Betsey has heard from Peggotty that
David loves Dora. She tries to warn him against a pointless romance but,
unexpectedly, she is moved rather than upset.
David tries to cancel
his apprenticeship with the law firm because it pays nothing, but Mr. Spenlow
refuses to refund the money Miss Betsey has paid to apprentice him.
On his way home, David
sees Agnes, who is on her way to visit Miss Betsey. Agnes has heard of Miss
Betsey’s ruin and comforts David.
Uriah is evidently
furthering his plans: he and his mother have moved in with the Wickfields.
Agnes suggests that
David take a job as secretary for Doctor Strong, who is looking for help. Mr.
Wickfield and Uriah Heep arrive, and Miss Betsey castigates Uriah, who is as
slimy as ever.
Note: “IOU” means “I owe you”.
Doctor
Strong hires David to help him with his dictionary. They begin at once and David soon
discovers that the work has been botched by Jack Maldon, his predecessor.
While they are at breakfast, Jack Maldon asks Annie to go to the opera with him that night. Annie declines the offer, but Doctor Strong tries to force her.
David is appalled that
Doctor Strong does not realize his wife and Maldon are lovers.
Later, however, he
hears that Annie has managed to cancel the date and go see Agnes instead. David
takes Mr Dick to see Traddles, who provides Mr Dick with a job as a copyist.
David and Traddles visit Mr Micawber who is about to move to Canterbury to work for Uriah Heep.
David tells Dora about his financial woes the next time he sees her at Miss Mills’s house.
Dora becomes hysterical at the idea that she might have to live in poverty and refuses to listen to David’s argument that she should learn how to manage a house.
David calms Dora, but
she becomes hysterical every time he mentions money.
David begs Miss Mills
to try to talk sense into Dora. However, Miss Mills does not think it can be
done.