Chapter XXVIII

The scene takes place in London.

Mr. and Mrs. Micawber and Traddles come to dinner at David’s apartment.

Littimer appears, looking for Steerforth.

As his friends leave, David suggests to Traddles that he neither lend anything to Mr. Micawber nor allow him to use Traddles’s name to take out more credit. Traddles says he has already lent Mr. Micawber his name.

Immediately after the others leave, David is visited by Steerforth who:

·        speaks rather disparagingly of Traddles, and David is slightly offended.

·        reveals that he has been seafaring at Yarmouth.

·        has a letter from Peggotty saying that Mr Barkis is quite ill.

David resolves to visit Peggotty, but Steerforth persuades David to accompany him to his mother’s house before going to Yarmouth.

Mr. Micawber has written David a letter in which he says he has not paid the debt he secured in Traddles’s name.

Chapter XXIX

The scene takes place at Steerforth’s home.

David spends the day with Steerforth, his mother and Miss Dartle.

Miss Dartle seems to think David has been keeping Steerforth away.

At the end of the day, Steerforth begs David to promise that if anything ever separates them, David will remember him at his best. David promises.

Chapter XXX

The scene takes place in Yarmouth.

  1. At Mr Omer’s

Mr. Omer tells David that Little Em’ly has not seemed herself recently.

He also says that Martha, a friend of Little Em’ly’s, is missing.

  1. At Peggotty’s

The characters present are David, Peggotty, Mr Peggotty, Ham, Emily and Barkis who dies at the end of the chapter.

Emily seems very reluctant to leave her uncle and stay with Ham.

Chapter XXXI

The scene is set in Yarmouth after Barkis’s death.

David helps Peggotty arrange her affairs. He discovers that Mr. Barkis has left Peggotty a sizable inheritance and has also left money for Mr. Peggotty.

David goes to Mr. Peggotty’s, where Ham and Little Em’ly are expected soon.

Ham arrives with the news that Little Em’ly has eloped with Steerforth, helped by Littimer.

David feels guilty for introducing Steerforth to the Peggotties.

Mr. Peggotty vows that he will go off to find Little Em’ly.

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