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HewastakentothePoliceCourtnextday,andwouldhavebeenimmediatelycommittedfortrial,butthatitwasnecessarytosenddownforanoldofficeroftheprison-shipfromwhichhehadonceescaped,tospeaktohisidentity.
Nobodydoubtedit;but,Compeyson,whohadmeanttodeposetoit,wastumblingonthetides,dead,andithappenedthattherewasnotatthattimeanyprisonofficerinLondonwhocouldgivetherequiredevidence.
IhadgonedirecttoMr.Jaggersathisprivatehouse,onmyarrivalovernight,toretainhisassistance,andMr.Jaggersontheprisoner’sbehalfwouldadmitnothing.
Itwasthesoleresource,forhetoldmethatthecasemustbeoverinfiveminuteswhenthewitnesswasthere,andthatnopoweronearthcouldpreventitsgoingagainstus.
IimpartedtoMr.Jaggersmydesignofkeepinghiminignoranceofthefateofhiswealth.
Mr.Jaggerswasquerulousandangrywithmeforhaving“letitslipthroughmyfingers,”andsaidwemustmemorializeby-and-by,andtryatalleventsforsomeofit.
But,hedidnotconcealfrommethatalthoughtheremightbemanycasesinwhichtheforfeiturewouldnotbeexacted,therewerenocircumstancesinthiscasetomakeitoneofthem.Iunderstoodthat,verywell.
Iwasnotrelatedtotheoutlaw,orconnectedwithhimbyanyrecognizabletie;hehadputhishandtonowritingorsettlementinmyfavourbeforehisapprehension,andtodosonowwouldbeidle.
Ihadnoclaim,andIfinallyresolved,andeverafterwardsabidedbytheresolution,thatmyheartshouldneverbesickenedwiththehopelesstaskofattemptingtoestablishone.
Thereappearedtobereasonforsupposingthatthedrownedinformerhadhopedforarewardoutofthisforfeiture,andhadobtainedsomeaccurateknowledgeofMagwitch’saffairs.
Whenhisbodywasfound,manymilesfromthesceneofhisdeath,andsohorriblydisfiguredthathewasonlyrecognizablebythecontentsofhispockets,noteswerestilllegible,foldedinacasehecarried.
Amongthese,werethenameofabanking-houseinNewSouthWaleswhereasumofmoneywas,andthedesignationofcertainlandsofconsiderablevalue.
BoththeseheadsofinformationwereinalistthatMagwitch,whileinprison,gavetoMr.Jaggers,ofthepossessionshesupposedIshouldinherit.
Hisignorance,poorfellow,atlastservedhim;henevermistrustedbutthatmyinheritancewasquitesafe,withMr.Jaggers’said.
Afterthreedays’delay,duringwhichthecrownprosecutionstoodoverfortheproductionofthewitnessfromtheprison-ship,thewitnesscame,andcompletedtheeasycase.
HewascommittedtotakehistrialatthenextSessions,whichwouldcomeoninamonth.
ItwasatthisdarktimeofmylifethatHerbertreturnedhomeoneevening,agooddealcastdown,andsaid:
“MydearHandel,IfearIshallsoonhavetoleaveyou.”
Hispartnerhavingpreparedmeforthat,Iwaslesssurprisedthanhethought.
“WeshallloseafineopportunityifIputoffgoingtoCairo,andIamverymuchafraidImustgo,Handel,whenyoumostneedme.”
“Herbert,Ishallalwaysneedyou,becauseIshallalwaysloveyou;butmyneedisnogreaternow,thanatanothertime.”
“Youwillbesolonely.”
“Ihavenotleisuretothinkofthat,”saidI.“YouknowthatIamalwayswithhimtothefullextentofthetimeallowed,andthatIshouldbewithhimalldaylong,ifIcould.
AndwhenIcomeawayfromhim,youknowthatmythoughtsarewithhim.”
Thedreadfulconditiontowhichhewasbrought,wassoappallingtobothofus,thatwecouldnotrefertoitinplainerwords.
“Mydearfellow,”saidHerbert,“letthenearprospectofourseparation—for,itisverynear—bemyjustificationfortroublingyouaboutyourself.Haveyouthoughtofyourfuture?”
“No,forIhavebeenafraidtothinkofanyfuture.”
