It seems silly to recap, what I previously have written, but...David is fed and bathed, and swaddled up in clothing. He is given his own room which overlooks the sea. The first night he is locked in the room, he imagines it's as if they are afraid he will run away again (which is in his favor, that they don't wish him to leave.) He sits up and watches the moon stretch its light across the water.
In the morning, he comes down to breakfast and eventually learns that his aunt has written a letter to the Murdstones and is awaiting a reply. When the reply eventually comes, David learns the Murdstones will be coming by that same day. He waits in dread. They arrive at a late hour. They describe him as the worst boy imaginable and that the means they took (the abuse, the sending of a child to work in a warehouse, etc.) were in his best interest. Trotwood asks them if they would have treated Murdstone's own child the same? (Of course they wouldn't have.) And lays into them for breaking Clara's heart and hastening her death through the destruction of her spirit, to obey some rule of who they wanted her to be, through their need to control another human being. Trotwood regrets that Murdstone ever laid eyes upon Clara. Murdstone says he will take the boy and treat him as he sees fit, but that the decision needs to be made now, and if not, he will leave and never return. Trotwood says she will take her chances and keep the boy. The Murdstones leave and that chapter of David's life if forever closed.
He is re-christianed "Trotwood Copperfield" and has new clothing made for him, beginning a new life.
Splitting my time between this book and the plays I'm trying to memorize monologues from. Done with Chekhov for the short while. Trying to have something new for class.
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