English
“DearboyandPip’scomrade.Iamnota-goingfurtotellyoumylife,likeasongorastory-book.
Buttogiveityoushortandhandy,I’llputitatonceintoamouthfulofEnglish.
Injailandoutofjail,injailandoutofjail,injailandoutofjail.There,yougotit.
That’smylifeprettymuch,downtosuchtimesasIgotshippedoff,arterPipstoodmyfriend.
“I’vebeendoneeverythingto,prettywell—excepthanged.
I’vebeenlockedup,asmuchasasilvertea-kettle.
I’vebeencartedhereandcartedthere,andputoutofthistownandputoutofthattown,andstuckinthestocks,andwhippedandworriedanddrove.
I’venomorenotionwhereIwasborn,thanyouhave—ifsomuch.
Ifirstbecomeawareofmyself,downinEssex,athievingturnipsformyliving.
Summunhadrunawayfromme—aman—atinker—andhe’dtookthefirewithhim,andleftmewerycold.
“Iknow’dmynametobeMagwitch,chrisen’dAbel.HowdidIknowit?
MuchasIknow’dthebirds’namesinthehedgestobechaffinch,sparrer,thrush.
Imighthavethoughtitwasallliestogether,onlyasthebirds’namescomeouttrue,Isupposedminedid.
“SofurasIcouldfind,therewarn’tasoulthatseeyoungAbelMagwitch,withuslittleonhimasinhim,butwotcaughtfrightathim,andeitherdrovehimoff,ortookhimup.
Iwastookup,tookup,tookup,tothatextentthatIreg’larlygrow’duptookup.
“Thisisthewayitwas,thatwhenIwasaraggedlittlecreeturasmuchtobepitiedaseverIsee(notthatIlookedintheglass,fortherewarn’tmanyinsidesoffurnishedhousesknowntome),Igotthenameofbeinghardened.
“Thisisaterriblehardenedone,”theysaystoprisonwisitors,pickingoutme.
“Maybesaidtoliveinjails,thisboy.
“Thentheylookedatme,andIlookedatthem,andtheymeasuredmyhead,someon‘em—theyhadbettera-measuredmystomach—andotherson‘emgivmetractswhatIcouldn’tread,andmademespeecheswhatIcouldn’tunderstand.
TheyalwayswentonagenmeabouttheDevil.ButwhattheDevilwasItodo?
Imustputsomethingintomystomach,mustn’tI?
—Howsomever,I’magettinglow,andIknowwhat’sdue.
DearboyandPip’scomrade,don’tyoubeafeerdofmebeinglow.
“Tramping,begging,thieving,workingsometimeswhenIcould—thoughthatwarn’tasoftenasyoumaythink,tillyouputthequestionwhetheryouwouldha’beenover-readytogivemeworkyourselves—abitofapoacher,abitofalabourer,abitofawaggoner,abitofahaymaker,abitofahawker,abitofmostthingsthatdon’tpayandleadtotrouble,Igottobeaman.
AdesertingsoldierinaTraveller’sRest,whatlayhiduptothechinunderalotoftaturs,learntmetoread;andatravellingGiantwhatsignedhisnameatapennyatimelearntmetowrite.
Iwarn’tlockedupasoftennowasformerly,butIworeoutmygoodshareofkeymetalstill.
“AtEpsomraces,amatterofovertwentyyearsago,Igotacquaintedwi’amanwhoseskullI’dcrackwi’thispoker,liketheclawofalobster,ifI’dgotitonthishob.
HisrightnamewasCompeyson;andthat’stheman,dearboy,whatyouseemea-poundingintheditch,accordingtowhatyoutrulytoldyourcomradearterIwasgonelastnight.
“Hesetupfuragentleman,thisCompeyson,andhe’dbeentoapublicboarding-schoolandhadlearning.
Hewasasmoothonetotalk,andwasadabatthewaysofgentlefolks.Hewasgood-lookingtoo.
Itwasthenightaforethegreatrace,whenIfoundhimontheheath,inabooththatIknow’don.
HimandsomemorewasasittingamongthetableswhenIwentin,andthelandlord(whichhadaknowledgeofme,andwasasportingone)calledhimout,andsaid,‘Ithinkthisisamanthatmightsuityou’—meaningIwas.
“Compeyson,helooksatmeverynoticing,andIlookathim.Hehasawatchandachainandaringandabreast-pinandahandsomesuitofclothes.
