WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Chapter fifty eight. The tidings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>coming 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 it 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 the auctioneer's clerk walking on the casks

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

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>the tune of old Clem. When I got back to

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

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

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>am sorry to see you brought low, but what else

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

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<v Speaker 1>extended his hand with a magnificently forgiving air, And as

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

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<v Speaker 1>took it. William said mister Pumblechook to the waiter, put

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

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<v Speaker 1>Has he come to this? I frowningly sat down to

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

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<v Speaker 1>my tea before I could touch the teapot, with the

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<v Speaker 1>air of a benefactor who was resolved to be true

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<v Speaker 1>to the last, William said mister Pumblechuk mournfully put the

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<v Speaker 1>salt on in happier times, addressing me, I think you

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

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<v Speaker 1>and milk. William, bring a watercress, thank you, said I shortly.

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<v Speaker 1>But I don't eat watercresses. You don't eat em, returned

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<v Speaker 1>mister Pumblechuk, sighing and nodding his head several times, as

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

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<v Speaker 1>from watercresses were consistent with my downfall. True, the simple

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<v Speaker 1>fruits of the earth. No, you needn't bring any, William.

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<v Speaker 1>I went on with my breakfast, and mister Pumblechook continued

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<v Speaker 1>to stand over me, staring fishily and breathing noisily, as

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<v Speaker 1>he always did. Little more than skin and bone, mused

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<v Speaker 1>mister Pumblechook aloud. And yet when he went from here,

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<v Speaker 1>I may say with my blessing, and I spread afore

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<v Speaker 1>him my humble store like the bee. He was as

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<v Speaker 1>plump as a peach. This reminded me of the wonderful

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<v Speaker 1>difference between the servile manner in which he had offered

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<v Speaker 1>his hand in my new prosperity, saying may I, and

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<v Speaker 1>the ostentatious clemency with which he had just now exhibited

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<v Speaker 1>the same fat five fingers ha He went on handing

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<v Speaker 1>me bread and butter. And are you going to Joseph

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<v Speaker 1>in Heaven's name? Said I, firing, in spite of myself,

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<v Speaker 1>What does it matter to you where I'm going? Leave

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<v Speaker 1>that teapot alone. It was the worst course I could

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<v Speaker 1>have taken, because it gave Pumblechuk the opportunity he wanted. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>young man, said he, releasing the handle of the article

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<v Speaker 1>in question, and retiring a step or two for my table,

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<v Speaker 1>and speaking for the behoof of the landlord and waiter

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<v Speaker 1>at the door, I will leave that teapot alone. You

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<v Speaker 1>are right, young man, For once you are right, I

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<v Speaker 1>forget myself when I take such an interest in your

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<v Speaker 1>breakfast as to wish your frame, exhausted by the debilitating

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<v Speaker 1>effects of prodigy gality, to be stimulated by the wholesome

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<v Speaker 1>nourishment of your forefathers. And yet, said Pumblechuk, turning to

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<v Speaker 1>the landlord and waiter and pointing me out at arm's length,

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<v Speaker 1>this is him as I ever sported with in his

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<v Speaker 1>days of happy infancy. Tell me not, it cannot be.

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<v Speaker 1>I tell you this is him. A low murmur from

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<v Speaker 1>the two replied. The waiter appeared to be particularly affected.

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<v Speaker 1>This is him, said Pumblechuk, as I have rode in

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<v Speaker 1>my shay cart. This is him as I have seen

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<v Speaker 1>brought up by hand. This is him unto the sister

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<v Speaker 1>of which I was uncle by marriage, as her name

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<v Speaker 1>was Georgiana Miria from her own mother. Let him deny

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<v Speaker 1>it if he can. The waiter seemed convinced that I

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<v Speaker 1>could not deny it, and that it gave the case

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<v Speaker 1>a black look. Young man, said Pumblechuk, screwing his head

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<v Speaker 1>at me in the old fashioned you are a going

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<v Speaker 1>to Joseph. What does it matter to me? You ask

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<v Speaker 1>me where you are a going? Yeah, I say to you, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>you are a going to Joseph. The waiter coughed, as

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<v Speaker 1>if he monstly invited me to get over that. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>said Pumblechuk, and all this with the most exasperating air

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<v Speaker 1>of saying, in the cause of virtue, what was perfectly

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<v Speaker 1>convincing and conclusive. I will tell you what to say

