English
Someweekspassedwithoutbringinganychange.
WewaitedforWemmick,andhemadenosign.
IfIhadneverknownhimoutofLittleBritain,andhadneverenjoyedtheprivilegeofbeingonafamiliarfootingattheCastle,Imighthavedoubtedhim;notsoforamoment,knowinghimasIdid.
Myworldlyaffairsbegantowearagloomyappearance,andIwaspressedformoneybymorethanonecreditor.
EvenImyselfbegantoknowthewantofmoney(Imeanofreadymoneyinmyownpocket),andtorelieveitbyconvertingsomeeasilysparedarticlesofjewelleryintocash.
ButIhadquitedeterminedthatitwouldbeaheartlessfraudtotakemoremoneyfrommypatronintheexistingstateofmyuncertainthoughtsandplans.
Therefore,Ihadsenthimtheunopenedpocket-bookbyHerbert,toholdinhisownkeeping,andIfeltakindofsatisfaction—whetheritwasafalsekindoratrue,Ihardlyknow—innothavingprofitedbyhisgenerositysincehisrevelationofhimself.
Asthetimeworeon,animpressionsettledheavilyuponmethatEstellawasmarried.
Fearfulofhavingitconfirmed,thoughitwasallbutaconviction,Iavoidedthenewspapers,andbeggedHerbert(towhomIhadconfidedthecircumstancesofourlastinterview)nevertospeakofhertome.
WhyIhoardedupthislastwretchedlittleragoftherobeofhopethatwasrentandgiventothewinds,howdoIknow!
Whydidyouwhoreadthis,committhatnotdissimilarinconsistencyofyourown,lastyear,lastmonth,lastweek?
ItwasanunhappylifethatIlived,anditsonedominantanxiety,toweringoverallitsotheranxietieslikeahighmountainabovearangeofmountains,neverdisappearedfrommyview.Still,nonewcauseforfeararose.
LetmestartfrommybedasIwould,withtheterrorfreshuponmethathewasdiscovered;letmesitlisteningasIwould,withdread,forHerbert’sreturningstepatnight,lestitshouldbefleeterthanordinary,andwingedwithevilnews;forallthat,andmuchmoretolikepurpose,theroundofthingswenton.
Condemnedtoinactionandastateofconstantrestlessnessandsuspense,Irowedaboutinmyboat,andwaited,waited,waited,asIbestcould.
Therewerestatesofthetidewhen,havingbeendowntheriver,Icouldnotgetbackthroughtheeddy-chafedarchesandstarlingsofoldLondonBridge;then,IleftmyboatatawharfneartheCustomHouse,tobebroughtupafterwardstotheTemplestairs.
Iwasnotaversetodoingthis,asitservedtomakemeandmyboatacommonerincidentamongthewater-sidepeoplethere.
Fromthisslightoccasion,sprangtwomeetingsthatIhavenowtotellof.
Oneafternoon,lateinthemonthofFebruary,Icameashoreatthewharfatdusk.
IhadpulleddownasfarasGreenwichwiththeebbtide,andhadturnedwiththetide.
Ithadbeenafinebrightday,buthadbecomefoggyasthesundropped,andIhadhadtofeelmywaybackamongtheshipping,prettycarefully.
Bothingoingandreturning,Ihadseenthesignalinhiswindow,Allwell.
AsitwasaraweveningandIwascold,IthoughtIwouldcomfortmyselfwithdinneratonce;andasIhadhoursofdejectionandsolitudebeforemeifIwenthometotheTemple,IthoughtIwouldafterwardsgototheplay.
ThetheatrewhereMr.Wopslehadachievedhisquestionabletriumph,wasinthatwatersideneighbourhood(itisnowherenow),andtothattheatreIresolvedtogo.
IwasawarethatMr.WopslehadnotsucceededinrevivingtheDrama,but,onthecontrary,hadratherpartakenofitsdecline.
Hehadbeenominouslyheardof,throughtheplaybills,asafaithfulBlack,inconnexionwithalittlegirlofnoblebirth,andamonkey.
AndHerberthadseenhimasapredatoryTartarofcomicpropensities,withafacelikearedbrick,andanoutrageoushatalloverbells.
IdinedatwhatHerbertandIusedtocallaGeographicalchop-house—wherethereweremapsoftheworldinporter-potrimsoneveryhalf-yardofthetable-cloths,andchartsofgravyoneveryoneoftheknives—tothisdaythereisscarcelyasinglechop-housewithintheLordMayor’sdominionswhichisnotGeographical—andworeoutthetimeindozingovercrumbs,staringatgas,andbakinginahotblastofdinners.
By-and-by,Irousedmyselfandwenttotheplay.
There,IfoundavirtuousboatswaininhisMajesty’sservice—amostexcellentman,thoughIcouldhavewishedhistrousersnotquitesotightinsomeplacesandnotquitesolooseinothers—whoknockedallthelittlemen’shatsovertheireyes,thoughhewasverygenerousandbrave,andwhowouldn’thearofanybody’spayingtaxes,thoughhewasverypatriotic.
