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Today we'll be continuing great Expectations by Charles Dickens Chapter 19 Mourning made a considerable difference in my general prospect of life and brightened it so much that it scarcely seemed the same.

What lay heaviest on my mind was the consideration that six days intervened between me and the day of departure, for I could not divest myself of a misgiving that something might happen to London in the meanwhile, and that when I got there it would be either greatly deteriorated or clean gone.

Joe and Biddy were very sympathetic and pleasant when I spoke of our approaching separation, but they only referred to it when I did.

After breakfast, Joe brought out my indentures from the press in the best parlor, and we put them in the fire, and I felt that I was free with all the novelty of my emancipation on me.

I went to church with Joe and thought, perhaps the clergyman wouldn't have read that about the rich man and the kingdom of heaven if he had known all.

After our early dinner, I strolled out alone, purposing to finish off the marshes at once and get them done with.

As I passed the church, I felt as I had felt during service in the morning a sublime compassion for the poor creatures who were destined to go there Sunday after Sunday, all their lives threw, and to lie obscurely at last among the low green mounds.

I promised myself that I would do something for them one of these days, and formed a plan and outline for bestowing a dinner of roast beef and plum pudding, a pint of ale, and a gallon of condescension upon everybody in the village, if I had often thought before, was something allied to shame of my companionship with the fugitive whom I had once seen limping among those graves, what were my thoughts on this Sunday, when the place recalled the wretch, ragged and shivering with his felon iron and badge?

My comfort was that it happened a long time ago, and that he had doubtless been transported a long way off, and that he was dead to me and might be veritably dead into the bargain.

No more low, wet grounds, no more dikes and sluices.

No more of these grazing cattle, though they seemed in their dull manner to wear a more respectful air now and to face round in order that they might stare as long as possible at the possessor of such great expectations.

They're, well, monotonous acquaintances of my childhood.

Henceforth I was for London and greatness, not for Smith's work in general.

And for you.

I made my exultant way to the old battery, and lying down there to consider the question whether Miss Havisham intended me for Estella, fell asleep.

When I awoke, I was much surprised to find Joe sitting beside me, smoking his pipe.

He greeted me with a cheerful smile on my, opening my eyes, and said.

As being the last time, Pip, I thought I'd follow.

And Joe, I'm very glad you did so.

Thank you, Pip.

You may be sure, dear Joe, I went on after we had shaken hands, that I shall never forget you.

No, no, Pip, said Joe in a comfortable tone, I'm sure of that.

Aye, aye, old chap.

Bless you.

It were only necessary to get it well round in a man's mind, to be certain on it.

But it took a bit of time to get it well round a change come so uncommon plump, didn't it?

Somehow I was not best pleased with Joe's being so mightily secure of me.

I should have liked him to have betrayed emotion, or to have said it does you credit, Pip, or something of that sort.

Therefore I made no remark on Joe's first head, merely saying as to his second, that the tidings had indeed come suddenly, but that I had always wanted to be a gentleman, and had often and often speculated on what I would do if I were one.

Have you, though?

Said Joe.

Astonishing.

It's a pity now, Joe, said I, you did not get on a little more when we had our lessons here, isn't it?

Well, I don't know, returned Joe.

I'm so awful dull.

I'm only a master of my own trade.

It were always a pity, as I was so awful dull.

But it's no more of a pity now than it was this day twelve month.

Don't you see?

What I had meant was that when.

I came into my property and was able to do something for Joe, it would have been much more agreeable if he had been better qualified for a Ryzen station.

He was so perfectly innocent of my meaning, however, that I thought I would mention it to bidy in preference.

So when we had walked home and had had tea, I took Biddy into our little garden by the side of the lane, and after throwing out in a general way for the elevation of her spirits that I should never forget her, said I had a favor to ask of her.

And it is, Biddy, said I, that you will not omit any opportunity of helping Joe on a little.

How helping him on?

Asked Bidy with a steady sort of glance.

Well, Joe is a dear, good fellow.

In fact, I think he is the dearest fellow that ever lived.

But he is rather backward in some things.

For instance, Biddy in his learning and in his manners.

Although I was looking at Biddy as I spoke, and although she opened her eyes very wide when I had spoken.

She did not look at me.

Oh, his manners.

Won't his manners do then?

Asked Biddy, plucking a black currant leaf.

My dear Bidy, they do very well here.

