Chapter twoA change of fortune
The next few months were mixed with pain and pleasure.1 Every day, I went to Miss Havisham’s house to play with Estella. Every day, she was very mean to me. But despite her cruelty, I was captivated by her and I wanted to see her.2 Also, Miss Havisham spoke to me more and more as she got used to me.3
One day, she asked me to push her in her wheelchair into the room next door. The room was dark and dusty and there were cobwebs everywhere.4 There was a long table. On it was a wedding feast. Mice and rats were chewing on the rotten cake in the middle. However the room did not surprise me at all as Miss Havisham was a strange woman.5
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Choose the common word for the following sentences.
• Estella was very ________ to Pip.
• Don’t be ________ to your younger brother.
a. mean
b. polite
c. cute
Key Words
fortune (n): số phận
be mixed with: pha lẫn
pain (n): nỗi buồn
despite (prep): bất chấp
cruelty (n): sự tàn nhẫn, lạnh lùng
captivate (v): làm say đắm, quyến rũ
get used to someone: quen với ai đó
dusty (adj): đầy bụi
cobweb (n): mạng nhện
feast (n): bữa tiệc
rat (n): chuột
chew (v): cắn, gặm
rotten (adj): đã hỏng
not… at all: không… chút nào
Key Sentences
1 The next few months were mixed with pain and pleasure.
2 But despite her cruelty, I was captivated by her and I wanted to see her.
3 Also, Miss Havisham spoke to me more and more as she got used to me.
4 The room was dark and dusty and there were cobwebs everywhere.
5 However the room did not surprise me at all as Miss Havisham was a strange woman.
One day, Miss Havisham asked me, “What do you want to do when you are older?”
I replied, “I will become Joe’s apprentice. I don’t want to though. I want to be a gentleman and read books all day.”
Secretly I thought to myself, “I hope Miss Havisham helps me to become a gentleman.”1
But she never did. She only gave me dinner for playing with Estella.
She said, “I want you to bring Joe with you tomorrow. You are growing up and it’s time for you to learn your life’s work.”2
The next day, Joe came with me to Miss Havisham’s house.
“Is it correct that this boy is to become your apprentice?”3 she asked Joe.
“You want to work with me, don’t you Pip?” Joe asked me.
I felt very ashamed, especially when I saw Estella laughing at me.
Miss Havisham said, “I want you to be Mr. Gargery’s apprentice. Here is some money. Give this money to Mr. Gargery. You will be a fine blacksmith one day.”
With that, my visits to the house ended and I started to learn how to be a blacksmith.4 I was very unhappy, however, and I worried that Estella would one day see my face covered in black and look at me in disgust again.5
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Someone who learns a trade by working as an assistant is called:
a. a wizard.
b. an apprentice.
c. a blacksmith.
Key Words & Sentences
apprentice (n): người học việc
though (adv): tuy nhiên, dù vậy
secretly (adv): thầm kín, riêng
grow up: lớn lên, trưởng thành
correct (adj): đúng
laugh at: cười nhạo
fine (adj): giỏi
one day: một ngày nào đó
with that: ngay sau đó
1 Secretly I thought to myself, “I hope Miss Havisham helps me to become a gentleman.”
2 You are growing up and it’s time for you to learn your life’s work.
3 Is it correct that this boy is to become your apprentice?
4 With that, my visits to the house ended and I started to learn how to be a blacksmith.
5 I was very unhappy, however, and I worried that Estella would one day see my face covered in black and look at me in disgust again.
I worked with Joe and the time passed by quickly.
One year later, I asked Joe if I could visit Miss Havisham.1
“Is that a good idea?” he replied. “Because she might think you want something.”2
“But I’ve never thanked her for what she did. We aren’t busy these days. Can I take half a day to see Miss Est–Havisham?”3 I asked.
Joe said, smiling, “Her name isn’t Esthavisham!”
