Summary Chapter 46




About a year has passed since David had gotten married. He has found such success at freelance writing that he is currently writing a book of fiction. Presently, as he is taking a walk, thinking about the book he is writing, he passes the Steerforths’ residence (which he has done so numerous times) and thinks how gloomy and dull the house is when he is waylaid by the Steerforth’s housemaid. She implores David to have a word with Rosa Dartle. David obliges.

Miss Dartle is her usual angry self. Naturally, it gives her satisfaction to tell David bad news with regard Emily whom Miss Dartle especially scorns. Emily has run away from James Steerforth. As for the details and the circumstances, Miss Dartle summons the elderly Littimer who was there to see it all unfold.

According to Littimer, Emily and James had at first gotten along well, traveling to France, Switzerland, and Italy, among other places. Emily made a good impression on all the people met along the way, and she progressed on her road of becoming a Lady. James, alas, became restless, and his restlessness had the effect of sundering his relationship with Emily. One morning, seeing how his relationship with Emily had deteriorated, James broke it off with Emily. In fact, James had left Emily in Littimer’s custody with the understanding she was to wed Littimer whom James had accounted a good match for Emily. Emily objected, however, to the extent she had to be confined to a room lest she commit violence on Littimer. Needless to say, Emily escaped her from her confinement and hasn’t been seen since. Having concluded his story, Littimer is about to part with David when David warns Littimer to be wary of encountering Mr. Peggotty who holds a grudge against Littimer.

Presently, Mrs. Steerforth joins David and Miss Dartle. David notices that, though looking worn and weary, Mrs. Steerforth yet retains her dignity and handsome features. Mrs. Steerforth congratulates David on his marriage and his success as a writer before parting ways.

Anxious to inform Mr. Peggotty of this development, David goes to London where he finds Mr. Peggotty in the apartment above the chandler’s shop, in Hungerford Market. Mr. Peggotty welcomes David with a grateful heart. David notices that Mr. Peggotty’s apartment is clean and orderly, and concludes that it’s kept this way to receive Emily.

Presently, David tells Mr. Peggotty that Emily has run away from James Steerforth. He agrees with Mr. Peggotty that she is still alive. As to her whereabouts, David suggests that they go look for Martha, the beggarly disgraced woman to whom Emily had been very kind, and speak to her, for she might have an idea.

Thus, David and Mr. Peggotty repair to an area of London where they might find Martha. On their way, David asks Mr. Peggotty about Ham and is told that Ham is as stoic, kind, and universally loved as he ever was. Still, the day Emily had absconded with Steerforth, David had noticed Ham look to the sea as if his fate awaited him there, and when he asks Mr. Peggotty about this, Mr. Peggotty himself admits that he is at a loss as to what to make of it.

By and by, David and Mr. Peggotty espy Martha. At David’s suggestion, fearing that Martha would object to talking to them when there are people around, they follow Martha from a distance until they arrive at a sparsely populated area.



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