English
WhatpurposeIhadinviewwhenIwashotontracingoutandprovingEstella’sparentage,Icannotsay.
Itwillpresentlybeseenthatthequestionwasnotbeforemeinadistinctshape,untilitwasputbeforemebyawiserheadthanmyown.
But,whenHerbertandIhadheldourmomentousconversation,IwasseizedwithafeverishconvictionthatIoughttohuntthematterdown—thatIoughtnottoletitrest,butthatIoughttoseeMr.Jaggers,andcomeatthebaretruth.
IreallydonotknowwhetherIfeltthatIdidthisforEstella’ssake,orwhetherIwasgladtotransfertothemaninwhosepreservationIwassomuchconcerned,someraysoftheromanticinterestthathadsolongsurroundedher.
Perhapsthelatterpossibilitymaybethenearertothetruth.
Anyway,IcouldscarcelybewithheldfromgoingouttoGerrard-streetthatnight.
Herbert’srepresentationsthatifIdid,Ishouldprobablybelaidupandstrickenuseless,whenourfugitive’ssafetywoulddependuponme,alonerestrainedmyimpatience.
Ontheunderstanding,againandagainreiterated,thatcomewhatwould,IwastogotoMr.Jaggersto-morrow,Iatlengthsubmittedtokeepquiet,andtohavemyhurtslookedafter,andtostayathome.
Earlynextmorningwewentouttogether,andatthecornerofGiltspur-streetbySmithfield,IleftHerberttogohiswayintotheCity,andtookmywaytoLittleBritain.
TherewereperiodicaloccasionswhenMr.JaggersandWemmickwentovertheofficeaccounts,andcheckedoffthevouchers,andputallthingsstraight.
OntheseoccasionsWemmicktookhisbooksandpapersintoMr.Jaggers’sroom,andoneoftheup-stairsclerkscamedownintotheouteroffice.
FindingsuchclerkonWemmick’spostthatmorning,Iknewwhatwasgoingon;but,IwasnotsorrytohaveMr.JaggersandWemmicktogether,asWemmickwouldthenhearforhimselfthatIsaidnothingtocompromisehim.
Myappearancewithmyarmbandagedandmycoatlooseovermyshoulders,favouredmyobject.
AlthoughIhadsentMr.JaggersabriefaccountoftheaccidentassoonasIhadarrivedintown,yetIhadtogivehimallthedetailsnow;andthespecialityoftheoccasioncausedourtalktobelessdryandhard,andlessstrictlyregulatedbytherulesofevidence,thanithadbeenbefore.
WhileIdescribedthedisaster,Mr.Jaggersstood,accordingtohiswont,beforethefire.
Wemmickleanedbackinhischair,staringatme,withhishandsinthepocketsofhistrousers,andhispenputhorizontallyintothepost.
Thetwobrutalcasts,alwaysinseparableinmymindfromtheofficialproceedings,seemedtobecongestivelyconsideringwhethertheydidn’tsmellfireatthepresentmoment.
Mynarrativefinished,andtheirquestionsexhausted,IthenproducedMissHavisham’sauthoritytoreceivetheninehundredpoundsforHerbert.
Mr.Jaggers’seyesretiredalittledeeperintohisheadwhenIhandedhimthetablets,buthepresentlyhandedthemovertoWemmick,withinstructionstodrawthechequeforhissignature.
Whilethatwasincourseofbeingdone,IlookedonatWemmickashewrote,andMr.Jaggers,poisingandswayinghimselfonhiswell-polishedboots,lookedonatme.
“Iamsorry,Pip,”saidhe,asIputthechequeinmypocket,whenhehadsignedit,“thatwedonothingforyou.”
“MissHavishamwasgoodenoughtoaskme,”Ireturned,“whethershecoulddonothingforme,andItoldherNo.”
“Everybodyshouldknowhisownbusiness,”saidMr.Jaggers.AndIsawWemmick’slipsformthewords“portableproperty.”
“IshouldnothavetoldherNo,ifIhadbeenyou,”saidMrJaggers;“buteverymanoughttoknowhisownbusinessbest.”
“Everyman’sbusiness,”saidWemmick,ratherreproachfullytowardsme,“isportableproperty.”
AsIthoughtthetimewasnowcomeforpursuingthethemeIhadatheart,Isaid,turningonMr.Jaggers:
“IdidasksomethingofMissHavisham,however,sir.Iaskedhertogivemesomeinformationrelativetoheradopteddaughter,andshegavemeallshepossessed.”
“Didshe?”saidMr.Jaggers,bendingforwardtolookathisbootsandthenstraighteninghimself.“Hah!