Hehadabagofmoneyinhispocket,likeapuddinginthecloth,andonthatpropertymarriedayoungpersoninbed-furniture,withgreatrejoicings;thewholepopulationofPortsmouth(nineinnumberatthelastCensus)turningoutonthebeach,torubtheirownhandsandshakeeverybodyelse’s,andsing“Fill,fill!”
Acertaindark-complexionedSwab,however,whowouldn’tfill,ordoanythingelsethatwasproposedtohim,andwhoseheartwasopenlystated(bytheboatswain)tobeasblackashisfigure-head,proposedtotwootherSwabstogetallmankindintodifficulties;whichwassoeffectuallydone(theSwabfamilyhavingconsiderablepoliticalinfluence)thatittookhalftheeveningtosetthingsright,andthenitwasonlybroughtaboutthroughanhonestlittlegrocerwithawhitehat,blackgaiters,andrednose,gettingintoaclock,withagridiron,andlistening,andcomingout,andknockingeverybodydownfrombehindwiththegridironwhomhecouldn’tconfutewithwhathehadoverheard.
ThisledtoMr.Wopsle’s(whohadneverbeenheardofbefore)cominginwithastarandgarteron,asaplenipotentiaryofgreatpowerdirectfromtheAdmiralty,tosaythattheSwabswerealltogotoprisononthespot,andthathehadbroughttheboatswaindowntheUnionJack,asaslightacknowledgmentofhispublicservices.
Theboatswain,unmannedforthefirsttime,respectfullydriedhiseyesontheJack,andthencheeringupandaddressingMr.WopsleasYourHonour,solicitedpermissiontotakehimbythefin.
Mr.Wopsleconcedinghisfinwithagraciousdignity,wasimmediatelyshovedintoadustycornerwhileeverybodydancedahornpipe;andfromthatcorner,surveyingthepublicwithadiscontentedeye,becameawareofme.
ThesecondpiecewasthelastnewgrandcomicChristmaspantomime,inthefirstsceneofwhich,itpainedmetosuspectthatIdetectedMr.Wopslewithredworstedlegsunderahighlymagnifiedphosphoriccountenanceandashockofredcurtain-fringeforhishair,engagedinthemanufactureofthunderboltsinamine,anddisplayinggreatcowardicewhenhisgiganticmastercamehome(veryhoarse)todinner.
Buthepresentlypresentedhimselfunderworthiercircumstances;for,theGeniusofYouthfulLovebeinginwantofassistance—onaccountoftheparentalbrutalityofanignorantfarmerwhoopposedthechoiceofhisdaughter’sheart,bypurposelyfallingupontheobject,inafloursack,outofthefirstfloorwindow—summonedasententiousEnchanter;andhe,comingupfromtheantipodesratherunsteadily,afteranapparentlyviolentjourney,provedtobeMr.Wopsleinahigh-crownedhat,withanecromanticworkinonevolumeunderhisarm.
Thebusinessofthisenchanteronearth,beingprincipallytobetalkedat,sungat,buttedat,dancedat,andflashedatwithfiresofvariouscolours,hehadagooddealoftimeonhishands.
AndIobservedwithgreatsurprise,thathedevotedittostaringinmydirectionasifhewerelostinamazement.
TherewassomethingsoremarkableintheincreasingglareofMr.Wopsle’seye,andheseemedtobeturningsomanythingsoverinhismindandtogrowsoconfused,thatIcouldnotmakeitout.
Isatthinkingofit,longafterhehadascendedtothecloudsinalargewatch-case,andstillIcouldnotmakeitout.
IwasstillthinkingofitwhenIcameoutofthetheatreanhourafterwards,andfoundhimwaitingformenearthedoor.
“Howdoyoudo?”saidI,shakinghandswithhimasweturneddownthestreettogether.“Isawthatyousawme.”
“Sawyou,Mr.Pip!”hereturned.“Yes,ofcourseIsawyou.Butwhoelsewasthere?”
“Whoelse?”
“Itisthestrangestthing,”saidMr.Wopsle,driftingintohislostlookagain;“andyetIcouldsweartohim.”
Becomingalarmed,IentreatedMr.Wopsletoexplainhismeaning.
“WhetherIshouldhavenoticedhimatfirstbutforyourbeingthere,”saidMr.Wopsle,goingoninthesamelostway,“Ican’tbepositive;yetIthinkIshould.”
InvoluntarilyIlookedroundme,asIwasaccustomedtolookroundmewhenIwenthome;for,thesemysteriouswordsgavemeachill.
“Oh!Hecan’tbeinsight,”saidMr.Wopsle.“Hewentout,beforeIwentoff,Isawhimgo.”
HavingthereasonthatIhad,forbeingsuspicious,Ievensuspectedthispooractor.
Imistrustedadesigntoentrapmeintosomeadmission.
Therefore,Iglancedathimaswewalkedontogether,butsaidnothing.
