-thegreateventofhislife,andashelookedattheothersherealised,youngashewas,thatnoneofthemfeltitashedid,andtherealisationgavehimastrangefeeling,halfofgratification,halfofloneliness。Hestoodthere,alittleapartfromtherestofthem,clutchinghisbox,andholdingontoHamlet’slead,feelingsodeeplyexcitedthathisheartwaslikeahard,coldstonejumpingupanddown,bump,bump,behindhiswaistcoat。
“That’sJim!That’sJim!“hewhisperedinahoarsegasptoMissJones。
“Nowmind,dear,“sheansweredinherkindly,gropingvoice。“You’llbefallingontotherailifyouaren’tcareful。“
ItstrangelyannoyedhimthathisfathershouldgreetJimjustasthoughheweresomequiteordinarymaninPolchester。HehimselfwaitedinastrangeagitationuntilJimshouldnoticehim。Themanturnedatlast,bendingdowntopickupabox,sawhim,touchedhiscap,smilingalong,crookedsmile,andJeremyblushedwithhappiness。Itwasthefirstrecognitionthathehadhadfromthefarm,anditpleasedhim。
Theyallmoveduptothehigherroad。UncleSamuel,comingonatthelast,inadreamy,moodyway,stoppingonthebridgetolookdownattherailway-line,andthensuddenlysayingaloud: