work pretty hard for a sufficient living, and therefore — yes, I do well.”
“I have often thought of you,” said Estella.
“Have you?”
“Of late, very often. There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth. But since my duty has not been incompatible with the admission of that remembrance, I have given it a place in my heart.”
“You have always held your place in my heart,” I answered.
And we were silent again until she spoke.
“I little thought,” said Estella, “that I should take leave of you in taking leave of this spot. I am very glad to do so.”
“Glad to part again, Estella? To me, parting is a painful thing. To me, the remembrance of our last parting has been ever mournful and painful.”
“But you said to me,” returned Estella, very earnestly, “‘God bless you, God forgive you!’ And if you could say that to me then, you will not hesitate to say that to me now, — now, when suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but — I hope — into a better shape. Be as considerate and good to me as you were, and tell me we are friends.”
“We are friends,” said I, rising and bending over her, as she rose from the bench.
“And will continue friends apart,” said Estella.
I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND
Book the First. The Cup and the Lip
Chapter 2. The Man from Somewhere
Chapter 4. The R. Wilfer Family
Chapter 7. Mr Wegg Looks after Himself
Chapter 8. Mr Boffin in Consultation
Chapter 9. Mr and Mrs Boffin in Consultation
Chapter 10. A Marriage Contract
Chapter 12. The Sweat of an Honest Man’s Brow
Chapter 13. Tracking the Bird of Prey
Chapter 14. The Bird of Prey Brought Down
Chapter 16. Minders and Re-minders
Book the Second. Birds of a Feather
Chapter 1. Of an Educational Character
Chapter 6. A Riddle Without an Answer
Chapter 7. In which a Friendly Move is Originated
Chapter 8. In which an Innocent Elopement Occurs
Chapter 9. In which the Orphan Makes His Will
Chapter 11. Some Affairs of the Heart
Chapter 12. More Birds of Prey
