Pip thinks of his sister often after her death. He thinks he sees her in the street and in his quarters. He doesn’t feel much tenderness, but he is angry that her assailant was never caught. His memories of the early days, when his sister brought him up by hand, are softened.
Mr. Trabb is organizing the funeral. Joe is distraught. He says he would have preferred simpler arrangements, but it would have outraged the neighbors. The neighbors are impressed by the procession, and the Hubbles are arrogantly proud to be a part of it. Pumblechook annoys Pip in being insistent that he was the founder of his fortunes.
Joe is pleased when Pip wants to sleep over. There is some strain, as Joe tries to be “less common.”
Pip goes to talk to Biddy. He is upset that she hadn’t written to him about his sister’s health. He asks what she plans to do now, and she says she will earn her living by becoming a teacher at a school. She tells Pip that his sister’s death was very sudden. Mrs. Joe had called out for her husband, who had held her, and she died in his arms.
Biddy says Orlick is working in a quarry. She saw him the night Pip’s sister died. She has seen him since. He is still interested in Biddy.
Biddy tells Pip that Joe loves him and never complains about anything. Pip promises to come down and see Joe, but Biddy doesn’t believe him. Pip feels Biddy is being unkind to him. However, when he leaves, he knows he won’t come back.