But the old boy was so far from responding, that he would not even walk to Hammersmith on the same side of the way; so Herbert and I, who remained in town, saw them going down the street on opposite sides; Startop leading, and Drummle lagging behind in the shadow of the houses, much as he was wont to follow in his boat.
As the door was not yet shut, I thought I would leave Herbert there for a moment, and run up stairs again to say a word to my guardian.

I found him in his dressing-room surrounded by his stock of boots, already hard at it, washing his hands of us.
I told him I had come up again to say how sorry I was that anything disagreeable should have occurred, and that I hoped he would not blame me much.
"Pooh!" said he, sluicing his face, and speaking through the water-drops; "it's nothing, Pip.

I like that Spider though." He had turned towards me now, and was shaking his head, and blowing, and towelling himself.
"I am glad you like him, sir," said I--"but I don't." "No, no," my guardian assented; "don't have too much to do with him.
Keep as clear of him as you can.

But I like the fellow, Pip; he is one of the true sort.

Why, if I was a fortune-teller--" Looking out of the towel, he caught my eye.
"But I am not a fortune-teller," he said, letting his head drop into a festoon of towel, and towelling away at his two ears.