CHAPTER ONE

In the Churchyard
My name is Philip Pirrip, but as a child I could not say my name. I called mysel Pip, and that has been my name e!er since. I ne!er "ne# my mother and ather. They both died #hen I #as a baby. I #as brou$ht up by my only sister, #ho #as married to a blac"smith, %oe &ar$ery. My story be$ins on a cold, $rey #inter a ternoon in the churchyard #here my parents are buried. I #ould o ten $o to their $ra!es and loo" do#n at the #ords on their $ra!estone' Philip Pirrip and &eor$iana, (i e o the Abo!e. I #as a sensiti!e and lonely child and #as o ten sad. The marshes beyond the churchyard #ere $rey. The ri!er beyond the marshes #as a dar"er line o $rey. A bitter #ind #as blo#in$ across the marshes rom the sea. The $ra!eyard #as a dar" and ri$htenin$ place. I shi!ered. Cold and a raid, I be$an to cry. )*uiet, you little de!il+) cried a terrible !oice. ),eep still - or I)ll cut your throat+) A rou$h-loo"in$ man had ta"en hold o me. He held me ti$htly by the nec". )Oh, don)t cut my throat, sir+) I cried. )Please, don)t+) The man)s rou$h $rey clothes #ere torn and muddy. .i"e me, he #as shi!erin$ #ith cold. His shoes #ere old and bro"en. He had a torn piece o cloth tied round his head. And his eyes #ere #ild and terrible. )Tell me your name,) the man $ro#led. )Tell me. *uic"+) )Pip, sir. Pip,) I ans#ered. )/ho# me #here you li!e,) the terrible man demanded. I pointed to#ards our !illa$e, #hich #as about a mile a#ay rom the churchyard. The man stared at me or a moment. Then, #ith a sudden mo!ement, he pic"ed me up and turned me upside do#n. A piece o bread ell out o my poc"et. The man pushed me onto a $ra!estone. Then he $rabbed the bread and be$an eatin$ $reedily. I sat on the $ra!estone #here he had put me, shi!erin$ and cryin$ #ith ear. )No#, tell me, #here)s your mother0) the man in $rey as"ed suddenly.

)There, sir,) I ans#ered, pointin$ o!er his shoulder to my mother)s $ra!e. The man loo"ed behind him and started to run. )I mean - she)s buried there, sir. That)s my mother. 1&eor$iana, (i e o the Abo!e1.) )Oh, I see,) the man said, limpin$ slo#ly bac". )And is that your ather there buried #ith your mother0) )2es, sir,) I replied. )Then #ho do you li!e #ith0) the man as"ed. )That is, i I let you li!e,) he said rou$hly. )(ith my sister, sir - Mrs %oe &ar$ery - #i e o %oe &ar$ery, the blac"smith, sir.) )A blac"smith, is he0) the man muttered, loo"in$ do#n at his le$. There #as a thic" band o iron round his an"le, #ith a bro"en chain han$in$ rom the band. The man came nearer. He too" hold o my arms and tipped me bac" o!er the $ra!estone as ar as I could $o. His terrible eyes stared into mine. )No#, loo" here,) he said. )3o you "no# #hat a ile is0) )2es, sir.) )Then you $et me a ile. And you $et me some ood. 3o you understand0) )2es, sir.) )4rin$ me, early tomorro# mornin$, a ile and some ood,) the man repeated slo#ly. )4rin$ them to the Old 5ort, o!er there, by the ri!er. /ay nothin$ to no one and maybe I)ll let you li!e. )4ut i you tell anyone about me,) the terrible man said slo#ly, )your heart and li!er #ill be torn out+ Torn out, roasted and ate. )No#, I)m not alone,) he #ent on. )There)s a youn$ man near here, listenin$ to e!ery #ord I say. He has a secret #ay o indin$ a boy, #here!er he is. E!en i a boy is #arm in bed, behind a loc"ed door, that youn$ man #ill ind him. (hat do you say to that0) I promised I #ould brin$ him the ile and the ood !ery early in the mornin$. ).ord stri"e me dead i I don)t - say it+) the man $ro#led. ).ord stri"e me dead i I don)t,) I repeated. The man li ted me do#n rom the $ra!estone. Then he held his arms around his shi!erin$ body.

)&oodni$ht, sir,) I #hispered. )Nothin$ much $ood about it,) the man replied, loo"in$ across at #et and #indy marshes. )I #ish I #as a ro$ - or a ish+) He limped o throu$h the churchyard, to#ards the marshes. He turned once to loo" bac" at me. I be$an to run home as ast as I could. (hen I $ot home, the or$e #as shut up. %oe had inished #or" or the day. I opened the door o the house. I crept 6uietly into the #arm "itchen and sa# %oe, sittin$ alone by the ire, smo"in$ his pipe. %oe &ar$ery #as a hu$e, air haired man #ith "ind blue eyes. He loo"ed at me sadly. )Mrs %oe has been out loo"in$ or you, Pip,) %oe told me. )/he)s out there no#, Pip. And she)s $ot Tic"ler #ith her.) This #as !ery bad ne#s. Tic"ler #as a stic" that I had o ten elt on my thin body. 5or althou$h I had ood, clothes and shelter, my sister #as a hard and an$ry #oman and #ould o ten beat me. Her husband, %oe, #as my only riend. )Has she been out lon$, %oe0) I as"ed ner!ously. )(ell,) said %oe, loo"in$ up at the cloc", )this time, she)s been out about i!e minutes. )And I hear her comin$ bac", Pip old chap,) %oe added. )&et behind the door+) My sister pushed open the door #ith a ban$. /he soon sa# #here I #as hidin$ and beat me until I cried. Then she thre# me an$rily across the "itchen to #here %oe #as sittin$. %oe 6uietly placed me in the corner near the ire and protected me #ith his o#n po#er ul body. My sister #as t#enty years older than me. /he #as tall and thin, #ith a hard ace and sharp blac" eyes. The rou$h red s"in on her bony hands and ace made her al#ays loo" an$ry. )(here ha!e you been, you youn$ mon"ey0) Mrs %oe cried, stampin$ her oot. )Tell me #hat you)!e been doin$ all this time+) )I)!e been in the churchyard,) I ans#ered, cryin$. )Churchyard0) Mrs %oe repeated sharply. )2ou)d ha!e been in the churchyard lon$ a$o, i it hadn)t been or me. (ho brou$ht you up0 Tell me that+)

)2ou did,) I sobbed. )And #hy I did, I don)t "no#,) my sister e7claimed. )It)s bad enou$h loo"in$ a ter this blac"smith, #ithout bein$ your mother too+ One o these days, you)ll dri!e me to the $ra!eyard, the pair o you.) %oe said nothin$. He #as a simple, $entle man and he ne!er complained about Mrs %oe)s bad temper. 4ut he protected me #hen he could and I lo!ed him or it. It #as Christmas E!e and Mrs %oe #as !ery busy. /he #as ma"in$ the ood or the Christmas meal ne7t day. /he made me stir the mi7ture or the Christmas puddin$ or an hour and then I #as allo#ed to sit by the ire #ith %oe. As I sat by the #arm ire, I thou$ht o the man on the cold, #et marshes. I remembered my promise to him. I thou$ht o the youn$ man #ho #ould ind me and "ill me i I bro"e that promise. The silence o the 6uiet ni$ht #as suddenly bro"en by loud noises that seemed to come rom the sea. )Are those the $reat $uns, %oe0) I as"ed. %oe nodded. )Another con!ict)s escaped,) he said. )One $ot a#ay last ni$ht and the $uns #ere ired or him. No# they)re $i!in$ #arnin$ that a second one has escaped.) )(ho)s irin$ the $uns0) I as"ed. )As" no 6uestions and you)ll be told no lies,) my sister snapped in reply. )Mrs %oe,) I said politely, )I really should li"e to "no#, i you don)t mind, #here the irin$ comes rom.) )5rom the Hul"s, the Hul"s,) my sister ans#ered. )And, please, #hat are the Hul"s0) )Hul"s are prison ships, moored on the other side o the marshes,) Mrs %oe e7plained impatiently. )I #onder #ho)s put into prison ships and #hy they)re put there,) I said. Mrs %oe leapt up and $rabbed me by the ear. )People are put in the Hul"s because they murder and rob and do all "inds o bad thin$s,) she said. )And they all be$in by as"in$ 6uestions+) Mrs %oe pulled my ear hard as she spo"e and $a!e me a push. )And no# $o o to bed+) she added.

I #ent slo#ly up the dar" stairs, thin"in$ about the terrible prison ships. I had be$un by as"in$ 6uestions. And, in a e# hours, I #as $oin$ to steal rom Mrs %oe+ I slept !ery little that ni$ht. I #as a raid o Mrs %oe. I #as a raid o the con!ict on the marshes. And, most o all, I #as a raid o the terrible youn$ man. At last, the $rey li$ht o da#n came into the s"y. I $ot up and dressed. *uietly and care ully, I crept do#nstairs to the pantry. I ound some bread, a piece o cheese and a lar$e bone #ith some meat on it. There #as a bottle #ith a little brandy in it and I too" that too. .ast o all, on the top shel , I ound a beauti ul, round meat pie. A door in the "itchen led into the or$e. I unloc"ed the door and loo"ed or a ile amon$ %oe)s tools. Then, loc"in$ the door behind me, I #al"ed bac" throu$h the "itchen. Turnin$ the bi$ "ey, I opened the house door care ully. In a e# moments, I #as runnin$ as ast as I could to#ards the 5ort on the misty marshes. It #as a rosty mornin$ and !ery damp and cold. The $rass #as #et and #ater dripped rom the trees. The mist #as so thic" o!er the marshes that I could only see a e# eet ahead o me. As I ran, trees, co#s and $ates seemed to lean out o the mist to stop me. I "ne# the 5ort #ell, but in my terror, I almost lost my #ay. I had 8ust crossed a ditch #hen I sa# the man in $rey. He #as sittin$ on the $round #ith his bac" to me. I #al"ed up to him 6uietly and touched his shoulder. He 8umped up and turned to ace me. It #as not the same man+ 4ut he #as dressed in the same rou$h clothes as the man I had met. He too had an iron on his le$. It #as the youn$ man, #aitin$ to tear my heart and li!er out+ (ith a cry, I ran on until I had reached the 5ort. And there #as my con!ict. He #as s#in$in$ his arms and #al"in$ up and do#n to "eep #arm. The man $rabbed the ood rom my hand and be$an eatin$ in $reat mouth uls li"e a do$. (hen he dran" the brandy, he shi!ered so !iolently that his teeth nearly bro"e the bottle. As he started to eat the pie, I spo"e to him. )I)m $lad you)re en8oyin$ it, sir,) I said. )Than" you, my boy. I am, I am,) he replied.

)Aren)t you lea!in$ anythin$ or him0) I as"ed an7iously. )Him0 Oh, the youn$ man. He doesn)t need any ood,) the con!ict replied. )3oesn)t he0 I thou$ht he loo"ed hun$ry,) I said. ).oo"ed0 (hen did you see him0) )%ust no#,) I ans#ered. )(here0) )O!er there,) I said, pointin$. )I thou$ht he #as you,) I e7plained. The man stopped eatin$ and $rabbed my 8ac"et. )(hat did the man loo" li"e0) he as"ed me iercely. )He ... he #as dressed li"e you and ... he had an iron on his le$,) I ans#ered. )And there #as a lon$ scar on his ace.) )(as there0) the con!ict cried. )/o he)s escaped rom the Hul"s, has he0 I thou$ht I heard the $uns last ni$ht. (here is he0 I must ind him. Curse this iron on my le$. &i!e me that ile, boy. And tell me #here you sa# him.) I pointed to #here I had seen the youn$ man. The con!ict stared throu$h the mist. Then, sittin$ do#n on the #et $rass, he be$an to ile at the hea!y iron on his le$. The s"y #as li$hter no# and I dared not stay any lon$er. My sister and %oe #ould soon be a#a"e. They #ould be loo"in$ or me. I be$an to #al" 6uietly a#ay. (hen I loo"ed bac", the con!ict #as bent o!er, ilin$ at the iron on his le$. (hen I loo"ed bac" a$ain, I could see nothin$ throu$h the thic" mist. 4ut I could still hear the sound o the ile as it cut throu$h the hea!y le$iron.

CHAPTER T(O

Christmas Day
(hen I $ot home, Mrs %oe #as too busy preparin$ our Christmas dinner to as" me 6uestions. I sat do#n 6uietly by %oe. Our dinner #as to be at hal past one. .on$ be ore that, I #as scrubbed clean by Mrs %oe and dressed in my best clothes. It #as my 8ob to open the door to our $uests - three o our nei$hbours, and 9ncle Pumblechoo". 9ncle Pumblechoo" #as a at, stupid man #ith hair that stood up on his head. He $reatly admired my sister but thou$ht !ery little o %oe and mysel . He had brou$ht t#o bottles o #ine and he $a!e them to Mrs %oe #ith a bo# and a smile. E!eryone #as soon eatin$ and drin"in$ happily. E!eryone e7cept me. I #as terri ied. (as Mrs %oe $oin$ to ser!e the pie today0 (hen #ould she disco!er it #as missin$0 3inner seemed to be inished, #hen my sister suddenly spo"e to %oe. )5etch clean plates+) she ordered. I held on ti$ht to the table le$. I "ne# #hat #as $oin$ to happen. My sister smiled at her $uests. )And no# you must all taste another $i t rom 9ncle Pumblechoo",) she said. )It)s a delicious meat pie+) )(ell, Mrs %oe, this has been a #onder ul meal,) 9ncle Pumblechoo" said happily. )4ut I thin" I could eat a slice o that meat pie+) My sister hurried into the pantry and 9ncle Pumblechoo" pic"ed up his "ni e and or". )2ou shall ha!e a slice o pie, Pip,) %oe #hispered to me. I could not sit there any lon$er. 3id I cry out or not0 I can)t remember. 4ut I 8umped up and ran to#ards the ront door. At the same moment, Mrs %oe came bac" rom the pantry. )(hat)s happened to the meat pie0) she cried. I opened the door and ran - strai$ht into a $roup o soldiers. Their leader, a ser$eant, #as holdin$ out a pair o handcu s+ )No# then, youn$ man+) the ser$eant said sharply, as he marched into our "itchen. )E7cuse me, ladies and $entlemen,) he #ent on. )(e)re chasin$ escaped con!icts and #e need the blac"smith.)

