The morning after Emily’s reunion with Mr. Peggotty, David is taking a walk with his aunt, in his garden, when Mr. Peggotty appears. (Mr. Peggotty wishes to give David a full account of Emily’s trials and tribulations.) When David’s aunt decides to go inside to see to Dora, who will be waking up, and to give the men some privacy, Mr. Peggotty argues that she would be doing Mr. Peggotty a great kindness if she stayed and listened as well. David’s aunt stays.
According to Mr. Peggotty, when Emily ran away, she made herself to the shore, hoping to find Steerforth and his boat. Needless to say, her hopes were dashed, and in her heedlessness, Emily found herself prostrate on the beach, half-mad and bleeding from cuts she sustained on some rocks. To Emily’s good fortune, a fisherman’s wife with whom Emily was friendly with, discovered Emily and sheltered her.
At this point of the narrative, Mr. Peggotty pauses to bless the kindness of the Italian fisherman’s wife.
For a while, unable to understand her savior and unable to make herself understood, Emily fell into a state of delirium. But day by day, what with the fisherman wife’s kindness and care, Emily convalesced. One day Emily was spoken to by a local child who spoke English, and as if by a miracle, Emily fully recovered her senses. When the fisherman’s wife’s husband returned from his fishing expedition, Emily made herself understood by hand signs, and thereby an arrangement was made for Emily’s passage to France. From France, Emily made her way to Dover, England, and from there, Emily would’ve gone to Yarmouth but for her guilt.
Indeed, Emily went to London where she would’ve met a tragic turn but for Martha who, having spotted Emily midst London’s hustle and bustle, provided Emily shelter in her—Martha’s—own apartment and even went so far as to provide Emily with some work as a seamstress. By and by, Martha contacted Mr. Peggotty, telling him not to leave London before he meets with Martha.
The story is so moving that it takes some time for David’s aunt, who has been crying, to regain her composure.
Presently, Mr. Peggotty informs David and David’s aunt of his plans to take Emily to Australia where she may start her life anew. Thus, the Yarmouth boathouse will be sold and Mrs. Gummidge will be provided for out of Mr. Peggotty’s savings and/or earnings. Mr. Peggotty then tells David about his plan to send a sum of money to Mrs. Steerforth, the sum of money that Steerforth had sent Mr. Peggotty for the trouble that he has caused. David agrees that that’s the proper thing to do. Finally, Mr. Peggotty asks whether David wouldn’t mind accompanying him to Yarmouth where Mr. Peggotty must settle his affairs before sailing to Australia. Naturally, David agrees to accompany Mr. Peggotty to Yarmouth.
Upon arriving at Yarmouth, David spends his time catching up on old times with Mr. Omer while Mr. Peggotty meets with his sister and Ham. Mr. Omer has lost the use of his legs, but in compensation he has a wheelchair which he avers more than makes up for his loss. Mr. Omer mentions David’s success as a writer and of how Mr. Omer has greatly enjoyed reading David’s book, which David is grateful for. David then mentions Emily’s story and of the role Martha played in Emily’s salvation, compelling Mr. Omer to avow his willingness to help Martha if given the chance.
Presently, David goes to Ham’s house where Peggoty now stays and keeps house what with the Barkis house being let to Mr. Barkis’ coach driving successor. There David spends the night.
The next morning David seeks out Ham who is working in the docks. The previous night, for the sake of Ham, Emily’s name hadn’t been mentioned, but David had sensed that Ham had yearned to say something with regard Emily. As David correctly surmised, Ham tells David that he has already forgiven Emily, and that if there’s anyone who needs to ask for forgiveness, then that person is himself, Ham, who explains that if he hadn’t imposed on Emily to marry him, then that which occurred vis-à-vis Steerforth might’ve never happened, as Emily would have revealed her troubled mind to Ham. Then Ham asks David to write to Emily, explaining that Ham holds no grudge against Emily, and that he wishes nothing but the best for Emily. He also asks David to give Mr. Peggotty his best for having reared him, Ham, an orphan, as if he was his own son. David avows to do so.
When David pays the old boat house a visit, he sees that nearly everything has been removed for its new owner, a mast-maker. All that remains is Emily’s locker, upon which Mrs. Gummidge now sits, and which Mr. Peggotty will take to Australia. Presently, Mrs. Gummidge objects to Mr. Peggotty going off to Australia without her. She begs that Mr. Peggotty take her along. Mr. Peggotty argues that the voyage will be a long and arduous one, but to avail: Mrs. Gummidge insists that Mr. Peggotty take her, arguing that she will always be his loyal servant. Mr. Peggotty concedes to Mrs. Gummidge’s wishes.