School days again

As time passes, Mr. Dick and David (Trot) become great friends.  One day, Aunt Betsey asks if David would like to return to school.  He says yes.  Aunt Betsey says they will leave the next day for Canterbury, and first stop to meet with a Mr. Wickfield, a lawyer.  He and Betsey set out to visit the school in question and to find suitable lodging for David.  None of the latter is found, and David ends up residing temporarily with the Wickfields, later to become permanent.  Working for Mr. Wickfield is one Uriah Heep, always described as skeletal, clammy, cadaverous, and ghostly.  When David mentions him, he often also mentions the desire to be rid of any touch or energy of him.  Also, living with Mr. Wickfield is his daughter, about David's age, whom David describes in comparison to Lil Em'ly, "The influence for all good, which she came to exercise over me at a later time, begins already to descend upon my breast.  I love little Em'ly, and I don't love Anges - no, not at all in that way - but I feel that there are goodness, peace, and truth wherever Anges is; and that the soft light of the coloured window in the church, seen long ago, fall on her always, and on me when I am near her, and on everything around." - Charles Dickens, David Copperfield, chapter XVI.

David also meets Dr. and Annie Strong.  Doctor Strong runs the school, Annie is his much younger wife, who came from a poor family.  Her relations are always trying to get Dr. Strong to part with his money for their sake.  Annie is embarrassed by this, tries to avoid the subject.  She has a cousin, Jack Maldon.  Mr. Wickfield has arranged for him to be sent to India to seek his fortunes.  There is a going away dinner for him, which also coincides with Dr. Strong's birthday.  Annie's relations attend, as well as several of the boys from school.  Annie is in low spirits, and when Jack finally takes leave, she is found passed out in the hall.  We do not find out why yet.

Mr. Dick visits David once a week, he becomes a favorite guest at the school, both to the other boys and to Dr. Strong.  On one of the visits, he recounts the appearance of a man at the Trotwood house who seems to frighten Miss Betsey, and asks David about it.  Also, David is in correspondence with Peggotty and the latter tells him that the Murdstones have abandoned Blunderstone, and the house sits empty, waiting to be sold.

And lastly, Uriah Heep had earlier requested that David join he and his mother for tea.  And he confronts David regarding this, asking if they are too "umble" for David to visit.  David says he was waiting only for an invitation.  The invitation is given for that night, and after checking with Mr. Wickfield, David accepts and goes.