C H A R L E S D I C K E N S David Copperfield

Adapted by H. Q. Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni

David Copperfield
Student’s Book
by Charles Dickens adapted by H. Q. Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni

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ISBN: 978-960-573-130-4

C1906004021-16323

Introduction

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is considered one of the greatest writers in the English language. He is most famous for his vivid characters and his criticism of the injustices in society. Among his bestknown works are Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Nicholas Nickleby and A Christmas Carol.

Dickens’ own experiences influenced his novels. His early childhood was happy. He spent a lot of time outdoors and loved to read. However, Dickens’ father went deeply into debt, and as a result was sent to the debtor’s prison, a common practice at the time. At the age of twelve young Charles went to work in a factory to help support his family. His job was pasting labels onto jars of polish. These experiences gave Dickens understanding and sympathy for the working poor. Later, in his novels, he tried to draw attention to their suffering.

When he was older Dickens began work as a law clerk, but he disliked lawyers too much to have a career in law. Instead, he became a journalist in his early twenties. Through this work he became a writer and published his first book when he was twenty-four. He also married and had ten children.

David Copperfield is Dicken’s eighth novel, originally published in serial form from 1849 to 1850. It is the most autobiographical of his books, as many elements of the book follow events in Dicken’s life. Dickens draws on his own experiences to describe and criticise common practices of his time, such as child labour and debtor’s prison or the suffering of the poor and weak in the hands of the strong.

He also discusses subjects like social class and its importance in people’s lives or equality in marriage. Dickens often sympathises with the poor and weak and seems to believe that their suffering is not their own fault, but comes from society’s unfairness and injustice. In his novels, Dickens also states the importance of love and kindness, which seem to have the power to transform people as well as society.

There have been many film, TV and theatrical adaptations of David Copperfield. One of the most successful is believed to be the 1999 one shown on BBC.

Contents

1. Chapter 1............................................................. 4
2. Chapter 2............................................................. 9
3. Chapter 3........................................................... 14
4. Chapter 4........................................................... 18
5. Chapter 5........................................................... 22
6. Chapter 6........................................................... 26
7. Chapter 7........................................................... 31
8. Chapter 8........................................................... 36
9. Chapter 9........................................................... 40
10. Chapter 10.......................................................... 46
11. Activity Section
12. Chapter 1........................................................... 52
13. Chapter 2........................................................... 54
14. Chapter 3........................................................... 56
15. Chapter 4........................................................... 58
16. Chapter 5........................................................... 60
17. Chapter 6........................................................... 62
18. Chapter 7........................................................... 64
19. Chapter 8........................................................... 66
20. Chapter 9........................................................... 68
21. Chapter 10.......................................................... 70

chapter 1

My story begins at the beginning of my life: I was born on a Friday night in a town called Blunderstone in Suffolk, England. My mother’s name was Clara and she named me after my father, David, who died six months before I was born. My father had one living relative, a wealthy aunt named Betsey Trotwood who lived in Dover. Aunt Betsey had never approved of my parents’ marriage – she felt that my mother was too young to be a good wife. On the day of my birth, Aunt Betsey paid my mother a surprise visit. “I have a feeling that you’re going to give birth to a girl,” declared Aunt Betsey, as she entered the house. “I’m here to offer my help and support, but you must name the child after me.” I was born a few hours later, and, when my aunt heard that I was a boy, she walked straight out of the house and never returned. My early childhood was filled with loving memories of my beautiful mother and of my kind nurse, Peggotty, who treated me as if I was her own child. But, my happiness did not last long. I’ll never forget the day my mother arrived home with a mysterious gentleman named Mr Murdstone. He had shiny black hair and whiskers and I didn’t like him at all. I was sure he didn’t like me either. Mr Murdstone visited my mother regularly, and I made sure to avoid him as much as possible during his visits. A few months after Mr Murdstone began courting my mother, Peggotty invited me to come to Yarmouth with her to visit her brother, Daniel. “You’ll like Yarmouth, Master Davy,” she said. “It’s a small fishing village by the sea – you can play on the beach and watch the boats and the fishermen.” I was enchanted by Peggotty’s description of Yarmouth and I was thrilled when my mother agreed to let me go. We had to travel to Yarmouth by cart; when we arrived we made our way to Peggotty’s brother’s house on foot. “There it is,” said my nurse, pointing into the distance. I was surprised to see that the house was actually a houseboat. We knocked on the door and were welcomed by the housekeeper, Mrs Gummidge, and two orphan children named Ham and Emily whom Mr Peggotty had adopted. The children referred to Mr Peggotty as

‘Uncle’. Mr Peggotty was out fishing and he returned home later that afternoon. Peggotty introduced me to him and he shook my hand enthusiastically. “Glad to see you, young man!” he said with a broad smile. I liked Mr Peggotty immediately. I spent two glorious weeks in Yarmouth, playing and exploring with Ham and Emily; the three of us quickly became close friends. Soon, it was time to go back to Blunderstone. I was sad to leave my friends, but I couldn’t wait to see my mother again. As soon as we arrived home, Peggotty took me by the hand and led me into the kitchen. “There’s something I have to tell you, Master Davy,” she said. I couldn’t help but notice the look of concern in her eyes. “What? What is it?” I asked. “You have a new father,” said Peggotty. “A new father?” I repeated. “But I don’t want a new father!” Peggotty sighed. “You don’t have a choice, my boy.” We went to the parlour where we found my mother and Mr Murdstone sitting by the fireplace. My mother smiled at me and stood up to give me a hug, but Mr Murdstone stopped her. “Now, Clara, my dear,” said Mr Murdstone, “control yourself. Davy boy, how do you do?” I shook hands with Mr Murdstone, then I greeted my mother. She kissed me, patted me on the shoulder and then sat down again. As soon as I could get away, I went up to my room and sobbed. After dinner the following evening, Mr Murdstone’s sister arrived. She was a stern woman with dark hair and thick eyebrows. I could tell she didn’t like me very much. I was unhappy to learn that Miss Murdstone would be living with us permanently. She quickly took control of the household, and it wasn’t long before my mother and I began to feel like strangers in our own home. The Murdstones forbade me from playing with other children and I hardly ever spent time with my mother. I didn’t attend school; Mr Murdstone preferred to teach me at home. One day, I went to the parlour for my lessons and I found Mr Murdstone there, holding a cane. My mother was looking on anxiously. “David,” said Mr Murdstone, “your lessons have been very disappointing lately. If there is no improvement today, I will be forced to use this.”

