Chapter 8 Summary

David arrives home for the holidays to find that his mother has given birth to a baby boy. She has also fallen into bad health and does not seem likely to recover. David, his mother, and Peggotty spend a quiet evening together until the two Murdstones return from an outing. The bad relationship between David and the Murdstones resumes, with the addition of the Murdstones banning David from touching or even being near the new baby. David tries to avoid conflict by staying out of their way but they respond by ordering him to stay in the public rooms of the house where they can monitor him. His vacation passes slowly and is very emotionally painful for David as his mother draws away from him out of fear of her husband and sister-in-law. Finally David returns to Salem House, feeling both sorry to...