Chapter 17: Somebody Turns Up
After settling in Dover, David writes to Peggotty and sends her a gold coin torepay the money she once lent him. Giving it back makes him happier than spending it. Peggotty replies with a messy letter covered in tear marks. She’s overjoyed to hear from him but also worried about his travels. She’s not sure how to feel about Aunt Betsey yet. She also shares some sad news: the Murdstones have sold David’s childhood home. Imagining it empty and lifeless makes David feel deeply sad.
Mr. Dick visits David every other Wednesday, always bringing gingerbread and his unfinished “Memorial” papers. David enjoys his kind, odd ways. Aunt Betsey checks on David at school at random times, but stops once she sees he’s doing well. Mr. Dick tells David that a man who once scared Aunt Betsey—causing her to faint and later take his money—is troubling her again. David wonders if it’s real or just part of Mr. Dick’s confused thinking, but it still worries him.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dick becomes popular at school. He makes toys and cheers at sports games, even though he’s still obsessed with King Charles. David goes for tea with Uriah Heep and his mother. They ask nosy questions and make David uncomfortable. Then suddenly, Mr. Micawber appears, as dramatic and full of flair as ever—shocking David with his unexpected visit.
Chapter 18: A Retrospect
David reflects on his school years at Doctor Strong’s. He remembers how time seemed to fly as he grew from a child into a teenager. Sundays at Canterbury Cathedral stay in his mind—the music, the cold stone, the dreamy feeling. He moves up in school, admiring the older boys, and even falls for a curly-haired girl named Miss Shepherd. He gives her small gifts like nuts and biscuits. But their “romance” ends suddenly when she says he stared at her too much.
David also gets into a fight with a teasing young butcher and loses badly. But Agnes comforts him, and her kindness helps him recover. Over time, David gets better at Latin and earns praise from Doctor Strong—and even a gold coin from Aunt Betsey. One day, the old top student, Adams, returns as a shy lawyer. David is surprised by how ordinary he seems now. When David finally becomes head-boy himself, he feels how much he has changed.
Agnes also matures, becoming wiser and more graceful. At seventeen, David falls in love again—this time with Miss Larkins, a beautiful older woman around thirty. He obsesses over her, even though she’s surrounded by suitors, especially officers in fancy uniforms.
Chapter 19: I Look About Me, and Make a Discovery
After finishing school, Aunt Betsey gives David some money and encourages him to enjoy a month of freedom before choosing a career. He visits Agnes and Mr. Wickfield in Canterbury and sees that Mr. Wickfield’s drinking has worsened. Uriah Heep seems to be taking control, always around and making Mr. Wickfield nervous. Agnes quietly asks David if he’s noticed her father’s decline, and David sadly admits it.
They go to tea at Doctor Strong’s house, where Mr. Wickfield keeps glancing at Annie, Doctor Strong’s young wife. Annie’s mother brags about her cousin Jack Maldon, who’s struggling in India. David senses something is wrong—he remembers the night Maldon left and wonders if Annie has secrets. He leaves Canterbury with a heavy heart, feeling like a dark cloud has settled over the peaceful place he once loved.
On the coach to London, David tries to act mature, but a man with squinting eyes steals his seat, hurting his pride. At the Golden Cross hotel, he awkwardly orders dinner and enjoys a play at Covent Garden. Later that night, he runs into Steerforth, his old school hero. They’re thrilled to see each other. Steerforth arranges a better hotel room for David, and they talk excitedly about the future. David feels lucky to have his friend back.
Chapter 20: Steerforth’s Home
The next morning, David feels embarrassed that he didn’t need shaving water—he realizes he still looks like a boy compared to the polished Steerforth. They have breakfast, and Steerforth invites him to Highgate. They tour London, and David is amazed by how much Steerforth knows.
At Steerforth’s fancy home, David is warmly welcomed by Mrs. Steerforth, who is proud and elegant. But Miss Rosa Dartle, her sharp and sarcastic companion, makes David uncomfortable. Rosa has a scar on her lip from when Steerforth hit her with a hammer as a child. She talks in a strange way, always hinting at things instead of saying them directly.