Mr Murdstone cut the air with the cane and I shivered. I was terrified, and, needless to say, my lessons went very badly. Finally, Mr Murdstone stood up and ordered me to go upstairs with him. My mother tried to stop him, but Miss Murdstone held her back. “Don’t be a fool, Clara,” she said, “the boy must be punished.” I heard my mother cry out, but Mr Murdstone ignored her. He took me to my room and closed the door. Then, he twisted my head under his arm and raised the cane in the air. “Please, sir, don’t hit me!” I pleaded. Mr Murdstone hit me as hard as he could; I tried to pull away from him, but it was no use. He hit me again and I bit his hand as hard as I could. Mr Murdstone was furious; he beat me until my entire body was bruised, then he walked out and locked the door. I spent five days locked in my room. On the last night of my captivity, Peggotty informed me that I was going to be sent to a boarding school in London. In the morning, Miss Murdstone appeared and told me to get dressed and go down to the parlour. I found my mother there; her eyes were red and it was obvious that she’d been crying. “My sweet boy,” she said as she took me in her arms. The cart arrived once I’d finished eating my breakfast. My mother kissed me goodbye and I climbed into the cart reluctantly. Tears ran down my cheeks as I watched my house disappear into the distance.

Chapter 2

A few minutes later, I heard Peggotty calling my name. I turned around and saw her running behind the cart. Barkis, the driver, brought the cart to a halt and Peggotty climbed in beside me. “This is for you, dear boy,” she said as she handed me a box of cakes and a purse containing several shiny coins. The money was a gift from my mother. I thanked Peggotty and she kissed the top of my head and hugged me tightly. Then, she climbed out of the cart and hurried off. We continued on our journey and when it was time for lunch, I offered Barkis one of Peggotty’s cakes. “Did she make these cakes?” he asked, referring to Peggotty. “Yes,” I said. “Peggotty makes all our cakes and she does all our cooking.” Barkis seemed impressed. “Does she?” he said. “Is she married?” I shook my head. The driver was quiet for a moment. “Will you be writing to Peggotty at all?” he asked. “Yes,” I answered. “Well, when you write to her again, please tell her that Barkis is willing.” I wasn’t quite sure what Barkis meant, but I promised to do as he’d asked. Barkis dropped me off in Yarmouth, where I caught the evening coach to London. I arrived at Salem House School the following morning. The building was old and run-down and was surrounded by a very high brick wall. I knocked on the front door and a large man with a wooden leg answered it. “You must be the new boy,” he grunted. I nodded. “The headmaster, Mr Creakle, is waiting for you in his office.” The man showed me to Mr Creakle’s office and I walked inside carefully. Mr Creakle was sitting at his desk; he had small black eyes, a hooked nose and a large chin. He reminded me of a pirate. “So, Mr Copperfield,” said Mr Creakle, without taking his small, bright eyes off me, “your stepfather told me that you like to bite people, is that true?”

I looked down at my shoes and said nothing. Mr Creakle stood up and walked towards me. He pinched my ear roughly and whispered: “I’ll be watching you, Mr Copperfield. Make sure you don’t get into trouble.” I hurried out of the office with those words of warning still ringing in my ears. School started the next day and I quickly made two new friends – the one was a kind and friendly boy, about my age, named Tommy Traddles. The other was James Steerforth. Steerforth was handsome and popular and an excellent student, and though he was six years older than me, he very kindly looked after me. The months passed and soon it was time to go home for the holidays. I was bursting with excitement – I couldn’t wait to see my mother again. After an exhausting trip, I arrived home to find my mother sitting in the parlour, holding a newborn child. I couldn’t believe my eyes! My mother was singing softly to the baby and when she saw me she said: “Davy, my little boy!” I sat down next to her on

the sofa and she kissed me and hugged me tightly. Then, she put the baby in my arms and said: “This is your brother.” Peggotty appeared a short while later; she was delighted to see me. The Murdstones were out and the three of us had dinner together for the first time in a very long time. Peggotty had prepared a delicious meal of roast lamb and potatoes and I ate every bit of it. Later, I asked Peggotty if she’d seen Barkis and she began to laugh uncontrollably. “What’s so funny?” I asked. “Yes, I have seen Barkis,” said Peggotty. “We’ve been writing to each other... He wants to marry me!” “Well, I think he would be a good match for you, Peggotty,” said my mother with a smile. Peggotty laughed again. I spent the rest of the evening talking to my mother and Peggotty about Salem House and the friends I’d made there. I went to bed before the Murdstones came home; I was in no hurry to see them. The next morning, I went down to breakfast and found the Murdstones in the parlour. I felt anxious as I greeted them.

“How long are the holidays?” asked Miss Murdstone as she poured herself a cup of tea. “One month,” I replied. “That’s too long,” said Miss Murdstone. I didn’t enjoy my holiday – I ate my meals in silence; took long walks alone and hardly saw my mother. She seemed weak and tired and spent much of her time in her room. Finally, it was time to return to school. On the day of my departure, my mother came to the gate to say goodbye. I remember her holding her baby in her arms and waving – that was the last time I ever saw her. *** A few days after my birthday in March, Mr Creakle called me to his office. When I arrived, I found Mrs Creakle there too. “David, I have some bad news,” said Mrs Creakle. “Your mother has been ill and she died this morning. I’m sorry.” I stood there, frozen, unable to make sense of what I’d just heard. Then, I burst into tears. I spent the whole day in the office, sobbing uncontrollably, with Mrs Creakle trying to comfort me. I returned home the following afternoon to discover that my little brother had also died. I don’t remember much about the funeral, except that it was over quickly. What I do remember is that Miss Murdstone fired Peggotty straight afterwards. Peggotty decided to return to Yarmouth and the Murdstones allowed me to go with her for a few weeks. My time in Yarmouth cheered me up greatly; it was wonderful to see my friends again. And there was some good news: Barkis and Peggotty got married. When I returned home, Mr Murdstone informed me that I would not be going back to school. Instead, he had arranged for me to start working in a factory in London, which was owned by his friend, Mr Quinion. I didn’t like the idea at all, but I couldn’t wait to get away from the Murdstones. The next morning, I was on a coach to London.

