Chapter 3

I was very unhappy during this time.  Mr Murdstone insisted on my studying, and so my mother gave me lessons. In the past she and I had enjoyed our studies together, and she had taught me a lot in her gentle way.  But now both Mr and Miss Murdstone were persent during my lessons, and tried to encourage me, sometimes even whispering the answer to me.  But the Murdstones had sharp ears.

In my bedroom, he held my arms and started hitting me with the stick.  I managed to get hold of his hand, and bit deep into it.  He cried out angrily, and began to hit me as hard as he could.  Above the noise of my screams, I could hear my mother and Peggotty crying outside the door.  Then the next moment, he was gone.  I heard him lock the door.  And I was lying, sore and bleeding, on the floor.  The whole house seemed suddenly very quiet.

Peggotty promised to do what I asked.  The next morning Miss Murdstone told me that because of my wickedness I was going away to school.  She had already packed my case for me.  My mother was only allowed to say a very quick goodbye to me, when the horse and cart arrived.  The driver put my case on the cart, and we drove slowly out of Blunderstone.