Summary Chapter 31




Mr. Barkis is buried in the old churchyard in Blunderstone where David’s mother forever rests.

While keeping company with his old nurse Peggotty, David convinces Peggotty to allow him to take stock of the contents of a box which Mr. Barkis had practically embraced while dying. Indeed, while alive and doing his rounds as coach driver, Mr. Barkis and the box had been practically inseparable, and no wonder for the box contains the whole of Mr. Barkis’ earthly wealth to the sum of three thousand pounds. Within the box, David also finds a last will and testament which empowers Peggotty “the residuary legatee, and sole executrix.” David takes consolation in the fact that his job as proctor makes him especially qualified to take stock of Mr. Barkis’ wealth and to determine the course of action to be taken with regard its rightful distribution.

At Blunderstone, the funeral attendees separate but agree to meet up later in Mr. Peggotty’s boathouse.

When David arrives at Mr. Peggotty’s boathouse, everything is as it should be. It is nice and cozy inside, Mr. Peggotty is bluff and outgoing, and Mrs. Gummidge is her usual querulous self. David is told that Ham is due to arrive with Emily any time soon. By and by, Ham arrives but without Emily. Ham manages to pull David aside to tell him in secret what has happened, but to no avail. Presently, David is exhorted to read Emily’s letter, which Ham has in possession, before everyone in the boathouse. The letter is a tearful apology; Emily has run away for the sake of becoming a lady. Ham suspects that the gentleman with whom Emily has run away is none other than Steerforth. Indeed, Ham knows it is Steerforth on account of Steerforth’s servant Littimer in whose presence Emily was last reported seen. Ham makes it clear that he holds nothing against David.

Consequently, Mr. Peggotty, who is exceedingly angry and in a state of shock, prepares to go out and find his niece. He is dissuaded from doing so by Mrs. Gummidge who is right in arguing that Mr. Peggotty needs to be calm and poised to do what he has set out to do. At a loss, David weeps.



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