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I availed myself of the opportunity。 The furniture of the room was
old…fashioned and dusty； and the green baize on the top of the
writing…table had lost all its colour； and was as withered and pale
as an old pauper。 There were a great many bundles of papers on it；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
some endorsed as Allegations； and some （to my surprise） as Libels；
and some as being in the Consistory Court； and some in the
Arches Court； and some in the Prerogative Court； and some in the
Admiralty Court； and some in the Delegates’ Court； giving me
occasion to wonder much； how many Courts there might be in the
gross； and how long it would take to understand them all。 Besides
these； there were sundry immense manuscript Books of Evidence
taken on affidavit； strongly bound； and tied together in massive
sets； a set to each cause； as if every cause were a history in ten or
twenty volumes。 All this looked tolerably expensive； I thought； and
gave me an agreeable notion of a proctor’s business。 I was casting
my eyes with increasing complacency over these and many similar
objects； when hasty footsteps were heard in the room outside； and
Mr。 Spenlow； in a black gown trimmed with white fur； came
hurrying in； taking off his hat as he came。
He was a little light…haired gentleman； with undeniable boots；
and the stiffest of white cravats and shirt…collars。 He was buttoned
up； mighty trim and tight； and must have taken a great deal of
pains with his whiskers； which were accurately curled。 His gold
watch…chain was so massive； that a fancy came across me； that he
ought to have a sinewy golden arm； to draw it out with； like those
which are put up over the goldbeaters’ shops。 He was got up with
such care； and was so stiff； that he could hardly bend himself；
being obliged； when he glanced at some papers on his desk； after
sitting down in his chair； to move his whole body； from the bottom
of his spine； like Punch。
I had previously been presented by my aunt； and had been
courteously received。 He now said：
‘And so； Mr。 Copperfield； you think of entering into our
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
profession？ I casually mentioned to Miss Trotwood； when I had
the pleasure of an interview with her the other day；’—with
another inclination of his body—Punch again—‘that there was a
vacancy here。 Miss Trotwood was good enough to mention that
she had a nephew who was her peculiar care； and for whom she
was seeking to provide genteelly in life。 That nephew； I believe； I
have now the pleasure of’—Punch again。 I bowed my
acknowledgements； and said； my aunt had mentioned to me that
there was that opening； and that I believed I should like it very
much。 That I was strongly inclined to like it； and had taken
immediately to the proposal。 That I could not absolutely pledge
myself to like it； until I knew something more about it。 That
although it was little else than a matter of form； I presumed I
should have an opportunity of trying how I liked it； before I bound
myself to it irrevocably。
‘Oh surely！ surely！’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘We always； in this house；
propose a month—an initiatory month。 I should be happy； myself；
to propose two months—three—an indefinite period； in fact—but I
have a partner。 Mr。 Jorkins。’
‘And the premium； sir；’ I returned； ‘is a thousand pounds？’
‘And the premium； Stamp included； is a thousand pounds；’ said
Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘As I have mentioned to Miss Trotwood； I am
actuated by no mercenary considerations； few men are less so； I
believe； but Mr。 Jorkins has his opinions on these subjects； and I
am bound to respect Mr。 Jorkins’s opinions。 Mr。 Jorkins thinks a
thousand pounds too little； in short。’
‘I suppose； sir；’ said I； still desiring to spare my aunt； ‘that it is
not the custom here； if an articled clerk were particularly useful；
and made himself a perfect master of his profession’—I could not
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
help blushing； this looked so like praising myself—‘I suppose it is
not the custom； in the later years of his time； to allow him any—’
Mr。 Spenlow； by a great effort； just lifted his head far enough
out of his cravat to shake it； and answered； anticipating the word
‘salary’：
‘No。 I will not say what consideration I might give to that point
myself； Mr。 Copperfield； if I were unfettered。 Mr。 Jorkins is
immovable。’
I was quite dismayed by the idea of this terrible Jorkins。 But I
found out afterwards that he was a mild man of a heavy
temperament； whose place in the business was to keep himself in
the background； and be constantly exhibited by name as the most
obdurate and ruthless of men。 If a clerk wanted his salary raised；
Mr。 Jorkins wouldn’t listen to such a proposition。 If a client were
slow to settle his bill of costs； Mr。 Jorkins was resolved to have it
paid； and however painful these things might be （and always
were） to the feelings of Mr。 Spenlow； Mr。 Jorkins would have his
bond。 The heart and hand of the good angel Spenlow would have
been always open； but for the restraining demon Jorkins。 As I
have grown older； I think I have had experience of some other
houses doing business on the principle of Spenlow and Jorkins！
It was settled that I should begin my month’s probation as soon
as I pleased； and that my aunt need neither remain in town nor
return at its expiration； as the articles of agreement； of which I
was to be the subject； could easily be sent to her at home for her
signature。 When we had got so far； Mr。 Spenlow offered to take me
into Court then and there； and show me what sort of place it was。
As I was willing enough to know； we went out with this object；
leaving my aunt behind； who would trust herself； she said； in no
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
such place； and who； I think； regarded all Courts of Law as a sort
of powder…mills that might blow up at any time。
Mr。 Spenlow conducted me through a paved courtyard formed
of grave brick houses； which I inferred； from the Doctors’ names
upon the doors； to be the official abiding…places of the learned
advocates of whom Steerforth had told me； and into a large dull
room； not unlike a chapel to my thinking； on the left hand。 The
upper part of this room was fenced off from the rest； and there； on
the two sides of a raised platform of the horse…shoe form； sitting on
easy old…fashioned dining…room chairs； were sundry gentlemen in
red gowns and grey wigs； whom I found to be the Doctors
aforesaid。 Blinking over a little desk like a pulpit…desk； in the
curve of the horse…shoe； was an old gentleman； whom； if I had seen
him in an aviary； I should certainly have taken for an owl； but who；
I learned； was the presiding judge。 In the space within the horseshoe； lower than these； that is to say； on about the level of the
floor； were sundry other gentlemen； of Mr。 Spenlow’s rank； and
dressed like him in black gowns with white fur upon them； sitting
at a long green table。 Their cravat