Want to finish

I've got to finish this book, but it's a bit of a burden to read with the idea of writing about it as you go.  And I'm so slow about it, Cliff Notes, this ain't.  I think I've read this section three times.  Betsey lost her money through her own bad investments.  She had formerly invested through Mr. Wickfield (Agnes' father), but thought she knew better and was proven wrong.  She has only 70 pounds per year now, from the rental of the cottage.  After learning of this, Agnes asks David if he would be willing to be a secretary to Dr. Strong, his former teacher, who is now retired and residing in London.  David finds this agreeable, and writes him a letter.  He goes to visit the next morning in Highgate, arriving early, he wanders and sneaks a look at Steerforth's house, sees Miss Dartle pacing like a chained animal.

Dr. Strong is delighted to see David.  They agree on the terms, mornings and evenings, for 70 pounds a year (it doubles Betsey and David's living.)  He has breakfast with the Strongs.  While settling down, Jack Maldon (back from India, which didn't suit him, and employed in some way through Dr. Strong) arrives on horseback, with great affected disinterest in the world.  Asks if Annie would like to go to the opera with him in the evening.  She tries to decline but her husband, who is much older than she, insists that she go and be entertained.  She does manage to get out of it, by deigning to visit Agnes that evening with Dr. Strong, and coming back home through the moonlit fields (presumably to avoid any encounter with Jack on the road.)

David finds employment for Mr. Dick, who is fretful over the sudden change in Aunt Betsey's circumstances.  They go to visit Traddles, who employs Mr. Dick with copying of legal documents, overseen by Betsey.  He earns ten shillings, nine pence, and is so proud to be able to help out with expenses.  Pleasure had by this all around.

Traddles produces a letter from Mr. Micawber announcing the latter's departure from London, and inviting David and Traddles to a farewell party that evening.

A little less than 400 pages to go!  I finally watched "Sunset Blvd" the other night, I'm reminded of it now because the protagonist compares the old mansion and the woman within to "Great Expectations" and Miss Havisham, stuck and rotting in her past, refusing to live, and punishing everyone for one incident that happened many years ago.  I'm glad to finally get the references.

(And I go such long stretches between reading, I forget what I've already stated.  I see now that I've stated several things in more than one post.)