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...

Trotwood wrote a letter to Agnes about his engagement with Dora Spenlow.  The letter also stated the plight of Steerforth and Emily. Traddles came to the Adelphi on two or three occasions.  He met Peggotty, who had been by this time, a resident of the Adelphi along with her Davy.  Mrs Crupp not at all favoured  this.  Her displeasure appeared, first as a long letter advising against 'spies and intruders in mourning weed', and when this was ignored, pitcher plants began to appear on the stairs - an attempt to delude Peggotty into breaking her leg. According to Traddles Sophy was the fourth among the ten.  The mother of Sophy was a superior woman. But the damp country was not suitable for her constitution.  And she had lost the use of her limbs.  But Sophy is a mother to her mother, and other nine. Traddles was not living with Mr Micawber's.  There was an execution for rent. Mr Micawber changed his name to Mortimer, and didn't come out till dar...

Peggotty was in Spenlow's office to pay the bill against their services - common-form business in Commons parlance -, connected with the will of Mr Barkis, and its execution.  They had already finished their job with the Legal - Duty office and the Bank, and everything was in order. For a change they went to Fleet Street, to see Linwood's Exhibition of needle work, and then to the Tower of London, and to the top of St Paul's. Tiffey said that Mr Spenlow had stepped out to get a gentleman sworn for a marriage license. Mr Spenlow came, and with him came Murdstone.  He was not much changed. 'Ah, Copperfield, said Mr Spenlow,' you know this gentleman?' Trotwood made a distant bow, but Peggotty barely recognised Murdstone. He was disconcerted, but stopped for a moment, for Mr Spenlow to pass into his room, followed by Murdstone. David touched Peggoty's hand, and cautioned her not  to advance, and they waited for the gentleman to finish his business.  David did no...

Peggotty had already bought, out of her savings, a small piece of ground in the Churchyard in Blundestone near the grave of her 'sweet girl' Clara Copperfield, and the remains of Mr Barkis to rest there.  She requested David to stay at the inn until after the remains of the carrier have made their last journey to Blunderstone. On the day of the funeral Trotwood walked over to Blundestone, early in the morning, and was in the Churchyard when it came, attended only by Peggotty and her brother.  The mad gentleman looked on out of the little window of Rookery; Mr Chillip's baby wagged its heavy head and rolled its eyes, at the clergyman over its nurse's shoulder, Mr Omer breathed short in the background, no one else was there, and it was very quiet.  David walked about the churchyard for sometime, and pulled some leaves from the tree above his mother's grave. The will of Barkis was found in his box, at the bottom of a horse's nose-bag.  Besides the will, other belon...

Trotwood was in Yarmouth in the evening, and he stayed at the inn where he used to stay.  Barkis being in his last hours, it was inconvenient to stay in his room in Peggoty's house. He dined at the inn and went to sleep. By about ten o'clock he came to Omar and Joram.  Omar offered him a seat and a smoke.  Trotwood took his seat by the chair. I am sorry to have heard the bad news of Mr Barkis,' said Trotwood. Omar looked at him, with a steady countenance, and shook his head. Do you know how he is today?' 'The very question I should have put to you, sir,' returned Mr Omar, 'but on account of delicacy.  It's one of the drawbacks of our line of business.  When a party is ill, we can't ask how the party is.' 'We limit ourselves to Emily to get intelligence.  In fact, Minnie and Joram have just stepped down to ask her how he is,' said Omar  He then offered some refreshments to Trotwood, which he declined, and decided to wait the return of Minn...