”’Tojudgefromappearances,you’reoutofluck,’saysCompeysontome.
”’Yes,master,andI’veneverbeeninitmuch.’(IhadcomeoutofKingstonJaillastonavagrancycommittal.Notbutwhatitmighthavebeenforsomethingelse;butitwarn’t.)
”’Luckchanges,’saysCompeyson;‘perhapsyoursisgoingtochange.’
“Isays,‘Ihopeitmaybeso.There’sroom.’
”’Whatcanyoudo?’saysCompeyson.
”’Eatanddrink,’Isays;‘ifyou’llfindthematerials.’
“Compeysonlaughed,lookedatmeagainverynoticing,givmefiveshillings,andappointedmefornextnight.Sameplace.
“IwenttoCompeysonnextnight,sameplace,andCompeysontookmeontobehismanandpardner.
AndwhatwasCompeyson’sbusinessinwhichwewastogopardners?
Compeyson’sbusinesswastheswindling,handwritingforging,stolenbank-notepassing,andsuch-like.
AllsortsoftrapsasCompeysoncouldsetwithhishead,andkeephisownlegsoutofandgettheprofitsfromandletanothermaninfor,wasCompeyson’sbusiness.
He’dnomoreheartthanaironfile,hewasascoldasdeath,andhehadtheheadoftheDevilaforementioned.
“TherewasanotherinwithCompeyson,aswascalledArthur—notasbeingsochrisen’d,butasasurname.
HewasinaDecline,andwasashadowtolookat.
HimandCompeysonhadbeeninabadthingwitharichladysomeyearsafore,andthey’dmadeapotofmoneybyit;butCompeysonbettedandgamed,andhe’dhaverunthroughtheking’staxes.
So,Arthurwasa-dying,anda-dyingpoorandwiththehorrorsonhim,andCompeyson’swife(whichCompeysonkickedmostly)wasa-havingpityonhimwhenshecould,andCompeysonwasa-havingpityonnothingandnobody.
“Imighta-tookwarningbyArthur,butIdidn’t;andIwon’tpretendIwaspartick’ler—forwhere‘udbethegoodonit,dearboyandcomrade?
SoIbegunwi’Compeyson,andapoortoolIwasinhishands.
ArthurlivedatthetopofCompeyson’shouse(overnighBrentforditwas),andCompeysonkeptacarefulaccountagenhimforboardandlodging,incaseheshouldevergetbettertoworkitout.ButArthursoonsettledtheaccount.
ThesecondorthirdtimeaseverIseehim,hecomea-tearingdownintoCompeyson’sparlourlateatnight,inonlyaflannelgown,withhishairallinasweat,andhesaystoCompeyson’swife,‘Sally,shereallyisupstairsalongerme,now,andIcan’tgetridofher.
She’sallinwhite,’hesays,‘wi’whiteflowersinherhair,andshe’sawfulmad,andshe’sgotashroudhangingoverherarm,andshesaysshe’llputitonmeatfiveinthemorning.’
“SaysCompeyson:‘Why,youfool,don’tyouknowshe’sgotalivingbody?Andhowshouldshebeupthere,withoutcomingthroughthedoor,orinatthewindow,andupthestairs?’
”’Idon’tknowhowshe’sthere,’saysArthur,shiveringdreadfulwiththehorrors,‘butshe’sstandinginthecorneratthefootofthebed,awfulmad.
Andoverwhereherheart’sbrook—youbrokeit!—there’sdropsofblood.’
“Compeysonspokehardy,buthewasalwaysacoward.‘Goupalongerthisdrivellingsickman,’hesaystohiswife,‘andMagwitch,lendherahand,willyou?’Buthenevercomenighhimself.
“Compeyson’swifeandmetookhimuptobedagen,andheravedmostdreadful.‘Whylookather!’hecriesout.‘She’sa-shakingtheshroudatme!Don’tyouseeher?Lookathereyes!Ain’titawfultoseehersomad?’
Next,hecries,‘She’llputitonme,andthenI’mdonefor!Takeitawayfromher,takeitaway!’
Andthenhecatchedholdofus,andkepona-talkingtoher,andansweringofher,tillIhalfbelievedIseehermyself.
