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unreserved in our mutual confidence as of old。
‘And when； Agnes；’ said I； ‘will you forgive me the other night？’
‘When I recall it；’ said Agnes。
She would have dismissed the subject so； but I was too full of it
to allow that； and insisted on telling her how it happened that I
had disgraced myself； and what chain of accidental circumstances
had had the theatre for its final link。 It was a great relief to me to
do this； and to enlarge on the obligation that I owed to Steerforth
for his care of me when I was unable to take care of myself。
‘You must not forget；’ said Agnes； calmly changing the
conversation as soon as I had concluded； ‘that you are always to
tell me； not only when you fall into trouble； but when you fall in
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David Copperfield
love。 Who has succeeded to Miss Larkins； Trotwood？’
‘No one； Agnes。’
‘Someone； Trotwood；’ said Agnes； laughing； and holding up her
finger。
‘No； Agnes； upon my word！ There is a lady； certainly； at Mrs。
Steerforth’s house； who is very clever； and whom I like to talk to—
Miss Dartle—but I don’t adore her。’
Agnes laughed again at her own penetration； and told me that if
I were faithful to her in my confidence she thought she should
keep a little register of my violent attachments； with the date；
duration； and termination of each； like the table of the reigns of
the kings and queens； in the History of England。 Then she asked
me if I had seen Uriah。
‘Uriah Heep？’ said I。 ‘No。 Is he in London？’
‘He comes to the office downstairs； every day；’ returned Agnes。
‘He was in London a week before me。 I am afraid on disagreeable
business； Trotwood。’
‘On some business that makes you uneasy； Agnes； I see；’ said I。
‘What can that be？’
Agnes laid aside her work； and replied； folding her hands upon
one another； and looking pensively at me out of those beautiful
soft eyes of hers：
‘I believe he is going to enter into partnership with papa。’
‘What？ Uriah？ That mean； fawning fellow； worm himself into
such promotion！’ I cried； indignantly。 ‘Have you made no
remonstrance about it； Agnes？ Consider what a connexion it is
likely to be。 You must speak out。 You must not allow your father to
take such a mad step。 You must prevent it； Agnes； while there’s
time。’
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David Copperfield
Still looking at me； Agnes shook her head while I was speaking；
with a faint smile at my warmth： and then replied：
‘You remember our last conversation about papa？ It was not
long after that—not more than two or three days—when he gave
me the first intimation of what I tell you。 It was sad to see him
struggling between his desire to represent it to me as a matter of
choice on his part； and his inability to conceal that it was forced
upon him。 I felt very sorry。’
‘Forced upon him； Agnes！ Who forces it upon him？’
‘Uriah；’ she replied； after a moment’s hesitation； ‘has made
himself indispensable to papa。 He is subtle and watchful。 He has
mastered papa’s weaknesses； fostered them； and taken advantage
of them； until—to say all that I mean in a word； Trotwood；—until
papa is afraid of him。’
There was more that she might have said； more that she knew；
or that she suspected； I clearly saw。 I could not give her pain by
asking what it was； for I knew that she withheld it from me； to
spare her father。 It had long been going on to this； I was sensible：
yes； I could not but feel； on the least reflection； that it had been
going on to this for a long time。 I remained silent。
‘His ascendancy over papa；’ said Agnes； ‘is very great。 He
professes humility and gratitude—with truth； perhaps： I hope so—
but his position is really one of power； and I fear he makes a hard
use of his power。’
I said he was a hound； which； at the moment； was a great
satisfaction to me。
‘At the time I speak of； as the time when papa spoke to me；’
pursued Agnes； ‘he had told papa that he was going away； that he
was very sorry； and unwilling to leave； but that he had better
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
prospects。 Papa was very much depressed then； and more bowed
down by care than ever you or I have seen him； but he seemed
relieved by this expedient of the partnership； though at the same
time he seemed hurt by it and ashamed of it。’
‘And how did you receive it； Agnes？’
‘I did； Trotwood；’ she replied； ‘what I hope was right。 Feeling
sure that it was necessary for papa’s peace that the sacrifice
should be made； I entreated him to make it。 I said it would lighten
the load of his life—I hope it will！—and that it would give me
increased opportunities of being his companion。 Oh； Trotwood！’
cried Agnes； putting her hands before her face； as her tears started
on it； ‘I almost feel as if I had been papa’s enemy； instead of his
loving child。 For I know how he has altered； in his devotion to me。
I know how he has narrowed the circle of his sympathies and
duties； in the concentration of his whole mind upon me。 I know
what a multitude of things he has shut out for my sake； and how
his anxious thoughts of me have shadowed his life； and weakened
his strength and energy； by turning them always upon one idea。 If
I could ever set this right！ If I could ever work out his restoration；
as I have so innocently been the cause of his decline！’
I had never before seen Agnes cry。 I had seen tears in her eyes
when I had brought new honours home from school； and I had
seen them there when we last spoke about her father； and I had
seen her turn her gentle head aside when we took leave of one
another； but I had never seen her grieve like this。 It made me so
sorry that I could only say； in a foolish； helpless manner； ‘Pray；
Agnes； don’t！ Don’t； my dear sister！’
But Agnes was too superior to me in character and purpose； as
I know well now； whatever I might know or not know then； to be
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David Copperfield
long in need of my entreaties。 The beautiful； calm manner； which
makes her so different in my remembrance from everybody else；
came back again； as if a cloud had passed from a serene sky。
‘We are not likely to remain alone much longer；’ said Agnes；
‘and while I have an opportunity； let me earnestly entreat you；
Trotwood； to be friendly to Uriah。 Don’t repel him。 Don’t resent
（as I think you have a general disposition to do） what may be
uncongenial to you in him。 He may not deserve it； for we know no
certain ill of him。 In any case； think first of papa and me！’
Agnes had no time to say more； for the room door opened； and
Mrs。 Waterbrook； who was a large lady—or who wore a large
dress： I don’t exactly know which； for I don’t know which was
dress and which was lady—came sailing in。 I had a dim
recollection of having seen her at the theatre； as if I had seen her
in a pale magic lantern； but she appeared to remember me
perfectly； and still to suspect me of being in a state of intoxication。
Finding by