As I giv' you to understand just now, I'm famous for it.

It was the money left me, and the gains of the first few year wot I sent home to Mr.Jaggers--all for you--when he first come arter you, agreeable to my letter." O that he had never come! That he had left me at the forge,--far from contented, yet, by comparison happy! "And then, dear boy, it was a recompense to me, look'ee here, to know in secret that I was making a gentleman.

The blood horses of them colonists might fling up the dust over me as I was walking; what do I say?
I says to myself, 'I'm making a better gentleman nor ever you'll be!' When one of 'em says to another, 'He was a convict, a few year ago, and is a ignorant common fellow now, for all he's lucky,' what do I say?
I says to myself, 'If I ain't a gentleman, nor yet ain't got no learning, I'm the owner of such.

All on you owns stock and land; which on you owns a brought-up London gentleman ?' This way I kep myself a going.

And this way I held steady afore my mind that I would for certain come one day and see my boy, and make myself known to him, on his own ground." He laid his hand on my shoulder.