12

BOOK 1, CHAPTER 12

During the next week, Pip is anxious

that he will be punished for hurting

the pale young gentleman in their

fight, and suspects that either the law

will come down on him or Miss

Havisham herself will seek revenge.

But when he returns to Miss

Havisham's he is surprised to discover

that he faces no punishment

whatsoever, that the fight goes

entirely unacknowledged.

That day at Miss Havisham's, Pip

agrees to return every other day to

walk her or wheel her in a chair. This

continues for eight to ten months.

During this time, Miss Havisham

continues to point out Estella's

beauty to Pip, whispering fondly to

Estella, "Break their hearts!" Pip tells

no one about his experiences at Miss

Havisham's except for Biddy, who

expresses concern that, at the time, he

did not understand. Meanwhile, Mrs.

Joe and Uncle Pumblechook enjoy

imagining Miss Havisham's future

patronage of Pip. One day, Miss

Havisham tells Pip it's time he was

apprenticed to Joe and asks Pip to

bring Joe with Pip's indentures. Back

at the forge, the news that Miss

Havisham has asked to see Joe (and

not her) inspires Mrs. Joe's jealous

fury