English
TurningfromtheTemplegateassoonasIhadreadthewarning,ImadethebestofmywaytoFleet-street,andtheregotalatehackneychariotanddrovetotheHummumsinCoventGarden.
Inthosetimesabedwasalwaystobegotthereatanyhourofthenight,andthechamberlain,lettingmeinathisreadywicket,lightedthecandlenextinorderonhisshelf,andshowedmestraightintothebedroomnextinorderonhislist.
Itwasasortofvaultonthegroundfloorattheback,withadespoticmonsterofafour-postbedsteadinit,straddlingoverthewholeplace,puttingoneofhisarbitrarylegsintothefire-placeandanotherintothedoorway,andsqueezingthewretchedlittlewashing-standinquiteaDivinelyRighteousmanner.
AsIhadaskedforanight-light,thechamberlainhadbroughtmein,beforeheleftme,thegoodoldconstitutionalrush-lightofthosevirtuousdays—anobjectliketheghostofawalking-cane,whichinstantlybrokeitsbackifitweretouched,whichnothingcouldeverbelightedat,andwhichwasplacedinsolitaryconfinementatthebottomofahightintower,perforatedwithroundholesthatmadeastaringlywide-awakepatternonthewalls.
WhenIhadgotintobed,andlaytherefootsore,weary,andwretched,IfoundthatIcouldnomoreclosemyowneyesthanIcouldclosetheeyesofthisfoolishArgus.
Andthus,inthegloomanddeathofthenight,westaredatoneanother.
Whatadolefulnight!Howanxious,howdismal,howlong!
Therewasaninhospitablesmellintheroom,ofcoldsootandhotdust;and,asIlookedupintothecornersofthetesterovermyhead,Ithoughtwhatanumberofblue-bottlefliesfromthebutchers’,andearwigsfromthemarket,andgrubsfromthecountry,mustbeholdingonupthere,lyingbyfornextsummer.
Thisledmetospeculatewhetheranyofthemevertumbleddown,andthenIfanciedthatIfeltlightfallsonmyface—adisagreeableturnofthought,suggestingotherandmoreobjectionableapproachesupmyback.
WhenIhadlainawakealittlewhile,thoseextraordinaryvoiceswithwhichsilenceteems,begantomakethemselvesaudible.
Theclosetwhispered,thefireplacesighed,thelittlewashing-standticked,andoneguitar-stringplayedoccasionallyinthechestofdrawers.
Ataboutthesametime,theeyesonthewallacquiredanewexpression,andineveryoneofthosestaringroundsIsawwritten,DON’TGOHOME.
Whatevernight-fanciesandnight-noisescrowdedonme,theyneverwardedoffthisDON’TGOHOME.
ItplaiteditselfintowhateverIthoughtof,asabodilypainwouldhavedone.
Notlongbefore,Ihadreadinthenewspapers,howagentlemanunknownhadcometotheHummumsinthenight,andhadgonetobed,andhaddestroyedhimself,andhadbeenfoundinthemorningwelteringinblood.
Itcameintomyheadthathemusthaveoccupiedthisveryvaultofmine,andIgotoutofbedtoassuremyselfthattherewerenoredmarksabout;thenopenedthedoortolookoutintothepassages,andcheermyselfwiththecompanionshipofadistantlight,nearwhichIknewthechamberlaintobedozing.
Butallthistime,whyIwasnottogohome,andwhathadhappenedathome,andwhenIshouldgohome,andwhetherProviswassafeathome,werequestionsoccupyingmymindsobusily,thatonemighthavesupposedtherecouldbenomoreroominitforanyothertheme.
EvenwhenIthoughtofEstella,andhowwehadpartedthatdayforever,andwhenIrecalledallthecircumstancesofourparting,andallherlooksandtones,andtheactionofherfingerswhilesheknitted—eventhenIwaspursuing,hereandthereandeverywhere,thecautionDon’tgohome.
WhenatlastIdozed,insheerexhaustionofmindandbody,itbecameavastshadowyverbwhichIhadtoconjugate.
Imperativemood,presenttense:Donotthougohome,lethimnotgohome,letusnotgohome,donotyeoryougohome,letnotthemgohome.
Then,potentially:ImaynotandIcannotgohome;andImightnot,couldnot,wouldnot,andshouldnotgohome;untilIfeltthatIwasgoingdistracted,androlledoveronthepillow,andlookedatthestaringroundsuponthewallagain.
