David Copperfield: Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

After a month has passed, David notices the man with the wooden leg cleaning the school in preparation for the arrival of students. That evening, David is summoned to see Mr. Creakle. David is intimidated by the headmaster, who has a habitually angry expression and always talks in a whisper (the man with the wooden leg repeats most of what he says in a louder voice). A cross-examination ensues, with Mr. Creakle asking how David has behaved so far, warning him that he knows Mr. Murdstone, and describing himself as a "Tartar." As proof of this, Mr. Creakle warns David that he would disown his own wife and daughter (who are in the room) if they disobeyed him. As he leaves, David dares to ask to take the placard off, and Mr. Creakle lunges at him in answer.

The next day, the head teacher, Mr. Sharp, returns. A student named Tommy Traddles arrives and tells David that Mr. Sharp's luxuriantly wavy hair is actually a wig. Traddles and David quickly strike up a friendship, with Traddles helping smooth the issue of the placard over with the other students when they arrive.

A student named James Steerforth returns. The boys have been anticipating his arrival so they can present David to him: Steerforth is older, good-looking, and rich, and therefore the unofficial leader of the group. When Steerforth meets David, he tells David that he ought to give him his money for safekeeping, and then asks him whether he'd like to use some of it to buy a bottle of wine Steerforth has. In this way, he tricks David into buying not only the wine but also cakes, biscuits, and fruit.

That evening, Steerforth lays all the food out on David's bed and the boys stay up feasting and gossiping—an episode David remembers as magical to the present day. Through their talk, David learns more about the school—for instance, that Mr. Creakle and Tungay (the man with the wooden leg) used to work together trading hops (an ingredient in beer) and view the school mostly as a moneymaking venture. Both are consequently cruel with the students, although Mr. Creakle never dares to beat Steerforth. Mr. Mell and Mr. Sharp, meanwhile, are badly paid, and the former is particularly poor, having grown up in poverty.

After the talk dies down and most of the boys have gone to bed, Steerforth reiterates that he will "take care of" David. He also asks whether David has a sister, since he imagines she would be a "pretty, timid, little, bright-eyed sort of girl." David says that he does not, and continues to think about Steerforth as he falls asleep—though not, he says, because he had any premonition of Steerforth's future.