,andIthinkallyouwanttodo,maybedonebydegrees.
Skiffins(that’sherbrother)isanaccountantandagent.
I’lllookhimupandgotoworkforyou.”
“Ithankyoutenthousandtimes.”
“Onthecontrary,”saidhe,“Ithankyou,forthoughwearestrictlyinourprivateandpersonalcapacity,stillitmaybementionedthatthereareNewgatecobwebsabout,anditbrushesthemaway.”
Afteralittlefurtherconversationtothesameeffect,wereturnedintotheCastlewherewefoundMissSkiffinspreparingtea.
TheresponsibledutyofmakingthetoastwasdelegatedtotheAged,andthatexcellentoldgentlemanwassointentuponitthatheseemedtomeinsomedangerofmeltinghiseyes.
Itwasnonominalmealthatweweregoingtomake,butavigorousreality.
TheAgedpreparedsuchahaystackofbutteredtoast,thatIcouldscarcelyseehimoveritasitsimmeredonanironstandhookedontothetop-bar;whileMissSkiffinsbrewedsuchajorumoftea,thatthepiginthebackpremisesbecamestronglyexcited,andrepeatedlyexpressedhisdesiretoparticipateintheentertainment.
Theflaghadbeenstruck,andthegunhadbeenfired,attherightmomentoftime,andIfeltassnuglycutofffromtherestofWalworthasifthemoatwerethirtyfeetwidebyasmanydeep.
NothingdisturbedthetranquillityoftheCastle,buttheoccasionaltumblingopenofJohnandMissSkiffins:whichlittledoorswereapreytosomespasmodicinfirmitythatmademesympatheticallyuncomfortableuntilIgotusedtoit.
IinferredfromthemethodicalnatureofMissSkiffins’sarrangementsthatshemadeteathereeverySundaynight;andIrathersuspectedthataclassicbroochshewore,representingtheprofileofanundesirablefemalewithaverystraightnoseandaverynewmoon,wasapieceofportablepropertythathadbeengivenherbyWemmick.
Weatethewholeofthetoast,anddrankteainproportion,anditwasdelightfultoseehowwarmandgreasyweallgotafterit.
TheAgedespecially,mighthavepassedforsomecleanoldchiefofasavagetribe,justoiled.
Afterashortpauseforrepose,MissSkiffins—intheabsenceofthelittleservantwho,itseemed,retiredtothebosomofherfamilyonSundayafternoons—washedupthetea-things,inatriflinglady-likeamateurmannerthatcompromisednoneofus.
Then,sheputonherglovesagain,andwedrewroundthefire,andWemmicksaid,“NowAgedParent,tipusthepaper.”
WemmickexplainedtomewhiletheAgedgothisspectaclesout,thatthiswasaccordingtocustom,andthatitgavetheoldgentlemaninfinitesatisfactiontoreadthenewsaloud.
“Iwon’tofferanapology,”saidWemmick,“forheisn’tcapableofmanypleasures—areyou,AgedP.?”
“Allright,John,allright,”returnedtheoldman,seeinghimselfspokento.
“Onlytiphimanodeverynowandthenwhenhelooksoffhispaper,”saidWemmick,“andhe’llbeashappyasaking.Weareallattention,AgedOne.”
“Allright,John,allright!”returnedthecheerfuloldman:sobusyandsopleased,thatitreallywasquitecharming.
TheAged’sreadingremindedmeoftheclassesatMr.Wopsle’sgreat-aunt’s,withthepleasanterpeculiaritythatitseemedtocomethroughakeyhole.
Ashewantedthecandlesclosetohim,andashewasalwaysonthevergeofputtingeitherhisheadorthenewspaperintothem,herequiredasmuchwatchingasapowder-mill.
ButWemmickwasequallyuntiringandgentleinhisvigilance,andtheAgedreadon,quiteunconsciousofhismanyrescues.
Wheneverhelookedatus,weallexpressedthegreatestinterestandamazement,andnoddeduntilheresumedagain.
AsWemmickandMissSkiffinssatsidebyside,andasIsatinashadowycorner,IobservedaslowandgradualelongationofMr.Wemmick’smouth,powerfullysuggestiveofhisslowlyandgraduallystealinghisarmroundMissSkiffins’swaist.
