posed of by others, I should have felt that she held my heart in
her hand because she wilfully chose to do it, and not because it
would have wrung any tenderness in her, to crush it and throw it
away.

When we passed through Hammersmith, I showed her where
Mr. Matthew Pocket lived, and said it was no great way from
Richmond, and that I hoped I should see her sometimes.

'Oh yes, you are to see me; you are to come when you think
proper; you are to be mentioned to the family; indeed you are
already mentioned.'

I inquired was it a large household she was going to be a member
of?

'No; there are only two; mother and daughter. The mother is a
lady of some station, though not averse to increasing her income.'

'I wonder Miss Havisham could part with you again so soon.'

'It is a part of Miss Havisham's plans for me, Pip,' said Estella,
with a sigh, as if she were tired; 'I am to write to her constantly
and see her regularly, and report how I go on--I and the jewels--
for they are nearly all mine now.'

It was the first time she had ever called me by my name. Of
course she did so purposely, and knew that I should treasure it up.

We came to Richmond all too soon, and our destination there,
was a house by the Green: a staid old house, where hoops and
powder and patches, embroidered coats, rolled stockings, ruffles,
and swords, had had their court days many a time. Some ancient
trees before the house were still cut into fashions as formal and
unnatural as the hoops and wigs and stiff skirts; but their own
allotted places in the great procession of the dead were not far
off, and they would soon drop into them and go the silent way of
the rest.

A bell with an old voice--which I dare say in its time had often
said to the house, Here is the green farthingale, Here is the dia-
mond-hilted sword, Here are the shoes with red heels and the blue
solitaire,--sounded gravely in the moonlight, and two cherry-col-
oured maids came fluttering out to receive Estella. The doorway
soon absorbed her boxes, and she gave me her hand and a smile,
and said good-night, and was absorbed likewise. And still I stood

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