Chapter 3

My job in Quinion's factory was to put labels on the tins. The factory was cold and dirty, and the boys that worked there were rough and uneducated. I couldn’t believe that my life had changed so much in such a short period of time. On my first day of work, Mr Quinion introduced me to my new landlord, a bald, middle-aged man named Wilkins Micawber. “Hello, young man,” said Mr Micawber. “Your stepfather has arranged for you to stay in a room at my house. I will walk you there tonight after work, if you like.” I arranged to meet Mr Micawber at eight o’ clock; it was a short and pleasant walk to his house in Windsor Terrace. The Micawber family was friendly and welcoming, though Mrs Micawber did seem to have her hands full taking care of four young children. After a meal of bread and cheese, Mrs Micawber showed me to my room. “I never thought we’d have to take in a paying guest,” she said with a sigh, “but Mr Micawber owes a lot of people a lot of money and we have to pay them back somehow.” “Yes, ma’am,” I said. I liked the Micawbers immediately and was sympathetic to their troubles. I even offered to pay for their food when I found the cupboards empty one day, but they refused to take my money. Unable to pay his debts, Mr Micawber was sent to prison for a few months. Luckily, he did not stay there very long and the Micawbers decided to move to the country as soon as he was free. I was very sad to see the Micawbers go. I couldn’t face life in London alone, so I made up my mind to find my only living relative, my greataunt Betsey. Peggotty had given me my aunt’s address in Dover, as well as a picture of my aunt, and I immediately set out to look for her. I travelled to Dover on foot, and, by the time I arrived at my aunt’s house, I looked like a beggar. My face was dirty, my hair was unbrushed and my clothes were torn. I stood outside the house, unsure of what to do next, when a plump lady wearing an apron walked out the front door and started shouting at me. “Go away!” she cried. “No boys here!” Trying to be brave, I walked up to the woman and said in a

trembling voice: “Please, aunt, I am your nephew.” My aunt stared at me in disbelief. “What?” she exclaimed. “I am David Copperfield of Blunderstone, Suffolk,” I said. “I have been miserable since my mother died; I have been treated badly and forced to work in a factory for little money. I walked all the way from London to find you and I haven’t slept in a bed since I started my journey...” I burst into tears and my aunt put her arms around me and guided me into the parlour. She helped me lie down on the sofa, then she covered me with a blanket. “Heavens above!” said my aunt, shaking her head. A few minutes later, my aunt rang a bell and instructed her servant, Janet, to give me a hot bath. The bath was followed by a delicious dinner; then I went straight to bed. The following morning, I went down to breakfast and was very sad to learn that my aunt had written to Mr Murdstone about me. “Does that mean I have to go back to him?” I said. “I don’t know,” said my aunt. “We’ll see.” I told my aunt that the Murdstones had treated me and my mother terribly and I begged her to let me stay with her. She agreed to become my guardian and when the Murdstones arrived to take me home a few days later, they were sent back to Suffolk empty-handed. *** My aunt decided to send me to school in the neighbouring town of Canterbury. She arranged for me to live with her lawyer, a widower named Mr Wickfield, who lived near the school. We arrived at Mr Wickfield’s house early on a Monday morning and were welcomed by a ghostly-looking young man of about fifteen. He had red hair, pale white skin and was dressed in black from head to toe. “Is Mr Wickfield at home, Uriah Heep?” asked my aunt. “Mr Wickfield is at home, ma’am,” said Uriah. “Please follow me.” We followed Uriah into a small office where we found a pleasantfaced, white-haired gentleman sitting at a desk. “Miss Trotwood!” said the man as he rose to his feet. “How lovely it is to see you again! This must be your nephew.” I shook hands with Mr Wickfield and smiled. My aunt and Mr

Wickfield talked briefly, then Mr Wickfield introduced me to his daughter, Agnes, who was about my age. Agnes was as kind and welcoming as her father and we became friends immediately. I started school the next day and I settled in quickly. Happily, my new headmaster, Dr Strong, was much kinder than Mr Creakle. I enjoyed living with the Wickfields, but Uriah Heep made me a little uneasy. One evening, just as I was about to go to bed, I noticed Uriah sitting in Mr Wickfield’s office, reading a thick book. “Are you working late, Uriah?” I asked. “No,” he said. “I’m studying. I want to become a lawyer. Mr Wickfield is helping me prepare for my exams.” “Have you been with Mr Wickfield long?” I asked. “About four years,” said Uriah. I nodded. “Perhaps you’ll be a partner in Mr Wickfield’s business one day,” I said. “Oh no,” said Uriah. “I know my place in life, Master Copperfield, I wouldn’t dream of asking for such a thing.” I was convinced that Uriah Heep was lying.

