The journey to Yarmouth is a long one what with the carrier carriage, in which David and Peggotty are passengers, making many stops and detours to deliver various goods and items to various establishments, and what with the horse hitched to the carriage and the driver driving the carriage exhibiting an indolence akin to a sloth in motion.
When they arrive at Yarmouth, Peggotty’s nephew Ham, who has grown up and is now a huge, strong fellow, greets them and leads the way with David hoisted on his back. At first the sight of Yarmouth had disappointed David, but the marketplace invigorates David. Presently, they arrive at Peggotty’s brother’s house, and David is delighted that the house was originally a boat. The house is also the only standing structure for as far as the eye can see, by the seashore. Inside everything is clean, quaint, warm, and inviting. In addition to Peggotty’s brother Dan Peggotty and Peggotty’s nephew Ham, residents of the boat house include Emily, a pretty girl about David’s age, and Mrs. Gummidge who David initially thought was Mr. Peggotty’s wife. As it turns out, Mrs. Gummidge is the poor widow of Mr. Peggoty’s dear fisherman friend. (Out of the generosity of his heart, Mr. Peggotty had become her guardian.) David also learns that Ham and Emily are Mr. Peggotty’s orphan nephew and niece--not his children.
Early next morning, David spends some time with Emily, picking stones by the beach. David learns that Emily’s father was a fisherman, and because he had died out at sea, Emily’s highest aspiration is to be a lady so that she and her present family won’t have to be involved with the dangers of the sea to make a living. David has a premonition that Emily’s life will have a very dark episode. Nonetheless, David fancies himself in love with Emily.
During his fortnight sojourn at Yarmouth, David becomes privy to Mrs. Gummidge’s state of inconsolable sorrow and grief. It’s a mood she is susceptible to now and then. When Mr. Peggotty returns from a night out at a local bar called The Willing Mind, and finds Mrs. Gummidge so, he begs her to cheer up to no avail. Mr. Peggotty explains that Mrs. Gummidge is susceptible to this mood when she sees the ghost of her deceased husband.
When the fortnight ends, David is sorry to leave his new friends, but the thought of his mother makes him anxious to return home. Thus he and Peggotty undertake their return journey when David notices that Peggotty isn’t as enthusiastic as he to return. He asks her if anything is the matter, but Peggotty replies that nothing is wrong. Presently, when they arrive, David looks for his mother only to behold a stranger in the house. Subsequently, Peggotty pulls David aside to tell him a secret: His mother has gotten married, and David has a new father. As David finds out, his mother has married Mr. Murdstone. On account of him, nothing of David’s past life seems to exist anymore. Indeed, when David goes to the backyard, he finds the dog-kennel that was once empty to be occupied by a big, hostile dog that’s as black as Mr. Murdstone's hair and whiskers.