Great Expectations, Page 2

I brought Joe to Miss Havisham's room the very next day. Joe was nervous. He twisted his cap in his hands. He looked at me when he answered Miss Havisham's questions.

  "You raised this boy to be your apprentice," began Miss Havisham. "Is that right, Mr. Gargery?"

  "You know, Pip," replied Joe, looking at me, "we've always been friends. It would be a lark to work together. You want to, don't you, Pip?"

  I tried to get Joe to speak to Miss Havisham instead of me, but he wouldn't. His shyness made me ashamed. Especially when I saw that Estella was laughing at us.

  "I want you to be Mr. Gargery's apprentice. Here is some money," said Miss Havisham. She dropped a sack of coins into my hand.

  "You have earned it, Pip. Give the money to your new master. You will make a fine blacksmith one day."

  After that day my visits ended. I took my place at the forge. I welded horseshoes, buckets, and machinery. My heavy heart made the hammers and tools I worked on seem as light as a feather.

  I lived in fear that one day Estella would peek in the window and see me working. My hands and face would be black from coal. Estella would despise me more than she already did. Then she would run away in disgust--and I would never see her again.

  One day blended into another. About a year later, I asked Joe if I could visit Miss Havisham.

  "She might think you want something," he replied.

  "But I have never thanked her or shown that I remember her," I said.

  I missed my visits to that strange house. Most of all, I missed Estella.

  "Since we aren't so busy right now, Joe," I said, "I would like to take half a day off tomorrow and call on Miss Est--Havisham."

  "Her name ain't Estavisham," said Joe, with a twinkle in his eye. "Unless someone has given her a new name."

  "I know, Joe, I know," I said. "But may I go?"

  Joe gave me the time off. Orlick, Joe's other worker, demanded the same. But my sister told Joe not to give it to him. My sister did not like Orlick. She thought he was lazy. She and Orlick were always fighting. In the end, Joe gave Orlick the time off to keep him happy.

  I couldn't wait to see Estella again. I scrubbed the grit from my hands and put on my clothes with the least patches and tears.

  When I arrived at Miss Havisham's, she told me that Estella was in Europe.

  "She's getting an education," said Miss Havisham. "She's prettier than ever, and admired by all who see her. Do you feel that you have lost her?"

  I didn't know what to say. I left Miss Havisham's more unhappy about my home and my life than ever before.

  A heavy mist hung in the air. Around a bend in the road, I met Orlick.

  "The guns are going again," he said.

  "At the Hulks?" I asked.

  "Aye!" he replied. "Some of the birds have flown their cages!"

  I immediately remembered the night in the graveyard with my convict.

  I was almost home when a neighbor ran up to me.

  "Convicts broke into your house when Gargery was out. Somebody was attacked and hurt!" he cried.

  I ran straight home. Practically the whole village was in our yard. I found Joe and a doctor in the kitchen. My sister was lying on the floor. She looked as if she was dead. She had been hit many times on her head and back. Leg irons lay beside her. They had been filed through--a long time ago, Joe said.

  They were my convict's irons. But somehow I knew my convict didn't do this terrible thing. The attacker must have found the irons in the churchyard!

  Orlick hated my sister. He was the only man capable of such a dreadful crime, but there was no evidence to prove him guilty.

  I felt responsible because I had provided the weapon. For months, I wanted to tell Joe the story. But every day I kept silent.

  My sister lived, but never spoke again. Instead, she wrote messages on a slate. Now it took her a long time to understand things, and she became a patient and gentle woman. She never lost her temper again. She was sometimes unhappy, but never angry.

  Biddy, the schoolteacher's granddaughter, came to live with us. She helped me and Joe watch over my sister and tend to the household chores. Biddy was clever and kind, but not as outwardly beautiful as Estella. Her beauty was inside.

  How I wished I could love her as I loved Estella. I knew my life would be less painful if I could fall in love with simple, good-hearted Biddy.

  Chapter Four

  Leaving Home

  Four years later, a lawyer from London paid me a visit. I was still working with Joe in the forge. The lawyer's name was Mr. Jaggers. His news would change my life.

