I had heard of Miss Havisham up town, – everybody for miles round had heard of Miss Havisham up town, – as an immensely rich and grim lady who lived in a large and dismal house barricaded against robbers, and who led a life of seclusion.
– Charles Dickens
Great Expectations, Chapter 7. This is the first time Pip mentions Miss Havisham, a central character who will have a major effect on his life. We learn that she is a member of the upper class, in contrast to Pip’s working class background. Despite her riches, she is also spoken of as a lonely person living in seclusion.