While there Pip sees that Joe has learned to write — Biddy taught him — and hears that Miss Havisham has died, leaving a “cool four thousand” to Matthew Pocket because of Pip’s account of him. He also learns that Orlick was arrested after breaking into Pumblechook’s house. Pip tries to tell Joe about Magwitch, intending to tell him the whole truth. Joe cuts him off, instead speaking to his own failings at protecting Pip when he (Pip) was a boy. When Pip says Joe was not wrong, Joe tells him that, regarding the convict, they have nothing to discuss, either. Joe nurses him to health and loves him unconditionally but as Pip recovers Joe pulls back and resumes calling him “Sir.” Pip is upset but realizes Joe does not know it is different this time. Intending to level with Joe about his debts, his guilt over treating Joe so badly, and his interest in asking Biddy to marry him, Pip gets up early the next day to find Joe already gone. There is a receipt showing Joe paid off Pip’s debt. A couple days later, Pip heads home to talk to Joe and Biddy.