  "Joseph Gargery, my client would like to take this young fellow off your hands," he said. "He will be taken care of for the rest of his life. I am prepared to pay you for your loss."

  "I won't take money," said Joe. "I would never stand in Pip's way. If there is another future for Pip, he is free to go."

  Mr. Jaggers then turned to me.

  "You will soon receive a handsome sum," he said. "The person giving you this money wants you to be brought up as a gentleman--as a young fellow of great expectations."

  My dream had come true! I was so excited that I hardly heard what the lawyer said next.

  "Two conditions come with the gift," said Mr. Jaggers. "You must keep the name Pip, and your benefactor's name must be a secret. It will be told to you in time.

  "Everything has been arranged," continued Mr. Jaggers. "You will move to London. There you will be taught by Mr. Matthew Pocket and live with his son, Herbert."

  I knew that the Pockets were relatives of Miss Havisham. She must be my benefactor!

  Mr. Jaggers tossed a bag of coins on the workbench.

  "Buy new clothes," he ordered, looking me up and down. "You shouldn't come to London dressed in work clothes."

  "I am thunderstruck," said Joe.

  So was I. In my heart, I knew it was terrible to be so happy. I wanted to leave my dear, good Joe.

  "The sooner you leave, the better," said Mr. Jaggers. "Take a coach to London in one week and meet me at my office."

  He handed me his card and left.

  Joe and I ran to the house to tell Biddy the good news.

  My sister was sitting in her chair in the corner. Biddy was sitting closer to the fire, sewing.

  Joe burst into the room. He slapped his hat on the table.

  "Pip is now a gentleman of fortune," he announced, "and God bless him in it!"

  Biddy dropped her work and looked at me. Joe smiled at me. After a moment they both congratulated me. But there was a sadness in their words that made me angry. Why couldn't they be more happy for me? After all, this was the chance I had been waiting for all my life.

  At supper Joe and Biddy kept congratulating me. "You're going to be a gentleman," they said over and over. They seemed unable to believe that such a good thing could happen to me. Somehow I didn't like that much.

  That night, I lay on my bed feeling sad and lost. I couldn't understand it. On the first night of my bright fortunes, I felt lonelier than ever.

  I wondered if Miss Havisham had plans for me to marry Estella. This thought cheered me up, and I fell into a deep sleep.

  The next day I ordered new clothes from the tailor. They were made from the finest materials I had ever seen. They were also very expensive. The clothes cost more money than Joe earned in one month! Joe and Biddy were impressed when I showed them off.

  "I want to say good-bye to Miss Havisham," I told them, and hurried across town.

  When I arrived, Miss Havisham was using a cane to walk around the wedding feast room. She saw me and stopped at the rotten cake.

  "I have come into such good fortune since I last saw you, Miss Havisham," I said. "I am so grateful!"

  I made sure not to let on that I thought she was my benefactor.

  "Aye!" replied Miss Havisham. "Mr. Jaggers told me the news, Pip. So you are adopted by a rich person?"

  "Yes, Miss Havisham."

  "Not named?"

  "No, Miss Havisham.
"

  "And Mr. Jaggers is your guardian?"

  "Yes, Miss Havisham."

  "Well, you have a promising career before you," she said. "Good-bye, Pip! You will always keep the name of Pip, you know."

  She stretched out her hand. I went down on one knee and put her hand to my lips. There seemed to be no other way to thank her.

  On the morning of my trip to London, I hurried through breakfast. I was scared and excited at the same time. I couldn't wait to become a gentleman.

  I kissed my sister good-bye. Biddy had tried to tell her about my good fortune. My sister laughed and nodded as if she understood.

  I kissed Biddy and threw my arms around Joe. Then I quickly left.

  I walked by myself to the village. If I boarded the coach there, no one would see Joe's run-down house.

  On the way, I broke down in tears.

  "Good-bye, my dear friend Joe!" I whispered as the coach rolled into the countryside. My heart ached at leaving him.

  But each mile took me farther away from regret. The adventure of my life lay ahead of me!

  Chapter Five

  Miss Havisham's Story

  The trip to London took five hours, but it only seemed like five minutes. It was a little past noon when the four-horse coach rolled into the crowded streets of the big city.