Oh, they do very well here, interrupted Biddy, looking closely at the leaf in her hand.

Hear me out.

But if I were to remove Joe into a higher sphere, as I shall hope to remove him when I fully come into my property, they would hardly do him justice.

And don't you think he knows that?

Asked Biddy.

It was such a very provoking question, for it had never in the most distant manner occurred to me that I said snappishly, Biddy.

What do you mean?

Biddy, having rubbed the leaf to pieces between her hands and the smell of a black currant bush, has ever since recalled to me.

That evening in the little garden by the side of the lane, said, have you never considered that he may be proud?

Proud?

I repeated with disdainful emphasis.

Oh, there are many kinds of pride, said Biddy, looking full at me and shaking her head.

Pride is not all of one kind.

Well, what are you stopping for?

Said I.

Not all of one kind, resumed Biddy.

He may be too proud to let anyone take him out of a place that he is competent to fill and fills well.

And with respect, to tell you the truth, I think he is, though it sounds bold in me to say so, for you must know him far better than I do.

Now, Biddy, said I I'm very sorry to see this in you.

I did not expect to see this in you.

You are envious, Biddy, and grudging.

You are dissatisfied on account of my rise and fortune, and you can't help showing it.

If you have the heart to think so, returned Biddy.

Say so.

Say so over and over again if you have the heart to think so.

If you have the heart to be so, you mean, Biddy, said I in a virtuous and superior tone.

Don't put it off upon me.

I'm Very sorry to see it.

And it's a bad side of human nature.

I did intend to ask you to use any little opportunities you might have after I was gone of improving Dear Joe.

But after this, I ask you nothing.

I'm extremely sorry to see this in you, Bidy, I repeated.

It's, uh, it's a bad side of human nature.

Whether you scold me or approve of.

Me returned poor biddy, you may equally depend upon my trying to do all that lies in my power here at all times.

And whatever opinion you take away of me shall make no difference in my remembrance of you.

Yet a gentleman should not be unjust.

Neither, said Biddy, turning away her head, I again warmly repeated that it was a bad side of human nature in which sentiment, waiving its application, I have since seen reason to think I was right.

And I walked down the little path away from Biddy, and Biddy went into the house, and I went out at the garden gate and took a dejected stroll until supper time again, feeling it very sorrowful and strange that this, the second night of my bright fortunes, should be as lonely and unsatisfactory as the first.

But morning once more brightened my view, and I extended my clemency to Bidy, and we dropped the subject.

Putting on the best clothes I had, I went into town as early as I could hope to find the shops open, and presented myself before Mr.

Trab, the tailor, who was having his breakfast in the parlor behind his shop, and who did not think it worth his while to come out to me, but called me into him.

Well, said Mr.

Trab in a hail fellow, well met kind of way.

How are you, and what can I do for you?

Mr.

Trab had sliced his hot roll into three feather beds.

And was slipping butter in between the blankets and covering it up.

He was a prosperous old bachelor, and his open window looked into a prosperous little garden and orchard.

And there was a prosperous iron safe led into the wall at the side of his fireplace.

And I did not doubt that heaps of his prosperity were put away in it in bags.

Mr.

Trab, said I.

It's an unpleasant thing to have to mention because it looks like boasting.

But I've come into a handsome property change passed over Mr.

Trab.

He forgot the butter in bed, got up from the bedside and wiped his fingers on the tablecloth, exclaiming, Lord bless my soul.

I'm going up to my guardian in London, said I, casually drawing some guineas out of my pocket and looking at them, and I want a fashionable suit of clothes to go in.

I wish to pay for them, I added.

Otherwise I thought he might only pretend to make them with ready money.

My dear sir, said Mr.

Trab.

As he respectfully bent his body, opened his arms.

And took the liberty of touching me on the outside of each elbow.

Don't hurt me by mentioning that.

May I venture to congratulate you?

Would you do me the favor of.

Stepping into the shop?

Mr.

Trab's boy was the most audacious boy in all that countryside.

When I had entered, he was sleeping the shop.

And he had sweetened his labors by sleeping over me.

He was still sleeping when I came out into the shop with Mr.

Trab.

And he knocked the broom against all possible corners and obstacles.

To express, as I understood it, equality with any blacksmith, alive or dead.

Hold that noise, said Mr.

Trab with the greatest sternness, or I'll knock your head off.

Do me the favor to be seated, sir.

