English
ItwasfortunateformethatIhadtotakeprecautionstoensure(sofarasIcould)thesafetyofmydreadedvisitor;for,thisthoughtpressingonmewhenIawoke,heldotherthoughtsinaconfusedconcourseatadistance.
Theimpossibilityofkeepinghimconcealedinthechamberswasself-evident.
Itcouldnotbedone,andtheattempttodoitwouldinevitablyengendersuspicion.
True,IhadnoAvengerinmyservicenow,butIwaslookedafterbyaninflammatoryoldfemale,assistedbyananimatedrag-bagwhomshecalledherniece,andtokeeparoomsecretfromthemwouldbetoinvitecuriosityandexaggeration.
Theybothhadweakeyes,whichIhadlongattributedtotheirchronicallylookinginatkeyholes,andtheywerealwaysathandwhennotwanted;indeedthatwastheironlyreliablequalitybesideslarceny.
Nottogetupamysterywiththesepeople,Iresolvedtoannounceinthemorningthatmyunclehadunexpectedlycomefromthecountry.
ThiscourseIdecidedonwhileIwasyetgropingaboutinthedarknessforthemeansofgettingalight.
Notstumblingonthemeansafterall,IwasfaintogoouttotheadjacentLodgeandgetthewatchmantheretocomewithhislantern.
Now,ingropingmywaydowntheblackstaircaseIfelloversomething,andthatsomethingwasamancrouchinginacorner.
AsthemanmadenoanswerwhenIaskedhimwhathedidthere,buteludedmytouchinsilence,IrantotheLodgeandurgedthewatchmantocomequickly:tellinghimoftheincidentonthewayback.
Thewindbeingasfierceasever,wedidnotcaretoendangerthelightinthelanternbyrekindlingtheextinguishedlampsonthestaircase,butweexaminedthestaircasefromthebottomtothetopandfoundnoonethere.
Itthenoccurredtomeaspossiblethatthemanmighthaveslippedintomyrooms;so,lightingmycandleatthewatchman’s,andleavinghimstandingatthedoor,Iexaminedthemcarefully,includingtheroominwhichmydreadedguestlayasleep.
Allwasquiet,andassuredlynoothermanwasinthosechambers.
Ittroubledmethatthereshouldhavebeenalurkeronthestairs,onthatnightofallnightsintheyear,andIaskedthewatchman,onthechanceofelicitingsomehopefulexplanationasIhandedhimadramatthedoor,whetherhehadadmittedathisgateanygentlemanwhohadperceptiblybeendiningout?
Yes,hesaid;atdifferenttimesofthenight,three.
OnelivedinFountainCourt,andtheothertwolivedintheLane,andhehadseenthemallgohome.
Again,theonlyothermanwhodweltinthehouseofwhichmychambersformedapart,hadbeeninthecountryforsomeweeks;andhecertainlyhadnotreturnedinthenight,becausewehadseenhisdoorwithhissealonitaswecameup-stairs.
“Thenightbeingsobad,sir,”saidthewatchman,ashegavemebackmyglass,“uncommonfewhavecomeinatmygate.
BesidesthemthreegentlementhatIhavenamed,Idon’tcalltomindanothersinceabouteleveno’clock,whenastrangeraskedforyou.”
“Myuncle,”Imuttered.“Yes.”
“Yousawhim,sir?”
“Yes.Ohyes.”
“Likewisethepersonwithhim?”
“Personwithhim!”Irepeated.
“Ijudgedthepersontobewithhim,”returnedthewatchman.“Thepersonstopped,whenhestoppedtomakeinquiryofme,andthepersontookthiswaywhenhetookthisway.”
“Whatsortofperson?”
Thewatchmanhadnotparticularlynoticed;heshouldsayaworkingperson;tothebestofhisbelief,hehadadust-colouredkindofclotheson,underadarkcoat.
ThewatchmanmademorelightofthematterthanIdid,andnaturally;nothavingmyreasonforattachingweighttoit.
WhenIhadgotridofhim,whichIthoughtitwelltodowithoutprolongingexplanations,mymindwasmuchtroubledbythesetwocircumstancestakentogether.
Whereastheywereeasyofinnocentsolutionapart—as,forinstance,somediner-outordiner-at-home,whohadnotgonenearthiswatchman’sgate,mighthavestrayedtomystaircaseanddroppedasleepthere—andmynamelessvisitormighthavebroughtsomeonewithhimtoshowhimtheway—still,joined,theyhadanuglylooktooneaspronetodistrustandfearasthechangesofafewhourshadmademe.
