Chapter III

           Cedric’sgoodopinionoftheadvantagesofbeinganearlincreasedgreatlyduringthenextweek.Itseemedalmostimpossibleforhimtorealizethattherewasscarcelyanythinghemightwishtodowhichhecouldnotdoeasily;infact,Ithinkitmaybesaidthathedidnotfullyrealizeitatall.Butatleastheunderstood,afterafewconversationswithMr.Havisham,thathecouldgratifyallhisnearestwishes,andheproceededtogratifythemwithasimplicityanddelightwhichcausedMr.Havishammuchdiversion.IntheweekbeforetheysailedforEnglandhedidmanycuriousthings.Thelawyerlongafterrememberedthemorningtheywentdown-towntogethertopayavisittoDick,andtheafternoontheysoamazedtheapple-womanofancientlineagebystoppingbeforeherstallandtellinghershewastohaveatent,andastove,andashawl,andasumofmoneywhichseemedtoherquitewonderful.

           “ForIhavetogotoEnglandandbealord,”explainedCedric,sweet-temperedly.“AndIshouldn’tliketohaveyourbonesonmymindeverytimeitrained.Myownbonesneverhurt,soIthinkIdon’tknowhowpainfulaperson’sbonescanbe,butI’vesympathizedwithyouagreatdeal,andIhopeyou’llbebetter.”

           “She’saverygoodapple-woman,”hesaidtoMr.Havisham,astheywalkedaway,leavingtheproprietressofthestallalmostgaspingforbreath,andnotatallbelievinginhergreatfortune.“Once,whenIfelldownandcutmyknee,shegavemeanapplefornothing.I’vealwaysrememberedherforit.Youknowyoualwaysrememberpeoplewhoarekindtoyou.