[00:00.29]Chapter 4.
[00:02.56]It's me, Aunt Betsy.
[00:05.92]It took me ages to get back to my feet and start walking out of London on the Dover road.
[00:12.71]I was tired and penniless.
[00:16.43]The next few days and nights were a blur.
[00:21.84]I slept on haystacks, lived on scraps and sold my jacket to earn a little money.
[00:28.68]I was constantly freezing and hungry, and my feet were covered in blisters.
[00:36.16]Finally, I made it to Dover.
[00:40.90]I soon discovered that nearly everyone knew my aunt Betsy, and one kind young woman showed me to her neat little cottage.
[00:51.41]A few moments later, an older woman marched out of the house.
[00:58.62]She had gray hair and quick, bright eyes and had a handkerchief tied over her head.
[01:06.93]She was wearing gardening gloves and held a knife.
[01:11.24]This must be Aunt Betsy.
[01:15.67]Go away.
[01:18.43]She shouted firmly at me, making a chop in the air with her knife.
[01:23.44]We don't want any boys round here.
[01:29.79]I knew I looked terrible.
[01:33.00]My shoes were full of holes and my shirt and trousers were filthy and ragged, but I had to speak to her.
[01:43.00]I followed her across the garden.
[01:47.70]You're my my Aunt, I said in a quivering voice.
[01:56.15]What did you say?
[01:58.85]She demanded, spinning round.
[02:02.64]It's me, Aunt Betsy, David Copperfield, I whispered.
[02:10.01]I'm your great nephew.
[02:14.43]At this, she cried, "Oh my goodness!" and sat flat down on the garden path.
[02:25.15]I've been unhappy and neglected since my mother died, I told her.
[02:31.79]I've walked all the way here from London.
[02:35.26]I haven't slept in a bed for days.
[02:41.30]Pulling herself together, she rose to her feet and led me straight into the parlor.
[02:49.88]She poured all kinds of medicines down me, and I'm sure I tasted salad dressing and anchovy sauce in the mixtures.
[03:00.30]Then she made me have a long hot bath and gave me a hot meal.
[03:06.29]Finally, she said sternly, "Tell me everything, David."
[03:17.78]So I told her.
[03:21.85]When I'd finished, she looked at me with disbelief.
[03:29.34]Why on earth did your mother and Pegotty let all this happen?
[03:35.54]she demanded.
[03:37.88]The Murdstone were too powerful, I explained.
[03:43.07]They ruled our house with an iron grip.
[03:48.45]At that moment, a man with a cherry face bounded into the room, laughing.
[03:57.49]This is Mr. Dick, Aunt Betsy explained.
[04:02.43]He lives here.
[04:07.85]I could see that Mr. Dick wasn't like other men.
[04:12.35]Even though he was about 50 years old, there was something childlike about him.
[04:20.21]But clearly, this didn't worry Aunt Betsy.
[04:24.95]She'd given him a home and looked after him, and this gave me a glimmer of hope that she might do the same for me.
[04:34.63]I trust Mr. Dick's opinion on all matters, Aunt Betsy said gravely, before explaining to him all about me.
[04:44.92]Well, Mr. Dick, she demanded when he'd heard it all.
[04:49.77]What shall I do with this boy?
[04:54.89]Mr. Dick paused for a second.
[04:59.56]I felt like my entire future rested on his reply.
[05:07.17]You should you should put him to bed, said Mr. Dick, smiling warmly.
[05:17.86]A wave of relief flooded over me.
[05:21.98]Aunt Betsy showed me up to an airy bedroom with a great view of the sea.
[05:28.65]I fell into the bed and instantly sank into the world of dreams.
[05:37.98]The next morning, Aunt Betsy was downstairs waiting for me.
[05:44.88]I have written to Mr. Murdstone to let him know where you are," she said.
[05:52.78]Will I have to go back?
[05:55.01]I asked in dread.
[05:58.20]We shall see, she answered.
[06:03.33]My spirits sank.
[06:06.56]Maybe Aunt Betsy hadn't believed my story.
