I never knew Joe to remember anything from one Sunday to another, or to acquire, under my tuition, any piece of information whatever.

Yet he would smoke his pipe at the Battery with a far more sagacious air than anywhere else,--even with a learned air,--as if he considered himself to be advancing immensely.

Dear fellow, I hope he did.
It was pleasant and quiet, out there with the sails on the river passing beyond the earthwork, and sometimes, when the tide was low, looking as if they belonged to sunken ships that were still sailing on at the bottom of the water.

Whenever I watched the vessels standing out to sea with their white sails spread, I somehow thought of Miss Havisham and Estella; and whenever the light struck aslant, afar off, upon a cloud or sail or green hillside or water-line, it was just the same .-- Miss Havisham and Estella and the strange house and the strange life appeared to have something to do with everything that was picturesque.
One Sunday when Joe, greatly enjoying his pipe, had so plumed himself on being "most awful dull," that I had given him up for the day, I lay on the earthwork for some time with my chin on my hand, descrying traces of Miss Havisham and Estella all over the prospect, in the sky and in the water, until at last I resolved to mention a thought concerning them that had been much in my head.
"Joe," said I; "don't you think I ought to make Miss Havisham a visit ?" "Well, Pip," returned Joe, slowly considering.

"What for ?" "What for, Joe?
What is any visit made for ?" "There is some wisits p'r'aps," said Joe, "as for ever remains open to the question, Pip.