Great Expectations

At the mention of each name, she had struck the table with her stick in

a new place. She now said, "Walk me, walk me!" and we went on again.

"I suppose there's nothing to be done," exclaimed Camilla, "but comply

and depart. It's something to have seen the object of one's love and

duty for even so short a time. I shall think of it with a melancholy

satisfaction when I wake up in the night. I wish Matthew could have

that comfort, but he sets it at defiance. I am determined not to make a

display of my feelings, but it's very hard to be told one wants to feast

on one's relations,--as if one was a Giant,--and to be told to go. The

bare idea!"

Mr. Camilla interposing, as Mrs. Camilla laid her hand upon her heaving

bosom, that lady assumed an unnatural fortitude of manner which I

supposed to be expressive of an intention to drop and choke when out of

view, and kissing her hand to Miss Havisham, was escorted forth. Sarah

Pocket and Georgiana contended who should remain last; but Sarah was

too knowing to be outdone, and ambled round Georgiana with that artful

slipperiness that the latter was obliged to take precedence. Sarah

Pocket then made her separate effect of departing with, "Bless you, Miss

Havisham dear!" and with a smile of forgiving pity on her walnut-shell

countenance for the weaknesses of the rest.

While Estella was away lighting them down, Miss Havisham still walked

with her hand on my shoulder, but more and more slowly. At last she

stopped before the fire, and said, after muttering and looking at it

some seconds,-"This is my birthday, Pip."

I was going to wish her many happy returns, when she lifted her stick.

"I don't suffer it to be spoken of. I don't suffer those who were here

just now, or any one to speak of it. They come here on the day, but they

dare not refer to it."

Of course I made no further effort to refer to it.

"On this day of the year, long before you were born, this heap of

decay," stabbing with her crutched stick at the pile of cobwebs on the

table, but not touching it, "was brought here. It and I have worn away

together. The mice have gnawed at it, and sharper teeth than teeth of

mice have gnawed at me."

She held the head of her stick against her heart as she stood looking

at the table; she in her once white dress, all yellow and withered; the

once white cloth all yellow and withered; everything around in a state

to crumble under a touch.