Idon’tthinkIshouldhavedoneso,ifIhadbeenMissHavisham.
Butsheoughttoknowherownbusinessbest.”
“IknowmoreofthehistoryofMissHavisham’sadoptedchild,thanMissHavishamherselfdoes,sir.Iknowhermother.”
Mr.Jaggerslookedatmeinquiringly,andrepeated“Mother?”
“Ihaveseenhermotherwithinthesethreedays.”
“Yes?”saidMr.Jaggers.
“Andsohaveyou,sir.Andyouhaveseenherstillmorerecently.”
“Yes?”saidMr.Jaggers.
“PerhapsIknowmoreofEstella’shistorythanevenyoudo,”saidI.“Iknowherfathertoo.”
AcertainstopthatMr.Jaggerscametoinhismanner—hewastooself-possessedtochangehismanner,buthecouldnothelpitsbeingbroughttoanindefinablyattentivestop—assuredmethathedidnotknowwhoherfatherwas.
ThisIhadstronglysuspectedfromProvis’saccount(asHerberthadrepeatedit)ofhishavingkepthimselfdark;whichIpiecedontothefactthathehimselfwasnotMr.Jaggers’sclientuntilsomefouryearslater,andwhenhecouldhavenoreasonforclaiminghisidentity.
But,IcouldnotbesureofthisunconsciousnessonMr.Jaggers’spartbefore,thoughIwasquitesureofitnow.
“So!Youknowtheyounglady’sfather,Pip?”saidMr.Jaggers.
“Yes,”Ireplied,“andhisnameisProvis—fromNewSouthWales.”
EvenMr.JaggersstartedwhenIsaidthosewords.
Itwastheslighteststartthatcouldescapeaman,themostcarefullyrepressedandthesoonestchecked,buthedidstart,thoughhemadeitapartoftheactionoftakingouthispocket-handkerchief.
HowWemmickreceivedtheannouncementIamunabletosay,forIwasafraidtolookathimjustthen,lestMr.Jaggers’ssharpnessshoulddetectthattherehadbeensomecommunicationunknowntohimbetweenus.
“Andonwhatevidence,Pip,”askedMr.Jaggers,verycoolly,ashepausedwithhishandkerchiefhalfwaytohisnose,“doesProvismakethisclaim?”
“Hedoesnotmakeit,”saidI,“andhasnevermadeit,andhasnoknowledgeorbeliefthathisdaughterisinexistence.”
Foronce,thepowerfulpocket-handkerchieffailed.
MyreplywassounexpectedthatMr.Jaggersputthehandkerchiefbackintohispocketwithoutcompletingtheusualperformance,foldedhisarms,andlookedwithsternattentionatme,thoughwithanimmovableface.
ThenItoldhimallIknew,andhowIknewit;withtheonereservationthatIlefthimtoinferthatIknewfromMissHavishamwhatIinfactknewfromWemmick.Iwasverycarefulindeedastothat.
Nor,didIlooktowardsWemmickuntilIhadfinishedallIhadtotell,andhadbeenforsometimesilentlymeetingMr.Jaggers’slook.
WhenIdidatlastturnmyeyesinWemmick’sdirection,Ifoundthathehadunpostedhispen,andwasintentuponthetablebeforehim.
“Hah!”saidMr.Jaggersatlast,ashemovedtowardsthepapersonthetable,”—Whatitemwasityouwereat,Wemmick,whenMr.Pipcamein?”
ButIcouldnotsubmittobethrownoffinthatway,andImadeapassionate,almostanindignant,appealtohimtobemorefrankandmanlywithme.
IremindedhimofthefalsehopesintowhichIhadlapsed,thelengthoftimetheyhadlasted,andthediscoveryIhadmade:andIhintedatthedangerthatweigheduponmyspirits.
Irepresentedmyselfasbeingsurelyworthyofsomelittleconfidencefromhim,inreturnfortheconfidenceIhadjustnowimparted.
IsaidthatIdidnotblamehim,orsuspecthim,ormistrusthim,butIwantedassuranceofthetruthfromhim.
AndifheaskedmewhyIwanteditandwhyIthoughtIhadanyrighttoit,Iwouldtellhim,littleashecaredforsuchpoordreams,thatIhadlovedEstelladearlyandlong,andthat,althoughIhadlostherandmustliveabereavedlife,whateverconcernedherwasstillneareranddearertomethananythingelseintheworld.
AndseeingthatMr.Jaggersstoodquitestillandsilent,andapparentlyquiteobdurate,underthisappeal,IturnedtoWemmick,andsaid,“Wemmick,Iknowyoutobeamanwithagentleheart.