“Butyourscannotbedismissed;indeed,mydeardearHandel,itmustnotbedismissed.Iwishyouwouldenteronitnow,asfarasafewfriendlywordsgo,withme.”
“Iwill,”saidI.
“Inthisbranchhouseofours,Handel,wemusthavea—”
Isawthathisdelicacywasavoidingtherightword,soIsaid,“Aclerk.”
“Aclerk.AndIhopeitisnotatallunlikelythathemayexpand(asaclerkofyouracquaintancehasexpanded)intoapartner.Now,Handel—inshort,mydearboy,willyoucometome?”
Therewassomethingcharminglycordialandengaginginthemannerinwhichaftersaying“Now,Handel,”asifitwerethegravebeginningofaportentousbusinessexordium,hehadsuddenlygivenupthattone,stretchedouthishonesthand,andspokenlikeaschoolboy.
“ClaraandIhavetalkedaboutitagainandagain,”Herbertpursued,“andthedearlittlethingbeggedmeonlythisevening,withtearsinhereyes,tosaytoyouthatifyouwilllivewithuswhenwecometogether,shewilldoherbesttomakeyouhappy,andtoconvinceherhusband’sfriendthatheisherfriendtoo.Weshouldgetonsowell,Handel!”
Ithankedherheartily,andIthankedhimheartily,butsaidIcouldnotyetmakesureofjoininghimashesokindlyoffered.
Firstly,mymindwastoopreoccupiedtobeabletotakeinthesubjectclearly.Secondly—Yes!
Secondly,therewasavaguesomethinglingeringinmythoughtsthatwillcomeoutveryneartheendofthisslightnarrative.
“Butifyouthought,Herbert,thatyoucould,withoutdoinganyinjurytoyourbusiness,leavethequestionopenforalittlewhile—”
“Foranywhile,”criedHerbert.“Sixmonths,ayear!”
“Notsolongasthat,”saidI.“Twoorthreemonthsatmost.”
Herbertwashighlydelightedwhenweshookhandsonthisarrangement,andsaidhecouldnowtakecouragetotellmethathebelievedhemustgoawayattheendoftheweek.
“AndClara?”saidI.
“Thedearlittlething,”returnedHerbert,“holdsdutifullytoherfatheraslongashelasts;buthewon’tlastlong.Mrs.Whimpleconfidestomethatheiscertainlygoing.”
“Nottosayanunfeelingthing,”saidI,“hecannotdobetterthango.”
“Iamafraidthatmustbeadmitted,”saidHerbert:“andthenIshallcomebackforthedearlittlething,andthedearlittlethingandIwillwalkquietlyintothenearestchurch.Remember!
Theblesseddarlingcomesofnofamily,mydearHandel,andneverlookedintotheredbook,andhasn’tanotionabouthergrandpapa.
Whatafortuneforthesonofmymother!”
OntheSaturdayinthatsameweek,ItookmyleaveofHerbert—fullofbrighthope,butsadandsorrytoleaveme—ashesatononeoftheseaportmailcoaches.
Iwentintoacoffee-housetowritealittlenotetoClara,tellingherhehadgoneoff,sendinghislovetoheroverandoveragain,andthenwenttomylonelyhome—ifitdeservedthename,foritwasnownohometome,andIhadnohomeanywhere.
OnthestairsIencounteredWemmick,whowascomingdown,afteranunsuccessfulapplicationofhisknucklestomydoor.
Ihadnotseenhimalone,sincethedisastrousissueoftheattemptedflight;andhehadcome,inhisprivateandpersonalcapacity,tosayafewwordsofexplanationinreferencetothatfailure.
“ThelateCompeyson,”saidWemmick,“hadbylittleandlittlegotatthebottomofhalfoftheregularbusinessnowtransacted,anditwasfromthetalkofsomeofhispeopleintrouble(someofhispeoplebeingalwaysintrouble)thatIheardwhatIdid.
Ikeptmyearsopen,seemingtohavethemshut,untilIheardthathewasabsent,andIthoughtthatwouldbethebesttimeformakingtheattempt.
Icanonlysupposenow,thatitwasapartofhispolicy,asaverycleverman,habituallytodeceivehisowninstruments.Youdon’tblameme,Ihope,Mr.Pip?
IamsureItriedtoserveyou,withallmyheart.”
