Summary — Chapter XV. I make another Beginning
Miss Betsey proposes that David, whom she has nicknamed
“Trot,” be sent to school at Canterbury. They go to Canterbury and
visit Mr. Wickfield, a lawyer and a friend of Miss Betsey’s. At
Mr. Wickfield’s, they meet Uriah Heep, an unattractive young redhead
dressed entirely in black and skeleton-like in appearance. Uriah
takes them to Mr. Wickfield, who recommends a school for David but
warns that the dorms are full and that David will have to stay elsewhere. The
adults agree that David can go to the school and stay with Mr. Wickfield
until they find a more suitable arrangement. David meets Agnes,
Mr. Wickfield’s lovely and charming daughter, who dotes on her father
and is his one joy since his wife died. The three dine and have
tea together. David rises in the middle of the night and encounters
Uriah Heep, whose sliminess so strikes David that he feels the need
to rub off Uriah’s touch after shaking his hand.
Summary — Chapter XVI. I am a New Boy in more senses
than one
At school the next day, David meets the headmaster, Doctor
Strong, and his young wife, Annie. Mr. Wickfield and Doctor Strong
discuss arrangements Mr. Wickfield is trying to make for Annie’s
cousin, Jack Maldon. Mr. Wickfield wants to know whether there is
any particular reason that Doctor Strong wants Jack Maldon’s new
job to be one that sends him out of the country. Doctor Strong assures him
there is not.
David is behind in his studies but quickly catches up.
He makes friends with the boys at the school. At home, David speaks
with Agnes, whom he finds more and more charming in her devotion
to her father. One evening, at dinner, Jack Maldon interrupts the
family to say that he hopes he can go abroad as soon as possible.
Mr. Wickfield treats him politely but distantly and assures him
that there will be no delay in getting him sent abroad. After dinner,
Mr. Wickfield drinks heavily, and Agnes and David chat with him
and play dominos. Mr. Wickfield offers to let David stay permanently
at the house, and David gladly accepts. On his way to bed, David
runs into Uriah Heep. Uriah asks him whether he is impressed with
Agnes. David notes that whenever he says something that pleases
Uriah, Uriah writhes like a snake.
David quickly rises to the top of his class and settles
in happily. One evening, he, Mr. Wickfield, and Agnes visit Doctor
Strong’s home for a farewell party for Jack Maldon. Annie’s mother
is there, and she encourages Doctor Strong to continue to bestow
favors on her family members, who are poor and lower-class. Doctor
Strong acquiesces to all her demands. When Jack Maldon leaves to
depart for India, Annie becomes very emotional. As the coach pulls
away, David sees one of her ribbons in Jack Maldon’s hand.
Summary — Chapter XVII. Somebody turns up
Peggotty writes to David and tells him that the furniture
at his old house has been sold, the Murdstones have moved, and the
house is for sale. David tells Miss Betsey of all the news in Peggotty’s
letters when she visits him at school, as she does frequently. Mr.
Dick visits even more frequently and becomes a favorite of Doctor
Strong and the other school boys. Mr. Dick tells David that Miss
Betsey recently had a strange nighttime encounter with a man who
frightened her so badly that she fainted. Neither Mr. Dick nor David
understands the encounter. Mr. Dick reports that the man appeared
again the previous night, and that Miss Betsey gave him money.
David goes to tea at Uriah Heep’s house, where Uriah and
his mother intimidate David into telling them secrets about Agnes, especially
about her father’s health and financial situation. David is very
uncomfortable with the Heeps and feels that they are manipulating
him. Uriah and his mother both frequently repeat that they are so
humble as to be grateful for any attention from David. In the middle
of tea, Mr. Micawber walks by the door. On seeing David, he enters.
The two of them leave together and visit Mrs. Micawber, who is very
glad to see David. The Micawbers are in terrible financial straits
again, but they are quite merry over dinner nonetheless.
