"Miss Havisham," I answered, as delicately as I could, "I believe I may say that I do know your story, and have known it ever since I first left this neighborhood. It has inspired me with great commiseration, and I hope I understand it and its influences. Does what has passed between us give me any excuse for asking you a question relative to Estella? Not as she is, but as she was when she first came here?"

     She was seated on the ground, with her arms on the ragged chair, and her head leaning on them. She looked full at me when I said this, and replied, "Go on."

     "Whose child was Estella?"

     She shook her head.

     "You don't know?"

     She shook her head again.

     "But Mr. Jaggers brought her here, or sent her here?"

     "Brought her here."

     "Will you tell me how that came about?"