Blunderstone: Time And Space In David Copperfield
married. Miss Betsey was not in favour of this marriage. Later, David like his aunt thought the marriage was a blunder. Second marriage of Clara was the second blunder. According to David his mother was a good sherry maker. This was specifically mentioned while elaborating on the tender for the disposal of his caul. The tender did not receive adequate response, and was subsequently cancelled. She had an annuity purchased by Mr Copperfield. After his death the annuity reverted to Clara. Her husband did not provide anything for his son whom he was expecting. This was another blunder by Mr Copperfield. When Clara died all the property and the annuity passed on to Mr Murdstone, her second husband. Inspite of these blunders David was very fond of his pretty mother; and he had a better sentiment towards his father. David gave vent to his resentment against these blunders by changing the name of his birthplace.
The superstition around the caul was not strong as evident from the poor response to its advertisement in the news papers. Later it was put in a local raffle and won by an old woman who was never drowned, but died at ninety two in her bed. But she never crossed any river, except on a bridge.
In chapter One, while narrating about his caul David referred to his mother's sherry in the market. But David did not elaborate on it. In chapter Two he gives a detailed description of his house and and its store-room and different smells coming from it - of soap, pickles, pepper, candles, coffee all at one whiff. But there is no mention of grapes or wine. So it is inferred that it was carried out somewhere else. Was it a legacy left behind by Mr Copperfield? Or was it a means to support herself? May be the latter option was true. The business was carried on even after her second marriage and continued till her death. The wine business carried on did not receive enough exposure in the novel. Murdstones had a share in the profit of a wine merchant's house - a legacy left behind by their great grandfather. Mrs Grayper might have been instrumental in bringing Clara to sherry making and also to Mr Murdstone. Note that Clara frequented now and then Mrs Grayper. These threads were beyond the grasp of little David.
It was an age of candles and horse or donkey drawn carts.
Miss Betsey Trotwood was the aunt of Mr Copperfield, and so the great-aunt of David. She was married to a handsome man younger than herself. But he turned out to be a wife-beater. She was brave enough to get a separation from him at her own cost. With the money he received as compensation, he went to India to try his fortune. But there unfortunately, he was attracted by elephants, and according to family legend he was seen riding on it in company with a baboon. Later came the tidings that he was dead. But immediately upon the separation she took her maiden name, bought a cottage in Dover, established herself as a single woman with a maid.
It appears from the novel that Dickens was familiar with the locality of Blundestone. Rookery is the name of house that belonged to Mr Copperfield. The house was bought by him, and he named it Rookery, because he thought there were plenty of rooks about it. The word rookery is a slang that denote slums, in eighteenth and nineteenth century. Criminals and immigrants were the inhabitants of rookery. The word rook as a verb means to defraud, swindle etc. The marriage of Clara to Mr Edward Murdstone turned out a swindle. Dickens was well aware of the slang because he was a part of the guided tour to some London rookeries including St Giles.
Miss Betsey might have known the slang of rookery, and this might have been the cause for her frustration at the name.
The presence of Mr Chillip and the nurse showed us that David's was a 'home birth'. This term was coined in the second half of nineteenth century. Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital was there since 1739, in Hammersmith, but Clara could not think of getting there, since she might have given birth to David in the horse-drawn cart on a muddy narrow street, on the way; and hospital births were not popular during those days.
On hearing the news of the birth of boy, Miss Trotwood took her bonnet by the strings, as if by a sling, aimed a blow at Dr Chillip's head, and vanished like a fairy. Miss Trotwood came with a dream, and the dream was supported by her presentiment that Clara Copperfield would give birth to a girl. And her dream was, she be the godmother to the girl; and would take care of her. The dream was shattered.
David was a child of close observation, and his mother and Peggotty always lingered in his childhood memory. From the description of the house, the servant and the annuity, it seemed, David belonged to a middle class family. Peggotty, on the other hand belonged to lower class. The neighborhood of Rookery was not a monolith of middle class.
Miss Betsey Trotwood's prejudice against boys, is connected with the memory of her failed marriage.