Ilightedmyfire,whichburntwitharawpaleflareatthattimeofthemorning,andfellintoadozebeforeit.
Iseemedtohavebeendozingawholenightwhentheclocksstrucksix.
Astherewasfullanhourandahalfbetweenmeanddaylight,Idozedagain;now,wakingupuneasily,withprolixconversationsaboutnothing,inmyears;now,makingthunderofthewindinthechimney;atlength,fallingoffintoaprofoundsleepfromwhichthedaylightwokemewithastart.
AllthistimeIhadneverbeenabletoconsidermyownsituation,norcouldIdosoyet.Ihadnotthepowertoattendtoit.
Iwasgreatlydejectedanddistressed,butinanincoherentwholesalesortofway.
Astoforminganyplanforthefuture,Icouldassoonhaveformedanelephant.
WhenIopenedtheshuttersandlookedoutatthewetwildmorning,allofaleadenhue;whenIwalkedfromroomtoroom;whenIsatdownagainshivering,beforethefire,waitingformylaundresstoappear;IthoughthowmiserableIwas,buthardlyknewwhy,orhowlongIhadbeenso,oronwhatdayoftheweekImadethereflection,orevenwhoIwasthatmadeit.
Atlast,theoldwomanandtheniececamein—thelatterwithaheadnoteasilydistinguishablefromherdustybroom—andtestifiedsurpriseatsightofmeandthefire.
TowhomIimpartedhowmyunclehadcomeinthenightandwasthenasleep,andhowthebreakfastpreparationsweretobemodifiedaccordingly.
Then,Iwashedanddressedwhiletheyknockedthefurnitureaboutandmadeadust;andso,inasortofdreamorsleep-waking,Ifoundmyselfsittingbythefireagain,waitingfor—Him—tocometobreakfast.
By-and-by,hisdooropenedandhecameout.Icouldnotbringmyselftobearthesightofhim,andIthoughthehadaworselookbydaylight.
“Idonotevenknow,”saidI,speakinglowashetookhisseatatthetable,“bywhatnametocallyou.Ihavegivenoutthatyouaremyuncle.”
“That’sit,dearboy!Callmeuncle.”
“Youassumedsomename,Isuppose,onboardship?”
“Yes,dearboy.ItookthenameofProvis.”
“Doyoumeantokeepthatname?”
“Why,yes,dearboy,it’sasgoodasanother—unlessyou’dlikeanother.”
“Whatisyourrealname?”Iaskedhiminawhisper.
“Magwitch,”heanswered,inthesametone;“chrisen’dAbel.”
“Whatwereyoubroughtuptobe?”
“Awarmint,dearboy.”
Heansweredquiteseriously,andusedthewordasifitdenotedsomeprofession.
“WhenyoucameintotheTemplelastnight—”saidI,pausingtowonderwhetherthatcouldreallyhavebeenlastnight,whichseemedsolongago.
“Yes,dearboy?”
“Whenyoucameinatthegateandaskedthewatchmanthewayhere,hadyouanyonewithyou?”
“Withme?No,dearboy.”
“Buttherewassomeonethere?”
“Ididn’ttakeparticularnotice,”hesaid,dubiously,“notknowingthewaysoftheplace.ButIthinktherewasaperson,too,comeinalongerme.”
“AreyouknowninLondon?”
“Ihopenot!”saidhe,givinghisneckajerkwithhisforefingerthatmademeturnhotandsick.
“WereyouknowninLondon,once?”
“Notoverandabove,dearboy.Iwasintheprovincesmostly.”
“Wereyou—tried—inLondon?”
“Whichtime?”saidhe,withasharplook.
“Thelasttime.”
Henodded.“FirstknowedMr.Jaggersthatway.Jaggerswasforme.”
Itwasonmylipstoaskhimwhathewastriedfor,buthetookupaknife,gaveitaflourish,andwiththewords,“AndwhatIdoneisworkedoutandpaidfor!”felltoathisbreakfast.
Heateinaravenouswaythatwasverydisagreeable,andallhisactionswereuncouth,noisy,andgreedy.
SomeofhisteethhadfailedhimsinceIsawhimeatonthemarshes,andasheturnedhisfoodinhismouth,andturnedhisheadsidewaystobringhisstrongestfangstobearuponit,helookedterriblylikeahungryolddog.
