For the sake of his manhood, Mr. Micawber had decided to have it out with Uriah Heep once and for all. To do this, he had needed time to gather evidence of Heep’s business malpractices.
Having gathered his evidence, Mr. Micawber has requested David, David’s aunt, Mr. Dick, and Traddles to be present at Canterbury when Mr. Micawber will publicly denounce Heep.
It is the day before the day when David and his party is to be present at Canterbury. When it’s decided that David’s aunt will stay behind to take care of Dora, Dora objects and persuades David’s aunt to go. Thus, by the Dover mail coach, David and his party set off for Canterbury where, upon arrival, they secure lodgings at the hotel specified by Mr. Micawber. Early next morning, well before Mr. Micawber’s scheduled arrival at the hotel, David takes a walk around Canterbury, deriving both comfort and sorrow from the familiar surroundings. When David joins his party at the hotel, they partake of breakfast but only in form as they are too anxious of Mr. Micawber’s arrival and of what the day will bring.
Presently, Mr. Micawber arrives. He heartily greets his friends before telling them of his plan. He, Mr. Micawber, will go ahead of them, to Mr. Wickfield’s house, and there he will wait for David and his party. To that end, David and his party are to wait 5 minutes before heading out to Mr. Wickfield’s house. As Mr. Micawber relates his instructions, he confers with Traddles about a stratagem. David surmises that Traddles had helped Mr. Micawber in the gathering of the evidence against Heep, and when he asks them about it, they confirm David’s conclusion.
When David and his party arrive at Mr. Wickfield’s house, they and Mr. Micawber put on a show: They act as if they are meeting for the first time, in a very long time. David asks about Mr. and Miss Wickfield, and being told of the former’s sickness and the latter’s usual unimpeachable character, allows himself to be led to Mr. Wickfield’s office which now belongs and is occupied by Uriah Heep. The party follows.
At the sight of the guests, Heep momentarily betrays his displeasure before assuming his usual humble exterior. Having ordered Mr. Micawber to inform Miss Wickfied and his mother of the guests, Heep fawns over David’s aunt and indulges Traddles who wonders whether they are interrupting Heep. No, Heep assures Traddles, going on at length about his duties and responsibilities, all the while keeping a suspicious eye on Traddles.
When Mr. Micawber appears with Agnes, Heep makes a point of dismissing Mr. Micawber—to no avail: Mr. Micawber refuses to leave. Heep repeats his order only to be proclaimed a scoundrel by Mr. Micawber. Astounded, Heep looks around and, realizing that everyone present is on Mr. Micawber’s side, accuses David of always being jealous of Heep and threatens Mr. Micawber of legal repercussions if he continues to defy Heep. Presently, Traddles, who had slipped out of the office unbeknownst to Heep, returns with Heep’s mother in tow, compelling Heep to demand Traddles just who does he—Traddles—think he is, to which Traddles replies that he is Mr. Micawber’s legal representative. By and by, Mr. Micawber produces a written document, and using a ruler to keep Heep at bay, reads from the document the extent of Heep’s business malpractices. Heep is also made aware of the fact that evidence has already been secured and is in the safe hands of Traddles.
At this point, David notices that Heep has completely divested himself of his humility, confirming David’s long held suspicion that Heep’s humility was always an act, and that his true self was something mean, spiteful, and vindictive. Indeed, despite his mother’s entreaty to be humble and to submit his will to David, Mr. Micawber, and the rest, Heep is defiant, demanding his mother to keep her mouth shut.
Still, in light of the evidence gathered by Mr. Micawber and Traddles in terms of falsified accounts and forgeries, which have deceived Mr. Wickfield into a state of helplessness, Heep realizes that he has no choice but to submit to Mr. Micawber and Traddles whose demands require that Heep give up all his holdings of Wickfield & Heep, and to confine himself to his quarters until a satisfactory legal resolution is arrived at.
To celebrate the occasion, Mr. Micawber invites David and his friends to his apartment where Mr. Micawber intends to reclaim his family and his happiness, never mind that he is now unemployed and his financial status more desperate than ever. Thus, David and his friends witness the Micawbers’ family reunion, which is mixed with happiness and doubt, when David’s aunt suggests a solution that should rid the family of its doubt. She suggests the Micawbers relocate to Australia, assuring Mrs. Micawber that a man of Mr. Micawber’s industriousness and goodness of heart would be able to make a fine living there. David’s aunt also suggests that they travel with Mr. Peggotty, Emily, and Mrs. Gummidge. And, as for the fare to Australia, David’s aunt assures Mr. Micawber that that will be paid for by his friends, and that Mr. Micawber should pay it back when convenient. The Micawbers agree that going to Australia is the thing to do.