David learns that Steerforth isn’t interested in college success. He prefers an easy, fun life, which makes David question his own serious dreams. Over dinner, Steerforth talks about taking a trip to Suffolk with David. But when Rosa mocks the Peggotty family for being simple, Steerforth becomes annoyed.
Later, Mrs. Steerforth shows David pictures and letters from her son, showing how deeply she loves him. Rosa’s scar catches David’s eye again—it seems to glow when she’s upset, and it leaves a strange feeling in him. Steerforth jokingly calls David “Daisy,” which Rosa picks up on, but they laugh it off. That night, David falls asleep in a luxurious room, feeling happy but slightly uneasy, especially with Rosa Dartle’s portrait staring at him from the wall.
Chapter 21: Little Em’ly
David visits Steerforth’s fancy house and meets Littimer, his very proper and polite servant. Littimer treats David so seriously that it makes David feel small. Steerforth teaches David to ride horses, fence, and box, but Littimer’s quiet ways always make David feel a bit unsure of himself. One day, Steerforth and David plan a surprise trip to Yarmouth to visit Peggotty’s family, leaving Littimer behind. When they arrive, Peggotty is overjoyed and cries when she sees David. Mr. Barkis, now very sick and stuck in bed, is also happy to see him.
At Mr. Omer’s shop, David hears that Little Em’ly works there. She’s so pretty that some people are jealous of her. When they visit Peggotty’s home, Steerforth is charming, making everyone feel happy. That night, they go to Mr. Peggotty’s boat-house, where everyone is celebrating Em’ly’s engagement to Ham. Mr. Peggotty is glowing with happiness as he tells how Ham’s steady love finally won Em’ly’s heart. Steerforth is friendly and kind to everyone, which makes the mood even better. But David notices that Em’ly seems nervous and not very close to Ham. On the way back, Steerforth calls Em’ly beautiful but says Ham isn’t very smart, which surprises David.
Chapter 22: Some Old Scenes, and Some New People
David and Steerforth stay in Yarmouth for more than two weeks. They often go off on their own—Steerforth spends time boating with Mr. Peggotty, while David visits his childhood home in Blunderstone. The old house is now falling apart and is lived in by someone strange. Seeing it brings David mixed feelings—both happy and sad memories.
While David stays with Peggotty, Steerforth enjoys the local fishing life and hosts small parties, which David usually misses. One foggy evening, David finds Steerforth alone by the fire, looking deep in thought and restless. Soon after, they head back to London, with Littimer still cool and unreadable as ever. When they return, David gets a letter from Aunt Betsey saying he should consider becoming a proctor (a kind of lawyer). Steerforth explains the job—it’s in a place called Doctors’ Commons, where lawyers handle family and church matters. David finds it interesting and starts picturing himself there.
In London, David visits Aunt Betsey. She’s still worried about donkeys and fires and acts oddly when a strange man appears, leaving with him mysteriously. David is confused but says nothing. Later, she returns and takes David to see Doctors’ Commons. He finds the place quiet, old-fashioned, and oddly appealing.
Chapter 23: I Corroborate Mr. Dick, and Choose a Profession
David and Aunt Betsey visit Doctors’ Commons again and meet Mr. Spenlow, a neat, proud lawyer. He offers David an apprenticeship to become a proctor, but it costs £1,000, which worries David. Betsey insists on paying and says she wants to set him up in life. She even opens up emotionally, showing how proud she is to call him her adopted son. They agree to give it a trial for a month. She finds him a place to live—a set of chambers in the Adelphi.
