English
Thetidingsofmyhighfortuneshavinghadaheavyfall,hadgotdowntomynativeplaceanditsneighbourhood,beforeIgotthere.
IfoundtheBlueBoarinpossessionoftheintelligence,andIfoundthatitmadeagreatchangeintheBoar’sdemeanour.
WhereastheBoarhadcultivatedmygoodopinionwithwarmassiduitywhenIwascomingintoproperty,theBoarwasexceedinglycoolonthesubjectnowthatIwasgoingoutofproperty.
ItwaseveningwhenIarrived,muchfatiguedbythejourneyIhadsooftenmadesoeasily.
TheBoarcouldnotputmeintomyusualbedroom,whichwasengaged(probablybysomeonewhohadexpectations),andcouldonlyassignmeaveryindifferentchamberamongthepigeonsandpost-chaisesuptheyard.
But,IhadassoundasleepinthatlodgingasinthemostsuperioraccommodationtheBoarcouldhavegivenme,andthequalityofmydreamswasaboutthesameasinthebestbedroom.
Earlyinthemorningwhilemybreakfastwasgettingready,IstrolledroundbySatisHouse.
Therewereprintedbillsonthegate,andonbitsofcarpethangingoutofthewindows,announcingasalebyauctionoftheHouseholdFurnitureandEffects,nextweek.
TheHouseitselfwastobesoldasoldbuildingmaterialsandpulleddown.
LOT1wasmarkedinwhitewashedknock-kneelettersonthebrewhouse;LOT2onthatpartofthemainbuildingwhichhadbeensolongshutup.
Otherlotsweremarkedoffonotherpartsofthestructure,andtheivyhadbeentorndowntomakeroomfortheinscriptions,andmuchofittrailedlowinthedustandwaswitheredalready.
Steppinginforamomentattheopengateandlookingaroundmewiththeuncomfortableairofastrangerwhohadnobusinessthere,Isawtheauctioneer’sclerkwalkingonthecasksandtellingthemofffortheinformationofacataloguecompiler,peninhand,whomadeatemporarydeskofthewheeledchairIhadsooftenpushedalongtothetuneofOldClem.
WhenIgotbacktomybreakfastintheBoar’scoffee-room,IfoundMr.Pumblechookconversingwiththelandlord.
Mr.Pumblechook(notimprovedinappearancebyhislatenocturnaladventure)waswaitingforme,andaddressedmeinthefollowingterms.
“Youngman,Iamsorrytoseeyoubroughtlow.Butwhatelsecouldbeexpected!Whatelsecouldbeexpected!”
Asheextendedhishandwithamagnificentlyforgivingair,andasIwasbrokenbyillnessandunfittoquarrel,Itookit.
“William,”saidMr.Pumblechooktothewaiter,“putamuffinontable.Andhasitcometothis!Hasitcometothis!”
Ifrowninglysatdowntomybreakfast.Mr.Pumblechookstoodovermeandpouredoutmytea—beforeIcouldtouchtheteapot—withtheairofabenefactorwhowasresolvedtobetruetothelast.
“William,”saidMr.Pumblechook,mournfully,“putthesalton.Inhappiertimes,”addressingme,“Ithinkyoutooksugar.Anddidyoutakemilk?Youdid.Sugarandmilk.William,bringawatercress.”
“Thankyou,”saidI,shortly,“butIdon’teatwatercresses.”
“Youdon’teat‘em,”returnedMr.Pumblechook,sighingandnoddinghisheadseveraltimes,asifhemighthaveexpectedthat,andasifabstinencefromwatercresseswereconsistentwithmydownfall.“True.Thesimplefruitsoftheearth.No.Youneedn’tbringany,William.”
Iwentonwithmybreakfast,andMr.Pumblechookcontinuedtostandoverme,staringfishilyandbreathingnoisily,ashealwaysdid.
“Littlemorethanskinandbone!”musedMr.Pumblechook,aloud.
“Andyetwhenhewentfromhere(Imaysaywithmyblessing),andIspreadaforehimmyhumblestore,liketheBee,hewasasplumpasaPeach!”
Thisremindedmeofthewonderfuldifferencebetweentheservilemannerinwhichhehadofferedhishandinmynewprosperity,saying,“MayI?”
andtheostentatiousclemencywithwhichhehadjustnowexhibitedthesamefatfivefingers.
“Hah!”hewenton,handingmethebread-and-butter.“Andairyoua-goingtoJoseph?”
“Inheaven’sname,”saidI,firinginspiteofmyself,“whatdoesitmattertoyouwhereIamgoing?Leavethatteapotalone.”
