Summary — Chapter XXXV. Depression
David becomes depressed at the idea that he is now poor.
Although he realizes this emotion is selfish, he cannot escape it
because he worries that Dora will be deprived of things she wants.
David tells Miss Betsey that he loves Dora, but Miss Betsey chastises
him for pursuing a pointless romance. David tries to cancel his
apprenticeship with the law firm because it pays nothing, but Mr.
Spenlow refuses to refund the money Miss Betsey has paid to apprentice
him.
On his way home, David sees Agnes, who is on her way to
visit Miss Betsey. Agnes has heard of Miss Betsey’s ruin and comforts David.
However, Agnes also tells him that Uriah Heep is destroying her
father: Uriah and his mother have moved in with the Wickfields, and
nothing is the same about the house. David and Agnes visit Miss Betsey
and discuss her financial situation with her. Agnes suggests that
David take a job as secretary for Doctor Strong, who is looking for
help. Mr. Wickfield and Uriah Heep arrive, and Miss Betsey castigates
Uriah, who is as slimy as ever.
Summary — Chapter XXXVI. Enthusiasm
On his way to visit Doctor Strong, David concludes that
his new financial difficulties will allow him to prove that he loves
Dora. He determines that he will work through every difficulty to
be with her and will raise himself and his aunt out of their present
distress. Doctor Strong agrees that David should be his secretary
and that the two of them will work together on the dictionary Doctor
Strong is compiling. They begin immediately. While they are at breakfast,
Jack Maldon asks Annie to go to the opera with him that night. Annie does
not want to go, but Doctor Strong tries to force her.
David is suspicious of Jack Maldon’s intentions and of
Annie’s fidelity to Doctor Strong. Later, however, he hears that
Annie has managed to cancel the date and go see Agnes instead. David
takes Mr. Dick, who is upset about Miss Betsey’s financial situation,
to see Traddles with him. Together, they decide that Mr. Dick can
work at copying legal manuscripts—a task that he must try to accomplish without
inserting references to King Charles I. Mr. Dick succeeds in doing
so and thus earns some money for the family.
David receives a letter from Mr. Micawber stating that
Mr. Micawber intends to move and asking David to come say farewell. David
and Traddles go and have dinner with the Micawbers and discover
that Mr. Micawber has plans to go to Canterbury to work for Uriah
Heep. David is very uncomfortable at this arrangement but does not
learn the details of it.
Summary — Chapter XXXVII. A little Cold Water
David tells Dora about his financial woes the
next time he sees her at Miss Mills’s house. Dora becomes hysterical
at the idea that she might have to live in poverty and refuses to
listen to David’s argument that she should learn how to manage a
house. David calms Dora, but she becomes hysterical every time he
mentions money. David begs Miss Mills to try to bring Dora around
to an understanding. Miss Mills agrees to try, although she does
not think it can be done.
