Great Expectations Page #4

Rather musty, but Barnard's is musty.

I'm afraid I'm rather bare here.

Now, that's my little bedroom.

And this is your room.

Come in.

- It's very nice.

- The furniture's specially hired.

Dear me, you're holding the fruit

all this time. I feel quite ashamed.

You'll be very quiet here and we'll be

alone, but I dare say we shan't fight.

Fight?

Fight! I knew I'd seen you

somewhere before.

You're the pale young gentleman

from Miss Havisham's.

Bless me! And you are the prowling boy.

- The idea of it's being you!

- Well, the idea of it's being you!

You've forgiven me

for knocking you about so?

Of course.

- You hadn't your good fortune then?

- No.

- I was hoping for a good fortune then.

- Indeed?

If Miss Havisham had liked me,

I should have been provided for,

perhaps even engaged to Estella,

but I didn't care for her. She's a tartar.

- Miss Havisham?

- I don't say no, but I meant Estella.

You know she was adopted

and brought up by Miss Havisham

to wreak revenge on all the male sex?

Wreak revenge on all the male sex?

What revenge?

- Heavens, I thought you knew.

- No.

It's quite a story,

and shall be saved till dinnertime.

- Shall I take your stick?

- Thank you.

And your hat.

- Herbert?

- Yes, my dear Pip.

As I've been brought up a blacksmith,

I'd take it as a kindness if you'd give me

a hint when I go wrong in my manners.

With pleasure,

but you need very few hints.

Thank you very much.

Please tell me more of Miss Havisham.

Ah, yes!

But let me point out that it's not

the custom to put the knife in the mouth.

For fear of accidents.

It's as well to do as other people do.

- I must apologize. Thank you.

- Not at all, I'm sure.

Miss Havisham was an heiress

and was looked upon as a great match.

Well, one day there appeared

upon the scene a certain man.

I never saw him,

for this was 25 years ago.

He pursued her closely

and professed to be devoted to her.

She fell passionately in love with him,

which brings me to the cruel part

of the story -

merely breaking off to remark,

my dear Pip,

that it's not necessary to fill

the mouth to its utmost capacity.

- Oh, very sorry. I was so interested...

- Not at all, I'm sure.

The marriage day was arranged,

the wedding dresses bought,

the guests invited.

The day came, but not the bridegroom.

He wrote a letter...

Which she received

at 20 minutes to nine.

- Exactly.

- So that's why she stopped the clocks.

Yes! When she'd recovered

from a bad illness,

she laid the whole place waste,

as you've seen it,

and has never since

looked upon the light of day.

Herbert,

you said that Estella was not related to

Miss Havisham, but adopted.

When?

There's always been an Estella

since I've heard of a Miss Havisham.

I know no more. So, Pip, all I know

of Miss Havisham, you know.

Let's change to brighter prospects.

Let's drink to London.

And a very happy future.

To London and a very happy future!

Two, three, four...

Now all together, Mr. Pip. That's right.

That's better. Much better.

Enjoy yourself.

Ready?

Ready.

Forgive me, Herbert.

Carry on, Pip, carry on.

So if I could buy some new furniture

and perhaps one or two other things,

I think I could be quite

at home at Barnard's Inn.

Go it! I knew you'd get on.

How much do you want?

- Twenty pounds?

- Wemmick!

Well, Pip, I should say you were at home.

- Herbert?

- Yes?

We've done very badly.

Very badly.

Thank heaven for my birthday.

- Good morning, Mr. Pip.

- Morning.

- Congratulations, Mr. Pip.

- Thank you, Mr. Wemmick.

Come in.

- Mr. Pip, sir.

- Come in.

21, eh, Pip?

I must call you "Mr. Pip" today.

- Congratulations, Mr. Pip.

- Thank you, Mr. Jaggers.

Sit down.

Now, my young friend,

I'm going to have a word with you.

- If you please, sir.

- What are you living at the rate of?

- At the rate of, Mr. Jaggers?

- The rate of.

I'm... I'm afraid I am unable to answer.

I thought so. Now, I've asked you a

question. Have you anything to ask me?

Well, it would be a great relief to ask you

several, if it were not forbidden.

Ask one.

Is my benefactor

to be made known to me today?

No. Ask another.

Well, I was just wondering...

if I had anything to receive.

I thought we should come to that.

Wemmick!

You have been spending pretty freely of

late, and you are in debt, of course?

I'm afraid I must say yes, sir.

- You know you must say yes?

- Yes, sir.

Wemmick,

hand Mr. Pip that piece of paper.

Now, unfold it and tell me what it is.

It is a bank note for 500.

That is a bank note for 500.

At the rate of that handsome

sum of money per annum,

and at no higher rate, you are to live

until your benefactor appears.

Will it... Will it still be

years hence, Mr. Jaggers?

When that person discloses, you and

that person will settle your own affairs.

My part of the business will cease.

That's all I have to say.

Wemmick, show Mr. Pip out.

Thank you, Mr. Jaggers.

My dear Mr. Pip,

Mr. Gargery is going to London

and would be glad, if you are agreeable,

to be allowed to see you.

He would call

Tuesday morning at nine o'clock.

We talk of you every night and wonder

what you are saying and doing.

No more, dear Mr. Pip.

From your ever obliged

and affectionate servant, Biddy.

As I watched Joe that Tuesday

morning,

dressed grotesquely in a new suit,

let me confess, that if I could have

kept him away by paying money,

I certainly would have paid money.

In trying to become a gentleman,

I had succeeded in becoming a snob.

Joe. How are you, Joe?

Pip. How are you, Pip?

Come in, Joe.

Well, Joe, I am glad to see you.

Pip, dear old chap, you've growed and

you've swelled and you've gentle-folked

as to be sure you're an honor

to your king and country.

And you, Joe, look wonderfully well.

Give me your hat.

Oh, Herbert, this is Mr. Joe Gargery.

Joe, Mr. Herbert Pocket.

- How do you do, Mr. Gargery?

- Your servant, sir.

- Won't you sit down?

- Thank you kindly, sir.

Will you take tea or coffee, Mr. Gargery?

Thank you kindly, sir.

I'll take whichever

is most agreeable to yourself.

- What do you say to coffee?

- Thank you kindly, sir.

Since you are so good

as to make choice of coffee,

I'll not run contrary to your opinions,

but don't you find that rather heating?

Say tea, then.

If Mr. Gargery will excuse me, I will go

down to fetch the morning's letters.

Thank you kindly, sir.

- Us two being now alone, sir...

- Joe, how can you call me "sir"?

Us two being now alone, Pip,

I will mention what have led to me

having the present honor.

Miss Havisham have recently sent

for me.

Miss Havisham, Joe?

"Would you tell Mr. Pip," she said,

"that I wish to see him at once,

"for I have something

most particular to disclose to him."

I see.

Well, I have now concluded, sir, and Pip,

I wish you ever well and ever prospering

to a greater and greater height.

But you are not going now, Joe?

- Yes, I am.

- You'll be coming back to dinner?

Oh, no, Pip, old chap.

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