Ihaveseenyourpleasanthome,andyouroldfather,andalltheinnocentcheerfulplayfulwayswithwhichyourefreshyourbusinesslife.
AndIentreatyoutosayawordformetoMr.Jaggers,andtorepresenttohimthat,allcircumstancesconsidered,heoughttobemoreopenwithme!”
IhaveneverseentwomenlookmoreoddlyatoneanotherthanMr.JaggersandWemmickdidafterthisapostrophe.
Atfirst,amisgivingcrossedmethatWemmickwouldbeinstantlydismissedfromhisemployment;but,itmeltedasIsawMr.Jaggersrelaxintosomethinglikeasmile,andWemmickbecomebolder.
“What’sallthis?”saidMr.Jaggers.“Youwithanoldfather,andyouwithpleasantandplayfulways?”
“Well!”returnedWemmick.“IfIdon’tbring‘emhere,whatdoesitmatter?”
“Pip,”saidMr.Jaggers,layinghishanduponmyarm,andsmilingopenly,“thismanmustbethemostcunningimpostorinallLondon.”
“Notabitofit,”returnedWemmick,growingbolderandbolder.“Ithinkyou’reanother.”
Againtheyexchangedtheirformeroddlooks,eachapparentlystilldistrustfulthattheotherwastakinghimin.
“Youwithapleasanthome?”saidMr.Jaggers.
“Sinceitdon’tinterferewithbusiness,”returnedWemmick,“letitbeso.
Now,Ilookatyou,sir,Ishouldn’twonderifyoumightbeplanningandcontrivingtohaveapleasanthomeofyourown,oneofthesedays,whenyou’retiredofallthiswork.”
Mr.Jaggersnoddedhisheadretrospectivelytwoorthreetimes,andactuallydrewasigh.
“Pip,”saidhe,“wewon’ttalkabout‘poordreams;’youknowmoreaboutsuchthingsthanI,havingmuchfresherexperienceofthatkind.Butnow,aboutthisothermatter.I’llputacasetoyou.Mind!Iadmitnothing.”
HewaitedformetodeclarethatIquiteunderstoodthatheexpresslysaidthatheadmittednothing.
“Now,Pip,”saidMr.Jaggers,“putthiscase.
Putthecasethatawoman,undersuchcircumstancesasyouhavementioned,heldherchildconcealed,andwasobligedtocommunicatethefacttoherlegaladviser,onhisrepresentingtoherthathemustknow,withaneyetothelatitudeofhisdefence,howthefactstoodaboutthatchild.
Putthecasethatatthesametimeheheldatrusttofindachildforaneccentricrichladytoadoptandbringup.”
“Ifollowyou,sir.”
“Putthecasethathelivedinanatmosphereofevil,andthatallhesawofchildren,was,theirbeinggeneratedingreatnumbersforcertaindestruction.
Putthecasethatheoftensawchildrensolemnlytriedatacriminalbar,wheretheywerehelduptobeseen;putthecasethathehabituallyknewoftheirbeingimprisoned,whipped,transported,neglected,castout,qualifiedinallwaysforthehangman,andgrowinguptobehanged.
Putthecasethatprettynighallthechildrenhesawinhisdailybusinesslife,hehadreasontolookuponassomuchspawn,todevelopintothefishthatweretocometohisnet—tobeprosecuted,defended,forsworn,madeorphans,bedevilledsomehow.”
“Ifollowyou,sir.”
“Putthecase,Pip,thatherewasoneprettylittlechildoutoftheheap,whocouldbesaved;whomthefatherbelieveddead,anddaredmakenostirabout;astowhom,overthemother,thelegaladviserhadthispower:“Iknowwhatyoudid,andhowyoudidit.
Youcamesoandso,thiswasyourmannerofattackandthisthemannerofresistance,youwentsoandso,youdidsuchandsuchthingstodivertsuspicion.
Ihavetrackedyouthroughitall,andItellityouall.
Partwiththechild,unlessitshouldbenecessarytoproduceittoclearyou,andthenitshallbeproduced.
Givethechildintomyhands,andIwilldomybesttobringyouoff.
Ifyouaresaved,yourchildissavedtoo;ifyouarelost,yourchildisstillsaved.”
Putthecasethatthiswasdone,andthatthewomanwascleared.”
“Iunderstandyouperfectly.”
“ButthatImakenoadmissions?”
“Thatyoumakenoadmissions.”AndWemmickrepeated,“Noadmissions.”