Joe finally agreed but then Orlick, Joe’s other worker, wanted some time off too.4 My sister told Joe not to give Orlick any time off. My sister and Orlick were always fighting. She thought he was lazy. But Joe allowed him to take the time off anyway.
I was excited to see Estella again. I washed and put on my best clothes. I happily set off for Miss Havisham’s house. When I arrived, I was very disappointed.
“Estella is in Europe,” Miss Havisham told me. “She is getting an education. She is even more beautiful now. Everyone admires her so much.”
I left Miss Havisham’s house feeling very depressed.5 I really felt I had lost Estella now.
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Why did Miss Havisham tell Pip that Estella is more beautiful now than before?
a. She wants Pip to forget about Estella.
b. She wants Pip to love Estella.
c. She wants Pip to go to Europe to find Estella.
Key Words & Sentences
take half a day: dùng nửa ngày
off (adj): nghỉ
put on: mặc (quần áo)
set off for + place: bắt đầu lên đường đến
admire (v): ngưỡng mộ, say mê
depressed (adj): thất vọng
1 One year later, I asked Joe if I could visit Miss Havisham.
2 Because she might think you want something.
3 Can I take half a day to see Miss Est–Havisham?
4 Joe finally agreed but then Orlick, Joe’s other worker, wanted some time off too.
5 I left Miss Havisham’s house feeling very depressed.
I walked home. It was very dark and there was a heavy mist. I could hear the sound of guns in the distance.1 On the way, I met Orlick.
He said, “Some prisoners have escaped from the prison again.”
I remembered the night long ago when I had met the escaped prisoner in the graveyard.
As I was nearing home, a neighbor ran to me and said, “A prisoner broke into your house and someone was attacked.”2
I ran home to find a crowd in the yard. Joe and a doctor were in the kitchen. My sister was lying on the floor. She had been hit many times on her head and back.3 Beside her were some leg irons.
“The irons had been cut through many years before,” Joe said.4
They were the irons my prisoner had cut through! But I knew he hadn’t attacked my sister. The attacker must have found the irons in the graveyard and then brought them into the house.5 Only Orlick could have done this. No one else hated my sister, but there was nothing to prove he had done it.6
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Who does Pip think attacked his sister?
__________________
Key Words & Sentences
heavy (adj): dày đặc
mist (n): sương mù
in the distance: ở đằng xa
near (v): tới gần
break into: đột nhập
attack (v): tấn công
crowd (n): đám đông
yard (n): sân
prove (v): chứng minh
1 I could hear the sound of guns in the distance.
2 As I was nearing home, a neighbor ran to me and said, “A prisoner broke into your house and someone was attacked.”
3 She had been hit many times on her head and back.
4 “The irons had been cut through many years before,” Joe said.
5 The attacker must have found the irons in the graveyard and then brought them into the house.
6 No one else hated my sister, but there was nothing to prove he had done it.
I had a terrible feeling of guilt. I felt responsible because I provided the weapon.1
My sister lived but she changed a lot. In some ways, it was good because she never yelled again or became impatient.2 But she never spoke again either and was sometimes unhappy. Biddy came to live with us to help take care of my sister. She was clever and kind, but not as beautiful as Estella. I wished I could fall in love with her but my heart belonged to Estella.3
My life continued as normal with me working with Joe for the next four years.
One day, a man named Mr. Jaggers, who was a lawyer, came to visit with some news. This changed my life forever.
“Mr. Gargery, my client wants to take this young man and raise him as a gentleman.4 You will be paid for your loss, of course,” Mr. Jaggers said.
Joe replied, “That is not necessary. If Pip has come into some good fortune, I won’t stop him.”5
I was thunderstruck. My dreams had come true! I was so happy but I felt guilty to leave Joe who had always been so kind to me.6
Check up
Why did Pip feel guilty?
a. He thought that he created the weapon that hurt his sister.
b. He was ashamed to be working as a blacksmith.
c. He didn’t want to be Joe’s apprentice.
