David Copperfield: Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Shortly after the funeral, Miss Murdstone gives Peggotty a month's notice. David, however, is left in the dark about his own future, though Miss Murdstone hints that he will not be returning to school. Much to David's relief, however, he is now largely ignored by Mr. Murdstone, and thus allowed to spend time with Peggotty.

One evening, David tells Peggotty that Mr. Murdstone seems to dislike him more than ever, despite David's own wish to bond over their shared grief. Peggotty then confesses that she has been unable to find a new job nearby, and that she will consequently be moving to Yarmouth soon. She reassures David, however, that she will visit him often, and invites him to come with her when she makes a preliminary trip to see her brother, Mr. Peggotty. The idea delights David, and Peggotty quickly secures Miss Murdstone's approval.

When the time comes to leave, Peggotty is sad to say goodbye to her home. She is soon distracted, however, by the attention Barkis pays to her as she and David ride in his cart: he asks repeatedly whether she is comfortable, nudging her each time he speaks. Mr. Peggotty and Ham are waiting for them when they arrive in Yarmouth, and while they and Peggotty carry the baggage away, Barkis tells David that "It's all right." David later relays this to Peggotty, who asks David how he would feel if she married. David approves of the idea, provided that it does not diminish Peggotty's affection for him; in fact, he suggests that marrying Barkis would make it easier for Peggotty to visit him. Peggotty has also considered this, and it is one of the reasons she is considering accepting Barkis.

David finds that Mr. Peggotty's house looks nearly the same as he remembers, and Mrs. Gummidge is as grumpy as ever. Little Em'ly, however, is away at school when David arrives, and in her absence the house seems less "delightful." He therefore waits eagerly for her to return, but when he catches sight of her, both of them pretend not to see the other. Finally, David chases after her and tries to kiss her, but she stops him and runs away laughing. She continues to be coy with David once they are inside, though she tears up when Mr. Peggotty alludes to Clara's death.

After tea, Mr. Peggotty asks David about Steerforth, and David takes great pleasure in describing his friend's bravery, intelligence, and generosity. As he speaks, he notices little Em'ly watching him with fascination. However, when Mr. Peggotty suggests that Emily might wish to meet Steerforth, she becomes flustered and runs away.

That night, David listens to the wind and is troubled by the idea that it "moaned of those who were gone." The rest of his visit is happier, but he cannot quite recapture his old friendship with little Em'ly, who "seem[s] to have got a great distance away from [him]," and takes pleasure in teasing him.

Meanwhile, Mr. Barkis pays daily visits to Mr. Peggotty's house, always wordlessly leaving behind some kind of gift for Peggotty. Finally, toward the end of David's stay, he and little Em'ly are asked to make a day trip with Barkis and Peggotty. As the group leaves, Mrs. Gummidge throws a shoe after them for good luck. The chaise stops at a church, and David and Emily flirt with one another outside while Peggotty and Barkis go into the building. When Peggotty and Barkis return, they are married. The group then has dinner at a nearby inn before heading home, David huddling close to Emily and imagining marrying her and remaining "children ever."

David is sad when Peggotty and Barkis drive off after depositing him and little Em'ly at Mr. Peggotty's, but he perks up thanks to Ham and Emily's company. Peggotty visits the next morning and brings David to her new home, where David takes particular notice of an edition of Fox's Book of Martyrs. Peggotty reassures David that he will always have a place with her, but David is still distressed when he returns home the next day.

Mr. Murdstone and Miss Murdstone largely ignore David following his return, but he feels the neglect keenly and wishes he were allowed to go to school. The Murdstones also discourage him from visiting anyone in the neighborhood or even Peggotty, though she does manage to visit him weekly. By and large, however, David's only consolation is once again his books.

One day, David sees Mr. Murdstone talking with one of the men—Mr. Quinion—he had met during his visit to Lowestoft. Quinion questions David about what he has been doing lately, and then privately confers with Mr. Murdstone. The next morning, the Murdstones inform David that he will not be returning to school, but will instead be working for Quinion in his counting-house. The Murdstones suggest that the employment will improve David's character by encouraging industry and self-reliance, but David realizes that the Murdstones mostly hope to get rid of him. The following day, David leaves with Quinion and enters a period of his life, which he says has "often, without [his] invocation, come before [him] like a ghost, and haunted happier times."