Mr. Peggotty comes to David and Miss Betsey and relates the story Little Em’ly has told him. She escaped from Littimer onto the beach, where, in a delirium, she was rescued by a young woman whose husband was at sea. The woman nursed her back to health. She went to France, where she caught sight of Littimer, so she fled to England, intending to go home. When she got close to home, however, she began to fear that her family would not accept her, so she went to London. Martha discovered her and took her in before going out to find Mr. Peggotty and David.
Mr. Peggotty has resolved that he
and Little Em’ly will go to Australia because no one knows her there, which
will enable her to start over. In the meantime, Mr. Peggotty needs to go to
Yarmouth to say goodbye to Ham, and he asks David to accompany him.
Peggotty has left her house to look
after Ham.
Mr. Omer reports that all is well
with his family, although his own health is failing. He is pleased to hear that
all is looking up for Little Em’ly, and he offers to help Martha if he can.
David speaks to Ham, who asks him to
convey to Little Em’ly that he will always love her and that he is sorry he
forced his love on her.
Mr. Peggotty closes up the old
house. Contrary to his initial plans, it is decided that Mrs. Gummidge will go
to Australia too because she refuses to let him leave without her.
David, Betsey and Traddles leave London go to
Canterbury to meet Mr. Micawber. He asks them to meet him at Mr. Wickfield’s
house.
All of them and Agnes confront Uriah
Heep. Mr. Micawber has prepared a list of the frauds that Uriah has committed
and has collected much of the evidence necessary to prove that Uriah has
committed those frauds. The moment he realizes he is caught, Uriah abandons his
humility and becomes very violent in his speech, especially focusing his
insults on David. Miss Betsey reveals that Uriah was the source of her ruin and
demands her property back.
Now that the air is cleared
regarding Uriah, Mr. and Mrs. Micawber are reconciled. Miss Betsey is
introduced to Mrs. Micawber. Miss Betsey suggests that perhaps the Micawbers
would like to move to Australia, and she offers to loan them the money they
need for the trip.