Большие надежды. Уровень 2 / Great Expectations

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 - turned me upside down – перевернул меня вверх ногами], and emptied my pockets.

“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 - Who do you live with? – С кем ты живёшь?]”

“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.

“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.

Chapter 2

My sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, was more than twenty years older than I.

Joe Gargery was a fair man, with curls of flaxen hair on each side of his smooth face, and with blue eyes. He was a mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow. And he was very strong.

My sister was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron.