School begins, and this means that, with the exception of Steerforth, every boy is caned and beaten by Mr. Creakle, with no one becoming the wiser. Of all the boys, Tommy Traddles, whose code of honor is never to be a tattle-tale, is caned and beaten more than anyone else. Indeed, he gets beaten one day when he is suspected of having laughed in church when the culprit was Steerforth. To cope with his misfortune, Traddles draws skeletons whenever he gets the chance.
One day, while at play, David mentions to Steerforth that one of the boys reminds him of Peregrine Pickle. Subsequently, upon discovering that David had read a great deal of books, Steerforth proposes that David recount those books for his-Steerforth's-sake during those moments, early in the evenings and early in the mornings,
