Great Expectations

Amidst a wondering silence, we three walked out of the Jolly Bargemen,

and in a wondering silence walked home. While going along, the strange

gentleman occasionally looked at me, and occasionally bit the side of

his finger. As we neared home, Joe vaguely acknowledging the occasion as

an impressive and ceremonious one, went on ahead to open the front door.

Our conference was held in the state parlor, which was feebly lighted by

one candle.

It began with the strange gentleman's sitting down at the table, drawing

the candle to him, and looking over some entries in his pocket-book.

He then put up the pocket-book and set the candle a little aside, after

peering round it into the darkness at Joe and me, to ascertain which was

which.

"My name," he said, "is Jaggers, and I am a lawyer in London. I am

pretty well known. I have unusual business to transact with you, and I

commence by explaining that it is not of my originating. If my advice

had been asked, I should not have been here. It was not asked, and you

see me here. What I have to do as the confidential agent of another, I

do. No less, no more."

Finding that he could not see us very well from where he sat, he got

up, and threw one leg over the back of a chair and leaned upon it; thus

having one foot on the seat of the chair, and one foot on the ground.

"Now, Joseph Gargery, I am the bearer of an offer to relieve you of

this young fellow your apprentice. You would not object to cancel his

indentures at his request and for his good? You would want nothing for

so doing?"

"Lord forbid that I should want anything for not standing in Pip's way,"

said Joe, staring.

"Lord forbidding is pious, but not to the purpose," returned Mr.

Jaggers. "The question is, Would you want anything? Do you want

anything?"

"The answer is," returned Joe, sternly, "No."

I thought Mr. Jaggers glanced at Joe, as if he considered him a fool for

his disinterestedness. But I was too much bewildered between breathless

curiosity and surprise, to be sure of it.

"Very well," said Mr. Jaggers. "Recollect the admission you have made,

and don't try to go from it presently."

"Who's a going to try?" retorted Joe.

"I don't say anybody is. Do you keep a dog?"

"Yes, I do keep a dog."

"Bear in mind then, that Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.

Bear that in mind, will you?" repeated Mr. Jaggers, shutting his eyes

and nodding his head at Joe, as if he were forgiving him something.

"Now, I return to this young fellow. And the communication I have got to

make is, that he has Great Expectations."