Now this, said Mr.

Trab, taking down a roll of cloth and tidying it over in a flowing manner over the counter.

Preparatory to getting his hand under it to show the gloss.

It's a very sweet article.

I can recommend it for your purpose.

Sir, because it really is extra super.

But you shall see some others.

Give me number four.

You to the boy.

And with a dreadfully severe stare.

Foreseeing the danger of that miscreants brushing me with it.

Or making some other sign of familiarity.

Mr.

Trab never removed his stern eye from the boy.

Until he had deposited number four on the counter.

And was at a safe distance again.

Then he commanded him to bring number five and number eight.

And let me have none of your tricks here, said Mr.

Trab, or you shall repent it, you young scoundrel.

The longest day you have to live.

Mr.

Trab then bent over number four, and in a sort of deferential confidence, recommended it to me as a light article for summer Wear, an article much in vogue among the nobility and gentry, an article that it would ever be an honor to him to reflect upon a distinguished fellow townsman's, if he might claim me for a fellow townsman having worn.

Are you bringing numbers five and eight, Yuvagabond?

Said Mr.

Trab to the boy after.

That, or shall I kick you out.

Of the shop and bring them myself?

I selected the materials for a suit, with the assistance of Mr.

Trab's judgment, and re entered the parlor to be measured.

For although Mr.

Trab had my measure already and had previously been quite contented with it, he said apologetically that it wouldn't do under existing circumstances, sir, wouldn't do at all.

So Mr.

Trab measured and calculated me in the parlor as if I were an estate, and he the finest species of surveyor, and gave himself such a world of trouble that I felt that no suit of clothes could possibly remunerate him for his pains.

When he had it last done and had appointed to send the articles to Mr.

Pumblechuk's on the Thursday evening, he said with his hand upon the parlor.

Lock, I know, sir, that London gentlemen cannot be expected to patronize local work as a rule.

But if you would give me a.

Turn now and then in the quality of a townsman, I should greatly esteem it.

Good morning, sir.

Much obliged.

Door.

The last word was flung at the boy, who had not the least notion what it meant.

But I saw him collapse as his master rubbed me out with his hands.

And my first decided experience of the stupendous power of money.

Was that it had morally laid upon his back.

Trab's boy.

After this memorable event, I went to the hatters and the boot makers and the hosiers, and felt rather like Mother Hubbard's dog, whose outfit required the services of so many trades.

I also went to the coach office and took my place for 07:00 on Saturday morning.

It was not necessary to explain everywhere that I had come into a handsome property.

But whenever I said anything to that effect, it followed that the officiating tradesman ceased to have his attention diverted through the window by the high street, and concentrated his mind upon me.

When I had ordered everything I wanted, I directed my steps towards Pumblechuks.

And as I approached that gentleman's place of business, I saw him standing at his door.

He was waiting for me with great impatience.

He had been out early with the shay's cart and had called it the forge and heard the news.

He had prepared a collation for me in the Barnwell parlour, and he too ordered his shopmen to come out of the gangway as my sacred person passed.

My dear friend, said Mr.

Pumblechuk, taking me by both hands when he and I in the collation were alone, I.

Give you joy of your good fortune.

Well deserved, well deserved.

This was coming to the point and I thought it a sensible way of expressing himself.

To think, said Mr.

Pumblechuk, after snorting admiration at me for some moments, that.

I should have been the humble instrument of leading up to this is a proud reward.

I begged Mr.

Pumblechuk to remember that nothing was to be ever said or hinted on that point.

My dear young friend, said Mr.

Pumblechuk, if you will allow me to call.

You so, I murmured, certainly.

And Mr.

Pumblechuk took me by both hands again and communicated a movement to his waistcoat, which had an emotional appearance, though it was rather low down.

My dear young friend, rely upon my doing my little all in your absence, my keeping the fact before the mind of Joseph.

Joseph, said Mr.

Pumblechuk, in the way of a compassionate adjiration.

Joseph.

Joseph Arapani shook his head and tapped it, expressing his sense of deficiency in Joseph.

But my dear young friend, said Mr.

Pumblechuck, you must be hungry, you must be exhausted.

Be seated.

Here's a chicken had round from the boar.

Here's a tongue had round from the boar.

Here's one or two little things had round from the boar that I hope you may not despise.

But do I?

Said Mr.

Pumblechuk, getting up again the moment after he had sat down, see.

