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roofed in； and there were little windows in it； but the wonderful
charm of it was； that it was a real boat which had no doubt been
upon the water hundreds of times； and which had never been
intended to be lived in； on dry land。 That was the captivation of it
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
to me。 If it had ever been meant to be lived in； I might have
thought it small； or inconvenient； or lonely； but never having been
designed for any such use； it became a perfect abode。
It was beautifully clean inside； and as tidy as possible。 There
was a table； and a Dutch clock； and a chest of drawers； and on the
chest of drawers there was a tea…tray with a painting on it of a lady
with a parasol； taking a walk with a military…looking child who was
trundling a hoop。 The tray was kept from tumbling down； by a
bible； and the tray； if it had tumbled down； would have smashed a
quantity of cups and saucers and a teapot that were grouped
around the book。 On the walls there were some common coloured
pictures； framed and glazed； of scripture subjects； such as I have
never seen since in the hands of pedlars； without seeing the whole
interior of Peggotty’s brother’s house again； at one view。 Abraham
in red going to sacrifice Isaac in blue； and Daniel in yellow cast
into a den of green lions； were the most prominent of these。 Over
the little mantelshelf； was a picture of the ‘Sarah Jane’ lugger；
built at Sunderland； with a real little wooden stern stuck on to it； a
work of art； combining composition with carpentry； which I
considered to be one of the most enviable possessions that the
world could afford。 There were some hooks in the beams of the
ceiling； the use of which I did not divine then； and some lockers
and boxes and conveniences of that sort； which served for seats
and eked out the chairs。
All this I saw in the first glance after I crossed the threshold—
child…like； according to my theory—and then Peggotty opened a
little door and showed me my bedroom。 It was the completest and
most desirable bedroom ever seen—in the stern of the vessel； with
a little window； where the rudder used to go through； a little
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
looking…glass； just the right height for me； nailed against the wall；
and framed with oyster…shells； a little bed； which there was just
room enough to get into； and a nosegay of seaweed in a blue mug
on the table。 The walls were whitewashed as white as milk； and
the patchwork counterpane made my eyes quite ache with its
brightness。 One thing I particularly noticed in this delightful
house； was the smell of fish； which was so searching； that when I
took out my pocket…handkerchief to wipe my nose； I found it smelt
exactly as if it had wrapped up a lobster。 On my imparting this
discovery in confidence to Peggotty； she informed me that her
brother dealt in lobsters； crabs； and crawfish； and I afterwards
found that a heap of these creatures； in a state of wonderful
conglomeration with one another； and never leaving off pinching
whatever they laid hold of； were usually to be found in a little
wooden outhouse where the pots and kettles were kept。
We were welcomed by a very civil woman in a white apron；
whom I had seen curtseying at the door when I was on Ham’s
back； about a quarter of a mile off。 Likewise by a most beautiful
little girl （or I thought her so） with a necklace of blue beads on；
who wouldn’t let me kiss her when I offered to； but ran away and
hid herself。 By and by； when we had dined in a sumptuous
manner off boiled dabs； melted butter； and potatoes； with a chop
for me； a hairy man with a very good…natured face came home。 As
he called Peggotty ‘Lass’； and gave her a hearty smack on the
cheek； I had no doubt； from the general propriety of her conduct；
that he was her brother； and so he turned out—being presently
introduced to me as Mr。 Peggotty； the master of the house。
‘Glad to see you； sir；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘You’ll find us rough；
sir； but you’ll find us ready。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I thanked him； and replied that I was sure I should be happy in
such a delightful place。
‘How’s your Ma； sir？’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘Did you leave her
pretty jolly？’
I gave Mr。 Peggotty to understand that she was as jolly as I
could wish； and that she desired her compliments—which was a
polite fiction on my part。
‘I’m much obleeged to her； I’m sure；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘Well；
sir； if you can make out here； fur a fortnut； ’long wi’ her；’ nodding
at his sister； ‘and Ham； and little Em’ly； we shall be proud of your
company。’
Having done the honours of his house in this hospitable
manner； Mr。 Peggotty went out to wash himself in a kettleful of
hot water； remarking that ‘cold would never get his muck off’。 He
soon returned； greatly improved in appearance； but so rubicund；
that I couldn’t help thinking his face had this in common with the
lobsters； crabs； and crawfish；—that it went into the hot water very
black； and came out very red。
After tea； when the door was shut and all was made snug （the
nights being cold and misty now）； it seemed to me the most
delicious retreat that the imagination of man could conceive。 To
hear the wind getting up out at sea； to know that the fog was
creeping over the desolate flat outside； and to look at the fire； and
think that there was no house near but this one； and this one a
boat； was like enchantment。 Little Em’ly had overcome her
shyness； and was sitting by my side upon the lowest and least of
the lockers； which was just large enough for us two； and just fitted
into the chimney corner。 Mrs。 Peggotty with the white apron； was
knitting on the opposite side of the fire。 Peggotty at her
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
needlework was as much at home with St。 Paul’s and the bit of
wax…candle； as if they had never known any other roof。 Ham； who
had been giving me my first lesson in all…fours； was trying to
recollect a scheme of telling fortunes with the dirty cards； and was
printing off fishy impressions of his thumb on all the cards he
turned。 Mr。 Peggotty was smoking his pipe。 I felt it was a time for
conversation and confidence。
‘Mr。 Peggotty！’ says I。
‘Sir；’ says he。
‘Did you give your son the name of Ham； because you lived in a
sort of ark？’
Mr。 Peggotty seemed to think it a deep idea； but answered：
‘No； sir。 I never giv him no name。’
‘Who gave him that name； then？’ said I； putting question
number two of the catechism to Mr。 Peggotty。
‘Why； sir； his father giv it him；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘I thought you were his father！’
‘My brother Joe was his father；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘Dead； Mr。 Peggotty？’ I hinted； after a respectful pause。
‘Drowndead；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
I was very much surprised that Mr。 Peggotty was not Ham’s
father； and began to wonder whether I was mistaken about his
relationship to anybody else there。 I was so curious to know； tha