"I heerd," returned Joe, "as it were not Miss Havisham, old chap."

     "Did you hear who it was, Joe?"

     "Well! I heerd as it were a person what sent the person what giv' you the bank-notes at the Jolly Bargemen, Pip."

     "So it was."

     "Astonishing!" said Joe, in the placidest way.

     "Did you hear that he was dead, Joe?" I presently asked, with increasing diffidence.

     "Which? Him as sent the bank-notes, Pip?"

     "Yes."

     "I think," said Joe, after meditating a long time, and looking rather evasively at the window-seat, "as I did hear tell that how he were something or another in a general way in that direction."

     "Did you hear anything of his circumstances, Joe?"

     "Not partickler, Pip."

     "If you would like to hear, Joe--" I was beginning, when Joe got up and came to my sofa.