远大前程-第7章

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te　a　letter—’

‘Which　she　received　at　twenty　to　nine，　when　she　was　dressing　for　her　wedding？’　I　said．

‘Yes，so　she　stopped　the　clocks　at　that　moment．She　was　very　ill　for　a　while，　and　since　then　has　not　seen　daylight．　People　think　that　her　half－brother　sent　the　man　to　get　money　from　her，　and　that　he　shared　the　profits．　Perhaps　he　hated　her　for　inheriting　most　of　the　Havisham　fortune．　Nobody　knows　what　happened　to　the　two　men．　So　now　you　know　as　much　as　I　do！’

We　talked　of　other　things．I　asked　Herbert　what　his　profession　was．

‘Oh，working　in　the　City，’　he　said　happily．‘Insuring　ships．There's　a　lot　of　money　in　that，　you　know．　Huge　profits！’

I　began　to　think　that　Herbert　must　have　greater　expectations　than　I　had．

‘Where　are　your　ships　at　the　moment？’　I　asked　admiringly．

‘Oh，　I　haven't　started　yet．I'm　working　in　a　counting…house　just　now．　They　don't　pay　me　much，　but　I'm　looking　about　me　for　a　good　opportunity．　Then　I'll　make　my　fortune！’

Looking　around　the　room，　at　the　old，　worn　furniture，I　realized　that　Herbert　must　be　very　poor．And　although　he　seemed　full　of　hope　for　the　future，　somehow　I　thought　he　would　never　be　very　rich　or　successful．

He　and　I　spent　a　happy　weekend　visiting　London　together．Although　it　was　all　very　exciting，　I　could　not　avoid　noticing　the　dirt　and　bad　smells　and　heat，　and　I　compared　it　sadly　with　my　village　home，　which　now　seemed　so　far　away．

　　


8　　Visiting　Mr　Wemmick　and　Mr　Jaggers

　　

Herbert　introduced　me　to　his　father，　who　lived　the　other　side　of　London，　in　Hammersmith．　In　the　next　few　months　I　studied　hard　with　Mr　Pocket，　who　was　always　a　most　kind　and　helpful　teacher．I　divided　my　time　between　Herbert's　and　his　father's　home．　If　I　needed　money，I　collected　it　from　Wemmick　at　Mr　Jaggers’　office，　and　there　seemed　to　be　plenty　of　money　available．

There　were　two　other　gentlemen　studying　at　Mr　Pocket's．They　were　quite　different　from　each　other．　Bentley　Drummle　came　from　a　rich　family　living　in　the　country．　He　was　lazy，proud，　mean　and　stupid．I　much　preferred　Startop，　who　was　a　pleasant，　sensitive　young　man．He　and　I　used　to　row　our　boats　up　and　down　the　river　together．　But　Herbert　was　my　greatest　friend，　and　we　used　to　spend　most　of　our　time　with　each　other．

One　day　when　I　was　collecting　my　money　from　Wemmick，he　invited　me　to　his　house　at　Walworth，　a　village　outside　Lon－don．

‘You　don't　mind　walking　there，　Mr　Pip？’he　asked．‘I　like　to　get　some　exercise　if　I　can．For　dinner　we're　having　a　roast　chicken．　I　think　it'll　be　a　good　one　because　I　got　it　from　one　of　our　clients．　I　always　accept　any　little　presents　from　clients，　especially　if　it's　cash，　or　anything　that　can　easily　be　changed　into　cash．　You　see　these　rings　I'm　wearing？　Given　by　clients，　just　before　they　died．All　hanged，　they　were．By　the　way，I　hope　you　won't　mind　meeting　my　aged　parent？’

‘No，of　course　not，’I　said　quickly．

‘You　haven't　had　dinner　with　Mr　Jaggers　yet？’　Wemmick　continued．‘He's　inviting　you，　and　the　other　three　young　gentlemen，　tomorrow．　There'll　be　good　food　and　drink　at　his　house．　But　I'll　tell　you　something，　Mr　Pip．When　you're　there，　look　at　his　housekeeper．’

‘Why？’　I　asked．‘Is　there　something　strange　about　her？’

‘She's　like　a　wild　animal．But　Mr　Jaggers　has　trained　her！Oh　yes！He's　stronger，and　cleverer，　and　more　complicated　than　anyone　else　in　London．And　you　know，another　strange　thing　about　him，　he　never　locks　his　doors　or　windows　at　night．’

‘Isn't　he　ever　robbed？’I　asked　in　surprise．

‘All　the　thieves　in　London　know　where　he　lives，but　none　of　them　would　dare　to　rob　him．　They　are　all　afraid　of　him，　you　see．They　know　he　wouldn't　rest　until　he　had　seen　them　hanged．　He's　a　great　man，　Mr　Pip．’

