After visiting Estella in Richmond, Pip is told that he is
to accompany her to Satis House to visit Miss Havisham. While he is there, Pip notices
how Miss Havisham eagerly devours the news of Estella's exploits. She sits "of a mind
mortally hurt and diseased," hanging on Estella's words and gestures, eagerly "devouring
the beautiful creature she had reared" in her mind. However, after Estella has
finished, some sharp words fall between the two. Estella begins to detach herself from
the position in which she sat with Miss Havisham's arm through hers, having merely
endured the affection. Miss Havisham asks her if she has grown tired of
her:
Estella
looked at her with perfect composure, and again looked down at the fire. Her graceful
figure and her beautiful face expressed a self-possessed indifference to the wild heat
of the other, that was almost
cruel.
Miss Havisham
reproaches Estella for being cold; however, Estella asks her "Do you reproach me for
being cold?" telling Miss Havisham that she is the one who has made her this way,
encouraging Miss Havisham to take "all the blame,...take all the success...in short,
take me!" She explains to Miss Havisham that she has been brought up to be cold: "I am
what you have taught me." Heartbroken, Miss Havisham settles upon the floor,"among the
other bridal wrecks, and it was a miserable sight to see," Pip narrates. For,
tragically, Miss Havisham has failed to realize that in raising Estella to wreak revenge
upon the male sex, she also brought her up to be heartless and incapable of returning
the love Miss Havisham has bestowed her.
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