breathless curiosity and surprise, to be sure
of it.

"Very well," said Mr. Jaggers. "Recollect
the admission you have made, and don't try to
go from it presently."

"Who's a going to try?" retorted Joe.

"I don't say anybody is. Do you keep a
dog?"

"Yes, I do keep a dog."

"Bear in mind then, that Brag is a good dog,
but Holdfast is a better. Bear that in mind,
will you?" repeated Mr. Jaggers, shutting his
eyes and nodding his head at Joe, as if he were
forgiving him something. "Now, I return to
this young fellow. And the communication I
have got to make is, that he has great expectations."

Joe and I gasped, and looked at one another.

"I am instructed to communicate to him,"
said Mr. Jaggers, throwing his finger at me,
sideways, "that he will come into a handsome
property. Further, that it is the desire of the
present possessor of that property, that he be
immediately removed from his present sphere of
life and from this place, and be brought up as a
gentleman—in a word, as a young fellow of great
expectations."

My dream was out; my wild fancy was
surpassed by sober reality; Miss Havisham was
going to make my fortune on a grand scale.

"Now, Mr. Pip," pursued the lawyer, "I
address the rest of what I have to say, to you.
You are to understand first, that it is the request
of the person from whom I take my instructions,
that you always bear the name of Pip. You
will have no objection, I dare say, to your great
expectations being encumbered with that easy
condition. But if you have any objection, this
is the time to mention it."

My heart was beating so fast, and there was
such a singing in my ears, that I could scarcely
stammer I had no objection.

"I should think not! Now you are to understand
secondly, Mr. Pip, that the name of the
person who is your liberal benefactor remains a
profound secret, until the person chooses to
reveal it. I am empowered to mention that
it is the intention of the person to reveal
it at first hand by word of mouth to yourself.
When that intention may be carried out,
I cannot say; no one can say. It may be
years hence. Now, you are distinctly to
understand that you are most positively prohibited
from making any inquiry on this head, or any
allusion or reference, however distant, to any
individual whomsoever as the individual in all
the communications you may have with me. If
you have a suspicion in your own breast, keep
that suspicion in your own breast. It is not
the least to the purpose what the reasons of
this prohibition are; they may be the strongest
and gravest reasons, or they may be mere whim.
That is not for you to inquire into. The condition
is laid down. Your acceptance of it, and
your observance of it as binding, is the only
remaining condition that I am charged with,
by the person from whom I take my instructions,
and for whom I am not otherwise responsible.
That person is the person from whom
you derive your expectations, and the secret is
solely held by that person and by me. Again,
not a very difficult condition with which to
encumber such a rise in fortune; but if you
have any objection to it, this is the time to
mention it. Speak out."

Once more, I stammered with difficulty that
I had no objection.

"I should think not! Now, Mr. Pip, I have
done with stipulations." Though he called me
Mr. Pip, and began rather to make up to me, he
still could not get rid of a certain air of bullying
suspicion; and even now he occasionally
shut his eyes and threw his finger at me while he
spoke, as much as to express that he knew all
kinds of things to my disparagement, if he only
chose to mention them. "We come next, to
mere details of arrangement. You must know
that, although I have used the term 'expectations'
more than once, you are not endowed
with expectations only. There is already lodged
in my hands, a sum of money amply sufficient
for your suitable education and maintenance.
You will please consider me your guardian.
Oh!" for I was going to thank him, "I tell you
at once, I am paid for my services, or I shouldn't
render them. It is considered that you must
be better educated in accordance with your
altered position, and that you will be alive to
the importance and necessity of at once entering
on that advantage."

I said I had always longed for it.

"Never mind what you have always longed
for, Mr. Pip," he retorted; "keep to the
record. If you long for it now, that's enough.
Am I answered that you are ready to be
placed at once, under some proper tutor? Is
that it?"

I stammered, yes, that was it.

"Good. Now, your inclinations are to be
consulted. I don't think that wise, mind, but
it's my trust. Have you ever heard of any
tutor whom you would prefer to another?"

I had never heard of any tutor but Biddy and
Mr. Wopsle's great aunt; so, I replied in the
negative.

"There is a certain tutor, of whom I have
some knowledge, who I think might suit the
purpose," said Mr. Jaggers. "I don't recommend
him, observe; because I never recommend
anybody. The gentleman I speak of, is
one Mr. Matthew Pocket."

Ah! I caught at the name directly. Miss
Havisham's relation. The Matthew whom Mr.
and Mrs. Camilla had spoken of. The Matthew
whose place was to be at Miss Havisham's head,
when she lay dead, in her bride's dress on the
bride's table.

"You know the name?" said Mr. Jaggers,
looking shrewdly at me, and then shutting up
his eyes while he waited for my answer.

My answer was, that I had heard of the name.

"Oh!" said he. "You have heard of the
name. But the question is, what do you say
of it?"