Chapter 4

O nce I’d finished school, I moved back in with my aunt and my thoughts immediately turned to earning a living. I decided to take a trip to London and Yarmouth to consider my career options. On the day of my departure I said goodbye to my aunt, then made my way to Canterbury to say goodbye to Agnes and her father. The Wickfields invited me to stay for lunch; afterwards, Agnes pulled me aside to discuss her father’s health. “David, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed that Papa hasn’t been himself lately,” she said. “What do you mean?” I asked. “He’s been forgetting a great deal and I’ve noticed his hands trembling,” said Agnes. “The trouble is Uriah knows my father isn’t well and he’s taking advantage of the situation. Uriah’s been seeing clients without my father’s knowledge and making business decisions on his own. I think he’s trying to take over the company.” I was surprised by Agnes’s words. “You can’t let that happen, Agnes,” I said. “Keep an eye on Uriah and let me know if there are any further developments.” Agnes nodded and I hugged her goodbye. The coach arrived soon after and I set off for London. By eight o’ clock, I had checked into my hotel. As I was making my way to the dining room, I noticed a familiar figure in the hall. It was my old friend, James Steerforth. “Steerforth!” I said, as I walked towards him. Steerforth gasped. “I don’t believe it!” he exclaimed. “It’s little Copperfield!” He shook my hand warmly and invited me to have dinner with him. He told me that he was studying at Oxford, and I told him that I was on my way to Yarmouth to visit my former nurse and her family. “I’m going home tomorrow to see my mother,” said Steerforth. “Why don’t you come spend a few days with me first?” I happily accepted Steerforth’s invitation and, the following morning, we took a coach to Steerforth’s home in Highgate. The house was very old, large and luxurious, and Steerforth’s mother was a generous host. I spent a week in Highgate; Steerforth and I spent our time fencing and riding and talking about Salem House.

Steerforth was keen to see Yarmouth and he offered to accompany me on my trip. When we arrived at the village, we checked into an inn and had breakfast. Afterwards, Steerforth went for a walk to the beach and I went to visit Peggotty. I hadn’t seen my old nurse in seven years and I was looking forward to the reunion. I knocked on the door and smiled broadly when Peggotty answered it. She smiled with delight when she realised who I was. “My darling boy!” she cried. Peggotty told me that Barkis was suffering from rheumatism and that he spent his days in bed. She took me to his room to see him and he was just as thrilled as his wife to see me. Steerforth arrived later and I introduced him to Barkis and Peggotty. We stayed for lunch and then made our way to Mr Peggotty’s house. “Master Davy! It’s Master Davy!” cried Ham when he opened the door. Ham shook our hands enthusiastically, then invited us inside. Emily and Mr Peggotty were delighted to see us; I introduced Steerforth to the family, and then we gathered around the fireplace with hot cups of tea. I was pleased to learn that Ham and Emily were engaged and I wished them both well. Steerforth entertained everyone with his jokes and stories and I noticed that Emily seemed to like him very much. We spent two weeks in Yarmouth; Steerforth was a keen sailor and he spent most of the holiday boating with Mr Peggotty. On the day that we left Yarmouth, I received a letter from my aunt asking me to meet her at a hotel in London. We arrived in the city that evening, and I immediately made my way to my aunt’s hotel. “Welcome back, dear boy!” said my aunt when she saw me. “I trust you had a good holiday?” “I did, aunt,” I said. “I’ve been giving your future a great deal of thought,” said my aunt as we sat down to dinner. “I’ve decided that you should become a legal assistant. What do you think?” “I think I’d like that very much,” I said, after a moment’s consideration. “Good,” said my aunt as she took a bite of her meal. “I’ve arranged for you to begin your training at a law firm called Spenlow and Jorkins. I’ve made an appointment for us to see Mr Spenlow tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you, aunt!” I said. “I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me.” “It’s my pleasure, my boy!” said my aunt. The next morning, my aunt and I made our way to the law offices of Spenlow and Jorkins where we discussed my studies with Mr Spenlow. After the meeting, my aunt took me to see a flat that she had rented for me. I was thrilled; I couldn’t wait to begin my new life.

chapter 5

O nce I’d finished my studies, Mr Spenlow offered me a permanent position at the firm. To celebrate, he invited me to his country home in Norwood for the weekend. I arrived at the house on Friday evening and was taken into the library, where I was introduced to Mr Spenlow’s daughter, Dora. She had sparkling green eyes, curly blonde hair and the sweetest laugh I’d ever heard. It did not take long for me to decide that I was madly in love with Dora Spenlow. Dora’s mother had died when she was young, and her father had hired a woman to be her companion. I hadn’t noticed the woman when I first walked into the library, but when I heard her speak, I recognised her immediately: it was Miss Murdstone! “I have seen Mr Copperfield before,” she said. I coughed nervously. “How do you do, Miss Murdstone?” I said. “I am very well,” she answered. Fortunately, our conversation was interrupted by the sound of the dinner bell. I was seated next to delightful Dora at dinner – I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and I hardly ate a thing. She was the most charming, beautiful girl I’d ever met. I was concerned that Miss Murdstone would fill Dora’s head with lies about me, but that fear was laid to rest when Miss Murdstone called me into the drawing room later for a private conversation. “I never liked you, David,” she began, “but I don’t think it’s necessary to tell the Spenlows about our past.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Miss Murdstone,” I said, “I’ll never forget the cruel way in which you and your brother treated me and my mother, but, I agree with you, there’s no need to discuss the past with anyone.” I enjoyed every minute of my time with Dora, and, by the end of the weekend, I knew she would one day be my wife. A few days after I returned to London, I was invited to a dinner party where I ran into my old friend, Tommy Traddles. Tommy told me that he was studying to be a lawyer and that he was engaged to a girl named Sophy who lived in Devonshire. We exchanged addresses and he invited me to dinner the following evening.

