Page 275 - GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Great Expectations

‘We’ll drink her health,’ said I.
‘Ah!’ cried Mr. Pumblechook, leaning back in his
chair, quite flaccid with admiration, ‘that’s the way you
know ‘em, 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 nobleminded, sir! Ever
forgiving and ever affable. It might,’ said the servile
Pumblechook, 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. Pumblechook,
‘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 to Mr. Pumblechook 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

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