“Iamassureofthat,Wemmick,asyoucanbe,andIthankyoumostearnestlyforallyourinterestandfriendship.”
“Thankyou,thankyouverymuch.It’sabadjob,”saidWemmick,scratchinghishead,“andIassureyouIhaven’tbeensocutupforalongtime.
WhatIlookat,isthesacrificeofsomuchportableproperty.Dearme!”
“WhatIthinkof,Wemmick,isthepoorowneroftheproperty.”
“Yes,tobesure,”saidWemmick.“Ofcoursetherecanbenoobjectiontoyourbeingsorryforhim,andI’dputdownafive-poundnotemyselftogethimoutofit.ButwhatIlookat,isthis.
ThelateCompeysonhavingbeenbeforehandwithhiminintelligenceofhisreturn,andbeingsodeterminedtobringhimtobook,Idonotthinkhecouldhavebeensaved.
Whereas,theportablepropertycertainlycouldhavebeensaved.
That’sthedifferencebetweenthepropertyandtheowner,don’tyousee?”
IinvitedWemmicktocomeup-stairs,andrefreshhimselfwithaglassofgrogbeforewalkingtoWalworth.Heacceptedtheinvitation.
Whilehewasdrinkinghismoderateallowance,hesaid,withnothingtoleaduptoit,andafterhavingappearedratherfidgety:
“WhatdoyouthinkofmymeaningtotakeaholidayonMonday,Mr.Pip?”
“Why,Isupposeyouhavenotdonesuchathingthesetwelvemonths.”
“Thesetwelveyears,morelikely,”saidWemmick.“Yes.I’mgoingtotakeaholiday.Morethanthat;I’mgoingtotakeawalk.Morethanthat;I’mgoingtoaskyoutotakeawalkwithme.”
Iwasabouttoexcusemyself,asbeingbutabadcompanionjustthan,whenWemmickanticipatedme.
“Iknowyourengagements,”saidhe,“andIknowyouareoutofsorts,Mr.Pip.
Butifyoucouldobligeme,Ishouldtakeitasakindness.
Itain’talongwalk,andit’sanearlyone.
Sayitmightoccupyyou(includingbreakfastonthewalk)fromeighttotwelve.
Couldn’tyoustretchapointandmanageit?”
Hehaddonesomuchformeatvarioustimes,thatthiswasverylittletodoforhim.
IsaidIcouldmanageit—wouldmanageit—andhewassoverymuchpleasedbymyacquiescence,thatIwaspleasedtoo.
Athisparticularrequest,IappointedtocallforhimattheCastleathalf-pasteightonMondaymorning,andsowepartedforthetime.
Punctualtomyappointment,IrangattheCastlegateontheMondaymorning,andwasreceivedbyWemmickhimself:whostruckmeaslookingtighterthanusual,andhavingasleekerhaton.
Within,thereweretwoglassesofrum-and-milkprepared,andtwobiscuits.
TheAgedmusthavebeenstirringwiththelark,for,glancingintotheperspectiveofhisbedroom,Iobservedthathisbedwasempty.
Whenwehadfortifiedourselveswiththerum-and-milkandbiscuits,andweregoingoutforthewalkwiththattrainingpreparationonus,IwasconsiderablysurprisedtoseeWemmicktakeupafishing-rod,andputitoverhisshoulder.“Why,wearenotgoingfishing!”
saidI.“No,”returnedWemmick,“butIliketowalkwithone.”
Ithoughtthisodd;however,Isaidnothing,andwesetoff.WewenttowardsCamberwellGreen,andwhenwewerethereabouts,Wemmicksaidsuddenly:
“Halloa!Here’sachurch!”
Therewasnothingverysurprisinginthat;butagain,Iwasrathersurprised,whenhesaid,asifhewereanimatedbyabrilliantidea:
“Let’sgoin!”
Wewentin,Wemmickleavinghisfishing-rodintheporch,andlookedallround.Inthemeantime,Wemmickwasdivingintohiscoat-pockets,andgettingsomethingoutofpaperthere.
“Halloa!”saidhe.“Here’sacoupleofpairofgloves!Let’sput‘emon!”
Asthegloveswerewhitekidgloves,andasthepost-officewaswidenedtoitsutmostextent,Inowbegantohavemystrongsuspicions.