I had a very pleasant evening with Traddles; I told him all about Dora and he talked endlessly about Sophy. At around nine o’ clock, we heard a knock at the door. “That must be my landlord, Mr Micawber,” said Traddles, standing up. “He’s come to collect the rent.” “Mr Micawber?” I exclaimed. “Why, I knew him when I was a young boy!” Traddles opened the door, and, sure enough, there stood Mr Micawber. “Hello, sir!” I said, rising to my feet. Mr Micawber gasped. “David Copperfield? Is it really you?” “It is, sir.” Mr Micawber shook my hand enthusiastically and Traddles invited him in. We talked for a little while; then Mr Micawber returned to his flat with his payment. The following evening, Steerforth paid me an unexpected visit. I hadn’t seen him in months. “So how is Oxford?” I asked as we sat down on the sofa. “Oh, fine,” said Steerforth with a grin. “But I’ve just arrived from Yarmouth.” “You were in Yarmouth?” I said. “Yes. I wanted to do some boating.” “Were you there long?” I asked. “About a week,” answered Steerforth. “How is everyone? Emily isn’t married yet, is she?” “Not yet. She’s getting married in a few weeks, I think,” said Steerforth. “By the way, Peggotty told me to tell you that Barkis isn’t doing very well; he doesn’t have much time left,” he added. “Peggotty must be feeling miserable,” I said. I made up my mind to go see Peggotty the next day; I was sure she’d need my support. Steerforth and I had dinner together; then, just before he left, he said: “David, will you promise me something?” “Anything,” I said. “Promise me that no matter what happens, you will always remember the good times we had together.” “Of course, Steerforth,” I said. Looking back, I wish I'd known what Steerforth was planning.

*** By ten o’ clock the following evening, I was in Yarmouth, knocking on Peggotty’s front door. It was the coldest of nights and the wind was blowing wildly. “David, I’m so glad you came,” said a tearful Peggotty when she opened the door. Peggotty led me to the kitchen where I found Mr Peggotty, Ham and Emily gathered around the fireplace. Emily was crying softly and Mr Peggotty was comforting her. I greeted them in turn, then I followed Peggotty upstairs to Barkis’s room. “Barkis, my dear, Master Davy is here,” said Peggotty as she sat down on the bed next to him. “Do you remember him?” Barkis looked at me and smiled. “Barkis is willing!” he whispered. Moments later, Barkis closed his eyes forever. The funeral was held the following week and, that night, I went to Mr Peggotty’s house to say goodbye to the family. Mr Peggotty was alone when I arrived. The moment I sat down, Ham burst through the front door. His eyes were wild and he seemed out of breath. “Ham!” I exclaimed. “What’s the matter?” “It’s Emily!” he cried, his lips trembling. “She’s run away!” Mr Peggotty gasped. “What? What are you talking about?” “She left this letter,” said Ham, holding up a yellow piece of paper. “Please read it, David.” Ham handed me the letter and I read it. Emily had run away with a man. Mr Peggotty’s face turned pale. “Who is this man?” he asked in a trembling voice. Ham glanced at me and I had an awful feeling of fear. “It’s Steerforth!” exclaimed Ham. “Master Davy, it’s not your fault – Steerforth is a villain!” Immediately, Mr Peggotty put on his coat and hat and rushed to the door. “Where are you going, sir?” asked Ham. “I’m going to find Emily!” declared Mr Peggotty. “I’m going to find her and bring her home if it’s the last thing I do!” With that, he was gone.

chapter 6

U pon my return to London, I paid a visit to Mrs Steerforth to find out if she’d heard from her son. She was devastated that Steerforth had run off with Emily and she doubted very much that he would marry her. Steerforth hadn’t told his mother where he was going, and she was afraid she would never see him again. Meanwhile, Mr Peggotty continued looking for Emily and Peggotty moved to London to conduct her own search. I thought about Dora constantly throughout this difficult time and I couldn’t wait to see her again. I was thrilled when Mr Spenlow invited me to Dora’s birthday picnic a few weeks later. On the day of the happy event, I bought Dora an enormous bunch of brightly-coloured flowers, then made my way to the Spenlow home on horseback. I found Dora sitting in the garden under a lilac tree. She was dressed in a pale blue dress and had ribbons in her long hair. She looked beautiful. Dora’s friend, Julia Mills, was with her, and they both smiled at me as I walked towards them. “Happy Birthday, Dora,” I said as I handed her the flowers. “Oh, thank you, Mr Copperfield, they’re lovely!” she said as she breathed in their sweet smell. “You’ll be glad to hear that Miss Murdstone isn’t here today. She’s gone away for a few weeks, isn’t that wonderful?” It certainly was wonderful news. Mr Spenlow joined us a few minutes later and we all made our way to a nearby park. Once we’d found the other party guests, we began unpacking the picnic baskets which were filled with cakes and sandwiches. Dora and I sat down under an oak tree and spent most of the afternoon talking; I could’ve happily spent the rest of my life in that park with Dora. Later, as the party was drawing to a close, Julia told me that Dora would be staying with her for a few days and she invited me to come for a visit. Three days later, I went to the Mills house to declare my love for Dora. Dora and Julia were in the parlour when I arrived; Julia greeted me, then she excused herself. I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to tell Dora how I felt. I sat down next to her, took her hand in mine and told her that I loved her and adored her, and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Dora told me that she

loved me too, and, with that, we were engaged. I wasn’t sure how Mr Spenlow would react to the engagement so we decided to keep it a secret for a while. A few days later, I came home from work to find my aunt in my flat – she was sitting on her suitcase, drinking a cup of tea. “Aunt Betsey!” I exclaimed. “What a wonderful surprise!” My aunt stood up and hugged me. “The landlady let me in,” she said, “I hope you don’t mind.” “Not at all,” I said. “What brings you to London?” “I have bad news, David,” said my aunt. “It seems I’ve lost all my money. All I have left is my cottage and this suitcase!” I was stunned. “But how did this happen, aunt?” I asked. My aunt sighed. “I decided to invest my own money, since I no longer trust Mr Wickfield to handle my finances. He’s not the businessman he used to be, you see. Unfortunately, I made some bad investments and lost everything.” “I’m so sorry, aunt,” I said, shaking my head. We discussed my aunt’s financial problems further, then I told her about my engagement. “I’m very happy for you, David,” said my aunt, “but are you sure you’re ready to get married?” “Dora and I are very much in love,” I said. “Well then, I hope your marriage is a happy one,” said my aunt. Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was Agnes. “Agnes!” I exclaimed when I opened the door. “What an unexpected surprise!” Agnes smiled. “Hello, David,” she said. “I came to see your aunt, she left me a note saying she’d lost all her money and was coming to stay with you. I was worried about her and I came to London to see her. Papa and Uriah Heep are also here on business.” I told Agnes to come inside and my aunt greeted her warmly. “Is Uriah still causing trouble?” I asked. Agnes nodded. “He’s become a partner in my father’s firm. And Uriah and his mother have moved in with us.” I was dismayed to hear Agnes’s news, and my hatred of Uriah Heep increased. My aunt told us that she was planning to rent out her cottage to

earn some money and Agnes suggested that I should take on a second job to pay for my expenses. “Dr Strong is living in London now and he’s looking for an assistant,” she said. “I’m sure he’d love to have his favourite former pupil working for him.” “Dear Agnes!” I said, as I kissed her hand. “What would I do without you? You are my good angel!” Agnes blushed and said nothing.

