Great Expectations

"The man says?" I observed, as Joe waited for me to speak.

"The man says," Joe assented. "Is he right, that man?"

"Dear Joe, he is always right."

"Well, old chap," said Joe, "then abide by your words. If he's always

right (which in general he's more likely wrong), he's right when he says

this: Supposing ever you kep any little matter to yourself, when you

was a little child, you kep it mostly because you know'd as J. Gargery's

power to part you and Tickler in sunders were not fully equal to his

inclinations. Theerfore, think no more of it as betwixt two sech, and do

not let us pass remarks upon onnecessary subjects. Biddy giv' herself a

deal o' trouble with me afore I left (for I am almost awful dull), as I

should view it in this light, and, viewing it in this light, as I should

so put it. Both of which," said Joe, quite charmed with his logical

arrangement, "being done, now this to you a true friend, say. Namely.

You mustn't go a overdoing on it, but you must have your supper and your

wine and water, and you must be put betwixt the sheets."

The delicacy with which Joe dismissed this theme, and the sweet tact and

kindness with which Biddy--who with her woman's wit had found me out so

soon--had prepared him for it, made a deep impression on my mind. But

whether Joe knew how poor I was, and how my great expectations had

all dissolved, like our own marsh mists before the sun, I could not

understand.

Another thing in Joe that I could not understand when it first began to

develop itself, but which I soon arrived at a sorrowful comprehension

of, was this: As I became stronger and better, Joe became a little less

easy with me. In my weakness and entire dependence on him, the dear

fellow had fallen into the old tone, and called me by the old names,

the dear "old Pip, old chap," that now were music in my ears. I too had

fallen into the old ways, only happy and thankful that he let me. But,

imperceptibly, though I held by them fast, Joe's hold upon them began

to slacken; and whereas I wondered at this, at first, I soon began to

understand that the cause of it was in me, and that the fault of it was

all mine.

Ah! Had I given Joe no reason to doubt my constancy, and to think that

in prosperity I should grow cold to him and cast him off? Had I given

Joe's innocent heart no cause to feel instinctively that as I got

stronger, his hold upon me would be weaker, and that he had better

loosen it in time and let me go, before I plucked myself away?