IncourseoftimeIsawhishandappearontheothersideofMissSkiffins;butatthatmomentMissSkiffinsneatlystoppedhimwiththegreenglove,unwoundhisarmagainasifitwereanarticleofdress,andwiththegreatestdeliberationlaiditonthetablebeforeher.
MissSkiffins’scomposurewhileshedidthiswasoneofthemostremarkablesightsIhaveeverseen,andifIcouldhavethoughttheactconsistentwithabstractionofmind,IshouldhavedeemedthatMissSkiffinsperformeditmechanically.
By-and-by,InoticedWemmick’sarmbeginningtodisappearagain,andgraduallyfadingoutofview.
Shortlyafterwards,hismouthbegantowidenagain.
Afteranintervalofsuspenseonmypartthatwasquiteenthrallingandalmostpainful,IsawhishandappearontheothersideofMissSkiffins.
Instantly,MissSkiffinsstoppeditwiththeneatnessofaplacidboxer,tookoffthatgirdleorcestusasbefore,andlaiditonthetable.
Takingthetabletorepresentthepathofvirtue,IamjustifiedinstatingthatduringthewholetimeoftheAged’sreading,Wemmick’sarmwasstrayingfromthepathofvirtueandbeingrecalledtoitbyMissSkiffins.
Atlast,theAgedreadhimselfintoalightslumber.
ThiswasthetimeforWemmicktoproducealittlekettle,atrayofglasses,andablackbottlewithaporcelain-toppedcork,representingsomeclericaldignitaryofarubicundandsocialaspect.
Withtheaidoftheseappliancesweallhadsomethingwarmtodrink:includingtheAged,whowassoonawakeagain.
MissSkiffinsmixed,andIobservedthatsheandWemmickdrankoutofoneglass.
OfcourseIknewbetterthantooffertoseeMissSkiffinshome,andunderthecircumstancesIthoughtIhadbestgofirst:whichIdid,takingacordialleaveoftheAged,andhavingpassedapleasantevening.
Beforeaweekwasout,IreceivedanotefromWemmick,datedWalworth,statingthathehopedhehadmadesomeadvanceinthatmatterappertainingtoourprivateandpersonalcapacities,andthathewouldbegladifIcouldcomeandseehimagainuponit.
So,IwentouttoWalworthagain,andyetagain,andyetagain,andIsawhimbyappointmentintheCityseveraltimes,butneverheldanycommunicationwithhimonthesubjectinornearLittleBritain.
Theupshotwas,thatwefoundaworthyyoungmerchantorshipping-broker,notlongestablishedinbusiness,whowantedintelligenthelp,andwhowantedcapital,andwhoinduecourseoftimeandreceiptwouldwantapartner.
Betweenhimandme,secretarticlesweresignedofwhichHerbertwasthesubject,andIpaidhimhalfofmyfivehundredpoundsdown,andengagedforsundryotherpayments:some,tofalldueatcertaindatesoutofmyincome:some,contingentonmycomingintomyproperty.
MissSkiffins’sbrotherconductedthenegotiation.
Wemmickpervadeditthroughout,butneverappearedinit.
Thewholebusinesswassocleverlymanaged,thatHerberthadnottheleastsuspicionofmyhandbeinginit.
Inevershallforgettheradiantfacewithwhichhecamehomeoneafternoon,andtoldme,asamightypieceofnews,ofhishavingfalleninwithoneClarriker(theyoungmerchant’sname),andofClarriker’shavingshownanextraordinaryinclinationtowardshim,andofhisbeliefthattheopeninghadcomeatlast.
Daybydayashishopesgrewstrongerandhisfacebrighter,hemusthavethoughtmeamoreandmoreaffectionatefriend,forIhadthegreatestdifficultyinrestrainingmytearsoftriumphwhenIsawhimsohappy.
Atlength,thethingbeingdone,andhehavingthatdayenteredClarriker’sHouse,andhehavingtalkedtomeforawholeeveninginaflushofpleasureandsuccess,IdidreallycryingoodearnestwhenIwenttobed,tothinkthatmyexpectationshaddonesomegoodtosomebody.
Agreateventinmylife,theturningpointofmylife,nowopensonmyview.
But,beforeIproceedtonarrateit,andbeforeIpassontoallthechangesitinvolved,ImustgiveonechaptertoEstella.
Itisnotmuchtogivetothethemethatsolongfilledmyheart.
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