Classics Retold

Miss Betsey Trotwood had brought some little improvement in the domestic arrangements.  First of all she asserted herself against Mrs Crupp.  Mrs Crupp had stopped placing pitchers on the stairs because Miss Betsey would throw the pitchers out of the window and would prowl on the stairs up and down intermittently.  In this war of pitchers Mrs Crupp's arsenal of pitchers became empty and she withdrew herself from the presence of Miss Betsey. Miss Betsey converted the pantry into a dressing-room for her nephew; purchased and embellished a bedstead for him.  Peggotty had the privilege of associating in these labours, although she retained her old awe towards Miss Betsey.  In spite of this she received many marks of encouragement and confidence of Miss Betsey, and soon they became best friends. On Saturdays Peggotty would go home to take care of the affairs of Ham.  On these occasions Trotwood would accompany her and she would promise him money.   Tro...

Trotwood proposed to Mr Dick to come to Chandler's shop and take possession of the bed which Mr Peggotty had lately vacated.  The Chandler's shop in the Hungerford Market very much pleased Mr Dick. Mrs Crupp had bitterly warned him that there wasn't room to swing a cat there, but, as Mr Dick observed, sitting down on the foot of the bed, 'You know, Trotwood, 'I don't want to swing a cat, I never do swing a cat. Therefore what does that signify to me!' Trotwood tried to find out whether Dick had any idea as to the sudden change in the situation of his aunt. He had no idea, except what she said, 'Dick,I am ruined.'  And Dick answered, 'indeed!' To that his aunt praised him highly, which he was glad of. And then they had come and had had bottled porter and sandwiches on the road. Trotwood realised that Mr Dick was not fully aware of the station of his aunt.  So he explained to him that ruin meant distress, want and starvation.  His face turned p...

Next day, Trotwood had another dive into the Roman Bath, and then straightway he started for Highgate.  His purpose was to find the Doctor's house.  He discovered that it was not in that part of the house where Mrs Steerforth lived, but quite on the opposite side of the little town.  After this discovery, he went back, out of curiosity, to a lane by Mrs Steerforth's, and looked over the corner of the garden wall.  Steerforth's room was shut up.  The conservatory doors were standing open, and Rosa Dartle was walking, bareheaded, with a quick, impetuous step, up and down a gravel walk on one side of lawn.  He thought she was dragging the length of her chain to and fro upon a beaten track and wearing her heart out. He came softly away from the place, and wishing he had not gone near the house. He approached Doctor's cottage, a pretty old place.  Doctor seemed to have expended some money on the repair and embellishments that had the look of being just comp...