)(hat do you #ant him or0) my sister as"ed in surprise. )(ell I)d li"e to stay and tal" to his charmin$ #i e,) the ser$eant replied. )4ut today #e)re busy #ith the ,in$)s business. (e need the blac"smith to do a little 8ob or us.) %oe stood up and the ser$eant held out the handcu s. )There)s somethin$ #ron$ #ith these, blac"smith,) the ser$eant said. )(e need them today, so I)d li"e you to mend them.) %oe too" the handcu s in his $reat hand. )I)ll ha!e to li$ht the ire in the or$e,) he said. )This 8ob #ill ta"e about t#o hours.) )That)ll be all ri$ht,) the ser$eant ans#ered. )(e)re sure that the con!icts are still on the marshes. (e)ll capture them be ore it)s dar". No one has seen them, I suppose0) E!eryone e7cept me shoo" their heads. No one thou$ht o as"in$ me. %oe too" o his coat and $ot ready or #or". (ith the soldiers) help, the or$e ire #as soon burnin$ iercely. As %oe hammered the #hite-hot iron, #e all stood round and #atched him. Mrs %oe $a!e the soldiers some beer. 9ncle Pumblechoo" poured out #ine or the ser$eant and then poured some or e!eryone else. E!en I $ot a little #ine. (e stood in the or$e, lau$hin$ and tal"in$. I thou$ht sadly o the t#o con!icts, cold and hun$ry on the marshes. At last the handcu s #ere mended. %oe as"ed the ser$eant i he could ollo# the soldiers #hile they searched or the con!icts. )Certainly, blac"smith. 4rin$ the boy #ith you, i you li"e,) the ser$eant ans#ered. )(ell,) my sister said sharply, )i he $ets his head shot o , don)t as" me to mend it.) %oe li ted me up onto his broad shoulders. As #e be$an to ollo# the soldiers, I #hispered in his ear. )I hope, %oe, that #e don)t ind them+) And %oe #hispered bac". ).et)s hope they)!e $ot a#ay, Pip old chap.) It #as dar" no#. On our #ay to the marshes, the bitter #ind ble# icy rain into our aces.

The $roup o soldiers mo!ed 6uic"ly. (e #ent at a ast pace, sometimes stumblin$ on the rou$h $round, sometimes allin$. At last #e #ere on the marshes, splashin$ in and out o the ditches ull o icy #ater. /uddenly, #e heard a shout. (e stopped and listened. The shout #as repeated and then #e heard another. The ser$eant sent us to the ri$ht. On #e ran, e!en aster, splashin$ throu$h ditches, up and do#n steep ban"s. And no# #e could hear that t#o men #ere shoutin$. )Murder+) one cried. )Con!icts+ This #ay or the escaped con!icts+) shouted the other. The t#o men #ere i$htin$ at the bottom o a ditch. They #ere splashin$ in the muddy #ater. The men #ere cursin$ and hittin$ out at each other. (hen the soldiers pulled the men rom the ditch, both o the con!icts #ere torn and bleedin$. My con!ict #iped the blood rom his ace #ith his torn slee!e. )I cau$ht this man+ I)m $i!in$ him to you+) he cried. )3on)t or$et that. I cau$ht him or you+) )That #on)t help you,) the ser$eant ans#ered, as the t#o con!icts #ere handcu ed. )I don)t e7pect it to help me. I cau$ht him and that)s enou$h or me,) my con!ict ans#ered. The other con!ict)s clothes #ere torn and his ace #as bloody. 4ut I could still see the scar on his chee". )He tried to murder me, ser$eant+) the youn$ man said. )Tried0) my con!ict repeated. )3o you thin" I #ould try and not succeed0 No, I cau$ht him and held him here. I could ha!e escaped, but I #ouldn)t let this $entleman $et a#ay. He tric"ed me once. I)ll not let him tric" me a$ain+) )He tried to murder me,) the other man repeated #ea"ly. )He)s lyin$. He al#ays #as a liar,) my con!ict ans#ered. )(e #ere put on trial to$ether and he lied at the trial. He #as scared o me then and he)s scared o me no#. .oo" at him+ .oo" at the $entleman con!ict, sha"in$ #ith ear+) )That)s enou$h+) the ser$eant said. ).i$ht the torches there+) he shouted to the soldiers.

It #as !ery dar" no#. There #as no moon. In the li$ht o the torches, my con!ict turned and sa# me or the irst time. )(ait a minute,) my con!ict said to the ser$eant. )I #ish to say somethin$. I don)t #ant anyone to be blamed or #hat I did. A man must eat. I too" drin" and ood rom the !illa$e. I too" bread, cheese, brandy and a meat pie. 5rom the blac"smith)s house.) )Has a pie been stolen rom you0) the ser$eant as"ed %oe. )2es, my #i e ound out it #as missin$ - at the !ery moment you came in,) %oe ans#ered. )That)s ri$ht, isn)t it, Pip0) )Then I)m !ery sorry I ate your pie, blac"smith,) the con!ict said, not loo"in$ at me. )2ou)re #elcome to it, poor miserable ello#,) %oe said "indly. )(e don)t "no# #hat you)!e done, but #e #ouldn)t #ant you to star!e, #ould #e, Pip0) The con!ict #iped his torn slee!e across his eyes and turned a#ay. %oe and I #atched as the t#o men #ere led a#ay to#ards the sea and the prison-ships. 3ays later, #hen I sa# %oe loo"in$ or his ile in the or$e, I nearly told him the truth. 4ut I #as a co#ard and too a raid o #hat he #ould thin" o me.

CHAPTER THREE

At Miss Havisham's
One the e!enin$, about t#o years later, %oe and I #ere sittin$ to$ether by the ire. Mrs %oe had $one to to#n #ith 9ncle Pumblechoo" in the pony-cart. I had learnt to read and #rite a little and %oe #as !ery proud o me. I #as tryin$ to teach him the alphabet. 4ut the only letters he could reco$ni:e #ere %, O, and E. )I thin" it)s too late or me to learn, Pip old chap,) %oe said sadly. )I ne!er #ent to school. My mother #anted me to $o to school but my ather #ould not let me. He #as a hard man, Pip. My ather #as a blac"smith. He "ept me a#ay rom school and made me #or" or him. He #as cruel to my mother and o ten beat her. )That)s #hy I let your sister do #hat she #ants,) %oe e7plained. )/he)s hard on you, I "no#, Pip, but she has a $ood heart. /he loo"ed a ter you #hen your mother and ather died. /he #as loo"in$ a ter you #hen she a$reed to marry me. 14rin$ the poor little child1, I told her. 1There)s room at the or$e or him.1 ) I be$an to cry and to than" %oe or his "indness. I "ne# #hat a $ood riend he #as to me. It #as no# ei$ht o)cloc" and dar" outside. %oe put more coal on the ire. (e stood by the door and listened or the sound o 9ncle Pumblechoo")s pony-cart. Not lon$ a ter#ards, my sister and 9ncle Pumblechoo" arri!ed. They stood and #armed themsel!es by our "itchen ire. As Mrs %oe too" o her bonnet and sha#l, she loo"ed at me sharply. )(ell, this boy should be $rate ul to me no#,) she cried. %oe and I loo"ed at each other in surprise. )*uite ri$ht, 6uite ri$ht,) 9ncle Pumblechoo" replied. )He should be $rate ul or the opportunity she)s $i!in$ him+) %oe and I #ere e!en more surprised. )(ell, #hat are you starin$ at0) Mrs %oe snapped. Her ace #as redder than e!er #ith the cold. )A 1she1 #as mentioned . . .) %oe be$an politely. )Miss Ha!isham isn)t a 1he1, I suppose,) my sister ans#ered sharply.

)Miss Ha!isham #ho li!es in to#n0) %oe as"ed in surprise. )Ho# does Miss Ha!isham "no# Pip0 /he ne!er lea!es her house, does she0) )/he doesn)t "no# Pip, but she does "no# 9ncle Pumblechoo",) Mrs %oe e7plained impatiently. )/he #ants a boy to $o to her house and play. 9ncle Pumblechoo" "indly mentioned this boy here. /o he)s $oin$ bac" to to#n #ith 9ncle Pumblechoo" toni$ht. And tomorro# he)ll play at Miss Ha!isham)s, or I)ll play #ith him+) (ithout another #ord-; Mrs %oe $rabbed hold o me #ith her bony hands. /he #ashed and scrubbed me until I could hardly breathe. Then I #as dressed in my best clothes and $i!en to 9ncle Pumblechoo". )&oodbye, %oe+) I cried, as I #as pushed out o the door by Mrs %oe. )&oodbye and &od bless you, Pip old chap+) %oe ans#ered. In a moment, I #as sittin$ in 9ncle Pumblechoo")s pony-cart and #e #ere on our #ay to to#n. At ten o)cloc" the ne7t mornin$, 9ncle Pumblechoo" dro!e me to /atis House #here Miss Ha!isham li!ed. The house #as !ery bi$ and $loomy. The tall iron $ates in ront o the house #ere loc"ed. 9ncle Pumblechoo" ran$ the bell and #e #aited. In a e# minutes, a beauti ully dressed $irl came across the pa!ed courtyard to#ards us. /he #as !ery pretty and she loo"ed !ery proud. )(hat name0) the youn$ lady as"ed. )Pumblechoo". And this is Pip,) 9ncle Pumblechoo" ans#ered politely. )This is Pip, is it0) the $irl said, loo"in$ at me scorn ully. )Come in, Pip.) The $irl #as carryin$ a lar$e bunch o "eys. /he unloc"ed the $ate #ith one o them and held the $ate open. I #ent in and 9ncle Pumblechoo" started to ollo#. 4ut the $irl stopped him. )3o you #ish to see Miss Ha!isham0) she as"ed. )I Miss Ha!isham #ishes to see me . . .) 9ncle Pumblechoo" be$an. )4ut she doesn)t,) the $irl said sharply. )Come alon$, boy.) /he loc"ed the $ate and led me across the courtyard. It #as clean, but $rass $re# bet#een the stones, as thou$h no one e!er #al"ed there. I sa# no# that the $irl #as about my a$e. 4ut she #as so beauti ul and so proud that she seemed much older. The bi$ ront door had chains across it. (e #al"ed on to a side door and the $irl opened it.

Inside the house e!erythin$ #as dar". The curtains #ere dra#n and the shutters #ere closed on all the #indo#s. The $irl pic"ed up a burnin$ candle and this #as our only li$ht. /he led me alon$ se!eral dar" passa$es and up a #ide staircase. At last, #e came to a door #here the $irl stopped. )&o in,) she said. )A ter you, miss,) I #hispered politely. )3on)t be silly, I)m not $oin$ in+) the $irl ans#ered. And she #al"ed a#ay, ta"in$ the candle #ith her. 5eelin$ !ery a raid, I "noc"ed at the door. )Come in,) a #oman)s !oice said 6uietly. I opened the door slo#ly and #ent inside. I loo"ed around me in the $reatest surprise. The room #as lar$e and ull o urniture. 4ut hea!y curtains shut out the dayli$ht and the room #as lit only by candles. I sa# that I #as in a lady)s dressin$-room. And at the dressin$-table sat the stran$est lady I had e!er seen. /he #as dressed richly, in satin and lace clothes, and e!erythin$ she #ore #as #hite. A lon$ #hite #eddin$ !eil hun$ do#n rom her head. I sa# #ith surprise that the lady)s hair #as #hite, too. /he #ore bri$ht 8e#els and there #ere other 8e#els lyin$ on the table in ront o her. One o her shoes lay on the loor. The other one #as lyin$ on the dressin$-table. Her elbo# #as on the dressin$-table and she #as restin$ her ace on her hand. Trun"s ull o clothes #ere placed about the room. Each one contained many sil" and satin dresses. 4ut the dresses #ere aded and torn. And then I sa# that e!erythin$ that had once been #hite #as no# aded and yello#. The air youn$ bride #as no# an old #oman #hose s"in #as yello# and #rin"led. Only her dar" eyes sho#ed that she #as ali!e. Then the lady mo!ed and those dar" eyes stared at me. )(ho is it0) she as"ed )Pip, ma)am. Mr Pumblechoo")s boy. I)!e come to play.) )Come here. .et me loo" at you,) the lady said. I mo!ed nearer, but I #as a raid to loo" at her. Then I sa# that a #atch on the dressin$-table had stopped at t#enty to nine. )Are you a raid to loo" at me0) the lady as"ed me slo#ly. )Are you a raid to loo" at a #oman #ho hasn)t seen the sun shine since be ore you #ere born0

).oo" here,) Miss Ha!isham #hispered, touchin$ her heart. )My heart is bro"en, bro"en. And I am so tired . . . 4ut I thou$ht I #ould li"e to see a child play ... /o play, boy, play+) I stood there, unable to mo!e, not "no#in$ #hat to do. )Call Estella,) Miss Ha!isham said at last. )&o to the door and call her.) I #as a raid, but I had to do #hat she as"ed. /o I opened the door. I called out se!eral times, then I sa# the $irl #al"in$ to#ards me, the candle in her hand. Miss Ha!isham smiled as the beauti ul $irl came into the room. /he held a 8e#el a$ainst Estella)s pretty bro#n hair. )My 8e#els #ill be yours one day,) Miss Ha!isham said 6uietly. )No# I #ant you to play cards #ith this boy.) )This boy0 4ut he)s so common+) Estella e7claimed. ).oo" at his clothes. He)s 8ust a common #or"in$ boy+) )Ne!er mind,) Miss Ha!isham #hispered. )2ou can brea" his heart, can)t you0) /o I played cards #ith Estella. (hen I made mista"es, she lau$hed at me and so, o course, I made more. )(hat rou$h hands this boy has+) Estella e7claimed, as I held the cards. )And #hat hea!y boots he)s #earin$+) )(hy don)t you ans#er her, Pip0) Miss Ha!isham said at last. )/he says cruel thin$s about you. (hat do you thin" o her0) )I don)t #ant to say,) I replied. )(hisper to me,) Miss Ha!isham said, bendin$ do#n. )I thin" she is !ery proud,) I said 6uietly. )2es, and #hat else0) )I thin" she is !ery pretty,) I #ent on. )Anythin$ else0) )I thin" she is !ery rude. And please,) I added, )I should li"e to $o home no#.) )5inish your $ame o cards irst,) Miss Ha!isham said. (hen Estella had #on the last $ame, she thre# the cards do#n #ith a scorn ul smile. )Come here a$ain in si7 days, Pip,) Miss Ha!isham said as I #as lea!in$. )Ta"e him do#nstairs, Estella. &i!e him somethin$ to eat and drin" be ore he $oes.)

I ollo#ed Estella do#n the $loomy stairs and alon$ the dar" corridors. /he opened the side door and the bri$ht dayli$ht hurt my eyes and con used me. Estella told me to #ait in the courtyard. In a e# minutes, she returned #ith some meat and bread. /he placed the ood on the $round, as thou$h I #as a do$. Tears came into my eyes. I turned my head a#ay, so that Estella #ould not see me cryin$. 4ut #hen she had $one, I cried aloud and "ic"ed the #all #ith the hea!y boots she had lau$hed at. A ter a time, Estella returned #ith her "eys and unloc"ed the iron $ate. )(hy aren)t you cryin$0) she as"ed me #ith a smile. )4ecause I don)t #ant to,) I replied. )2es, you do,) she said. )2our eyes are red #ith cryin$. 2ou are nearly cryin$ no#.) /he lau$hed, pushed me outside the $ate and loc"ed it behind me. I #ent strai$ht bac" to 9ncle Pumblechoo")s, but he #as not at home. /o I be$an the lon$ #al" bac" to the or$e alone. As I #al"ed alon$, I thou$ht about the stran$e thin$s I had seen. I thou$ht o Estella and her scorn. /he had made me ashamed o my clothes, my boots and most o all, mysel . I #ished I had ne!er seen her. 4ut then I remembered ho# beauti ul she #as.