ItwastheworstcourseIcouldhavetaken,becauseitgavePumblechooktheopportunityhewanted.
“Yes,youngman,”saidhe,releasingthehandleofthearticleinquestion,retiringasteportwofrommytable,andspeakingforthebehoofofthelandlordandwaiteratthedoor,“Iwillleavethatteapotalone.Youareright,youngman.Foronce,youareright.
IforgitmyselfwhenItakesuchaninterestinyourbreakfast,astowishyourframe,exhaustedbythedebilitatingeffectsofprodigygality,tobestimilatedbythe‘olesomenourishmentofyourforefathers.
Andyet,”saidPumblechook,turningtothelandlordandwaiter,andpointingmeoutatarm’slength,“thisishimasIeversportedwithinhisdaysofhappyinfancy!
Tellmenotitcannotbe;Itellyouthisishim!”
Alowmurmurfromthetworeplied.Thewaiterappearedtobeparticularlyaffected.
“Thisishim,”saidPumblechook,“asIhaverodeinmyshaycart.
ThisishimasIhaveseenbroughtupbyhand.
ThisishimuntoethesisterofwhichIwasunclebymarriage,ashernamewasGeorgianaM’riafromherownmother,lethimdenyitifhecan!”
ThewaiterseemedconvincedthatIcouldnotdenyit,andthatitgavethecaseablacklook.
“Youngman,”saidPumblechook,screwinghisheadatmeintheoldfashion,“youaira-goingtoJoseph.
Whatdoesitmattertome,youaskme,whereyouaira-going?
Isaytoyou,Sir,youaira-goingtoJoseph.”
Thewaitercoughed,asifhemodestlyinvitedmetogetoverthat.
“Now,”saidPumblechook,andallthiswithamostexasperatingairofsayinginthecauseofvirtuewhatwasperfectlyconvincingandconclusive,“IwilltellyouwhattosaytoJoseph.
HereisSquiresoftheBoarpresent,knownandrespectedinthistown,andhereisWilliam,whichhisfather’snamewasPotkinsifIdonotdeceivemyself.”
“Youdonot,sir,”saidWilliam.
“Intheirpresence,”pursuedPumblechook,“Iwilltellyou,youngman,whattosaytoJoseph.
Saysyou,“Joseph,Ihavethisdayseenmyearliestbenefactorandthefounderofmyfortun’s.
Iwillnamenonames,Joseph,butsotheyarepleasedtocallhimup-town,andIhaveseenthatman.”
“IswearIdon’tseehimhere,”saidI.
“Saythatlikewise,”retortedPumblechook.“Sayyousaidthat,andevenJosephwillprobablybetraysurprise.”
“Thereyouquitemistakehim,”saidI.“Iknowbetter.”
“Saysyou,”Pumblechookwenton,”’Joseph,Ihaveseenthatman,andthatmanbearsyounomaliceandbearsmenomalice.
Heknowsyourcharacter,Joseph,andiswellacquaintedwithyourpig-headednessandignorance;andheknowsmycharacter,Joseph,andheknowsmywantofgratitoode.
Yes,Joseph,’saysyou,”herePumblechookshookhisheadandhandatme,”’heknowsmytotaldeficiencyofcommonhumangratitoode.Heknowsit,Joseph,asnonecan.
Youdonotknowit,Joseph,havingnocalltoknowit,butthatmando.’”
Windydonkeyashewas,itreallyamazedmethathecouldhavethefacetotalkthustomine.
“Saysyou,‘Joseph,hegavemealittlemessage,whichIwillnowrepeat.
Itwas,thatinmybeingbroughtlow,hesawthefingerofProvidence.
Heknowedthatfingerwhenhesawit,Joseph,andhesawitplain.Itpintedoutthiswriting,Joseph.
Rewardofingratitoodetohisearliestbenefactor,andfounderoffortun’s.
Butthatmansaidhedidnotrepentofwhathehaddone,Joseph.Notatall.
Itwasrighttodoit,itwaskindtodoit,itwasbenevolenttodoit,andhewoulddoitagain.’”
“It’spity,”saidI,scornfully,asIfinishedmyinterruptedbreakfast,“thatthemandidnotsaywhathehaddoneandwoulddoagain.”
“SquiresoftheBoar!”Pumblechookwasnowaddressingthelandlord,“andWilliam!
Ihavenoobjectionstoyourmentioning,eitherup-townordown-town,ifsuchshouldbeyourwishes,thatitwasrighttodoit,kindtodoit,benevolenttodoit,andthatIwoulddoitagain.”