IfIhadbegunwithanyappetite,hewouldhavetakenitaway,andIshouldhavesatmuchasIdid—repelledfromhimbyaninsurmountableaversion,andgloomilylookingatthecloth.
“I’maheavygrubber,dearboy,”hesaid,asapolitekindofapologywhenhemadeanendofhismeal,“butIalwayswas.
Ifithadbeeninmyconstitutiontobealightergrubber,Imightha’gotintolightertrouble.Similarly,Imusthavemysmoke.
WhenIwasfirsthiredoutasshepherdt’othersidetheworld,it’smybeliefIshouldha’turnedintoamolloncolly-madsheepmyself,ifIhadn’tahadmysmoke.”
Ashesaidso,hegotupfromthetable,andputtinghishandintothebreastofthepea-coathewore,broughtoutashortblackpipe,andahandfulofloosetobaccoofthekindthatiscalledNegro-head.
Havingfilledhispipe,heputthesurplustobaccobackagain,asifhispocketwereadrawer.
Then,hetookalivecoalfromthefirewiththetongs,andlightedhispipeatit,andthenturnedroundonthehearth-rugwithhisbacktothefire,andwentthroughhisfavouriteactionofholdingoutbothhishandsformine.
“Andthis,”saidhe,dandlingmyhandsupanddowninhis,ashepuffedathispipe;“andthisisthegentlemanwhatImade!TherealgenuineOne!
Itdoesmegoodfurtolookatyou,Pip.
AllIstip’late,is,tostandbyandlookatyou,dearboy!”
IreleasedmyhandsassoonasIcould,andfoundthatIwasbeginningslowlytosettledowntothecontemplationofmycondition.
WhatIwaschainedto,andhowheavily,becameintelligibletome,asIheardhishoarsevoice,andsatlookingupathisfurrowedbaldheadwithitsirongreyhairatthesides.
“Imustn’tseemygentlemanafootingitinthemireofthestreets;theremustn’tbenomudonhisboots.Mygentlemanmusthavehorses,Pip!
Horsestoride,andhorsestodrive,andhorsesforhisservanttorideanddriveaswell.
Shallcolonistshavetheirhorses(andblood‘uns,ifyouplease,goodLord!)andnotmyLondongentleman?No,no.
We’llshow‘emanotherpairofshoesthanthat,Pip;won’tus?”
Hetookoutofhispocketagreatthickpocket-book,burstingwithpapers,andtosseditonthetable.
“There’ssomethingworthspendinginthattherebook,dearboy.It’syourn.AllI’vegotain’tmine;it’syourn.Don’tyoubeafeerdonit.There’smorewherethatcomefrom.
I’vecometotheoldcountryfurtoseemygentlemanspendhismoneylikeagentleman.That’llbemypleasure.
Mypleasure‘ullbefurtoseehimdoit.Andblastyouall!”
hewoundup,lookingroundtheroomandsnappinghisfingersoncewithaloudsnap,“blastyoueveryone,fromthejudgeinhiswig,tothecolonistastirringupthedust,I’llshowabettergentlemanthanthewholekitonyouputtogether!”
“Stop!”saidI,almostinafrenzyoffearanddislike,“Iwanttospeaktoyou.Iwanttoknowwhatistobedone.
Iwanttoknowhowyouaretobekeptoutofdanger,howlongyouaregoingtostay,whatprojectsyouhave.”
“Look’eehere,Pip,”saidhe,layinghishandonmyarminasuddenlyalteredandsubduedmanner;“firstofall,look’eehere.Iforgotmyselfhalfaminuteago.
WhatIsaidwaslow;that’swhatitwas;low.Look’eehere,Pip.Lookoverit.Iain’ta-goingtobelow.”
“First,”Iresumed,half-groaning,“whatprecautionscanbetakenagainstyourbeingrecognizedandseized?”
“No,dearboy,”hesaid,inthesametoneasbefore,“thatdon’tgofirst.Lownessgoesfirst.
Iain’ttooksomanyyearstomakeagentleman,notwithoutknowingwhat’sduetohim.Look’eehere,Pip.Iwaslow;that’swhatIwas;low.Lookoverit,dearboy.”
Somesenseofthegrimly-ludicrousmovedmetoafretfullaugh,asIreplied,“Ihavelookedoverit.InHeaven’sname,don’tharpuponit!”
