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<v Speaker 1>Chapter fifty eight of Great Expectations. This is a LibriVox recording.

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<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

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<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. This

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<v Speaker 1>recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. Great

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<v Speaker 1>Expectations by Charles Dickens, chapter fifty eight. The tidings of

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<v Speaker 1>my high fortunes, having had a heavy fall, had got

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<v Speaker 1>down to my native place and its neighborhood. Before I

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<v Speaker 1>got there, I found a blue boar in possession of

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<v Speaker 1>the intelligence, and I found that it made a great

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<v Speaker 1>change in the boer's demeanor. Whereas the boar had cultivated

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<v Speaker 1>my good opinion with warm assiduity when I was coming

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<v Speaker 1>into property, the boar was exceedingly cool on the subject.

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<v Speaker 1>Now that I was going out of property. It was

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<v Speaker 1>evening when I arrived, much fatigued by the journey I

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<v Speaker 1>had so often made so easily. The boar could not

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<v Speaker 1>put me into my usual bedroom, which was engaged, probably

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<v Speaker 1>by some one who had expectations, and could only assign

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<v Speaker 1>me a very indifferent chamber among the pigeons and post

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<v Speaker 1>chaises up the yard. But I had as sound asleep

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<v Speaker 1>in that lodging as in the most superior accommodation the

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<v Speaker 1>boar could have given me, and the quality of my

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<v Speaker 1>dreams was about the same as in the best bedroom.

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<v Speaker 1>Early in the morning, while my breakfast was getting ready,

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<v Speaker 1>I strolled round by Satus house. There were printed bills

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<v Speaker 1>on the gate and on bits of carpet hanging out

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<v Speaker 1>of the windows, announcing a sail by auction of the

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<v Speaker 1>household furniture and effects next week. The house itself was

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<v Speaker 1>to be sold as old building materials and pulled down.

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<v Speaker 1>Lot one was marked in whitewashed knock knee letters on

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<v Speaker 1>the brew house, Lot two on that part of the

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<v Speaker 1>main building which had been so long shut up. Other

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<v Speaker 1>lots were marked off on other parts of the structure,

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<v Speaker 1>and the ivy had been torn down to make room

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<v Speaker 1>for the inscriptions, and much of a trailed low in

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<v Speaker 1>the dust and was withered. Already stepping in for a

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<v Speaker 1>moment at the open gate and looking around me with

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<v Speaker 1>the uncomfortable air of a stranger who had no business there.

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<v Speaker 1>I saw the auctioneer's clerk walking on the casks and

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<v Speaker 1>telling them off for the information of a catalog compiler

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<v Speaker 1>pen in hand, who made a temporary desk of the

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<v Speaker 1>wheeled chair I had so often pushed along to the

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<v Speaker 1>tune of Old Clem. When I got back to my

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<v Speaker 1>breakfast in the Boer's coffee room, I found mister Pumblechook

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<v Speaker 1>conversing with the landlord. Mister Pumblechook, not improved in appearance

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<v Speaker 1>by his late nocturnal adventure, was waiting for me and

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<v Speaker 1>addressed me in the following terms, young man, I am

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<v Speaker 1>sorry to see you brought low, but what helse could

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<v Speaker 1>be expected? What else could be expected? As he extended

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<v Speaker 1>his hand with a magnificently forgiving air, and as I

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<v Speaker 1>was broken by illness and unfit to quarrel, I took it.

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<v Speaker 1>William said mister Pumblechook to the waiter, put a muffin

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<v Speaker 1>on table, and has it come to this? Has it

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<v Speaker 1>come to this? I frowningly sat down to my breakfast.

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<v Speaker 1>Mister Pumblechuk stood over me and poured out my tea

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<v Speaker 1>before I could touch the teapot, with the air of

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<v Speaker 1>a benefactor who was resolved to be true to the last,

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<v Speaker 1>William said, mister Pumblechuk mournfully put the salt on in

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<v Speaker 1>happier times, addressing me, I think you took sugar, and

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<v Speaker 1>did you take milk? You did sugar and milk. William

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<v Speaker 1>bring a watercress, thank you, said I shortly. But I

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<v Speaker 1>don't eat watercresses. You don't eat em, returned mister Pumblechuk,

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<v Speaker 1>sighing and nodding his head several times, as if he

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<v Speaker 1>might have expected that, and as if abstinence from watercresses

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<v Speaker 1>were consistent with my downfall, true the simple fruits of

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<v Speaker 1>the earth. No, you needn't bring any willyum. I went

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<v Speaker 1>on with my breakfast, and mister Pumblechuk continued to stand

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<v Speaker 1>over me, staring fishily and breathing noisily, as he always did.

