"Now, Pip," said Mr. Jaggers, "put this case. Put the case that awoman, under such circumstances as you have mentioned, held herchild concealed, and was obliged to communicate the fact to herlegal adviser, on his representing to her that he must know, withan eye to the latitude of his defence, how the fact stood aboutthat child. Put the case that at the same time he held a trust tofind a child for an eccentric rich lady to adopt and bring up."

"I follow you, sir."

"Put the case that he lived in an atmosphere of evil, and that allhe saw of children, was, their being generated in great numbers forcertain destruction. Put the case that he often saw childrensolemnly tried at a criminal bar, where they were held up to beseen; put the case that he habitually knew of their beingimprisoned, whipped, transported, neglected, cast out, qualified inall ways for the hangman, and growing up to be hanged. Put the casethat pretty nigh all the children he saw in his daily businesslife, he had reason to look upon as so much spawn, to develop intothe fish that were to come to his net - to be prosecuted, defended,forsworn, made orphans, bedevilled somehow."

"I follow you, sir."

"Put the case, Pip, that here was one pretty little child out ofthe heap, who could be saved; whom the father believed dead, anddared make no stir about; as to whom, over the mother, the legaladviser had this power: "I know what you did, and how you did it.You came so and so, this was your manner of attack and this themanner of resistance, you went so and so, you did such and suchthings to divert suspicion. I have tracked you through it all, andI tell it you all. Part with the child, unless it should benecessary to produce it to clear you, and then it shall beproduced. Give the child into my hands, and I will do my best tobring you off. If you are saved, your child is saved too; if youare lost, your child is still saved." Put the case that this wasdone, and that the woman was cleared."

"I understand you perfectly."

"But that I make no admissions?"

"That you make no admissions." And Wemmick repeated, "Noadmissions."

"Put the case, Pip, that passion and the terror of death had alittle shaken the woman's intellect, and that when she was set atliberty, she was scared out of the ways of the world and went tohim to be sheltered. Put the case that he took her in, and that hekept down the old wild violent nature whenever he saw an inkling ofits breaking out, by asserting his power over her in the old way.Do you comprehend the imaginary case?"

"Quite."

"Put the case that the child grew up, and was married for money.That the mother was still living. That the father was still living.That the mother and father unknown to one another, were dwellingwithin so many miles, furlongs, yards if you like, of one another.That the secret was still a secret, except that you had got wind ofit. Put that last case to yourself very carefully."

"I do."

"I ask Wemmick to put it to himself very carefully."

And Wemmick said, "I do."

"For whose sake would you reveal the secret? For the father's? Ithink he would not be much the better for the mother. For themother's? I think if she had done such a deed she would be saferwhere she was. For the daughter's? I think it would hardly serveher, to establish her parentage for the information of her husband,and to drag her back to disgrace, after an escape of twenty years,pretty secure to last for life. But, add the case that you hadloved her, Pip, and had made her the subject of those 'poor dreams'which have, at one time or another, been in the heads of more menthan you think likely, then I tell you that you had better - andwould much sooner when you had thought well of it - chop off thatbandaged left hand of yours with your bandaged right hand, and thenpass the chopper on to Wemmick there, to cut that off, too."

I looked at Wemmick, whose face was very grave. He gravely touchedhis lips with his forefinger. I did the same. Mr. Jaggers did thesame. "Now, Wemmick," said the latter then, resuming his usualmanner, "what item was it you were at, when Mr. Pip came in?"

Standing by for a little, while they were at work, I observed thatthe odd looks they had cast at one another were repeated severaltimes: with this difference now, that each of them seemedsuspicious, not to say conscious, of having shown himself in a weakand unprofessional light to the other. For this reason, I suppose,they were now inflexible with one another; Mr. Jaggers being highlydictatorial, and Wemmick obstinately justifying himself wheneverthere was the smallest point in abeyance for a moment. I had neverseen them on such ill terms; for generally they got on very wellindeed together.

