David Copperfield: Chapter 62 Summary & Analysis

Over the next two months, David continues to live with Miss Betsey and pay visits to Agnes, whose encouragement he relies on heavily in his work. At the same time, however, he finds these visits painful, since it reminds him of the kind of marriage he could have had. He is still determined not to risk their relationship or her happiness by confessing his love, although he does fantasize about telling her the truth as an old man. Meanwhile, Miss Betsey seems to understand David's dilemma, but never speaks to him about it. As Christmas approaches, however, David begins to worry that Agnes has not told him to who she is in love with because she has guessed his own feelings. Since this would make his restraint pointless, he decides he needs to broach the topic with her. 

One day, Miss Betsey asks David if he is going to Canterbury to read his manuscript aloud to Agnes. He says that he is, and then asks whether his aunt knows anything more about Agnes's "attachment." Miss Betsey, looking at David with "a kind of doubt, or pity, or suspense," says that she does, and that she believes Agnes is going to marry soon. David, attempting to look happy, blesses Agnes, and Miss Betsey echoes this, blessing her future husband as well.

After a long, cold ride, David arrives at the Wickfields' to find Agnes done teaching for the day. They discuss David's work and Agnes, who is busy stitching, jokes that she needs to enjoy David's company while she can, because he will soon be too famous to talk to her. David, however, grows serious and asks Agnes whether she doubts his loyalty to her. She says that she does not, and David, reminding her of his deep gratitude to her, asks her to share her "secret" with him. Agnes says nothing, and David presses her to "let [him] be [her] friend, [her] brother." At this, Agnes gets up and walks across the room, starting to cry. David begs her to tell him what's wrong and let him help her, but she says she can't speak at the moment.

David begins to suspect that Agnes might be in love with him, but is afraid he is letting his hopes run away with him. He assures her that he has learned enough over the years not to "envy" her love for someone else, but Agnes simply tells him that he is mistaken: she has a secret, but it is not a "new one," or one that she can tell David.

Agnes tries to leave, but David catches her and says that he never planned to tell her this, but that he now hopes that he might one day be something other than a brother to her. Agnes continues crying, but David presses on, explaining that she was always so selfless, that he learned to take her for granted. Nevertheless, he says, his life even with Dora would have been "incomplete" without Agnes. After Dora's death, this became even clearer to him, and he has loved Agnes ever since. David then explains why he has stayed silent, and how grateful he would be to be Agnes's husband. Agnes accepts, and David senses that Dora is speaking through her and blessing the union. Agnes, meanwhile, says that she is very happy but has one thing to confess: she has loved him "all [her] life."

David and Agnes go for a walk that evening, and the quietness of their surroundings seems to mirror their own "blessed calm." David thinks back over his whole life, imagining a "ragged way-worn boy" who has finally arrived at this destination.

The next day, David brings Agnes with him to see Miss Betsey, but does not immediately reveal that they are engaged. After dinner, however, David says that he has talked to Agnes about the conversation he had with her. Miss Betsey scolds him for breaking his promise to keep quiet, but David insists his aunt shouldn't be angry, taking Agnes's arm to demonstrate what he means. This sends Miss Betsey into "hysterics," and Peggotty needs to revive her. Miss Betsey then hugs Peggotty and Mr. Dick, telling them the good news. She refuses to tell David, however, whether she deliberately told him Agnes was going to marry in order to provoke a confession.

David and Agnes marry about two weeks later, with only Traddles, Sophy, Doctor Strong, and Annie Strong as wedding guests. As the couple drives away together, Agnes says she has something she needs to tell David: the night Dora died, she "left something" to Agnes, and Agnes asks David to guess what it was. Agnes confirms that Dora insisted that only Agnes could succeed her as David's wife. The couple embraces, weeping but very happy.