Back to school

Betsey Trotwood renames David "Trotwood Copperfield" and one day she asks if he would like to got to school again, when he says "yes" she says that he will go the following day. In the morning they head into Canterbury, first stopping to meet a Mr. Wickfield, where "Trot" and we meet Uriah Heep for the first time as his cadaverous, ghostliness presents himself at the door, and blows into the horse's nostrils as he holds it's head before moving it to the stable. Trotwood and Wickfield go to check out the school and to look for lodging for David/Trot, when none of the latter is found suitable, it is decided that Trot will stay at the Wickfield home for the time being. David meets Agnes, Wickfield's beloved daughter. Of Agnes as compared to Emily, the latter of whom David believes he loves, David says that Agnes is all things of goodness, peace and truth. Upon taking leave, Betsey leaves the parting words, "Never be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. Avoid those three vices, Trot, and I can always be hopeful of you."

The next day, Trot starts school, and meets Dr. and Annie Strong; Dr. Strong runs the school. It is a good school, run by the competent and just Dr. Strong, and the boys are friendly, but David feels foreign to the world of boys having had the rough experiences with the Murdstones, and the working in the wine factory and pawning of the Micawber's possesions for money, that he is afraid of familiarity with them, lest they learn these things, recognize him from when he passed through Canterbury on the way to find Betsey Trotwood, in his ragged state. As time passes, he grows more comfortable with them. He stays on permanently with the Wickfields.

Earlier in his stay, he had made a promise to Uriah, to have tea with him and his mother. He is confronted regarding this, asked if he feels too good for them, he says that he has only waited for an invitation, which he receives. When he goes, they overwhelm him with questions, he remains mute on the subject of the Murdstones. Mr. Micawber happens to pass by and see him. He meets the Heeps, later he is seen in the confidence of Uriah, and David is concerned about what he has told him. The Micawber's have no money and leave town without paying their bills.

Jack Maldon is a ne'er do well, beloved, cousin of Annie Strong. Wickfield and Dr. Strong arrange for him to go to India to make his fortunes. This upsets Annie greatly, she faints on the night that he leaves, gives him the ribbon from her dress in secret. I suspect they were more than cousins.

One last thing, when Wickfield drops David off at school for the first  time, he and Dr. Strong have a discussion regarding Jack Maldon, bringing up the idea that "idleness is the devil's playground." Wickfield responds with, "The busy people achieve their full share of mischief in the world, you may rely on it. What have people been about, who have been the busiest in getting money and in getting power, this century or two?  No mischief?" Still true, but they still get away with it while the poor still are punished.