English
Thesecondofthetwomeetingsreferredtointhelastchapter,occurredaboutaweekafterthefirst.
IhadagainleftmyboatatthewharfbelowBridge;thetimewasanhourearlierintheafternoon;and,undecidedwheretodine,IhadstrolledupintoCheapside,andwasstrollingalongit,surelythemostunsettledpersoninallthebusyconcourse,whenalargehandwaslaiduponmyshoulder,bysomeoneovertakingme.
ItwasMr.Jaggers’shand,andhepasseditthroughmyarm.
“Aswearegoinginthesamedirection,Pip,wemaywalktogether.Whereareyouboundfor?”
“FortheTemple,Ithink,”saidI.
“Don’tyouknow?”saidMr.Jaggers.
“Well,”Ireturned,gladforoncetogetthebetterofhimincross-examination,“Idonotknow,forIhavenotmadeupmymind.”
“Youaregoingtodine?”saidMr.Jaggers.“Youdon’tmindadmittingthat,Isuppose?”
“No,”Ireturned,“Idon’tmindadmittingthat.”
“Andarenotengaged?”
“Idon’tmindadmittingalso,thatIamnotengaged.”
“Then,”saidMr.Jaggers,“comeanddinewithme.”
Iwasgoingtoexcusemyself,whenheadded,“Wemmick’scoming.”
So,Ichangedmyexcuseintoanacceptance—thefewwordsIhaduttered,servingforthebeginningofeither—andwewentalongCheapsideandslantedofftoLittleBritain,whilethelightswerespringingupbrilliantlyintheshopwindows,andthestreetlamp-lighters,scarcelyfindinggroundenoughtoplanttheirladdersoninthemidstoftheafternoon’sbustle,wereskippingupanddownandrunninginandout,openingmoreredeyesinthegatheringfogthanmyrushlighttowerattheHummumshadopenedwhiteeyesintheghostlywall.
AttheofficeinLittleBritaintherewastheusualletter-writing,hand-washing,candle-snuffing,andsafe-locking,thatclosedthebusinessoftheday.
AsIstoodidlebyMr.Jaggers’sfire,itsrisingandfallingflamemadethetwocastsontheshelflookasiftheywereplayingadiabolicalgameatbo-peepwithme;whilethepairofcoarsefatofficecandlesthatdimlylightedMr.Jaggersashewroteinacorner,weredecoratedwithdirtywinding-sheets,asifinremembranceofahostofhangedclients.
WewenttoGerrard-street,allthreetogether,inahackneycoach:andassoonaswegotthere,dinnerwasserved.
AlthoughIshouldnothavethoughtofmaking,inthatplace,themostdistantreferencebysomuchasalooktoWemmick’sWalworthsentiments,yetIshouldhavehadnoobjectiontocatchinghiseyenowandtheninafriendlyway.Butitwasnottobedone.
HeturnedhiseyesonMr.Jaggerswheneverheraisedthemfromthetable,andwasasdryanddistanttomeasifthereweretwinWemmicksandthiswasthewrongone.
“DidyousendthatnoteofMissHavisham’stoMr.Pip,Wemmick?”Mr.Jaggersasked,soonafterwebegandinner.
“No,sir,”returnedWemmick;“itwasgoingbypost,whenyoubroughtMr.Pipintotheoffice.Hereitis.”Hehandedittohisprincipal,insteadoftome.
“It’sanoteoftwolines,Pip,”saidMr.Jaggers,handingiton,“sentuptomebyMissHavisham,onaccountofhernotbeingsureofyouraddress.
Shetellsmethatshewantstoseeyouonalittlematterofbusinessyoumentionedtoher.You’llgodown?”
“Yes,”saidI,castingmyeyesoverthenote,whichwasexactlyinthoseterms.
“Whendoyouthinkofgoingdown?”
“Ihaveanimpendingengagement,”saidI,glancingatWemmick,whowasputtingfishintothepost-office,“thatrendersmeratheruncertainofmytime.Atonce,Ithink.”
“IfMr.Piphastheintentionofgoingatonce,”saidWemmicktoMr.Jaggers,“heneedn’twriteananswer,youknow.”
