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Last time, a number of significant changes took place in Pip's life: Pip's sister died, and he went home for the funeral -- they had never found out who attacked her. Biddy planned to become a schoolmistress; Orlick, having lost his position at Miss Havisham's (through Pip's intervention with Mr. Jaggers), had gone to work at the quarries; Joe would be alone.
Coming of age, Pip felt sure that his benefactor
would be revealed; however, though Jaggers informed Pip that he
was henceforth to have 500l. per annum, he gave no information
about the source of that income. Pip thought that Miss Havisham,
"for some reason or no reason," did not yet feel like taking him
into her confidence regarding her plans for him -- which he hoped
should include Estella. Drawing his money from Wemmick, he asked
the clerk's opinion about doing a favor for a friend (he and Herbert
have been getting into debt, and Herbert lacks Pip's expectations),
but Wemmick advised him, in his professional capacity, that such
a service would be worse than throwing the money off a bridge. Thinking
that Wemmick's "Walworth sentiments" might differ, Pip joined Wemmick,
the Aged Parent, and a Miss Skiffins -- whom Wemmick showed signs
of courting -- for tea. In his private and personal capacity, Wemmick
arranged to help Herbert acquire capital on the basis of Pip's expectations.
Herbert soon came home from "looking about him" and reported his
discovery of a man named Clarriker -- a young merchant -- who had
shown an interest in him. Herbert soon afterwards entered into business
with Clarriker.
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