CHAPTER 5O9R

The Pale Young Gentleman

(hen I $ot home, my sister made me sit on a stool and be$an as"in$ me 6uestions. )Tell me #hat Miss Ha!isham loo"s li"e,) my sister demanded. )(hat did she say to you0 (hat did you do0) )Miss Ha!isham)s !ery tall and dar",) I ans#ered 6uic"ly. )/he #as sittin$ in a blac" !el!et coach. There #as a $irl #ith her. /he $a!e us ca"e on $old plates+) )&old plates+) Mrs %oe repeated slo#ly. Then she added, )I hope you pleased her. /he #anted you to play. 3id you0) )Oh, yes. (e played #ith . . . #ith la$s,) I said. )And then #e shouted and #a!ed our s#ords+) )/#ords0) )2es. The $irl - Estella - $ot them rom a cupboard. And there #as no dayli$ht in the room, only candles+) %oe)s eyes opened !ery #ide. (hy #as I tellin$ all these lies0 I do not "no#. Perhaps the truth #as too stran$e. My !isit to Miss Ha!isham had con used and ri$htened me. And Estella)s #ords had hurt me. /he had called me a common #or"in$ boy. (hat #ould she thin" o %oe0 Ho# hea!y his boots #ere+ The ollo#in$ #ee", I #al"ed to Miss Ha!isham)s alone. As be ore, Estella unloc"ed the $ate and too" me into the house. )Am I pretty0) she said suddenly, holdin$ up the candle. )2es, !ery pretty,) I ans#ered. )Am I rude0) )Not so rude as last time.) )Not so rude0) Estella repeated an$rily. And she slapped my ace hard. )(hat do you thin" no#0) she as"ed. )I #on)t tell you,) I said. )Then #hy don)t you cry, you horrid, common boy0) )I)m not cryin$. I)ll ne!er cry or you a$ain+) I ans#ered. 4ut I #as cryin$ as I spo"e. And, &od "no#s, I cried or Estella many, many times a ter#ards.

As #e #ere $oin$ upstairs, #e passed a tall man #ith sharp eyes and thic" blac" eyebro#s. His lar$e hands #ere !ery clean and #hite. )(ho)s this0) the man as"ed, starin$ at me. )Only a boy,) Estella ans#ered. The man held my chin in his hand and stared into my eyes. )(hy are you here0) he as"ed. )Miss Ha!isham as"ed me to come,) I #hispered. )3id she0 Then beha!e yoursel +) the man said, as he #ent on do#n the stairs. Miss Ha!isham #as sittin$ in her dressin$-room. /he #as #earin$ the same torn dress as be ore. E!erythin$ in the room #as the same. )/o you)re bac" a$ain,) Miss Ha!isham said. )Are you ready to play today0) I #as too ri$htened to ans#er. )(ell, i you can)t play, can you #or"0) Miss Ha!isham as"ed. )2es, ma)am.) )Then $o into the room on the other side o the corridor. (ait there till I come.) The room I entered #as !ery bi$. In the middle o the room #as a lon$ table. 4y the li$ht o the ire and the many candles, I sa# that the torn table-cloth #as co!ered #ith dust. There #as somethin$ tall and #hite on the table too. It #as co!ered #ith dust and at blac" spiders #ere runnin$ all o!er it. Miss Ha!isham came into the room and stood behind me. /he placed her hand on my shoulder and pointed at the table #ith a #al"in$ stic". ).oo", Pip,) she said. )Can you see my #eddin$-ca"e0 Eaten by mice and spiders. Ruined+) Miss Ha!isham held my shoulder hard #ith her thin hand. )Help me #al", Pip,) she said. (e #al"ed slo#ly round and round the lon$ table, the stran$e old lady leanin$ on my shoulder. )Today is my birthday, Pip,) Miss Ha!isham said. )Many years a$o, it should ha!e been my #eddin$-day. The dress I am #earin$ no# #as ne# then and I #as youn$. E!erythin$ is old and ruined no#. Time has ruined me too and bro"en my heart.) (hat could I say0 (e stood there, !ery 6uiet, in the candleli$ht.

)Call Estella,) Miss Ha!isham said at last. )Play #ith her a$ain. I #ant to see her beat you at cards a$ain+) /o Estella and I played cards. /he #on e!ery $ame. Miss Ha!isham smiled and held bri$ht 8e#els a$ainst Estella)s hair. Ho# beauti ul the proud $irl loo"ed+ Miss Ha!isham #as soon tired and I #as sent do#nstairs. (hen I had eaten, I #al"ed sadly throu$h the courtyard and into an o!er$ro#n $arden. No one had loo"ed a ter the $arden or years. (eeds $re# e!ery#here. Turnin$ a corner, I came ace to ace #ith a air-haired boy o my o#n a$e. )Hello,) said this pale youn$ $entleman. )(ho let you in0) )Miss Estella,) I ans#ered. )Oh, did she0 Then let)s i$ht+) I stared at the boy in surprise. Then, suddenly, he pulled my hair and hit me hard in the stomach #ith his head. I #as so surprised, that I hit him hard. )/o you do #ant to i$ht, do you0) the pale youn$ $entleman cried. )Come on, then+) Then he raised his ists li"e a bo7er and be$an #a!in$ them in ront o my ace. I hit him a$ain and he ell bac"#ards onto the $round. (hen he $ot up, his nose #as bleedin$. A minute later, I had hit him in the eye. )2ou)!e #on,) he said #ea"ly. )/ha"e hands.) /o #e shoo" hands and the youn$ $entleman #al"ed 6uietly a#ay. Estella #as #aitin$ or me at the $ate. Her eyes #ere bri$ht and shinin$. I "ne# she had been #atchin$ the i$ht. )2ou can "iss me i you li"e,) she said. I #as con used but happy. I "issed her $ently on the chee". A e# minutes later, I be$an my lon$ #al" home. 5rom that day on#ards, I !isited Miss Ha!isham three times a #ee". I did not see the pale youn$ $entleman a$ain, but Estella #as al#ays there. On e!ery !isit, I pushed Miss Ha!isham round and round those t#o rooms in a #heelchair. /he did not #al" #ith me a$ain. Instead I pushed her in her chair. As I #al"ed behind her, Miss Ha!isham 6uestioned me. I told her I #as $oin$ to be apprenticed to %oe, #hen I #as old enou$h. I told her that I "ne# nothin$, but #anted to "no# e!erythin$. I told her I #anted to be educated. I told her ho# I #anted to be a $entleman. Perhaps

I hoped that Miss Ha!isham #ould pay or my education. 4ut she ne!er su$$ested it. /ometimes Estella #as "ind to me, but, more o ten, she #as rude and cruel. I could not understand this proud, beauti ul $irl #ho made me so unhappy.

CHAPTER 5I<E

I Must Become a Gentleman!

My li e #ent on #ithout chan$e or t#o or three years. One day Miss Ha!isham loo"ed up at me, and said, )2ou are $ettin$ tall, Pip. (hat is the name o your brother-in-la#, the blac"smith0) )%oe &ar$ery, ma)am,) I ans#ered. )It is time or you to be apprenticed to him,) Miss Ha!isham said. )4rin$ him #ith you one day. 4rin$ him soon+) /o, t#o days later, %oe put on his /unday clothes and boots. .oo"in$ !ery a#"#ard and uncom ortable, he #al"ed #ith me to /atis House, #here Miss Ha!isham li!ed. Estella opened the $ate or us. /he smiled scorn ully at %oe and I elt ashamed o him. %oe #as so a raid o Miss Ha!isham that he re used to loo" at her. He stood near the door, turnin$ his hat round and round in his stron$ hands. Miss Ha!isham pic"ed up a little ba$ rom her dressin$-table. /he held it out to %oe. )It is time Pip became your apprentice,) she said. )Pip has earned his premium and here it is. )There are t#enty- i!e $uineas in this ba$, Pip,) she said to me. )&i!e them to %oe &ar$ery. He is your master no#. &oodbye.) And she turned a#ay. I loo"ed at Miss Ha!isham and Estella in despair. )4ut don)t you #ant me to come a$ain, Miss Ha!isham0) I as"ed. )No, Pip. &ar$ery is your master and you must #or" or him. )Pip has been a $ood boy here,) Miss Ha!isham said to %oe. )This money is his re#ard. 2ou are an honest man and #ill not e7pect more. .et them out, Estella.) 4itterly disappointed, I led %oe rom that stran$e room. He #al"ed li"e a man in a dream. And so I became a blac"smith. 5rom that day, I li!ed in ear. 5ear that Estella mi$ht see me at #or" #ith my dirty ace and dirty hands. In my mind, I sa# her beauti ul ace, #ith its hard, scorn ul smile.

A year passed. I still thou$ht about Estella e!ery day. I lon$ed to see Estella a$ain. /o I decided to $o to /atis House. I as"ed %oe or a holiday and he a$reed to close the or$e or a day. (hen I reached /atis House, the $ate #as opened by a ser!ant. )I hope you #ant nothin$ more, Pip. 2ou)ll $et no more money rom me,) Miss Ha!isham said #hen she sa# me. )That is not #hy I am here, Miss Ha!isham,) I replied. )I #ant you to "no# I am doin$ #ell in my apprenticeship, that is all. I shall al#ays be $rate ul to you.) )(ell, Pip, you can come and see me sometimes,) Miss Ha!isham ans#ered. )Come e!ery year on your birthday. As you see, I am alone no#.) )I ... I hope Estella is #ell,) I said. )Estella is !ery #ell,) Miss Ha!isham replied. )And she is more beauti ul than e!er. /he is in 5rance, bein$ educated to be a lady. )3o you eel that you ha!e lost her, Pip0) she added, #ith a cruel smile. I could not ans#er. Miss Ha!isham lau$hed. I said $oodbye to her and #al"ed sadly home. (hen I reached the or$e, I #as surprised to see a cro#d o people outside. I ran into the "itchen. %oe #as there, and the doctor. My poor sister, Mrs %oe &ar$ery, #as lyin$ 6uiet and still on the loor. /omeone had attac"ed Mrs %oe #hen she #as alone in the house. /he #as not dead, but terribly in8ured, unable to #al" or spea". My sister lay in bed or many #ee"s. At last she #as able to sit do#nstairs. 4ut her sharp !oice #as 6uiet or e!er. /he ne!er spo"e a$ain. 5rom that day on#ards someone had to loo" a ter Mrs %oe all the time. And so 4iddy came into our li!es. 4iddy #as the same a$e as me. 4ut she #as not beauti ul li"e Estella. Ho# could she be beauti ul0 /he #as only a common $irl rom the !illa$e. 4ut 4iddy)s eyes #ere bri$ht. /he had a s#eet smile and #as sensible and "ind. The years passed. I !isited /atis House e!ery year, on my birthday. I ne!er sa# Estella, but I did not or$et her. I lon$ed to be educated, li"e Estella. I #anted Estella to thin" #ell o me and to li"e me. I #anted Estella)s respect and admiration. Ho# stupid I #as+ It #as summer. One /unday a ternoon, 4iddy and I #ent or a #al" on the marshes. There #ere ships on the ri!er, sailin$ slo#ly to#ards the sea.

I remembered Estella, ar a#ay in another country. I be$an, as usual, to dream o my plans or the uture. (e sat do#n by the ri!er and #atched the #ater lo# slo#ly by. )4iddy, I am $oin$ to tell you a secret,) I said. )2ou must ne!er spea" o it to anyone.) 4iddy loo"ed at me in surprise. /he promised to tell no one. )4iddy,) I #ent on, )I hate bein$ a blac"smith li"e %oe. I #ant to be a $entleman.) 4iddy smiled and shoo" her head. )Oh no, Pip,) she ans#ered. )That #ouldn)t be ri$ht at all.) )4ut I ha!e important reasons or #antin$ to be a $entleman,) I told her. )3on)t you thin" you are happier as you are, Pip0) 4iddy said $ently. )Happy0) I repeated. )I can ne!er be happy here, 4iddy. /omeone I admire and respect !ery much said I)m stupid and common. I must become a $entleman. I must.) )(ho called you stupid and common0) 4iddy as"ed. )That #as not a true or a polite thin$ to say.) )A youn$ lady I met at Miss Ha!isham)s,) I replied. )The youn$ lady is beauti ul and I lo!e her !ery much. /he is the reason #hy I must become a $entleman.) )3o you #ant to be a $entleman to hurt her or to ma"e her respect you0) 4iddy as"ed me 6uietly. )I don)t "no#.) )I thin" you should or$et her,) 4iddy said. )/he has been rude and cruel to you. The youn$ lady is not #orth your respect.) )2ou may be ri$ht, 4iddy,) I said, )I belie!e you are. 4ut I lo!e her !ery, !ery much.) Tears came into my eyes. I thre# mysel on the $round in despair. 4iddy touched my hair $ently. )Than" you or tellin$ me this, Pip,) she said. )I #ill al#ays "eep your secret.) I sat up. )And I #ill al#ays tell you e!erythin$, 4iddy dear,) I said. )2es, I)m sure you #ill, Pip,) 4iddy replied. /he smiled sadly. 4ut I had not told 4iddy e!erythin$. I belie!ed that Miss Ha!isham had plans or me. I hoped that she #ould $i!e me money or my education,

money to ma"e me a $entleman. I I had money and education, Estella #ould lo!e me as I lo!ed her. I hoped that Miss Ha!isham #ould ma"e it possible or me to marry Estella.

CHAPTER /I=

Great !"ectations
The months and years #ent by. I had been %oe)s apprentice or our years. One e!enin$, %oe and I #ere sittin$ in the !illa$e inn. A stran$er came in, a bi$, tall man, #ith hea!y eyebro#s. The man had lar$e, !ery clean #hite hands. To my surprise, I reco$ni:ed the man. I had seen him at Miss Ha!isham)s, many years be ore. He had ri$htened me then. He ri$htened me a little no#. )I thin" there is a blac"smith here - name o %oe &ar$ery,) the man said in his loud !oice. )That)s me+) %oe ans#ered. He stood up. )2ou ha!e an apprentice, "no#n as Pip,) the stran$er #ent on. )(here is he0) )Here+) I cried, standin$ beside %oe. )I #ish to spea" to you both. I #ish to spea" to you pri!ately, not here,) the man said. )Perhaps I could $o home #ith you.) (e #al"ed bac" to the or$e in silence. (hen #e #ere in the sittin$room, the man be$an to spea". )My name is %a$$ers,) he said. )I am a la#yer in .ondon, #here I am #ell-"no#n. I ha!e some unusual business #ith youn$ Pip here. I am spea"in$ or someone else, you understand. A client #ho doesn)t #ant to be named. Is that clear0) %oe and I nodded. )I ha!e come to ta"e your apprentice to .ondon,) the la#yer said to %oe. )2ou #on)t stop him rom comin$ I hope0) )/top him0 Ne!er+) %oe cried. ).isten, then. I ha!e this messa$e or Pip. He has - $reat e7pectations+) %oe and I loo"ed at each other, too surprised to spea". )2es, $reat e7pectations,) Mr %a$$ers repeated. )Pip #ill one day be rich, !ery rich. Pip is to chan$e his #ay o li e at once. He #ill no lon$er be a blac"smith. He is to come #ith me to .ondon. He is to be educated as a $entleman. He #ill be a man o property.)