IhadleftdirectionsthatIwastobecalledatseven;foritwasplainthatImustseeWemmickbeforeseeinganyoneelse,andequallyplainthatthiswasacaseinwhichhisWalworthsentiments,only,couldbetaken.
Itwasarelieftogetoutoftheroomwherethenighthadbeensomiserable,andIneedednosecondknockingatthedoortostartlemefrommyuneasybed.
TheCastlebattlementsaroseuponmyviewateighto’clock.
Thelittleservanthappeningtobeenteringthefortresswithtwohotrolls,Ipassedthroughtheposternandcrossedthedrawbridge,inhercompany,andsocamewithoutannouncementintothepresenceofWemmickashewasmakingteaforhimselfandtheAged.
AnopendooraffordedaperspectiveviewoftheAgedinbed.
“Halloa,Mr.Pip!”saidWemmick.“Youdidcomehome,then?”
“Yes,”Ireturned;“butIdidn’tgohome.”
“That’sallright,”saidhe,rubbinghishands.“IleftanoteforyouateachoftheTemplegates,onthechance.Whichgatedidyoucometo?”
Itoldhim.
“I’llgoroundtotheothersinthecourseofthedayanddestroythenotes,”saidWemmick;“it’sagoodrulenevertoleavedocumentaryevidenceifyoucanhelpit,becauseyoudon’tknowwhenitmaybeputin.I’mgoingtotakealibertywithyou.
—WouldyoumindtoastingthissausagefortheAgedP.?”
IsaidIshouldbedelightedtodoit.
“Thenyoucangoaboutyourwork,MaryAnne,”saidWemmicktothelittleservant;“whichleavesustoourselves,don’tyousee,Mr.Pip?”headded,winking,asshedisappeared.
Ithankedhimforhisfriendshipandcaution,andourdiscourseproceededinalowtone,whileItoastedtheAged’ssausageandhebutteredthecrumboftheAged’sroll.
“Now,Mr.Pip,youknow,”saidWemmick,“youandIunderstandoneanother.
Weareinourprivateandpersonalcapacities,andwehavebeenengagedinaconfidentialtransactionbeforetoday.Officialsentimentsareonething.Weareextraofficial.”
Icordiallyassented.Iwassoverynervous,thatIhadalreadylightedtheAged’ssausagelikeatorch,andbeenobligedtoblowitout.
“Iaccidentallyheard,yesterdaymorning,”saidWemmick,“beinginacertainplacewhereIoncetookyou—evenbetweenyouandme,it’saswellnottomentionnameswhenavoidable—”
“Muchbetternot,”saidI.“Iunderstandyou.”
“Iheardtherebychance,yesterdaymorning,”saidWemmick,“thatacertainpersonnotaltogetherofuncolonialpursuits,andnotunpossessedofportableproperty—Idon’tknowwhoitmayreallybe—wewon’tnamethisperson—”
“Notnecessary,”saidI.
”—hadmadesomelittlestirinacertainpartoftheworldwhereagoodmanypeoplego,notalwaysingratificationoftheirowninclinations,andnotquiteirrespectiveofthegovernmentexpense—”
Inwatchinghisface,ImadequiteafireworkoftheAged’ssausage,andgreatlydiscomposedbothmyownattentionandWemmick’s;forwhichIapologized.
”—bydisappearingfromsuchplace,andbeingnomoreheardofthereabouts.
Fromwhich,”saidWemmick,“conjectureshadbeenraisedandtheoriesformed.
IalsoheardthatyouatyourchambersinGardenCourt,Temple,hadbeenwatched,andmightbewatchedagain.”
“Bywhom?”saidI.
“Iwouldn’tgointothat,”saidWemmick,evasively,“itmightclashwithofficialresponsibilities.
Iheardit,asIhaveinmytimeheardothercuriousthingsinthesameplace.
Idon’ttellityouoninformationreceived.Iheardit.”
Hetookthetoasting-forkandsausagefrommeashespoke,andsetforththeAged’sbreakfastneatlyonalittletray.
Previoustoplacingitbeforehim,hewentintotheAged’sroomwithacleanwhitecloth,andtiedthesameundertheoldgentleman’schin,andproppedhimup,andputhisnightcapononeside,andgavehimquitearakishair.
Then,heplacedhisbreakfastbeforehimwithgreatcare,andsaid,“Allright,ain’tyou,AgedP.?”
