And now, alone, he had time to think of all that made up his past. He thought of Dora, his child-wife, and sorrowed for her, and of the Peggottys and little Em'ly; but most of all he found himself thinking of Agnes, who, throughout his youth, had seemed like his guiding star. So one day he went back to England and told her, and asked her if she would marry him. And with her sweet face on his breast she whispered that she had loved him all her life! David and Agnes lived long and happily, and their children had three guardians who loved them all--Miss Betsy Trotwood, David's old nurse, Peggotty, and white-haired Mr. Dick, who taught them to fly kites and thought them the greatest children in the world. Tommy Traddles, when he had become a famous lawyer, often visited them, and once, too, Mr. Peggotty, older, but still hale and strong, came back from Australia to tell them how he had prospered and grown rich, and had always his little Em'ly beside him, and how Mr. Micawber had ceased to owe everybody money and had become a magistrate, and many other things. David had one thing, however, to tell Mr. Peggotty, and that was of a certain prisoner he had seen in one of the country's greatest prisons, sentenced for life for an attempt to rob the Bank of England, and whose name was--Uriah Heep. GREAT EXPECTATIONS Published 1860-1861 _Scene_: London, Neighboring Towns and the Country _Time_: 1830 to 1860 CHARACTERS Philip Pirrip An orphan boy Known as "Pip" Joe Gargery A blacksmith "Mrs. Joe" His wife Pip's sister Uncle Pumblechook Joe's pompous uncle Wopsle Clerk of the village church Later, an actor Orlick A workman of Joe's Biddy A girl friend of Pip's and Mrs. Joe's nurse Later, Joe's wife Abel Magwitch A convict Miss Havisham An eccentric woman once disappointed in love Estella Her ward In reality, Magwitch's daughter Compeyson Miss Havisham's former suitor and deceiver A convict Mr. Jaggers Lawyer for Miss Havisham and for Magwitch Wemmick His clerk Mr. Pocket Pip's tutor Mrs. Pocket His wife Herbert Pocket His son. Pip's comrade in London GREAT EXPECTATIONS I PIP AND THE CONVICT