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My station, Masr Davy, he returned, aint there no longer; and if ever a boat foundered, since there was darkness on the face of the deep, that ones gone down. But no, Sir, no; I doent mean as it should be deserted. Fur from that. We walked again for a while, as before, until he explained My wishes is, Sir, as it shall look, day and night, winter and summer, as it has always looked, since she first knowd it. If ever she should come a-wandering back, I wouldnt have the old place seem to cast her off, you understand, but seem to tempt her to draw nigher tot, and to peep in, maybe, like a ghost, out of the wind and rain, through the old winder, at the old seat by the fire. Then, maybe, Masr Davy, seein none but Missis Gummidge there, she might take heart to creep in, trembling; and might come to be laid down in her old bed, and rest her weary head where it was once so gay. I could not speak to him in reply, though I tried. Every night, said Mr. Peggotty, as reglar as the night comes, the candle must be stood in its old pane of glass, that if ever she should see it, it may seem to say, Come back, my child, come back! If ever theres a knock, Ham (particler a soft knock), arter dark, at your aunts door, doent you go nigh it. Let it be hernot youthat sees my fallen child! He walked a little in front of us, and kept before us for some minutes. During this interval, I glanced at Ham again, and observing the same expression on his face, and his eyes still directed to the distant light, I touched his arm. Twice I called him by his name, in the tone in which I might have tried to rouse a sleeper, before he heeded me. When I at last inquired on what his thoughts were so bent, he replied On whats afore me, Masr Davy; and over yon. On the life before you, do you mean? He had pointed confusedly out to sea. Aye, Masr Davy. I doent rightly know how tis, but from over yon there seems to me to comethe end of it like; looking at me as if he were waking, but with the same determined face. What end? I asked, possessed by my former fear. I doent know, he said thoughtfully; I was calling to mind that the beginning of it all did take place hereand then the end come. But its gone! Masr Davy, he added, answering, as I think, my look, you hant no call to be afeerd of me: but Im kiender muddled; I dont fare to feel no matters,which was as much as to say that he was not himself, and quite confounded. Mr. Peggotty stopping for us to join him, we did so, and said no more. The remembrance of this, in connection with my former thought, however, haunted me at intervals, even until the inexorable end came at its appointed time. We insensibly approached the old boat, and entered. Mrs. Gummidge, no longer moping in her especial corner, was busy preparing breakfast. She took Mr. Peggottys hat, and placed his seat for him, and spoke so comfortably and softly, that I hardly knew her. Danl, my good man, said she, you must eat and drink, and keep up your strength, for without it youll do nowt. Try, thats a dear soul! And if I disturb you with my clicketten, she meant her chattering, tell me so, Danl, and I wont. When she had served us all, she withdrew to the window, where she sedulously employed herself in repairing some shirts and other clothes belonging to Mr. Peggotty, and neatly folding and packing them |
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