And so, at last, my dream had come true. Miss Ha!isham- because Mr %a$$ers) client must be Miss Ha!isham - had plans or me a ter all. I #ould be rich and Estella #ould lo!e me+ Mr %a$$ers #as spea"in$ a$ain. )There are t#o conditions,) he said, loo"in$ at me. )5irst, you #ill al#ays be "no#n as Pip. /econdly,) Mr %a$$ers continued, )the name o your bene actor is to be "ept secret. One day, that person #ill spea" to you, ace to ace. 9ntil then, you must not as" any 6uestions. 2ou must ne!er try to ind out this person)s name. 3o you understand0 /pea" out+) )2es, I understand,) I ans#ered. )My bene actor)s name is to remain a secret.) )&ood,) Mr %a$$ers said. )No#, Pip, you #ill come into your property #hen you come o a$e - #hen you are t#enty-one. 9ntil then, I am your $uardian. I ha!e money to pay or your education and to allo# you to li!e as a $entleman. 2ou #ill ha!e a pri!ate teacher. His name is Mr Matthe# Poc"et and you #ill stay at his house.) I $a!e a cry o surprise. /ome o Miss Ha!isham)s relations #ere called Poc"et. Mr %a$$ers raised his eyebro#s. )3o you not #ant to li!e #ith Mr Poc"et0 Ha!e you any ob8ection to this arran$ement0) he said se!erely. )No, no, none at all,) I ans#ered 6uic"ly. )&ood. Then I #ill arran$e e!erythin$,) Mr %a$$ers #ent on. )Mr Poc"et)s son has rooms in .ondon. I su$$est you $o there. No#, #hen can you come to .ondon0) I loo"ed at %oe. )At once, i %oe has no ob8ection,) I said. )No ob8ection, Pip old chap,) %oe ans#ered sadly. )Then you #ill come in one #ee")s time,) Mr %a$$ers said, standin$ up. )2ou #ill need ne# clothes. Here is some money to pay or them. T#enty $uineas.) He counted out the money and put it on the table. )(ell, %oe &ar$ery, you are sayin$ nothin$,) Mr %a$$ers said to %oe sternly. )I ha!e money to $i!e you too.) )Money0 (hat or0) %oe as"ed. )5or loss o your apprentice,) Mr %a$$ers ans#ered. )Mr Pip has been your apprentice and no# you are losin$ him.) 3ear %oe placed his hea!y hand $ently on my shoulder.

)Pip must $o ree,) %oe said ).et him $o ree. .et him ha!e his $ood ortune. No money can replace the dear child. (e)!e al#ays been the best o riends, Pip and me. E!er the best o riends . . . %oe could not say any more. He #iped a#ay a tear. And so my #hole li e chan$ed. Ho# happy I #as+ 4ut 4iddy and %oe #ere sad and 6uiet. This upset me. (hy #ere they not pleased at my $ood ortune0 The ne7t e# days passed slo#ly or me. I bou$ht ne# clothes, boots and a hat. I decided to say $oodbye to Miss Ha!isham be ore I le t or .ondon. )Ho# smart you loo", Pip+) Miss Ha!isham said #hen she sa# me. )2ou loo" li"e a $entleman. (hy is this0) )I ha!e had $ood ortune since I last sa# you, Miss Ha!isham,) I said #ith a smile. )I am so $rate ul, Miss Ha!isham, so $rate ul.) )I "no#, I "no#. I ha!e seen Mr %a$$ers, Pip,) Miss Ha!isham ans#ered. )He tells me you ha!e $reat e7pectations. 2ou no# ha!e a rich bene actor and you are lea!in$ or .ondon tomorro#.) )2es, Miss Ha!isham.) )(ell, be $ood then, Pip, and do #hat Mr %a$$ers tells you. &oodbye, Pip. 2ou must "eep the name o Pip, you "no#.) )&oodbye, Miss Ha!isham.) Miss Ha!isham smiled and held out her hand. I bo#ed and "issed it. On my last e!enin$ at the or$e, 4iddy coo"ed a special supper and I #ore my ne# clothes. The .ondon coach le t the to#n at si7 o)cloc" the ne7t mornin$. I told 4iddy and %oe that I #anted to #al" to the to#n alone. (as I ashamed to be seen #ith them there0 I)m a raid I #as. I said $oodbye to Mrs %oe, then to 4iddy and %oe. 4iddy and %oe #ere both in tears as I #a!ed $oodbye or the last time. I #al"ed on and then my o#n tears be$an to all. As I $ot nearer to the to#n, the mornin$ mist disappeared and the sun shone. I #as on my #ay to .ondon. I #as a youn$ man #ith $reat e7pectations+

CHAPTER /E<EN

#earning to $e a Gentleman
The 8ourney too" si7 hours and it #as a ter midday #hen I reached .ondon. I #as ama:ed and ri$htened #hen I sa# the city. .ondon #as cro#ded #ith hundreds o people and its streets #ere dirty. I had the address o Mr %a$$ers) o ice in .ittle 4ritain, Cheapside. A ter as"in$ the #ay, I started to #al" alon$ the narro# cro#ded streets. At last, I ound a door #ith 1Mr %a$$ers1 #ritten on it. The open door led into a small o ice. A cler" #as #or"in$ there. He loo"ed up as I #al"ed in. )Is Mr %a$$ers here0) I as"ed ner!ously. )Mr %a$$ers is in court. He #on)t be lon$,) the cler" ans#ered. )2ou are Mr Pip, I thin". My name)s (emmic". Come and #ait in Mr %a$$ers) room.) Mr %a$$ers) room #as a dar", $loomy place. Its small #indo# #as !ery dirty and no li$ht came throu$h it. There #as a bi$ blac" chair or Mr %a$$ers and a smaller one, on #hich I sat. Mr (emmic", the cler", #ent on #ith his #or". Mr %a$$ers) cler" #as a short, neat man about i ty years old. He had a s6uare ace and a #ide, thin mouth. His blac" eyes #ere !ery bri$ht. On his in$ers, he #ore our or i!e sil!er and blac" rin$s. 4y the time Mr %a$$ers came bac", se!eral poorly-dressed people #ere #aitin$ or him. They all be$an tal"in$ at once. They #anted him to spea" or them in court. Mr %a$$ers spo"e to them all in a stern and an$ry #ay. (hen they had $one, he came in to see me. )Here is your allo#ance, Pip,) he said. )I thin" it)s too much money but that)s nothin$ to do #ith me. 2ou)ll $et into debt, o course, all youn$ men $et into debt,) he added se!erely. )2ou are $oin$ to li!e at 4arnard)s Inn #ith Mr Herbert Poc"et. (emmic" #ill ta"e you there. )(emmic"+) Mr %a$$ers then called out. )(al" #ith Pip to youn$ Mr Poc"et)s rooms.) (emmic" $a!e me a #ide smile. He led me throu$h the busy streets, al#ays loo"in$ strai$ht in ront o him.

)Here #e are, 4arnard)s Inn,) (emmic" said, turnin$ do#n a narro# street into a little s6uare. He led me to the corner buildin$ and pointed up some steep stairs. )9p there, top loor,) he added. )As I loo" a ter your allo#ance I e7pect #e shall meet o ten. &oodbye, Pip.) I ound Herbert)s name on a door at the top o the stairs. 9nder his name, there #as a piece o paper. It said, 14ac" soon1. I #aited. A e# minutes later, I heard 6uic" ootsteps on the stairs. A pale youn$ man appeared, carryin$ a bas"et o stra#berries. )Mr Pip, isn)t it0) the youn$ man said, #ith a smile. )I #ent to the mar"et or some ruit. My ather tells me you are to be my companion. I hope you #ill li"e li!in$ here. I)m sure #e shall be riends.) As the youn$ man unloc"ed the door, I stared at him in surprise. Then he be$an to stare at me. )(hy, you are the boy I ou$ht in Miss Ha!isham)s $arden+) Herbert e7claimed. )And you are the pale youn$ $entleman+) I ans#ered. (e both lau$hed cheer ully and shoo" hands. )It all seems so lon$ a$o,) Herbert said. )Miss Ha!isham is my ather)s cousin. /he)s a !ery stran$e #oman. 2ou met Estella, o course. Miss Ha!isham adopted her to ta"e re!en$e.) )Re!en$e0 5or #hat0 (hat do you mean0) I as"ed. )3on)t you "no#0) Herbert replied. )It)s a !ery stran$e story. Mr %a$$ers is your $uardian, isn)t he0 He)s Miss Ha!isham)s la#yer too, and he "no#s all her secrets.) (hile #e ate dinner, Herbert told me all he "ne#. )Miss Ha!isham)s ather died. /he and her brother #ere !ery rich,) Herbert said. )4ut the brother spent his money carelessly and #as soon in debt. )Miss Ha!isham)s brother had a !ery #ic"ed riend. He #as dishonest and he #as a liar. Miss Ha!isham ell in lo!e #ith this man. My ather tried to #arn Miss Ha!isham, but she #ould not listen. The t#o youn$ people decided to $et married and all the arran$ements #ere made or the #eddin$. 4ut on the #eddin$-day the bride$room did not come. He sent Miss Ha!isham a letter sayin$ he could not marry her.) )And did Miss Ha!isham recei!e that letter at t#enty minutes to nine, as she #as dressin$ hersel or the #eddin$0) I as"ed.

)E7actly at that time,) Herbert said. )As you "no#, e!erythin$ in the house stopped at that moment. Miss Ha!isham has not seen the dayli$ht since.) )(hen did she adopt Estella0) I as"ed. )I don)t "no#,) Herbert replied. )As lon$ as I ha!e "no#n Miss Ha!isham, Estella has been at /atis House. )Miss Ha!isham #ants to ta"e re!en$e on all men,) he #ent on. )Miss Ha!isham has brou$ht up Estella to brea" men)s hearts, because her o#n heart #as bro"en.) The ne7t day, Herbert too" me to his ather)s house in Hammersmith, to be$in my education as a $entleman. I #as to li!e there #hile I #as studyin$. I also had my o#n room at Herbert)s. (e $ot on #ell to$ether. Herbert tau$ht me ho# to dress in smart .ondon clothes. He also sho#ed me ho# to beha!e li"e a $entleman. I #as able to help Herbert pay or his rooms #ith my allo#ance. Herbert had little money and no e7pectations. His rooms #ere almost empty and not !ery com ortable. I had the idea o buyin$ carpets and some more urniture. 4ut to $et these thin$s I needed more money. 5eelin$ a little a raid, I #ent to Mr %a$$ers. )Ho# much do you #ant0) said Mr %a$$ers sharply. )(ell. . .) I be$an. )Come, you must ha!e an idea,) Mr %a$$ers #ent on in his stern #ay. )/hall #e say i ty pounds0) )Oh, not nearly so much as that,) I said 6uic"ly. )5i!e pounds then0) Mr %a$$ers su$$ested. )Oh, more than that+) I e7claimed. )More than i!e,) Mr %a$$ers said slo#ly. )Ho# much more0 T#ice i!e0 Three times0 5our times i!e0 (ill that do0) I told Mr %a$$ers that t#enty pounds #ould do !ery #ell. )(emmic"+) Mr %a$$ers cried, as he le t the o ice. )&i!e Mr Pip t#enty pounds+) )I don)t thin" I understand Mr %a$$ers,) I said to (emmic" #hen #e #ere alone. )He doesn)t e7pect you to understand him. He doesn)t #ant you to,) (emmic" replied. )No one understands him - that)s #hy he)s so success ul. Here)s your money, Mr Pip.)

Another youn$ man #as studyin$ #ith Mr Matthe# Poc"et. His name #as 4entley 3rummle. He came rom a $ood amily and; he #as !ery rich. 4entley 3rummle #as a $entleman but he did not beha!e li"e one. He #as a bi$, a#"#ard, clumsy youn$ man. And he #as proud and bad-tempered. Mr %a$$ers too" an interest in Matthe# Poc"et)s youn$ $entle - men. One day he in!ited us all to his house or dinner. The ood #as $ood and #e had plenty to drin". Mr %a$$ers li"ed to #atch us tal"in$ and ar$uin$. He #as interested to see ho# much 3rummle and I hated each other. 3inner #as ser!ed by Mr %a$$ers) house"eeper. /he #as a tall #oman o about orty. Her ace #as !ery pale, and her eyes #ere dar". Her lon$ dar" hair lay o!er her shoulders. (hen the #oman brou$ht in the ood, she loo"ed only at Mr %a$$ers. /he #as breathin$ 6uic"ly, as thou$h she #as a raid. As he dran" his #ine, 4entley 3rummle became more and more badtempered. He "ept sayin$ ho# stron$ he #as. <ery soon he and I had ta"en o our 8ac"ets to sho# ho# stron$ our arms #ere. At that moment, the house"eeper came in to ta"e the plates rom the table. Mr %a$$ers suddenly cau$ht hold o one o her arms. He loo"ed at us all and then spo"e. )I you #ant to see stren$th,) Mr %a$$ers said, )loo" at this #oman)s #rists. Molly, let them see your #rists - both o them.) )Master, no,) the #oman #hispered, starin$ at Mr %a$$ers #ith her stran$e, dar" eyes. )/ho# them, Molly,) Mr %a$$ers said. He held Molly)s #rists do#n on the table. )There)s po#er in those #rists,) Mr %a$$ers said. )5e# men ha!e the stren$th this #oman has. /he has used it too. /he #as #ild once, but I ha!e bro"en her. )That)ll do, Molly,) Mr %a$$ers said at last, lettin$ $o o his house"eeper)s #rists. )(e ha!e seen you. 2ou can $o.) Mr %a$$ers illed our #ine $lasses a$ain. <ery soon, 3rummle and I #ere shoutin$ at each other. (e both stood up, ready to i$ht. 4ut Mr %a$$ers made us be 6uiet and told us it #as time to $o home. I #as ashamed o my beha!iour. As #e #ere lea!in$ his house, I turned and apolo$i:ed to Mr %a$$ers.