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<v Speaker 1>Little more than skin and bone, mused mister pumblechook aloud.

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<v Speaker 1>And yet when he went from here, I may say

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<v Speaker 1>with my blessing, and I spread afore him my humble

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<v Speaker 1>store like the bee, he was as plump as a peach.

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<v Speaker 1>This reminded me of the wonderful difference between the servile

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<v Speaker 1>manner in which he had offered his hand in my

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<v Speaker 1>new prosperity, saying may I, and the ostentatious clemency with

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<v Speaker 1>which he had just now exhibited the same fat five

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<v Speaker 1>fingers ha He went on handing me bread and butter.

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<v Speaker 1>And are you going to Joseph in Heaven's name, said I, firing,

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<v Speaker 1>in spite of myself. What does it matter to you

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<v Speaker 1>where I'm going? Leave that teapot alone. It was the

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<v Speaker 1>worst course I could have taken, because it gave Pumblchuk

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<v Speaker 1>the opportunity he wanted. Yes, young man, said he, releasing

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<v Speaker 1>the handle of the article in question, and retiring a

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<v Speaker 1>step or two from my table, and speaking for the

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<v Speaker 1>behoof of the landlord and waiter at the door, I

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<v Speaker 1>will leave that teapot alone. You are right, young man.

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<v Speaker 1>For once you are right, I forget myself when I

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<v Speaker 1>take such an interest in your breakfast as to wish

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<v Speaker 1>your frame, exhausted by the debilitating effects of prodigality, to

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<v Speaker 1>be stimulated by the wholesome nourishment of your forefathers. And yet,

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<v Speaker 1>said Pumblechuk, turning to the landlord and waiter and pointing

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<v Speaker 1>me out at arm's length, this is him, as I

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<v Speaker 1>ever sported with in his days of happy infancy. Tell

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<v Speaker 1>me not, it cannot be. I tell you this is him.

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<v Speaker 1>A low murmur from the two replied the waiter, appear

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<v Speaker 1>to be particularly affected. This is him, said Pumblechuk, as

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<v Speaker 1>I have rode in my shay cart. This is him,

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<v Speaker 1>as I have seen brought up by hand. This is

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<v Speaker 1>him unto the sister of which I was uncle by marriage,

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<v Speaker 1>as her name was Georgiana Miria from her own mother.

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<v Speaker 1>Let him deny it if he can. The waiter seemed

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<v Speaker 1>convinced that I could not deny it, and that it

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<v Speaker 1>gave the case a black look. Young man, said Pumblechuk,

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<v Speaker 1>screwing his head at me in the old fashion. You

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<v Speaker 1>are a going to Joseph. What does it matter to me?

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<v Speaker 1>You ask me where you are a going. I say

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<v Speaker 1>to you, sir, you are a going to Joseph. The

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<v Speaker 1>waiter coughed, as if he modestly invited me to get

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<v Speaker 1>over that. Now, said Pumblechuk, and all this with a

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<v Speaker 1>most exasperating air of saying, in the cause of virtue,

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<v Speaker 1>what was perfectly convincing and conclusive. I will tell you

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<v Speaker 1>what to say to Joseph. Here is Squire's of the

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<v Speaker 1>Boer present, known and respected in this town. And here

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<v Speaker 1>is William, which his father's name was Potkins. If I

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<v Speaker 1>do not deceive myself, you do not, sir, said William

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<v Speaker 1>in their presence pursued Pomblchuk. I will tell you, young man,

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<v Speaker 1>what to say to Joseph. Says you, Joseph, I have

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<v Speaker 1>this day seen my earliest benefactor and the founder of

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<v Speaker 1>my fortune. I will name no names, Joseph, but so

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<v Speaker 1>they are pleased to call him up town. And I

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<v Speaker 1>have seen that man. I swear I don't see him here,

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<v Speaker 1>said I say that. Likewise, retorted Pomblchuk, say you said that,

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<v Speaker 1>and even Joseph will probably betray surprise there you quite

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<v Speaker 1>mistake him. Said I I know better, says you. Pomblchuk

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<v Speaker 1>went on, Joseph, I have seen that man, and that

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<v Speaker 1>man bears you no malice, and bears me no malice.