WiththosewordstheImpostorshookthembothbythehand,withanair,andleftthehouse;leavingmemuchmoreastonishedthandelightedbythevirtuesofthatsameindefinite“it.”
“Iwasnotlongafterhiminleavingthehousetoo,andwhenIwentdowntheHigh-streetIsawhimholdingforth(nodoubttothesameeffect)athisshopdoortoaselectgroup,whohonouredmewithveryunfavourableglancesasIpassedontheoppositesideoftheway.
But,itwasonlythepleasantertoturntoBiddyandtoJoe,whosegreatforbearanceshonemorebrightlythanbefore,ifthatcouldbe,contrastedwiththisbrazenpretender.
Iwenttowardsthemslowly,formylimbswereweak,butwithasenseofincreasingreliefasIdrewnearertothem,andasenseofleavingarroganceanduntruthfulnessfurtherandfurtherbehind.
TheJuneweatherwasdelicious.Theskywasblue,thelarksweresoaringhighoverthegreencorn,Ithoughtallthatcountry-sidemorebeautifulandpeacefulbyfarthanIhadeverknownittobeyet.
ManypleasantpicturesofthelifethatIwouldleadthere,andofthechangeforthebetterthatwouldcomeovermycharacterwhenIhadaguidingspiritatmysidewhosesimplefaithandclearhome-wisdomIhadproved,beguiledmyway.
Theyawakenedatenderemotioninme;for,myheartwassoftenedbymyreturn,andsuchachangehadcometopass,thatIfeltlikeonewhowastoilinghomebarefootfromdistanttravel,andwhosewanderingshadlastedmanyyears.
TheschoolhousewhereBiddywasmistress,Ihadneverseen;but,thelittleroundaboutlanebywhichIenteredthevillageforquietness’sake,tookmepastit.
Iwasdisappointedtofindthatthedaywasaholiday;nochildrenwerethere,andBiddy’shousewasclosed.
Somehopefulnotionofseeingherbusilyengagedinherdailyduties,beforeshesawme,hadbeeninmymindandwasdefeated.
But,theforgewasaveryshortdistanceoff,andIwenttowardsitunderthesweetgreenlimes,listeningfortheclinkofJoe’shammer.
LongafterIoughttohaveheardit,andlongafterIhadfanciedIhearditandfounditbutafancy,allwasstill.
Thelimeswerethere,andthewhitethornswerethere,andthechestnut-treeswerethere,andtheirleavesrustledharmoniouslywhenIstoppedtolisten;but,theclinkofJoe’shammerwasnotinthemidsummerwind.
Almostfearing,withoutknowingwhy,tocomeinviewoftheforge,Isawitatlast,andsawthatitwasclosed.
Nogleamoffire,noglitteringshowerofsparks,noroarofbellows;allshutup,andstill.
But,thehousewasnotdeserted,andthebestparlourseemedtobeinuse,fortherewerewhitecurtainsflutteringinitswindow,andthewindowwasopenandgaywithflowers.
Iwentsoftlytowardsit,meaningtopeepovertheflowers,whenJoeandBiddystoodbeforeme,arminarm.
AtfirstBiddygaveacry,asifshethoughtitwasmyapparition,butinanothermomentshewasinmyembrace.
Iwepttoseeher,andshewepttoseeme;I,becauseshelookedsofreshandpleasant;she,becauseIlookedsowornandwhite.
“ButdearBiddy,howsmartyouare!”
“Yes,dearPip.”
“AndJoe,howsmartyouare!”
“Yes,dearoldPip,oldchap.”
Ilookedatbothofthem,fromonetotheother,andthen—
“It’smywedding-day,”criedBiddy,inaburstofhappiness,“andIammarriedtoJoe!”
Theyhadtakenmeintothekitchen,andIhadlaidmyheaddownontheolddealtable.
Biddyheldoneofmyhandstoherlips,andJoe’srestoringtouchwasonmyshoulder.
“Whichhewarn’tstrongenough,mydear,furtobesurprised,”saidJoe.
AndBiddysaid,“Ioughttohavethoughtofit,dearJoe,butIwastoohappy.”
Theywerebothsooverjoyedtoseeme,soproudtoseeme,sotouchedbymycomingtothem,sodelightedthatIshouldhavecomebyaccidenttomaketheirdaycomplete!
MyfirstthoughtwasoneofgreatthankfulnessthatIhadneverbreathedthislastbaffledhopetoJoe.
Howoften,whilehewaswithmeinmyillness,haditrisentomylips.
Howirrevocablewouldhavebeenhisknowledgeofit,ifhehadremainedwithmebutanotherhour!
