The bath was a great comfort, for I began to feel acute pains in my limbs, and was so tired that I could scarcely keep awake for five minutes together.  Enrobed in clothes belonging to Mr. Dick, and tied up in great shawls, I fell asleep, on the sofa, and only awoke in time to dine off a roast fowl and pudding, while my aunt asked me a number of questions, and spoke of my mother and Peggotty, and in the afternoon we talked again and there was another alarm of Donkeys.

After tea we sat at the window until dusk, and shortly afterwards I was escorted up to a pleasant room at the top of the house.  When I had said my prayers, and the candle had burnt out, I lay there yielding to a sensation of profound gratitude and rest, nestling in the snow white sheets, and I prayed that I might never be houseless any more, and might never forget the houseless.

At breakfast the following day, I found myself the object of my aunt’s most rigid scrutiny.

“Hallo!” she said, after a time to attract my attention, and when I looked up she told me that she had written Mr. Murdstone in regard to me, under which information I became heavy of heart, for I felt that some efforts would be made to force me to return to the warehouse, while the more I saw of my aunt, the more sure I felt that she was the one with whom I wished to stay; that with all her eccentricities and humours, she was one to be honoured and trusted in.

On the second day after my arrival, my Aunt gave a sudden alarm of donkeys, and to my consternation I beheld Miss Murdstone ride over the sacred piece of green, and stop in front of the house.

“Go along with you!” cried my aunt, shaking her head and her fist at the window.  “You have no business there.  How dare you trespass?  Oh! you bold-faced thing!”

I hurriedly told her who the offender was, and that Mr. Murdstone was behind her, but Aunt Betsey was frantic, and cried, “I don’t care who it is—­I won’t allow it!  Go away!  Janet, lead him off!” and from behind my aunt, I saw the donkey pulled round by the bridle, while Mr. Murdstone tried to lead him on, and Miss Murdstone struck at Janet with a parasol, and several boys shouted vigorously.  But my aunt suddenly discovering the donkey’s guardian to be one of the most inveterate offenders against her, rushed out and pounced upon him, while the Murdstones waited until she should be at leisure to receive them.  She marched past them into the house, a little ruffled by the combat, and took no notice of them until they were announced by Janet.

“Shall I go away, aunt?” I asked trembling.

“No, sir,” said she.  “Certainly not!” With which she pushed me into a corner, and fenced me in with a chair, as if it were a prison, and there I stayed.  There were several sharp passages at arms between my aunt and the Murdstones, when my past, and my mother’s life came up for discussion.  Finally Mr. Murdstone said: