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
Peggotty opened a little door and showed me my bedroom It had a little window where the rudder once passed through The room held a little bed with a bright patchwork quilt and a tiny table with a handful of seaweed displayed in a blue mug I then met the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen She giggled and ran whenever I came close to her Her name was Emily Then Peggotty called me over to meet the scruffy smiling man who was her brother Glad to see you sir said Mr Peggotty We’re proud of your company I learned that neither Ham nor the pretty little Emily were Mr Peggotty’s children They were orphans whose fathers had drowned but it was clear that Mr Peggotty had as much affection for them as any father Have you any children I asked No he answered with a laugh I’ve never been married 12
I leaned close and pointed to the glum lady in the apron who sat knitting by the fire Then who is that That’s Mrs Gummidge That was all that was said on the matter at that time I later learned that Mrs Gummidge was the widow of Mr Peggotty’s partner As she was very poor he had taken her in My brother is as good as gold and as true as steel Peggotty said And I never had reason to doubt it I spent most of my stay playing with Emily and we soon became the very closest of friends I was certain that I loved her and we would grow up someday to be married I learned both Ham and Mr Peggotty worked very hard and never had a hard word or a sour face The same could not be said of Mrs Gummidge who never smiled once during my visit I’m a lone creature she moaned at least once a day This announcement puzzled me 13