The church David refers to is St Mary's Church, under Blundestone and Flixton Parish Council. Rookery is near St Mary's Church. David could see the church yard, the Sun-dial, and their pew from his room in the Rookery. Upto early nineteenth century sun dials were used for telling time. Mechanical clocks were late. The first mechanical clock, Big Ben was installed in London in the year 1859.
Mr Edward Murdstone appears in the second chapter. David knew him already, because he walked home with his mother and himself the previous Sunday. It seemed that David had got wind of their love getting into marriage and many doubts had risen in his mind. Children always tend to listen to the talks of elder people, without the knowledge of the latter. While he had been reading crocodiles' stories to Peggotty, David put a queer question to her, whether she would marry again if her husband were died. Peggotty could grasp the feelings of little David, his fear that he would lose his mother, and she reciprocated it with her warm embrace of the little boy. We have volumes of literature on the importance of a hug or embrace to a growing child. But it was not available in those times of candles and carts. David's remembrance of the hug was - she laid aside her work (which was a stocking of her own) and opening her arms wide; took his curly head within them, and gave it a good squeeze. It shows how worldly-wise the illiterate Peggotty had been.
It is quite natural that little David was jealous of the person who comes to encroach into his space; but Mr Murdstone is offering himself for sale; it is the primary duty of Clara to observe the axiom 'let the buyers beware'. Marriage is contract for exchange of mutual gratification.
Mr Murdstone's friendliness to the boy was only a pretence, as a part of his selling himself. Peggotty was aware of this, and she was critical of this new relationship. But Clara confronted her with the question -'Would you wish me shave my head and blacken my face or disfigure myself with a burn or scald or something of that sort? This might have been the tribal practice originated at the early stages of farming society and transformation from territorial awareness to ownership awareness. And Peggotty was defenceless. Clara Copperfield was right. She was in the prime of her youth; she could not resist her natural urges. She was not ready to remain widow for ever. She did not verify her lover's credentials from any second source. She believed him blindly. Her married life with Mr Copperfield was peaceful and happy. She took it for granted, that the new life before her would be an extension of her previous married life.
Mr Murdstone took David for a ride on horse back to Lowestoft, a coastal town, where he met Passinidge and Quinon, his peers in the yatch 'Skylark'. This journey was intended to appease David. The peers of Mr Murdstone could see this, and they commented 'bewitching the widow's encumbrance.' Mr Murdstone's friends were just exposing social outlook towards an orphan, by putting an encumbrance tag on him.
Later at home, little David recapitulated to Clara what Mr Murdstone's friends said: 'bewitching the pretty little widow'. But Clara could never see it in a negative shade. And she warns her son, never to convey it to Peggotty. That means she fell head over heels in love with Mr Murdstone. She was soft pedaling her responsibility towards her son.
Two months after the ride to Lowestoft with Mr Murdstone, while Clara was out, Peggotty was sitting with her box with St Paul's on the lid, and David by her. Peggotty broached a new adventurous idea of a trip to Yarmouth. Yarmouth was a sea-side town where Peggotty's brother and other relatives lived. David was excited at the idea, but he was not sure whether his mother would permit it. Moreover she would be alone. Peggotty told that mother would stay with Mrs Grayper for two weeks. Then it was alright for David, and when mother came she was not at all surprised at the idea and readily agreed to it.
(Based on CHAPTERS: ONE & TWO)
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In the absence of little David from Rookery, consequent on his visit to Yarmouth with Peggotty the couple were married; and by the time he returned Murdstone was the new Pa of little David. Peggotty had prior knowledge of this; but she held it to herself, possibly because she did not want to disturb David. The Yarmouth trip arranged by Peggotty must have been in consonance with Clara Copperfield to move David out of the scene of marriage.
Murdstone was a patriarch who wanted to bend his wife and stepson; and also people around him. An indoctrinated man. He had a set of principles which he tried to force upon others without questioning. He might have received these doctrines in the society in which he lived. They may be political, religious or traditional. The key of his doctrines were 'firmness' and 'control'. Firmness is the quality of being fairly hard; and control is subjecting oneself to an authority. This doctrine is not applicable to a boy of around nine years, who was not matured and whose brain was still under growth. The knowledge about evolution of mankind was not available to nineteenth century religious being. The idea of democracy was in its cradle; parent-child, master-servent teacher-student, and leader- followers relationship pattern dominated the society. Mr Murdstone was a true representative of his Time and he could not behave otherwise. Later, while writing his autobiography, David recollects, that a word of welcome on his return from Yarmouth; an exchange of pleasantry about his trip, followed by a word of encouragement would have melted his childish obstinacy. Unfortunately, Mr Murdstone was too self-centred, ignorant and mediocre.