Wemmick's　house　at　Walworth　was　a　tiny　wooden　house　in　the　middle　of　a　garden．　On　top　of　the　roof　was　a　small　gun．

‘We　fire　the　gun　at　nine　o’clock　every　evening，’said　Wemmick　proudly．‘And　behind　the　house－I　call　it　the　Castle－I　keep　animals，　and　grow　my　own　vegetables．So，in　case　of　enemy　attack，　we　can　always　eat　our　own　food．What　do　you　think　of　it？’

I　congratulated　him　on　his　home．　He　was　clearly　delighted　to　show　a　visitor　all　his　ideas　and　improvements．

‘I　do　everything　myself，you　know，’　he　said．‘It　helps　me　forget　the　office　for　a　while．　Would　you　mind　being　introduced　to　the　Aged　now？　He　would　like　it　very　much．’

So　we　entered　the　Castle，　where　we　found　a　cheerful　old　man　sitting　by　the　fire．

‘well，aged　parent，’　said　Wemmick，‘how　are　you？’

‘Very　well，　John，’　replied　the　old　man，nodding　happily．

‘Here's　Mr　Pip，aged　parent．　Nod　your　head　at　him，　Mr　Pip，he's　completely　deaf，but　he　likes　to　see　people　nod　at　him．’

‘This　is　a　fine　house　of　my　son's，　sir，’　cried　the　old　man，nodding　back　at　me．‘It　should　be　kept　by　the　nation　for　the　public　to　visit　after　my　son's　death．’

‘You're　proud　of　it，aren't　you，Aged？’said　Wemmick，his　face　losing　all　its　usual　hardness　as　he　looked　at　the　old　man．

‘I　hope　Mr　Jaggers　admires　your　home，　Mr　Wemmick？’　I　asked．

‘He's　never　been　here．　Never　met　the　Aged．Never　been　invited．　No，　the　office　is　one　thing，　and　private　life　is　another．　At　the　office　I　never　speak　of　the　Castle，　and　at　the　Castle　I　don't　think　about　the　office．’

The　Aged　was　obviously　looking　forward　to　the　evening　ceremony　of　firing　the　gun．　At　nine　o’clock　exactly　Wemmick　fired　it．As　the　tiny　house　shook，　the　Aged　jumped　up　and　down　in　his　armchair，　crying　excitedly，‘I　heard　it！That's　the　gun！’

Supper　was　excellent，　and　I　spent　the　night　in　the　smallest　bedroom　I　had　ever　seen．　Next　morning，　as　Wemmick　and　I　walked　back　to　London，　I　noticed　his　face　becoming　dryer　and　harder，　and　his　mouth　becoming　more　like　a　post…box　again．When　we　arrived　at　the　office，nobody　could　have　guessed　that　he　had　a　home，　or　an　aged　parent，　or　any　interests　at　all　out－side　his　work．

Wemmick　was　right　in　saying　that　Mr　Jaggers　would　invite　me　to　dinner．　Startop，　Drummle，　Herbert　and　I　were　asked　to　go　to　the　office　at　six　o’clock　the　next　evening．There　we　found　Jaggers　washing　his　hands　and　face　carefully　with　per－fumed　soap．　He　did　this　every　evening　before　going　home．　He　seemed　to　be　washing　away　his　clients　and　his　work，　like　dirt．We　all　walked　to　his　house　together．

The　housekeeper　brought　in　the　first　dish．　She　was　about　forty，with　a　strange　wild　expression　on　her　pale　face．　She　seemed　almost　afraid　of　her　master，　and　looked　anxiously　at　him　whenever　she　entered　the　room．

The　food　was　indeed　very　good，　and　the　conversation　was　cheerful．　But　somehow　Mr　Jaggers　made　us　all　show　the　worst　side　of　our　characters，　and　encouraged　Drummle，　who　we　all　disliked，to　annoy　us．　When　Drummle　stupidly　said　that　he　was　stronger　than　any　of　us，　we　all　protested，　foolishly　showing　each　other　our　muscles　to　prove　how　strong　we　were．Suddenly　Mr　Jaggers　clapped　his　large　hand　on　the　housekeeper's，as　she　was　removing　a　dish．　We　stopped　talking　immediately．

‘Gentlemen，’　he　said，‘look　at　my　housekeeper　here．She　is　stronger　than　any　of　you．Molly，　show　them　your　wrists．’

‘No，　please，　master，’　she　begged，　trying　to　pull　away，　but　he　held　her　hand　firmly．

‘Show　them，Molly，’　he　said，and　she　held　her　wrists　out　to　us．‘I've　never　seen　stronger　hands　than　these，’he　said．There　was　silence　for　a　few　minutes．‘All　right，　Molly，　you　can　go，’he　said，　and　she　hurried　out．