Receivingthisasanintimationthatitwasbestnottodelay,IsettledthatIwouldgoto-morrow,andsaidso.
WemmickdrankaglassofwineandlookedwithagrimlysatisfiedairatMr.Jaggers,butnotatme.
“So,Pip!OurfriendtheSpider,”saidMr.Jaggers,“hasplayedhiscards.Hehaswonthepool.”
ItwasasmuchasIcoulddotoassent.
“Hah!Heisapromisingfellow—inhisway—buthemaynothaveitallhisownway.Thestrongerwillwinintheend,butthestrongerhastobefoundoutfirst.Ifheshouldturnto,andbeather—”
“Surely,”Iinterrupted,withaburningfaceandheart,“youdonotseriouslythinkthatheisscoundrelenoughforthat,Mr.Jaggers?”
“Ididn’tsayso,Pip.Iamputtingacase.
Ifheshouldturntoandbeather,hemaypossiblygetthestrengthonhisside;ifitshouldbeaquestionofintellect,hecertainlywillnot.
Itwouldbechanceworktogiveanopinionhowafellowofthatsortwillturnoutinsuchcircumstances,becauseit’satoss-upbetweentworesults.”
“MayIaskwhattheyare?”
“AfellowlikeourfriendtheSpider,”answeredMr.Jaggers,“eitherbeats,orcringes.Hemaycringeandgrowl,orcringeandnotgrowl;butheeitherbeatsorcringes.AskWemmickhisopinion.”
“Eitherbeatsorcringes,”saidWemmick,notatalladdressinghimselftome.
“So,here’stoMrs.BentleyDrummle,”saidMr.Jaggers,takingadecanterofchoicerwinefromhisdumb-waiter,andfillingforeachofusandforhimself,“andmaythequestionofsupremacybesettledtothelady’ssatisfaction!
Tothesatisfactionoftheladyandthegentleman,itneverwillbe.
Now,Molly,Molly,Molly,Molly,howslowyouareto-day!”
Shewasathiselbowwhenheaddressedher,puttingadishuponthetable.
Asshewithdrewherhandsfromit,shefellbackasteportwo,nervouslymutteringsomeexcuse.
Andacertainactionofherfingersasshespokearrestedmyattention.
“What’sthematter?”saidMr.Jaggers.
“Nothing.Onlythesubjectwewerespeakingof,”saidI,“wasratherpainfultome.”
Theactionofherfingerswasliketheactionofknitting.
Shestoodlookingathermaster,notunderstandingwhethershewasfreetogo,orwhetherhehadmoretosaytoherandwouldcallherbackifshedidgo.Herlookwasveryintent.
Surely,Ihadseenexactlysucheyesandsuchhands,onamemorableoccasionverylately!
Hedismissedher,andsheglidedoutoftheroom.
Butsheremainedbeforeme,asplainlyasifshewerestillthere.
Ilookedatthosehands,Ilookedatthoseeyes,Ilookedatthatflowinghair;andIcomparedthemwithotherhands,othereyes,otherhair,thatIknewof,andwithwhatthosemightbeaftertwentyyearsofabrutalhusbandandastormylife.
Ilookedagainatthosehandsandeyesofthehousekeeper,andthoughtoftheinexplicablefeelingthathadcomeovermewhenIlastwalked—notalone—intheruinedgarden,andthroughthedesertedbrewery.
IthoughthowthesamefeelinghadcomebackwhenIsawafacelookingatme,andahandwavingtome,fromastage-coachwindow;andhowithadcomebackagainandhadflashedaboutmelikeLightning,whenIhadpassedinacarriage—notalone—throughasuddenglareoflightinadarkstreet.
Ithoughthowonelinkofassociationhadhelpedthatidentificationinthetheatre,andhowsuchalink,wantingbefore,hadbeenrivetedformenow,whenIhadpassedbyachanceswiftfromEstella’snametothefingerswiththeirknittingaction,andtheattentiveeyes.
AndIfeltabsolutelycertainthatthiswomanwasEstella’smother.