In the nineteenth century women outnumbered men. Mortality rate was higher in boys; men joined armed forces; more men migrated abroad. The idea was that women would get married and that their husbands should take care of them. Upper and middle-class women had to stay dependent on men; first as daughters and later as wives. The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857 gave the men the right to divorce their wives on the ground of adultery. But this right was not available to women. Once divorced, the children became the property of man, and he could prevent woman seeing her children.
Before the passing of Married Property Act of 1882, when a woman got married her wealth was passed to her husband. If a woman worked after marriage, her earnings also belonged to her husband.
Jane Murdstone, the spinster sister of Edward Murdstone, was brought to take control of Rookery. Peggotty was cut down to kitchen. David was put to firmness and control training.
David's lessons at his mother's hand had been a pleasant exercise, prior to the arrival of Murdstones. Murdstones used the occasion of these lessons to give Clara their ideas on control and firmness. Within a short span, at the sight of these people at the lesson David lost his nerve. He could not concentrate to what his mother taught. Miss Murdstone would watch for any cue that Clara gave to her son to get him answer, and signal it to her brother, who in turn would start his lecture. This cacophony of them lingered in the parlour during the lessons. Miss Murdstone was very particular to assign David any tasks to prevent him from play or idling. She equated play and idling to devil's workshop. This idea had its roots in Bible, and got popular when Chaucer used it in Canterbury Tales.
This ordeal went on for six months. During this period David found relief in a collection of books, left behind by his father; the books were in a room adjoined to his own bedroom, upstairs. They included the works of eighteenth century novelists; and the characters like Roderick Random and Robinson Crusoe kept him company.
On one fine morning, Mr Murdstone brought a cane to their lessons, with an introduction on flogging; to inculcate fear in the mind of David and his mother.
David faltered in his lessons; his mother broke down; Mr Murdstone the sadist took the boy upstairs; Clara running behind them; 'Clara! Are you a perfect fool?' came out of impertinent Miss Murdstone.
When they got David's room he twisted David's head under his arm. David protested, 'Mr Murdstone! Don't! Pray don't beat me! I have tried to learn, sir, but I can't learn while you and Miss Murdstone are by. I can't indeed!'
Instead of giving a moment's thought to the boys words, he implemented his preconceived idea of training a horse or dog. He held David's head as in a vice. But David somehow twined round him; entreating him not to beat him. For a moment David stopped him; the next moment he cut David heavily; but at the same instant David caught the hand with which he held David's mouth, and bit it through sharply.
He beat David again, as if he would have beaten the boy to death. The ensued noise of the struggle alerted Clara and Peggotty downstairs and they cried out. Mr Murdstone locked the door from outside and fled downstairs. Thus ended Murdstone's training at firmness and control. David was not a violent boy, It was the violence of Murdstones that brought violence in the boy, that too as a self-defence. Their behaviour was not at all humane to the boy. They should have introspected their own selves before branding him bad.
Mr Murdstone is a true representative of the patriarch of the family. Even if he had been the biological father of David he would have behaved the same. I think this drama has been going on, because of over ambitious parents, for the betterment of their children.
David had become a prisoner in his home. No contact with his mother or Peggotty. Miss Murdstone brought him food. She gave him half an hour every morning to walk in the garden. For evening prayers in the parlour Miss Murdstone escorted him, and would escort him back before others rose from their devotional posture. He found that the patriarch's hand was wound up in a large linen wrapper: and Clara kept her face in another way that David could not see her.
Five days of isolation. The only sight of boys playing in the Church yard in the afternoon; and all the rest were only sounds - ringing of bells, the opening and shutting of doors, the murmur of voices, the footsteps on the stairs, laughing, singing and whistling outside which made him more dismal.
