远大前程-第4章

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ter　on　in　my　life。　‘Who's　this？’he　asked　Estella，stopping　to　look　at　me。　‘A　local　boy。　Miss　Havisham　sent　for　him，'she　replied．　‘Well，in　my　experience　most　boys　are　bad，'he　said　to　me。‘Behave　yourself！'He　bit　the　side　of　his　large　finger　as　he　frowned　at　me，and　then　continued　downstairs。

This　time　Miss　Havisham　was　in　another　room，which　I　had　not　seen　before．All　the　furniture　was　covered　in　dust．In　the　candle－light　I　could　see　a　long　table，in　the　middle　of　which　was　a　large　yellow　shape，with　hundreds　of　insects　feeding　off　it．　

‘This，’said　Miss　Havisham，pointing　to　the　table，‘is　where　they　will　put　me　when　I'm　dead．　I'll　lie　on　the　table，and　my　relations　can　come　and　look　at　me．'　She　put　a　bony　hand　on　my　shoulder，but　I　didn't　want　her　to　touch　me．I　was　afraid　she　would　die　there　and　then．‘And　that，’she　added，pointing　to　the　yellow　shape，‘that　was　my　wedding　cake．Mine！’She　looked　all　round　the　room　angrily．‘Come！’she　said　suddenly．‘Help　me　walk　round　the　room．And　call　Estella！’

I　held　her　arm　to　support　her　as　she　walked．We　were　still　going　slowly　and　painfully　round　the　room　when　Estella　brought　in　the　relations　who　had　been　waiting　downstairs．They　stood　watching　us　at　the　door．I　thought　they　blamed　me　for　Miss　Havisham's　cold　manner　towards　them．

‘Dear　Miss　Havisham！’said　one　of　the　ladies　lovingly．‘How　well　you　look！’

‘I　do　not，’replied　Miss　Havisham　sharply．‘I　am　yellow　skin　and　bone．'

‘How　could　Miss　Havisham　look　well，after　all　her　suffer－ing？’said　a　second　lady　quickly．‘　Impossible！What　a　silly　idea！’

‘　And　how　are　you？’Miss　Havisham　asked　this　lady．As　we　were　close　to　her　then，I　would　have　stopped，but　Miss　Havisham　insisted　on　walking　past　。It　seemed　rather　rude．

‘Not　well　at　all，'said　this　lady　sadly。‘I　don't　want　to　talk　too　much　about　my　feelings，but－well－I　often　lie　awake　at　night　thinking　of　you，dear　Miss　Havisham！'

‘Well，don't！’said　Miss　Havisham　crossly　as　we　hurried　past　the　little　group　again。

‘I'm　afraid　I　can't　stop　myself．I　often　wish　I　were　less　sensitive　and　loving　。　But　that's　my　character　and　I　have　to　live　with　it！'And　she　started　crying　softly．‘Look　at　Matthew　now！’she　added，through　her　tears。‘Matthew　never　comes　to　see　dear　Miss　Havisham　。But　I…’

When　she　heard　Matthew's　name，Miss　Havisham　stopped　walking　and　stood　looking　at　the　speaker，who　suddenly　became　silent。　‘Matthew　will　come　in　the　end，'said　Miss　Havisham　firmly，‘when　I　die　and　am　laid　on　that　table。　You　will　stand　around　and　look　at　me，you　here，you　there，you　next　to　her，you　two　there　Now　you　know　where　to　stand．And　now　go！'

The　ladies　and　gentlemen　went　slowly　out　of　the　room，some　protesting　quietly　that　they　had　not　seen　enough　of　their　dear　relation。　When　they　had　all　gone，Miss　Havisham　said　to　me，

‘This　is　my　birthday，Pip．I　don't　allow　anyone　to　speak　of　it．My　relations　always　come　on　this　day　once　a　year．This　day，long　before　you　were　born，was　my　wedding　day　。Pehaps　I　shall　die　on　this　day　too．And　when　they　lay　me　in　my　wedding　dress　on　that　table，I'll　have　my　revenge　on　him！’

In　the　heavy　air　of　that　dark，dusty　room，she　was　a　ghostly　figure　in　her　yellow－white　dress．There　was　a　long　silence．

As　usual　I　left　the　house　and　walked　towards　the　gate，　but　this　time　something　strange　happened．In　the　garden　I　met　a　pale　young　gentleman　with　fair　hair．

‘Hello！’he　said．‘Come　and　fight！This　way！’

I　was　so　surprised　that　I　followed　him　without　a　word．

‘Wait　a　minute，’he　said，turning　round　quickly．‘I　must　give　you　a　reason　for　fighting．There　it　is！’And　he　pulled　my　hair，then　pushed　his　head　hard　into　my　stomach．I　was　ready　to　fight　him　after　this，but　he　danced　abut　so　much　that　I　couldn't　get　close　to　bim．

