impressed so far

I'm reading this for the first time and am enjoying it, so far.

I was a bit shocked by the dismissal of Mr. Mell, the teacher whose mother lives in an alms house. I infer from the way that it was presented, that it wouldn't have been considered surprising for someone to be fired for such an irrelevant reason in that time period. Or am I missing something?

Like many books written so long ago, there is occasionally a passage that defies understanding. Occasionally, even a stray word will be incomprensible. My dictionary doesn't give an meaning for "pericule", nor does the online dictionary.com. Apparently it's an object that Agnes leaves behind at a party, causing David to return and observe Dr. Strong and his wife. I'm guessing it's a compact or small mirror? Any ideas?

Aah -- I see. I remembered the word incorrectly from last night. It was a reticule, which dictionary.com says is a small purse. Mystery solved! :-)

It seems to me that Dicken was protesting the treatment of the poor, as well as abuse of women and children.