On the last day of isolation, the night crept in, and came with it the whisper of Peggotty; and it came through the key-hole. David walked to the key-hole; put his mouth on the key-hole, and whispered as follows:
'Is it you, Peggotty dear?'
'Yes, my own precious Davy. Be as soft as a mouse, or the cat'll hear us.'
'How's mama, dear Peggotty? Is she very angry with me?'
Here David could hear Peggotty crying softly on her side of the
key-hole, while David was doing the same on his side, before she answered.
'No. Not very.'
'What's going to be done with me, Peggotty dear?'
'School near London.'
'When Peggotty?'
'Tomorrow.'
'is that why Miss Murdstone took the clothes out of my drawers?'
'Yes.'
'Shan't I meet mama?'
'Yes, morning.'
Peggotty lifted her mouth close to the key-hole and whispered:
'Davy, my dear, I ain't been intimate with you lately, as I used to be. It ain't that I don't love you. Just as well and more, my pretty poppet. It's that I thought it better for you. And for someone else besides. Davy, my darling, are you listening? Can you hear?
'Ye-ye-ye-yes, Peggotty!' sobbed David.
'What I want to say is. That you must never forget me. For I'll never forget you. And I'll take as much care of your mama, Davy. As ever I take of you. And I won't leave her. The day may come when she'll be glad to lay her poor head, on her stupid cross old Peggotty's arm again. And I'll write to you, my dear. Though I ain't no scholar. And I'll - I'll -' Peggotty fell to kissing the key-hole.
David returned his thanks. He asked Peggotty to convey her family in Yarmouth that he was not so bad. His retaliation to caning had imprinted in his mind a feeling of remorse.
David recollects, "From that night there grew up in my breast a feeling for Peggotty which I cannot very well define. She cannot replace my mother; no one could do that; but she came into a vacancy in my heart, which closed upon her, and I felt towards her something I have never felt for any other human being. It was a sort of comical affection, too, and yet if she had died, I cannot think what I should have done, or how I should have acted out the tragedy it would have been to me."
David had come to realise that he had lost his mother for ever; he was now seeing a mother substitute in Peggotty. Both the mothers belonged to lower class. Clara Copperfield was an orphan before her marriage; and she was a governess by occupation. She inherited wealth by the death of her husband. She had lost it by her marriage to Mr Edward Murdstone. Clara Peggotty may be an illiterate, but she was worldly wise. She correctly forecast the future of his mistress, as if by clairvoyance, when she told David that a day may come when Clara would be glad to lay her poor head on Peggoty's arm. 'Poor head' is a metaphor Dickens used to show the naivety of Clara.
Next day the cart came. The same cart which took David and Peggotty to Yarmouth and back at the gate of Rookery. David saw his mother for the first time after incarceration. She stood there very pale and with red eyes. David ran into her arms and begged her pardon; and it was given, with an advice to be better. David looked for Peggotty; but she was not there by the rule of firmness and control. Mr Murdstone was conspicuous by his absence; the patriarch was offended by an innocent child's defence against violence.
The cart was not very far from the house, Peggotty broke open a hedge and stepped into the cart. She embraced David, with both hands, then released one of her hand and put it into her elbow pocket, and brought some paper bags of cakes which she put into his pockets, and a purse which she put into his hand, after another embrace she got down from the cart and ran away.
Peggotty was filling the gap left by her mistress. Not a word she spoke; But her silence spoke volumes.
Later in the carriage, David opened the purse and found two half-crowns folded in a bit of paper with letters, 'For Davy. With my love.' in his mother's hand. He was overcome and wept bitterly.
From Barkis the carrier David came to know that they were going upto Yarmouth, and from there to London by stage-coach. They became friends and Barkis, found out that Peggotty had no sweethearts. He later told David to convey his message to Peggotty that 'Barkis is willing'.
(Based on Chapter Four)
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When Salem House was closed for holidays David was on his way home. He was sceptic about how he would feel his presence in the midst of Murdstones. He found that his old home would never return. The home where mother, Peggotty and David were all in all to one another was now a nostalgia.
