Herbert and I continued to spend too much money. We were still getting into debt and then trying to "fix" our affairs with my useless lists. Time passed quickly, and soon my twenty-first birthday arrived. I was finally an adult.
Herbert had turned twenty-one eight months before me, but since he had no money to inherit, it wasn't a big event. However, we were both very excited about my birthday. We hoped that my guardian, Mr. Jaggers, would finally tell me who my secret benefactor was.
The day before my birthday, I received a note from Wemmick. He said that Mr. Jaggers wanted to see me at five o’clock on my birthday. I was very nervous when I arrived at the office exactly on time.
Wemmick congratulated me in the outer office. Then he nodded toward Mr. Jaggers’ room. It was November, and my guardian was standing by the fire with his hands behind his back.
"Well, Pip," he said. "I must call you Mr. Pip today. Congratulations."
We shook hands, and he told me to sit down. As he looked at me, I felt as small as I did when I was a child. The two strange stone faces on his shelf seemed to be listening to our conversation.
"Now, my young friend," Mr. Jaggers began, like a lawyer questioning a witness. "How much money do you think you spend every year?"
"I... I don't really know, sir," I admitted. I had looked at my debts so often that I was completely confused.
Mr. Jaggers looked satisfied. "I thought so!" He then asked if I had any questions for him.
"Is my benefactor going to be named today?" I asked.
"No," he said. "Ask another question."
"Will I find out soon?"
"Ask something else," he replied.
Finally, I asked, "Do I have anything to receive today?"
Mr. Jaggers smiled. "I knew we would get to that!" He called Wemmick, who handed him a piece of paper. Mr. Jaggers gave it to me. "Unfold it and tell me what it is."
"It is a bank-note," I said, "for five hundred pounds."
"Correct," said Mr. Jaggers. "It is a present for your birthday. From now on, you will receive five hundred pounds every year. You will manage your own money and draw one hundred and twenty-five pounds every three months from Wemmick. You will live this way until your benefactor appears. I am still just the agent. I am following instructions."
I tried to thank him, but he stopped me. "I am not paid to listen to your thanks or to pass them on to anyone else," he said coldly.
"Mr. Jaggers," I asked, "is it likely that my benefactor will come to London soon?"
He looked at me with his dark eyes. "What did I tell you when we first met at the village?"
"You said it might be years."
"That is my answer," he said.
I felt disappointed. I suspected that Miss Havisham had not told him everything, or perhaps he didn't like her plan to marry me to Estella. He then asked where I was eating dinner. I told him I was eating with Herbert, and I invited him to join us. He accepted.
Before we left, I went to speak to Wemmick in the outer office. I had a plan to help a friend—Herbert—and I wanted Wemmick’s advice.
"Mr. Wemmick," I said, "I want to help a friend who is trying to start a business. I want to give him some money."
Wemmick shook his head. "If you want to help a friend with money, you should just throw your money into the river. It's the same thing. You will lose the money and probably the friend too."
"That is very disappointing," I said.
"That is my professional opinion in this office," Wemmick said.
"And what about your opinion at Walworth?" I asked, remembering his home life was very different.
Wemmick looked serious. "Walworth is one place, and this office is another. At the office, I only have official feelings. If you want my personal opinion, you must come to Walworth."
"I will," I promised.
That evening, Mr. Jaggers came to dinner with us. It was not a happy birthday celebration. Mr. Jaggers was so serious and suspicious that he made the whole room feel cold. He was much smarter than Wemmick, but I would have preferred Wemmick’s company. After Mr. Jaggers left, even Herbert felt sad and guilty, though he hadn't done anything wrong. It was a strange start to my life as an adult.