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who had taken his fancy there； but your name； as you may
suppose； has not lived in my memory。’
‘He was very generous and noble to me in those days； I assure
you； ma’am；’ said I； ‘and I stood in need of such a friend。 I should
have been quite crushed without him。’
‘He is always generous and noble；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth；
proudly。
I subscribed to this with all my heart； God knows。 She knew I
did； for the stateliness of her manner already abated towards me；
except when she spoke in praise of him； and then her air was
always lofty。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘It was not a fit school generally for my son；’ said she； ‘far from
it； but there were particular circumstances to be considered at the
time； of more importance even than that selection。 My son’s high
spirit made it desirable that he should be placed with some man
who felt its superiority； and would be content to bow himself
before it； and we found such a man there。’
I knew that； knowing the fellow。 And yet I did not despise him
the more for it； but thought it a redeeming quality in him if he
could be allowed any grace for not resisting one so irresistible as
Steerforth。
‘My son’s great capacity was tempted on； there； by a feeling of
voluntary emulation and conscious pride；’ the fond lady went on to
say。 ‘He would have risen against all constraint； but he found
himself the monarch of the place； and he haughtily determined to
be worthy of his station。 It was like himself。’
I echoed； with all my heart and soul； that it was like himself。
‘So my son took； of his own will； and on no compulsion； to the
course in which he can always； when it is his pleasure； outstrip
every competitor；’ she pursued。 ‘My son informs me； Mr。
Copperfield； that you were quite devoted to him； and that when
you met yesterday you made yourself known to him with tears of
joy。 I should be an affected woman if I made any pretence of being
surprised by my son’s inspiring such emotions； but I cannot be
indifferent to anyone who is so sensible of his merit； and I am very
glad to see you here； and can assure you that he feels an unusual
friendship for you； and that you may rely on his protection。’
Miss Dartle played backgammon as eagerly as she did
everything else。 If I had seen her； first； at the board； I should have
fancied that her figure had got thin； and her eyes had got large；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
over that pursuit； and no other in the world。 But I am very much
mistaken if she missed a word of this； or lost a look of mine as I
received it with the utmost pleasure； and honoured by Mrs。
Steerforth’s confidence； felt older than I had done since I left
Canterbury。
When the evening was pretty far spent； and a tray of glasses
and decanters came in； Steerforth promised； over the fire； that he
would seriously think of going down into the country with me。
There was no hurry； he said； a week hence would do； and his
mother hospitably said the same。 While we were talking； he more
than once called me Daisy； which brought Miss Dartle out again。
‘But really； Mr。 Copperfield；’ she asked； ‘is it a nickname？ And
why does he give it you？ Is it—eh？—because he thinks you young
and innocent？ I am so stupid in these things。’
I coloured in replying that I believed it was。
‘Oh！’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Now I am glad to know that！ I ask for
information； and I am glad to know it。 He thinks you young and
innocent； and so you are his friend。 Well； that’s quite delightful！’
She went to bed soon after this； and Mrs。 Steerforth retired too。
Steerforth and I； after lingering for half…an…hour over the fire；
talking about Traddles and all the rest of them at old Salem
House； went upstairs together。 Steerforth’s room was next to
mine； and I went in to look at it。 It was a picture of comfort； full of
easy…chairs； cushions and footstools； worked by his mother’s hand；
and with no sort of thing omitted that could help to render it
complete。 Finally； her handsome features looked down on her
darling from a portrait on the wall； as if it were even something to
her that her likeness should watch him while he slept。
I found the fire burning clear enough in my room by this time；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and the curtains drawn before the windows and round the bed；
giving it a very snug appearance。 I sat down in a great chair upon
the hearth to meditate on my happiness； and had enjoyed the
contemplation of it for some time； when I found a likeness of Miss
Dartle looking eagerly at me from above the chimney…piece。
It was a startling likeness； and necessarily had a startling look。
The painter hadn’t made the scar； but I made it； and there it was；
coming and going； now confined to the upper lip as I had seen it at
dinner； and now showing the whole extent of the wound inflicted
by the hammer； as I had seen it when she was passionate。
I wondered peevishly why they couldn’t put her anywhere else
instead of quartering her on me。 To get rid of her； I undressed
quickly； extinguished my light； and went to bed。 But； as I fell
asleep； I could not forget that she was still there looking； ‘Is it
really； though？ I want to know’； and when I awoke in the night； I
found that I was uneasily asking all sorts of people in my dreams
whether it really was or not—without knowing what I meant。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 21
LITTLE EM’LY
There was a servant in that house； a man who； I
understood； was usually with Steerforth； and had come
into his service at the University； who was in appearance
a pattern of respectability。 I believe there never existed in his
station a more respectable…looking man。 He was taciturn； soft…
footed； very quiet in his manner； deferential； observant； always at
hand when wanted； and never near when not wanted； but his
great claim to consideration was his respectability。 He had not a
pliant face； he had rather a stiff neck； rather a tight smooth head
with short hair clinging to it at the sides； a soft way of speaking；
with a peculiar habit of whispering the letter S so distinctly； that
he seemed to use it oftener than any other man； but every
peculiarity that he had he made respectable。 If his nose had been
upside…down； he would have made that respectable。 He
surrounded himself with an atmosphere of respectability； and
walked secure in it。 It would have been next to impossible to
suspect him of anything wrong； he was so thoroughly respectable。
Nobody could have thought of putting him in a livery； he was so
highly respectable。 To have imposed any derogatory work upon
him； would have been to inflict a wanton insult on the feelings of a
most respectable man。 And of this； I noticed—the women…servants
in the household were so intuitively conscious； that they always
did such work themselves； and generally while he read the paper
by the pantry fire。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield