Great Expectations

These were the surroundings among which I settled down, and applied

myself to my education. I soon contracted expensive habits, and began

to spend an amount of money that within a few short months I should have

thought almost fabulous; but through good and evil I stuck to my books.

There was no other merit in this, than my having sense enough to feel

my deficiencies. Between Mr. Pocket and Herbert I got on fast; and, with

one or the other always at my elbow to give me the start I wanted, and

clear obstructions out of my road, I must have been as great a dolt as

Drummle if I had done less.

I had not seen Mr. Wemmick for some weeks, when I thought I would write

him a note and propose to go home with him on a certain evening. He

replied that it would give him much pleasure, and that he would expect

me at the office at six o'clock. Thither I went, and there I found him,

putting the key of his safe down his back as the clock struck.

"Did you think of walking down to Walworth?" said he.

"Certainly," said I, "if you approve."

"Very much," was Wemmick's reply, "for I have had my legs under the desk

all day, and shall be glad to stretch them. Now, I'll tell you what I

have got for supper, Mr. Pip. I have got a stewed steak,--which is

of home preparation,--and a cold roast fowl,--which is from the

cook's-shop. I think it's tender, because the master of the shop was a

Juryman in some cases of ours the other day, and we let him down easy.

I reminded him of it when I bought the fowl, and I said, "Pick us out

a good one, old Briton, because if we had chosen to keep you in the box

another day or two, we could easily have done it." He said to that,

"Let me make you a present of the best fowl in the shop." I let him, of

course. As far as it goes, it's property and portable. You don't object

to an aged parent, I hope?"

I really thought he was still speaking of the fowl, until he added,

"Because I have got an aged parent at my place." I then said what

politeness required.

"So, you haven't dined with Mr. Jaggers yet?" he pursued, as we walked

along.

"Not yet."

"He told me so this afternoon when he heard you were coming. I expect

you'll have an invitation to-morrow. He's going to ask your pals, too.

Three of 'em; ain't there?"