Trying to become less coarse to impress Estella, Pip goes to Biddy for tutoring. One evening, while at the Jolly Bargemen with Joe, Pip notices a stranger who keeps watching him. When the stranger stirs his drink with a file, the same file Pip stole for the convict on the marshes, Pip knows the man has been sent by his convict and is terrified that his secret will be revealed. Instead, before the man leaves he gives Pip a new shilling wrapped in old paper. At home Pip and Joe discover the "old paper" is really two one-pound notes. Joe tries to catch up with the man but it is too late, so Mrs. Joe sets the money aside in the state parlor. Pip is haunted, both while awake and in his dreams by convicts, files, and the coarseness of such affiliations.
He meets Miss Havisham's toady relatives who pretend to care about her, and who absolutely hate Pip. They talk about a "Matthew," who is apparently an outcast in the family. Estella taunts Pip again and when he tells her she is not as insulting as the last time, she slaps him hard trying to make him cry. He tells her he will never cry for her, but knows that is a lie. While there, Pip also meets a burly man who warns him to behave himself. Miss Havisham has Pip walk her from her bedroom to the wedding-feast room that even has a large table with a rotting bug-infested bride-cake. Estella and the toady relatives join them and Pip watches as Miss Havisham amuses herself by annoying them. She dismisses them and tells Pip it is her birthday. She continues to point out Estella's beauty to Pip, then sends him to be fed outside again. While outside he meets and fights with a pale young gentleman. Estella is ecstatic over this display and even rewards Pip for winning the fight by letting him kiss her. Pip is convinced he will be arrested because of the fight, but nothing is ever said and the pale young gentleman is not there the next time Pip visits. These visits continue every alternate day for eight to ten months, with Estella's behavior varying and Miss Havisham always taunting him with her beauty. Pip tells no one but Biddy about Estella. One day Miss Havisham tells Pip to bring Joe because it is time to set up his apprenticeship. Mrs. Joe reacts with rage because she is not invited.
