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saw that she held his arm with both her hands； and still kept close
to him。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 23
I CORROBORATE MR。 DICK； AND CHOOSE A
PROFESSION
When I awoke in the morning I thought very much of little
Em’ly； and her emotion last night； after Martha had left。 I felt as if
I had come into the knowledge of those domestic weaknesses and
tendernesses in a sacred confidence； and that to disclose them；
even to Steerforth； would be wrong。 I had no gentler feeling
towards anyone than towards the pretty creature who had been
my playmate； and whom I have always been persuaded； and shall
always be persuaded； to my dying day； I then devotedly loved。 The
repetition to any ears—even to Steerforth’s—of what she had been
unable to repress when her heart lay open to me by an accident； I
felt would be a rough deed； unworthy of myself； unworthy of the
light of our pure childhood； which I always saw encircling her
head。 I made a resolution； therefore； to keep it in my own breast；
and there it gave her image a new grace。
While we were at breakfast； a letter was delivered to me from
my aunt。 As it contained matter on which I thought Steerforth
could advise me as well as anyone； and on which I knew I should
be delighted to consult him； I resolved to make it a subject of
discussion on our journey home。 For the present we had enough
to do； in taking leave of all our friends。 Mr。 Barkis was far from
being the last among them； in his regret at our departure； and I
believe would even have opened the box again； and sacrificed
another guinea； if it would have kept us eight…and…forty hours in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Yarmouth。 Peggotty and all her family were full of grief at our
going。 The whole house of Omer and Joram turned out to bid us
good…bye； and there were so many seafaring volunteers in
attendance on Steerforth； when our portmanteaux went to the
coach； that if we had had the baggage of a regiment with us； we
should hardly have wanted porters to carry it。 In a word； we
departed to the regret and admiration of all concerned； and left a
great many people very sorry behind us。
Do you stay long here； Littimer？’ said I； as he stood waiting to
see the coach start。
‘No； sir；’ he replied； ‘probably not very long； sir。’
‘He can hardly say； just now；’ observed Steerforth； carelessly。
‘He knows what he has to do； and he’ll do it。’
‘That I am sure he will；’ said I。
Littimer touched his hat in acknowledgement of my good
opinion； and I felt about eight years old。 He touched it once more；
wishing us a good journey； and we left him standing on the
pavement； as respectable a mystery as any pyramid in Egypt。
For some little time we held no conversation； Steerforth being
unusually silent； and I being sufficiently engaged in wondering；
within myself； when I should see the old places again； and what
new changes might happen to me or them in the meanwhile。 At
length Steerforth； becoming gay and talkative in a moment； as he
could become anything he liked at any moment； pulled me by the
arm：
‘Find a voice； David。 What about that letter you were speaking
of at breakfast？’
‘Oh！’ said I； taking it out of my pocket。 ‘It’s from my aunt。’
‘And what does she say； requiring consideration？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Why； she reminds me； Steerforth；’ said I； ‘that I came out on
this expedition to look about me； and to think a little。’
‘Which； of course； you have done？’
‘Indeed I can’t say I have； particularly。 To tell you the truth； I
am afraid I have forgotten it。’
‘Well！ look about you now； and make up for your negligence；’
said Steerforth。 ‘Look to the right； and you’ll see a flat country；
with a good deal of marsh in it； look to the left； and you’ll see the
same。 Look to the front； and you’ll find no difference； look to the
rear； and there it is still。’ I laughed； and replied that I saw no
suitable profession in the whole prospect； which was perhaps to be
attributed to its flatness。
‘What says our aunt on the subject？’ inquired Steerforth；
glancing at the letter in my hand。 ‘Does she suggest anything？’
‘Why； yes；’ said I。 ‘She asks me； here； if I think I should like to
be a proctor？ What do you think of it？’
‘Well； I don’t know；’ replied Steerforth； coolly。 ‘You may as well
do that as anything else； I suppose？’
I could not help laughing again； at his balancing all callings and
professions so equally； and I told him so。
‘What is a proctor； Steerforth？’ said I。
‘Why； he is a sort of monkish attorney；’ replied Steerforth。 ‘He
is； to some faded courts held in Doctors’ Commons；—a lazy old
nook near St。 Paul’s Churchyard—what solicitors are to the courts
of law and equity。 He is a functionary whose existence； in the
natural course of things； would have terminated about two
hundred years ago。 I can tell you best what he is； by telling you
what Doctors’ Commons is。 It’s a little out…of…the…way place； where
they administer what is called ecclesiastical law； and play all kinds
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
of tricks with obsolete old monsters of acts of Parliament； which
three…fourths of the world know nothing about； and the other
fourth supposes to have been dug up； in a fossil state； in the days
of the Edwards。 It’s a place that has an ancient monopoly in suits
about people’s wills and people’s marriages； and disputes among
ships and boats。’
‘Nonsense； Steerforth！’ I exclaimed。 ‘You don’t mean to say that
there is any affinity between nautical matters and ecclesiastical
matters？’
‘I don’t； indeed； my dear boy；’ he returned； ‘but I mean to say
that they are managed and decided by the same set of people；
down in that same Doctors’ Commons。 You shall go there one day；
and find them blundering through half the nautical terms in
Young’s Dictionary； apropos of the “Nancy” having run down the
“Sarah Jane”； or Mr。 Peggotty and the Yarmouth boatmen having
put off in a gale of wind with an anchor and cable to the “Nelson”
Indiaman in distress； and you shall go there another day； and find
them deep in the evidence； pro and con； respecting a clergyman
who has misbehaved himself； and you shall find the judge in the
nautical case； the advocate in the clergyman’s case； or
contrariwise。 They are like actors： now a man’s a judge； and now
he is not a judge； now he’s one thing； now he’s another； now he’s
something else； change and change about； but it’s always a very
pleasant； profitable little affair of private theatricals； presented to
an uncommonly select audience。’
‘But advocates and proctors are not one and the same？’ said I； a
little puzzled。 ‘Are they？’
‘No；’ returned Steerforth； ‘the advocates are civilians—men
who have taken a doctor’s degree at college—which is the first
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
reason of my knowing