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the still longer fingers of a great Guy Fawkes pair of gloves。
It was in no disposition for Uriah’s company； but in
remembrance of the entreaty Agnes had made to me； that I asked
him if he would come home to my rooms； and have some coffee。
‘Oh； really； Master Copperfield；’ he rejoined—‘I beg your
pardon； Mister Copperfield； but the other comes so natural； I don’t
like that you should put a constraint upon yourself to ask a
numble person like me to your ouse。’
‘There is no constraint in the case；’ said I。 ‘Will you come？’
‘I should like to； very much；’ replied Uriah； with a writhe。
‘Well； then； come along！’ said I。
I could not help being rather short with him； but he appeared
not to mind it。 We went the nearest way； without conversing much
upon the road； and he was so humble in respect of those
scarecrow gloves； that he was still putting them on； and seemed to
have made no advance in that labour； when we got to my place。
I led him up the dark stairs； to prevent his knocking his head
against anything； and really his damp cold hand felt so like a frog
in mine； that I was tempted to drop it and run away。 Agnes and
hospitality prevailed； however； and I conducted him to my fireside。
When I lighted my candles； he fell into meek transports with the
room that was revealed to him； and when I heated the coffee in an
unassuming block…tin vessel in which Mrs。 Crupp delighted to
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David Copperfield
prepare it （chiefly； I believe； because it was not intended for the
purpose； being a shaving…pot； and because there was a patent
invention of great price mouldering away in the pantry）； he
professed so much emotion； that I could joyfully have scalded him。
‘Oh； really； Master Copperfield；—I mean Mister Copperfield；’
said Uriah； ‘to see you waiting upon me is what I never could have
expected！ But； one way and another； so many things happen to me
which I never could have expected； I am sure； in my umble station；
that it seems to rain blessings on my ed。 You have heard
something； I des…say； of a change in my expectations； Master
Copperfield；—I should say； Mister Copperfield？’
As he sat on my sofa； with his long knees drawn up under his
coffee…cup； his hat and gloves upon the ground close to him； his
spoon going softly round and round； his shadowless red eyes；
which looked as if they had scorched their lashes off； turned
towards me without looking at me； the disagreeable dints I have
formerly described in his nostrils coming and going with his
breath； and a snaky undulation pervading his frame from his chin
to his boots； I decided in my own mind that I disliked him
intensely。 It made me very uncomfortable to have him for a guest；
for I was young then； and unused to disguise what I so strongly
felt。
‘You have heard something； I des…say； of a change in my
expectations； Master Copperfield；—I should say； Mister
Copperfield？’ observed Uriah。
‘Yes；’ said I； ‘something。’
‘Ah！ I thought Miss Agnes would know of it！’ he quietly
returned。 ‘I’m glad to find Miss Agnes knows of it。 Oh； thank you；
Master—Mister Copperfield！’
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David Copperfield
I could have thrown my bootjack at him （it lay ready on the
rug）； for having entrapped me into the disclosure of anything
concerning Agnes； however immaterial。 But I only drank my
coffee。
‘What a prophet you have shown yourself； Mister Copperfield！’
pursued Uriah。 ‘Dear me； what a prophet you have proved
yourself to be！ Don’t you remember saying to me once； that
perhaps I should be a partner in Mr。 Wickfield’s business； and
perhaps it might be Wickfield and Heep？ You may not recollect it；
but when a person is umble； Master Copperfield； a person
treasures such things up！’
‘I recollect talking about it；’ said I； ‘though I certainly did not
think it very likely then。’
‘Oh！ who would have thought it likely； Mister Copperfield！’
returned Uriah； enthusiastically。 ‘I am sure I didn’t myself。 I
recollect saying with my own lips that I was much too umble。 So I
considered myself really and truly。’
He sat； with that carved grin on his face； looking at the fire； as I
looked at him。
‘But the umblest persons； Master Copperfield；’ he presently
resumed； ‘may be the instruments of good。 I am glad to think I
have been the instrument of good to Mr。 Wickfield； and that I may
be more so。 Oh what a worthy man he is； Mister Copperfield； but
how imprudent he has been！’
‘I am sorry to hear it；’ said I。 I could not help adding； rather
pointedly； ‘on all accounts。’
‘Decidedly so； Mister Copperfield；’ replied Uriah。 ‘On all
accounts。 Miss Agnes’s above all！ You don’t remember your own
eloquent expressions； Master Copperfield； but I remember how
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David Copperfield
you said one day that everybody must admire her； and how I
thanked you for it！ You have forgot that； I have no doubt； Master
Copperfield？’
‘No；’ said I； drily。
‘Oh how glad I am you have not！’ exclaimed Uriah。 ‘To think
that you should be the first to kindle the sparks of ambition in my
umble breast； and that you’ve not forgot it！ Oh！—Would you
excuse me asking for a cup more coffee？’
Something in the emphasis he laid upon the kindling of those
sparks； and something in the glance he directed at me as he said it；
had made me start as if I had seen him illuminated by a blaze of
light。 Recalled by his request； preferred in quite another tone of
voice； I did the honours of the shaving…pot； but I did them with an
unsteadiness of hand； a sudden sense of being no match for him；
and a perplexed suspicious anxiety as to what he might be going to
say next； which I felt could not escape his observation。
He said nothing at all。 He stirred his coffee round and round； he
sipped it； he felt his chin softly with his grisly hand； he looked at
the fire； he looked about the room； he gasped rather than smiled at
me； he writhed and undulated about； in his deferential servility； he
stirred and sipped again； but he left the renewal of the
conversation to me。
‘So； Mr。 Wickfield；’ said I； at last； ‘who is worth five hundred of
you—or me’； for my life； I think； I could not have helped dividing
that part of the sentence with an awkward jerk； ‘has been
imprudent； has he； Mr。 Heep？’
‘Oh； very imprudent indeed； Master Copperfield；’ returned
Uriah； sighing modestly。 ‘Oh； very much so！ But I wish you’d call
me Uriah； if you please。 It’s like old times。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Well！ Uriah；’ said I； bolting it out with some difficulty。
‘Thank you；’ he returned； with fervour。 ‘Thank you； Master
Copperfield！ It’s like the blowing of old breezes or the ringing of
old bellses to hear you say Uriah。 I beg your pardon。 Was I making
any observation？’
‘About Mr。 Wickfield；’ I suggested。
‘Oh！ Yes； truly；’ said Uriah。 ‘Ah！ Great imprudence； Master
Copperfield。 It’s a topic that I woul