Chapter 29 - Summary, David Copperfield | David Copperfield - Summary, Themes & Characters - Novels PDF Download

I Visit Steerforth at His Home, Again

• David asks Mr. Spenlow for some time off, which he gives – why not, since David's not getting a salary?
• Mrs. Steerforth and Miss Dartle both welcome David to their home in Highgate.
• David notices that Miss Dartle seems to be watching him and Steerforth very closely, as though comparing their faces.
• Every time David starts to talk to Steerforth, he notices that Miss Dartle is nearby.
• Finally, Steerforth, his mother, Miss Dartle, and David all go for a walk.
• Miss Dartle grabs David's arm and pulls him back a bit.
• She asks about David's job, which David agrees is a bit boring sometimes.
• Miss Dartle seems to be hinting at something that David doesn't get at all.
• She asks David (in her usual odd, roundabout way) if Steerforth has been away from home so much because he has been spending time with David.
• Of course, David says that he hasn't seen much of Steerforth at all.
• Miss Dartle asks David what on earth Steerforth is doing, then?
• David replies that he knows nothing at all.
• Miss Dartle makes him promise not to tell anyone they've had this conversation.
• David observes that Mrs. Steerforth seems particularly happy with her son; David thinks that the two seem very much alike, really.
• At dinner, Miss Dartle wants to ask a question.
• Mrs. Steerforth pleads with her not to take too much time about it, but to be direct, as she used to be.
• Miss Dartle wonders that she could every have been different than she is now – what can have caused the change?
• Perhaps she should study Steerforth's manner to learn how to be more frank, Miss Dartle suggests.
• Mrs. Steerforth agrees.
• Miss Dartle then asks if two people who are very like one another get into an argument, if it's all the harder for them to make up afterwards?
• Like, let's just say that Steerforth and Mrs. Steerforth got into an argument. What would happen?
• The Steerforths dismiss the possibility.
• David also notices that Steerforth is going out of his way to charm Miss Dartle.
• Miss Dartle resists as much as she can, but eventually, even she starts to soften.
• Steerforth asks Miss Dartle to sing an Irish song, just as she used to.
• The song is perfect and odd and unearthly.
• Steerforth puts his arm around Miss Dartle and tells her that they should love each other forever.
• Miss Dartle hits Steerforth and runs out of the room.
• Mrs. Steerforth comes in and asks what's happened to Miss Dartle.
• Steerforth explains that she was being an angel, so she had to become a devil to make up for it.
• Mrs. Steerforth warns him not to try Miss Dartle's temper too much.
• Later that night, when David says good night to Steerforth, Steerforth laughs over Miss Dartle's fierceness. He tells David that Miss Dartle is always dangerous.
• Steerforth gets a bit sentimental, and tells David that, if anything should happen between them, David should always think of Steerforth at his best.
• David says that he loves Steerforth in all of his moods.
• David almost confesses Agnes's suspicions about Steerforth's character, but he can't figure out how.
• Instead, the next morning, David leaves for Yarmouth before the household wakes up.