“Putthecase,Pip,thatpassionandtheterrorofdeathhadalittleshakenthewoman’sintellect,andthatwhenshewassetatliberty,shewasscaredoutofthewaysoftheworldandwenttohimtobesheltered.
Putthecasethathetookherin,andthathekeptdowntheoldwildviolentnaturewheneverhesawaninklingofitsbreakingout,byassertinghispoweroverherintheoldway.Doyoucomprehendtheimaginarycase?”
“Quite.”
“Putthecasethatthechildgrewup,andwasmarriedformoney.Thatthemotherwasstillliving.Thatthefatherwasstillliving.
Thatthemotherandfatherunknowntooneanother,weredwellingwithinsomanymiles,furlongs,yardsifyoulike,ofoneanother.
Thatthesecretwasstillasecret,exceptthatyouhadgotwindofit.
Putthatlastcasetoyourselfverycarefully.”
“Ido.”
“IaskWemmicktoputittohimselfverycarefully.”
AndWemmicksaid,“Ido.”
“Forwhosesakewouldyourevealthesecret?Forthefather’s?
Ithinkhewouldnotbemuchthebetterforthemother.Forthemother’s?
Ithinkifshehaddonesuchadeedshewouldbesaferwhereshewas.Forthedaughter’s?
Ithinkitwouldhardlyserveher,toestablishherparentagefortheinformationofherhusband,andtodragherbacktodisgrace,afteranescapeoftwentyyears,prettysecuretolastforlife.
But,addthecasethatyouhadlovedher,Pip,andhadmadeherthesubjectofthose‘poordreams’whichhave,atonetimeoranother,beenintheheadsofmorementhanyouthinklikely,thenItellyouthatyouhadbetter—andwouldmuchsoonerwhenyouhadthoughtwellofit—chopoffthatbandagedlefthandofyourswithyourbandagedrighthand,andthenpassthechopperontoWemmickthere,tocutthatoff,too.”
IlookedatWemmick,whosefacewasverygrave.
Hegravelytouchedhislipswithhisforefinger.Ididthesame.Mr.Jaggersdidthesame.
“Now,Wemmick,”saidthelatterthen,resuminghisusualmanner,“whatitemwasityouwereat,whenMr.Pipcamein?”
Standingbyforalittle,whiletheywereatwork,Iobservedthattheoddlookstheyhadcastatoneanotherwererepeatedseveraltimes:withthisdifferencenow,thateachofthemseemedsuspicious,nottosayconscious,ofhavingshownhimselfinaweakandunprofessionallighttotheother.
Forthisreason,Isuppose,theywerenowinflexiblewithoneanother;Mr.Jaggersbeinghighlydictatorial,andWemmickobstinatelyjustifyinghimselfwhenevertherewasthesmallestpointinabeyanceforamoment.
Ihadneverseenthemonsuchillterms;forgenerallytheygotonverywellindeedtogether.
But,theywerebothhappilyrelievedbytheopportuneappearanceofMike,theclientwiththefurcapandthehabitofwipinghisnoseonhissleeve,whomIhadseenontheveryfirstdayofmyappearancewithinthosewalls.
Thisindividual,who,eitherinhisownpersonorinthatofsomememberofhisfamily,seemedtobealwaysintrouble(whichinthatplacemeantNewgate),calledtoannouncethathiseldestdaughterwastakenuponsuspicionofshop-lifting.
AsheimpartedthismelancholycircumstancetoWemmick,Mr.Jaggersstandingmagisteriallybeforethefireandtakingnoshareintheproceedings,Mike’seyehappenedtotwinklewithatear.
“Whatareyouabout?”demandedWemmick,withtheutmostindignation.“Whatdoyoucomesnivellingherefor?”
“Ididn’tgotodoit,Mr.Wemmick.”
“Youdid,”saidWemmick.“Howdareyou?You’renotinafitstatetocomehere,ifyoucan’tcomeherewithoutsplutteringlikeabadpen.Whatdoyoumeanbyit?”
“Amancan’thelphisfeelings,Mr.Wemmick,”pleadedMike.
“Hiswhat?”demandedWemmick,quitesavagely.“Saythatagain!”
“Now,lookheremyman,”saidMr.Jaggers,advancingastep,andpointingtothedoor.“Getoutofthisoffice.I’llhavenofeelingshere.Getout.”
“Itservesyouright,”saidWemmick,“Getout.”
SotheunfortunateMikeveryhumblywithdrew,andMr.JaggersandWemmickappearedtohavere-establishedtheirgoodunderstanding,andwenttoworkagainwithanairofrefreshmentuponthemasiftheyhadjusthadlunch.
Share this article to
FINISH