“But has she not taken me down stairs, Belinda,”
returned Mr. Pocket, “and shown me the woman,
and the bundle too?”
“And do you defend her, Matthew,” said
Mrs. Pocket, “for making mischief?”
Mr. Pocket uttered a dismal groan.
“Am I, grandpapa’s granddaughter, to be
nothing in the house?” said Mrs. Pocket.
“Besides, the cook has always been a very nice
respectful woman, and said in the most natural manner
when she came to look after the situation, that she
felt I was born to be a Duchess.”
There was a sofa where Mr. Pocket stood, and he dropped
upon it in the attitude of the Dying Gladiator.
Still in that attitude he said, with a hollow voice,
“Good night, Mr. Pip,” when I deemed it
advisable to go to bed and leave him.
After two or three days, when I had established myself
in my room and had gone backwards and forwards to
London several times, and had ordered all I wanted
of my tradesmen, Mr. Pocket and I had a long talk
together. He knew more of my intended career
than I knew myself, for he referred to his having
been told by Mr. Jaggers that I was not designed for
any profession, and that I should be well enough educated
for my destiny if I could “hold my own”
with the average of young men in prosperous circumstances.
I acquiesced, of course, knowing nothing to the contrary.
He advised my attending certain places in London,
for the acquisition of such mere rudiments as I wanted,
and my investing him with the functions of explainer
and director of all my studies. He hoped that
with intelligent assistance I should meet with little
to discourage me, and should soon be able to dispense
with any aid but his. Through his way of saying
this, and much more to similar purpose, he placed
himself on confidential terms with me in an admirable
manner; and I may state at once that he was always
so zealous and honourable in fulfilling his compact
with me, that he made me zealous and honourable in
fulfilling mine with him. If he had shown indifference
as a master, I have no doubt I should have returned
the compliment as a pupil; he gave me no such excuse,
and each of us did the other justice. Nor, did
I ever regard him as having anything ludicrous about
him — or anything but what was serious, honest,
and good — in his tutor communication with me.
When these points were settled, and so far carried
out as that I had begun to work in earnest, it occurred
to me that if I could retain my bedroom in Barnard’s
Inn, my life would be agreeably varied, while my manners
would be none the worse for Herbert’s society.
Mr. Pocket did not object to this arrangement, but
urged that before any step could possibly be taken
in it, it must be submitted to my guardian.
I felt that this delicacy arose out of the consideration
that the plan would save Herbert some expense, so
I went off to Little Britain and imparted my wish to
Mr. Jaggers.
