远大前程-第13章

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All　I　knew　was　that　I　must　keep　him　out　of　sight　until　Herbert　returned　Then　we　could　produce　a　better　plan　for　the　future．I　decided　to　rent　a　room　for　him　in　a　house　near　ours，where　I　thought　he　would　be　safe　for　the　moment．I　bought　him　different　clothes，and　had　his　hair　cut，but　to　me　he　looked　just　the　same，and　I　lived　in　constant　fear　that　he　would　he　recognized　by　someone　who　had　known　him　in　the　past．

My　unwanted　guest　and　I　spent　five　long　days　and　evenings　together，with　the　wind　and　rain　beating　on　the　windows．Those　few　days　seemed　more　like　a　year　to　me．He　slept，or　ate，or　played　cards．Sometimes　he　listened　to　me　reading，with　a　proud　smile　on　his　face．I　could　not　sleep　or　eat．　I　used　to　watch　him　sleep，wondering　what　bloody　crimes　lay　in　his　past，and　knowing　that　I　alone　protected　him　from　a　horrible　death．

I　cannot　describe　my　joy　when　Herbert　finally　returned．　At　last　I　could　share　my　terrible　news　with　my　friend．He，too，was　shocked　to　hear　that　my　great　expectations　came　from　the　prisoner　I　had　helped　so　long　ago，and　when　I　introduced　him　to　our　guest，Herbert　could　hardly　hide　his　dislike．

When　we　were　alone，he　said　to　me，‘You　look　so　pale，Handel．This　has　been　a　painful　time　for　you．’

‘Herbert，something　must　be　done．He　wants　to　spend　even　more　on　me！He　must　be　stopped！’

‘You　mean　you　can't　accept　any　more　of　his　money？’

‘How　can　I？　You　know　he's　a　criminal！How　do　I　know　where　his　money　comes　from？　And　think　what　I　owe　him　al－ready！I　have　no　way　of　paying　him　back．Oh　Herbert，if　I　didn't　have　you　as　a　friend，I'd　be　desperate！’I　could　only　just　control　my　tears．Herbert　kindly　pretended　not　to　notice．

‘My　dear　Handel，’he　said，‘if　you　want　to　pay　back　what　you　owe　him，you　could　always　join　my　company，Clarrikers．I'm　going　to　be　a　partner　there　soon，you　know．’Poor　Her…bert！He　did　not　suspect　whose　money　was　helping　him　be－come　a　partner．

‘But　there's　another　thing，’added　Herbert．‘This　man　has　a　fierce　and　violent　character．He's　come　here　with　a　fixed　idea，which　he's　been　looking　forward　to　for　half　his　life．If　you　destroy　his　idea，his　life　will　be　worthless．’

‘And　he　will　allow　himself　to　be　arrested　and　hanged，’I　continued，nodding．‘Yes，I've　thought　that　ever　since　he　arrived．If　that　happened，I'd　feel　guilty　for　ever．’

‘So　you　cannot　destroy　his　dream　now．First　we　must　get　him　out　of　England，where　he　risks　death　every　moment．Then　you　will　explain　that　you　can't　accept　his　money．I'll　help　you　all　the　way，trust　me．’I　shook　Herbert's　hand　gratefully．

Next　morning　after　breakfast　we　asked　Magwitch　to　tell　us　more　about　his　past　life，so　that　we　could　protect　him　better．

‘You　promise　to　keep　it　a　secret，Pip's　friend？’he　said　to　Herbert．‘Well　I'll　put　it　in　a　few　words．In　prison　and　out　of　prison．That's　been　my　life，more　or　less．Don't　remember　my　parents．No　idea　where　I　was　born．I　slept　in　fields，I　stole　food，sometimes　I　worked．And　I　grew　to　be　a　man．It　was　about　twenty　years　ago　I　met　Compeyson．I'd　kill　him　now，at　once，if　I　met　him！He's　the　man　I　was　fighting　when　the　soldiers　found　me　on　the　marshes，Pip．He　was　handsome　and　educated，so　people　thought　he　was　a　gentleman　and　trusted　him．I　was　a　partner　in　his　business，and　a　dirty　business　it　was，too．We　persuaded　rich　people　to　invest　their　money　with　us，we　used　stolen　banknotes，we　wrote　false　cheques．Compeyson　was　clever，but　what　a　wicked，cold　hear　the　had！He　always　got　the　profits　but　never　the　blame．

‘His　former　partner，Arthur，lived　in　Compeyson's　house　and　was　very　ill．In　fact　he　was　dying．He　and　Compeyson　had　got　a　lot　of　money　out　of　a　rich　lady　some　years　before，and　Arthur　kept　dreaming　of　this　lady．Late　one　night　he　appeared　at　the　sitting－room　door，pale　and　shaking，crying，“Compeyson，she's　there！In　my　room！All　dressed　in　white，ready　for　the　wedding！She's　angry，she　says　she　wants　revenge！You　brobke　her　heart，you　know　you　did！And　now　she　say　I'm　going　to　die！”