If for me, him as I ever sported within his times of happy infancy.

And may I?

May I this may, I meant mighty shake hands.

I consented, and he was fervent, and then sat down again.

Here is wine, said Mr.

Pumblechuk.

Let us drink thanks to fortune, and may she ever pick out her favorites with equal judgment.

And yet I cannot, said Mr.

Pumblechuck.

Getting up again, see if for me one, and likewise drink to one without again expressing.

May I, may I?

Said he might.

And he shook hands with me again, and emptied his glass and turned it upside down, I did the same.

And if I had turned myself upside down before drinking the wine, could not have gone more direct to my head.

Mr.

Pumblechuk helped me to the liver wing and to the best slice of tongue.

None of those out of the way.

No thoroughfares of pork now, and took, comparatively speaking, no care of himself at all.

Ah, poultry, poultry, you little thought, said Mr.

Pumblechuk, apostrophizing the foul in the dish.

When you was a young fledgling, what was in store for you, you little thought you, was to be refreshment beneath this humble roof.

For one is, call it a weakness.

If you will, said Mr.

Pumblechuck, getting up again.

But may I?

May I?

It began to be unnecessary to repeat the form of saying he might, so he did it at once.

How he ever did it so often without wounding himself with my knife, I don't know.

And your sister?

He resumed after a little steady eating.

Which had the honor of bringing you up by hand.

It's a sad picture to reflect that she's no longer equal to fully understanding the honor may.

I saw he was about to come at me again, and I stopped him.

We'll drink her health, said I.

Ah.

Cried Mr.

Pumblechuk, leaning back in his chair, quite flaccid with admiration.

That's the way you know him, sir.

I don't know who sir was, but he certainly was not I.

And there was no third person present.

That's the way you know the noble minded sir.

Ever forgiving and ever affable.

It mighT, said the servile Pumblechuk, putting down his untasted glass in a hurry.

And getting up again to a common person have the appearance of repeating.

But may I?

When he had done it, he resumed his seat and drank to my sister.

Let us never be blind, said Mr.

Pumblechuk to her faults of temper, but it is to be hoped she meant well.

At about this time I began to.

Observe that he was getting flushed in the face.

As to myself, I felt all face steeped in wine and smarting.

I mentioned Mr.

Pumblechuk, that I wished to have my new clothes sent to his house, and he was ecstatic on my so distinguishing him.

I mentioned my reason for desiring to avoid observation in the village, and he lauded it to the skies.

There was nobody but himself, he intimated, worthy of my confidence, and in short, might he.

Then he asked me tenderly if I remembered our boyish games at sums and how we had gone together to have me bound apprentice, and in effect, how he had ever been my favorite fancy and my chosen friend, if I had taken ten times as many glasses of wine as I had I should have known that he never had stood in that relation towards me.

And should in my heart of hearts have repudiated the idea.

Yet, for all that I remember feeling convinced that I had been much mistaken in him.

And that he was a sensible, practical, good hearted prime fellow.

My degrees, he fell to reposing such great confidence in me as to ask my advice in reference to his own affairs.

He mentioned that there was an opportunity for a great amalgamation and monopoly of the corn and seed trade on those premises, if enlarged, such as had never occurred before in that or any other neighborhood.

What alone was wanting to the realization of a vast fortune he considered to be more capital.

Those were the two little words.

More capital.

Now it appeared to him, Pumblechuk, that if that capital were got into the business through his sleeping partner, sir.

Which sleeping partner would have nothing to do but walk in by self or deputy whenever he pleased, and examine the books, and walk in twice a year and take his profits away in his pocket to the tune of 50%.

It appeared to him that that might be an opening for a young gentleman of spirit.

Combined with property which would be worthy of his attention.

But what did I think?

He had great confidence in my opinion.

And what did I think?

I gave it as my opinion.

Wait a bit.

The united vastness and distinctness of this view so struck him that he no longer asked if he might shake hands with me, but said he really must and did.

We drank all the wine, and Mr.

Pumblechuck pledged himself over and over again to keep Joseph up to the mark.

I don't know what mark.

And to render me efficient and constant service.

I don't know what service.

He also made known to me for the first time in my life, and certainly after having kept his secret wonderfully well, that he had always said of.

Me, that boy is no common boy.

And mark me, his fortune will be no common fortune.

He said with a tearful smile, that it was a singular thing to think of now.