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<v Speaker 1>He knows your character, Joseph, and is well acquainted with

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<v Speaker 1>your pigheadedness and ignorance. And he knows my character, Joseph,

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<v Speaker 1>and he knows my want of gratitude. Yes, Joseph, says you.

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<v Speaker 1>Here Pomelchuk shook his head and hand at me. He

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<v Speaker 1>knows my total deficiency of common human gratitude. He knows it, Joseph,

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<v Speaker 1>as none can you do not know it, Joseph, having

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<v Speaker 1>no call to know it, But that man do When

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<v Speaker 1>did Donkey as he was. It really amazed me that

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<v Speaker 1>he could have the face to talk thus to mine,

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<v Speaker 1>says you, Joseph. He gave me a little message, which

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<v Speaker 1>I will now repeat. It was that in my being

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<v Speaker 1>brought low, he saw the finger of providence. He knowed

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<v Speaker 1>that finger when he saw Joseph, and he saw it plain.

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<v Speaker 1>He pointed out this writing Joseph reward of ingratitude to

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<v Speaker 1>his earliest benefactor and founder of fortune. But that man

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<v Speaker 1>said he did not repent of what he had done, Joseph,

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<v Speaker 1>not at all. It was right to do it, it

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<v Speaker 1>was kind to do it, it was benevolent to do it,

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<v Speaker 1>and he would do it again. It's a pity, said

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<v Speaker 1>I scornfully, as I finished my interrupted breakfast, that the

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<v Speaker 1>man did not say what he had done and would

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<v Speaker 1>do again.

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<v Speaker 2>Squires of the Boar.

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<v Speaker 1>Pummelchuk was now addressing the landlord and William. I have

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<v Speaker 1>no objections to your mentioning, either up down or down town,

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<v Speaker 1>if such should be your wishes, that it was right

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<v Speaker 1>to do it, kind to do it, benevolent to do it,

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<v Speaker 1>and that I would do it again. With these words,

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<v Speaker 1>the impostor shook them both by the hand with an

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<v Speaker 1>air and left the house, leaving me much more astonished

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<v Speaker 1>than delighted by the virtues of that same indefinite it.

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<v Speaker 1>I was not long after him in leaving the house, too,

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<v Speaker 1>and when I went down the high street, I saw

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<v Speaker 1>him holding forth, no doubt to the same effect, at

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<v Speaker 1>his shop door, to a select group, who honored me

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<v Speaker 1>with very unfavorable glances as I passed on the opposite

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<v Speaker 1>side of the way. But it was only the pleasanter

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<v Speaker 1>to turn to Biddy and to Joe, whose great forbearance

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<v Speaker 1>shone more brightly than before, if that could be contrasted

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<v Speaker 1>with this brazen pretender. I went towards them, slowly, for

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<v Speaker 1>my limbs were weak, but with a sense of increasing

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<v Speaker 1>relief as I drew nearer to them, and a sense

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<v Speaker 1>of leaving arrogance and untruthfulness further and further behind. The

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<v Speaker 1>June weather was delicious, the sky was blue, the larks

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<v Speaker 1>were soaring high over the green corn. I thought all

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<v Speaker 1>that countryside more beautiful and peaceful by far than I

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<v Speaker 1>had ever known it to be. Yet many pleasant pictures

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<v Speaker 1>of the life that I would lead there, and the

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<v Speaker 1>change for the better that would come over my character.

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<v Speaker 1>When I had a guiding spirit at my side, whose

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<v Speaker 1>simple faith and clear home wisdom I had proved beguiled

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<v Speaker 1>my way. They awakened a tender emotion in me, for

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<v Speaker 1>my heart was softened by my return, and such a

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<v Speaker 1>change had come to pass that I felt like one

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<v Speaker 1>who was toiling home, barefoot from distant travel, and whose

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<v Speaker 1>wanderings had lasted many year. The schoolhouse where Biddy was

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<v Speaker 1>mistress I had never seen, but the little roundabout lane

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<v Speaker 1>by which I entered the village for quietness's sake, took

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<v Speaker 1>me past it. I was disappointed to find that the

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<v Speaker 1>day was a holiday, no children were there, and Biddy's