At Spenlow and Jorkins’s office, David sees a quiet, dusty legal world that he finds charming. Mr. Spenlow blames the high cost on his partner, Mr. Jorkins, who turns out to be soft and gentle when David meets him. Betsey rents the chambers from Mrs. Crupp, a talkative landlady. The last tenant died from drinking and smoking too much, but they go ahead anyway. David moves in and feels proud to be on his own at last. Betsey heads back to Dover, hoping this will make David strong and independent. David writes to Agnes about everything but misses Steerforth’s visit before Betsey leaves.
Chapter 24: My First Dissipation
David enjoys having his own place and feels grown-up carrying his key around. But nights get lonely, and he misses Agnes’s wise advice. Mrs. Crupp isn’t very helpful, and David starts thinking about the man who died in the room before him. When Steerforth doesn’t show up, David visits his home in Highgate. There, he chats with Mrs. Steerforth and the sharp-tongued Miss Dartle. Steerforth finally arrives and loves David’s new bachelor home.
They plan a fancy dinner party with two friends, Grainger and Markham. David orders a big meal—roast chicken, beef, oysters—which worries Mrs. Crupp, who’s not used to such a feast. The dinner starts well, with Steerforth being his usual charming self. But David drinks too much wine, starts babbling nonsense, and accidentally breaks plates. Later, they go to the theater, where David, still drunk, bumps into Agnes. She’s there with some strangers, and she quietly asks David to leave. Embarrassed and dizzy, David lets Steerforth take him home.
The next morning, David wakes up feeling awful and full of shame. He’s sick, guilty, and scared to face Agnes again. Alone in his messy room, with only broth and a cold kidney to eat, he lies in bed, feeling sorry for himself. Even Mrs. Crupp’s fussing can’t cheer him up.
Chapter 25: Good and Bad Angels
After drinking too much at a dinner party, David feels sick and ashamed. Then, he gets a kind letter from Agnes asking to meet him in London. He’s nervous—she had seen him drunk at the theater—and has trouble writing back, but finally agrees to see her at four o’clock. When he arrives at Mr. Waterbrook’s house, Agnes greets him gently, calling him “Trotwood,” and tries to comfort him. She warns him about Steerforth, calling him a “bad Angel,” even though David tries to defend his friend.
Agnes also tells him something troubling: Uriah Heep is slowly taking control of her father’s law business and using Mr. Wickfield’s weaknesses against him. David is furious and urges her to stop it, but she sadly explains that she wants to keep peace for her father’s sake. That evening, at a boring dinner with the Waterbrooks, David runs into Traddles, his old school friend, now a humble young lawyer. Uriah shows up too, acting overly polite and making everyone uncomfortable. He praises David in a fake, slimy way that gives David chills.
Later, while having coffee with Uriah, David is shocked to learn that Uriah has feelings for Agnes. The idea disgusts him. Uriah brags about how much power he has over Mr. Wickfield, which leaves David full of anger and fear. That night, David can’t sleep, haunted by Uriah’s words and worried for Agnes. Uriah sleeps peacefully in a chair by the fire, but David’s mind is filled with nightmares and confusion.
Chapter 26: I Fall into Captivity
David feels uneasy until Agnes leaves London for Canterbury. He sees her off at the coach station, forced to smile through Uriah’s constant hovering. With Steerforth away at Oxford, David feels lonely and starts his new job with Mr. Spenlow and Mr. Jorkins, earning £90 a year thanks to his Aunt Betsey. His new rooms in Adelphi are dull, and Mrs. Crupp, his landlady, keeps talking about her “spazzums,” which seem to pop up whenever she doesn’t want to work.
One day, Mr. Spenlow invites David to his home in Norwood to meet his daughter, Dora, who has just returned from Paris. David rides in Spenlow’s fancy carriage and listens to stories about the big house. When he meets Dora, she’s beautiful, playful, and full of charm. David instantly falls in love. Her little dog, Jip, and her giggles make him dizzy with happiness. He hardly notices Miss Murdstone—Dora’s strict companion—who used to scare him as a child. Back home, David can’t stop thinking about Dora. He’s completely smitten and feels like her prisoner—in the best and worst way.