  I was dropped off at Jaggers's office in a gloomy part of the city. I entered the front office and asked for Mr. Jaggers.

  "He is in court at present," said the clerk. "Are you Mr. Pip?"

  I said I was and he immediately grabbed his coat and hat.

  "We have been expecting your arrival. Mr. Jaggers told me to take you to your new home," the clerk said, leading me through the narrow, cobbled streets.

  We arrived at a neat little house. MR. POCKET, JUNIOR was painted on the front door and on the mailbox.

  "This is it," said the clerk. "I think you'll find everything in order." The clerk left, and I climbed the stairs.

  The front door was unlocked. I entered and looked around the rooms. I was writing my name in the dirt on a windowpane when I heard footsteps on the stairs.

  A young man entered, carrying two bags of groceries.

  "Mr. Pip?" he asked.

  "Mr. Pocket?" I replied.

  I looked into the man's familiar face. He looked into mine.

  "Well, I'll be," he said. "You're the boy I fought in Miss Havisham's courtyard!"

  "And so are you," I said, and laughed.

  "I heard you'd come into good fortune," said Herbert. "When I first met you, I'd been invited to play with Estella. It turned out that Miss Havisham didn't like me. But I don't care. She's a terror!"

  "Miss Havisham?" I asked.

  "I meant Estella. Miss Havisham taught her to hate men," he said.

  Over dinner, Herbert told me Miss Havisham's story.

  "Her father was a rich man. He had a daughter, Miss Havisham, by his first wife and a son by his second.

  "His son turned out badly. When Mr. Havisham died, he left his son just a little money. He gave most of the inheritance to Miss Havisham.

  "Her brother hated her for it," Herbert continued. "He convinced a friend to pretend to love her. The friend asked Miss Havisham to marry him. She accepted.

  "The day was set, the dress bought, and the guests invited. But the bridegroom never showed up. He wrote a letter to Miss Havisham that said he wouldn't marry her."

  Now I knew why Miss Havisham's clocks were stopped.

  "She must have received the letter when she was dressing for her wedding ... at twenty minutes to nine!" I exclaimed.

  "At that very hour and minute," said Herbert. "She stopped all the clocks, and never left the house again!"

  "You say Estella is not related to Miss Havisham," I said. "When was she adopted by her?"

  Herbert shrugged his shoulders.

  "I don't know," he said. "You know as much as I do now."

  The next day my studies began. Mr. Matthew Pocket, Herbert's father, was an excellent teacher. He taught me everything about being a gentleman. He gave me wonderful books to read--adventure stories, plays, essays, mysteries, and even comedies. He also showed me which clothes and shoes to buy, and he helped me decorate my room. He taught me how to act at parties. And Herbert taught me table manners!

  There were two other students in Mr. Pocket's small class, Bentley Drummle and Startop. Drummle was a nasty fellow. He was lazy and proud. I didn't like him at all.

  Startop was open and warm. We became friends. We went rowing in the evenings. Startop and I rowed my boat while Drummle rowed his own far behind us.

  One evening, Mr. Jaggers decided he wanted to meet my fellow students. He invited the three of us to his home for dinner.

  Startop, Drummle, and I met in front of Jaggers's house. It was impressive in size, but it needed painting and window cleaning.

  We knocked on the door, and Jaggers led us into the dining room. The table was already set for dinner.

  "Pip," said Mr. Jaggers, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Who are these fine young men?"

  I introduced Drummle and Startop and we all sat down to eat.

  Jaggers seemed to take to Drummle immediately. They spoke quietly between themselves.

  The housekeeper entered with the first course. She was about forty, tall and nimble. Her face was pale. Her large eyes were sad. But I sensed a fire beneath her quietness.

  Each time she returned with a new dish, I watched her. There was something familiar about her, but I couldnt put my finger on it. I was sure I had never seen her before.

  The evening came to an early end.

  "I am glad to see you all," said Mr. Jaggers. "Mr. Drummle, I drink to you. You will go far in life."

  I was astounded that a man as shrewd as Mr. Jaggers could be taken in by the sly Drummle. It turned out that he would not be the only one.

  Chapter Six

  A Visit from Joe

  One Monday morning I got a letter from Biddy.

