Гордость и предубеждение / Pride and Prejudice. Great Expectations / Большие надежды

On the next day, Joe was arraying himself in his Sunday clothes to accompany me to Miss

Havisham’s. The forge was shut up for the day.

We walked to town. As it was almost noon, Joe and I held straight on to Miss Havisham’s house.

Estella opened the gate as usual, and, the moment she appeared, Joe took his hat off.

Estella took no notice of either of us, but led us the way that I knew so well. I followed next

to her, and Joe came last.

Estella told me we were both to go in, so I conducted Joe into Miss Havisham’s presence. She

was seated at her dressing-table, and looked round at us immediately.

“Oh!” said she to Joe. “You are the husband of the sister of this boy?”

Dear old Joe was looking like some extraordinary bird; standing speechless, with his mouth

open as if he wanted a worm.

“You are the husband,” repeated Miss Havisham, “of the sister of this boy?”

It was very aggravating; but, throughout the interview, Joe was addressing me instead of Miss

Havisham.

“Yes, you see, Pip, as I married your sister.”

“Well!” said Miss Havisham. “And you have reared the boy, with the intention of taking him

for your apprentice; is that so, Mr. Gargery?”

“You know, Pip,” replied Joe, “as you and me were friends… But, Pip, if you had ever made

objections to that, nobody would force you, don’t you see?”

“Has the boy,” said Miss Havisham, “ever made any objection? Does he like the trade?”

“Pip,” returned Joe, “I think, there were not any objection on your part, right?”

It was quite in vain for me to make him understand that he ought to speak to Miss Havisham.

“Have you brought his indentures with you?” asked Miss Havisham.

“Well, Pip, you know,” replied Joe, “you saw me put them in my bag, and therefore you know

as they are here.” With which he took them out, and gave them, not to Miss Havisham, but to me. I

am afraid I was ashamed of the dear good fellow – I know I was ashamed of him – when I saw that

Estella stood at the back of Miss Havisham’s chair, and that her eyes laughed.

“You expected,” said Miss Havisham, as she looked them over, “no premium with the boy?”

“Joe!” I cried, for he made no reply at all. “Why don’t you answer – ”

“Pip,” returned Joe, “that is not a question requiring a answer between yourself and me. Should

I say it?”Miss Havisham glanced at him and took up a little bag from the table beside her.

“Pip has earned a premium here,” she said, “and here it is. There are five-and-twenty guineas

in this bag. Give it to your master, Pip.”

“This is very liberal on your part,

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 Pip,” said Joe, “ And now, old chap,” may we do our duty!

“Goodbye, Pip!” said Miss Havisham. “Let them out, Estella.”

“Am I to come again, Miss Havisham?” I asked.

“No. Gargery is your master now.”

We got out of the room. In another minute we were outside the gate, and it was locked, and

Estella was gone. When we stood in the daylight alone again, Joe backed up against a wall, and said

to me, “Astonishing!”

When I got into my little bedroom, I was truly wretched, and had a strong conviction on me

that I should never like Joe’s trade. I had liked it once, but once was not now.

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 may we do our duty! – будем исполнять свой долг!

 I had liked it once, but once was not now. – Когда-то оно мне нравилось, но сейчас – другое дело.

Д.  Остин, Ч.  Диккенс, С.  А.  Матвеев.  «Гордость и предубеждение / Pride and Prejudice. Great Expectations / Боль-

шие надежды»

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