“Compeyson’swife,beingusedtohim,givhimsomeliquortogetthehorrorsoff,andby-and-byhequieted.‘Oh,she’sgone!Hasherkeeperbeenforher?’hesays.‘Yes,’saysCompeyson’swife.
‘Didyoutellhimtolockherandbarherin?’‘Yes.’
‘Andtotakethatuglythingawayfromher?’‘Yes,yes,allright.’
‘You’reagoodcreetur,’hesays,‘don’tleaveme,whateveryoudo,andthankyou!’
“Herestedprettyquiettillitmightwantafewminutesoffive,andthenhestartsupwithascream,andscreamsout,‘Heresheis!She’sgottheshroudagain.She’sunfoldingit.She’scomingoutofthecorner.She’scomingtothebed.
Holdme,bothonyou—oneofeachside—don’tlethertouchmewithit.Hah!shemissedmethattime.
Don’tletherthrowitovermyshoulders.
Don’tletherliftmeuptogetitroundme.She’sliftingmeup.Keepmedown!’
Thenheliftedhimselfuphard,andwasdead.
“Compeysontookiteasyasagoodriddanceforbothsides.
Himandmewassoonbusy,andfirsthesworeme(beingeverartful)onmyownbook—thisherelittleblackbook,dearboy,whatIsworeyourcomradeon.
“NottogointothethingsthatCompeysonplanned,andIdone—which‘udtakeaweek—I’llsimplysaytoyou,dearboy,andPip’scomrade,thatthatmangotmeintosuchnetsasmademehisblackslave.
Iwasalwaysindebttohim,alwaysunderhisthumb,alwaysa-working,alwaysa-gettingintodanger.
Hewasyoungerthanme,buthe’dgotcraft,andhe’dgotlearning,andheovermatchedmefivehundredtimestoldandnomercy.
MyMissisasIhadthehardtimewi’—Stopthough!Iain’tbroughtherin—”
Helookedabouthiminaconfusedway,asifhehadlosthisplaceinthebookofhisremembrance;andheturnedhisfacetothefire,andspreadhishandsbroaderonhisknees,andliftedthemoffandputthemonagain.
“Thereain’tnoneedtogointoit,”hesaid,lookingroundoncemore.
“Thetimewi’Compeysonwasa’mostashardatimeaseverIhad;thatsaid,all’ssaid.
DidItellyouasIwastried,alone,formisdemeanour,whilewithCompeyson?”
Ianswered,No.
“Well!”hesaid,“Iwas,andgotconvicted.
Astotookuponsuspicion,thatwastwiceorthreetimesinthefourorfiveyearthatitlasted;butevidencewaswanting.
Atlast,meandCompeysonwasbothcommittedforfelony—onachargeofputtingstolennotesincirculation—andtherewasotherchargesbehind.
Compeysonsaystome,‘Separatedefences,nocommunication,’andthatwasall.
AndIwassomiserablepoor,thatIsoldalltheclothesIhad,exceptwhathungonmyback,aforeIcouldgetJaggers.
“Whenwewasputinthedock,InoticedfirstofallwhatagentlemanCompeysonlooked,wi’hiscurlyhairandhisblackclothesandhiswhitepocket-handkercher,andwhatacommonsortofawretchIlooked.
Whentheprosecutionopenedandtheevidencewasputshort,aforehand,Inoticedhowheavyitallboreonme,andhowlightonhim.
Whentheevidencewasgivinthebox,Inoticedhowitwasalwaysmethathadcomefor’ard,andcouldbesworeto,howitwasalwaysmethatthemoneyhadbeenpaidto,howitwasalwaysmethathadseemedtoworkthethingandgettheprofit.
But,whenthedefencecomeon,thenIseetheplanplainer;for,saysthecounsellorforCompeyson,‘Mylordandgentlemen,hereyouhasaforeyou,sidebyside,twopersonsasyoureyescanseparatewide;one,theyounger,wellbroughtup,whowillbespoketoassuch;one,theelder,illbroughtup,whowillbespoketoassuch;one,theyounger,seldomifeverseenintheseheretransactions,andonlysuspected;t’other,theelder,alwaysseenin‘emandalwayswi’hisguiltbroughthome.
Canyoudoubt,ifthereisbutoneinit,whichistheone,and,ifthereistwoinit,whichismuchtheworstone?’Andsuch-like.
