David Copperfield: chapters XX & XXI
Chapter XX
Steerforth invites David home.
New characters:
After Steerforth’s
father died, his mother took her in for company.
Although she is
good-looking, she is dressed in black and has a scar on her face from when
Steerforth threw a hammer at her.
She appears as a complex
character, at once irritating and clever. She pretends not to understand
things, probably to force others to speak about embarrassing topics or to put
them at a disadvantage. For example, she makes Steerforth reveal his feeling of
superiority toward the poor.
At Steerforth’s, David meets
Littimer, Steerforth’s servant, who frightens David because he is so haughty
and respectable. David persuades Steerforth to accompany him to Yarmouth.
On his way, David stops at Mr. Omer’s shop. Mr. Omer tells David that Little Em’ly now works in his shop. She is a good worker, but some of the girls in town say she has a reputation for putting on airs and wanting to be a lady. David has a look at Little Em’ly but does not speak to her.
Peggotty does not
recognize David at first, but when she does, she sobs over him for a long time.
Mr. Barkis is ill but he would rather endure pain than let anyone see his money. He gives Peggotty some money to prepare dinner for David. Steerforth arrives and entertains Peggotty and David.
When Steerforth and
David arrive at Mr. Peggotty’s house, they find everyone, including Mrs.
Gummidge, in a state of high excitement because Little Em’ly has just become
engaged to marry Ham.
After they leave, David
delights in the good news, but Steerforth makes a disparaging remark about Ham.
At first, David is shocked but he soon convinces himself that Steerforth does
not despise him.