“Yes,butlook’eehere,”hepersisted.“Dearboy,Iain’tcomesofur,notfurtobelow.Now,goon,dearboy.Youwasa-saying—”
“Howareyoutobeguardedfromthedangeryouhaveincurred?”
“Well,dearboy,thedangerain’tsogreat.WithoutIwasinformedagen,thedangerain’tsomuchtosignify.There’sJaggers,andthere’sWemmick,andthere’syou.Whoelseistheretoinform?”
“Istherenochancepersonwhomightidentifyyouinthestreet?”saidI.
“Well,”hereturned,“thereain’tmany.NoryetIdon’tintendtoadvertisemyselfinthenewspapersbythenameofA.M.comebackfromBotanyBay;andyearshaverolledaway,andwho’stogainbyit?Still,look’eehere,Pip.
Ifthedangerhadbeenfiftytimesasgreat,Ishouldha’cometoseeyou,mindyou,justthesame.”
“Andhowlongdoyouremain?”
“Howlong?”saidhe,takinghisblackpipefromhismouth,anddroppinghisjawashestaredatme.“I’mnota-goingback.I’vecomeforgood.”
“Whereareyoutolive?”saidI.“Whatistobedonewithyou?Wherewillyoubesafe?”
“Dearboy,”hereturned,“there’sdisguisingwigscanbeboughtformoney,andthere’shairpowder,andspectacles,andblackclothes—shortsandwhatnot.
Othershasdoneitsafeafore,andwhatothershasdoneafore,otherscandoagen.
Astothewhereandhowofliving,dearboy,givemeyourownopinionsonit.”
“Youtakeitsmoothlynow,”saidI,“butyouwereveryseriouslastnight,whenyousworeitwasDeath.”
“AndsoIswearitisDeath,”saidhe,puttinghispipebackinhismouth,“andDeathbytherope,intheopenstreetnotfurfromthis,andit’sseriousthatyoushouldfullyunderstandittobeso.Whatthen,whenthat’soncedone?HereIam.
Togobacknow,‘udbeasbadastostandground—worse.
Besides,Pip,I’mhere,becauseI’vemeantitbyyou,yearsandyears.
AstowhatIdare,I’maoldbirdnow,ashasdaredallmanneroftrapssincefirsthewasfledged,andI’mnotafeerdtoperchuponascarecrow.
Ifthere’sDeathhidinsideofit,thereis,andlethimcomeout,andI’llfacehim,andthenI’llbelieveinhimandnotafore.
Andnowletmehavealookatmygentlemanagen.”
Oncemore,hetookmebybothhandsandsurveyedmewithanairofadmiringproprietorship:smokingwithgreatcomplacencyallthewhile.
ItappearedtomethatIcoulddonobetterthansecurehimsomequietlodginghardby,ofwhichhemighttakepossessionwhenHerbertreturned:whomIexpectedintwoorthreedays.
ThatthesecretmustbeconfidedtoHerbertasamatterofunavoidablenecessity,evenifIcouldhaveputtheimmensereliefIshouldderivefromsharingitwithhimoutofthequestion,wasplaintome.
ButitwasbynomeanssoplaintoMr.Provis(Iresolvedtocallhimbythatname),whoreservedhisconsenttoHerbert’sparticipationuntilheshouldhaveseenhimandformedafavourablejudgmentofhisphysiognomy.
“Andeventhen,dearboy,”saidhe,pullingagreasylittleclaspedblackTestamentoutofhispocket,“we’llhavehimonhisoath.”
Tostatethatmyterriblepatroncarriedthislittleblackbookabouttheworldsolelytoswearpeopleonincasesofemergency,wouldbetostatewhatIneverquiteestablished—butthisIcansay,thatIneverknewhimputittoanyotheruse.
Thebookitselfhadtheappearanceofhavingbeenstolenfromsomecourtofjustice,andperhapshisknowledgeofitsantecedents,combinedwithhisownexperienceinthatwise,gavehimarelianceonitspowersasasortoflegalspellorcharm.
Onthisfirstoccasionofhisproducingit,Irecalledhowhehadmademeswearfidelityinthechurchyardlongago,andhowhehaddescribedhimselflastnightasalwaysswearingtohisresolutionsinhissolitude.
Ashewasatpresentdressedinaseafaringslopsuit,inwhichhelookedasifhehadsomeparrotsandcigarstodisposeof,Inextdiscussedwithhimwhatdressheshouldwear.