  My dear Mr. Pip:

  Mr. Gargery asked me to write. He is going to London and would like to see you. He will call for you on Tuesday morning at nine o'clock.

  --Biddy

  P.S. I hope you will see him, even though you are now a gentleman. You have such a good heart, and he is a worthy, worthy man.

  Joe would be here tomorrow! I did not want to see him. He did not fit in with my new life. If I could have kept him away, I would have. Biddy was wrong. My heart was anything but good.

  I got up early Tuesday morning to clean my newly decorated rooms.

  Soon I heard Joe on the stairs. I knew it was Joe by his clumsy walk. His boots were too big for him.

  I greeted Joe at the door. He was wearing his best suit--the one he only wore to weddings and funerals. He wiped his feet over and over on the mat. I thought I would have to lift him off it to stop him.

  "Joe, how are you?" I asked.

  "Pip, how are you?" he replied.

  His face glowed with happiness. He came in and put his hat on the floor. He took both my hands and shook them up and down, as if I were a water pump!

  "I am glad to see you, Joe," I said. "Give me your hat."

  But Joe didn't want to part with his hat. He picked it up with both hands as if it were a bird's nest filled with eggs. He talked while awkwardly holding the hat.

  "You've grown," said Joe. "To be sure, you are an honor to your king and country."

  Joe's words made me uncomfortable. He wasn't acting like his old self.

  I introduced Joe to Herbert, who held out his hand. Joe backed away from it. He clutched his hat tighter.

  "Your servant, sir," said Joe, bowing slightly.

  "Do you take tea or coffee, Mr. Gargery?" asked Herbert.

  "Thankee, sir," said Joe, stiff from head to foot. "I'll have whatever you're having."

  "How about coffee?" suggested Herbert.

  "Thankee, sir," returned Joe, clearly unhappy with the choice. "You are kind to offer, but don't you find
coffee a little heating?"

  "How about tea, then?" asked Herbert, pouring it out.

  Joe put his hat on the mantel and sat down to breakfast.

  I was glad when Herbert left for work. Having the two of them at the same table made me nervous. I was impatient with Joe's ways and I'm afraid he knew it.

  "Now that we're alone, sir--" began Joe.

  "Joe," I interrupted, "how can you call me sir? You're like a father to me."

  "Now that we're alone," Joe began again, "I can tell you that I have a message from Miss Havisham."

  "Miss Havisham?" I asked with surprise.

  "Estella is home and would be glad to see you."

  I felt my face grow hot. If I had known Joe had this message for me, I would have been kinder to him, I'm sure.

  Joe stood and picked up his hat.

  "I wish you well and hope you prosper to greater and greater heights," he said.

  "But where are you going? Aren't you coming back for dinner, Joe?" I asked.

  "No, I am not," he said. "Pip, dear old chap, life has parted us. I'm wrong in these clothes. I'm wrong out of the forge and away from the marshes. You and me should not be together in London. God bless you, dear old Pip, God bless you!"

  Joe put his hat on. Then he touched me gently on the forehead and left.

  Chapter Seven

  Good-Bye to Mrs. Joe

  The next day I caught a coach for the marsh. I knew I should stay at Joe's. It would make up for our horrible visit in the city. But I remembered how awkward things were between us and decided to stay at the Blue Boar Inn instead.

  In the morning, I did not go to Joe's. I walked over to Miss Havisham's side of town and thought about Estella.

  Miss Havisham had adopted her. She had practically adopted me. She must want to bring us together! My heart was light with hope when I rang the bell on the iron gate.

  Miss Havisham had a new porter. It was Orlick. Joe had fired him.

  "Ah, young master," Orlick said with a sneer. "There's more changes than yours in the world."

  Without saying a word, I walked past him. I crossed the gloomy courtyard and entered the house. Miss Havisham was sitting in the banquet room. Her hands were crossed on top of her cane.

  "I heard that you wanted to see me," I said. "I came as quickly as I could."

  A lady I did not know stood before the fire. She turned around. It was Estella!

  She had changed! She was even more beautiful than before. I felt as if I had not changed at all. I was still the same coarse and common boy.