Mr.JaggershadseenmewithEstella,andwasnotlikelytohavemissedthesentimentsIhadbeenatnopainstoconceal.
HenoddedwhenIsaidthesubjectwaspainfultome,clappedmeontheback,putroundthewineagain,andwentonwithhisdinner.
Onlytwicemore,didthehousekeeperreappear,andthenherstayintheroomwasveryshort,andMr.Jaggerswassharpwithher.
ButherhandswereEstella’shands,andhereyeswereEstella’seyes,andifshehadreappearedahundredtimesIcouldhavebeenneithermoresurenorlesssurethatmyconvictionwasthetruth.
Itwasadullevening,forWemmickdrewhiswinewhenitcameround,quiteasamatterofbusiness—justashemighthavedrawnhissalarywhenthatcameround—andwithhiseyesonhischief,satinastateofperpetualreadinessforcross-examination.
Astothequantityofwine,hispost-officewasasindifferentandreadyasanyotherpost-officeforitsquantityofletters.
Frommypointofview,hewasthewrongtwinallthetime,andonlyexternallyliketheWemmickofWalworth.
Wetookourleaveearly,andlefttogether.
EvenwhenweweregropingamongMr.Jaggers’sstockofbootsforourhats,Ifeltthattherighttwinwasonhiswayback;andwehadnotgonehalfadozenyardsdownGerrard-streetintheWalworthdirectionbeforeIfoundthatIwaswalkingarm-in-armwiththerighttwin,andthatthewrongtwinhadevaporatedintotheeveningair.
“Well!”saidWemmick,“that’sover!He’sawonderfulman,withouthislivinglikeness;butIfeelthatIhavetoscrewmyselfupwhenIdinewithhim—andIdinemorecomfortablyunscrewed.”
Ifeltthatthiswasagoodstatementofthecase,andtoldhimso.
“Wouldn’tsayittoanybodybutyourself,”heanswered.“Iknowthatwhatissaidbetweenyouandme,goesnofurther.”
IaskedhimifhehadeverseenMissHavisham’sadopteddaughter,Mrs.BentleyDrummle?Hesaidno.
Toavoidbeingtooabrupt,IthenspokeoftheAged,andofMissSkiffins.
HelookedratherslywhenImentionedMissSkiffins,andstoppedinthestreettoblowhisnose,witharolloftheheadandaflourishnotquitefreefromlatentboastfulness.
“Wemmick,”saidI,“doyouremembertellingmebeforeIfirstwenttoMr.Jaggers’sprivatehouse,tonoticethathousekeeper?”
“DidI?”hereplied.“Ah,IdaresayIdid.Deucetakeme,”headded,suddenly,“IknowIdid.IfindIamnotquiteunscrewedyet.”
“Awildbeasttamed,youcalledher.”
“Andwhatdoyoucallher?”
“Thesame.HowdidMr.Jaggerstameher,Wemmick?”
“That’shissecret.Shehasbeenwithhimmanyalongyear.”
“Iwishyouwouldtellmeherstory.Ifeelaparticularinterestinbeingacquaintedwithit.Youknowthatwhatissaidbetweenyouandmegoesnofurther.”
“Well!”Wemmickreplied,“Idon’tknowherstory—thatis,Idon’tknowallofit.ButwhatIdoknow,I’lltellyou.Weareinourprivateandpersonalcapacities,ofcourse.”
“Ofcourse.”
“Ascoreorsoofyearsago,thatwomanwastriedattheOldBaileyformurder,andwasacquitted.
Shewasaveryhandsomeyoungwoman,andIbelievehadsomegipsybloodinher.
Anyhow,itwashotenoughwhenitwasup,asyoumaysuppose.”
“Butshewasacquitted.”
“Mr.Jaggerswasforher,”pursuedWemmick,withalookfullofmeaning,“andworkedthecaseinawayquiteastonishing.
Itwasadesperatecase,anditwascomparativelyearlydayswithhimthen,andheworkedittogeneraladmiration;infact,itmayalmostbesaidtohavemadehim.
