Read for a few hours and then made the 8 pm closing time for the library. So, hopefully, no added late fee. Let's see, David returns to Blunderstone and the Murdstones, who pretty much ignore him, they feed him and keep a roof over his head (his roof, not theirs, they stole it) but neglect him in every-other way as if they would rather he didn't exist. He is to have no further education, just a lost, young soul wandering the countryside by day. They hardly even allow him friends, Peggotty visits, and once-in-a-rare while he is allowed to visit Mr. Chillup. Eventually he is sent to London to work as a bottle-sorter/label paster for Murdstone's business. Working for a Mr. Quinnon. He is to pay for his food with his earnings there, and Murdstone will pay to have him boarded somewhere, as well as for laundry. He is 10 years old.
He is miserable in the job, seeing no future prospects nor friends. Luckily for him, the man he is to board with is a Mr. Micawber. The Micawbers take David into their confidence and provide him with the only bright spot of his time in London. Alas, Micawber ends up in debtor's prison, and soon his family joins him. David is set up in a new situation near the prison and regularly visits them. When Micawber is released, the family moves to Portsmouth. When David learns of this, he cannot bear London without them, so he plans his escape. After they depart, he slyly leaves his job, and goes to find Betsey Trotwood, his late father's aunt, in Dover. He walks there over the course of a week. When he finds her, he is a disheveled mess. She brings him in. She learns his story, writes a letter to the Murdstones regarding him and they wait. The Murdstones arrive, Betsey lays into them for their cold, calculated cruelty toward both David and his mother. They are frightened of her. She keeps David and sends them away. That's as far as I've gotten. Am now awaiting my turn with the book again.
No comments:
Post a Comment