chapter 7

I heard that Traddles had passed his law exams and i went to his flat to congratulate him. On the way, I bumped into a very excited Mr Micawber. He told me that he and his family were moving to Canterbury. I was shocked to hear that Uriah Heep had offered him a job as a clerk. “Mr Heep is a very intelligent man and I have the greatest respect for him,” said Mr Micawber, “I have no doubt that this move will benefit my entire family.” Of course, I did not share Mr Micawber’s opinion of Uriah, but I said nothing. I wished Mr Micawber well and continued on to Traddles’s flat. There was another unpleasant surprise in store for me the next morning. I arrived at work at the usual time and found Mr Spenlow and Miss Murdstone waiting for me in my office. Mr Spenlow instructed me to sit down and I did as I was told. “Mr Copperfield,” began Mr Spenlow, “it has come to my attention that you and Dora have been writing letters to each other.”

Mr Spenlow removed a bundle of letters from his pocket and placed them on the desk. “Miss Murdstone found these in Dora’s room,” he continued. “You and my daughter have been communicating in secret! Mr Copperfield, what do you have to say for yourself?” I moved around nervously in my seat. “There is nothing I can say, sir,” I said, “except that it was my idea to keep our relationship a secret. Dora is entirely blameless. I am very sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I want you to know that I love your daughter very much and I intend to marry her.” Mr Spenlow’s face turned bright red. “How dare you?” he shouted. “You will not marry my daughter. I forbid it. And you are no longer allowed to communicate with her, do you understand?” “But, sir,” I protested, “Dora and I love each other! I can’t end our relationship!” “You can, Mr Copperfield, and you will,” said Mr Spenlow. “That is all I have to say.” Mr Spenlow then left the office at once, followed closely by Miss Murdstone, who had a wicked smile on her face. I was in shock. I went home and told my aunt what had happened, then I went straight to bed. When I arrived at work the following morning, I found the clerks puzzled and excited. “What’s going on?” I asked Tiffey, one of the senior clerks. “Haven’t you heard?” he said. “It’s Mr Spenlow – he’s dead!” I almost fainted from shock. “What happened?” I exclaimed. “No one knows for sure,” said Tiffey. “He may have been ill; he was found dead in his office last night.” All I could think about was Dora’s suffering. I ran home as fast as I could and wrote a letter to Julia Mills telling her that I wanted to come and see Dora immediately. Julia wrote back saying that Dora was too upset to see me and that, after the funeral, she would be moving to Putney to live with her two aunts. I was heartbroken – I felt like I had lost Dora forever. My aunt tried to help me take my mind off Dora by sending me to Dover to meet the new tenants of her cottage. I spent one night in Dover, then I headed to Canterbury to visit the Wickfields. When I arrived, I found Mr Micawber sitting in Uriah Heep’s old office. He greeted me warmly. “Are you enjoying your work, Mr Micawber?” I asked.

“Very much indeed,” said Mr Micawber. “Glad to hear it,” I said. “Do you see much of Mr Wickfield?” “No, Uriah Heep has taken over the business; Mr Wickfield hardly does anything anymore.” I excused myself and made my way to the parlour, where I found Agnes reading a book. Her face brightened when she saw me. “David!” she said, as she rose to her feet. “Agnes, my dear friend, I have missed you so much,” I said. We sat down on the sofa and I told Agnes about my engagement to Dora and about Mr Spenlow’s death. She advised me to write to Dora’s aunts to ask for permission to visit her. I was about to ask Agnes about her father, when he and Uriah Heep entered the room. Mr Wickfield seemed pleased to see me and he invited me to stay for a few days. I accepted the invitation, but I could tell that Uriah did not like the idea at all. Later, I was introduced to Uriah’s mother who was just as unpleasant as her son. I tried to spend some time alone with Agnes, but Uriah and his mother followed us everywhere. They reminded me of two enormous bats that hung over the house and darkened it with their shadows. One afternoon, I decided to go for a walk. I had just arrived at the town when I heard rapid footsteps behind me. It was Uriah Heep. “What do you want, Uriah?” I said. “I thought you might like some company on your walk,” said Uriah. “I’ve had enough of your company,” I replied angrily. Uriah laughed. “I have to keep an eye on you, Mr Copperfield. I’m very fond of Agnes, and you’re a dangerous rival.” I was shocked to hear this. “Agnes is like a sister to me, Uriah, and, if you must know, I am engaged to someone else.” Uriah seemed relieved to hear this. “Besides,” I continued, “Agnes is far too good for you.” Uriah stared at me. “You’ve never liked me, Mr Copperfield, have you?” he said. “No, I never have,” I said, “and I don’t trust you either.” Uriah Heep said nothing. I returned to London the following day and wrote a letter to Dora’s aunts. I received a reply saying that the aunts wanted to meet me. And so, I went off to Putney to see my beautiful Dora again.