‘Follow　the　laws　of　the　game！’he　said，eagerly　preparing　himself　for　our　fight．He　seemed　to　know　so　much　about　fighting　that　I　was　very　surprised　when　I　knocked　him　down　with　my　first　hit，and　then　again　with　my　second．He　always　got　up　immediately　and　seemed　very　glad　to　be　fighting　in　the　correct　manner．I　admired　him　greatly　for　his　bravery　and　his　cheerfulness．Finally　he　had　to　agree　I　had　won，and　we　said　goodbye．　When　I　reached　the　gate，I　found　Estella　waiting　for　me．She　seemed　very　pleased　about　something．I　wondered　if　she　had　been　watching　our　fight．Before　I　went　out，she　said，

‘Here！you　can　kiss　me　if　you　like．’

I　kissed　her　cheek．It　was　true　I　wanted　to　kiss　her　very　much，but　I　felt　that　kiss　was　almost　like　a　coin　thrown　to　a　poor　common　boy，and　not　worth　anything．

I　didn't　see　the　pale　young　gentleman　there　again．I　continued　my　visits　to　Miss　Havisham　for　almost　a　year．She　took　great　pleasure　in　watching　my　growing　admiration　for　Estella，and　my　unhappiness　when　Estella　laughed　at　me．

‘Go　on，my　love，she　used　to　whisper　in　Estella's　ear，‘break　men's　hearts　and　have　no　mercy！I　want　my　revenge！'

Meanwhile　my　sister　and　that　fool　Pumblechook　never　stopped　discussing　Miss　Havisham　and　her　considerable　wealth．They　were　sure　I　could　expect　a　large　present　from　her，either　before　or　after　her　death．But　one　day　Miss　Havisham　decided　it　was　time　to　apprentice　me　to　Joe，and　told　me　to　bring　him　to　her　house．My　sister　was　very　angry　because　she　was　not　invited　as　well．

Dear　old　Joe　simply　could　not　believe　his　eyes　when　he　and　I　entered　Miss　Havisham　s　room　the　next　day．The　darkness，the　candles，the　dust，the　ancient　furniture，the　old　lady　in　her　bride's　dress－it　was　almost　too　much　for　Joe's　limited　intelligence．That　may　be　why　he　refused　to　speak　to　Miss　Havisham　directly，but　spoke　only　to　me　during　the　conversation．I　was　ashamed　of　him，especially　as　I　could　see　Estella　laughing　at　me　over　Miss　Havisham's　shoulder．

‘So，’began　Miss　Havisham，‘you，Joe　Gargery，black－smith，are　ready　to　take　Pip　as　an　apprentice？'

‘You　know，Pip，’replied　Joe，‘how　we've　both　been　looking　forward　to　working　together．Haven't　we，Pip？'

‘You　don't　expect　any　payment　when　he　becomes　your　ap－prentice？'she　continued．

‘Now，Pip，’said　Joe，rather　offended，‘that　question　doesn't　need　an　answer。　Between　you　and　me。　Does　it，Pip？’

Miss　Havisham　looked　kindly　at　Joe。　I　think　she　understood　more　of　his　character　than　Estella　did．She　picked　up　a　little　bag　from　the　table．‘Pip　has　earned　something　here．There　are　twenty…five　pounds　in　this　bag　。Give　it　to　your　master，　Pip．'

The　strange　situation　seemed　to　have　made　Joe　go　mad。Even　now，he　insisted　on　speaking　to　me．

This　is　very　generous　of　you，Pip．Very　generous．Now，old　boy，we　must　try　to　do　our　duty　to　each　other　Mustn't　we，Pip？’

‘Goodbye，Pip！’said　Miss　Havisham．‘Take　them　out，Estella！’

‘Shall　I　come　again？I　asked．

‘No，Gargery　is　your　master　now。　Gargery！Remember，I'm　giving　you　this　money　because　he　has　been　a　good　boy．Don't　expect　anything　more！’

Somehow　I　managed　to　get　Joe　out　of　the　house，and　in　the　daylight　he　gradually　became　normal　again．In　fact　I　think　his　intelligence　was　improved　by　the　interview，because　as　we　walked　home　he　invented　a　surprisingly　clever　plan．

‘Well，'cried　my　sister，as　we　arrived，‘so　you've　finished　visiting　your　fine　ladies，have　you？　I'm　surprised　you　bother　to　come　home　at　all！’

‘Miss　Havisham　asked　me　to　send，'said　Joe，as　if　trying　to　remember　the　exact　words，‘her…best　wishes，was　it，Pip？to　Mrs　J．Gargery…'

