Chapter fiveMy benefactor
Time seemed to go by very quickly. Before I knew it, I was twenty-three years old.1 I was not living with Herbert’s father anymore. Instead, Herbert and I had moved into a place called Garden Court which was by the river.2
Over the past few days there had been some terrible weather in London. It had rained constantly and because of this, I had stayed indoors the whole time.3 I was feeling very depressed. Herbert was in France on business and I missed his cheerfulness.4
That evening, I was in my room doing some reading.
Suddenly I heard the sound of footsteps. I took my lamp out into the hallway and called out, “Is anyone there?”5
“Yes,” said a voice.
“Who are you looking for?” I asked.
The voice said, “Mr. Pip.”
“I am Mr. Pip,” I replied.
Check up
Where is Herbert during this part of the story?
a. On a business trip in France.
b. Vacationing in Paris.
c. On his honeymoon.
Key Words & Sentences
constantly (adv): liên tục, không ngớt
indoors (adv): trong nhà
miss (v): nhớ
cheerfulness (n): sự vui vẻ
footstep (n): tiếng bước chân
hallway (n): hành lang
1 Before I knew it, I was twenty-three years old.
2 Instead, Herbert and I had moved into a place called Garden Court which was by the river.
3 It had rained constantly and because of this, I had stayed indoors the whole time.
4 Herbert was in France on business and I missed his cheerfulness.
5 I took my lamp out into the hallway and called out, “Is anyone there?”
A man slowly walked up the stairs. He was about sixty years old and he was dressed like a seaman.1
“What do you want?” I asked him.
“I will tell you,” he said.
We went into my room and he took off his coat. He put out both his hands for me to take. Since I did not recognize him, I was worried that he was crazy.2
“I have waited so long for this day. Please give me a moment,” he said.
He sat down and looked around nervously.
“Is there anyone with you tonight?”3 he asked.
“Excuse me,” I said. “But you are a stranger here. You have no right to ask that.”
The man laughed and said, “You are quite bold. I am glad you grew up to be bold.”4
Just then, I recognized the man. He was the man I had met in the graveyard many years ago. He was the escaped prisoner! I didn’t know what to say. He put his hands out again and not knowing what to do, I put my hands in his.5
Check up
Choose the common word for the following sentences.
• At first, Pip thinks the old man must be ________________.
• You must be ________________ to do something so dangerous!
a. angry
b. kind
c. crazy
Key Words & Sentences
seaman (n): thủy thủ
recognize (v): nhận ra
nervously (adv): căng thẳng, lo lắng
bold (adj): dũng cảm, mạnh mẽ
1 He was about sixty years old and he was dressed like a seaman.
2 Since I did not recognize him, I was worried that he was crazy.
3 Is there anyone with you tonight?
4 I am glad you grew up to be bold.
5 He put his hands out again and not knowing what to do, I put my hands in his.
He continued, “I have always been grateful for how you helped me that day in the graveyard.”1
I pulled away from him.
“I don’t need you to thank me for that.2 I just hope that you are a changed man,” I said harshly to him.
He looked hurt, so I said more kindly, “You must stay and have a drink before you go. You are tired and wet.”
I gave him something warm to drink and then he told me about what had happened to him.3 He escaped from the prison one more time and made his way to Australia.4 There, he became a sheep farmer and made a lot of money.
“I see you have done well in life, too,”5 he said. “Tell me your story.”
“Well, I have a benefactor,” I stuttered.
“Really! Does your yearly income begin with the number five by any chance?6” he asked me.
I was very surprised because my income was five hundred pounds.
“How could he know that?” I thought.
Then he asked me, “You had a guardian before you turned twenty one, didn’t you? His name begins with a J, doesn’t it? Is his name Jaggers?”
Check up
How did the escaped prisoner make so much money?
a. He stole a fortune from a bank.
b. He found buried treasure.
c. He became a sheep farmer in Australia.
