“Why, sir, his father giv it him,” said Mr. Peggotty.
“I thought you were his father!”
“My brother Joe was his father,” said Mr. Peggotty.
“Dead, Mr. Peggotty?” I hinted, after a respectful pause.
“Drowndead,” said Mr. Peggotty.
I was very much surprised that Mr. Peggotty was not Ham’s father, and began to wonder whether I was mistaken about his relationship to anybody else there. I was so curious to know, that I made up my mind to have it out with Mr. Peggotty.
“Little Em’ly,” I said, glancing at her. “She is your daughter, isn’t she, Mr. Peggotty?”
“No, sir. My brother in law, Tom, was her father.”
I couldn’t help it. “—Dead, Mr. Peggotty?” I hinted, after another respectful silence.
“Drowndead,” said Mr. Peggotty.