And I said so too.

Finally I went out into the air with a dim perception that there was something unwanted in the conduct of the sunshine.

And found that I had slumberously got to the turnpike without having taken any account of the road.

There I was roused by Mr.

Pumblechuk's hailing me.

He was a long way down the sunny street and was making expressive gestures for me to stop.

I stopped and he came up breathless.

No, my dear friend, said he, when.

He had recovered wind for speech.

Not if I can help it.

This occasion shall not entirely pass without that affability on your part.

May I?

As an old friend and well wisher, may I?

We shook hands for the hundredth time at least, and he ordered a young carter out of my way with the greatest indignation.

Then he blessed me and stood waving his hand to me until I had passed the crook in the road.

And then I turned into a field and had a long nap under a hedge.

Before I pursued my way home.

I had scant luggage to take with me to London, for little of the little I possessed was adapted to my new station.

But I began packing that same afternoon and wildly packed up things that I knew I should want next morning in a fiction that there was not a moment to be lost.

So Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday passed, and on Friday morning I went to Mr.

Pumblechuk's to put on my new clothes and pay my visit to Miss Havisham.

Mr.

Pumblechuk's own room was given up to me to dress in and was decorated with clean towels expressly for the event.

My clothes were rather a disappointment, of course.

Probably every new and eagerly expected garment ever put on since clothes came in fell a trifle short of the wearer's expectation.

But after I had had my new suit on some half an hour and had gone through an immensity of posturing with Mr.

Pumblechuck's very limited dressing glass in the feudal endeavor to see my legs, it seemed to fit me better, it being market morning at a neighboring town some 10 miles off.

Mr.

Pumblechuk was not at home.

I had not told him exactly when I meant to leave and was not likely to shake hands with him again before departing.

This was all as it should be, and I went out in my new array, fearfully ashamed of having to pass the shopmen and suspicious after all, that I was a personal disadvantage, something like Joe's in his Sunday suit.

I went circuitously to Miss Havisham's by all the backways and rang at the bell constraintedly on account of the stiff, long fingers of my gloves.

Sarah Pocket came to the gate and positively reeled the back when she saw me, so changed her walnut shell countenance likewise turned from brown to green and yellow.

You, said she.

You good gracious, what do you want?

I'm going to London, Miss Pocket, said I, and want to say goodbye to Miss Havisham.

I was not expected, for she locked me in the yard while she went to ask if I were to be admitted.

After a very short delay, she returned and took me up, staring at me all the way.

Miss Havisham was taking exercise in the room with a long spread table, leaning on her crutch stick.

The room was lighted as of yore, and at the sound of our entrance she stopped and turned.

She was then just abreast of the rotted bride cake.

Don't go, Sarah, she said.

Well, Pip?

I start for London, Miss Havisham, tomorrow.

I was exceedingly careful what I said, and I thought you would kindly not mind my taking leave of you.

This is a gay figure, Pip, said.

She, making her crutch stick play round me as if she, the fairy godmother who had changed me, were bestowing the finishing gift.

I've come into such good fortune since I saw you last, Miss Havisham, I murmured, and I'm so grateful for it, Miss Havisham.

Aye, aye, said she, looking at the discomfited and envious Sarah with delight.

I have seen Mr.

Jaggers.

I have heard about it, Pip.

So you go tomorrow?

Yes, Miss Havisham.

And you are adopted by a rich person?

Yes, Miss Havisham.

Not named?

No, Miss Havisham.

And Mr.

Jaggers is Major Guardian?

Yes, Miss Havisham.

She quite gloated on these questions and answers, so keen was her enjoyment of Sarah Pocket's jealous dismay.

Well, she went on, you have a.

Promising career before you.

Be good, deserve it, and abide by Mr.

Jagger's instructions.

She looked at me and looked at Sarah, and Sarah's countenance wrung out of her watchful face a cruel smile.

Goodbye, Pip.

You will always keep the name of Pip, you know.

Yes, Miss Havisham.

Goodbye, Pip.

She stretched out her hand and I went down on my knee and put it to my lips.

I had not considered how I should take leave of her.

It came naturally to me at the moment to do this.

She looked at Sarah's pocket with triumph in her weird eyes.

And so I left my fairy godmother, with both her hands on her crutch stick, standing in the midst of the dimly lighted room beside the rotten bridecake that was hidden in cobwebs.

