Chapter 48 (Volume 3, Chapter 9) (Instalment 29):

I know now of whom Estella reminded me/ Information from Wemmick

Synopsis of Chapter 48 (Volume 3, Chapter 9) (Instalment 29)

A week later, Pip meets Mr. Jaggers, who invites him to dinner, persuading him to come by mentioning that Wemmick will be there. Wemmick has brought a letter for Pip from Miss Havisham asking him to call on her on business. Mr. Jaggers refers to Estella's marriage to Drummle, and wonders whether he will beat her.

Molly the housekeeper serves the food, and Pip suddenly realizes that the movement of her fingers reminds him of Estella (see Ch. 44; Vol. 3, Ch. 5): this must be Estella's mother. As they leave, Wemmick tells him about Mr. Jaggers's successful defence of Molly against a charge of murder twenty years earlier. At the time of the trial she had a small daughter.

Commentary on Chapter 48 (Volume 3, Chapter 9) (Instalment 29)

As to the quantity of wine … its quantity of letters Wemmick's mouth, in the office at least, still looks like a post box. Dickens' does not use this description when Wemmick is at Walworth.

He's a wonderful man, without his living likeness Wemmick does not enjoy Mr. Jaggers' company, but he clearly admires him, which is surprising after his statements about Mr. Jaggers in Ch. 25; Vol. 2, Ch. 6).

He looked rather sly … not quite free from latent boastfulness Wemmick's character is also developing. Hints about the future are coming thick and fast.

‘Did I?' he replied … ‘I am not quite unscrewed yet.' Wemmick is so guarded in Jaggers' company that he cannot admit to hints he might have dropped to Pip in a friendly Walworth way (see Ch. 25; Vol. 2, Ch. 6). ‘Deuce' is a euphemism for ‘devil', and is the strongest language Wemmick uses.

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