“Ihadaridiculousfancythathemustbewithyou,Mr.Pip,tillIsawthatyouwerequiteunconsciousofhim,sittingbehindyouthere,likeaghost.”
Myformerchillcreptovermeagain,butIwasresolvednottospeakyet,foritwasquiteconsistentwithhiswordsthathemightbesetontoinducemetoconnectthesereferenceswithProvis.
Ofcourse,IwasperfectlysureandsafethatProvishadnotbeenthere.
“Idaresayyouwonderatme,Mr.Pip;indeedIseeyoudo.Butitissoverystrange!You’llhardlybelievewhatIamgoingtotellyou.Icouldhardlybelieveitmyself,ifyoutoldme.”
“Indeed?”saidI.
“No,indeed.Mr.Pip,yourememberinoldtimesacertainChristmasDay,whenyouwerequiteachild,andIdinedatGargery’s,andsomesoldierscametothedoortogetapairofhandcuffsmended?”
“Irememberitverywell.”
“Andyourememberthattherewasachaseaftertwoconvicts,andthatwejoinedinit,andthatGargerytookyouonhisback,andthatItooktheleadandyoukeptupwithmeaswellasyoucould?”
“Irememberitallverywell.”Betterthanhethought—exceptthelastclause.
“Andyourememberthatwecameupwiththetwoinaditch,andthattherewasascufflebetweenthem,andthatoneofthemhadbeenseverelyhandledandmuchmauledabouttheface,bytheother?”
“Iseeitallbeforeme.”
“Andthatthesoldierslightedtorches,andputthetwointhecentre,andthatwewentontoseethelastofthem,overtheblackmarshes,withthetorchlightshiningontheirfaces—Iamparticularaboutthat;withthetorchlightshiningontheirfaces,whentherewasanouterringofdarknightallaboutus?”
“Yes,”saidI.“Irememberallthat.”
“Then,Mr.Pip,oneofthosetwoprisonerssatbehindyoutonight.Isawhimoveryourshoulder.”
“Steady!”Ithought.Iaskedhimthen,“Whichofthetwodoyousupposeyousaw?”
“Theonewhohadbeenmauled,”heansweredreadily,“andI’llswearIsawhim!ThemoreIthinkofhim,themorecertainIamofhim.”
“Thisisverycurious!”saidI,withthebestassumptionIcouldputon,ofitsbeingnothingmoretome.“Verycuriousindeed!”
Icannotexaggeratetheenhanceddisquietintowhichthisconversationthrewme,orthespecialandpeculiarterrorIfeltatCompeyson’shavingbeenbehindme“likeaghost.”
For,ifhehadeverbeenoutofmythoughtsforafewmomentstogethersincethehidinghadbegun,itwasinthoseverymomentswhenhewasclosesttome;andtothinkthatIshouldbesounconsciousandoffmyguardafterallmycare,wasasifIhadshutanavenueofahundreddoorstokeephimout,andthenhadfoundhimatmyelbow.
Icouldnotdoubteitherthathewasthere,becauseIwasthere,andthathoweverslightanappearanceofdangertheremightbeaboutus,dangerwasalwaysnearandactive.
IputsuchquestionstoMr.Wopsleas,Whendidthemancomein?
Hecouldnottellmethat;hesawme,andovermyshoulderhesawtheman.
Itwasnotuntilhehadseenhimforsometimethathebegantoidentifyhim;buthehadfromthefirstvaguelyassociatedhimwithme,andknownhimassomehowbelongingtomeintheoldvillagetime.Howwashedressed?
Prosperously,butnotnoticeablyotherwise;hethought,inblack.Washisfaceatalldisfigured?No,hebelievednot.
Ibelievednot,too,for,althoughinmybroodingstateIhadtakennoespecialnoticeofthepeoplebehindme,Ithoughtitlikelythatafaceatalldisfiguredwouldhaveattractedmyattention.
WhenMr.WopslehadimpartedtomeallthathecouldrecallorIextract,andwhenIhadtreatedhimtoalittleappropriaterefreshmentafterthefatiguesoftheevening,weparted.
Itwasbetweentwelveandoneo’clockwhenIreachedtheTemple,andthegateswereshut.
NoonewasnearmewhenIwentinandwenthome.
Herberthadcomein,andweheldaveryseriouscouncilbythefire.
Buttherewasnothingtobedone,savingtocommunicatetoWemmickwhatIhadthatnightfoundout,andtoremindhimthatwewaitedforhishint.
AsIthoughtthatImightcompromisehimifIwenttoooftentotheCastle,Imadethiscommunicationbyletter.
IwroteitbeforeIwenttobed,andwentoutandpostedit;andagainnoonewasnearme.
HerbertandIagreedthatwecoulddonothingelsebutbeverycautious.
Andwewereverycautiousindeed—morecautiousthanbefore,ifthatwerepossible—andIformypartneverwentnearChinks’sBasin,exceptwhenIrowedby,andthenIonlylookedatMillPondBankasIlookedatanythingelse.
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