I told him, and he was attentive until I had finished, and then burst

out laughing again, and asked me if I was sore afterwards? I didn't

ask him if he was, for my conviction on that point was perfectly

established.

"Mr. Jaggers is your guardian, I understand?" he went on.

"Yes."

"You know he is Miss Havisham's man of business and solicitor, and has

her confidence when nobody else has?"

This was bringing me (I felt) towards dangerous ground. I answered with

a constraint I made no attempt to disguise, that I had seen Mr. Jaggers

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in Miss Havisham's house on the very day of our combat, but never at any

other time, and that I believed he had no recollection of having ever

seen me there.

"He was so obliging as to suggest my father for your tutor, and he

called on my father to propose it. Of course he knew about my father

from his connection with Miss Havisham. My father is Miss Havisham's

cousin; not that that implies familiar intercourse between them, for he

is a bad courtier and will not propitiate her."

Herbert Pocket had a frank and easy way with him that was very taking.

I had never seen any one then, and I have never seen any one since,

who more strongly expressed to me, in every look and tone, a natural

incapacity to do anything secret and mean. There was something

wonderfully hopeful about his general air, and something that at the

same time whispered to me he would never be very successful or rich. I

don't know how this was. I became imbued with the notion on that first

occasion before we sat down to dinner, but I cannot define by what

means.

He was still a pale young gentleman, and had a certain conquered languor

about him in the midst of his spirits and briskness, that did not seem

indicative of natural strength. He had not a handsome face, but it was

better than handsome: being extremely amiable and cheerful. His figure

was a little ungainly, as in the days when my knuckles had taken such

liberties with it, but it looked as if it would always be light and

young. Whether Mr. Trabb's local work would have sat more gracefully on

him than on me, may be a question; but I am conscious that he carried

off his rather old clothes much better than I carried off my new suit.

As he was so communicative, I felt that reserve on my part would be a

bad return unsuited to our years. I therefore told him my small story,

and laid stress on my being forbidden to inquire who my benefactor was.

I further mentioned that as I had been brought up a blacksmith in a

country place, and knew very little of the ways of politeness, I would

take it as a great kindness in him if he would give me a hint whenever

he saw me at a loss or going wrong.




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