Key Words & Sentences
guilt (n): tội lỗi
responsible (adj): có trách nhiệm
provide (v): cung cấp
yell (v): chửi mắng, la hét
belong to someone: thuộc về ai đó
loss (n): tổn thất, sự thiệt thòi
come into: nhận được
fortune (n): sự may mắn
thunderstruck (adj): kinh ngạc, sửng sốt
come true: trở thành sự thật
1 I felt responsible because I provided the weapon.
2 she never yelled again or became impatient.
3 I wished I could fall in love with her but my heart belonged to Estella.
4 Mr. Gargery, my client wants to take this young man and raise him as a gentleman.
5 If Pip has come into some good fortune, I won’t stop him.
6 I was so happy but I felt guilty to leave Joe who had always been so kind to me.
Mr. Jaggers continued, “There are two conditions for this gift. You must keep the name Pip and your benefactor’s name must be a secret.1 Here is some money. Buy some new clothes. You will go to London in one week to live with Mr. Pocket and his son Herbert.”2
“The Pockets!” I thought. “They are relatives of Miss Havisham. She must be my benefactor.”
“Here is my business card. When you arrive in London, please come to this address,” Mr. Jaggers said and then he left.3
Joe and I went into the house immediately to tell my sister and Biddy about my good fortune.4
Joe ran in first and exclaimed, “Well! The strangest things happen. God has blessed our Pip and he is now a gentleman of fortune.”5
The two women looked at me in amazement.
“Congratulations, Pip!” Biddy said. But there was a sadness in their eyes that made me angry.6
I thought, “Why can’t they both be more happy for me?”
Check up
What is NOT a condition for the money that Pip is to receive?
a. Pip must not know who is giving him the money.
b. Pip must get married before he turns 25.
c. Pip must not change his name.
Key Words & Sentences
condition (n): điều kiện
benefactor (n): người bảo trợ
relative (n): họ hàng
business card (n): danh thiếp
bless (v): ban phúc
in amazement: hết sức ngạc nhiên
Congratulations!: Xin chúc mừng!
(congratulation (n): sự chúc mừng, lời khen ngợi)
1 You must keep the name Pip and your benefactor’s name must be a secret.
2 You will go to London in one week to live with Mr. Pocket and his son Herbert.
3 “Here is my business card. When you arrive in London, please come to this address,” Mr. Jaggers said and then he left.
4 Joe and I went into the house immediately to tell my sister and Biddy about my good fortune.
5 God has blessed our Pip and he is now a gentleman of fortune.
6 But there was a sadness in their eyes that made me angry.
At dinner that night, they all kept congratulating me. But it seemed so unreal to them all and it made me feel very strange.1 I couldn’t understand it. I had come into such great fortune but I felt lonelier than ever.2
That night, I thought of Estella.
“What if Miss Havisham wants me to marry Estella?”3I thought. This made me feel very happy.
The next day, I ordered the finest clothes. They were very expensive and I proudly showed them off to Joe and Biddy.
“I will go and say good-bye to Miss Havisham,” I said to them.
When I arrived, I said to her, “I have just come into a great fortune, Miss Havisham. I am especially grateful for it.”
“Yes, I heard from Mr. Jaggers about it. You have been adopted by a rich person, I hear,”4 Miss Havisham said.
“Yes, Ma’am,” I replied.
“And you have no idea who it is?” she asked me.
“No, Ma’am,” I said, making sure not to say that I thought she was my benefactor.5
“Well, then! Your future looks very secure now. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you will always keep the name Pip,” she said. “Good-bye, Pip.”