Sarah Pocket conducted me down as if I were a ghost who must be seen out.

She could not get over my appearance and was in the last degree confounded.

I said, goodbye, Miss Pocket, but she merely stared, and did not seem collected enough to know that I had spoken clear of the house.

I made the Best of my way back to Pumblechuk's, took off my new clothes, made them into a bundle, and went back home in my older dress carrying it, to speak the truth, much more at my ease too, though I had the bundle to carry.

And now those six days which were to have run out so slowly, had run out fast and were gone.

And tomorrow looked me in the face more steadily than I could look at.

As the six evenings had dwindled away to five, to four, to three, to two, I had become more and more appreciative of the society of Joe and Biddy.

On this last evening.

I dressed myself out in my new clothes for their delight, and sat in my splendor until bedtime.

We had a hot supper on the occasion, graced by the inevitable roast fowl, and we had some flip to finish with.

We were all very low, and none the higher for pretending to be in spirits.

I was to leave our village at five in the morning, carrying my little hand portmanteau, and had told Joe that I wished to walk away all alone.

I'm afraid, sore afraid, that this purpose originated in my sense of the contrast there would be between me and Joe if we went to the coach together.

I had pretended with myself that there was nothing of this taint in the arrangement.

But when I went up to my little room on this last night, I felt compelled to admit that it might be so, and had an impulse upon me to go down again and entreat Joe to walk with me in the morning.

I did not.

All night there were coaches in my broken sleep, going to wrong places instead of to London, and having in the traces now dogs, now cats, now pigs, now men, never horses.

Fantastic failures of journeys occupied me until the day dawned and the birds were singing.

Then I got up and partly dressed and sat at the window to take the last look out, and in taking it, fell asleep.

Biddy was astir so early to get my breakfast that although I did not sleep at the window an hour, I smelt the smoke of the kitchen fire when I started up with a terrible idea that it must be late in the afternoon.

But long after that, and long after I had heard the clinking of the teacups and was quite ready, I wanted the resolution to go downstairs.

After all.

I remained up there repeatedly unlocking and unstrapping my small Portman toe and locking and strapping it up again, until Biddy called to me that I was late.

It was a hurried breakfast with no taste in it.

I got up from the meal, saying.

With a sort of briskness, as if it had only just occurred to me, well, I suppose I must be off.

And then I kissed my sister, who was laughing and nodding and shaking in her usual chair, and kissed Biddy and threw my arms around Joe's neck.

And then I took up my little Portman toe and walked out.

The last I saw of them was when I presently heard a scuffle behind me, and, looking back, saw Joe throwing an old shoe after me and Biddy throwing another old shoe.

I stopped then to wave my hat, and dear old Joe waved his strong.

Right arm above his head, crying huskily, hurrah.

And Biddy put her apron to her face.

I walked away at a good pace, thinking it was easier to go than I had supposed it would be, and reflecting that it would never have done to have had an old shoe thrown after the coach, in sight of all the high street, I whistled and made nothing of going, but the village was very peaceful and quiet, and the light mists were solemnly rising as if to show me the world.

And I had been so innocent and little there and all beyond was so unknown and great that in a moment, with a strong heaven sob, I broke into tears.

It was by the finger post at the end of the village, and I laid my hand upon it and said goodbye.

Oh, my dear, dear friend, heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth overlying our hard hearts.

I was better after I had cried than before, more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.

If I had cried before, I should have had Joe with me then.

So subdued I was by those tears and by their breaking out again in the course of the quiet walk, that when I was on the coach and it was clear of the town, I deliberated with an aching heart whether I would not get down when we changed horses and walk back and have another evening at home and a better parting.

We changed.

And I had not made up my mind and still reflected for my comfort that it would be quite practicable to get down and walk back when we changed again.

And while I was occupied with these deliberations, I would fancy an exact resemblance to Joe and some man coming along the road towards us, and my heart would beat high as if he could possibly be there.

We changed again and yet again, and it was now too late and too far to go back, and I went on, and the mists had all solemnly risen now, and the world lay spread before me.

This is the end of the first stage of Pip's expectations.

Thank you for joining Bite at a Time books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics again.

My name is Brie Carlyle and I hope you come back tomorrow.

For the next bite of great expectations.

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Taking chapter by chapter, One bite at a time so many adventures and mountains we can climb take it word for word, line by line, one bite at a time close.