During　the　rest　of　the　dinner，　Mr　Jaggers　continued　to　enjoy　watching　us　quarrelling　with　Drummle．He　gave　the　impression，surprisingly，　of　liking　Drummle　very　much．But　I　was　glad　when　the　dinner　was　over，　and　Herbert　and　I　could　walk　quietly　back　to　our　rooms　together．

　　



　


9　　A　visit　from　Joe

　　

‘My　dear　Pip，Mr　Gargery　asks　me　to　tell　you　he　will　be　in　Lon－don　soon，and　could　visit　you　at　9　o’clock　on　Tuesday　morning，at　Mr　Herbert　Pocket's　rooms，　if　that　is　all　right　with　you．He　and　I　talk　about　you　every　night，　and　wonder　what　you　are　saying　and　doing．

Best　wishes，

Biddy．

P．S．I　hope　you　will　not　refuse　to　see　him，　even　though　you　are　a　gentleman　now．　He　is　such　a　good　man．’

I　received　this　letter　on　Monday，　and　realized　that　Joe　would　arrive　the　next　day．　I　am　sorry　to　confess　that　I　did　not　look　forward　to　seeing　him　at　all．If　I　could　have　kept　him　away　by　paying　money，　I　certainly　would　have　paid　money．I　knew　that　his　clothes，　his　manners　and　uneducated　way　of　speaking　would　make　me　ashamed　of　him．　Luckily　Herbert　would　not　laugh　at　him．

At　nine　o’clock　the　next　morning　I　heard　Joe's　clumsy　boots　on　the　stairs，　and　at　last　he　entered　Herbert's　rooms．

‘Pip，　how　are　you，　Pip？’　He　shook　both　my　hands　together，　his　good　honest　face　shining　with　happiness．

‘I'm　glad　to　see　you，　Joe．Give　me　your　hat．’

But　Joe　insisted　on　holding　it　carefully　in　front　of　him．He　was　wearing　his　best　suit，　which　did　not　fit　him　at　all．

‘Well！What　a　gentleman　you　are　now，　Pip！’

‘And　you　look　wonderfully　well，　Joe．’

‘Yes，　thank　God．And　your　poor　sister　is　no　worse．　And　Biddy　is　as　hard－working　as　ever．　But　Wopsle　isn't　our　church　clerk　any　longer！　He's　become　an　actor！Acting　in　one　of　your　London　theatres，　he　is！’Joe's　eyes　rolled　around　the　room，noticing　the　expensive　furniture　I　had　bught　recently．

‘Do　sit　down　to　breakfast，　Mr　Gargery，’said　Herbert　politely．Joe　looked　round　desperately　for　a　place　to　put　his　hat，and　finally　laid　it　lovingly　on　a　shelf．　Breakfast　was　a　painful　experience　for　me．Joe　waved　his　fork　in　the　air　so　much，　and　dropped　so　much　more　than　he　ate，　that　I　was　glad　when　Her－bert　left　to　go　to　work．I　was　not　sensitive　enough　to　realize　that　it　was　all　my　fault，　and　that　if　I　hadn't　considered　him　common，　he　wouldn't　have　been　so　clumsy．

‘As　we　are　now　alone，　sir——’began　Joe．

‘Joe，’　I　said　crossly，‘how　can　you　call　me　sir？’

He　looked　at　me　quietly　for　a　moment．‘Wouldn't　have　come，　you　see，’he　said　slowly　and　carefully．‘wouldn't　have　had　the　pleasure　of　breakfast　with　you　gentlemen．　But　I　had　to　come．Got　a　message　for　you，　Pip．Miss　Havisham　says　Es…tella's　come　home　and　would　be　glad　to　see　you．’

I　felt　the　blood　rush　to　my　face　as　I　heard　her　name．

‘And　now　I've　given　my　message，’said　Joe，standing　up　and　picking　up　his　hat．‘Pip，I　wish　you　even　more　success．’

‘But　you　aren't　leaving　already，　Joe？’I　protested．

‘Yes，　I　am，’he　said　firmly．　Our　eyes　met，　and　all　the　‘sir’　melted　out　of　his　honest　heart　as　he　gave　me　his　hand．‘Pip，dear　old　boy，life　is　full　of　so　many　goodbyes．I'm　a　blacksmith，　and　you're　a　gentleman．　We　must　live　apart．I'm　not　proud，it's　just　that　I　want　to　be　in　the　right　place．I'm　wrong　in　these　clothes，　and　I'm　wrong　in　London，but　I'm　fine　at　the　forge，　or　in　the　kitchen，　or　on　the　marshes．　You　won't　find　so　much　wrong　with　me　if　you　come　to　see　Joe，the　blacksmith，　at　the　old　forge，doing　the　old　work．I　know　I'm　stupid，　but　I　think　I've　understood　this　at　last．　And　so　God　bless　you，　Pip，　dear