)It)s nothin$, Pip,) Mr %a$$ers replied. )4ut be care ul o that youn$ man, 3rummle. He)s bad-tempered and cruel. He could be dan$erous. Ta"e care, Pip. 4entley 3rummle #ill ma"e a bad enemy.) I ollo#ed Mr %a$$ers) ad!ice. I #as pleased #hen 3rummle completed his studies and le t Mr Poc"et)s house. I #as so busy learnin$ to be a $entleman, that I did not #rite to %oe and 4iddy. They #ere part o my old li e, a li e I #anted to or$et. I #as a $entleman no#. I did not #ant to remember that I had been a poor, uneducated blac"smith. Then one day I recei!ed a letter. My dear Mr Pip, I am writing to you at the request of Mr Gargery. He is going to London and will call on you at nine o'clock on uesday morning. !our poor sister, Mrs "oe, is still not well. Mr Gargery and I talk a#out you e$ery night. !our ser$ant and friend, %iddy. The letter arri!ed on Monday. I did not #ish to see %oe, but I prepared a bi$ brea" ast or him. Herbert and I #ere ready and #aitin$ lon$ be ore nine o)cloc". At last I heard %oe)s hea!y step on the stairs. I heard him stop and slo#ly read my name on the door. Then he "noc"ed. )%oe, ho# are you, %oe0) I cried, as I opened the door. )Tip old chap, ho# are you0) %oe ans#ered, ta"in$ my hand in his. %oe)s honest ace shone #ith 8oy. He shoo" my hand so much that I thou$ht he #ould ne!er stop. %oe loo"ed a#"#ard and uncom ortable in his best clothes. He too" o his hat and t#isted it round and round in his $reat hands. He stared around the room and stared at my bri$htly-coloured dressin$-$o#n. )(ell, #hat a $entleman you are, Pip+) he e7claimed. )And you loo" #ell too, %oe,) I ans#ered. ).et me ta"e your hat.) 4ut %oe held his hat all throu$h the meal. )Tea or co ee, Mr &ar$ery0) Herbert as"ed politely. )Than" you "indly, sir. I)ll ta"e #hate!er you)ll be ta"in$ yoursel ,) %oe ans#ered. )Co ee then,) Herbert said cheer ully. 4ut %oe loo"ed so unhappy that, #ith a "ind smile, Herbert $a!e him some tea.

%oe #as uncom ortable and a#"#ard #ith us and this made me an$ry. I #as too stupid to see that it #as my ault. I should not ha!e been ashamed o him. I #as $lad #hen Herbert le t us to $o to #or". )No# #e are alone, sir . . %oe be$an, but I interrupted him an$rily. )(hy do you call me 1sir1, %oe0) I as"ed. )No# #e are alone, sir,) %oe repeated slo#ly, )I must tell you #hy I am here, in the home o a $entleman.) I said nothin$. )(ell, sir - Pip,) %oe #ent on, )Miss Ha!isham as"ed to see me. /he has a messa$e or you. And the messa$e is that Estella has come home and #ould be $lad to see you.) At the sound o Estella)s name, my heart be$an to beat !ery ast. I did not ans#er %oe. I could only thin" o Estella. %oe stood up, t#istin$ his hat in his hand. )3on)t lea!e, %oe,) I said. )2ou must stay to dinner.) )No, Pip old chap,) %oe ans#ered. )2ou are a $entleman no#. It)s not ri$ht or me to be here in .ondon. 4ut i you e!er come bac" and !isit us at the or$e, you #ill be !ery #elcome. 9ntil then, I)ll say $oodbye. &oodbye and &od bless you, Pip old chap.) And be ore I could ans#er, %oe had $one. I sat at the table, e7cited and con used. Miss Ha!isham had plans or Estella and me, that #as clear. Miss Ha!isham had made me a $entleman, so that Estella could marry me. (ith 8oy in my heart, I be$an to prepare or my 8ourney.

CHAPTER EI&HT

Young Men in #ove

I le t .ondon early ne7t mornin$. (hen I $ot to /atis House, I ran$ the bell as usual and a ser!ant opened the $ate. Ta"in$ a candle, I #al"ed alon$ the dar" and $loomy corridors and up the stairs. I "noc"ed on the door o Miss Ha!isham)s dressin$-room. )That)s Pip)s "noc". Come in, Pip,) I heard Miss Ha!isham say. (hen I opened the door, Miss Ha!isham #as sittin$ by the dressin$table as usual. 4eside her, #as an ele$ant youn$ #oman #ho I had not seen be ore. )(ell, Pip0) Miss Ha!isham said. )I heard that you #ished to see me, Miss Ha!isham, so I came at once,) I said. As I spo"e, the ele$ant youn$ lady loo"ed up at me. It #as Estella. /he smiled. )Has she chan$ed, Pip0) Miss Ha!isham as"ed. )/he used to be proud and scorn ul. 3o you remember0) Althou$h I #as #earin$ my ine clothes, I elt clumsy and a#"#ard. I #as that common boy a$ain #ho Estella had lau$hed at. )Has Pip chan$ed0) Miss Ha!isham as"ed Estella. )<ery much,) Estella ans#ered. As #e tal"ed, Estella)s smile tore at my heart. The more I sa# o her, the more I lo!ed her. )Isn)t she ele$ant, isn)t she beauti ul0 3on)t you admire her, Pip0) Miss Ha!isham #hispered. )E!eryone #ho sees Estella must admire her,) I replied. )Then lo!e her, lo!e her, Pip+) Miss Ha!isham cried. )It does not matter ho# she beha!es to#ards you. I she is $ood to you, lo!e her. I she tears your heart to pieces, lo!e her, lo!e her. )Ne!er or$et, Pip,) Miss Ha!isham #ent on, )you must $i!e e!erythin$ or real lo!e. 2ou must $i!e your #hole heart, as I did, as I did+) And she ell bac" into her chair #ith a cry. 4e ore I le t /atis House, Estella and I #al"ed to$ether in the $arden. I reminded Estella ho# I had once ou$ht Herbert there. )Herbert and I are $reat riends no#,) I said.

)O course, #ith your ne# li e, you ha!e ne# riends,) Estella ans#ered. )The people #ho you "ne# be ore cannot be your companions no#.) I did not ans#er. Estella)s #ords made me eel ashamed o %oe and 4iddy. I decided not to !isit them at the or$e as I had planned. (e #al"ed on and I sho#ed Estella the place #here I had cried. Estella stopped or a minute and loo"ed at me. )I ha!e not chan$ed, Pip,) she said. )I #e are to meet a$ain, you must understand that. Remember, I ha!e no lo!e in my heart or anyone. No lo!e in my heart at all.) I heard Estella)s #ords, but I did not belie!e them. Estella and I #ere $oin$ to be to$ether. Miss Ha!isham had planned it. 4ut my lo!e or Estella did not ma"e me happy. I #as in torment #hen I sa# her and in torment #hen I did not see her. 4ac" in .ondon, I could no lon$er "eep my eelin$s to mysel . (hen Herbert and I #ere ha!in$ dinner, I made a decision. )My dear Herbert,) I be$an, )I ha!e somethin$ important to tell you. 4ut it is a secret.) Herbert smiled. )2our secret #ill be sa e #ith me, Pip,) he said. I too" a deep breath. )Herbert+ I must tell you. I lo!e ... I adore Estella+) Herbert smiled a$ain. )I "no# that, my dear Pip,) Herbert said. )I belie!e you adored her rom the irst moment you sa# her+) )2ou are ri$ht, Herbert,) I said. )And no# she is a beauti ul and ele$ant youn$ #oman.) )Then you are luc"y that she has been chosen or you,) Herbert said cheer ully. )4ut has Mr %a$$ers e!er said that Estella is part o your e7pectations, Pip0) )No, ne!er,) I said slo#ly. )Then perhaps she is not part o your e7pectations. Perhaps you should not thin" o Estella so much,) Herbert said. )Thin" o the #ay she has been brou$ht up. Thin" o Miss Ha!isham. Estella has the po#er to ma"e you !ery unhappy, Pip. Could you not or$et her or a time0) I shoo" my head. )No, that)s impossible, 6uite impossible,) I replied.

)(ell, then, I suppose there is nothin$ more to say,) Herbert said "indly. )4ut you are not the only one in lo!e, Pip,) Herbert added. )I ha!e a secret o my o#n. And my secret is - I am en$a$ed to be married+) )Con$ratulations, Herbert,) I said. )May I "no# the lady)s name0) )Her name is Clara. /he li!es #ith her ather, #ho is an in!alid. As I ha!e no e7pectations and she is poor, #e cannot marry yet. Not until I ma"e my ortune+ )That means hard #or",) Herbert #ent on. )One day I shall ha!e enou$h money to marry and then ho# happy Clara and I #ill be+) Ho# luc"y Herbert #as+ He #as poor, but Clara lo!ed him. I #as in lo!e #ith a beauti ul #oman and I had $reat e7pectations. 4ut Estella #as proud and had no lo!e in her heart or me. (ould Estella e!er or$et her pride and lo!e me0

CHAPTER NINE

I Come o% Age
I no# come to a time o my li e o #hich I am bitterly ashamed. I or$ot my old riends, %oe and 4iddy. I did not !isit them at the or$e. I spent too much money and $ot into debt. I thou$ht only o the time #hen I #ould be t#enty-one. The time #hen I #ould recei!e my ortune and be able to marry Estella. One day, I recei!ed a messa$e rom Estella. It #as a short note, but it made me !ery happy. &atis House I am coming to London in two days' time. Miss Ha$isham wants you to meet me at the coach office in 'heapside. he coach arri$es at fi$e o'clock. !ours, (stella I met Estella at the coach o ice and then too" her to Richmond. /he #as more beauti ul than e!er. Estella #as $oin$ to li!e in the house o an important lady. /he #as $oin$ to be introduced to the rich and po#er ul people o .ondon society. No# that Estella #as li!in$ in .ondon, I tried to see her as o ten as I could. I #ould o ten $o to Richmond and #ait or many hours outside her house, hopin$ to see her. /ometimes Estella allo#ed me to see her and once she let me "iss her. 4ut she #as o ten as proud and cold as she had been in the old days. At this time I started to $et more and more into debt. .i!in$ in .ondon cost a lot o money. I bou$ht ashionable clothes and e7pensi!e ood and drin". Herbert and I 8oined a club or youn$ $entlemen, and #e #ent to the theatre, the opera and #ell-"no#n restaurants. 4ut the allo#ance I recei!ed #as not enou$h to pay all o my debts. And Herbert #as poor and he did not ha!e the e7pectation o a ortune. He could not pay his debts. On my t#enty- irst birthday I #ould come o a$e. I #ould become a rich man o property. On that day I #ould recei!e my ortune. I #aited an7iously or that day. >>> I had not seen 4iddy and %oe or many months. Then one day, a letter arri!ed rom 4iddy #ith bad ne#s. My sister, Mrs %oe, #as dead.

I #ent by coach rom .ondon to the uneral in the country. My sister #as buried near my parents, in that lonely churchyard near the marshes. As I stood in the $ra!eyard beside 4iddy and %oe, I thou$ht o the con!ict I had met there lon$ a$o. In my mind, I sa# his ace and heard his terrible !oice. I remembered ho# he had ri$htened me. No# that Mrs %oe #as dead, 4iddy #as $oin$ bac" to the !illa$e. /he #as $oin$ to teach in the school. A ter supper, I #al"ed #ith 4iddy in the $arden. 4iddy told me, in her 6uiet #ay, ho# much %oe lo!ed me and ho# $ood he #as. )I "no# that, 4iddy,) I said 6uic"ly. )I #on)t or$et %oe no# he)s alone. I shall come here to see him o ten.) 4iddy said nothin$. )3idn)t you hear #hat I said, 4iddy0) I as"ed. )2es, Mr Pip.) )3on)t call me 1Mr Pip1, 4iddy,) I said crossly. )And #hy don)t you ans#er my 6uestion0) )Are you 6uite sure that you #ill #ant to come rom .ondon to see %oe0) 4iddy said at last, loo"in$ at me care ully. )(hat a terrible thin$ to say, 4iddy+) I cried. )2ou ha!e shoc"ed me !ery much.) /he did not ans#er. I slept badly that ni$ht, or 4iddy)s #ords had upset me. (hen I $ot up in the mornin$, %oe #as already at #or" in the or$e. I #ent in and shoo" him by the hand. )&oodbye, dear %oe+ I shall be bac" soon and o ten,) I said. )Ne!er too soon, sir, and ne!er too o ten, Pip old chap,) %oe replied. I shoo" hands #ith 4iddy too, althou$h I #as still a little an$ry #ith her. 4ut 4iddy #as 6uite ri$ht, o course. In .ondon, my thou$hts #ere only o Estella and my $reat e7pectations. I did not $o bac" to see %oe as I had promised. And then, at last, it #as my t#enty- irst birthday. Mr %a$$ers called me to his o ice. I irst shoo" hands #ith (emmic" and then #ent in to Mr %a$$ers. )Con$ratulations, Mr Pip,) the la#yer said. )I e7pect you ha!e some 6uestions to as" me. I shall ans#er them i I can.) I too" a deep breath and be$an to spea".

)Am I $oin$ to learn the name o my bene actor today, Mr %a$$ers0) )No. As" me another.) )(ill I "no# the name soon0) )I can)t ans#er that at the moment,) Mr %a$$ers said. )Ha!e you another 6uestion0) )Ha!e I . . . anythin$ to recei!e, sir0) Mr %a$$ers smiled and as"ed me a 6uestion. )2ou are in debt, I suppose0) I said nothin$. )Come, Pip, are you in debt or not0) )I)m a raid I am, Mr %a$$ers.) )O course. 2ou "no# you are,) he said. )(emmic"+) he called. )&i!e Mr Pip that piece o paper. No#, ta"e it in your hand and loo" at it, Pip.) )This is a ban"note or ?@@,) I said in surprise. )Ri$ht. And that sum o money is yours, Pip. It is a small part o your e7pectations. 2ou #ill ha!e that sum o money each year. 2ou #ill not $et into debt. .ater, you #ill learn the name o your bene actor. These are my instructions.) I thou$ht or a moment. )Is it possible that my bene actor may come to .ondon - or as" me to $o any#here else0) )It is possible, but not yet,) Mr %a$$ers said. )That is all I ha!e to say at present, Pip.) As I le t Mr %a$$ers) o ice, I #as already ma"in$ plans. 5irst o all, I must pay all my debts. /econdly, I #anted to help Herbert. Herbert #or"ed hard, but he had no money and no e7pectations. I "ne# that Herbert #ould not accept money rom me. /o, #ith (emmic")s help, I made arran$ements or him to become a partner in a small business in .ondon. He #ould #or" hard and soon be able to marry Clara. My e7pectations #ould help them both. /oon a ter my birthday, I recei!ed a short note rom Estella. It is time for me to $isit Miss Ha$isham. &he tells me you must take me to &atis House. he day after tomorrow, if you please. (stella

E!erythin$ at /atis House #as the same. (e sat to$ether by the ire in the bi$ room. Miss Ha!isham loo"ed at Estella, proud o her beauty. Estella told Miss Ha!isham about all her admirers. Miss Ha!isham as"ed many 6uestions and listened to Estella)s ans#ers #ith a cruel smile. As Estella #as spea"in$, Miss Ha!isham held her arm ti$htly. 4ut a ter a time, Estella mo!ed a#ay impatiently. )Are you tired o me, you un$rate ul $irl0) Miss Ha!isham cried. )3o you ha!e a heart o stone0) )I am #hat you ha!e made me,) Estella ans#ered, #ith a proud, hard loo". )2ou ha!e loo"ed a ter me. I o#e you e!erythin$. (hat do you #ant rom me no#0) ).o!e,) Miss Ha!isham ans#ered sadly. Estella lau$hed. )2ou adopted me. 2ou became my mother,) Estella said. )All that I am, all that I ha!e, is yours. 4ut I cannot $i!e you #hat you ne!er $a!e me. .o!e.) )I $a!e her lo!e, didn)t I0) Miss Ha!isham cried, loo"in$ at me. )I $a!e her all the lo!e I had - stron$, burnin$ lo!e+ 2ou "no# I)m tellin$ the truth.) )2our lo!e #as not true lo!e,) Estella ans#ered coldly. )2our plan has al#ays been clear. 2ou #anted re!en$e or the lo!e you lost. I ha!e learnt your lessons #ell. I ha!e al#ays ollo#ed your teachin$.) )/o proud, so hard,) Miss Ha!isham said, cryin$ so tly. )(ho tau$ht me to be proud0 (ho praised me #hen I #as hard0) Estella replied. )4ut not proud and hard to me+ 2ou cannot be proud and hard to me, Estella+) Miss Ha!isham cried, holdin$ out her arms to the beauti ul $irl. Estella loo"ed at Miss Ha!isham coldly. )I ha!e ne!er or$otten the #ron$ done to you. I ha!e beha!ed as you #anted me to beha!e,) Estella said. )I am #hat you ha!e made me. That is all.) Miss Ha!isham san" do#n on the loor, cryin$ bitterly. Her lon$ #hite hair spread out around her. )4ut I #anted you to lo!e me+ .o!e me+) she cried.

