On a cold, wintry autumn evening, a few weeks ahead of his scheduled arrival, David arrives in London. David wants to take his friends and his lone relative, his aunt, by surprise. But the pleasure David envisions giving them is put in doubt by the run-down aspect of London. For a moment, the bright shops revive David’s good cheer, but he is again cast in doubt when the coffeehouse waiters he speaks with, at the London law district, express their ignorance of Traddles who lives nearby and who, David thinks, has made a name for himself. David is sad on Traddles’ account to the extent he wonders if his friend will ever marry his beloved, which is dependent on Traddles making a name for himself in his profession.
Presently, having dispatched his dinner at the coffeehouse, David makes his way to Traddles’ residence. While climbing the stairs to Traddles’ residence, David is pleasantly surprised by the sound of girls and their merry laughter, as the law district is exclusively occupied by attorneys, barristers, and/or their clerks. The girls’ merry laughter cease when David stumbles in the hallway. At Traddles’ apartment, David speaks with a clerk-like fellow who suffers David to enter after a brief question and answer. By and by, David beholds his old friend and the two exchange hearty greetings.
When David is comfortably settled in an easy chair before the fireplace, Traddles laments the fact that David had missed the ceremony. David is confused and wonders what Traddles is referring to. Traddles surmises that David hadn’t received his letter and presently tells David that he is now happily married to Sophy. Subsequently, Sophy steps out from hiding and greets David. Traddles explains how Sophy’s sisters are visiting the newlyweds, and of how their gaiety is at such odds with the business like air of the law district that they take great care to conceal their gaiety. As Sophy goes to fetch her sisters, Traddles relates the story of how he managed to get permission to marry Sophy. Apparently, Mrs. Crewler, who is infirm and is as dependent on Sophy as much as any of her other daughters are, had been dead set against the marriage. But by dint of Traddles’ pledge to be Sophy’s sisters’ caretaker in the event the Reverend Horace, the father, was rendered incapable, not only the Reverend Horace but the infirm Mrs. Crewler came around to Traddles’ way of seeing things.
Presently, David meets the Miss Crewelers: Sarah, Lousia, Margaret, and Lucy. David notices how dependent they are in Sophy and wonders how they’ll ever get along by themselves when they return to Devonshire.
Meeting Traddles revives David. He returns to the coffeehouse. There David notices someone familiar. It is Mr. Chillip the Doctor who had attended David’s mother during David’s birth. It has been about 7 years since David last saw him in Blunderstone. David learns that Mr. Chillip has moved near Bury St. Edmunds, that the siblings Mr. and Mrs. Murdstone are his neighbors, and that Mr. and Mrs. Murdstone, by dint of their innate unpleasantness, have made an imbecile of Mr. Murdstone’s latest wife who was otherwise charming, amiable, and lively.
David passes the night at the coffeehouse. The next day, David takes a coach to Dover where his aunt has reclaimed her cottage. There, David is welcomed by his aunt, Mr. Dick, and Peggotty who is now his aunt’s housemaid.