The corpse that has washed ashore with the long curly hair is none other than James Steerforth’s. Presently, the Yarmouth locals bear the corpse to a nearby house and there they lay it. David removes it to the inn, however, sensing that the locals still bear Steerforth a grudge.
Anxious to transport the corpse to Highgate and to Mrs. Steerforth and to avoid the scrutiny of the locals, David contacts Joram, who will provide the hearse, and decides to leave that very night instead of waiting for daylight. To David’s surprise and chagrin, many Yarmouth locals witness the scene, as David and Joram depart for Highgate.
The ground is strewn with autumn leaves when David arrives at the Steerforths' residence. David hesitates but eventually he knocks on the gate. The parlor maid greets David; she welcomes David in when he informs her that he has news concerning Mrs. Steerforth’s son.
At first, David waits in the drawing room, but when he’s asked whether he wouldn’t mind meeting Mrs. Steerforth upstairs in her chamber, as she is infirm and cannot negotiate the stairs, David goes upstairs where he finds her occupying her son’s room. As ever, Miss Rosa Dartle attends to her.
When Mrs. Steerforth asks about her son and infers all is not well, David, who has not the heart to tell her that her son is dead, looks at Miss Dartle who infers the truth.
Subsequently, to David’s objection, Miss Dartle rants, arguing that Mrs. Steerforth got what she deserved for being so proud. Miss Dartle asserts she had loved James more than Mrs. Steerforth ever had, and that she would have made James the most faithful of wives. Meanwhile, Mrs. Steerforth looks benumbed to the extent David hopes, for her sake, that she would openly weep and purge herself of her pain.
Presently, David leaves the premises. When he returns later that day, David helps to lay James’ body in Mrs. Steerforth’s room. David is told that Mrs. Steerforth is still in a state of numbness, and that Rosa Dartle is attending to her along with a number of doctors. David can’t help but to notice the gloominess of the house.