Andwhenitcometocharacter,warn’titCompeysonashadbeentotheschool,andwarn’tithisschoolfellowsaswasinthispositionandinthat,andwarn’tithimashadbeenknow’dbywitnessesinsuchclubsandsocieties,andnowttohisdisadvantage?
Andwarn’titmeashadbeentriedafore,andashadbeenknow’duphillanddowndaleinBridewellsandLock-Ups?
Andwhenitcometospeech-making,warn’titCompeysonascouldspeakto‘emwi’hisfacedroppingeverynowandthenintohiswhitepocket-handkercher—ah!
andwi’versesinhisspeech,too—andwarn’titmeascouldonlysay,‘Gentlemen,thismanatmysideisamostpreciousrascal’?
Andwhentheverdictcome,warn’titCompeysonaswasrecommendedtomercyonaccountofgoodcharacterandbadcompany,andgivingupalltheinformationhecouldagenme,andwarn’titmeasgotneverawordbutGuilty?
AndwhenIsaystoCompeyson,‘Onceoutofthiscourt,I’llsmashthatfaceofyourn!’
ain’titCompeysonaspraystheJudgetobeprotected,andgetstwoturnkeysstoodbetwixtus?
Andwhenwe’resentenced,ain’tithimasgetssevenyear,andmefourteen,andain’tithimastheJudgeissorryfor,becausehemightadonesowell,andain’titmeastheJudgeperceivestobeaoldoffenderofwiolentpassion,likelytocometoworse?”
Hehadworkedhimselfintoastateofgreatexcitement,buthecheckedit,tooktwoorthreeshortbreaths,swallowedasoften,andstretchingouthishandtowardsmesaid,inareassuringmanner,“Iain’ta-goingtobelow,dearboy!”
Hehadsoheatedhimselfthathetookouthishandkerchiefandwipedhisfaceandheadandneckandhands,beforehecouldgoon.
“IhadsaidtoCompeysonthatI’dsmashthatfaceofhis,andIsworeLordsmashmine!todoit.
Wewasinthesameprison-ship,butIcouldn’tgetathimforlong,thoughItried.
AtlastIcomebehindhimandhithimonthecheektoturnhimroundandgetasmashingoneathim,whenIwasseenandseized.
Theblack-holeofthatshipwarn’tastrongone,toajudgeofblack-holesthatcouldswimanddive.
Iescapedtotheshore,andIwasahidingamongthegravesthere,envyingthemaswasin‘emandallover,whenIfirstseemyboy!”
Heregardedmewithalookofaffectionthatmadehimalmostabhorrenttomeagain,thoughIhadfeltgreatpityforhim.
“Bymyboy,IwasgivtounderstandasCompeysonwasoutonthemmarshestoo.
Uponmysoul,Ihalfbelieveheescapedinhisterror,togetquitofme,notknowingitwasmeashadgotashore.Ihuntedhimdown.Ismashedhisface.
‘Andnow,’saysI‘astheworstthingIcando,caringnothingformyself,I’lldragyouback.’
AndI’dhaveswumoff,towinghimbythehair,ifithadcometothat,andI’dagothimaboardwithoutthesoldiers.
“Ofcoursehe’dmuchthebestofittothelast—hischaracterwassogood.
Hehadescapedwhenhewasmadehalf-wildbymeandmymurderousintentions;andhispunishmentwaslight.
Iwasputinirons,broughttotrialagain,andsentforlife.
Ididn’tstopforlife,dearboyandPip’scomrade,beinghere.”
“Hewipedhimselfagain,ashehaddonebefore,andthenslowlytookhistangleoftobaccofromhispocket,andpluckedhispipefromhisbutton-hole,andslowlyfilledit,andbegantosmoke.
“Ishedead?”Iasked,afterasilence.
“Iswhodead,dearboy?”
“Compeyson.”
“HehopesIam,ifhe’salive,youmaybesure,”withafiercelook.“Ineverheerdnomoreofhim.”
Herberthadbeenwritingwithhispencilinthecoverofabook.Hesoftlypushedthebookovertome,asProvisstoodsmokingwithhiseyesonthefire,andIreadinit:
“YoungHavisham’snamewasArthur.CompeysonisthemanwhoprofessedtobeMissHavisham’slover.”
IshutthebookandnoddedslightlytoHerbert,andputthebookby;butweneitherofussaidanything,andbothlookedatProvisashestoodsmokingbythefire.
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