David walked along the path between the old elm trees in the garden towards the house, glancing at the windows, and fearing at every step to see Mr Murdstone or Miss Murdstone. The voice of the mother singing in a low tone fell in his ears. A lullaby; it appeared she was murmuring it.
She was sitting by the fire, suckling an infant, whose tiny hand she held against her cheek. Her eyes were looking down upon its face and she sat singing to it. Seeing David she called him 'my dear Davy, my own boy' and coming half accross the room to meet him, knelt down upon the ground and kissed him; laid his head down on her bosom near the little baby nestling there; and put its hand to his lips.
Murdstones had been to somewhere in the neighborhood. In their absence the atmosphere was free and light. They dined together by the fireside. This was their practice before the arrival of Mr Murdstone, who insisted that Peggotty should wait upon them. Clara did not allow Peggotty to follow it in his absence.
At the table David raised the proposal of Barkis. Barkis wanted to marry Peggotty. And David sent the message to Peggotty that Barkis is willing. Peggotty was very much happy at the news. When Clara came to know of this she too was happy, but she became more serious and thoughtful. David found that his mother was tired and unhappy. She was anxious and worried. At last laying her hand affectionately on Peggoty's hand she asked her whether she was going to be married. Then she took her hand and requested her not to leave her. Stay with her, it will not be for long. Peggotty promised her not to leave her.
Later we see them keep their words to each other. The conversations between the mistress and her maid portends the direction of the future course of the fiction.
It seemed that the happy days of Rookery had returned. David talked about his school, of Mr Creakle, of Steerforth his friend and protector. Peggotty covered her head with her apron, had another laugh about Mr Barkis, took the baby out of the cradle and nursed it; cleared the table; came in with another cap on, and her work-box, and the yard-measure, and the bit of wax-candle, all just the same as ever. David took his little brother in his arms when he was awake and nursed it lovingly. Looking at the fire and seeing the pictures in the red-hot coals David believed that he had never been away.
Peggotty wondered what happened to Miss Betsey Trotwood; when she dies would she leave anything to Davy? It seemed Peggotty was aware that Clara could leave nothing to Davy. Thus the small talk came around Miss Murdstone. Was Peggotty jealous of Miss Murdstone carrying the keys which were once in her custody? Peggotty was suspicious of Murdstones' good intentions in which Clara blindly believed. Peggotty was just pointing to the helpless situation in which her mistress had come into. She could never reverse it. So she frowned upon Peggotty. But she knew that Peggotty was her only friend, and she patched up with her. And Peggotty responded by giving David a good hug.
By about ten o'clock in the night at the sound of wheels Clara understood the arrival of Murdstones and asked David to bed and the pall of gloom returned and blew away the old familiar air like a feather.
Next morning there was a formal breaking the ice between David and Murdstones, after the eventful day of his defence against the offence committed by the latter. But it could not bring the normalcy in their relationship. David came into the room where his mother and Jane Murdstone were sitting. The baby was in his mother's lap. David took it very carefully in his arms. Jane Murdstone gave such a scream that both David and his mother were alarmed. She darted at David and took the baby out of his arm. She fainted and was taken ill, and came to her sense after a dose cherry brandy. Then she forbade David from touching her brother's boy any more on any pretence; and his mother confirmed it.
Another day. Another occassion. Miss Murdstone overheard a conversation between his mother and David. It was about the similarity of the eyes of the baby to that of David's. The conversation attracted the attentions of Miss Murdstone, who had been stringing the steel beads. She lay the beads down. She called Clara a positive fool, and chided her, and asked her who else could compare her brother's baby to her baby. She exposed her intolerance in general and her hatred towards David.
David was happy when the holidays ended. Again it was Barkis at the gate of Rookery. Again it was Miss Murdstone in her warning voice, 'Clara!' when his mother was bending over her son to bid him farewell.
David felt that his presence was uncomfortable to Murdstones. If Clara was cheerful in the company of Murdstones, David's entrance would steal a cloud over her face. If Mr Murdstone were in good humour the the appearance of David checked him. His mother was afraid to speak to him in their presence. They and his mother in their company felt an otherness to David. Therefore David resolved to keep himself out of their way, and would keep the company of books in his cheerless bedroom.