[06:11.91]What if Mr. Murdstone convinced her to let me go?
[06:17.37]I would rather die than go back to the warehouse.
[06:25.63]Every day I waited unhappily for Mr. Murdstone's reply.
[06:35.25]And finally, it came.
[06:40.57]Mr. Murdstone will be visiting us tomorrow, Aunt Betsy told me one morning.
[06:49.60]My whole body shook with anxiety.
[06:53.73]Would she hand me back to the Murdstones?
[06:58.79]As soon as they arrived, I whispered, "Shall I go away?"
[07:05.66]Certainly not, Aunt Betsy replied, showing them into her parlor where Mr. Dick and I were waiting.
[07:16.02]The second I saw them, I felt all of the fear and fury returning.
[07:24.82]Mr. Murdstone got straight down to business.
[07:29.52]This boy, he began, pointing a finger at me, gave his mother terrible trouble.
[07:39.64]My sister and I did our best to correct him, but he is stubborn and disobedient.
[07:50.30]He is the worst behaved boy in the whole world, cutting Miss Murdstone viciously.
[07:59.22]That's a bit strong, declared my aunt in amazement.
[08:04.94]It is the truth, replied Mr. Murdstone, and he still needs correcting, especially as his mother is dead.
[08:17.79]I stared at the Murdstone with hatred.
[08:22.23]You say David's mother is dead, said Mr. Dick suddenly.
[08:29.10]Did she leave him any money?
[08:34.22]A flush of anger and embarrassment spread across Mr. Murdstone's cheeks.
[08:41.40]Absolutely nothing, he replied.
[08:47.45]Well, what do you want to do with David, demanded Aunt Betsy.
[08:55.84]Mr. Murdstone's expression hardened.
[09:00.27]I am here to take the boy back and dispose of him as I think best.
[09:09.64]Dispose of him? Aunt Betsy cried with a horrified expression.
[09:21.86]Do you mean you're going to send him back to work in that terrible warehouse of yours?
[09:29.77]Mr. Murdstone eyed her coldly, but said nothing.
[09:35.66]Aunt Betsy turned to me.
[09:40.67]What about you, David? she asked.
[09:46.18]Would you like to go with the Murdstone?
[09:51.14]No! I blurted out, my fists clenched with rage.
[09:57.38]They've always hated me, and they destroyed my mother.
[10:04.93]The Murdstones stared at me with their hard eyes.
[10:10.31]Mr. Dick, said Aunt Betsy, what are your thoughts on this matter?
[10:19.23]I'll tell you what I'd do, said Mr. Dick thoughtfully.
[10:27.42]I'd have him measured up for a suit of new clothes.
[10:35.02]I could have hugged him.
[10:38.43]But I knew the final decision rested with Aunt Betsy.
[10:44.28]I held my breath anxiously, as she thought everything through.
[10:51.60]This is what I think, she announced, looking sternly at the Murdstones.
[10:59.21]I don't believe a word of what you've said about David.
[11:05.09]It is clear to me that the two of you trapped his mother like a caged bird.
[11:13.78]Then you bullied and broke her, and you bullied David too.
[11:20.33]You will play no further part in his life.
[11:26.44]But But uttered Mr. Murdstone.
[11:33.96]But nothing, snapped Aunt Betsy.
[11:40.15]The Murdstones stood up in shock, unsure what to do.
[11:47.62]Now, look here, said Mr. Murdstone.
[11:52.49]No, you look here, Aunt Betsy cried, her eyes shining like balls of fire.
[12:01.39]You and your sister will leave my house immediately, and you will never come back.
[12:10.54]I I Mr. Murdstone tried to protest.
[12:16.12]Get out! commanded Aunt Betsy, bustling towards the door.
[12:24.42]My heart leap with joy as she shoved the confused and defeated Murdstones outside.
[12:34.36]Suddenly, they didn't look frightening or powerful.
[12:39.84]I ran to her and gave her an enormous hug.
[12:46.46]From this moment, she said, your name will be Trotwood Copperfield.
[12:55.89]My house is now your home.