Great Expectations

"I want to know," said I, "and particularly, Herbert, whether he told

you when this happened?"

"Particularly? Let me remember, then, what he said as to that. His

expression was, 'a round score o' year ago, and a'most directly after I

took up wi' Compeyson.' How old were you when you came upon him in the

little churchyard?"

"I think in my seventh year."

"Ay. It had happened some three or four years then, he said, and you

brought into his mind the little girl so tragically lost, who would have

been about your age."

"Herbert," said I, after a short silence, in a hurried way, "can you see

me best by the light of the window, or the light of the fire?"

"By the firelight," answered Herbert, coming close again.

"Look at me."

"I do look at you, my dear boy."

"Touch me."

"I do touch you, my dear boy."

"You are not afraid that I am in any fever, or that my head is much

disordered by the accident of last night?"

"N-no, my dear boy," said Herbert, after taking time to examine me. "You

are rather excited, but you are quite yourself."

"I know I am quite myself. And the man we have in hiding down the river,

is Estella's Father."