Hello, welcome to Classic Stories.
Today's story is about a boy who starts life off poor and then has a taste of greatness.
I hope you enjoy it.
Our story is all about a boy called Pip.
Pip is an orphan who lives with his sister and her husband, a kind blacksmith called Joe.
One night, Pip visits his parents' graves and meets a convict called Magwitch who is trying to escape.
Pip helps Magwitch with food and a tool to break his shackles, but Magwitch is captured and sent to Australia.
A little while later, Pip is taken to a great big house to spend time with Miss Havisham.
Miss Havisham is a strange and rich old lady.
She wears an old wedding dress and has shut herself away ever since she was left at the altar as a young woman.
Miss Havisham lives with a young girl she has adopted called Estella.
Pip falls in love with Estella and returns to the house often.
He goes to great lengths to impress Miss Havisham and hopes that she may give him the money to pursue a career in London
and become part of the great and the good, the upper classes.
But Miss Havisham only gives him the money to become Joe's apprentice, which disappoints him.
Pip's sister is attacked and becomes unable to care for the family.
Pip's friend Biddy moves in to help out and also helps Pip with his studies.
One day, Pip is visited by a lawyer from London, Mr Jaggers, who says he has inherited a great deal of money.
Pip believes the money has come from Miss Havisham and hopes this means she wants him
to marry Estella when they are older.