Chapter three starts off with an extended simile. This simile is used to describe the how moist it is outside on the following morning after Pip's horrifying experience. "I had seen the damp lying on the outside of my little window, as if some goblin had been crying there all night, and using the widow for a pocket-handkerchief." page 15. Pip comments that as he runs to deliver the file and food to the old man, he feels as if "...instead of my running at everything, everything seemed to run at me." page 15. This comment is evidence of Pip's guilty conscious; he feels bad that he has stolen the food from his sister, but he felt as if he had no other choice. The story takes a slightly humorous turn when Pip relates that he feels as if the gates, dikes, and banks are accusing him of being of thief as well as the cows later on. Pip finally makes his way to the river bank and happens upon who he believes to be the old man. Instead it is another convict who tries to violently attack Pip. However, the convict is weak and stumbles when he tries to attack Pip. So once the convict recovers from his stumble he flees. Pip comes to the conclusion that this convict is the young man that the old man had said was with him.
Pip finally reaches the old man from the night before. However, he is in really bad shape. He notices how cold the old man appears to be. The old man hungrily attacks the food that Pip has brought him. Meanwhile Pip expresses his concern for the old man's well being. The man dismisses Pip's concerns and keeps eating. Suddenly the man thinks he hears a noise and questions Pip on rather on not he brought someone else with him. Pip says no and goes on to tell the man that he is glad that he enjoyed the food and the man thanks Pip. Pip goes on observing the man a draws the comparison between the man and dog concerning the way in which he was eating. "I now noticed a decided similarity between the dog's way of eating and the man's." page 18. Pip inquires on whether or not the man has left any food for the young man. The old man laughs and states that the young man does not want any food. This reaction implies that they young man never existed and that the old man had just said that to frighten Pip. The theory is even further validated by the old man's angered reaction to Pip's news that there was actually another convict. The man frantically begins filing on his shackles and Pip takes this opportunity to slip back to his house.
Once back home Pip has to get ready to go to church. Since it is Christmas day Pip sister does not actually go to church but stays home and finishes the preparation for the evening. There is even more evidence of Joe and Pip's closeness shown in chapter four. This can be seen through the fact that Joe and Pip share secret hand gestures in order to warn one another about his sister's mood. Another example was that at dinner Joe kept slipping Pip gravy; this was his way of helping Pip out the only way he possibly could. All throughout dinner Pip felt as if he were trapped. He states that he would have been alright if it were not for the fact that everyone felt driven to keep acknowledging him. None of the acknowledgments were pleasant either. Not only did Pip feel metaphorically trapped, by his guilt and whatnot, but also physically trapped at the corner of the table next to his Uncle Pumblechook. Finally Pip is unable to take it any longer a flees the table, however, he only makes it to the front door where he is confronted by soldiers who are holding out a pair of handcuffs.
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