TowhichthecheerfulAgedreplied,“Allright,John,myboy,allright!”
AsthereseemedtobeatacitunderstandingthattheAgedwasnotinapresentablestate,andwasthereforetobeconsideredinvisible,Imadeapretenceofbeingincompleteignoranceoftheseproceedings.
“Thiswatchingofmeatmychambers(whichIhaveoncehadreasontosuspect),”IsaidtoWemmickwhenhecameback,“isinseparablefromthepersontowhomyouhaveadverted;isit?”
Wemmicklookedveryserious.“Icouldn’tundertaketosaythat,ofmyownknowledge.
Imean,Icouldn’tundertaketosayitwasatfirst.
Butiteitheris,oritwillbe,orit’singreatdangerofbeing.”
AsIsawthathewasrestrainedbyfealtytoLittleBritainfromsayingasmuchashecould,andasIknewwiththankfulnesstohimhowfaroutofhiswayhewenttosaywhathedid,Icouldnotpresshim.
ButItoldhim,afteralittlemeditationoverthefire,thatIwouldliketoaskhimaquestion,subjecttohisansweringornotanswering,ashedeemedright,andsurethathiscoursewouldberight.
Hepausedinhisbreakfast,andcrossinghisarms,andpinchinghisshirt-sleeves(hisnotionofindoorcomfortwastositwithoutanycoat),henoddedtomeonce,toputmyquestion.
“Youhaveheardofamanofbadcharacter,whosetruenameisCompeyson?”
Heansweredwithoneothernod.
“Isheliving?”
Oneothernod.
“IsheinLondon?”
Hegavemeoneothernod,compressedthepost-officeexceedingly,gavemeonelastnod,andwentonwithhisbreakfast.
“Now,”saidWemmick,“questioningbeingover;”whichheemphasizedandrepeatedformyguidance;“IcometowhatIdid,afterhearingwhatIheard.
IwenttoGardenCourttofindyou;notfindingyou,IwenttoClarriker’stofindMr.Herbert.”
“Andhimyoufound?”saidI,withgreatanxiety.
“AndhimIfound.Withoutmentioninganynamesorgoingintoanydetails,Igavehimtounderstandthatifhewasawareofanybody—Tom,Jack,orRichard—beingaboutthechambers,orabouttheimmediateneighbourhood,hehadbettergetTom,Jack,orRichard,outofthewaywhileyouwereoutoftheway.”
“Hewouldbegreatlypuzzledwhattodo?”
“Hewaspuzzledwhattodo;nottheless,becauseIgavehimmyopinionthatitwasnotsafetotrytogetTom,Jack,orRichard,toofaroutofthewayatpresent.Mr.Pip,I’lltellyousomething.
Underexistingcircumstancesthereisnoplacelikeagreatcitywhenyouareonceinit.Don’tbreakcovertoosoon.Lieclose.
Waittillthingsslacken,beforeyoutrytheopen,evenforforeignair.”
Ithankedhimforhisvaluableadvice,andaskedhimwhatHerberthaddone?
“Mr.Herbert,”saidWemmick,“afterbeingallofaheapforhalfanhour,struckoutaplan.
Hementionedtomeasasecret,thatheiscourtingayoungladywhohas,asnodoubtyouareaware,abedriddenPa.
WhichPa,havingbeeninthePurserlineoflife,liesa-bedinabow-windowwherehecanseetheshipssailupanddowntheriver.
Youareacquaintedwiththeyounglady,mostprobably?”
“Notpersonally,”saidI.
Thetruthwas,thatshehadobjectedtomeasanexpensivecompanionwhodidHerbertnogood,andthat,whenHerberthadfirstproposedtopresentmetoher,shehadreceivedtheproposalwithsuchverymoderatewarmth,thatHerberthadfelthimselfobligedtoconfidethestateofthecasetome,withaviewtothelapseofalittletimebeforeImadeheracquaintance.
WhenIhadbeguntoadvanceHerbert’sprospectsbyStealth,Ihadbeenabletobearthiswithcheerfulphilosophy;heandhisaffianced,fortheirpart,hadnaturallynotbeenveryanxioustointroduceathirdpersonintotheirinterviews;andthus,althoughIwasassuredthatIhadriseninClara’sesteem,andalthoughtheyoungladyandIhadlongregularlyinterchangedmessagesandremembrancesbyHerbert,Ihadneverseenher.