Estella, tall and strai$ht, stared at the ire. A ter a time, #e helped Miss Ha!isham to her eet. (hen I le t, the t#o #omen #ere sittin$ side by side, silent in that terrible, decayin$ room. In .ondon, Estella had many admirers. E!ery#here Estella #ent - to the theatre, to balls, to dinners - men ell in lo!e #ith her. To my horror, 4entley 3rummle #as one o Estella)s admirers. He #as !ery rich and I thou$ht that Estella made him belie!e that she li"ed him. One ni$ht, at a ball, 3rummle had been payin$ more attention to Estella than usual. )(hy do you let him near you, Estella0) I as"ed. )3rummle is stupid and bad-tempered. All he has is money and his important amily name. 4ut you $i!e him loo"s and smiles that you ne!er $i!e to me.) Estella ans#ered an$rily. )3o you #ant me to treat you li"e the others0) she as"ed. )3o you #ant me to decei!e and entrap you0) )3o you decei!e and entrap 3rummle then, Estella0) )2es. Him and many others. All o them but you, Pip. (ill you ne!er be #arned0) )About #hat0) )3on)t all in lo!e #ith me. It #ill brin$ you nothin$ but sorro#.)

CHAPTER TEN

A$el Mag&itch
T#o years passed and I #as t#enty-three years old. I #as still li!in$ #ith Herbert, but #e no# had rooms near the ri!er. Herbert)s business #as doin$ !ery #ell. His company no# had o ices o!erseas and Herbert o ten #ent a#ay on business. The #eather had been stormy all day. The stron$ #ind #as blo#in$ the rain hard a$ainst the #indo#s. Herbert #as in 5rance on business, and I #as alone. A church bell struc" ele!en. I closed the boo" I #as readin$. It #as time to $o to bed. 4ut as I stood up, I heard the sound o ootsteps on the stairs. 5or a moment, I elt a raid. Then I pic"ed up the lamp and opened the door. )(ho)s there0 (ho do you #ant0) I called. )Mr Pip. Top loor,) a rou$h soundin$ !oice ans#ered. )That is my name,) I said. )Is anythin$ #ron$0) )Nothin$)s #ron$,) the !oice replied. I held the lamp hi$her. A man #as comin$ slo#ly up the stairs. He #as about si7ty years old. The man had lon$, $rey hair that lay o!er his shoulders. His ace #as #rin"led and bro#n and he #as rou$hly-dressed. To my surprise, the man #as holdin$ out his arms to $reet me. )3o you #ish to come in0 Ha!e you business #ith me0) I as"ed. )2es, I #ish to come in, master,) the man ans#ered 6uietly. He #al"ed slo#ly into the room. He loo"ed around him #ith pleasure. )(hat do you #ant0) I as"ed. The man too" o his hat and sat do#n. )%ust $i!e me a little time,) he said in his rou$h !oice. )I)!e come a lon$ #ay and had a hard 8ourney. 2ou are alone here, aren)t you0) he added. )(hy do you, a stran$er, as" me that 6uestion0) )A stran$er0) the man repeated. )That)s a disappointin$ #ord to hear, #hen I)!e come so ar. 4ut you)re a bra!e ello#, I can see that. 3on)t harm me, Pip. 2ou)ll be sorry i you do.) And then I "ne# him. I ell bac" a$ainst the #all. He #as the con!ict I had helped so lon$ a$o on the marshes+

The man stood up and a$ain held out his arms to me. )2es, youn$ sir. I am the con!ict you helped. 2ou #ere bra!e then, my boy,) he said. )I ha!e ne!er or$otten it, Pip, ne!er.) )/top+) I cried, as he mo!ed to#ards me. )That #as a lon$ time a$o. I #as a little child then. I am pleased you are $rate ul. And I hope you ha!e chan$ed your #ay o li e. 4ut you must understand . . .) The man loo"ed at me sharply. )9nderstand0 (hat must I understand0) he said. ). . . understand that our li!es are di erent no#,) I #ent on. )There is no urther reason or us to meet. 4ut you are #et and you loo" tired. .et me $et you a drin" be ore you $o.) The man sat do#n a$ain. )I #ill ha!e a drin" be ore I $o,) he said slo#ly. )Hot rum and #ater, i you please.) I prepared the drin" 6uic"ly. (hen I handed him the $lass, I sa# that the old con!ict)s eyes #ere ull o tears. I sat do#n near him #ith my o#n $lass. )I do not #ish to be hard on you,) I said. )Indeed, I #ish you #ell. Ho# ha!e you been li!in$0) )I)!e been in Australia. I)!e been a sheep armer, and I)!e done #ell, mar!ellously #ell,) the old con!ict replied. )I am $lad to hear it,) I said. )Than" you, dear boy. And I see that you ha!e done #ell since I last sa# you. May I as" ho#0) )I . . . I)!e come into some property,) I said. )May I as" #hat property0 May I as" #hose0) 5or some reason, I be$an to sha"e #ith ear. )I don)t "no#,) I ans#ered. )Could I $uess your yearly income, since you came o a$e0) the man as"ed 6uietly. )(ould it be - i!e hundred pounds0) My heart #as beatin$ #ildly no#. I stood up and held ti$htly to the bac" o my chair. I stared at the man in terror. )I suppose you had a $uardian. A la#yer maybe0) the con!ict #ent on. )3id his name be$in #ith %0) I could not spea". I elt aint and the room be$an to mo!e around me.

)3o you #ant to "no# ho# I ound you0) the con!ict #ent on. )(ell, that la#yer has a cler" called (emmic". He sent me your address.) I could not breathe. I $a!e a cry and almost ell to the $round. The old con!ict cau$ht hold o me and placed me $ently on a chair. )2es, Pip, dear boy,) he said. )It)s me #hat)s made a $entleman o you. I s#ore that I #ould ma"e you a $entleman and I ha!e. E!ery $uinea I)!e made has been or you. I)!e li!ed a poor li e, so that you could li!e #ell. 2es, Pip, that star!in$ con!ict you met on the marshes has made you a $entleman. I)!e sent money all these years or you to spend. And no# I)!e come to see the $entleman I)!e made+ ).oo" at your clothes,) he #ent on, )a $entleman)s clothes. And these are your boo"s,) he added, loo"in$ around the room. )Hundreds and hundreds o boo"s. 2ou shall read them to me, dear boy, or I)!e had no education. 4ut it)s me #hat)s had you educated. I)m proud o you, Pip, dear boy, proud+) And he too" my cold hands and put them to his lips. I elt !ery ill. I could not spea". )3on)t try to tal", Pip,) the old con!ict #ent on. )2ou #eren)t prepared or this, I see. 3idn)t you e!er thin" it could be me0) )Ne!er, no, ne!er+) I #hispered. )(ell, it #as me. And no one "ne# about it but Mr %a$$ers.) The old man smiled. )Ho# $ood loo"in$ you)!e $ro#n, my boy,) he said. )2ou)re in lo!e #ith a beauti ul $irl, I)m sure. /he shall be yours, i money can help you.) Estella, oh, Estella, I thou$ht. )2es, you)!e $ro#n to be a ine $entleman, Pip,) the con!ict said. )I promised mysel I #ould see you one day, and no# I ha!e. It #asn)t sa e to come, but I came.) )Not sa e0 (hat do you mean0) I as"ed in surprise. )I #as transported or li e,) he ans#ered 6uietly. )I you)re sent as a con!ict to Australia, it)s death to return. I I am cau$ht, I shall be han$ed, han$ed by the nec" until I)m dead.) I held my head in my hands. This #retched man #as my bene actor+ 4y comin$ to see me, he had ruined all my dreams. And he had put his o#n li e in dan$er too.

I could not send him a#ay. I stood up slo#ly. I closed the shutters o!er the #indo#s and loc"ed the door. I prepared the bed in Herbert)s room or the man and, at last, he #ent to sleep. .ater, I sat by the ire, tryin$ to thin". Miss Ha!isham)s plans or me0 All a dream. Estella0 /he #as not meant or me. And because o this man, a con!ict, I had or$otten %oe and 4iddy. I could ne!er undo the #ron$ I had done them. (hat should I do #ith the man in the ne7t room0 (hat #as $oin$ to become o him0 (hat #as $oin$ to become o me0 At last I ell asleep by the ire. I a#o"e to hear the church bell stri"in$ i!e. The room #as dar". The #ind #as still blo#in$ the rain hard a$ainst the #indo#s. I made brea" ast. The old con!ict ate in $reat mouth uls. I #as dis$usted by him. He then lit his pipe and stood in ront o the ire. He too" out a #allet o money and thre# it onto the table. )There, my boy, spend that,) he said. )I)!e come bac" to see my boy spend money li"e a $entleman+) )No, no, #e must tal"+) I cried. )I don)t e!en "no# your name. Ho# lon$ are you stayin$ in En$land0 (here do you plan to li!e0) )My name is Ma$#iteh, Abel Ma$#itch,) he said. )And I)m stayin$ in En$land ore!er, thou$h it)s death by han$in$ i I)m cau$ht.) I decided that I had to spea" to Mr %a$$ers. .ea!in$ Ma$#itch alone, I loc"ed the door o my rooms and hurried to the la#yer)s o ice. (hen he sa# me, Mr %a$$ers held up his hand. )3on)t tell me anythin$ - I don)t #ant to "no#,) he said 6uic"ly. )I must "no# one thin$, Mr %a$$ers,) I said. )I ha!e been told somethin$ about my bene actor. Is it true0) )2ou cannot ha!e been 1told1 anythin$. 1Told1 means you ha!e tal"ed to that person. 2ou cannot ha!e tal"ed to him. He is in Australia. 2ou must ha!e been 1in ormed1,) Mr %a$$ers #arned me. I understood then that Mr %a$$ers "ne# Abel Ma$#itch #as in En$land. And he "ne# that his client #as in dan$er. ) 1In ormed1, then,) I a$reed,) 1in ormed1 that Abel Ma$#itch is my bene actor.) )That is true. 2our bene actor is the man in Australia.) )4ut I thou$ht that Miss Ha!isham . . .) I be$an.

)2ou ha!e misunderstood. Miss Ha!isham #as ne!er your bene actor. 2our bene actor is ar a#ay. 4ut he has plenty o money or you. 2ou #ill ha!e it soon.) I did not #ant the money no#. I "ne# that Estella #ould ne!er be mine. I le t Mr %a$$ers) o ice #ithout another #ord. On my #ay home I bou$ht some ne# clothes or Abel Ma$#itch. 4ut #hen I had cut his hair and he #as dressed in the ne# clothes, he still loo"ed li"e a con!ict - a murderer perhaps. The more I sa# the man, the more I eared and hated him. Herbert returned rom 5rance that a ternoon. (hen I heard his step on the stairs, I opened the door 6uic"ly. )Hello, Pip+) Herbert said cheer ully. Then he added, )Ho# pale you loo"+ (hat)s the matter0) Then he sa# Ma$#itch. )(ho is this0) he as"ed in surprise. )Herbert, my dear riend,) I said, shuttin$ and loc"in$ the door behind him, )somethin$ !ery stran$e has happened.) 4e ore I could e7plain, Ma$#itch too" a little blac" bible rom his poc"et and held it out to Herbert. )Ta"e the Holy 4oo" in your ri$ht hand, dear boy,) he said to him. )/#ear to &od that you #ill ne!er repeat #hat Pip is $oin$ to tell you.) )3o it, Herbert,) I #hispered. /o Herbert too" the bible and repeated the #ords and then the old con!ict shoo" him by the hand. )No# you ha!e s#orn on the 4ible. &od has heard your promise. /it do#n and listen to #hat Pip is $oin$ to tell you.) /o I told Herbert e!erythin$. )I need your help, Herbert,) I said at last. )(hat should I do no#0) )My poor dear Pip,) Herbert e7claimed. )I am so con used that I cannot thin" clearly. 4ut the irst thin$ is to ind rooms or . . . Mr Ma$#itch. Then, I)m a raid, there is only one thin$ to do.) Herbert turned to Abel Ma$#itch, #ho #as listenin$ care ully. )2ou must lea!e En$land,) Herbert told him. )&o to 5rance or &ermany. 2ou #ill be sa e there. And you must $o #ith him, Pip,) Herbert #ent on. )This man)s li e is in dan$er because he came to see you. It is only ri$ht that you should $et him out o dan$er.)