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<v Speaker 1>house was closed. Some hopeful notion of seeing her busily

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<v Speaker 1>engaged in her daily duties before she saw me had

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<v Speaker 1>been in my mind, and was defeated. But the forge

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<v Speaker 1>was a very short distance off, and I went towards

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<v Speaker 1>it under the sweet green limes, listening for the clink

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<v Speaker 1>of Joe's hammer, long after I ought to have heard it,

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<v Speaker 1>and long after I had fancied i'd heard it and

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<v Speaker 1>found it, But a fancy all was still. The limes

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<v Speaker 1>were there, and the white thorns were there, and the

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<v Speaker 1>chestnut trees were there, and their leaves rustled harmoniously when

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<v Speaker 1>I stopped to listen, but the clink of jo rose

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<v Speaker 1>hammer was not in the midsummer wind. Almost fearing, without

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<v Speaker 1>knowing why, to come in view of the forge, I

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<v Speaker 1>saw it at last and saw that it was closed.

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<v Speaker 1>No gleam of fire, no glittering shower of sparks, no

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<v Speaker 1>roar of bellows, all shut up and still. But the

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<v Speaker 1>house was not deserted, and the best parlor seemed to

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<v Speaker 1>be in use, for there were white curtains fluttering in

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<v Speaker 1>its window, and the window was open and gay with flowers.

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<v Speaker 1>I went softly towards it, meaning to peep over the flowers,

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<v Speaker 1>when Joe and Biddy stood before me, arm in arm.

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<v Speaker 1>At first, Biddy gave a cry, as if she thought

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<v Speaker 1>it was my apparition, But in another moment she was

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<v Speaker 1>in my embrace. I wept to see her, and she

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<v Speaker 1>wept to see me. Ay because she looked so fresh

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<v Speaker 1>and pleasant, she because I looked so worn and white.

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<v Speaker 1>But dear Biddy, how smart you are, yes, dear Pip

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<v Speaker 1>And Joe, how smart you.

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<v Speaker 2>Are, yes, dear old Pip old chap.

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<v Speaker 1>I looked at both of them, from one to the other,

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<v Speaker 1>and then it's my wedding day, cried Biddy, in a

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<v Speaker 1>burst of happiness, and I am married to Joe. They

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<v Speaker 1>had taken me into the kitchen, and I had laid

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<v Speaker 1>my head down on the old deal table. Biddy held

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<v Speaker 1>one of my hands to her lips, and Joe's restoring

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<v Speaker 1>touch was on my shoulder, which you warn't strong enough,

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<v Speaker 1>my dear fur to be surprised, said Joe, and Biddy said,

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<v Speaker 1>I ought to have thought of it, dear Joe, but

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<v Speaker 1>I was too happy. They were both so overjoyed to

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<v Speaker 1>see me, so proud to see me, so touched by

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<v Speaker 1>my coming to them, so delighted that I should have

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<v Speaker 1>come by accident to make their day complete. My first

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<v Speaker 1>thought was one of great thankfulness that I have never

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<v Speaker 1>breathed this last baffled hope to Joe, how often while

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<v Speaker 1>he was with me in my illness had it risen

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<v Speaker 1>to my lips. How irrevocable would have been his knowledge

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<v Speaker 1>of it if he had remained with me but another hour,

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<v Speaker 1>dear Biddy said I you have the best husband in

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<v Speaker 1>the whole world, and if you could have seen him

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<v Speaker 1>by my bed, you would have. But no, you couldn't

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<v Speaker 1>love him better than you do. No, I couldn't, indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>said Biddy. And dear Joe, you have the best wife

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<v Speaker 1>in the whole world, and she will make you as

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<v Speaker 1>happy as even you deserve to be. You, dear, good

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<v Speaker 1>noble Joe. Joe looked at me with a quivering lip,

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<v Speaker 1>and fairly put his sleeve before his eyes. And Joe

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<v Speaker 1>and Biddy, both, as you have been to church to

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<v Speaker 1>day and are in charity and love with all mankind,

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<v Speaker 1>receive my humble thanks for all you have done for me,

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<v Speaker 1>and all I have so ill repaid. And when I

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<v Speaker 1>say that I am going away within the hour, for

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<v Speaker 1>I am soon going abroad, and that I shall never

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<v Speaker 1>rest until I have worked for the money with which

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<v Speaker 1>you have kept me out of prison and have sent

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<v Speaker 1>it to you, don't think, dear Joe and Biddy, that

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<v Speaker 1>if I could repay it a thousand times over, I

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<v Speaker 1>suppose I could cancel a farthing of the debt I

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<v Speaker 1>owe you, or that I would do so if I could.

