Chapter XI
Murdstone and Grinby’s counting-house is located in
Blackfriars, at the edge of the Thames. It is squalid.
David’s job is to pack bottles. His salary is not
enough to eat properly.
New characters: the Micawbers (David is their tenant).
They are always in “difficulties”, that is to say debt-ridden. Because of that, they are often desperate but become quite cheerful as soon as they find money.
Mr Micawber
speaks in a very bombastic way.
Mrs Micawber always refers to the happy days when she lived with her
parents.
Mr
Micawber is imprisoned for debt.
Mr. Micawber is released from jail. The
family decides to move to look for work. David decides he will not stay in
London without the Micawbers and resolves to run away to his aunt Betsey. He borrows some money from Peggotty and hires a young man to help him move
his box to the coach station. Along the way, the young man steals David’s money
and possessions.
David walks to Dover. During his six-day
journey, he sells some of his clothes. Travellers abuse and rob him. His aunt
gives him a bath and dinner and puts him up for the night. She is still as
inflexible and in particular is obsessed with donkeys walking on the patch of
grass before her house.
Betsey
writes to Mr Murdstone who visits her with his sister to discuss David. She
sees through his hypocrisy and tells him so to his face. She decides to become
David’s joint guardian along with Mr Dick.
New character: “Mr Dick” (real name Richard Babley)
He has lived with Betsey since David’s birth.
David thinks he
is insane while Betsey considers him a genius and has blind faith in his advice
on important matters.
He is occupied
writing a “memorial,” his main worry being not to mention Charles I in it. His
favourite occupation is to fly his kite.