chapter 8

D ora’s aunts allowed me to visit her twice a week, and, within a few months, we were married. Our wedding was a happy celebration and we shared the day with all our friends and family. I could hardly wait to start my life with my dear little bride beside me. Soon after I got married, I started working as a newspaper reporter, reporting mostly on the debates in parliament. I also wrote short stories for several publications and my reputation grew. My career was going very well and I was enjoying married life; unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same about Dora. She knew nothing about running a household; she couldn’t cook or clean or manage the servants. She didn’t seem interested in my problems and I couldn’t count on her for advice or support. I loved Dora dearly, but, in many ways, she was still a child, and I wanted a partner who could provide the love and companionship I needed. About a year after we got married, Dora gave birth to our first child. Sadly, the baby died shortly after it was born and Dora’s health

began to get worse quickly. She became weak and frail; she spent most of her time in her room and I had to carry her up and down the stairs. I worried about Dora constantly. It broke my heart to see my wife in such a state. A few months later, Emily returned to London. Peggotty came to my house to tell me the good news. She said that Emily had accompanied Steerforth to Europe, but, eventually he grew tired of her and abandoned her in Italy. Emily was forced to return to England alone. She wrote to a friend of hers named Martha and asked her to let her stay with her. Martha agreed; then she wrote to Mr Peggotty to tell him that Emily had returned. Emily and Mr Peggotty were joyfully reunited, and Mr Peggotty decided that they would move to Australia to begin a new life. I was pleased that Emily had returned home safe and sound, but disappointed that Steerforth had treated her so badly. Not long after Emily’s return, I received a strange letter from Mr Micawber asking me to come to the Wickfields’ house with my aunt and Traddles for a meeting. Mr Micawber claimed to have some important information about Uriah Heep. I was reluctant to leave Dora at home by herself, but she assured me that she’d be all right. On the day of the meeting, my aunt, Traddles and I took a coach to Canterbury. When we arrived at the Wickfields’ house, we found Mr Micawber in his office surrounded by piles of documents. “Good day, Mr Micawber,” I said. Mr Micawber looked up at us and smiled. “Mr Copperfield! What a pleasure it is to see you! Thank you all for coming here today.” “Are the Wickfields home?” I asked. “They are indeed,” replied Mr Micawber, “but Mr Wickfield isn’t well. He’s upstairs and Miss Wickfield is tending to him.” “Why did you call us here?” “All will be revealed soon enough, Mr Copperfield,” said Mr Micawber. Mr Micawber handed Traddles a file and whispered something to him. Traddles left the room immediately and went upstairs. Then, my aunt and I followed Mr Micawber to Uriah Heep’s office. Mr Micawber knocked on the door. “You have visitors, Mr Heep,”

he said. Uriah looked up in astonishment. “Well, this is a surprise,” he said. “What can I do for you, Mr Copperfield?” “Mr Micawber called us here for a meeting,” I said. Uriah looked at Mr Micawber trying to understand. “Indeed I did!” said Mr Micawber. There was a pause, then Mr Micawber said: “I have an announcement to make: Uriah Heep is a liar and a thief!” Uriah’s pale face turned red. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded as he jumped to his feet and pounded his fist on his desk. “You have no right to speak to me like that!” “He has every right,” said Traddles as he walked into the room with Agnes by his side. “Mr Heep, my name is Thomas Traddles, I am a friend of Mr Wickfield’s and I’m also his lawyer. Mr Wickfield has just signed a legal document giving me permission to act for him on all matters.” Uriah looked horrified. “What?” he exclaimed. Then, Mr Micawber removed a notebook from his pocket and said: “I have recently discovered Uriah Heep’s notebook... The notebook contains a list of all the crimes Uriah has committed against Mr Wickfield and his company...” Uriah gasped. “Mr Wickfield has been ill for a very long time and Mr Heep has been taking advantage of his illness,” continued Mr Micawber. “Uriah Heep’s crimes include: forging Mr Wickfield’s signature on a number of important documents; stealing money from the company on numerous occasions and tricking Mr Wickfield into making him a partner in the firm.” A look of panic appeared in Uriah’s eyes. Agnes began to cry from happiness and I touched her arm lightly. “Mr Heep,” said Traddles, “we have all the evidence we need to send you to prison, but if you agree to pay all the money back that you stole, we’ll forget everything you’ve done.” Uriah Heep glared at all of us. He sat down in his chair, defeated. “Fine,” he muttered, “you win.”

chapter 9

B y the time I returned from Canterbury, Dora’s condition had worsened. Though I knew she did not have much time left, I still wanted to believe that she would survive. I couldn’t imagine my life without my sweet Dora. “I want to tell you something, David,” said Dora one evening. “Yes, my love?” I said as I took her hand in mine. “David, I was too young to get married, I was immature and inexperienced. I am afraid that I have not been a good wife to you. I think, in time, you would’ve grown tired of me – it is better this way...” “Oh Dora, don’t talk like that!” I cried. “We have had so many good times together! She smiled weakly and I noticed a single tear fall down her soft cheek. “Yes, my darling,” she said, “but I couldn’t make you truly happy.” The following evening, Agnes came to visit Dora. I left the two women alone and went downstairs to make some tea. Ten minutes later, I heard Agnes coming slowly down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and when I saw the look of grief on her face, I knew that it was all over. “I’m sorry, David,” she said quietly. Dora was gone and I felt as though my life was finished too. *** A few weeks after Dora’s funeral, Traddles wrote to me and asked me to come to Canterbury to see him. We arranged to meet at Mr Micawber’s house; Agnes had also been invited to attend the meeting. “Thank you all for coming here today,” said Traddles as we gathered in the parlour. “I have good news: Mr Wickfield’s affairs are in order; Uriah Heep has returned the money he stole and Mr Wickfield is no longer in debt. As for Heep, he and his mother have gone to London. I don’t think we’ll ever hear from them again.” “That’s wonderful news!” said Agnes, clapping her hands. “So what are you going to do now?” I asked her. “I’m going to sell the business and open up a school,” she said. I smiled. “I wish you much success, Agnes,” I said.