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<v Speaker 1>to Joseph. Here is Squire's of the Boer present, known

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<v Speaker 1>and respected in this town. And here is William, which

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<v Speaker 1>his father's name was Potkins. If I do not deceive myself,

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<v Speaker 1>you do not, sir, said William in their presence. Pursued Pumblechuk,

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<v Speaker 1>I will tell you, young man, what to say to Joseph,

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<v Speaker 1>says you, Joseph, I have this day seen my earliest

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<v Speaker 1>benefactor and the founder of my fortune. I will name

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<v Speaker 1>no names, Joseph, but so they are pleased to call

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<v Speaker 1>him up town, and I have seen that man. I

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<v Speaker 1>swear I don't see him here, said I say that. Likewise,

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<v Speaker 1>retorted Pomblchuk, say you said that, and even Joseph will

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<v Speaker 1>probably betray surprise there you quite mistake him, said I

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<v Speaker 1>I know better, says you. Pumblchuk went on, Joseph, I

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<v Speaker 1>have seen that man, and that man bears you no malice,

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<v Speaker 1>and bears me no malice. He knows your character, Joseph,

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<v Speaker 1>and is well acquainted with your pigheadedness and ignorance. And

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<v Speaker 1>he knows my character, Joseph. And he knows my want

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<v Speaker 1>of gratitude. Yes, Joseph, says you. Here Pomelchuk shook his

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<v Speaker 1>head and hand at me. He knows my total deficiency

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<v Speaker 1>of common human gratitude. He knows it, Joseph, as none

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<v Speaker 1>can you do not know it, Joseph, having no call

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<v Speaker 1>to know it, But that man do When did Donkey

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<v Speaker 1>as he was, It really amazed me that he could

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<v Speaker 1>have the face to talk thus to mine, says you, Joseph.

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<v Speaker 1>He gave me a little message which I will now repeat.

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<v Speaker 1>It was that in my being brought low, he saw

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<v Speaker 1>the finger of providence. He knowed that finger when he

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<v Speaker 1>saw Joseph, and he saw it plain. He pointed out

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<v Speaker 1>this writing Joseph reward of ingratitude to his earliest benefactor

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<v Speaker 1>and founder of fortune. But that man's said, he did

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<v Speaker 1>not repent of what he had done, Joseph, not at all.

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<v Speaker 1>It was right to do it, it was kind to

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<v Speaker 1>do it, it was benevolent to do it, and he

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>not say what he had done and would do again.

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<v Speaker 1>Squires of the Boar. Pummelchuk was now addressing the landlord

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<v Speaker 1>and William, I have no objections to your mentioning, either

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<v Speaker 1>up down or downtown, if such should be your wishes,

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<v Speaker 1>that it was right to do it, kind to do it,

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<v Speaker 1>benevolent to do it, and that I would do it again.

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<v Speaker 1>With these words, the impostor shook them both by the

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<v Speaker 1>hand with an air and left the house, leaving me

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<v Speaker 1>much more astonished than delighted by the virtues of that

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<v Speaker 1>same indefinite it. I was not long after him in

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<v Speaker 1>leaving the house, too, and when I went down the

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<v Speaker 1>high street I saw him holding forth no doubt to

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<v Speaker 1>the same effect at his shop door, to a select group,

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<v Speaker 1>who honored me with very unfavorable glances as I passed

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<v Speaker 1>on the opposite side of the way. But it was

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<v Speaker 1>only the pleasanter to turn to Biddy and to Joe,

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<v Speaker 1>whose great forbearance shone more brightly than before, if that

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<v Speaker 1>could be contrasted with this brazen pretender. I went towards

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<v Speaker 1>them slowly, for my limbs were weak, but with a

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<v Speaker 1>sense of increasing relief as I drew nearer to them,

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<v Speaker 1>and a sense of leaving arrogance and untruthfulness further and

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<v Speaker 1>further behind. The June weather was delicious, the sky was blue,

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

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<v Speaker 1>thought all that countryside more beautiful and peaceful by far

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<v Speaker 1>than I had ever known it to be. Yet many

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

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<v Speaker 1>and the change for the better that would come over

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

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

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

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

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>whose wanderings had lasted many years. The schoolhouse where Biddy

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

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<v Speaker 1>lane by which I entered the village for Quietness's sake

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

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<v Speaker 1>the day was a holiday, no children were there, and

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<v Speaker 1>Biddy's house was closed. Some hopeful notion of seeing her

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

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

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

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

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>it and found it. But a fancy all was still.

