But one day he got into sad trouble over his lessons, and Mr. Murdstone was very angry, and took him away from his mother and beat him with a cane. David had never been beaten in his life before, and was so maddened by pain and rage that he bit Mr. Murdstone's hand! Now, indeed, he had done something to deserve the punishment, and Mr. Murdstone in a fury, beat him savagely, and left him sobbing and crying on the floor. David was kept locked up in his room for some days, seeing no one but Miss Murdstone, who brought him his food. At last, one night, he heard his name whispered at the key hole. "Is that you, Peggotty?" he asked, groping his way to the door. "Yes, my precious Davy. Be as soft as a mouse or the cat will hear us." David understood she meant Miss Murdstone, whose room was quite near. "How's mamma, Peggotty dear? Is she very angry with me?" he whispered. "No--not very," she said. "What is going to be done with me, dear Peggotty, do you know?" asked poor David, who had been wondering all these long, lonely days. "School--near London--" "When, Peggotty?" "To-morrow," answered Peggotty. "Shan't I see mamma?" "Yes--morning," she said, and went on to promise David she would always love him, and take the greatest care of his dear mamma, and write him every week. The next morning David saw his mother, very pale and with red eyes. He ran to her arms and begged her to forgive him. "Oh, Davy," she said, "that you should hurt anyone I love! I forgive you, Davy, but it grieves me so that you should have such bad passions in your heart. Try to be better, pray to be better." David was very unhappy that his mother should think him so wicked, and though she kissed him, and said, "I forgive you, my dear boy, God bless you," he cried so bitterly when he was on his way in the carrier's cart, that his pocket handkerchief had to be spread out on the horse's back to dry. After they had gone a little way the cart stopped, and Peggotty came running up, with a parcel of cakes and a purse for David. After giving him a good hug, she ran off. Davy found three bright shillings in the purse, and two half-crowns wrapped in paper on which was written, in his mother's hand--"For Davy. With my love." Davy shared his cakes with the carrier, who asked if Peggotty made them, and David told him yes, she did all their cooking. The carrier looked thoughtful, and then asked David if he would send a message to Peggotty from him. David agreed, and the message was "Barkis is willing." While David was waiting for the coach at Yarmouth, he wrote to Peggotty: MY DEAR PEGGOTTY,--I have come here safe. Barkis is willing. My love to mamma.--Yours affectionately." "_P. S._--He says he particularly wanted you to know _Barkis is willing_."