Then came Mr Murdstone's criticism of David's sullen disposition. Of David's association with Peggotty. He wanted David to be in the parlour. David obeyed him to the letter. He stopped his association with Peggotty. He sat in the parlour during the remaining days looking forward to night and bedtime. Hours upon hours he would sit afraid to move lest Miss Murdstone would complain of his restlessness. He would sit listening to the ticking of clock, or watching Miss Murdstone's shiny little beads as she strung them.
Thus, the holidays lagged away. David was not sorry to go. He had lapsed into a stupid state. David was looking forward to Steerforth though Mr Creakle loomed behind him. Mr Barkis appeared at the gate. David's mother bent over him to bid him farewell, accompanied by Miss Murdstone's 'Clara!'.
David kissed her and his baby brother. He felt sorry, but not sorry to go away. The gulf between them had been there, every day.
He was in the cart when he heard her calling him. She stood at the garden-gate alone, holding her baby up in her arms for him to see. The weather was cold and still. Not a hair of her head, not a fold of her dress, was stirred as she looked intently at David, holding up her child. Afterwards, he had this visual of her holding her baby up, near his bed looking at him intently, in his sleep.
(Chapter 8)
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After the death of his mother, David returned to Rookery, to attend the funeral of his mother.
Omer's cart stopped in front of Rookery. Before long David was in Peggoty's arms. Her grief burst out when she saw David; but she controlled it, and spoke in whispers.
Mr Murdstone took no heed of David. Miss Murdstone was busy at her writing desk.
Peggotty was always close to the room where Clara and her baby lay. She came to David every night and sat by his bedhead while he went to sleep. A day before funeral she took him into the room. Underneath some white covering on the bed, with a beautiful cleanliness and freshness all around it, there lay the solemn stillness in the house, and when Peggotty turned the cover gently back David said, 'Oh no!' and held her hand.
The air of the best parlour, the brightness of the fire, the shining wine in decanters, the faint sweet smell of cake, the odour of Miss Murdstone's dress, and the smell of new black clothes.
Mr Chillip was there. Mr Grayper was there. Mr Murdstone and Miss Murdstone were there. Mr Omer and another came to make the bereaved ready.
The Bearers and their load are in the garden. And they move before others down the path, and past the elms, the gate, into the churchyard.
And they stand around the grave. The voice of the clergyman: "I am the Resurrection and the Life, said the Lord!" David heard a sob, and saw Peggotty, standing apart among the onlookers. There were many faces who had seen Clara when she first came to the village.
The Sabbath day. Peggotty came and sat down by David and told him all that happened:
'She was never well for a long time. She was uncertain and unhappy. Before her baby came she used to sit alone and cry. When her baby came she used to sing to him. It was like a voice up in the air, and was rising away. She became more timid and more frightened. But she was always the same to me.'
Peggotty stopped for a while, and beat upon his little hand.
'You remember the night you came for holidays. It was the last time I saw her like herself. The day you went away she said to me, "I never shall see my pretty darling again, something tells me so." She never told her husband what she had told me. That night, a little more than a week before it happened, she said to him, "my dear I think I am dying."
'She told me when I had laid her in her bed that night, "I am very tired. If this is sleep, sit by me while I sleep; don't leave me. God bless both my children! God protect and keep my fatherless boy!" I never left herafterwards.
'On the last night, she kissed me and said, "If my baby should die too, Peggotty, please let them lay him in my arms, and bury us together." The poor lamb lived but a day beyond her. "Let my dearest boy go with us to our resting place. Tell him that his mother blessed him not once, but a thousand times."
Another silence followed this.
'It was pretty far in the night; she asked me for some drink; and when she had taken it, gave me such a patient smile, the dear! - so beautiful!
'The daybreak had come, and the sun was rising. She said to me, "how kind and considerate Mr Copperfield had always been to me. A loving heart was better and stronger."
"Peggotty, my dear, put me nearer to you. Lay your good arm underneath my neck, and turn me to you, for your face is going far off, and I want to be near." I put it as she asked; and oh Davy! and the time had come when my first parting words to you were true - and she died like a child that had gone to sleep, on her stupid cross old Peggotty's arms.'
