Great Expectations

For now, my repugnance to him had all melted away; and in the Hunted,

wounded, shackled creature who held my hand in his, I only saw a man

who had meant to be my benefactor, and who had felt affectionately,

gratefully, and generously, towards me with great constancy through a

series of years. I only saw in him a much better man than I had been to

Joe.

His breathing became more difficult and painful as the night drew on,

and often he could not repress a groan. I tried to rest him on the arm

I could use, in any easy position; but it was dreadful to think that

I could not be sorry at heart for his being badly hurt, since it was

unquestionably best that he should die. That there were, still living,

people enough who were able and willing to identify him, I could not

doubt. That he would be leniently treated, I could not hope. He who had

been presented in the worst light at his trial, who had since broken

prison and had been tried again, who had returned from transportation

under a life sentence, and who had occasioned the death of the man who

was the cause of his arrest.

As we returned towards the setting sun we had yesterday left behind us,

and as the stream of our hopes seemed all running back, I told him how

grieved I was to think that he had come home for my sake.

"Dear boy," he answered, "I'm quite content to take my chance. I've seen

my boy, and he can be a gentleman without me."

No. I had thought about that, while we had been there side by side. No.

Apart from any inclinations of my own, I understood Wemmick's hint now.

I foresaw that, being convicted, his possessions would be forfeited to

the Crown.

"Lookee here, dear boy," said he "It's best as a gentleman should not be

knowed to belong to me now. Only come to see me as if you come by chance

alonger Wemmick. Sit where I can see you when I am swore to, for the

last o' many times, and I don't ask no more."

"I will never stir from your side," said I, "when I am suffered to be

near you. Please God, I will be as true to you as you have been to me!"

I felt his hand tremble as it held mine, and he turned his face away

as he lay in the bottom of the boat, and I heard that old sound in his

throat,--softened now, like all the rest of him. It was a good thing

that he had touched this point, for it put into my mind what I might not

otherwise have thought of until too late,--that he need never know how

his hopes of enriching me had perished.