"They are your friends," said Miss Havisham.

     "They made themselves my friends," said I, "when they supposed me to have superseded them; and when Sarah Pocket, Miss Georgiana, and Mistress Camilla were not my friends, I think."

     This contrasting of them with the rest seemed, I was glad to see, to do them good with her. She looked at me keenly for a little while, and then said quietly,--

     "What do you want for them?"

     "Only," said I, "that you would not confound them with the others. They may be of the same blood, but, believe me, they are not of the same nature."

     Still looking at me keenly, Miss Havisham repeated,--

     "What do you want for them?"

     "I am not so cunning, you see," I said, in answer, conscious that I reddened a little, "as that I could hide from you, even if I desired, that I do want something. Miss Havisham, if you would spare the money to do my friend Herbert a lasting service in life, but which from the nature of the case must be done without his knowledge, I could show you how."