I stared at the loor unhappily. I did not care #here I #ent. I had no e7pectations no# - or I could ne!er ta"e money rom Ma$#itch a$ain. My li e had been ruined by this man #ho I hated and eared. )<ery #ell,) I said at last. I turned to Ma$#itch. )I I am to help you, I must "no# e!erythin$ about you. (hy #ere you put in prison0 (ho #as that other man on the marshes0 Tell us.) He stared at the ire or a moment and then be$an to spea". )3ear boy and Pip)s riend, my story can be told in a !ery e# #ords,) the con!ict be$an. )I don)t "no# #here I #as born. I "no# nothin$ about mysel but my name. The irst thin$ I remember #as stealin$ ood to "eep ali!e. In 8ail and out o 8ail, in 8ail and out. I #as punished #here!er I #ent. I had no education. I only learnt to read and #rite a little.) Ma$#itch stopped or a moment and then #ent on. )About t#enty years a$o, I met Compeyson, the man I ou$ht on the marshes. He loo"ed li"e a $entleman, but he #as !ery #ic"ed and !ery cle!er. He as"ed me to help him #ith his plans. And he made sure, that i anythin$ #ent #ron$, I #ould be blamed or it. )Compeyson had a riend, a youn$ man #ith a rich sister. The t#o men treated this #oman !ery badly and stole her money.) (hen Herbert heard this, he loo"ed up 6uic"ly, but he said nothin$. ).ater, the youn$ man died,) Ma$#itch #ent on. )Compeyson had more and more po#er o!er me. All the #ic"ed thin$s he planned #ere done by me. (hen #e #ere cau$ht, I #as blamed or e!erythin$. I sold e!erythin$ I had to pay the la#yer, Mr %a$$ers, to spea" or me in court. 4ut #hen Compeyson and me stood up in court, he #as dressed li"e an honest $entleman and I loo"ed #ic"ed and dishonest. /o he #as sent to prison or se!en years. I #as sent to prison or ourteen years. And #e #ere both sent to the Hul"s. )One day, I had a i$ht #ith Compeyson and cut his ace. I escaped rom the Hul"s onto the marshes. That)s #here you helped me, dear boy. (hen I ound out that Compeyson had escaped too, I cau$ht him and #aited or the soldiers to come. /o instead o escapin$, I #as transported to Australia or li e.) )And Compeyson0) I as"ed 6uietly. )(here is he no#0) )I ne!er heard o him a$ain. He may be ali!e or dead. I don)t "no#. 4ut i he inds me here, it)s death or me or him+) The old con!ict said no more, but smo"ed his pipe and stared at the ire.

Herbert passed a piece o paper to me. On it, he had #ritten these #ords' Miss Ha$isham's #rother was the young man. 'ompeyson was the man who was going to marry her. %ut he stole her money and left her on her wedding)day. I loo"ed at Herbert, but said nothin$. I #as tryin$ to thin". I Compeyson #as ali!e, he mi$ht ind out that Ma$#itch had returned. Herbert #as ri$ht. Ma$#itch #as in dan$er in .ondon. I had to ta"e the old man a#ay as soon as possible. That same day, #e ound a cheap room or him to stay in. /ome days later, Herbert too" Ma$#itch to the house #here Clara li!ed #ith her ather. The house #as at Old Mill 4an", a 6uiet place, near the ri!er. Ma$#itch could li!e there on the top loor. As soon as possible, #e #ould $et him out o En$land. (e told (emmic" o our plan. He promised to #arn us i anyone as"ed about Ma$#itch. E!ery time I #ent out, I thou$ht that someone #as ollo#in$ me. (as Compeyson ali!e and in .ondon0 Had he seen his old enemy0 3id Compeyson "no# about me and Abel Ma$#itch0

CHPTER E.E<EN

'ecrets %rom the Past

My e7pectations #ere at end. Miss Ha!isham #as not my bene actor. Estella could not be mine. 4ut I had to see her a$ain. I ound out that Estella #as stayin$ #ith Miss Ha!isham, and I decided to $o to /atis House or the last time. Once more I #al"ed throu$h the dar", dusty corridors o /atis House. I ound Miss Ha!isham and Estella sittin$ to$ether in the dressin$-room. Estella #as "nittin$. 4oth #omen loo"ed at me in surprise. )(hy are you here, Pip0) Miss Ha!isham as"ed. )I ha!e somethin$ that I must say to you, Miss Ha!isham,) I replied. )I ha!e ound out #ho my bene actor is, and I am !ery unhappy. I thou$ht it #as you. 2ou "ne# that I thou$ht this. 4ut you did not tell me my mista"e. (as that "ind, Miss Ha!isham0) ),ind0 3o you e7pect me to be "ind, Pip0) Miss Ha!isham ans#ered, hittin$ her stic" on the loor an$rily. )I e7pect nothin$ rom you, Miss Ha!isham,) I said 6uietly. )I ha!e come because I need your help, but not or mysel .) )(ho do you #ant me to help0) Miss Ha!isham as"ed. )(hat do you #ant, Pip0) )T#o years a$o, I #as able to help my $ood riend, Herbert Poc"et. I paid money or him to become a partner in a business,) I e7plained. )He does not "no# #ho did this. No# I need more money, to complete my plans or him. I cannot ta"e money rom my bene actor. Can you help me0) At irst Miss Ha!isham said nothin$. Then she spo"e. )Ha!e you anythin$ else to say, Pip0) she as"ed. I loo"ed at Estella. /he #ent on "nittin$ and did not raise her head. )Estella,) I said, )you "no# I lo!e you. I ha!e al#ays thou$ht that Miss Ha!isham #anted us to marry. I "no# no# that this is not true. 4ut I must tell you that I lo!e you and al#ays #ill.) ).o!e is a #ord I do not understand,) Estella ans#ered. )I tried to #arn you, Pip, but you didn)t listen. I am $oin$ to be married, but not to you.) )Then #ho . . .0) I be$an. )4entley 3rummle,) Estella said 6uietly.

)Estella+ That can)t be true+) I cried. )He is stupid and cruel. 2ou #ill ne!er be happy #ith him.) )3o you thin" he #ill be happy #ith me0) Estella said, #ith a cold smile. )I "no# nothin$ o happiness or lo!e. 2ou #ill soon or$et me, Pip.) )2ou are part o my li e, part o e!ery breath I ta"e,) I #hispered. )I shall ne!er or$et you, Estella, ne!er. &od bless you and or$i!e you.) I "issed her hand. I do not remember lea!in$ the room. I #as in despair. (ithout #aitin$ or the coach, I set o to #al" the lon$ road to .ondon. It #as a ter midni$ht #hen I reached home. I climbed the stairs to our rooms, desperate and e7hausted. 5i7ed to the door #as a piece o paper. *on't stay here tonight. Go to +ld Mill %ank at eight tomorrow night. %um this note. The messa$e #as in (emmic")s #ritin$. I stayed at an inn and #aited or the hours to pass. At ei$ht o)cloc" that ni$ht, I #as outside the house at Old Mill 4an". I "noc"ed at the door and Herbert opened it. He too" me inside and spo"e 6uietly. )He is sa e no#,) Herbert said, )but there is dan$er. (emmic" ound out and #arned us. Come upstairs and see Ma$#itch.) Abel Ma$#itch #as sittin$ 6uietly by the #indo# o his room. He #as loo"in$ at the ri!er belo# him. His ace loo"ed old and $entle no#. )I)m pleased to see you, dear boy,) he said. )Compeyson is in .ondon, loo"in$ or me. Compeyson ound out that I had come to see you. 4ut Herbert thin"s I am sa e here and %a$$ers "no#s e!erythin$.) )This is a $ood place to be, or another reason,) Herbert told me. )(hen you and Ma$#itch are ready to lea!e, #e can ro# him do#n the ri!er oursel!es. 2ou can $et on board a ship at the mouth o the ri!er. Compeyson #ill not e7pect you to escape li"e this. 2ou #ill soon be ar a#ay.) )(hen do #e $o0) I as"ed 6uic"ly. )/oon, Pip,) Herbert said. )5irst, #e)ll buy a boat and ro# up and do#n the ri!er e!ery day. People #ill $et used to seein$ us. They #ill thin" #e en8oy ro#in$ on the ri!er. Mean#hile, I #ill come here as usual. (hen I

!isit Clara, I can see Ma$#itch. 2ou must not come here, Pip. Compeyson #ants you to lead him to Ma$#itch.) (e ollo#ed Herbert)s plan. Herbert and I ro#ed on the ri!er nearly e!ery day. No stran$er #ent near Old Mill 4an", but I #as unhappy. I spent many hours #al"in$ the streets alone. One e!enin$, I met Mr %a$$ers. )Come and dine #ith me, Pip,) the la#yer said. )I ha!e somethin$ or you.) (hen #e #ere sittin$ in Mr %a$$ers) house, he $a!e me a note rom Miss Ha!isham. /he #anted to see me on business. I decided to $o to /atis House the ne7t day. )(ell, Pip,) Mr %a$$ers said, as #e sat do#n to eat, )I hear that Estella is married. /he is Mrs 4entley 3rummle no#. There #ill be only one master in that marria$e - Mrs 4entley 3rummle+) As Mr %a$$ers #as spea"in$, Molly, his house"eeper, placed our ood on the table. As she stood behind her master, Molly mo!ed her hands ner!ously. /he mo!ed her hands as thou$h she #as "nittin$. I loo"ed at the #oman)s dar" eyes, her lon$, dar" hair and her mo!in$ in$ers. (here had I seen hair and mo!ements li"e that be ore0 I remembered the last time I had seen Estella and a stran$e idea came into my mind. I $re# pale and my heart be$an to beat !ery ast. I did not spea", but Mr %a$$ers sa# me loo"in$ at Molly. (hen Molly le t the room he slo#ly nodded his head. I had not as"ed the 6uestion, but he had ans#ered it. It #as true+ Molly #as Estella)s mother+ And only Mr %a$$ers and I "ne# the truth. The ne7t day, I #ent to /atis House. Miss Ha!isham #as in the bi$ room #ith the lon$ table. /he #as sittin$ in a chair by the ire. /he a$reed to help Herbert. (hen #e had inished our business, she loo"ed at me sadly. )Are you !ery unhappy, Pip0) she as"ed. )2es, Miss Ha!isham. I am. There are many thin$s ma"in$ me unhappy. 2ou "no# about one o them.) /uddenly, Miss Ha!isham ell do#n on her "nees. )Oh, #hat ha!e I done0 (hat ha!e I done0) she cried. )Estella is married. 3o you "no# that0)

)2es.) )Then or$i!e me, Pip. 5or$i!e me or ma"in$ you unhappy.) )I or$i!e you, Miss Ha!isham,) I ans#ered. )I am to blame or my unhappiness too. 4ut Estella is also unhappy. 2ou should as" her or or$i!eness. 2ou ha!e made her #hat she is.) )2es, yes, I "no# it+) Miss Ha!isham cried. )I adopted her #hen she #as a little child. I #as unhappy and #anted re!en$e. I too" a#ay lo!e rom her heart and put ice in its place. I you "ne# my story, you #ould understand+) )Miss Ha!isham, I do "no# your story,) I ans#ered. )I "no# #hy you adopted Estella and tau$ht her to be cruel. I do not hate you, Miss Ha!isham. I am sorry or you.) I helped Miss Ha!isham bac" into her chair by the ire. Then I le t the room 6uietly. I #ent do#nstairs and #al"ed up and do#n in the $arden. A eelin$ o $reat sadness illed my heart as I stood in that unhappy place. I "ne# I #ould ne!er return to /atis House. I ran upstairs 6uic"ly to see Miss Ha!isham or the last time. /he #as sittin$ 6uietly by the ire and did not mo!e. As I turned to $o, a $reat lame spran$ up suddenly rom the ire. The lame leapt onto Miss Ha!isham)s old, torn clothes. As I stood there, she ran to#ards me cryin$ out in terror. Her torn clothes #ere burnin$ iercely. I pulled o my hea!y coat and thre# it o!er the screamin$ #oman, pushin$ her do#n. Then I dra$$ed the cloth rom the table to co!er her. The remains o the ruined #eddin$- east crashed do#n. There #ere clouds o dust, and mice and spiders ran across the loor. Miss Ha!isham screamed and screamed #ith pain. Hearin$ Miss Ha!isham)s cries, the ser!ants rushed in. (e laid Miss Ha!isham on the table and co!ered her $ently. /he #as badly burned and could not be mo!ed. O!er and o!er a$ain, she repeated the same #ords. )(hat ha!e I done0 (hat ha!e I done0 5or$i!e me, oh, or$i!e me+) A ser!ant #ent to etch a doctor. 4ut he could not help her. Miss Ha!isham lay there or se!eral hours. I stayed #ith her, until, calm at last, she died. My hands and arms had been badly burnt. Herbert came to /atis House and he too" me bac" to .ondon. There he loo"ed a ter me. He #as "ind and $entle.

At irst, my mind #as con used, but, #ith Herbert)s help, I slo#ly $re# stron$er. My irst thou$hts #ere or Ma$#itch. )He is sa e,) Herbert told me. )4ut as soon as you are #ell, #e must help him to escape. )I li"e him better no#,) Herbert #ent on. )(e ha!e tal"ed to$ether many times. 3id you "no# he once had a #i e, Pip0 Ma$#itch)s #i e #as a #ild youn$ #oman and !ery 8ealous. /he thou$ht another #oman #anted to steal her husband. /o she ou$ht the #oman and the #oman died. Ma$#itch)s #i e #as put on trial or murder.) )Murder0) I repeated in horror. )2es, murder. /he #as put on trial, but Mr %a$$ers #as her la#yer. He spo"e or her in court and she #as ac6uitted. )Ma$#itch and this #oman had a child, a little $irl,) Herbert #ent on. )Ma$#itch lo!ed the child !ery much. 4ut a ter the trial, the #oman and the child disappeared. Ma$#itch ne!er sa# them a$ain.) )Herbert,) I said slo#ly, )ho# lon$ a$o did these thin$s happen0) )About t#enty years a$o,) Herbert ans#ered. )Three or our years be ore Ma$#itch sa# you in the churchyard. 2ou reminded him o the child he had lost.) I sat up slo#ly. )Herbert,) I said, )I ha!e somethin$ to tell you. I am sure it is the truth. The man #e are hidin$, Abel Ma$#itch, the returned con!ict, is Estella)s ather.) As soon as I #as stron$ enou$h, I #ent to see Mr %a$$ers. )(e "no# #ho Estella)s mother is, Mr %a$$ers,) I told him. )Estella)s mother, Pip0) Mr %a$$ers said care ully. )2es. I ha!e seen her in your house, Mr %a$$ers.) The la#yer said nothin$. )I no# "no# somethin$ more - the name o Estella)s ather,) I #ent on. Mr %a$$ers loo"ed at me sharply. )His name is Abel Ma$#itch,) I said, )and Abel Ma$#itch is the man #ho is my bene actor.) )(hy does Ma$#itch thin" this0) Mr %a$$ers as"ed in surprise. )He doesn)t thin" this,) I ans#ered. )He does not "no# that his dau$hter is ali!e.)

I told Mr %a$$ers e!erythin$ I "ne# and the thin$s I had $uessed. )Mr %a$$ers,) I said at last, )terrible thin$s ha!e happened to all these people. They must be told the truth.) Mr %a$$ers thou$ht or a time be ore he spo"e. )Perhaps you are ri$ht in #hat you ha!e $uessed, Pip. 4ut #ho #ould be helped by "no#in$ the truth no#0 (ould the mother be helped0 Or the ather0 Or the child0 )Thin" care ully, Pip. No one #ould be helped by "no#in$ the truth, no one.) Mr %a$$ers #as ri$ht. I thou$ht o Estella. /he had married a rich man rom a proud amily. 4ut she #as the dau$hter o a con!ict. The truth #ould destroy her. /he must ne!er "no# it.

