You're right, old chap! When I got acquainted with your sister, it were the talk how she was bringing you up by hand.

Very kind of her too, all the folks said, and I said, along with all the folks.

As to you," Joe pursued with a countenance expressive of seeing something very nasty indeed, "if you could have been aware how small and flabby and mean you was, dear me, you'd have formed the most contemptible opinion of yourself!" Not exactly relishing this, I said, "Never mind me, Joe." "But I did mind you, Pip," he returned with tender simplicity.

"When I offered to your sister to keep company, and to be asked in church at such times as she was willing and ready to come to the forge, I said to her, 'And bring the poor little child.

God bless the poor little child,' I said to your sister, 'there's room for him at the forge!'" I broke out crying and begging pardon, and hugged Joe round the neck: who dropped the poker to hug me, and to say, "Ever the best of friends; an't us, Pip?
Don't cry, old chap!" When this little interruption was over, Joe resumed:-- "Well, you see, Pip, and here we are! That's about where it lights; here we are! Now, when you take me in hand in my learning, Pip (and I tell you beforehand I am awful dull, most awful dull), Mrs.Joe mustn't see too much of what we're up to.