Key Words & Sentences
grateful (adj): biết ơn, cảm kích
pull away from: giật ra khỏi
harshly (adv): tàn nhẫn
make one’s way to: tìm cách đến
sheep farmer (n): người nuôi cừu
make money: kiếm tiền
stutter (v): lắp bắp
by any chance: lần nào cũng vậy
guardian (n): người giám hộ (tài sản)
turn (v): trở thành, đến (tuổi)
1 I have always been grateful for how you helped me that day in the graveyard.
2 I don’t need you to thank me for that.
3 I gave him something warm to drink and then he told me about what had happened to him.
4 He escaped from the prison one more time and made his way to Australia.
5 I see you have done well in life, too.
6 Does your yearly income begin with the number five by any chance?
I was horrified. I knew the truth now. This man was my benefactor and not Miss Havisham like I first thought. The prisoner saw how shocked I was.
“Yes, Pip! I made you a gentleman. After what you did for me, I promised myself that I would work hard so that you could live well,”1 he said.
I stepped back from him. I felt terrible that such a man had paid for the life I had been living.2 I was quite depressed.
My great expectations were dust. Miss Havisham wasn’t my benefactor. I had hoped so much that Miss Havisham wanted me to marry Estella. It was all a dream!
Then, I thought of Joe. “Poor Joe! I deserted wonderful, kind-hearted Joe for a criminal.”3
The man took my hands again and as he did so, I felt my heart pound in my chest.
“I must sleep somewhere tonight. I have been at sea for months and months,” he told me.
Even though I did not want the man to stay in my house, I allowed him to sleep in Herbert’s room.4
Check up
When Pip learned the truth about his benefactor, his great expectations turned to _____________.
a. dust
b. mist
c. lust
Key Words & Sentences
horrified (adj): bất ngờ, kinh hoàng
shocked (adj): sửng sốt
step back: lùi lại
(step - stepped - stepped)
pay for: chi trả cho
quite (adv): quá, rất
depressed (adj): thất vọng
expectations (n): kỳ vọng
dust (n): bụi, tro bụi
desert (v): bỏ mặc, tránh né
kind-hearted (adj): tốt bụng
criminal (n): kẻ phạm tội
pound (n): sự trĩu nặng
1 After what you did for me, I promised myself that I would work hard so that you could live well.
2 I felt terrible that such a man had paid for the life I had been living.
3 I deserted wonderful, kind-hearted Joe for a criminal.
4 Even though I did not want the man to stay in my house, I allowed him to sleep in Herbert’s room.
The next morning, we ate breakfast together and he told me that his name was Abel Magwitch. He ate breakfast quickly and as soon as he had finished, he stood up and put a wallet on the table. It was full of money.
“It’s for you, Pip,” he said. “I want you to buy the best of everything and be a real gentleman.”1
“No,” I shouted. “I don’t want your money. It’s not mine. All I want to know is if the police are looking for you.2 I hope you won’t be staying long. You’re only visiting for a short while, aren’t you?”
“No. I will be in England for good,” he said. “I can change my appearance but if the police catch me, they will hang me.3 You have to find a place for me to live.”
I didn’t know what to do, so Magwitch hid in my room. A few days later, Herbert came back from France. I had to tell him.
Magwitch made Herbert hold a Bible and said, “Swear you won’t tell anyone that you saw me.”4 I felt awful. After all of Herbert’s kindness to me, I didn’t want to force him to keep this secret.5
Check up
What did Magwitch plan to do after visiting Pip?
a. To return to Australia.
b. To stay in England.
c. To start a business in London.
Key Words & Sentences
finish (v): xong, dùng hết
wallet (n): ví
for good: mãi mãi
appearance (n): vẻ ngoài, diện mạo
hang (v): treo cổ
hold (v): cầm lên
swear (v): thề
(swear - swore - sworn)
1 I want you to buy the best of everything and be a real gentleman.
2 All I want to know is if the police are looking for you.
3 I can change my appearance but if the police catch me, they will hang me.
4 Magwitch made Herbert hold a Bible and said, “Swear you won’t tell anyone that you saw me.”
5 After all of Herbert’s kindness to me, I didn’t want to force him to keep this secret.
Later that day when I was alone with Herbert, he said, “He can’t stay here. He has to leave England and he won’t go without you.”1
Herbert was right. I would never be free if Magwitch stayed in England.2 I decided never to take any money but after he had given so much to me, I hated the thought of the police catching him.3
He continued to stay in our apartment and only went out at night for some fresh air.4
Not long after, the guard warned me that he had seen a stranger outside of our place.5 The man had a long scar, and wore old, torn clothes. The guard said he seemed to be looking up at our windows.
