Although so much had happened in my own life ,I had not forgotten mr peggotty.
As he promised.he was looking for his niece, little Emily.my friend,james steerforth had taken her away, to be a lady. But we all knew that one day he would be tied of her then she would need her family again.
I saw mr peggotty once,brfore I was married. He had not found his niece,but he was able to give me some news of her.
The old fisherman was waiting outside my rooms,when I returned home, one winter evening.his . his heir was long and it had become grey.but he looked strong and his eyes were clear and bright.
When we were sutting down together, mr peggotty told his story.
‘I guessed that he-that man-had taken my Emily out of England, mr peggotty said .’so I went across the sea to France. I walked and walked.i asked people as I went along, but
There was on news of her.so I came back to England.
“how long ago” I asked.
‘four day,’ he replied. ‘ I went home to yormouth. The candle was shining in the window of the old boat and mrs gummidge was siting there,alone. She showed me some letters.they were from little Emily and she was asking me for forgiveness.
‘did Emily say where she was?’ I asked
‘this last letter has a name written on it,’ . mr peggotty . replied.’but Emily was leaving the next day. Here’s the letter have you heard of the place, master davy?’
‘it’s town on the river rhine,’ I said.
‘then I can find it,’ said mr peggotty.”i.ll ask about little Emily there.someone may remember her.’
“ how is mam?’ I asked quietly.
‘he works hard-day and night,’ mr peggotty replied. “where there is danger,he is there.but he still loves little Emily. He always will. I must go now,sir.’
I shook hands with mr peggotty and he left me. I was very sad as I watched him walk away.
I did not see mr peggotty again for more than two years. Dora was ill and aunt betsy was often in our house. looking after her.
One day, early in the morning, my aunt and I were walking in the garden. I looked up and saw mr peggotty standing at the gate . I ran towards him and shook his hand.
“ do you have any news”? I asked, and he smiled.
“yes,thank god,master davy. He said. ‘ think that my little Emily had comeback to England? I asked.
‘how do you know? ’I asked.
‘ she wrote to me,’ he replied, ‘ I think that you can help me find her.’
‘I’ll do everything that I can,’ I said.
We all sat down together and mr peggotty told us his news.
‘ I went to France . I went to Switzerland. I searched for my Emily for many weeks. The weeks turned into mouths, but I went on looking for my girl. I walked along many roads and stayed in many strange places. Sometimes I got news of Emily and that man, but I never found them.
‘ then I wanted to see the sea again, so I got on ship that was sailing to southern Italy – to the port of naples. I was told that many rich Englishmen had houses outside the city and near the sea. I went from house to house ,talking to the servants.at last I had new of my little Emily.
My aunt smiled.’ so you saw her?’ she said. But what did you say to him?
mr peggotty shook his head.
‘they had shook left naples, he said . ‘I spoke to their housekeeper. She told me that steerforth had become tired of little Emily. Should marry his servant,’ mr peggotty replied.
‘poor little Emily.poor child, my aunt said quietly.’what did she do’?
‘the housekeeper told me that little Emily screamed and cried. Steerforth’s servant locked Emily in her room. but she climbed out of the window and disappeared. People thought that she had drowned herself .the servant left soon afterwards.’
‘what had happened to little Emily ? how do you know that she is alive?’ my aunt asked mr. peggotty. He smiled.
‘my little Emily had made friends with some fishermen and their families.’ he said “she often played with their children on the beach, by the sea.’
I remembered how little Emily and t used to play together on the beach at yarmouth. I remembered the time when we had walked by the sea, near her old home.
‘those good people helped her to find a boat which was going to France ,’ mr peggotty went on. ‘little Emily wrote to me from there. She told me that she was working as a lady’s servant. Then I had no new for some time . but I guessed that she would go to London.’
‘ London is a very big place,’ my aunt said sadly.
mr peggotty smiled. ‘I’ve heard little Emily again,’ he said. ‘here’s the letter. she sent it to yarmouth and there’s an address. Look at it and tell me where the place is, master davy.
I was able to tell him at once . the address was in a poor part of London . I was worried about little Emily, but I said noting.
‘then I’ll be off again,’ mr peggotty said. “when I have found little Emily .i ‘ll come back and tell you.’
I hoped with all my heart that he would find her.