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>harmoniously when I stopped to listen, but the clink of

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<v Speaker 1>Joe's hammer was not. In the midsummer wind. Almost fearing,

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<v Speaker 1>without knowing why, to come in view of the forge,

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<v Speaker 1>I 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 as same, and the best parlor seemed

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

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<v Speaker 1>in its window, and the window was open and gay

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<v Speaker 1>with flowers. I went softly towards it, meaning to peep

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<v Speaker 1>over the flowers, when Joe and Biddy stood before me,

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<v Speaker 1>arm in arm. At first, Biddy gave a cry as

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

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

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<v Speaker 1>and she wept to see me. Ay, because she looked

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<v Speaker 1>so fresh and pleasant. She because I looked so worn

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<v Speaker 1>and white. But dear Biddy, how smart you are, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>dear Pip. And Joe, how smart you are, yes, dear

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<v Speaker 1>old Pip old chap. I looked at both of them,

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<v Speaker 1>from one to the other. And then it's my wedding day,

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<v Speaker 1>cried Biddy, in a burst of happiness. And I am

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<v Speaker 1>married to Joe. They had taken me into the kitchen,

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<v Speaker 1>and I had laid my head down on the old

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<v Speaker 1>deal table. Biddy held one of my hands to her lips,

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<v Speaker 1>and Joe's restoring touch was on my shoulder, which you

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<v Speaker 1>warn't strong enough, my dear fur to be surprised, said Joe,

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<v Speaker 1>And Biddy said, I ought to have thought of it,

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<v Speaker 1>dear Joe, but I was too happy. They were both

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<v Speaker 1>so overjoyed to see me, so proud to see me,

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<v Speaker 1>so touched by my coming to them, so delighted that

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<v Speaker 1>I should have come by accident to make their day complete.

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<v Speaker 1>My first thought was one of great thankfulness that I

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<v Speaker 1>have never breathed this last baffled hope to Joe, how

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<v Speaker 1>often while he was with me in my illness had

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<v Speaker 1>it risen to my lips. How irrevocable would have been

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<v Speaker 1>his knowledge of it if he had remained with me

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<v Speaker 1>but another hour, Dear Biddy said I you have the

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<v Speaker 1>best husband in the whole world, and if you could

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<v Speaker 1>have seen him by my bed, you would have. But no,

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<v Speaker 1>you couldn't 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 Biddie, 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 goin, 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 Biddy ain't nor yet, no one ain't. And now,

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

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<v Speaker 1>own kind hearts, pray tell me both that you forgive me. Pray.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me hear you say the words, that I may

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<v Speaker 1>carry the sound of them away with me, and then

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

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<v Speaker 1>me and think better of me in the time to come. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>dear old pip Old Chap, said Joe. God knows as

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<v Speaker 1>I forgive you if I have anything to forgive, Amen,

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<v Speaker 1>And God knows I do. Echo Biddy. Now let me

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<v Speaker 1>go up and look at my old little room and

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<v Speaker 1>rest there a few minutes by myself. And then when

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<v Speaker 1>I've eaten and drunk with you, go with me as

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<v Speaker 1>far as the finger post. Dear Joe and Biddy, before

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<v Speaker 1>we say good bye. I sold all I had and

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<v Speaker 1>put aside as much as I could for a composition

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<v Speaker 1>with my creditors, who gave me ample time to pay

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<v Speaker 1>them in full, and I went out and joined Herbert.

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<v Speaker 1>Within a month I had quitted England, and within two

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<v Speaker 1>months I was clerk to Clerriker and Company, and within

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<v Speaker 1>four months I assumed my first undivided responsibility for the

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<v Speaker 1>beam across the parlor ceiling at Mill Pond. Bank had

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<v Speaker 1>then ceased to tremble under Old Bill Barley's growls and

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<v Speaker 1>was at peace, and Herbert had gone away to marry Clara,

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<v Speaker 1>and I was left in sole charge of the eastern

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<v Speaker 1>branch until he brought her back. Many a year went

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<v Speaker 1>round before I was a partner in the house. But

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<v Speaker 1>I lived happily with Herbert and his wife, and lived frugally,

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<v Speaker 1>and paid my debts, and made 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 Clerker 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 we 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>it been at me. End the chapter