One Sunday when Joe, greatly enjoying his pipe, had so plumed himself on

being "most awful dull," that I had given him up for the day, I lay on

the earthwork for some time with my chin on my hand, descrying traces of

Miss Havisham and Estella all over the prospect, in the sky and in the

water, until at last I resolved to mention a thought concerning them

that had been much in my head.

"Joe," said I; "don't you think I ought to make Miss Havisham a visit?"

"Well, Pip," returned Joe, slowly considering. "What for?"

"What for, Joe? What is any visit made for?"

"There is some wisits p'r'aps," said Joe, "as for ever remains open to

the question, Pip. But in regard to wisiting Miss Havisham. She might

think you wanted something,--expected something of her."

"Don't you think I might say that I did not, Joe?"

"You might, old chap," said Joe. "And she might credit it. Similarly she

mightn't."

Joe felt, as I did, that he had made a point there, and he pulled hard

at his pipe to keep himself from weakening it by repetition.

"You see, Pip," Joe pursued, as soon as he was past that danger, "Miss

Havisham done the handsome thing by you. When Miss Havisham done the

handsome thing by you, she called me back to say to me as that were

all."

"Yes, Joe. I heard her."

"ALL," Joe repeated, very emphatically.

"Yes, Joe. I tell you, I heard her."

"Which I meantersay, Pip, it might be that her meaning were,--Make a

end on it!--As you was!--Me to the North, and you to the South!--Keep in

sunders!"

I had thought of that too, and it was very far from comforting to me

to find that he had thought of it; for it seemed to render it more

probable.

"But, Joe."

"Yes, old chap."

"Here am I, getting on in the first year of my time, and, since the day

of my being bound, I have never thanked Miss Havisham, or asked after

her, or shown that I remember her."

"That's true, Pip; and unless you was to turn her out a set of shoes

all four round,--and which I meantersay as even a set of shoes all

four round might not be acceptable as a present, in a total wacancy of

hoofs--"




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