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about it； and now came fresh； as judges； to settle the matter to the
satisfaction of everybody！ Discontented people might talk of
corruption in the Commons； closeness in the Commons； and the
necessity of reforming the Commons； said Mr。 Spenlow solemnly；
in conclusion； but when the price of wheat per bushel had been
highest； the Commons had been busiest； and a man might lay his
hand upon his heart； and say this to the whole world；—‘Touch the
Commons； and down comes the country！’
I listened to all this with attention； and though； I must say； I had
my doubts whether the country was quite as much obliged to the
Commons as Mr。 Spenlow made out； I respectfully deferred to his
opinion。 That about the price of wheat per bushel； I modestly felt
was too much for my strength； and quite settled the question。 I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
have never； to this hour； got the better of that bushel of wheat。 It
has reappeared to annihilate me； all through my life； in connexion
with all kinds of subjects。 I don’t know now； exactly； what it has to
do with me； or what right it has to crush me； on an infinite variety
of occasions； but whenever I see my old friend the bushel brought
in by the head and shoulders （as he always is； I observe）； I give up
a subject for lost。
This is a digression。 I was not the man to touch the Commons；
and bring down the country。 I submissively expressed； by my
silence； my acquiescence in all I had heard from my superior in
years and knowledge； and we talked about “The Stranger” and the
Drama； and the pairs of horses； until we came to Mr。 Spenlow’s
gate。
There was a lovely garden to Mr。 Spenlow’s house； and though
that was not the best time of the year for seeing a garden； it was so
beautifully kept； that I was quite enchanted。 There was a
charming lawn； there were clusters of trees； and there were
perspective walks that I could just distinguish in the dark； arched
over with trellis…work； on which shrubs and flowers grew in the
growing season。 ‘Here Miss Spenlow walks by herself；’ I thought。
‘Dear me！’
We went into the house； which was cheerfully lighted up； and
into a hall where there were all sorts of hats； caps； great…coats；
plaids； gloves； whips； and walking…sticks。 ‘Where is Miss Dora？’
said Mr。 Spenlow to the servant。 ‘Dora！’ I thought。 ‘What a
beautiful name！’
We turned into a room near at hand （I think it was the identical
breakfast…room； made memorable by the brown East Indian
sherry）； and I heard a voice say； ‘Mr。 Copperfield； my daughter
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David Copperfield 534
Dora； and my daughter Dora’s confidential friend！’ It was； no
doubt； Mr。 Spenlow’s voice； but I didn’t know it； and I didn’t care
whose it was。 All was over in a moment。 I had fulfilled my destiny。
I was a captive and a slave。 I loved Dora Spenlow to distraction！
She was more than human to me。 She was a Fairy； a Sylph； I
don’t know what she was—anything that no one ever saw； and
everything that everybody ever wanted。 I was swallowed up in an
abyss of love in an instant。 There was no pausing on the brink； no
looking down； or looking back； I was gone； headlong； before I had
sense to say a word to her。
‘I；’ observed a well…remembered voice； when I had bowed and
murmured something； ‘have seen Mr。 Copperfield before。’
The speaker was not Dora。 No； the confidential friend； Miss
Murdstone！
I don’t think I was much astonished。 To the best of my
judgement； no capacity of astonishment was left in me。 There was
nothing worth mentioning in the material world； but Dora
Spenlow； to be astonished about。 I said； ‘How do you do； Miss
Murdstone？ I hope you are well。’ She answered； ‘Very well。’ I said；
‘How is Mr。 Murdstone？’ She replied； ‘My brother is robust； I am
obliged to you。’
Mr。 Spenlow； who； I suppose； had been surprised to see us
recognize each other； then put in his word。
‘I am glad to find；’ he said； ‘Copperfield； that you and Miss
Murdstone are already acquainted。’
‘Mr。 Copperfield and myself；’ said Miss Murdstone； with severe
composure； ‘are connexions。 We were once slightly acquainted。 It
was in his childish days。 Circumstances have separated us since。 I
should not have known him。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I replied that I should have known her； anywhere。 Which was
true enough。
‘Miss Murdstone has had the goodness；’ said Mr。 Spenlow to
me； ‘to accept the office—if I may so describe it—of my daughter
Dora’s confidential friend。 My daughter Dora having； unhappily；
no mother； Miss Murdstone is obliging enough to become her
companion and protector。’
A passing thought occurred to me that Miss Murdstone； like the
pocket instrument called a life…preserver； was not so much
designed for purposes of protection as of assault。 But as I had
none but passing thoughts for any subject save Dora； I glanced at
her； directly afterwards； and was thinking that I saw； in her
prettily pettish manner； that she was not very much inclined to be
particularly confidential to her companion and protector； when a
bell rang； which Mr。 Spenlow said was the first dinner…bell； and so
carried me off to dress。
The idea of dressing one’s self； or doing anything in the way of
action； in that state of love； was a little too ridiculous。 I could only
sit down before my fire； biting the key of my carpet…bag； and think
of the captivating； girlish； bright…eyed lovely Dora。 What a form
she had； what a face she had； what a graceful； variable； enchanting
manner！
The bell rang again so soon that I made a mere scramble of my
dressing； instead of the careful operation I could have wished
under the circumstances； and went downstairs。 There was some
company。 Dora was talking to an old gentleman with a grey head。
Grey as he was—and a great…grandfather into the bargain； for he
said so—I was madly jealous of him。
What a state of mind I was in！ I was jealous of everybody。 I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
couldn’t bear the idea of anybody knowing Mr。 Spenlow better
than I did。 It was torturing to me to hear them talk of occurrences
in which I had had no share。 When a most amiable person； with a
highly polished bald head； asked me across the dinner table； if that
were the first occasion of my seeing the grounds； I could have
done anything to him that was savage and revengeful。
I don’t remember who was there； except Dora。 I have not the
least idea what we had for dinner； besides Dora。 My impression is；
that I dined off Dora； entirely； and sent away half…a…dozen plates
untouched。 I sat next to her。 I talked to her。 She had the most
delightful little voice； the gayest little laugh； the pleasantest and
most fascinating little ways； that ever led a lost youth into hopeless
slavery。 She was rather diminutive altogether。 So much the more
precious； I thought。
When she went out of the room with Miss Murdstone （no other
ladies were of the party）； I fell i