‘Compeyson　and　his　wife　put　Arthur　back　to　bed，but　at　five　o’clock　in　the　morning　we　heard　screams　coming　from　his　room，and　he　died　soon　after．

‘I　should　have　realized　it　was　a　mistake　getting　involved　with　Compeyson．In　the　end　we　were　both　arrested　for　several　crimes．And　what　happened？At　the　trial　he　lied　and　lied．I　was　the　criminal，in　and　out　of　prison　all　my　life，and　I　got　fourteen　years　on　the　prison…ship．He　was　the　gentleman，of　good　character　and　with　important　friends，and　only　got　seven　years．

Magwitch　had　become　very　excited，and　had　to　breathe　deeply　to　calm　himself．‘I　promised　myself　I'd　smash　his　handsome　face　when　I　saw　him　on　the　prison…ship．I　was　just　going　to，when　a　guard　caught　hold　of　me．I　managed　to　escape　by　diving　into　the　river．That's　how　I　reached　the　marshes，and　the　churchyard．And　then　Pip，my　boy，you　told　me　Compeyson　was　on　the　marshes　too．He　must　have　escaped，like　me．So　I　hunted　him　and　smashed　his　face，and　I　was　going　to　take　him　back　to　the　prison…ship，so　that　he　wouldn't　have　the　pleasure　of　being　free，when　the　soldiers　caught　us．Again　he　was　clever．His　punishment　for　escaping　was　light．But　I　was　brought　to　trial　again，and　sent　to　Australia　for　life．’

‘Is　Compeyson　dead？’I　asked　after　a　silence．

‘Heard　no　more　of　him，’he　said，shaking　his　head．‘But　if　he's　alive，he　hopes　I'm　dead，that's　certain！’

Herbert　passed　me　a　note　he　had　been　writing．It　said：

‘The　name　of　Miss　Havisham's　half－brother　was　Arthur．Compeyson　is　the　man　who　pretended　to　be　in　love　with　her．’

　　



　


14　　Pip　visits　Estella　and　Miss　Havisham　again

　　

Before　taking　Magwitch　abroad，I　felt　I　must　see　both　Estella　and　Miss　Havisham．When　I　visited　Estella's　London　home，I　found　she　had　gone　to　stay　with　Miss　Hav－isham，and　so，leaving　Magwitch　in　Herbert's　care，I　went　by　coach　to　the　town　I　knew　so　well．

Before　walking　to　Miss　Havisham's，I　went　to　the　hotel　for　breakfast．It　was　an　unpleasant　shock　to　discover　Bentley　Drummle　there，but　I　could　imagine　his　reason　for　visiting　the　area．When　he　noticed　me，he　immediately　called　to　the　waiter，making　sure　I　could　hear，‘Listen，you！The　lady　isn't　going　riding　today．And　remember，I'm　not　having　dinner　here　tonight，I'll　be　at　the　lady's．’And　Drummle　smiled　wickedly　at　me，knowing　that　what　he　said　cut　me　to　the　heart．He　went　out，shouting　for　his　horse．

If　he　had　spoken　Estella's　name，I　would　have　hit　him．I　was　so　angry　with　him，and　so　depressed　about　my　future，that　I　could　not　eat　the　breakfast．Instead　I　went　straight　to　the　old　house．

I　found　Miss　Havisham　and　Estella　sitting　in　the　same　room，with　candles　burning　as　usual．

‘Miss　Havisham，’I　said，‘I　must　tell　you　that　I'm　as　unhappy　as　you　ever　wanted　me　to　be．I've　discovered　who　has　been　paying　for　my　education．Now　I　know　I　shall　never　be　rich，or　important．I　cannot　tell　you　any　more．It　isn't　my　secret，but　another　person's．’I　stopped，considering　what　to　say　next．

‘Go　on，’said　Miss　Havisham，looking　interested．

‘I　thought　it　was　you，Miss　Havisham！And　you　encouraged　me　in　my　mistake！’

‘Why　should　I　be　kind　to　anybody　after　all　I've　suffered！’cried　Miss　Havisham　angrily．

‘Yes，you're　right，’I　said　quickly，to　calm　her．‘But　you　also　encouraged　your　relations　to　think　I　would　inherit　some　of　your　fortune．’

‘Why　shouldn't　I？’she　cried　wildly．

‘But　Matthew　Pocket　and　his　son　are　different．They　aren't　selfish　or　greedy，they're　generous　and　honest．I　want　you　to　know　that．’

She　looked　carefully　at　me．‘What　do　you　want　for　them？’

‘I'm　asking　for　money，’I　replied，my　cheeks　red．‘I　would　like　you　to　help　my　friend　Herbert　become　a　partner　in　his　company．I　started　paying　for　this　myself　two　years　ago…and　I　want　to　keep　it　a　secret　from　him－but　now　I　find　I　can't　continue　the　payments．I　can't　explain　why．It's　part　of　the　other　person's　secret．

Miss　Havisham　looked　at　the　fire，and　then　at　me　again．

‘What　else？’she　asked．

Turning　to　Estella，I　tried　to　control　my　trembling　voice．‘You　know　I　love　you，Estella，’I　said．‘I　have　loved