Hecherishedanextraordinarybeliefinthevirtuesof“shorts”asadisguise,andhadinhisownmindsketchedadressforhimselfthatwouldhavemadehimsomethingbetweenadeanandadentist.
ItwaswithconsiderabledifficultythatIwonhimovertotheassumptionofadressmorelikeaprosperousfarmer’s;andwearrangedthatheshouldcuthishairclose,andwearalittlepowder.
Lastly,ashehadnotyetbeenseenbythelaundressorherniece,hewastokeephimselfoutoftheirviewuntilhischangeofdresswasmade.
Itwouldseemasimplemattertodecideontheseprecautions;butinmydazed,nottosaydistracted,state,ittooksolong,thatIdidnotgetouttofurtherthem,untiltwoorthreeintheafternoon.
HewastoremainshutupinthechamberswhileIwasgone,andwasonnoaccounttoopenthedoor.
Therebeingtomyknowledgearespectablelodging-houseinEssex-street,thebackofwhichlookedintotheTemple,andwasalmostwithinhailofmywindows,Ifirstofallrepairedtothathouse,andwassofortunateastosecurethesecondfloorformyuncle,Mr.Provis.
Ithenwentfromshoptoshop,makingsuchpurchasesaswerenecessarytothechangeinhisappearance.
Thisbusinesstransacted,Iturnedmyface,onmyownaccount,toLittleBritain.
Mr.Jaggerswasathisdesk,but,seeingmeenter,gotupimmediatelyandstoodbeforehisfire.
“Now,Pip,”saidhe,“becareful.”
“Iwill,sir,”Ireturned.For,comingalongIhadthoughtwellofwhatIwasgoingtosay.
“Don’tcommityourself,”saidMr.Jaggers,“anddon’tcommitanyone.Youunderstand—anyone.Don’ttellmeanything:Idon’twanttoknowanything;Iamnotcurious.”
OfcourseIsawthatheknewthemanwascome.
“Imerelywant,Mr.Jaggers,”saidI,“toassuremyselfthatwhatIhavebeentold,istrue.Ihavenohopeofitsbeinguntrue,butatleastImayverifyit.”
Mr.Jaggersnodded.“Butdidyousay‘told’or‘informed’?”
heaskedme,withhisheadononeside,andnotlookingatme,butlookinginalisteningwayatthefloor.
“Toldwouldseemtoimplyverbalcommunication.
Youcan’thaveverbalcommunicationwithamaninNewSouthWales,youknow.”
“Iwillsay,informed,Mr.Jaggers.”
“Good.”
“IhavebeeninformedbyapersonnamedAbelMagwitch,thatheisthebenefactorsolongunknowntome.”
“Thatistheman,”saidMr.Jaggers,”—inNewSouthWales.”
“Andonlyhe?”saidI.
“Andonlyhe,”saidMr.Jaggers.
“Iamnotsounreasonable,sir,astothinkyouatallresponsibleformymistakesandwrongconclusions;butIalwayssupposeditwasMissHavisham.”
“Asyousay,Pip,”returnedMr.Jaggers,turninghiseyesuponmecoolly,andtakingabiteathisforefinger,“Iamnotatallresponsibleforthat.”
“Andyetitlookedsolikeit,sir,”Ipleadedwithadowncastheart.
“Notaparticleofevidence,Pip,”saidMr.Jaggers,shakinghisheadandgatheringuphisskirts.“Takenothingonitslooks;takeeverythingonevidence.There’snobetterrule.”
“Ihavenomoretosay,”saidI,withasigh,afterstandingsilentforalittlewhile.“Ihaveverifiedmyinformation,andthere’sanend.”
“AndMagwitch—inNewSouthWales—havingatlastdisclosedhimself,”saidMr.Jaggers,“youwillcomprehend,Pip,howrigidlythroughoutmycommunicationwithyou,Ihavealwaysadheredtothestrictlineoffact.
Therehasneverbeentheleastdeparturefromthestrictlineoffact.Youarequiteawareofthat?”
“Quite,sir.”
“IcommunicatedtoMagwitch—inNewSouthWales—whenhefirstwrotetome—fromNewSouthWales—thecautionthathemustnotexpectmeevertodeviatefromthestrictlineoffact.
Ialsocommunicatedtohimanothercaution.
HeappearedtometohaveobscurelyhintedinhisletteratsomedistantideahehadofseeingyouinEnglandhere.
