When David tells her aunt of his troubled mind, David’s aunt, as is her wont when worried, paces the apartment. She paces for two hours before retiring for the night. Come morning, David shows his aunt the letter he has written which addresses his love for Dora and which is addressed to Dora’s two aunts. When David’s aunt approves of its contents, David sends the letter.
About a week has passed since David has sent his letter. In the midst of snow, which seems to have muffled the city’s din and clatter, David is returning home after a night of work at Doctor Strong’s residence when he notices a vaguely familiar woman’s face nearby a church. The woman’s face disappears only to be replaced by the known figure that is Mr. Peggotty who is occupying the church steps. After exchanging hearty greetings, David and Mr. Peggotty repair to a nearby inn where they share a drink. David notices that despite looking aged and weather-beaten, Mr. Peggotty is strong and vigorous as he ever was. Presently, Mr. Peggotty relates the story of his search.
Based on Emily’s longing for her dead father whose drowned body she believed to have drifted off to France, Mr. Peggotty had begun his search in France. Relying on the kindness of strangers, he travelled from one town to another and always managed to make himself understood, with regard the purpose of his travels, by speaking with at least one person, at every locale, who knew English. Thus, the common folk directed Mr. Peggotty to the houses of aristocrats where Mr. Peggotty could observe and identify the young ladies. (If we remember, Emily’s purpose for running away was to become a lady.) Unable to find Emily, Mr. Peggotty had gone to Italy. There he repeated what he had done in France when Mr. Peggotty received intelligence of Emily’s whereabouts. She was said to be in Switzerland.
Thus Mr. Peggotty repaired himself to Switzerland, but to no avail. Incidentally, all the while Mr. Peggotty is telling David his story, David notices the same vaguely familiar face of a woman, who was seen nearby the church, observing them from a doorway. David eventually recognizes her as Martha Endell, the poor, disgraced woman who was formerly employed at Omer and Joram’s milliner shop, in Yarmouth.
With no hope of finding Emily in Switzerland, Mr. Peggotty had returned to Yarmouth where he was given three letters sent by Emily. Presently, Mr. Peggotty asks David to read one of the letters in which Emily castigates herself and asks Ham to forgive her. As it turns out, the letter has been sent from the Upper Rhine, which is presumably in Germany. Naturally, that is where Mr. Peggotty will be headed next.