With his mother now dead, David Copperfield id put to work by his cruel stepfather, Mr. Murdstone. Rather than working in the counting house however, he is put to work cleaning empty wine bottles. He is introduced to Mr. Micawber and moves into one of the spare rooms. Micawber however is in dire financial straits and soon flees. As tension rise, David flees traveling a long distance to reach his Aunt Betsey Trotter. After some consideration, she decides to let him stay and even rebuffs an attempt by Mr. Murdstone to retrieve him. She sends him off to a good school where he boards with solicitor Mr. Wickfield and his daughter Agnes. He also meets Mr. Wickfield's law clerk Uriah Heep and again comes across Mr. Micawber. As a young man, he once again meets his old classmate, James Steerage.