“He must be after Magwitch,” I thought.
The next morning, I asked, “Do you know a man with a long scar on his face? The guard said a man with a scar has been watching our place.”
“I know who he is. His name is Compeyson. He used to be a gentleman but he was also a thief.”6
Check up
Who is the stranger waiting outside Pip’s apartment at night?
a. Compeyson
b. Police
c. Joe
guard (n): lính gác, người bảo vệ
torn (past participle of tear) (adj):
rách rưới
be after: theo dõi
used to + V: đã từng
Key Words & Sentences
1 He has to leave England and he won’t go without you.
2 I would never be free if Magwitch stayed in England.
3 I decided never to take any money but after he had given so much to me, I hated the thought of the police catching him.
4 He continued to stay in our apartment and only went out at night for some fresh air.
5 Not long after, the guard warned me that he had seen a stranger outside of our place.
6 He used to be a gentleman but he was also a thief.
He continued, “I met him a long time ago and I became his partner. Together, we planned to cheat people out of money in the horse races.1 He had the ideas and I did the dirty work. We were eventually caught and he, looking like a gentleman, said I was the guilty one.2 He was sent to prison for only seven years whereas I got fourteen years. I promised to get revenge one day.”
I looked at Magwitch. I could see the anger in his eyes.
“Eventually, we both escaped from the prison on the same night.3 We found each other in a field and fought. That was around the time when you and I met in the graveyard,” he said.
There was silence between us for a few moments and then he said, “I heard you know Miss Havisham.4Is that right?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Then you would be interested to know that Compeyson was a friend of Miss Havisham’s half-brother.5 He was the man who pretended to love her and then deserted her on her wedding day,” Magwitch informed me.
The pieces of this strange puzzle were starting to fit together.
Check up
What connection is there between Compeyson and Miss Havisham?
_________________
Key Words & Sentences
cheat (v): lừa gạt
horse race (n): cuộc đua ngựa
dirty work: việc làm phi nghĩa
eventually (adv): cuối cùng
whereas (conj): khi mà
inform (v): cho biết
puzzle (n): câu đố, trò chơi (cuộc đời)
fit (v): vừa khít, khớp với
1 Together, we planned to cheat people out of money in the horse races.
2 We were eventually caught and he, looking like a gentleman, said I was the guilty one.
3 Eventually, we both escaped from the prison on the same night.
4 There was silence between us for a few moments and then he said, “I heard you know Miss Havisham.”
5 Then you would be interested to know that Compeyson was a friend of Miss Havisham’s half-brother.
Herbert and I had to get Magwitch away from Compeyson. In a week, we moved him to another place right on the river.1 He stayed at Herbert’s girlfriend’s house at Mill Pond Bank. Magwitch and I planned to catch a steam boat to leave England.2 I didn’t know exactly when the safest time would be to get Magwitch onto the boat so I rowed past the house every evening.3 I was waiting for a sign from Herbert.
One day, I received a message from Mr. Jaggers. He wanted me to join him for dinner. I went and heard that there was a message from Miss Havisham.
“She would like you to visit her. She also wants you to know that Estella and Drummle are married,” Mr. Jaggers told me.
I was completely taken by surprise. I had forgotten all about Estella since the arrival of Magwitch.4
As I sat there, thinking about Estella and Drummle, the housekeeper brought out the dinner. Each time she served a dish, I kept thinking to myself, “Who does she remind me of?”5 Then, I realized that she looked just like Estella. Could she be Estella’s real mother? For the rest of the evening, I could think of nothing else.6
Check up
Choose the common verb for the following sentences.
• Because of Magwitch, Pip had ____________ all about Estella.