I kneeled in front of her and kissed her hand as a way of thanking her for everything she had done for me.6
Check up
Even though Pip now has a lot of money, he feels very __________.
a. lonely
b. happy
c. depressed
Key Words & Sentences
keep + V - ing: tiếp tục
congratulate (v): chúc mừng
unreal (adj): không thật, hão huyền
lonely (adj): cô đơn
ever (adv): từ trước đến giờ
What if …?: Điều gì sẽ xảy ra nếu …?
show off: khoe
say good-bye: chào tạm biệt
adopt (v): nhận làm con nuôi, đỡ đầu
make sure: chắc chắn
secure (adj): bảo đảm
kneel (v): quỳ gối
1 But it seemed so unreal to them all and it made me feel very strange.
2 I had come into such great fortune but I felt lonelier than ever.
3 What if Miss Havisham wants me to marry Estella?
4 You have been adopted by a rich person, I hear,
5 “No, Ma’am,” I said, making sure not to say that I thought she was my benefactor.
6 I kneeled in front of her and kissed her hand as a way of thanking her for everything she had done for me.
The day came for me to leave for London. I was very excited and very nervous at the same time. I was greatly looking forward to my life as a gentleman.1 I ate my breakfast very quickly and then I kissed my sister and Biddy good-bye. I put my arms around Joe and then I left.2 I walked into the village to catch the coach. If I had boarded the coach in front of Joe’s old house, I would have been very embarrassed.3 I was filled with mixed feelings. As I left the village, tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Good-bye, Joe,” I thought. “Good-bye, my dearest friend!”
I felt terrible at the thought of leaving such a wonderful and kind man.4 Yet my heart was also rejoicing. My new and exciting life was just beginning.
Check up
Why didn’t Pip catch the coach in front of Joe’s house?
a. He didn’t want to bother Joe.
b. The coach did not stop at Joe’s house.
c. He would have felt embarrassed to be seen coming out of Joe’s house.
Key Words & Sentences
look forward to something/V-ing: háo hức chờ mong điều gì đó
coach (n): xe ngựa
board (v): lên xe
embarrassed (adj): bối rối, e ngại
roll down: lăn xuống
dear (adj): thân, yêu quý
rejoice (v): vui mừng, háo hức
1 I was greatly looking forward to my life as a gentleman.
2 I put my arms around Joe and then I left.
3 If I had boarded the coach in front of Joe’s old house, I would have been very embarrassed.
4 I felt terrible at the thought of leaving such a wonderful and kind man.
Chapter One&Two: Comprehension Quiz
A. Based on the story, mark ‘T’ if true or ‘F’ if false.
1. Miss Havisham’s wedding feast had been prepared many years ago. T...F
2. Miss Havisham gave Pip some money to become a writer. T...F
3. Pip’s sister thought that Orlick worked very hard. T...F
4. Pip suspected that Orlick attacked his sister. T...F
5. Mr. Jaggers went to Pip to tell him he wanted to be his benefactor. T...F
B. Complete the paragraph with “a/an” or “the.”
After some more searching, we all heard ________ noise. We followed ________ noise and saw two men fighting. One was ________ prisoner I gave food to and ________ other had ________ long scar on his face. ________ soldiers quickly caught them. ________ man I had met saw me. I was trying to tell him that I hadn’t told ________ police about him. He looked at me without anger. He turned to
________ policeman and said, “I stole ________ pork pie and some brandy from________ blacksmith’s.”
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Why didn’t Pip want to become a blacksmith?
(a) Because he wanted to become a carpenter.
(b) Because he wanted to become a gentleman.
(c) Because he wanted to visit Estella every day.
2. How did Miss Havisham pay Pip for playing with Estella?
(a) She bought him new clothes.
(b) She paid him money each day.
(c) She gave him dinner every day.
D. Fill in the blanks with the words below.
disturbed
clever
impressed
wealthy
imagined
I had written the message to Joe and he was very ________. “Pip! How ________ you are!” he exclaimed. He smiled at me. Later on, when I was older, he was going to teach me to become a blacksmith. But I didn’t want to. I ________ a better life. I wanted to be ________ and to study all day long. I sat dreaming about the life I wanted but my happy thoughts were ________ when my sister came into the room.