Nonsense Miss Trotwood snapped so firmly that the doctor made no other attempt at conversation He went up and down the stairs several times to check on my mother Each time he came into the parlor my aunt glared at him until he slunk upstairs again Finally the doctor came down and said I am happy to congratulate you How is she my aunt asked As comfortable as she can be after such a task he said You may see her presently It might do her some good My aunt waved this speech away and leaned closer to the doctor And she How is she The doctor stared at her blankly The baby Miss Trotwood finally prompted The doctor said with a smile He is a healthy boy My aunt said nothing She merely turned around and walked out She never came back 8
2 I Have a Change My memories of my own early years were pleasant I can clearly picture my mother’s pretty hair and our dear Peggotty’s apple-red cheeks My mother and Peggotty spoiled me completely and I was happy to imagine the three of us alone forever Still my mother too soon began walking home from church on the arm of a tall gentleman named Murdstone The man called me a prince and my mother laughed I did not like him or the way he touched my mother’s arm Eventually I learned I would have a two week outing to visit some of Peggotty’s relatives 9
in Yarmouth It sounded like a grand adventure and I looked forward to it totally When the day arrived to leave the carrier’s cart waited at the gate My mother kissed me so fondly that I cried at the thought of leaving her and home She cried a little too and hugged me for a long moment When the cart rolled on I looked back to see my mother standing in the road Mr Murdstone came to stand beside her and scolded her I wondered what business it was of his to scold my mother I turned to look at Peggotty and saw a frown on her face to match my own After this I quickly turned my attention to the adventure ahead The carrier’s horse walked slowly We spent much of the ride either dozing or eating snacks from a great basket Peggotty carried Finally we reached Yarmouth I thought the place spongy and soppy and amazingly flat 10
The small village smelled of fish pitch and tar The streets were crowded with sailors and carts I jumped nearly off my seat when Peggotty shouted Here’s my Ham Amazingly she was not talking about a breakfast meat but a tall boy with curly light hair like a sheep He took me on his back and carried me along through the crowds We headed quickly through the village and back out onto the flat spongy wasteland Yon’s our house Mas’r Davy Ham said I looked in all directions but couldn’t see a single house I saw flat land river and an old boat pulled up onto the land Is that it I asked The ship-looking thing That’s it Mas’r Davy I could imagine nothing more wonderful than living on a ship even one hauled out of the water It was very clean and tidy inside with pleasant framed pictures on the walls Most of the seating was made from boxes and lockers 11
