Summary Chapter 38




Despite the difficulty involved, David plows ahead with his determination to master the art of documenting Parliamentary Debates, which requires David to learn codes which are about as indecipherable as Chinese or Egyptian hieroglyphics. It proves to be so difficult that David’s aunt, Mr. Dick, and Traddles, do their part to simulate Parliamentary Debates so that David could practice the art. Alas, the practice sessions only make it clear that David is far from mastering the art. Reluctantly, David starts the process of relearning the art from scratch.

David is in such a state of discouragement when, on a Saturday, upon reporting to the Commons, he finds Mr. Spenlow in a mood at odds with his usual affable self. By and by, Mr. Spenlow asks to have private word with David. As Mr. Spenlow leads David to a nearby coffee-house, David senses that Mr. Spenlow has gotten wind of his feelings for Dora. Sure enough, at the coffee-house, David and Mr. Spenlow are joined by Miss Murdstone who discloses, at Mr. Spenlow’s prompting, the suspicion she had always had with regard David’s feelings for Dora and vice versa. To prove that her suspicion wasn’t unfounded, Miss Murdstone produces a volume of letters that David had written Dora.

For his part, David doesn’t deny he had written the letters. Indeed, David avows that he loves Dora, that he will not consent to having his letters burned, and that his present financial circumstance notwithstanding, he will find a way to be deserving of Dora’s hand in marriage. To David’s dismay, Mr. Spenlow rejects David’s sentiments and demands that David cease his courtship of Dora at once. Mr. Spenlow gives David a week to get over his feelings.

The next time he is at the Commons, David immerses himself in writing a letter to Mr. Spenlow wherein he pleads Mr. Spenlow to spare Dora with regard this turn of events. (For her sake, let Dora be ignorant of Mr. Spenlow’s edict forbidding David from courting her.) Upon reading this letter, Mr. Spenlow urges David that he need not worry about Dora, and that if he continues to do so, Mr. Spenlow will be forced to send Dora overseas.

All this and more, David communicates with Miss Mills who does her best to console David. Indeed, Miss Mills, who had suffered for love herself, seems to take pleasure in the unfolding drama.

After a night of poor sleep, David reports to the Commons when he senses that something is awry. Presently, Tiffey, an inveterate clerk, informs David that Mr. Spenlow is dead. He explains how Mr. Spenlow was found lying on the ground on the road between the Commons and Norwood, and that Mr. Spenlow must have fallen off the phaeton he was driving. Needless to say, David is gravely concerned for Dora and finds out through Miss Mills that Dora is understandably in a state of shock.

A few days later at the Commons, Mr. Spenlow’s partner Mr. Jorkins, David, and Tiffey search Mr. Spenlow’s office space for a last will and testament. When David assures that there is one, citing Mr. Spenlow’s reference to it (during Mr. Spenlow’s dressing down of David with regards Dora), both Mr. Jorkins and Tiffey correctly conclude that that means there is no last will and testament.

Meanwhile, Dora repairs to Putney where she has two aunts. Miss Mills is there as well, and through her and her journal which she keeps for David’s benefit, David derives what consolation that he can of Dora’s condition.



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