Читать книгу Большие надежды. Уровень 2 / Great Expectations - Чарльз Диккенс, Geoffrey Palmer, Miriam Margolyes - Страница 2

My father’s family name was Pirrip, and my Christian name was Philip. So, I called myself Pip.

My sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, married the blacksmith. I never saw my father or my mother.

That day I was at the churchyard. I was very sad and began to cry.

“Keep still[1], you little devil!” cried a terrible voice. A man stood up among the graves, “or I’ll cut your throat!”

A fearful man with a great chain on his legs. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes. He had an old rag tied round his head.

“Oh! Don’t cut my throat, sir,” I pleaded in terror. “Pray don’t do it, sir.”

“Tell me your name!” said the man. “Quick!”

“Pip. Pip, sir.”

“Show me where you live!” said the man.

I pointed to our village, a mile or more from the church. The man turned me upside down[2], and emptied my pockets. He found a piece of bread.

“You young dog,” said the man, “where’s your mother?”

“There, sir!” said I. “She lies there.”

“Oh!” said he. “And is your father with your mother?”

“Yes, sir,” said I.

“Ha!” he muttered then. “Who do you live with?[3]”

“My sister, sir – Mrs. Joe Gargery – wife of Joe Gargery, the blacksmith, sir.”

“Blacksmith?” said he.

Then he looked down at his leg.

“Do you know what a file is?”

“Yes, sir.”

“So bring me a file and some food. Or I’ll eat your heart and liver.”

I was dreadfully frightened. He continued:

“Listen. Bring me, tomorrow morning, the file and the food. You will do it, and you will tell nobody about me. So you will live. If you do not do this, my friend will take your heart and liver out. You may lock your door, your may lie in bed, you may draw the clothes over your head, but that man will softly creep and creep his way to you and catch you. Now, what do you say?”

“I will bring you the file and some food. I will come to you early in the morning,” I answered.

“Now,” he said, “you remember what you promise, and you remember that man. Go home!”

“Good night, sir,” I faltered and ran away.