Kitabı oku: «Большие надежды. Уровень 2 / Great Expectations», sayfa 9
Chapter 15
It was in the fourth year of my apprenticeship to Joe, and it was a Saturday night. There was a group assembled round the fire at the Three Jolly Bargemen. Mr. Wopsle was reading the newspaper aloud. I noticed a strange gentleman.
“From information I have received,” said he, looking round at us, “I have reason to believe there is a blacksmith among you, by name Joseph – or Joe – Gargery. Which is the man?”
“Here is the man,” said Joe.
The strange gentleman beckoned him out of his place, and Joe went.
“You have an apprentice,” pursued the stranger, “commonly known as Pip? Is he here?”
“I am here!” I cried.
The stranger did not recognize me, but I recognized him as the gentleman I had met on the stairs, on the occasion of my second visit to Miss Havisham.
“I wish to have a private conference with you two,” said he. “It will take a little time. Let us go to your place of residence. I prefer not to anticipate my communication here.”
We three walked out of the Jolly Bargemen, and in silence walked home. The strange gentleman occasionally looked at me. As we neared home, Joe went on ahead to open the front door.
The strange gentleman sat down at the table, and drew a candle to him, and looked over some entries in his pocket-book. He then put up the pocket-book and set the candle a little aside.
“My name,” he said, “is Jaggers, and I am a lawyer in London. I have unusual business to transact with you.”
He got up, and threw one leg over the back of a chair and leaned upon it.
“Now, Joseph Gargery, I will relieve you of this young fellow your apprentice. You will not object to cancel his indentures at his request and for his good? You want nothing for that? Do you want anything?”
“The answer is,” returned Joe, sternly, “No.”
“Very well,” said Mr. Jaggers. “Now, I return to this young fellow. He has Great Expectations.”
Joe and I gasped, and looked at one another.
“I am instructed to communicate to him,” said Mr. Jaggers, “that he will come into a handsome property41. It is the desire of the present possessor of that property. And the boy will be immediately removed from this place, and be brought up as a gentleman – in a word, as a young fellow of great expectations.”
My dream came true; Miss Havisham was going to make me rich!
“Now, Mr. Pip,” pursued the lawyer, “it is the request of the person from whom I take my instructions that you always bear the name of Pip. But if you have any objection, this is the time to mention it.”
My heart was beating very fast. Of course, I had no objection.
“Good. Now, Mr. Pip, the name of the person who is your liberal benefactor remains a profound secret, until the person chooses to reveal it. It may be years hence. But if you have any objection to it, this is the time to mention it. Speak out.”
Once more, I stammered with difficulty that I had no objection.
“Now, Mr. Pip, we come next, to mere details of arrangement. We must choose your tutor. Do you know any tutor?”
I replied in the negative.
“There is a certain tutor, of whom I have some knowledge,” said Mr. Jaggers. “I don’t recommend him; because I never recommend anybody. His name is Mr. Matthew Pocket.”
Ah! Miss Havisham’s relation. I know the name.
“You can see his son first, who is in London. When will you come to London?”
“I can come directly, sir.”
“First,” said Mr. Jaggers, “you must have some new clothes. Say in a week. You’ll want some money. Shall I leave you twenty guineas?”
He took out a long purse.
“Well, Joseph Gargery? You look astonished?”
“I am!” said Joe.
“But what,” said Mr. Jaggers, “what if it was in my instructions to make you a present, as compensation?”
“As compensation what for?” Joe demanded.
“For the loss of his services.”
Joe laid his hand upon my shoulder.
“Pip is hearty welcome,” said Joe, “to go free with his services. But to take money… He is my best of friend!”
Mr. Jaggers looked at him, as one who recognized in Joe the village idiot42. Then he weighed the purse in his hand,
“Now, Joseph Gargery, I warn you this is your last chance. If you mean to take a present that I have, speak out. If on the contrary you mean to say – ”
Here, to his great amazement, Joe stopped him.
“I mean,” cried Joe, “that if you come into my place to badger me, come out! If you’re a man, come on!”
I drew Joe away, and he immediately became placable. Mr. Jaggers delivered his valedictory remarks. They were these.
“Well, Mr. Pip, I think the sooner you leave here the better43. You will receive my printed address in the meantime.”
He went out, I thanked him. Joe locked the front door and was seated by the kitchen fire with a hand on each knee. He was gazing intently at the burning coals. I too sat down before the fire and gazed at the coals.
My sister was in her cushioned chair in her corner, and Biddy sat at her needle-work before the fire, and Joe sat next Biddy, and I sat next Joe in the corner opposite my sister.
Biddy looked at me. Joe held his knees and looked at me. I looked at both of them. After a pause, they both heartily congratulated me; but there was sadness in their congratulations.
Biddy said no more. I told her and Joe good-night, and went up to bed. The sun was shining brightly all day on the roof of my attic, and the room was warm.