“DearBiddy,”saidI,“youhavethebesthusbandinthewholeworld,andifyoucouldhaveseenhimbymybedyouwouldhave—Butno,youcouldn’tlovehimbetterthanyoudo.”
“No,Icouldn’tindeed,”saidBiddy.
“And,dearJoe,youhavethebestwifeinthewholeworld,andshewillmakeyouashappyasevenyoudeservetobe,youdear,good,nobleJoe!”
Joelookedatmewithaquiveringlip,andfairlyputhissleevebeforehiseyes.
“AndJoeandBiddyboth,asyouhavebeentochurchto-day,andareincharityandlovewithallmankind,receivemyhumblethanksforallyouhavedoneformeandallIhavesoillrepaid!
AndwhenIsaythatIamgoingawaywithinthehour,forIamsoongoingabroad,andthatIshallneverrestuntilIhaveworkedforthemoneywithwhichyouhavekeptmeoutofprison,andhavesentittoyou,don’tthink,dearJoeandBiddy,thatifIcouldrepayitathousandtimesover,IsupposeIcouldcancelafarthingofthedebtIoweyou,orthatIwoulddosoifIcould!”
Theywerebothmeltedbythesewords,andbothentreatedmetosaynomore.
“ButImustsaymore.DearJoe,Ihopeyouwillhavechildrentolove,andthatsomelittlefellowwillsitinthischimneycornerofawinternight,whomayremindyouofanotherlittlefellowgoneoutofitforever.
Don’ttellhim,Joe,thatIwasthankless;don’ttellhim,Biddy,thatIwasungenerousandunjust;onlytellhimthatIhonouredyouboth,becauseyouwerebothsogoodandtrue,andthat,asyourchild,IsaiditwouldbenaturaltohimtogrowupamuchbettermanthanIdid.”
“Iain’ta-going,”saidJoe,frombehindhissleeve,“totellhimnothinko’thatnatur,Pip.NorBiddyain’t.Noryetnooneain’t.”
“Andnow,thoughIknowyouhavealreadydoneitinyourownkindhearts,praytellme,both,thatyouforgiveme!
Prayletmehearyousaythewords,thatImaycarrythesoundofthemawaywithme,andthenIshallbeabletobelievethatyoucantrustme,andthinkbetterofme,inthetimetocome!”
“OdearoldPip,oldchap,”saidJoe.“GodknowsasIforgiveyou,ifIhaveanythinktoforgive!”
“Amen!AndGodknowsIdo!”echoedBiddy.
Nowletmegoupandlookatmyoldlittleroom,andrestthereafewminutesbymyself,andthenwhenIhaveeatenanddrunkwithyou,gowithmeasfarasthefinger-post,dearJoeandBiddy,beforewesaygood-bye!”
IsoldallIhad,andputasideasmuchasIcould,foracompositionwithmycreditors—whogavemeampletimetopaytheminfull—andIwentoutandjoinedHerbert.
Withinamonth,IhadquittedEngland,andwithintwomonthsIwasclerktoClarrikerandCo.,andwithinfourmonthsIassumedmyfirstundividedresponsibility.
For,thebeamacrosstheparlourceilingatMillPondBank,hadthenceasedtotrembleunderoldBillBarley’sgrowlsandwasatpeace,andHerberthadgoneawaytomarryClara,andIwasleftinsolechargeoftheEasternBranchuntilhebroughtherback.
Manyayearwentround,beforeIwasapartnerintheHouse;but,IlivedhappilywithHerbertandhiswife,andlivedfrugally,andpaidmydebts,andmaintainedaconstantcorrespondencewithBiddyandJoe.
ItwasnotuntilIbecamethirdintheFirm,thatClarrikerbetrayedmetoHerbert;but,hethendeclaredthatthesecretofHerbert’spartnershiphadbeenlongenoughuponhisconscience,andhemusttellit.
So,hetoldit,andHerbertwasasmuchmovedasamazed,andthedearfellowandIwerenottheworsefriendsforthelongconcealment.
Imustnotleaveittobesupposedthatwewereeveragreathouse,orthatwemademintsofmoney.
Wewerenotinagrandwayofbusiness,butwehadagoodname,andworkedforourprofits,anddidverywell.
WeowedsomuchtoHerbert’severcheerfulindustryandreadiness,thatIoftenwonderedhowIhadconceivedthatoldideaofhisinaptitude,untilIwasonedayenlightenedbythereflection,thatperhapstheinaptitudehadneverbeeninhimatall,buthadbeeninme.
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