However,IdidnottroubleWemmickwiththeseparticulars.
“Thehousewiththebow-window,”saidWemmick,“beingbytheriver-side,downthePooltherebetweenLimehouseandGreenwich,andbeingkept,itseems,byaveryrespectablewidowwhohasafurnishedupperfloortolet,Mr.Herbertputittome,whatdidIthinkofthatasatemporarytenementforTom,Jack,orRichard?
Now,Ithoughtverywellofit,forthreereasonsI’llgiveyou.Thatistosay.Firstly.
It’saltogetheroutofallyourbeats,andiswellawayfromtheusualheapofstreetsgreatandsmall.Secondly.
Withoutgoingnearityourself,youcouldalwayshearofthesafetyofTom,Jack,orRichard,throughMr.Herbert.Thirdly.
Afterawhileandwhenitmightbeprudent,ifyoushouldwanttoslipTom,Jack,orRichard,onboardaforeignpacket-boat,thereheis—ready.”
Muchcomfortedbytheseconsiderations,IthankedWemmickagainandagain,andbeggedhimtoproceed.
“Well,sir!Mr.Herbertthrewhimselfintothebusinesswithawill,andbynineo’clocklastnighthehousedTom,Jack,orRichard—whicheveritmaybe—youandIdon’twanttoknow—quitesuccessfully.
AttheoldlodgingsitwasunderstoodthathewassummonedtoDover,andinfacthewastakendowntheDoverroadandcorneredoutofit.
Now,anothergreatadvantageofallthis,is,thatitwasdonewithoutyou,andwhen,ifanyonewasconcerninghimselfaboutyourmovements,youmustbeknowntobeeversomanymilesoffandquiteotherwiseengaged.
Thisdivertssuspicionandconfusesit;andforthesamereasonIrecommendedthatevenifyoucamebacklastnight,youshouldnotgohome.
Itbringsinmoreconfusion,andyouwantconfusion.”
Wemmick,havingfinishedhisbreakfast,herelookedathiswatch,andbegantogethiscoaton.
“Andnow,Mr.Pip,”saidhe,withhishandsstillinthesleeves,“IhaveprobablydonethemostIcando;butifIcaneverdomore—fromaWalworthpointofview,andinastrictlyprivateandpersonalcapacity—Ishallbegladtodoit.Here’stheaddress.
Therecanbenoharminyourgoinghereto-nightandseeingforyourselfthatalliswellwithTom,Jack,orRichard,beforeyougohome—whichisanotherreasonforyournotgoinghomelastnight.
Butafteryouhavegonehome,don’tgobackhere.
Youareverywelcome,Iamsure,Mr.Pip;”hishandswerenowoutofhissleeves,andIwasshakingthem;“andletmefinallyimpressoneimportantpointuponyou.”
Helaidhishandsuponmyshoulders,andaddedinasolemnwhisper:“Availyourselfofthiseveningtolayholdofhisportableproperty.Youdon’tknowwhatmayhappentohim.
Don’tletanythinghappentotheportableproperty.”
QuitedespairingofmakingmymindcleartoWemmickonthispoint,Iforboretotry.
“Time’sup,”saidWemmick,“andImustbeoff.
Ifyouhadnothingmorepressingtodothantokeepheretilldark,that’swhatIshouldadvise.
Youlookverymuchworried,anditwoulddoyougoodtohaveaperfectlyquietdaywiththeAged—he’llbeuppresently—andalittlebitof—yourememberthepig?”
“Ofcourse,”saidI.
“Well;andalittlebitofhim.Thatsausageyoutoastedwashis,andhewasinallrespectsafirst-rater.
Dotryhim,ifitisonlyforoldacquaintancesake.Good-bye,AgedParent!”inacheeryshout.
“Allright,John;allright,myboy!”pipedtheoldmanfromwithin.
IsoonfellasleepbeforeWemmick’sfire,andtheAgedandIenjoyedoneanother’ssocietybyfallingasleepbeforeitmoreorlessallday.
Wehadloinofporkfordinner,andgreensgrownontheestate,andInoddedattheAgedwithagoodintentionwheneverIfailedtodoitdrowsily.
Whenitwasquitedark,IlefttheAgedpreparingthefirefortoast;andIinferredfromthenumberofteacups,aswellasfromhisglancesatthetwolittledoorsinthewall,thatMissSkiffinswasexpected.
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