Great Expectations in London

Chapter 19-28

Pips last week in his home town is lonely. He has a fight with Biddy about Joe, who is sad about his young friend leaving. On the other hand he suddenly on very good terms with Pumblechook, who has drinks with him and behaves generally as if they were old friends.
In London he meets with Mr Jaggers, his guardian. Whenever the two of them walk through the streets several people try to talk with Jaggers, but he's always passive and asks just brief case relevant questions and doesn't want to know anymore.
Next we meet Wemmick (a partner of Jaggers?). He's a more friendly character and he's the one who walks Pip to his residence over the weekend, before he can meet Matthew Pocket on Monday.
Pip stays at the Barnard's Inn. There he meets Mr Pockets son. They're soon close friends. Herbert, the name of Mr Pocket Jr, shows Pip some formalities of he higher society. Soon they discover that they know each other. Herberts the "pale young gentlemen" Pip had the fight in Ms Havisham's backyard all those years ago. Herbert also gives Pip a nickname, after he offered to be called by his christian name: "Handel".
Herbert tells a bit of Mr Harvishams back story. She fell madly in love with that guy, everybody (including Matthew Pocket) warned her about. She was quite rich, because her Dad made a good fortune with brewing. She was an only child, expect a half-brother her dad had with another woman. When that second wife of his died, the young boy moved in with Ms Havisham and her dad. He turned out to be a bad person. Mr Havisham hated his wasteful character. And when she got left her everything from her father, the brother hold a grudge against her (he though she influenced their father in doing so). So when Mr Havisham got the message, that her groom wouldn't show up at 20 to 9, when she just put on one shoe, her world fell apart. she ever since suspected her brother to be part of that cruel complot. And Matthew Pocket, who's her cousin, hasn't spoken to her ever since, because every attempt would automatically feel as if he'd say "I told you so".
On Monday Pip goes to see Matthew Pocket at his house. He meets Mrs Pocket, who's grandfather was kind of important and who hoped to marry a title with Matthew (which she didn't). The family has several kids looked after by the maids. Mrs Pocket shows clearly that she doesn't have much talent with kids.
Pip also meets his fellow students(?), Drummle and Startop. Pip soon becomes friends with Startop. But he generally dislikes Drummle ('the spider' as Mr Jaggers who likes him, puts it).
Pip has dinner with both Mr Wemmick and Mr Jaggers, which shows the difference between those. Mr Wemmick never talks about work at home and lives with 'the aged' his father. Mr Jaggers has a study and everything looking like a second office. the only other person, we "meet" in his house is his servant Molly, who he's rude and cruel to.
Pip live in Matthew Pockets house, while he still shares the rooms in the Inn with Herbert.
It's in the Inn where he meets Joe again, who came to London with a friend. Joe calls Pip Sir now and just slips into Pip every once in a while. He hold onto his hat and is uncomfortable in the presence of the two gentlemen. Before Joe leaves, he tells Pip that he's right where he is as a blacksmith and he's proud to be one, because that's his place in the world.
Mr Jaggers tells Pip that Ms Havisham wants to see him, because Estella is back. Pip takes a coach he shares with two convicts. Pip recognises one of them. But its not "his" convict, but the one who escaped with him.
Back home Pip checks in at a hotel instead of going to stay with Joe, Biddy and his sister. He tries to make up excuses for himself, so just to not stay with them, but not to see them at all.

Group discussion on 29 May

Who do we think the 'mysterious benefactor' is?

Miss Haversham. Renee said maybe because Miss Haversham thinks Pip is the only one worthy of Estella, because he is a commoner and is content with what he has, unlike her relatives, who she sees as greedy and waiting for her to die so they can get her money.

Alex said she doesn't think Miss Haversham is the benefactor because when she gave the apprenticeship money she said that was the last thing she would do for him.

Or maybe something left by his parents? But would they have had anything to leave him? Could they have left money protected from his sister, knowing what kind of person she is? Arguing against this, Alex pointed out that Mrs Joe had put aside the money from the pub in case the person wanted it back. Also that she manages the household carefully.

Julia: it could be the convict. Renee: but how would he get money?

Rebecca, joking: it turns out to be the apprentice! - But he wouldn't give it to him.


Miss Haversham and Pip

Julia: when Pip goes to see them on his half holiday Miss Haversham doesn't really believe he's just come to see them. This is because she doesn't trust men in general. She thinks he wants something from her and tells him he can only visit on her birthday after that.

What do you think is going to happen when he goes to London?

Julia: He's going to get educated.
Rebecca: He will find out who the benefactor is.
Renee: He is going to get accused of things. Something bad is going to happen.

How old is Biddy?

Must be older than Pip but younger than Joe.  Not a lot older than Pip because he says he wishes he could love her rather than Estella, it would be lot less complicated. "If I could only get myself to fall in love with you.... That would be the thing for me."  Biddy replies that he never will. Pip's a bit sad about that. Rebecca: you would think it would be Biddy who was sad.

Spoiler:
Having read the character notes at the front of the book we know that Biddy ends up marrying Joe. So we figure the sister must die at some stage. Would Joe and Pip still be best friends?