Chapter 27: Tommy Traddles
Still dreamy about Dora, David decides to visit his old friend Traddles in Camden Town. He finds Traddles living in a small, worn-down place, but he’s as cheerful as ever. Traddles is studying law and saving money so he can marry the daughter of a poor curate, even though it might take years. Suddenly, Mr. Micawber bursts in—just as dramatic and broke as always. He’s Traddles’s landlord now, and he’s thrilled to see David again.
Mrs. Micawber joins them too, looking tired but kind. She hints that another baby might be on the way. Mr. Micawber is trying to earn money selling corn but still struggles. He proudly claims he’s on the edge of a big break. David invites the Micawbers and Traddles to dinner, a bit nervous about how it’ll go but happy to reconnect. Later, Micawber takes David aside and admits things are hard. His relatives don’t like how many kids they have, and he’s feeling the pressure. David sees a big difference between the kind-hearted Traddles and the showy Micawber, but he likes them both. The visit brings back memories of Canterbury and makes him reflect on how far he’s come.
Chapter 28: Mr. Micawber’s Gauntlet
Still head-over-heels for Dora, David plans a dinner for Traddles and the Micawbers. He keeps the meal simple: fish, mutton, and a pie. Mrs. Crupp agrees to cook, but warns him not to “stress her spazzums.” David sets the table himself and tries his best to make everything nice. When the Micawbers arrive, they look grand—Mr. Micawber is full of flair, and Mrs. Micawber is dressed up. They love David’s place and are thrilled to be invited.
Dinner doesn’t go well: the meat is undercooked, the gravy spills, and the pie is a mess. But Micawber saves the day by suggesting they slice the mutton thin and “devil” it on the fire. They all pitch in and make it work, laughing and eating together. Even David, for a while, forgets about Dora.
Suddenly, Steerforth’s servant, Littimer, shows up. He’s calm and polite but gives off a cold, judging vibe. Everyone feels awkward until he leaves. Afterward, Mrs. Micawber urges her husband to finally get a proper job—maybe in brewing or banking. Micawber agrees and talks big as usual, dreaming out loud. Traddles, ever helpful, agrees to lend his name to one of Micawber’s bills.
Later, Steerforth himself arrives, just back from Yarmouth. He brings a letter from Peggotty, saying that Barkis—her husband—is very sick. David promises to visit her soon. As he listens to Steerforth talk, David feels torn. He’s drawn to Steerforth’s charm but can’t forget Agnes’s warning about the trouble that may lie ahead.
Chapter 29: I Visit Steerforth at His Home, Again
David takes a short break from work, which Mr. Spenlow easily approvessince David isn’t earning a salary yet. He travels to Highgate to visit his friend Steerforth. When he arrives, Mrs. Steerforth is kind and welcoming, but Rosa Dartle, Steerforth’s cousin, makes David uncomfortable. She watches him closely, asking sharp questions about Steerforth’s recent travels, as if she suspects something’s wrong. David feels uneasy but stays loyal, saying he doesn’t know of anything unusual.
Rosa seems jealous and suspicious, dropping strange hints and asking what Steerforth is really doing with his time. Her words confuse David, but he doesn’t press further. Despite this tension, Mrs. Steerforth only sees the best in her son, while Steerforth charms everyone and even manages to calm Rosa—at least for a little while.
During dinner, Rosa makes a deep comment about how people with similar strong personalities can fight more bitterly when divided. Her words make David uncomfortable, especially because he’s unsure what she truly means. Later that evening, Steerforth convinces Rosa to sing a haunting Irish song. She agrees, but in the middle, she gets upset, yells at Steerforth, and storms out of the room. The moment leaves David feeling torn—he loves Steerforth but senses something’s off.
Before David leaves the next morning, he promises Steerforth that, no matter what happens, he’ll remember him at his best. As he walks away, he sees Steerforth peacefully sleeping, not realizing this will be the last time they see each other. David leaves with a heavy heart—still loving his friend, but filled with doubt.