CHAPTER T(E.<E

sca"e
It #as no# March. My burnt hands and arms had healed. Herbert and I decided it #as time or Ma$#itch to lea!e En$land. I li"ed the old con!ict !ery much no#, thou$h I re used to accept his money. I had to help him. I had to $et him to a sa e place. (e ound that a ship #as lea!in$ .ondon or Hambur$ in a e# days) time. The bi$ paddle-steamer #ould come do#n the Thames at hi$h tide. Our plan #as to ro# do#n the ri!er to#ards the sea. Ma$#itch #ould be dressed as a ri!er pilot. He #ould carry a blac" ba$ and #ear a thic" cloa". The captain o the steamer needed a ri!er pilot to $uide him alon$ the ri!er to the sea. Ma$#itch and I #ould board the steamer and lea!e En$land or e!er. The day came or us to lea!e. In the e!enin$, Herbert and I le t our rooms and ro#ed do#n the ri!er to Old Mill 4an". Ma$#itch #as #aitin$ or us. He $ot into the boat and sat do#n. )3ear boy, aith ul dear boy. Than" you, than" you,) he said 6uietly. His !oice #as more $entle no#. He #as peace ul and 6uiet. 5or the irst time in his li e, people had cared or him and spo"en to him "indly. And so he #as no lon$er the #ild and terrible man I had irst met. )I all $oes #ell, you #ill be a ree man in a e# hours,) I told him. )(ell, I hope so, dear boy. The #ater is mo!in$ 6uietly and there seems to be no dan$er,) he said. )4ut #e don)t "no# #hat #ill happen, today or in the uture.) (e ro#ed all ni$ht. /ometimes Herbert ro#ed. /ometimes I ro#ed. (e stopped rom time to time, to rest and eat. (e listened or the sound o another boat, but #e heard nothin$. No one #as ollo#in$ us. 4y the time it #as li$ht, #e #ere a lon$ #ay do#n the ri!er. (e moored by the ban" and #aited or the $reat paddle-steamer to pass. (hen #e sa# the smo"e o the steamer, #e started ro#in$ a$ain. (e ro#ed stron$ly to#ards the middle o the ri!er. Then, to my horror, I sa# another boat moored ahead o us. (hen #e had passed, it mo!ed 6uietly out rom the ban" to ollo# us. It #as a lar$er and aster boat than ours. T#o men #ere ro#in$ to$ether.

There #ere our men in the boat. Three o the men #ere #earin$ uni orms. They #ere Customs men. The ourth man sat in the bac" o the boat #ith his ace co!ered. The bi$ steamer #as nearer no#. The shado# o the hu$e ship ell upon our small ro#in$ boat. The steamer came nearer and nearer and its $reat paddles turned in the #ater #ith a terrible noise. /uddenly, the Customs boat leapt ahead o us. )2ou ha!e a con!ict rom Australia there+) a man shouted. )His name is Abel Ma$#itch. I am here to arrest that man. /top and $i!e him to us+) The $reat steamer came nearer and nearer. The people on board shouted #hen they sa# the t#o boats ar belo#. )/top the paddles+ /top the paddles+) they cried. The t#o ro#in$ boats #ere touchin$ each other no#. /uddenly, Ma$#itch leant across and pulled the cloa" rom the ourth man)s ace. On the man)s ace #as a lon$ scar. )Compeyson+ I "ne# it #as you+) Ma$#itch cried. As he $rabbed the man, there #as another shout rom the steamer. The boats turned round and round in the rou$h #ater. The paddles o the steamer #ere no# abo!e our heads. Our boat o!erturned. The #ater roared in my ears. I #as turned o!er and o!er by the crashin$ #ater rom those terrible paddles. A moment later, I #as pulled rou$hly into the other boat. Herbert #as there too. 4ut our boat had $one. And #here #ere Ma$#itch and Compeyson0 The paddle-steamer had mo!ed on no# and the Customs men #ere loo"in$ do#n into the #ater. Then I sa# Ma$#itch. He #as s#immin$, but his hea!y clothes #ere pullin$ him under the #ater. The Customs men $rabbed him and pulled him into the Customs boat. Chains #ere put on his #rists and an"les. Ma$#itch had been badly in8ured by the turnin$ paddles. )I thin" Compeyson)s $one to the bottom o the ri!er, dear boy,) he #hispered to me. )I had him in my arms. Then he ou$ht ree and the paddles hit him.) The Customs men soon stopped loo"in$ or Compeyson. As #e #ere ro#ed bac" to .ondon in the Customs boat, I held the old con!ict)s hand in mine. This rou$h, hard man had remembered my "indness to him lon$ a$o. He had treated me better than I had treated %oe+

)3ear boy,) Ma$#itch #hispered,) use my money #hen I)!e $one. One thin$ I as" - come to the court and see me or the last time. They #ill han$ me no#.) )I #ill stay #ith you until the end,) I said. )I #ill be as aith ul to you as you ha!e been to me.) There #as no hope or a returned con!ict. Ma$#itch #as tried and sentenced to death by han$in$. 4ut he #as !ery ill. His in8uries #ere !ery bad. He #as ta"en rom the court to the prison hospital. I sat #ith him e!ery day. E!ery day, Ma$#itch $re# #ea"er. One day, #hen I !isited him, I elt that his death #as near. He #as pale and !ery #ea". )3ear boy, &od bless you,) he #hispered, as I sat do#n by the bed. )2ou ne!er le t me e!en #hen there #as dan$er. 2ou stayed near me #hen the dar" clouds $athered. This has been the best part le t my li e.) His breathin$ #as !ery bad no#. He lay bac" on the bed and closed his eyes. I held his hand in mine. )3ear Ma$#itch, I ha!e somethin$ to tell you,) I said 6uietly. )Can you understand #hat I say0) The old con!ict held my hand ti$htly. )2ou had a child once, #ho you lo!ed and lost,) I said slo#ly. )/he li!ed and ound rich riends. /he is a lady no# and !ery beauti ul. And I lo!e her.) (ith the last o his stren$th, Abel Ma$#itch raised my hand to his lips. He opened his eyes and loo"ed at me. Then he smiled and his eyes closed a$ain - or e!er.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

(riends Together
And no# ollo#ed the most terrible time o my li e. Ma$#itch had #anted me to ha!e his money, but #hen he #as sentenced to death, the court too" his money and property. I had many debts and no money to pay them. (hen Ma$#itch died, Herbert #as abroad on business. I #as alone. I became !ery ill - I had a e!er and could neither mo!e nor spea". In my e!erish dreams I remembered e!erythin$ that had happened to me. My thou$hts #ere stran$e and con used. I thou$ht I #as in the ri!er a$ain, turnin$ o!er and o!er in the crashin$ #ater. Then I thou$ht I #as a little child, sittin$ beside %oe. More and more in my dreams, the ace I sa# #as %oe)s. %oe, #ho had al#ays been "ind, had al#ays been ready to help me. %oe, to #hom I had been so un"ind and so un$rate ul. Then one day, I opened my eyes. I #as !ery #ea", but the e!er had $one. And there #as %oe, sittin$ 6uietly by the #indo#, smo"in$ his pipe and smilin$ at me. )Is that really you, %oe0) I said. )O course it is, Pip old chap. (aitin$ to help you as al#ays, Pip.) )Oh, %oe, I)!e been so un$rate ul,) I said. )(hy are you so $ood to me0) )2ou and me #ere e!er the best o riends, Pip,) %oe ans#ered. )(hen you)re #ell enou$h, #e)ll lea!e .ondon and $o bac" to the country, Pip old chap+) )Ho# lon$ ha!e I been ill, %oe0) I as"ed. )Ho# lon$0) %oe repeated slo#ly. )(ell, it)s the end o May no#. Tomorro# is the irst o %une.) )And ha!e you been here all this time, %oe0) )That)s ri$ht, old chap. Mr %a$$ers told us you #ere ill. 4iddy said I must come to you at once, so I did. 4iddy is a !ery $ood #oman. /he lo!es you Pip and so do I. 4iddy has tau$ht me to read and #rite. /he has told me to #rite to her about you.) As I $re# stron$er, I told %oe e!erythin$. I told him ho# rich I had been and that no# I #as poor. 4ut %oe did not #ant to hear. )Pip old chap, #e)!e al#ays been the best o riends,) %oe said. )(hy try to e7plain #hat)s past0

)(hen you #as a child, I tried to sa!e you rom Mrs %oe and Tic"ler. No# I #ant to "eep these troubles rom you. There)s no need or money to come bet#een us. It ne!er did be ore.) (ith %oe)s help, I #as soon able to #al" a little. My e!er had completely $one and I elt better e!ery day. 4ut one thin$ #orried me. As I $re# stron$er, %oe became more a#"#ard and uncom ortable #ith me. He e!en be$an to call me 1sir1. One ni$ht, %oe came into my room and as"ed me ho# I #as. )3ear %oe, I am completely #ell no#, than"s to you,) I ans#ered. %oe touched my shoulder #ith his $reat hand. )Then $oodni$ht, sir,) he #hispered. In the mornin$, I $ot up and dressed. I called to %oe, but he #as not in his room. His lu$$a$e had $one. %oe had le t a note on the table. ,s you are well again, I am lea$ing you. !ou will do #etter without "oe now. ($er the #est of friends, "oe. (ith the note, #ere all my bills. %oe had paid all my debts. I "ne# #hat I had to do. I #ould $o bac" to the or$e and as" %oe to let me li!e there. I #ould li!e and #or" there or a short time. Then I #ould $o o!erseas and #or" or Herbert. .ater on, I #ould marry 4iddy and li!e #ith her as a poor man. It #as best to or$et Estella. My $reat e7pectations #ere at an end. I #ould be a happier man #ithout them. It #as late %une and the #eather #as !ery beauti ul. I #al"ed slo#ly alon$ the road to our !illa$e. I #as en8oyin$ the 6uiet peace o the ields and paths that I "ne# so #ell. In the country I could li!e a simple li e #ith 4iddy. %oe #ould be nearby at the or$e. Here I #ould or$et the past and all my oolish dreams. The !illa$e school, #here I thou$ht I #ould ind 4iddy, #as closed. I #al"ed on to the or$e, and that too #as closed. 4ut all the #indo#s o our house #ere open #ide. There #ere clean curtains at the #indo#s and the little $arden #as bri$ht #ith lo#ers. And there, in the door#ay, stood %oe and 4iddy, holdin$ hands. (hen they sa# me, they lau$hed #ith pleasure.

)My dear 4iddy, ho# smart you loo"+) I said. )And you too, %oe,) I added. )(hat)s the matter0) )It)s my #eddin$-day, Pip+) 4iddy cried. )And I)m married to %oe+) /o my last dream disappeared. )3ear 4iddy, you ha!e the best husband in the #orld,) I said. )And you, dear %oe, ha!e the best #i e. /he #ill ma"e you !ery happy, my dear, dear, %oe. )I ha!e come to than" you or e!erythin$ you ha!e done or me,) )Perhaps you #ill ha!e a child, a little boy,) I #ent on. )Tell him ho# I lo!e and respect you both. Teach him to $ro# up a better man than me. And or$i!e me, dear %oe, or the #ron$ I ha!e done you.) )Pip, dear old chap, there is nothin$ to or$i!e,) %oe said. )&od "no#s, there is nothin$ to or$i!e.) )Nothin$ to or$i!e, Pip dear, nothin$ to or$i!e,) 4iddy #hispered. A month later, I le t En$land and #ent to E$ypt. I #or"ed there as a cler" or Herbert. He and his partner #ere doin$ #ell, and, a ter a e# years, I became a partner too. Herbert married Clara and I paid bac" my debt to %oe. I #or"ed in E$ypt or ele!en lon$ years. I did not return to En$land in all that time. Then, one e!enin$ in 3ecember, I returned to the old or$e. I opened the "itchen door 6uietly and loo"ed in. There #as %oe, sittin$ in his place by the ire. And there, sittin$ on a stool ne7t to him, #as a little boy. )(e called him Pip, a ter you,) %oe said. )(e hoped he #ould $ro# li"e you, and #e thin" he has+) )I am !ery pleased, %oe,) I said. )I do not thin" that I shall e!er marry and ha!e children,) I #ent on. )4ut I shall lo!e youn$ Pip as i he #ere my o#n son.) )4ut you #ill marry and ha!e children o your o#n, Pip,) 4iddy told me, #ith a smile. )That)s #hat Herbert and Clara say,) I replied. )4ut I shall ne!er marry.) )3ear Pip,) 4iddy said so tly, )Are you sure you still don)t lon$ or Estella0 I)m sure you ha!e not or$otten her.) )My dear 4iddy, I ha!e or$otten nothin$ o my past li e,) I ans#ered. )4ut that dream has $one, li"e all the others.)

I "ne# that Estella)s marria$e had been unhappy. Her husband, 4entley 3rummle, had died, but I #as sure that Estella had married a$ain. A ter supper, I decided to !isit the place #here Estella and I had irst met. I #al"ed slo#ly rom the or$e and it #as almost dar" #hen I reached the tall iron $ates. /atis House had been pulled do#n and the old $arden #as completely o!er$ro#n. Only the $ates and the $arden #all #ere standin$. I #al"ed in the $arden in the e!enin$ mist. The moon and a e# stars shone in the s"y. A #oman #as #al"in$ in the $arden. As I $ot closer to her she turned and spo"e my name. )Estella,) I ans#ered 6uietly. )I am surprised that you reco$ni:e me,) Estella replied. )My sad li e has chan$ed me, Pip.) Estella #as still beauti ul. 4ut there #as a sadder, "inder loo" in her eyes. /he touched my hand $ently. )It is stran$e that #e should meet here, Estella, a ter so many years,) I said. )3o you o ten come bac"0) )I ha!e ne!er returned until today. All this belon$s to me no#. It is all I ha!e le t. 2ou ha!e been #or"in$ o!erseas, I thin".) )2es,) I ans#ered. )I #or" hard and I am doin$ #ell.) )I ha!e o ten thou$ht o you, Pip,) Estella said. )2ou ha!e al#ays been in my thou$hts,) I ans#ered. )It is stran$e to be here, in the old place a$ain,) Estella said. )I ha!e chan$ed. I am a better person, I hope. 2ou #ere "ind to me all those years a$o, Pip. 4e "ind to me no#. .et us part rom each other as riends.) )(e are riends,) I ans#ered, ) riends #ho #ill ne!er part. 5or no# I ha!e met you a$ain, Estella, I #ill ne!er let you $o.) Estella smiled. I held her hand and #e #al"ed to$ether out o the o!er$ro#n $arden. And I "ne# that, this time, #e #ould ne!er, ne!er part.