That was all.
He stood, long after I had ceased to read, still looking at me. At length I ventured to take his hand, and to entreat him, as well as I could, to endeavour to get some command of himself. He replied, “I thankee, sir, I thankee!” without moving.
Ham spoke to him. Mr. Peggotty was so far sensible of his affliction, that he wrung his hand; but, otherwise, he remained in the same state, and no one dared to disturb him.
Slowly, at last, he moved his eyes from my face, as if he were waking from a vision, and cast them round the room. Then he said, in a low voice:
“Who’s the man? I want to know his name.”
Ham glanced at me, and suddenly I felt a shock that struck me back.
“There’s a man suspected,” said Mr. Peggotty. “Who is it?”
“Mas’r Davy!” implored Ham. “Go out a bit, and let me tell him what I must. You doen’t ought to hear it, sir.”
I felt the shock again. I sank down in a chair, and tried to utter some reply; but my tongue was fettered, and my sight was weak.
“I want to know his name!” I heard said once more.
“For some time past,” Ham faltered, “there’s been a servant about here, at odd times. There’s been a gen’lm’n too. Both of ’em belonged to one another.”
Mr. Peggotty stood fixed as before, but now looking at him.