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persuasions； said we would make a beginning on an early day； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
requested the aid of my hand to descend from her elevated station。
Thus assisted； she skipped down with much agility； and began to
tie her double chin into her bonnet。
‘The fee；’ said Steerforth； ‘is—’
‘Five bob；’ replied Miss Mowcher； ‘and dirt cheap； my chicken。
Ain’t I volatile； Mr。 Copperfield？’
I replied politely： ‘Not at all。’ But I thought she was rather so；
when she tossed up his two half…crowns like a goblin pieman；
caught them； dropped them in her pocket； and gave it a loud slap。
‘That’s the Till！’ observed Miss Mowcher； standing at the chair
again； and replacing in the bag a miscellaneous collection of little
objects she had emptied out of it。 ‘Have I got all my traps？ It seems
so。 It won’t do to be like long Ned Beadwood； when they took him
to church “to marry him to somebody”； as he says； and left the
bride behind。 Ha！ ha！ ha！ A wicked rascal； Ned； but droll！ Now； I
know I’m going to break your hearts； but I am forced to leave you。
You must call up all your fortitude； and try to bear it。 Good…bye；
Mr。 Copperfield！ Take care of yourself； jockey of Norfolk！ How I
have been rattling on！ It’s all the fault of you two wretches。 I
forgive you！ “Bob swore！”—as the Englishman said for “Good
night”； when he first learnt French； and thought it so like English。
“Bob swore；” my ducks！’
With the bag slung over her arm； and rattling as she waddled
away； she waddled to the door； where she stopped to inquire if she
should leave us a lock of her hair。 ‘Ain’t I volatile？’ she added； as a
commentary on this offer； and； with her finger on her nose；
departed。
Steerforth laughed to that degree； that it was impossible for me
to help laughing too； though I am not sure I should have done so；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
but for this inducement。 When we had had our laugh quite out；
which was after some time； he told me that Miss Mowcher had
quite an extensive connexion； and made herself useful to a variety
of people in a variety of ways。 Some people trifled with her as a
mere oddity； he said； but she was as shrewdly and sharply
observant as anyone he knew； and as long…headed as she was
short…armed。 He told me that what she had said of being here； and
there； and everywhere； was true enough； for she made little darts
into the provinces； and seemed to pick up customers everywhere；
and to know everybody。 I asked him what her disposition was：
whether it was at all mischievous； and if her sympathies were
generally on the right side of things： but； not succeeding in
attracting his attention to these questions after two or three
attempts； I forbore or forgot to repeat them。 He told me instead；
with much rapidity； a good deal about her skill； and her profits；
and about her being a scientific cupper； if I should ever have
occasion for her service in that capacity。
She was the principal theme of our conversation during the
evening： and when we parted for the night Steerforth called after
me over the banisters； ‘Bob swore！’ as I went downstairs。
I was surprised； when I came to Mr。 Barkis’s house； to find
Ham walking up and down in front of it； and still more surprised
to learn from him that little Em’ly was inside。 I naturally inquired
why he was not there too； instead of pacing the streets by himself？
‘Why； you see； Mas’r Davy；’ he rejoined； in a hesitating manner；
‘Em’ly； she’s talking to some ’un in here。’
‘I should have thought；’ said I； smiling； ‘that that was a reason
for your being in here too； Ham。’
‘Well； Mas’r Davy； in a general way； so ’t would be；’ he returned；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘but look’ee here； Mas’r Davy；’ lowering his voice； and speaking
very gravely。 ‘It’s a young woman； sir—a young woman； that Em’ly
knowed once； and doen’t ought to know no more。’
When I heard these words； a light began to fall upon the figure I
had seen following them； some hours ago。
‘It’s a poor wurem； Mas’r Davy；’ said Ham； ‘as is trod under foot
by all the town。 Up street and down street。 The mowld o’ the
churchyard don’t hold any that the folk shrink away from； more。’
‘Did I see her tonight； Ham； on the sand； after we met you？’
‘Keeping us in sight？’ said Ham。 ‘It’s like you did； Mas’r Davy。
Not that I know’d then； she was theer； sir； but along of her
creeping soon arterwards under Em’ly’s little winder； when she
see the light come； and whispering “Em’ly； Em’ly； for Christ’s
sake； have a woman’s heart towards me。 I was once like you！”
Those was solemn words； Mas’r Davy； fur to hear！’
‘They were indeed； Ham。 What did Em’ly do？’
‘Says Em’ly； “Martha； is it you？ Oh； Martha； can it be you？”—
for they had sat at work together； many a day； at Mr。 Omer’s。’
‘I recollect her now！’ cried I； recalling one of the two girls I had
seen when I first went there。 ‘I recollect her quite well！’
‘Martha Endell；’ said Ham。 ‘Two or three year older than Em’ly；
but was at the school with her。’
‘I never heard her name；’ said I。 ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt you。’
‘For the matter o’ that； Mas’r Davy；’ replied Ham； ‘all’s told
a’most in them words； “Em’ly； Em’ly； for Christ’s sake； have a
woman’s heart towards me。 I was once like you！” She wanted to
speak to Em’ly。 Em’ly couldn’t speak to her theer； for her loving
uncle was come home； and he wouldn’t—no； Mas’r Davy；’ said
Ham； with great earnestness； ‘he couldn’t； kind…natur’d； tender…
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
hearted as he is； see them two together； side by side； for all the
treasures that’s wrecked in the sea。’
I felt how true this was。 I knew it； on the instant； quite as well as
Ham。
‘So Em’ly writes in pencil on a bit of paper；’ he pursued； ‘and
gives it to her out o’ winder to bring here。 “Show that；” she says；
“to my aunt； Mrs。 Barkis； and she’ll set you down by her fire； for
the love of me； till uncle is gone out； and I can come。” By and by
she tells me what I tell you； Mas’r Davy； and asks me to bring her。
What can I do？ She doen’t ought to know any such； but I can’t
deny her； when the tears is on her face。’
He put his hand into the breast of his shaggy jacket； and took
out with great care a pretty little purse。
‘And if I could deny her when the tears was on her face； Mas’r
Davy；’ said Ham； tenderly adjusting it on the rough palm of his
hand； ‘how could I deny her when she give me this to carry for
her—knowing what she brought it for？ Such a toy as it is！’ said
Ham； thoughtfully looking on it。 ‘With such a little money in it；
Em’ly my dear。’
I shook him warmly by the hand when he had put it away
again—for that was more satisfactory to me than saying
anything—and we walked up and down； for a minute or two； in
silence。 The door opened then； and Peggotty appeared；