IcautionedhimthatImusthearnomoreofthat;thathewasnotatalllikelytoobtainapardon;thathewasexpatriatedforthetermofhisnaturallife;andthathispresentinghimselfinthiscountrywouldbeanactoffelony,renderinghimliabletotheextremepenaltyofthelaw.
IgaveMagwitchthatcaution,”saidMr.Jaggers,lookinghardatme;“IwroteittoNewSouthWales.Heguidedhimselfbyit,nodoubt.”
“Nodoubt,”saidI.
“IhavebeeninformedbyWemmick,”pursuedMr.Jaggers,stilllookinghardatme,“thathehasreceivedaletter,underdatePortsmouth,fromacolonistofthenameofPurvis,or—”
“OrProvis,”Isuggested.
“OrProvis—thankyou,Pip.PerhapsitisProvis?Perhapsyouknowit’sProvis?”
“Yes,”saidI.
“Youknowit’sProvis.Aletter,underdatePortsmouth,fromacolonistofthenameofProvis,askingfortheparticularsofyouraddress,onbehalfofMagwitch.
Wemmicksenthimtheparticulars,Iunderstand,byreturnofpost.
ProbablyitisthroughProvisthatyouhavereceivedtheexplanationofMagwitch—inNewSouthWales?”
“ItcamethroughProvis,”Ireplied.
“Goodday,Pip,”saidMr.Jaggers,offeringhishand;“gladtohaveseenyou.
InwritingbyposttoMagwitch—inNewSouthWales—orincommunicatingwithhimthroughProvis,havethegoodnesstomentionthattheparticularsandvouchersofourlongaccountshallbesenttoyou,togetherwiththebalance;forthereisstillabalanceremaining.Goodday,Pip!”
Weshookhands,andhelookedhardatmeaslongashecouldseeme.
Iturnedatthedoor,andhewasstilllookinghardatme,whilethetwovilecastsontheshelfseemedtobetryingtogettheireyelidsopen,andtoforceoutoftheirswollenthroats,“O,whatamanheis!”
Wemmickwasout,andthoughhehadbeenathisdeskhecouldhavedonenothingforme.
IwentstraightbacktotheTemple,whereIfoundtheterribleProvisdrinkingrum-and-waterandsmokingnegro-head,insafety.
NextdaytheclothesIhadordered,allcamehome,andheputthemon.
Whateverheputon,becamehimless(itdismallyseemedtome)thanwhathehadwornbefore.
Tomythinking,therewassomethinginhimthatmadeithopelesstoattempttodisguisehim.
ThemoreIdressedhimandthebetterIdressedhim,themorehelookedliketheslouchingfugitiveonthemarshes.
Thiseffectonmyanxiousfancywaspartlyreferable,nodoubt,tohisoldfaceandmannergrowingmorefamiliartome;butIbelievetoothathedraggedoneofhislegsasiftherewerestillaweightofirononit,andthatfromheadtofoottherewasConvictintheverygrainoftheman.
Theinfluencesofhissolitaryhut-lifewereuponhimbesides,andgavehimasavageairthatnodresscouldtame;addedtothese,weretheinfluencesofhissubsequentbrandedlifeamongmen,and,crowningall,hisconsciousnessthathewasdodgingandhidingnow.
Inallhiswaysofsittingandstanding,andeatinganddrinking—ofbroodingabout,inahigh-shoulderedreluctantstyle—oftakingouthisgreathorn-handledjack-knifeandwipingitonhislegsandcuttinghisfood—ofliftinglightglassesandcupstohislips,asiftheywereclumsypannikins—ofchoppingawedgeoffhisbread,andsoakingupwithitthelastfragmentsofgravyroundandroundhisplate,asiftomakethemostofanallowance,andthendryinghisfinger-endsonit,andthenswallowingit—inthesewaysandathousandothersmallnamelessinstancesarisingeveryminuteintheday,therewasPrisoner,Felon,Bondsman,plainasplaincouldbe.
Ithadbeenhisownideatowearthattouchofpowder,andIhadconcededthepowderafterovercomingtheshorts.
ButIcancomparetheeffectofit,whenon,tonothingbuttheprobableeffectofrougeuponthedead;soawfulwasthemannerinwhicheverythinginhimthatitwasmostdesirabletorepress,startedthroughthatthinlayerofpretence,andseemedtocomeblazingoutatthecrownofhishead.
