"Great Expectations"
by Charles Dickens

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     "Have you brought his indentures with you?" asked Miss Havisham.

     "Well, Pip, you know," replied Joe, as if that were a little unreasonable, "you yourself see me put 'em in my 'at, and therefore you know as they are here." With which he took them out, and gave them, not to Miss Havisham, but to me. I am afraid I was ashamed of the dear good fellow,--I know I was ashamed of him,--when I saw that Estella stood at the back of Miss Havisham's chair, and that her eyes laughed mischievously. I took the indentures out of his hand and gave them to Miss Havisham.

     "You expected," said Miss Havisham, as she looked them over, "no premium with the boy?"

 

     "Joe!" I remonstrated, for he made no reply at all. "Why don't you answer--"

     "Pip," returned Joe, cutting me short as if he were hurt, "which I meantersay that were not a question requiring a answer betwixt yourself and me, and which you know the answer to be full well No. You know it to be No, Pip, and wherefore should I say it?"

     Miss Havisham glanced at him as if she understood what he really was better than I had thought possible, seeing what he was there; and took up a little bag from the table beside her.

 
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