In Ch.58, Pip returns to his
native village a much reformed and repentant man hoping to propose to Biddy and
confident that she will accept his proposal. But when he arrives at his childhood home
he is surprised to find that it is Joe and Biddy's wedding day. They have just been
married and they are husband and wife! So once again Pip's 'expectations' have not been
fulfilled:
I
looked at both of them, from one to the other, and then
--`It's my wedding-day,' cried
Biddy, in a burst of happiness, `and I am married to
Joe!'
After
Pip had recovered from this pleasant shock he begs Joe and Biddy to forgive him all his
ungrateful behaviour and begs them both that in future when they have a son of their own
they should not tell their son how thankless and ungenerous he has been. Both Joe and
Biddly of course refuse to do just that:
`But I must say more. Dear Joe, I hope you will
have children to love, and that some little fellow will sit in this chimney corner of a
winter night, who may remind you of another little fellow gone out of it for ever.
Don't tell him, Joe, that I was thankless; don't tell him,
Biddy.
In
Ch.59, Pip has decided to remain a bachelor for the rest of
his life consequent to his failure of his 'expectations' in getting married either to
Estella or Biddy and he begs Biddy to allow him to adopt their son Pip. Biddy refuses
saying that he must get married and have children of his
own:
`Biddy,'
said I, when I talked with her after dinner, as her little girl lay sleeping in her lap,
`you must give Pip to me, one of these days; or lend him, at all
events.'`No, no,' said Biddy, gently. `You must marry.'`So
Herbert and Clara say, but I don't think I shall, Biddy. I have so settled down in their
home, that it's not at all likely. I am already quite an old
bachelor.'
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