Itwasabandonedassoonastried,andheworehisgrizzledhaircutshort.
WordscannottellwhatasenseIhad,atthesametime,ofthedreadfulmysterythathewastome.
Whenhefellasleepofanevening,withhisknottedhandsclenchingthesidesoftheeasy-chair,andhisbaldheadtattooedwithdeepwrinklesfallingforwardonhisbreast,Iwouldsitandlookathim,wonderingwhathehaddone,andloadinghimwithallthecrimesintheCalendar,untiltheimpulsewaspowerfulonmetostartupandflyfromhim.
Everyhoursoincreasedmyabhorrenceofhim,thatIeventhinkImighthaveyieldedtothisimpulseinthefirstagoniesofbeingsohaunted,notwithstandingallhehaddoneforme,andtheriskheran,butfortheknowledgethatHerbertmustsooncomeback.
Once,Iactuallydidstartoutofbedinthenight,andbegintodressmyselfinmyworstclothes,hurriedlyintendingtoleavehimtherewitheverythingelseIpossessed,andenlistforIndiaasaprivatesoldier.
Idoubtifaghostcouldhavebeenmoreterribletome,upinthoselonelyroomsinthelongeveningsandlongnights,withthewindandtherainalwaysrushingby.
Aghostcouldnothavebeentakenandhangedonmyaccount,andtheconsiderationthathecouldbe,andthedreadthathewouldbe,werenosmalladditiontomyhorrors.
Whenhewasnotasleep,orplayingacomplicatedkindofpatiencewitharaggedpackofcardsofhisown—agamethatIneversawbeforeorsince,andinwhichherecordedhiswinningsbystickinghisjack-knifeintothetable—whenhewasnotengagedineitherofthesepursuits,hewouldaskmetoreadtohim—”Foreignlanguage,dearboy!”
WhileIcomplied,he,notcomprehendingasingleword,wouldstandbeforethefiresurveyingmewiththeairofanExhibitor,andIwouldseehim,betweenthefingersofthehandwithwhichIshadedmyface,appealingindumbshowtothefurnituretotakenoticeofmyproficiency.
Theimaginarystudentpursuedbythemisshapencreaturehehadimpiouslymade,wasnotmorewretchedthanI,pursuedbythecreaturewhohadmademe,andrecoilingfromhimwithastrongerrepulsion,themoreheadmiredmeandthefonderhewasofme.
Thisiswrittenof,Iamsensible,asifithadlastedayear.Itlastedaboutfivedays.
ExpectingHerbertallthetime,Idarednotgoout,exceptwhenItookProvisforanairingafterdark.
Atlength,oneeveningwhendinnerwasoverandIhaddroppedintoaslumberquitewornout—formynightshadbeenagitatedandmyrestbrokenbyfearfuldreams—Iwasrousedbythewelcomefootsteponthestaircase.
Provis,whohadbeenasleeptoo,staggeredupatthenoiseImade,andinaninstantIsawhisjack-knifeshininginhishand.
“Quiet!It’sHerbert!”Isaid;andHerbertcameburstingin,withtheairyfreshnessofsixhundredmilesofFranceuponhim.
“Handel,mydearfellow,howareyou,andagainhowareyou,andagainhowareyou?Iseemtohavebeengoneatwelvemonth!
Why,soImusthavebeen,foryouhavegrownquitethinandpale!Handel,my—Halloa!Ibegyourpardon.”
Hewasstoppedinhisrunningonandinhisshakinghandswithme,byseeingProvis.
Provis,regardinghimwithafixedattention,wasslowlyputtinguphisjack-knife,andgropinginanotherpocketforsomethingelse.
“Herbert,mydearfriend,”saidI,shuttingthedoubledoors,whileHerbertstoodstaringandwondering,“somethingverystrangehashappened.Thisis—avisitorofmine.”
“It’sallright,dearboy!”saidProviscomingforward,withhislittleclaspedblackbook,andthenaddressinghimselftoHerbert.“Takeitinyourrighthand.
Lordstrikeyoudeadonthespot,ifeveryousplitinanywaysumever!Kissit!”
“Doso,ashewishesit,”IsaidtoHerbert.
So,Herbert,lookingatmewithafriendlyuneasinessandamazement,complied,andProvisimmediatelyshakinghandswithhim,said,“Nowyou’reonyouroath,youknow.
Andneverbelievemeonmine,ifPipshan’tmakeagentlemanonyou!”
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