But, they were both happily relieved by the opportune appearance ofMike, the client with the fur cap and the habit of wiping his noseon his sleeve, whom I had seen on the very first day of myappearance within those walls. This individual, who, either in hisown person or in that of some member of his family, seemed to bealways in trouble (which in that place meant Newgate), called toannounce that his eldest daughter was taken up on suspicion ofshop-lifting. As he imparted this melancholy circumstance toWemmick, Mr. Jaggers standing magisterially before the fire andtaking no share in the proceedings, Mike's eye happened to twinklewith a tear.

"What are you about?" demanded Wemmick, with the utmostindignation. "What do you come snivelling here for?"

"I didn't go to do it, Mr. Wemmick."

"You did," said Wemmick. "How dare you? You're not in a fit stateto come here, if you can't come here without spluttering like a badpen. What do you mean by it?"

"A man can't help his feelings, Mr. Wemmick," pleaded Mike.

"His what?" demanded Wemmick, quite savagely. "Say that again!"

"Now, look here my man," said Mr. Jaggers, advancing a step, andpointing to the door. "Get out of this office. I'll have nofeelings here. Get out."

"It serves you right," said Wemmick, "Get out."

So the unfortunate Mike very humbly withdrew, and Mr. Jaggers andWemmick appeared to have re-established their good understanding,and went to work again with an air of refreshment upon them as ifthey had just had lunch.

Chapter 52

From Little Britain, I went, with my cheque in my pocket, to MissSkiffins's brother, the accountant; and Miss Skiffins's brother,the accountant, going straight to Clarriker's and bringingClarriker to me, I had the great satisfaction of concluding thatarrangement. It was the only good thing I had done, and the onlycompleted thing I had done, since I was first apprised of my greatexpectations.

Clarriker informing me on that occasion that the affairs of theHouse were steadily progressing, that he would now be able toestablish a small branch-house in the East which was much wantedfor the extension of the business, and that Herbert in his newpartnership capacity would go out and take charge of it, I foundthat I must have prepared for a separation from my friend, eventhough my own affairs had been more settled. And now indeed I feltas if my last anchor were loosening its hold, and I should soon bedriving with the winds and waves.

But, there was recompense in the joy with which Herbert would comehome of a night and tell me of these changes, little imagining thathe told me no news, and would sketch airy pictures of himselfconducting Clara Barley to the land of the Arabian Nights, and ofme going out to join them (with a caravan of camels, I believe),and of our all going up the Nile and seeing wonders. Without beingsanguine as to my own part in these bright plans, I felt thatHerbert's way was clearing fast, and that old Bill Barley had butto stick to his pepper and rum, and his daughter would soon behappily provided for.

We had now got into the month of March. My left arm, though itpresented no bad symptoms, took in the natural course so long toheal that I was still unable to get a coat on. My right arm wastolerably restored; - disfigured, but fairly serviceable.

On a Monday morning, when Herbert and I were at breakfast, Ireceived the following letter from Wemmick by the post.

"Walworth. Burn this as soon as read. Early in the week, or sayWednesday, you might do what you know of, if you felt disposed totry it. Now burn."

When I had shown this to Herbert and had put it in the fire - butnot before we had both got it by heart - we considered what to do.For, of course my being disabled could now be no longer kept out ofview.

"I have thought it over, again and again," said Herbert, "and Ithink I know a better course than taking a Thames waterman. TakeStartop. A good fellow, a skilled hand, fond of us, andenthusiastic and honourable."

I had thought of him, more than once.

"But how much would you tell him, Herbert?"

"It is necessary to tell him very little. Let him suppose it a merefreak, but a secret one, until the morning comes: then let him knowthat there is urgent reason for your getting Provis aboard andaway. You go with him?"

"No doubt."

"Where?"

It had seemed to me, in the many anxious considerations I had giventhe point, almost indifferent what port we made for - Hamburg,Rotterdam, Antwerp - the place signified little, so that he was gotout of England. Any foreign steamer that fell in our way and wouldtake us up, would do. I had always proposed to myself to get himwell down the river in the boat; certainly well beyond Gravesend,which was a critical place for search or inquiry if suspicion wereafoot. As foreign steamers would leave London at about the time ofhigh-water, our plan would be to get down the river by a previousebb-tide, and lie by in some quiet spot until we could pull off toone. The time when one would be due where we lay, wherever thatmight be, could be calculated pretty nearly, if we made inquiriesbeforehand.

