Page:Great expectations (1861 Volume 2).pdf/150

 "And don't blame me," growled the convict I had recognised. "I don't want to go. I am quite ready to stay behind. As fur as I am concerned any one's welcome to my place."

"Or, mine," said the other, gruffly. "I wouldn't have incommoded none of you, if I'd a had my way." Then, they both laughed, and began cracking nuts, and spitting the shells about.—As I really think I should have liked to do myself, if I had been in their place and so despised.

At length, it was voted that there was no help for the angry gentleman, and that he must either go in his chance company or remain behind. So, he got into his place, still making complaints, and the keeper got into the place next him, and the convicts hauled themselves up as well as they could, and the convict I had recognised sat behind me with his breath on the hair of my head.

"Good-by, Handel!" Herbert called out as we started. I thought what a blessed fortune it was, that he had found another name for me than Pip.

It is impossible to express with what