Once the meeting was over, Mr Micawber told us that he was planning to move to Australia with his family. Coincidentally, the Micawbers were leaving on the same day as Mr Peggotty and Emily. The Micawbers returned to London with me the following day to prepare for their trip to Australia. I visited them as often as I could and I spent as much time with Mr Peggotty as possible. I didn’t see much of Emily though. I had mentioned to her that Ham had told me that he felt guilty about persuading Emily to marry him; he believed that she never would’ve run away otherwise. Emily gave me a letter to give to Ham. It read:

I decided to go to Yarmouth to give Ham the letter personally; I knew it would bring him peace. When I arrived in Yarmouth, the sky was dark and a fierce wind was blowing. It started raining heavily and I walked to the beach to look at the sea. Enormous waves were rising from the sea, threatening to swallow up the entire town. Some women had gathered at the beach, looking desperately for their husbands who were out on their fishing boats. It was the worst storm to hit Yarmouth in decades and it filled me with a feeling of great dread. I couldn’t find Ham, so I walked back to town and checked into the inn. I ordered dinner, but I couldn’t eat a thing; I went to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. I lay awake for hours, listening to the sounds of the wind and the water. I got up at dawn and went downstairs. I heard some of the men talking about a ship that was sinking near the coast. I quickly made my way to the beach and joined a group of locals who were anxiously watching the roaring water. I saw the ship in the distance; it had struck a rock and was being tossed around by the waves.

Then, to my great surprise, I saw Ham burst through the crowd. He had tied a rope around his waist and some men were holding on to it. Ham dived into the sea and swam for the ship. Just as he reached it, a huge wave crashed on to the vessel and it disappeared into the water. The women on the beach cried out and the men looked on helplessly. They pulled Ham back, but it was too late. He was dead. Just then, I heard a fisherman call my name. “Master David,” he said, “come with me.” One of the sailor’s bodies had washed up on the beach. As I approached the body, I gasped in horror: it was Steerforth. I fell to my knees and wept.

When I returned to London, I immediately went to see Mrs Steerforth to deliver the heartbreaking news. I decided not to tell Mr Peggotty and Emily that Ham and Steerforth had died; the tragic news would remain my secret. A few weeks later, Peggotty and I went to the harbour to bid farewell to the Micawbers, Mr Peggotty and Emily. I was sad to see my friends go, but I wished them well and made them promise to write often. The ship began to move slowly out of the port and the passengers cheered loudly. Soon, the ship was nothing more than a speck in the distance.

chapter 10

D rowning in my grief and sadness, I decided to spend some time abroad to recover from my heartbreak. I spent three years travelling the world; my only connection to home was the letters I sometimes received from Traddles and Agnes. While I was away, I wrote a number of short stories which proved to be very popular. My work was very much in demand and I decided to devote my life to writing. I thought about Agnes often during my travels. She had been a good friend to me throughout my life and I realised that I had always loved her. But I doubted that Agnes shared my feelings and I was sure that it was too late for us to be together. I returned to England on a freezing cold morning in October. My first stop was Traddles’s office; he was thrilled that I was finally home. I was pleased to hear that Traddles and Sophy were married and that Traddles’s law practice was doing well. I spent two days with my friend in London, then I went to Dover to see my aunt. Peggotty was working as my aunt’s housekeeper and both she and my aunt welcomed me with open arms and tears of joy. We talked long into the night; I told my aunt and Peggotty about all the places I’d visited and showed them souvenirs from my travels. They showed me the letters that the emigrants had sent; everyone seemed to be well and happy in Australia. My aunt encouraged me to go to Canterbury to visit Agnes, which I did the following day. It was wonderful to see Agnes’s smiling face again. She was surprised to see me, but delighted. She led me to the parlour where we talked about Dora, Ham and Steerforth. Then I asked her about her school and her father. “I’m enjoying running the school,” said Agnes, “and Papa is doing much better. Thankfully, all our troubles are over.” I spent the afternoon with Agnes; by the end of the day, I was certain of my love for her. I wanted to be near Agnes, so I decided to stay with my aunt for a while and start writing a book. One day, while I was sorting through some letters I’d received from my fans, I came across a letter from Mr Creakle, my former headmaster. He was working as a prison warden and he invited me to go and see the prison. I told Traddles about the

letter; he was just as curious as I was to see Mr Creakle again and he agreed to come with me. So, we went to Mr Creakle’s prison, where we were warmly received by the man who’d made our lives a misery at school. Mr Creakle looked much older, but still as frightening as ever. He took us on a tour of the building, which included a visit to the cell of prisoner number twenty-seven. “He’s a model prisoner,” said Mr Creakle as he opened the heavy iron door. We were surprised to see that the prisoner was Uriah Heep! “How are you today, twenty-seven?” asked Mr Creakle. “I am very well, sir,” said Uriah. When Uriah saw us, he nodded his head and smiled. “I know that I have made terrible mistakes, and I must pay for them,” he said. Once Mr Creakle had closed the door, we asked him what crimes number twenty-seven had committed. “Fraud,” said Mr Creakle. “He’s going to be in prison for a very long time.” *** I returned to Dover and made a point of visiting Agnes as often as possible. Sometimes, I would read chapters of my book to her, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Finally, I felt brave enough to tell Agnes how I really felt about her. I remember the moment clearly; I remember looking into her bright blue eyes and telling her how much she meant to me. “I thought about you constantly while I was away,” I said. “I want you to know that I love you, Agnes. I’m not sure if you feel the same way... I hope you do.” Agnes’s eyes filled with tears. “David, there is something I must tell you,” she said. “What is it?” I asked hesitantly. “My darling, I have loved you all my life!” I laughed and cried and hugged Agnes. I was overcome with joy and relief. Two weeks later, we were married. On the day of our wedding, Agnes told me that Dora had asked her to care for me when she was gone. Her final wish had come true. I have now been married for ten years. Agnes and I have a beautiful family and a home that is filled with happiness and laughter. My wife is my greatest inspiration and the love of my life. Agnes, my good angel, may you be by my side forever.

chapter 1 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary

Follow-up activities

chapter 2 Comprehension

Vocabulary Follow-up activities

chapter 3 Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 4 Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 5 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 6 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 7 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 8 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 9 Comprehension Vocabulary

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chapter 10 Reading Comprehension Vocabulary

Follow-up activities