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<v Speaker 1>They were both melted by these words, and both entreated

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<v Speaker 1>me to say no more. But I must say more,

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<v Speaker 1>Dear Joe, I hope you will have children to love,

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<v Speaker 1>and that some little fellow will sit in this chimney

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<v Speaker 1>corner of a winter night, who may remind you of

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<v Speaker 1>another little fellow gone out of it forever. Don't tell him, Joe,

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<v Speaker 1>that I was thankless. Don't tell him, Biddy, that I

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<v Speaker 1>was ungenerous and unjust. Only tell him that I honored

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<v Speaker 1>you both because you were both so good and true,

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<v Speaker 1>and that as your child, I said, it would be

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<v Speaker 1>natural to him to grow up a much better man

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<v Speaker 1>than I did. I ain't a going, said Joe, from

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<v Speaker 1>behind his sleeve, to tell him nothing of that nature.

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<v Speaker 1>Pip nor Bitty ain't nor yet, no one ain't. And

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<v Speaker 1>now though I know you have already done it in

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<v Speaker 1>your own kind hearts, pray tell me both that you

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<v Speaker 1>forgive me. Pray let me hear you say the words,

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<v Speaker 1>that I may carry the sound of them away with me,

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<v Speaker 1>and that I shall be able to believe that you

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<v Speaker 1>can trust me and think better of me in the

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<v Speaker 1>time to come.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, dear old pip Old Chap, said Joe. God knows

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<v Speaker 2>as I forgive you if I have anythink to forgive. Amen,

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<v Speaker 2>And God knows I do, echoed Biddy. Now let me

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<v Speaker 2>go up and look at my old little room and

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<v Speaker 2>rest there a few minutes by myself, and then when

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<v Speaker 2>I have eaten and drunk with you, go with me

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<v Speaker 2>as far as the finger post, Dear Joe and Biddy,

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<v Speaker 2>before we say good bye. I sold all I had

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<v Speaker 2>and put aside as much as I could for a

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<v Speaker 2>composition with my creditors, who gave me ample time to

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<v Speaker 2>pay them in full, and I went out and joined Herbert.

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<v Speaker 2>Within a month I had quitted England, and within two

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<v Speaker 2>months I was clerk to Clerriker and Company, and within

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<v Speaker 2>four months I assumed my first undivided responsibility for the

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<v Speaker 2>beam across the parlor ceiling at Mill Pond. Bank had

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<v Speaker 2>then ceased to tremble under old Bill Barr Growls and

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<v Speaker 2>was at peace, and Herbert had gone away to marry Clara,

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<v Speaker 2>and I was left in sole charge of the eastern

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<v Speaker 2>branch until he brought her back. Many a year went

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<v Speaker 2>round before I was a partner in the house. But

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<v Speaker 2>I lived happily with Herbert and his wife, and lived

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<v Speaker 2>frugally and paid my debts and maintained a constant correspondence.

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<v Speaker 1>With Biddy and Joe. It was not until I became

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<v Speaker 1>third in the firm that Clerriker betrayed me to Herbert.

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<v Speaker 1>But he then declared that the secret of Herbert's partnership

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<v Speaker 1>had been long enough upon his conscience, and he must

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<v Speaker 1>tell it. So he told it, and Herbert was as

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<v Speaker 1>much moved as amazed, and the dear fellow and I

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<v Speaker 1>were not the worst friends. For the long concealment. I

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<v Speaker 1>must not leave it to be supposed that we were

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<v Speaker 1>ever a great house, or that we made mints of money.

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<v Speaker 1>We were not in a grand way of business, but

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<v Speaker 1>we had a good name, and worked for our profits

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<v Speaker 1>and did very well. We owed so much to Herbert's

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<v Speaker 1>ever cheerful industry and readiness, that I often wondered how

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<v Speaker 1>I had conceived that old idea of his inaptitude, until

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<v Speaker 1>I was one day enlightened by the reflection that perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>the inaptitude had never been in him at all, but

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<v Speaker 1>had been in me. End of Chapter