Chapter 30: A Loss
David arrives in Yarmouth late at night. Since Peggotty’s house is probably full—her husband Barkis is very sick—he stays at an inn. The next day, he visits Mr. Omer, the local shop owner, who tells him that Barkis is near death. Mr. Omer doesn’t speak directly about death but hints gently. He also tells David that Emily seems nervous and uneasy, even though her wedding to Ham is coming up soon. David begins to wonder if something’s wrong in her heart.
As they wait for an update from Mr. Omer’s daughter Minnie and her husband Joram, Mr. Omer reflects on life, sounding wise but tired. When they return, they share the sad news: Barkis is unconscious and won’t recover. David heads to Peggotty’s home, where he finds Emily shaking and Ham quiet and serious. Upstairs, Barkis is holding tightly onto his wooden box, filled with little treasures and money. Peggotty hopes that David’s voice will comfort him.
Barkis weakly mutters about the time he drove David to school. Then, with his famous words—“Barkis is willin’”—he dies as the tide flows out. Everyone stands in quiet sadness. The pull of the sea feels like it’s taking Barkis away gently. David stays behind to support Peggotty, touched by her strength and the love she showed her husband.
Chapter 31: A Greater Loss
David remains in Yarmouth to help Peggotty. They open Barkis’s wooden box and find it full of odds and ends—and over £3,000, which was a lot of money back then. Barkis left most of it to Peggotty, with some going to Mr. Peggotty, Emily, and even David. David proudly reads the will aloud, feeling a little like a lawyer.
The funeral is simple. Peggotty and Mr. Peggotty bury Barkis at Blunderstone, near David’s mother’s grave. That evening, things seem peaceful again at the Peggotty house—Mr. Peggotty smokes his pipe, and Peggotty sits in her old chair. But the quiet is broken when Ham rushes in alone, pale and heartbroken. He tells them that Emily has run away, leaving a letter asking for forgiveness. She says she’s gone for good, unless “he”—someone who promises to make her a lady—keeps his word.
Mr. Peggotty is shocked and deeply hurt. Everyone realizes that Steerforth is the man who took her away. Ham is angry but calm. Mr. Peggotty vows to search the world to find Emily. Mrs. Gummidge, usually sad and moaning, surprises everyone by stepping in to comfort him, showing strength they hadn’t seen in her before. David is heartbroken, blaming himself for not seeing the danger sooner. As Mr. Peggotty sets out on his search, David feels crushed by the betrayal.
Chapter 32: The Beginning of a Long Journey
David is torn—he still loves Steerforth as a friend, but now knows he’s the reason Emily ran away. He grieves the friendship while refusing to curse Steerforth outright. In Yarmouth, everyone is talking about what happened. People judge Emily harshly, but they show kindness to Mr. Peggotty and Ham, who are seen as innocent victims.
David visits them on the beach. Mr. Peggotty is tired but determined to find Emily. Ham is silent and full of pain, hinting that if he ever sees Steerforth, he wouldn’t hold back. Mr. Peggotty wants the boathouse left exactly as it was, with a candle burning in the window every night, so Emily knows she can return. Mrs. Gummidge steps up, no longer crying for herself but working hard to support everyone. David is deeply touched by her quiet strength and change of heart.
Later, at Mr. Omer’s shop, David learns from Minnie that people in town are heartbroken and confused by Emily’s actions. David gently defends her, reminding them how much she’s already suffering. That evening, Miss Mowcher, the lively little woman who once cut David’s hair, shows up suddenly. She’s deeply upset—she had unknowingly delivered a letter from Littimer, Steerforth’s servant, that helped trick Emily into running away. Now, she’s furious with herself and with Steerforth, and promises to help fix the damage if she can.
The next morning, David travels to London with Peggotty and Mr. Peggotty. They begin the long, painful task of searching for Emily, unsure where to look but full of determination. David goes with them, carrying sadness, guilt, and a promise to do everything he can to help bring Emily home.
