Great Expectations Chapter Nine Summary

The next day, Pip’s sister wants to know ALL the juicy details about Miss Havisham and Satis House, but the thing is, Pip doesn’t want to tell her. For one, he doesn’t think that anyone would believe his account of the old lady in an old wedding dress, but he also doesn’t really want to subject Mrs. Havisham to any public criticism or mockery.
When Mrs. Joe realizes she is not going to get the goods out of Pip, she pushes his forehead against the wall.
Then, Mr. Pumblechook comes over for tea, and, after unsuccessfully getting Pip to recite multiplication tables, he asks Pip for the gossip on Miss Havisham.
Pip then begins to spin some stories. Not just some stories, awesome stories.
Pip tells his sister and Mr. Pumblechook that Miss Havisham lives in a black, velvet carriage that sits in her mansion. He tells them that he ate cake and wine on gold plates in the carriage. He tells them there were huge dogs eating veal-cutlets in silver baskets. The piece-de-resistance, however, arrives when Pip tells his audience that they played with flags. In his story, he, Estella, and Miss Havisham each had different colored flags, and they waved them around out the windows of the coach.
Pip is glad Mrs. Joe and Mr. Pumblechook don’t ask him anymore questions, because his well of lies is running dry and he is about to tell them that there was a bear in the cellar or a hot air balloon in the back yard.
Pip feels really guilty when the two relate the story to Joe. He HATES lying to Joe, his best friend.
Later on, in the forge, Pip confesses to Joe that the stories of the black coach, the big dogs, and the flags were all fabricated. Joe is really shocked and disappointed. Pip tries to explain how frustrated he was to be called "common" by Estella, and tells Joe he wants to be uncommon. Joe tells him that he won’t ever become uncommon if he continues to tell lies. He also tells Pip that no one can become uncommon without being common first. Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time, says Joe.
Pip goes to bed thinking about all the differences between Joe’s house and Miss Havisham’s house, and how so much had changed that day.
Narrator Pip interjects to ask us to think about moments in our lives that change our path or direction forever.

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