A few months have passed since David and Mr. Peggotty had conferred with Martha. David is afraid that Emily is dead, but Mr. Peggotty is as hopeful and indefatigable as he ever was. Dora has taken a liking to Mr. Peggotty who often visits David’s cottage where he and David converse in the garden. On one of his visits, Mr. Peggotty informs David that Martha had paid him a visit the previous night, telling him—Mr. Peggotty—that if he has cause to leave London, to wait and have a word with Martha before leaving.
Two weeks have passed since Mr. Peggoty had informed David about Martha’s visit. David is walking alone in his garden when he notices a figure beckoning him. It is Martha. She entreats David to follow her, informing him that she had left a letter for Peggotty, who was away, instructing him where he was to go to find Martha. David follows, but upon inferring that Martha had walked to Highgate and means to walk back to London, David hails a passing coach, and together he and Martha ride to London. There at Golden Square, they alight, and Martha leads David to a mean, squalid tenement building.
As David and Martha climb the tenement building, Martha notices a figure of a woman, whom she does not know, enter her apartment. Presently, David and Martha enter Martha’s apartment where they hear voices from a communicating room, voices David identifies as that of Rosa Dartle’s and Emily’s. As much as David would like to interpose, he feels it would be better to wait for Mr. Peggotty and let him settle the matter. David waits, fighting his impulse to protect Emily who is being verbally abused by Miss Dartle.
Simultaneously, Mr. Peggotty arrives and Miss Dartle leaves. Upon beholding her uncle, Emily faints into his arms.