• I have ____________ everything I learned in college.
a. forgotten
b. thought
c. studied
Key Words & Sentences
get away from: thoát khỏi
steam boat (n): tàu hơi nước
row (v): chèo (thuyền)
past (prep): qua
sign (n): tín hiệu, hiệu lệnh
be taken by surprise: bất ngờ
housekeeper (n): người quản gia
bring out: mang ra
remind A of: nhắc, gợi A nhớ về
1 In a week, we moved him to another place right on the river.
2 Magwitch and I planned to catch a steam boat to leave England.
3 I didn’t know exactly when the safest time would be to get Magwitch onto the boat so I rowed past the house every evening.
4 I had forgotten all about Estella since the arrival of Magwitch.
5 Each time she served a dish, I kept thinking to myself, “Who does she remind me of?”
6 For the rest of the evening, I could think of nothing else.
The next morning, I set out to visit Miss Havisham. When I arrived, the house was in terrible condition but the worst thing was that Estella was gone.1 I saw Miss Havisham sitting in the banquet room. She looked so lonely.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“It is Pip,” I answered.
I sat down next to her. She started to speak.
“My heart is not made of stone. If I could change Estella, I would. I regret raising her to be so cold.2 If you can forgive me, please do so,” she begged.
“I have already forgiven you,” I said.
“I have caused hurt to others too, you know.”3
Then I asked her, “Whose child is Estella?”
Miss Havisham shook her head.
“Mr. Jaggers brought her to you, didn’t he?”
“Yes, when she was about two or three. Her real mother was accused of murder. Jaggers was her lawyer. He didn’t tell me anything else about her mother.”
Evening came and it was time for me to leave. In the courtyard, I turned to take a last look at the old house. Flames were coming out of the window of the banquet room!4
I ran into the house. Miss Havisham’s old dress had caught on fire! The fire continued and I pulled the table cloth off the table and wrapped her in it.5 She screamed in pain.
At last the fire was out and I looked at my hands. They had also been burned by the fire. The burns were unbearable. A doctor came to take care of Miss Havisham and me. I left soon after.
Key Words & Sentences
set out: khởi hành
be made of: được làm bằng
raise (v): nuôi dạy
cause (v): gây ra
be accused of: bị buộc tội
murder (n): việc giết người
take a last look at someone/
something: nhìn ai/cái gì lần cuối cùng
flames (n): những ngọn lửa
wrap (v): phủ lên, trùm lên
scream (v): la, hét lên
burn (v): làm cháy, (n): đám cháy
unbearable (adj): dữ dội, không dập tắt được
1 When I arrived, the house was in terrible condition but the worst thing was that Estella was gone.
2 I regret raising her to be so cold.
3 I have caused hurt to others too, you know.
4 Flames were coming out of the window of the banquet room!
5 The fire continued and I pulled the table cloth off the table and wrapped her in it.
Understanding the Story
Magwitch who was a prisoner went over to Australia. Let’s find out why Magwitch went there and how he managed to save all that money.
Ships for Australia
Laws in eighteenth century England were much stricter than they are today. People were hanged not only for murder, but also for stealing! People were thrown into prison for breaking promises of marriage or for borrowing more money than they could pay back. Under these strict laws, English prisons became very crowded. This became a problem.
At the time, England had many colonies around the world. One colony, Australia, had a lot of land and hardly any people. The English government decided that by shipping prisoners to Australia, they could solve two problems.
Firstly the criminals leave England and the prisons would be emptied. Secondly, Australia would get the manpower it needed to become a productive colony. The prisoners who were transported to Australia could eventually become free men and women if they worked hard.
This is how Magwitch, Pip’s benefactor, could change from being a wretched prisoner to a rich sheep farmer. However, if these former prisoners ever returned to England, they would be put back in jail or even executed.
strict (adj): hà khắc
hang (v): treo cổ
murder (n): tội giết người
break (v): phạm (luật), bội ước
pay back: trả lại
colony (n): thuộc địa
ship (n): con tàu
manpower (n): nhân lực
productive (adj): màu mỡ, phong phú
eventually (adv): cuối cùng
wretched (adj): khốn khổ, bất hạnh
execute (v): hành hình, xử tử