what thick boots!"

I was very glad to get away. My coarse hands and my common boots had
never troubled me before; but they troubled me now, and I determined to
ask Joe why he had taught me to call those picture cards Jacks which
ought to be called knaves.

For a long time I went once a week to this strange, gloomy house--it was
called Satis House--and once Estella told me I might kiss her.

And then Miss Havisham decided I was to be apprenticed to Joe, and gave
him L25 for the purpose; and I left off going to see her, and helped Joe
in the forge. But I didn't like Joe's trade, and I was afflicted by that
most miserable thing--to feel ashamed of home.

I couldn't resist paying Miss Havisham a visit; and, not seeing Estella,
stammered that I hoped she was well.

"Abroad," said Miss Havisham; "educating for a lady; far out of reach;
prettier than ever; admired by all who see her. Do you feel that you
have lost her?"

I was spared the trouble of answering by being dismissed, and went home
dissatisfied and uncomfortable, thinking myself coarse and common, and
wanting to be a gentleman.

It was in the fourth year of my apprenticeship when, one Saturday night,
Joe and I were up at the Three Jolly Bargemen, according to our custom.

A stranger, who did not recognise me, but whom I recognised as a
gentleman I had met on the stairs at Miss Havisham's, was in the room;
and on his asking for a blacksmith named Gargery and his apprentice
named Pip, and, being answered, said he wanted to have a private
conference with us two.

Joe took him home, and the stranger told us his name was Jaggers, and
that he was a lawyer in London.

"Now, Joseph Gargery, I am the bearer of an offer to relieve you of this
young fellow, your apprentice. You would not object to cancel his
indentures at his request and for his good?"

"No," said Joe.

"The communication I have got to make to this young fellow is that he
has great expectations."

Joe and I gasped, and looked at one another.

"I am instructed to tell him," said Mr. Jaggers, "that he will come into
a handsome property. Further, it is the desire of the present possessor
of that property that he be immediately removed from his present sphere
of life and be brought up as a gentleman, and that he always bear the
name of Pip. Now, you are to understand that the name of the person who
is your liberal benefactor remains a profound secret until the person
chooses to reveal it, and yo