Woke up in the middle of the night, it was finally snowing, though not sticking much. Read a few chapters, basically, the fall of Em'ly and all the changes that happened because of that.
Chapter XXIX. David visits Steerforth. Miss Dartle haunts every move of the two, always within ear shot, always watching. Finally, the four of them go for walk (Steerforth, his mother, Miss D, and David.) Miss D holds David back out of ear shot, and in her round-about way, asks him what Steerforth has been up to. David says he hadn't seen him either until the night before. She knows something, she doesn't ever say it. Makes the comment about Mrs. Steerforth and James being so much alike in temperament that if they should have a falling out there would be no recovery, or that it would be more difficult than if they had had very opposing temperaments. They are too enmeshed to not take it overly personally, or at least Mrs. Steerforth is.
Later James tries to win over Miss Dartle, and it appears as if he does, soften her edges. He has her sing and play the harp for he and David. She does, but then abruptly leaves the room and is gone for the night. When David goes to say "goodnight" to Steerforth, the latter holds onto this hands and prevents his leaving. He says, "Daisy, if anything, should ever separate us, you must think of me at my best, if circumstances should ever part us."
David answers, "You have no best to me, Steerforth," said I, "and no worst. You are always equally loved, and cherished in my heart."
Those actions have already been set in motion which will change everything between them.
Chapter XXX. David goes to Yarmouth. He stops at Omer and Jenkins on the way to the Barkis house, finds Mr. Omer sitting inside with the door open. Asks for news. Asks about Martha, and Mr. Omer is about to tell of her, but his daughter enters, so he stops. Had commented earlier regarding Em'ly that she seems unsettled as of late, and he attributes this both to Mr. Barkis' failing health, and to her engagement. Commenting how she seems more and more to cling to her uncle, but that he thinks once she is married, she will feel for settled.
David leaves for Barkis' house. Everyone is there. Em'ly clings more and more to her uncle, speaking inaudibly. Ham is there to take her home, she refuses to leave with him, and begs to stay where she is. David goes upstairs to see Barkis. Mr. Peggotty comments that his breath will leave him at the going out of the tide, and it does. In his dying breath, he revives enough to look at David and say, "Barkis is willin'l."
Chapter XXXI. They bury Barkis in the churchyard, near David's parents. Peggotty had used her own money to buy plots there, fulfilling her promise to never leave Clara. David wanders back alone. Earlier, David found use for his professional skills, in reviewing Barkis' will. Barkis left 1000 pounds to Mr. Peggotty, and the rest of his fortune (of which was considerable for how miserly he was) to be divided equally between Peggotty, David, and Em'ly. It had been decided that Ham and Em'ly would be married soon.
David comes to the boat house after the funeral, late in the day. They are waiting for Ham and Em'ly to arrive. Ham arrives alone, he calls David outside under the guise of showing him something. David goes. Ham is as pale as a ghost, hands David a letter written in Em'ly's hand. She has run away, in hopes of becoming "a lady." She calls herself wicked and undeserving of their affection. She asks for forgiveness, and gives her enduring love and thanks to her uncle, but she has gone. She doesn't say, but everyone knows: Steerforth.
David feels growing shame for having introduced him to the family. Mr. Peggotty vows to spend the rest of his life in searching for her and bringing her home. The town is divided in their opinions of Em'ly, most against her, but all vow to support the family. Mrs. Gummidge rises from her constant gloomy self-absorption and becomes a pillar of strength and support, doing everything necessary to ease the burden of Mr. Peggotty.
Chapter XXXII. David makes the comment that he never loved Steerforth better than when the ties binding them were broken. The love remained, but the fascination was gone (he was no longer enthralled.)
David returns to the Barkis house, only a servant is present. He sends her to bed. Alone by the fire, he hears a knock at the door. It is Miss Mowcher. She had seen him in the street and followed him home. She explains that her demeanor among people like Steerforth is an act, to protect herself from harm, so that she can survive in the world, that she has others like herself whom she must provide for. She had heard rumors of Littimer being in Yarmouth, doing the bidding of Steerforth in regards to Em'ly. She caught the next carriage from Norwich, but it was already too late when she arrived. She had earlier perceived that it was because David loved Em'ly that both he and Em'ly were being toyed with. She leaves saying that she hears many things in her travels, and will keep her ear open for news of Em'ly and send that to David if she does. She is on his side, after all.
The Peggotty's and David leave for London. Once there, David and Mr. Peggotty go to Mrs. Steerforth's home to see if they can learn more. Mrs. Steerforth refuses to allow that her son would marry such a low status woman as Em'ly. That it would ruin him, and his chances in life. She doesn't see people of Em'ly's stature as human, at least not on the same level as herself. She has no compassion, but she has at this moment disowned her son. She tries to buy off Em'ly.
As they leave the house, Miss D rushes out and confronts David passionately (in anger) over Em'ly, and how if she could destroy her she would. It seems she does believe that these people are like animals. It's hard to tell if her anger is because she herself held affection for Steerforth, or if it's on behalf of the mother. Mr. Peggotty must hear all these slings and arrows, but he and David walk on, and he vows to leave that night. As Peggotty and David watch him leave down the street, he says, "I"m a going to seek her, fur and wide. If any hurt should come to me, remember that the last words I left for her was, 'My unchanged love is with my darling child, and I forgive her!'"
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