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at all ewents； under articles to a honest man as had a right to
defend her。 I don’t know how long I may live； or how soon I may
die； but I know that if I was capsized； any night； in a gale of wind
in Yarmouth Roads here； and was to see the town…lights shining
for the last time over the rollers as I couldn’t make no head
against； I could go down quieter for thinking “There’s a man
ashore there； iron…true to my little Em’ly； God bless her； and no
wrong can touch my Em’ly while so be as that man lives。”’
Mr。 Peggotty； in simple earnestness； waved his right arm； as if
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he were waving it at the town…lights for the last time； and then；
exchanging a nod with Ham； whose eye he caught； proceeded as
before。
‘Well！ I counsels him to speak to Em’ly。 He’s big enough； but
he’s bashfuller than a little un； and he don’t like。 So I speak。
“What！ Him！” says Em’ly。 “Him that I’ve know’d so intimate so
many years； and like so much。 Oh； Uncle！ I never can have him。
He’s such a good fellow！” I gives her a kiss； and I says no more to
her than； “My dear； you’re right to speak out； you’re to choose for
yourself； you’re as free as a little bird。” Then I aways to him； and I
says； “I wish it could have been so； but it can’t。 But you can both
be as you was； and wot I say to you is； Be as you was with her； like
a man。” He says to me； a…shaking of my hand； “I will！” he says。
And he was—honourable and manful—for two year going on； and
we was just the same at home here as afore。’
Mr。 Peggotty’s face； which had varied in its expression with the
various stages of his narrative； now resumed all its former
triumphant delight； as he laid a hand upon my knee and a hand
upon Steerforth’s （previously wetting them both； for the greater
emphasis of the action）； and divided the following speech between
us：
‘All of a sudden； one evening—as it might be tonight—comes
little Em’ly from her work； and him with her！ There ain’t so much
in that； you’ll say。 No； because he takes care on her； like a brother；
arter dark； and indeed afore dark； and at all times。 But this
tarpaulin chap； he takes hold of her hand； and he cries out to me；
joyful； “Look here！ This is to be my little wife！” And she says； half
bold and half shy； and half a laughing and half a crying； “Yes；
Uncle！ If you please。”—If I please！’ cried Mr。 Peggotty； rolling his
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head in an ecstasy at the idea； ‘Lord； as if I should do anythink
else！—“If you please； I am steadier now； and I have thought better
of it； and I’ll be as good a little wife as I can to him； for he’s a dear；
good fellow！” Then Missis Gummidge； she claps her hands like a
play； and you come in。 Theer！ the murder’s out！’ said Mr。
Peggotty—‘You come in！ It took place this here present hour； and
here’s the man that’ll marry her； the minute she’s out of her time。’
Ham staggered； as well he might； under the blow Mr。 Peggotty
dealt him in his unbounded joy； as a mark of confidence and
friendship； but feeling called upon to say something to us； he said；
with much faltering and great difficulty：
‘She warn’t no higher than you was； Mas’r Davy—when you
first come—when I thought what she’d grow up to be。 I see her
grown up—gent’lmen—like a flower。 I’d lay down my life for her—
Mas’r Davy—Oh！ most content and cheerful！ She’s more to me—
gent’lmen—than—she’s all to me that ever I can want； and more
than ever I—than ever I could say。 I—I love her true。 There ain’t a
gent’lman in all the land—nor yet sailing upon all the sea—that
can love his lady more than I love her； though there’s many a
common man—would say better—what he meant。’
I thought it affecting to see such a sturdy fellow as Ham was
now； trembling in the strength of what he felt for the pretty little
creature who had won his heart。 I thought the simple confidence
reposed in us by Mr。 Peggotty and by himself； was； in itself；
affecting。 I was affected by the story altogether。 How far my
emotions were influenced by the recollections of my childhood； I
don’t know。 Whether I had come there with any lingering fancy
that I was still to love little Em’ly； I don’t know。 I know that I was
filled with pleasure by all this； but； at first； with an indescribably
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sensitive pleasure； that a very little would have changed to pain。
Therefore； if it had depended upon me to touch the prevailing
chord among them with any skill； I should have made a poor hand
of it。 But it depended upon Steerforth； and he did it with such
address； that in a few minutes we were all as easy and as happy as
it was possible to be。
‘Mr。 Peggotty；’ he said； ‘you are a thoroughly good fellow； and
deserve to be as happy as you are tonight。 My hand upon it！ Ham；
I give you joy； my boy。 My hand upon that； too！ Daisy； stir the fire；
and make it a brisk one！ and Mr。 Peggotty； unless you can induce
your gentle niece to come back （for whom I vacate this seat in the
corner）； I shall go。 Any gap at your fireside on such a night—such
a gap least of all—I wouldn’t make； for the wealth of the Indies！’
So Mr。 Peggotty went into my old room to fetch little Em’ly。 At
first little Em’ly didn’t like to come； and then Ham went。 Presently
they brought her to the fireside； very much confused； and very
shy；—but she soon became more assured when she found how
gently and respectfully Steerforth spoke to her； how skilfully he
avoided anything that would embarrass her； how he talked to Mr。
Peggotty of boats； and ships； and tides； and fish； how he referred
to me about the time when he had seen Mr。 Peggotty at Salem
House； how delighted he was with the boat and all belonging to it；
how lightly and easily he carried on； until he brought us； by
degrees； into a charmed circle； and we were all talking away
without any reserve。
Em’ly； indeed； said little all the evening； but she looked； and
listened； and her face got animated； and she was charming。
Steerforth told a story of a dismal shipwreck （which arose out of
his talk with Mr。 Peggotty）； as if he saw it all before him—and little
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Em’ly’s eyes were fastened on him all the time； as if she saw it too。
He told us a merry adventure of his own； as a relief to that； with as
much gaiety as if the narrative were as fresh to him as it was to
us—and little Em’ly laughed until the boat rang with the musical
sounds； and we all laughed （Steerforth too）； in irresistible
sympathy with what was so pleasant and light…hearted。 He got Mr。
Peggotty to sing； or rather to roar； ‘When the stormy winds do
blow； do blow； do blow’； and he sang a sailor’s song himself； so
pathetically and beautifully； that I could have almost fancied that
the real wind creeping sorrowfully round the house； and
murmuring low through our unbroken silence； was there to listen。
As