‘Best　wishes，'I　agreed．

‘And　apologized　for　not　being　well　enough，what　was　it，Pip？’

‘To　have　the　pleasure，'I　said．

‘To　have　the　pleasure　of　a　lady　's　company，’he　nodded，giving　the　impression　of　a　man　glad　to　pass　on　a　message　ocr－rectly　。

‘Well！’said　my　sister，pleased．‘She　could　have　sent　that　message　earlier，but　better　late　than　never．And　what　did　she　give　the　boy？’

‘Nothing，’said　Joe　firmly，stopping　Mrs　Joe　from　speaking　by　raising　his　hand．‘What　she　gave，she　gave　to　his　sister，Mrs　J．Gargery．That'　s　what　she　said．Didn't　she，Pip？’

‘And　how　much　did　she　give？asked　my　sister，laughing．She　was　actually　laughing！

‘What　would　you　say　to　ten　pounds？’　asked　Joe．

‘Not　bad，’said　my　sister．

‘It's　more　than　that．What　would　you　say　to　twenty　pounds？’　‘That's　good！’said　my　sister，　‘Well，here　you　are，it　s　twenty…five　pounds！’said　Joe　de－lightedly，handing　the　bag　to　my　sister．

　　



　


5　　Pip's　sister　is　attacked

　　

I　n　a　single　year　everything　had　changed．Before　I　went　to　Miss　Havisham　's　and　met　Estella，I　had　always　wanted　to　be　apprenticed　to　Joe，and　I　had　always　been　happy　at　home，in　spite　of　my　sister'　s　scolding．Now　I　was　ashamed　of　my　home　and　my　work．I　was　very　miserable．Because　of　Joe，however，I　stayed　at　the　forge　and　did　my　best　to　work　hard　。I'm　glad　that　I　never　told　him　how　unhappy　I　was　then。　I　tried　to　follow　his　example　and　become　an　honest，happy，hardworking　man．But　all　the　time　I　thought　of　Estella．My　worst　fear　was　that　one　day　she　would　come　to　the　forge　and　see　me　working　as　a　common　blacksmith，with　black　face　and　hands．She　would　certainly　turn　away　in　disgust．

In　the　evenings　I　studied　as　hard　as　I　could，educating　my…self　for　Estella．Whatever　I　learnt，I　shared　with　Joe，not，I'm　afraid，so　that　he　would　be　more　educated，but　so　that　I　would　be　less　ashamed　of　him　in　front　of　Estella．One　Sunday　Joe　and　I　went　out　on　the　marshes，as　usual，to　study　together．I　don't　think　he　ever　remembered　anything　from　one　week　to　the　next，but　he　smoked　his　pipe　comfortably，looking　as　intelli－gent　as　he　could　。　I　had　a　question　I　had　been　intending　to　ask　him．

‘Joe；do　you　think　I　should　visit　Miss　Havisham　again？’

‘Well，Pip，’said　Joe，‘will　she　think　you　expect　her　to　give　you　something？　She　told　me　she　wouldn't　give　you　any－thing　else．'

‘But，Joe，　I've　been　apprenticed　nearly　a　year　now，and　I've　never　thanked　her！’

‘That's　true，Pip，'said　Joe　slowly．

‘Could　you　give　me　a　half　day's　holiday　tomorrow，Joe？　I　would　like　to　visit　Miss　Est…Havisham．'

‘Her　name　isn't　Estavisham，as　far　as　I　know，Pip，’said　Joe　very　seriously．

‘I　know，Joe！Please，Joe！’

‘All　right，Pip，but　if　she　isn't　happy　to　see　you，　better　not　go　again　。'

Joe　had　another　blacksmith　working　for　him　at　the　forge．His　name　was　Orlick，and　he　had　no　friends　or　family　in　the　village。He　was　a　big，strong，lazy　man，who　moved　about　in　a　strangely　unhurried　way，his　shoulders　bent　and　his　eyes　on　the　ground　。For　some　reason　he　never　liked　me，even　when　I　was　a　child，　and　when　I　became　Joe's　apprentice，he　seemed　to　hate　me．When　he　heard　about　my　half…day　holiday，he　threw　down　his　hammer　angrily　。

‘Come　now，master！'he　said　to　Joe。　‘　If　young　Pip　's　having　a　holiday，give　me　one　too！'

‘Well，’nodded　Joe　after　thinking　for　a　moment，‘I　will．'

Just　then　my　sister，who　had　secretly　been　listening　outside　the　forge，called　to　Joe　through　one　of　the　windows，‘You　fool！You　think　you'　re　a　rich　man，giving　a　holiday　to　a　lazy　man　like　that　Orlick！I　wish　I　were　his　master！I'd　soon　show　him！’　‘You　want　to　be　everybody's　master！'　Orlick　told　her　angrily．‘And　what