She gave me one piece of intelligence toms store which affected me very
much, namely, that there had been a sale of the furniture at our
old home, and that Mr. and Miss Murdstone were gone away, and
the house was shut up, to be let or sold. God knows I had no part
in it while they remained there, but it pained me to think of the
dear old place as altogether abandoned; of the weeds growing tall
in the garden, and the fallen leaves lying thick and wet upon the
paths. I imagined how the winds of winter would howl round it,
how the cold rain would beat upon the window-glass, how the
moon would make ghosts on the walls of the empty rooms,
watching their solitude all night. I thought afresh of the grave in
the churchyard, underneath the tree: and it seemed as if the house
were dead too, now, and all connected with my father and mother
were faded away.
There was no other news in Peggotty’s letters. Mr. Barkis was
an excellent husband, she said, though still a little near; but we all
had our faults, and she had plenty (though I am sure I don’t know
what they were); and he sent his duty, and my little bedroom was
always ready for me. Mr. Peggotty was well, and Ham was well,
and Mrs.. Gummidge was but poorly, and little Em’ly wouldn’t
send her love, but said that Peggotty might send it, if she liked.