Summary — Chapter XXVII. Tommy Traddles
David decides to visit Tommy Traddles, who, he
discovers when he arrives, lives in the same building as the Micawbers.
Traddles is studying for the bar. His apartment and furniture are
extremely shabby, and he is struggling to earn enough money to marry
his true love, who has sworn to wait for him to save the money.
In the meantime, Traddles has collected two pieces of furniture,
a flowerpot, and a small table.
Mr. Micawber, meanwhile, is in dire financial trouble
again, although he still hopes to find work soon. Mrs. Micawber
is pregnant again.
Summary — Chapter XXVIII. Mr. Micawber’s Gauntlet
“Ride over all obstacles, and win the
race!”
(See Important Quotations Explained)
Mr. and Mrs. Micawber and Traddles come to dinner at David’s apartment.
Mrs. Crupp agrees, after a good deal of argument, to cook dinner
for them. The dinner is terribly undercooked, but Mrs. Micawber
directs them all in re-cooking the meat. They enjoy themselves as
they cook and eat.
Steerforth’s servant, Littimer, arrives and asks David
whether he has seen Steerforth. David replies that he has not. Littimer
will not tell David why he thought Steerforth might be at his house,
nor will he tell him where Steerforth has been. However, Littimer
insists on serving the remainder of the meal, which makes everyone
uncomfortable. After Littimer leaves, the guests continue to have
a merry time. They discuss Mr. Micawber’s prospects in the brewing
business and conclude that they are very good.
As his friends leave, David suggests to Traddles that
he neither lend anything to Mr. Micawber nor allow Micawber to use
Traddles’s name to take out more credit. Traddles says he has already
lent Mr. Micawber his name and adds that Mr. Micawber says that
the bill is taken care of. Skeptical, David reflects that he is
very glad Mr. Micawber never asked him for any money.
Steerforth appears in David’s apartment immediately after
the others leave, and David tells him Traddles has just left. Steerforth does
not speak highly of Traddles, and David is slightly offended. Steerforth
reveals that he has been seafaring at Yarmouth. David tells him
that Littimer has just been at the apartment looking for him. Steerforth
says that Mr. Barkis is quite ill and delivers a letter from Peggotty
to David. Steerforth remarks that it is too bad that Mr. Barkis
is dying, but says that above all, a man must “[r]ide over all obstacles,
and win the race!”
