Mrs. Gummidge had been in a low state all day, and had burst into tears in the forenoon, when the fire smoked. "I am a lone lorn creetur'," were Mrs. Gummidge's words, when that unpleasant occurrence took place, "and everythink goes contrairy with me."

Mrs. Gummidge’s lament, "I am a lone lorn creetur'," captures her self-perception as a figure of isolation and misfortune. Her tendency to view herself as uniquely afflicted by life's minor adversities is emblematic of her pessimistic and self-pitying nature. This scene, marked by her tears over a smoking fire, highlights her sensitivity and the ease with which she succumbs to despair. Her phrase "everythink goes contrairy with me" underscores a belief that the universe is somehow aligned against her, enhancing the reader's understanding of her character as one who wallows in her miseries. Dickens uses Mrs. Gummidge to both elicit sympathy and add humor, as her exaggerated woes contrast sharply with the otherwise warm and lively atmosphere of the Peggotty household. This serves as a satirical reflection on those who allow themselves to be overwhelmed by even the smallest setbacks.