TheywerestrengthenedintocertaintywhenIbeheldtheAgedenteratasidedoor,escortingalady.
“Halloa!”saidWemmick.“Here’sMissSkiffins!Let’shaveawedding.”
Thatdiscreetdamselwasattiredasusual,exceptthatshewasnowengagedinsubstitutingforhergreenkidgloves,apairofwhite.
TheAgedwaslikewiseoccupiedinpreparingasimilarsacrificeforthealtarofHymen.
Theoldgentleman,however,experiencedsomuchdifficultyingettinghisgloveson,thatWemmickfounditnecessarytoputhimwithhisbackagainstapillar,andthentogetbehindthepillarhimselfandpullawayatthem,whileIformypartheldtheoldgentlemanroundthewaist,thathemightpresentandequalandsaferesistance.
BydintofthisingeniousScheme,hisglovesweregotontoperfection.
Theclerkandclergymanthenappearing,wewererangedinorderatthosefatalrails.
Truetohisnotionofseemingtodoitallwithoutpreparation,IheardWemmicksaytohimselfashetooksomethingoutofhiswaistcoat-pocketbeforetheservicebegan,“Halloa!Here’saring!”
Iactedinthecapacityofbacker,orbest-man,tothebridegroom;whilealittlelimppewopenerinasoftbonnetlikeababy’s,madeafeintofbeingthebosomfriendofMissSkiffins.
Theresponsibilityofgivingtheladyaway,devolvedupontheAged,whichledtotheclergyman’sbeingunintentionallyscandalized,andithappenedthus.
Whenhesaid,“Whogiveththiswomantobemarriedtothisman?”
theoldgentlemen,notintheleastknowingwhatpointoftheceremonywehadarrivedat,stoodmostamiablybeamingatthetencommandments.
Uponwhich,theclergymansaidagain,“WHOgiveththiswomantobemarriedtothisman?”
Theoldgentlemanbeingstillinastateofmostestimableunconsciousness,thebridegroomcriedoutinhisaccustomedvoice,“NowAgedP.youknow;whogiveth?”
TowhichtheAgedrepliedwithgreatbriskness,beforesayingthathegave,“Allright,John,allright,myboy!”
Andtheclergymancametosogloomyapauseuponit,thatIhaddoubtsforthemomentwhetherweshouldgetcompletelymarriedthatday.
Itwascompletelydone,however,andwhenweweregoingoutofchurch,Wemmicktookthecoveroffthefont,andputhiswhiteglovesinit,andputthecoveronagain.
Mrs.Wemmick,moreheedfulofthefuture,putherwhiteglovesinherpocketandassumedhergreen.
“Now,Mr.Pip,”saidWemmick,triumphantlyshoulderingthefishing-rodaswecameout,“letmeaskyouwhetheranybodywouldsupposethistobeawedding-party!”
Breakfasthadbeenorderedatapleasantlittletavern,amileorsoawayupontherisinggroundbeyondtheGreen,andtherewasabagatelleboardintheroom,incaseweshoulddesiretounbendourmindsafterthesolemnity.
ItwaspleasanttoobservethatMrs.WemmicknolongerunwoundWemmick’sarmwhenitadapteditselftoherfigure,butsatinahigh-backedchairagainstthewall,likeavioloncelloinitscase,andsubmittedtobeembracedasthatmelodiousinstrumentmighthavedone.
Wehadanexcellentbreakfast,andwhenanyonedeclinedanythingontable,Wemmicksaid,“Providedbycontract,youknow;don’tbeafraidofit!”
Idranktothenewcouple,dranktotheAged,dranktotheCastle,salutedthebrideatparting,andmademyselfasagreeableasIcould.
Wemmickcamedowntothedoorwithme,andIagainshookhandswithhim,andwishedhimjoy.
“Thankee!”saidWemmick,rubbinghishands.
“She’ssuchamanageroffowls,youhavenoidea.
Youshallhavesomeeggs,andjudgeforyourself.Isay,Mr.Pip!”callingmeback,andspeakinglow.
“ThisisaltogetheraWalworthsentiment,please.”
“Iunderstand.NottobementionedinLittleBritain,”saidI.
Wemmicknodded.“Afterwhatyouletouttheotherday,Mr.Jaggersmayaswellnotknowofit.Hemightthinkmybrainwassoftening,orsomethingofthekind.”
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