From that moment the idea of his mother as she had been of late vanished from David's mind. The earliest impressions of her; the impressions when David was an infant remained.
The mother who lay in the grave was the mother of his infancy; and the little baby in her arms was himself, as he had been.
After the death of Clara, Peggotty was given one month's notice. Peggotty would have remained for David's sake.
There was no constraint on David to sit in the parlour. No study. No control and firmness training. Once David asked Miss Murdstone about going to school. There was no going to school, she said. There was no restriction on David going to kitchen and sit with Peggotty. Mr Murdstone paid no heed to him. It was a complete neglect.
One evening, when David was warming his hands in the kitchen fire, he told to Peggotty: 'Mr Murdstone likes me less than he used to. He never liked me much, Peggotty, but he would rather not even see me now, if I can help it.'
Perhaps it would be his sorrow,' said Peggotty stroking his hair. But David was sure that it was not his sorrow only, that kept Murdstone treat him the way he had been.
Peggotty then broached the idea she would get a permission by Miss Murdstone to take David to Yarmouth, so that they could spend a few days there. Perhaps they do not want David here, they may give permission.
Miss Murdstone came to store closet, groping for pickles. Peggotty immediately presented the idea to Miss Murdstone.
'The boy will be idle there,' said she, 'and idleness is the root of all evils. But he will be idle here - or anywhere.'
Peggotty had an angry answer ready. But she swallowed it and remained silent.
'Humph!' said Miss Murdstone, still keeping her eyes on the pickles; 'it is of paramount importance that my brother should not be disturbed or uncomfortable, I suppose I had better say yes.'
The permission was given; and not retracted. When the month was out, they were prepared to leave for Yarmouth.
Barkis came with his carriage; this time he came to the house, carried Peggotty's boxes into the carriage.
Peggotty was in low spirits. Rookery had been her home for so many years, where the two attachments of her life had been formed.
She had been walking in the churchyard very early, and she got into the cart, and sat in it with her handkerchief at her eyes.
Nine & Ten
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After the marrige of Peggotty to Barkis, David stayed with Mr Peggotty, Ham, little Emily and Mrs Gummidge, in the boathouse. Next morning Peggotty took him to her house; to the little room upstairs where he slept, and said that I will always be kept ready for David; wherever he is. Peggotty and Mr Barkis brought him to Blunderstone, and left him at the gate of Rookery.
David entered his house. There was no one to receive him. Murdstones neglected him. He seldom met anyone outside the Rookery, except Mr Chillip, who was now a widower. Peggotty came to visit him once every week, somewhere near. One day he went to visit Peggotty. He found that Mr Barkis was a miser, and Peggotty had her own scheme to let Barkis pay money for weekly expenses.
David found the old books left by his father, and he read them again and again.
One day while loitering in the neighborhood of Rookery Mr Murdstone and Quinon happened to meet him. Quinon found that David had been idling and that Mr Murdstone was not prepared to provide him further education. That night Quinon stayed at Rookery. Next morning Mr Murdstone put forward the idea that David begin the world on his own account. He was to go to London and join Murdstone and Grinby. The terms were also revealed.
There is nothing uncommon in Mr Murdstone doing this. He would have done the same to his biological son if he had survived. Apart from his jealousy to the boy, his resentment to him, his ignorance of civilized ways, and his lack of understanding of the child, and his I am o.k. you are not o.k. attitude, there is nothing abnormal in him. David had some education by way of reading, even before he went to Salem House. The only skill he acquired during his stay at Salem House was the exposure of his natural talent for story-telling; and it had its roots in Mr Copperfield's collection of books. And the credit for this exposure goes to James Steerforth.
Now David was leaving Blunderstone; sitting in a post-chaise; he is around ten years; his attire: a much-worn little white hat, with a crepe round it; a black jacket, and a pair of corduroy trousers, which according to Miss Murdstone is the best armour in the fight against the world, with a trunk of his worldly things beside him. The chaise was carrying Mr Quinon to Yarmouth from where it was to go to London. David saw that Rookery, the elm trees, the grave stone and the church were moving away, to the empty sky.
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