New twists

Have about five minutes to write.  Traddles did end up loaning money to the Micawbers (twice after David warned him against it) and consequently lost everything.  He has seen the items he had bought for his future bride for sale at a nearby shop but fears that if he tries to buy them back, the shopkeeper will raise the price.  He stops by to ask Peggotty to purchase the items for him.  She agrees and the three of them go over, and Peggotty buys them back.  David and Peggotty wander back slowly to him room.  When they return, Mrs. Crupp is entertaining people there, it is David's aunt and Mr Dick.  She has lost everything, and they have come to London, leaving Janet behind to rent out the house.  Betsey stays with David, and a room is found for Mr. Dick.  We don't find out how they lost everything, yet.

When Traddles came by earlier, we learned that Sophy (his beloved) seems to be holding her family together, she takes care of everyone.  Seems almost impossible that she ever could leave and marry Traddles.  Also, Peggotty and Betsey become friends, in spite of the latter's distaste of the former's name, and takes to calling her Barkis, instead.  In conversations between the two, Betsey learns both of Emily's fate and of David's engagement to Dora, since he hadn't told her yet.

Micawber has changed his name to Mortimer.

David becomes depressed because he now has no money (since he was supported by Betsey, and I don't think his job pays him.)  He can't see how he can possibly marry Dora now.

Gotta go.

A little more

Been busy with other things, and this part of the story hasn't been all that interesting to me, lots of descriptions that go over my head.  Mr. Murdstone is going to marry some poor, young thing (poor, because she doesn't know what she is getting herself into.)  David finally can stand it no longer and declares his love to Dora, and they become engaged, though it is a secret for now.  Only known by Dora's friend, a Miss Mills (Julia), who also is responsible for getting them to talk to each other, and meet (away from her father's home), in the first place.  Once they are engaged, they communicate by letters, sent through Miss Mills.

David writes to Agnes to tell her the news.  Peggotty has been living with David, and Mrs. Crupp has abandoned her duties on account of that.

There was more to this post originally, but it somehow reverted to an earlier draft.  At any rate, more to follow.  (Two years and counting, but I am past the half-way point.  That's something.)