Herbert assented to all this, and we went out immediately afterbreakfast to pursue our investigations. We found that a steamer forHamburg was likely to suit our purpose best, and we directed ourthoughts chiefly to that vessel. But we noted down what otherforeign steamers would leave London with the same tide, and wesatisfied ourselves that we knew the build and colour of each. Wethen separated for a few hours; I, to get at once such passports aswere necessary; Herbert, to see Startop at his lodgings. We bothdid what we had to do without any hindrance, and when we met againat one o'clock reported it done. I, for my part, was prepared withpassports; Herbert had seen Startop, and he was more than ready tojoin.

Those two should pull a pair of oars, we settled, and I wouldsteer; our charge would be sitter, and keep quiet; as speed was notour object, we should make way enough. We arranged that Herbertshould not come home to dinner before going to Mill Pond Bank thatevening; that he should not go there at all, to-morrow evening,Tuesday; that he should prepare Provis to come down to some Stairshard by the house, on Wednesday, when he saw us approach, and notsooner; that all the arrangements with him should be concluded thatMonday night; and that he should be communicated with no more inany way, until we took him on board.

These precautions well understood by both of us, I went home.

On opening the outer door of our chambers with my key, I found aletter in the box, directed to me; a very dirty letter, though notill-written. It had been delivered by hand (of course since I lefthome), and its contents were these:

"If you are not afraid to come to the old marshes to-night ortomorrow night at Nine, and to come to the little sluice-house bythe limekiln, you had better come. If you want informationregarding your uncle Provis, you had much better come and tell noone and lose no time. You must come alone. Bring this with you."

I had had load enough upon my mind before the receipt of thisstrange letter. What to do now, I could not tell. And the worstwas, that I must decide quickly, or I should miss the afternooncoach, which would take me down in time for to-night. To-morrownight I could not think of going, for it would be too close uponthe time of the flight. And again, for anything I knew, theproffered information might have some important bearing on theflight itself.

If I had had ample time for consideration, I believe I should stillhave gone. Having hardly any time for consideration - my watchshowing me that the coach started within half an hour - I resolvedto go. I should certainly not have gone, but for the reference tomy Uncle Provis; that, coming on Wemmick's letter and the morning'sbusy preparation, turned the scale.

It is so difficult to become clearly possessed of the contents ofalmost any letter, in a violent hurry, that I had to read thismysterious epistle again, twice, before its injunction to me to besecret got mechanically into my mind. Yielding to it in the samemechanical kind of way, I left a note in pencil for Herbert,telling him that as I should be so soon going away, I knew not forhow long, I had decided to hurry down and back, to ascertain formyself how Miss Havisham was faring. I had then barely time to getmy great-coat, lock up the chambers, and make for the coach-officeby the short by-ways. If I had taken a hackney-chariot and gone bythe streets, I should have missed my aim; going as I did, I caughtthe coach just as it came out of the yard. I was the only insidepassenger, jolting away knee-deep in straw, when I came to myself.

For, I really had not been myself since the receipt of the letter;it had so bewildered me ensuing on the hurry of the morning. Themorning hurry and flutter had been great, for, long and anxiouslyas I had waited for Wemmick, his hint had come like a surprise atlast. And now, I began to wonder at myself for being in the coach,and to doubt whether I had sufficient reason for being there, andto consider whether I should get out presently and go back, and toargue against ever heeding an anonymous communication, and, inshort, to pass through all those phases of contradiction andindecision to which I suppose very few hurried people arestrangers. Still, the reference to Provis by name, masteredeverything. I reasoned as I had reasoned already without knowing it- if that be reasoning - in case any harm should befall him throughmy not going, how could I ever forgive myself!

Title: Great Expectations
Author: Charles Dickens
Viewed 221109 times

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