Heworkedithimselfatthepolice-office,dayafterdayformanydays,contendingagainstevenacommittal;andatthetrialwherehecouldn’tworkithimself,satunderCounsel,and—everyoneknew—putinallthesaltandpepper.
Themurderedpersonwasawoman;awoman,agoodtenyearsolder,verymuchlarger,andverymuchstronger.Itwasacaseofjealousy.
Theybothledtrampinglives,andthiswomaninGerrard-streetherehadbeenmarriedveryyoung,overthebroomstick(aswesay),toatrampingman,andwasaperfectfuryinpointofjealousy.
Themurderedwoman—moreamatchfortheman,certainly,inpointofyears—wasfounddeadinabarnnearHounslowHeath.
Therehadbeenaviolentstruggle,perhapsafight.
Shewasbruisedandscratchedandtorn,andhadbeenheldbythethroatatlastandchoked.
Now,therewasnoreasonableevidencetoimplicateanypersonbutthiswoman,and,ontheimprobabilitiesofherhavingbeenabletodoit,Mr.Jaggersprincipallyrestedhiscase.
Youmaybesure,”saidWemmick,touchingmeonthesleeve,“thatheneverdweltuponthestrengthofherhandsthen,thoughhesometimesdoesnow.”
IhadtoldWemmickofhisshowingusherwrists,thatdayofthedinnerparty.
“Well,sir!”Wemmickwenton;“ithappened—happened,don’tyousee?
—thatthiswomanwassoveryartfullydressedfromthetimeofherapprehension,thatshelookedmuchslighterthanshereallywas;inparticular,hersleevesarealwaysrememberedtohavebeensoskilfullycontrivedthatherarmshadquiteadelicatelook.
Shehadonlyabruiseortwoabouther—nothingforatramp—butthebacksofherhandswerelacerated,andthequestionwas,wasitwithfinger-nails?
Now,Mr.Jaggersshowedthatshehadstruggledthroughagreatlotofbrambleswhichwerenotashighasherface;butwhichshecouldnothavegotthroughandkeptherhandsoutof;andbitsofthosebrambleswereactuallyfoundinherskinandputinevidence,aswellasthefactthatthebramblesinquestionwerefoundonexaminationtohavebeenbrokenthrough,andtohavelittleshredsofherdressandlittlespotsofblooduponthemhereandthere.
Buttheboldestpointhemade,wasthis.
Itwasattemptedtobesetupinproofofherjealousy,thatshewasunderstrongsuspicionofhaving,ataboutthetimeofthemurder,franticallydestroyedherchildbythisman—somethreeyearsold—torevengeherselfuponhim.Mr.Jaggersworkedthat,inthisway.
“Wesaythesearenotmarksoffinger-nails,butmarksofbrambles,andweshowyouthebrambles.
Yousaytheyaremarksoffinger-nails,andyousetupthehypothesisthatshedestroyedherchild.
Youmustacceptallconsequencesofthathypothesis.
Foranythingweknow,shemayhavedestroyedherchild,andthechildinclingingtohermayhavescratchedherhands.Whatthen?
Youarenottryingherforthemurderofherchild;whydon’tyou?
Astothiscase,ifyouwillhavescratches,wesaythat,foranythingweknow,youmayhaveaccountedforthem,assumingforthesakeofargumentthatyouhavenotinventedthem!”
Tosumup,sir,”saidWemmick,“Mr.JaggerswasaltogethertoomanyfortheJury,andtheygavein.”
“Hasshebeeninhisserviceeversince?”
“Yes;butnotonlythat,”saidWemmick.“Shewentintohisserviceimmediatelyafterheracquittal,tamedassheisnow.
Shehassincebeentaughtonethingandanotherinthewayofherduties,butshewastamedfromthebeginning.”
“Doyourememberthesexofthechild?”
“Saidtohavebeenagirl.”
“Youhavenothingmoretosaytometo-night?”
“Nothing.Igotyourletteranddestroyedit.Nothing.”
WeexchangedacordialGoodNight,andIwenthome,withnewmatterformythoughts,thoughwithnorelieffromtheold.
Share this article to
FINISH