Great Expectations

He had worked himself into a state of great excitement, but he checked

it, took two or three short breaths, swallowed as often, and stretching

out his hand towards me said, in a reassuring manner, "I ain't a going

to be low, dear boy!"

He had so heated himself that he took out his handkerchief and wiped his

face and head and neck and hands, before he could go on.

"I had said to Compeyson that I'd smash that face of his, and I swore

Lord smash mine! to do it. We was in the same prison-ship, but I

couldn't get at him for long, though I tried. At last I come behind him

and hit him on the cheek to turn him round and get a smashing one at

him, when I was seen and seized. The black-hole of that ship warn't

a strong one, to a judge of black-holes that could swim and dive. I

escaped to the shore, and I was a hiding among the graves there, envying

them as was in 'em and all over, when I first see my boy!"

He regarded me with a look of affection that made him almost abhorrent

to me again, though I had felt great pity for him.

"By my boy, I was giv to understand as Compeyson was out on them marshes

too. Upon my soul, I half believe he escaped in his terror, to get quit

of me, not knowing it was me as had got ashore. I hunted him down. I

smashed his face. 'And now,' says I 'as the worst thing I can do, caring

nothing for myself, I'll drag you back.' And I'd have swum off, towing

him by the hair, if it had come to that, and I'd a got him aboard

without the soldiers.

"Of course he'd much the best of it to the last,--his character was so

good. He had escaped when he was made half wild by me and my murderous

intentions; and his punishment was light. I was put in irons, brought

to trial again, and sent for life. I didn't stop for life, dear boy and

Pip's comrade, being here."

"He wiped himself again, as he had done before, and then slowly took

his tangle of tobacco from his pocket, and plucked his pipe from his

button-hole, and slowly filled it, and began to smoke.

"Is he dead?" I asked, after a silence.

"Is who dead, dear boy?"

"Compeyson."

"He hopes I am, if he's alive, you may be sure," with a fierce look. "I

never heerd no more of him."