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used to tell the stories？ Ha； ha； ha！ And do you remember when I
got caned for crying about Mr。 Mell？ Old Creakle！ I should like to
see him again； too！’
‘He was a brute to you； Traddles；’ said I； indignantly； for his
good humour made me feel as if I had seen him beaten but
yesterday。
‘Do you think so？’ returned Traddles。 ‘Really？ Perhaps he was
rather。 But it’s all over； a long while。 Old Creakle！’
‘You were brought up by an uncle； then？’ said I。
‘Of course I was！’ said Traddles。 ‘The one I was always going to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
write to。 And always didn’t； eh！ Ha； ha； ha！ Yes； I had an uncle
then。 He died soon after I left school。’
‘Indeed！’
‘Yes。 He was a retired—what do you call it！—draper—clothmerchant—and had made me his heir。 But he didn’t like me when
I grew up。’
‘Do you really mean that？’ said I。 He was so composed； that I
fancied he must have some other meaning。
‘Oh dear； yes； Copperfield！ I mean it；’ replied Traddles。 ‘It was
an unfortunate thing； but he didn’t like me at all。 He said I wasn’t
at all what he expected； and so he married his housekeeper。’
‘And what did you do？’ I asked。
‘I didn’t do anything in particular；’ said Traddles。 ‘I lived with
them； waiting to be put out in the world； until his gout
unfortunately flew to his stomach—and so he died； and so she
married a young man； and so I wasn’t provided for。’
‘Did you get nothing； Traddles； after all？’
‘Oh dear； yes！’ said Traddles。 ‘I got fifty pounds。 I had never
been brought up to any profession； and at first I was at a loss what
to do for myself。 However； I began； with the assistance of the son
of a professional man； who had been to Salem House—Yawler；
with his nose on one side。 Do you recollect him？’
No。 He had not been there with me； all the noses were straight
in my day。
‘It don’t matter；’ said Traddles。 ‘I began； by means of his
assistance； to copy law writings。 That didn’t answer very well； and
then I began to state cases for them； and make abstracts； and that
sort of work。 For I am a plodding kind of fellow； Copperfield； and
had learnt the way of doing such things pithily。 Well！ That put it in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
my head to enter myself as a law student； and that ran away with
all that was left of the fifty pounds。 Yawler recommended me to
one or two other offices； however—Mr。 Waterbrook’s for one—and
I got a good many jobs。 I was fortunate enough； too； to become
acquainted with a person in the publishing way； who was getting
up an Encyclopaedia； and he set me to work； and； indeed’
（glancing at his table）； ‘I am at work for him at this minute。 I am
not a bad compiler； Copperfield；’ said Traddles； preserving the
same air of cheerful confidence in all he said； ‘but I have no
invention at all； not a particle。 I suppose there never was a young
man with less originality than I have。’
As Traddles seemed to expect that I should assent to this as a
matter of course； I nodded； and he went on； with the same
sprightly patience—I can find no better expression—as before。
‘So； by little and little； and not living high； I managed to scrape
up the hundred pounds at last；’ said Traddles； ‘and thank Heaven
that’s paid—though it was—though it certainly was；’ said
Traddles； wincing again as if he had had another tooth out； ‘a pull。
I am living by the sort of work I have mentioned； still； and I hope；
one of these days； to get connected with some newspaper： which
would almost be the making of my fortune。 Now； Copperfield； you
are so exactly what you used to be； with that agreeable face； and
it’s so pleasant to see you； that I sha’n’t conceal anything。
Therefore you must know that I am engaged。’
Engaged！ Oh； Dora！
‘She is a curate’s daughter；’ said Traddles； ‘one of ten； down in
Devonshire。 Yes！’ For he saw me glance； involuntarily； at the
prospect on the inkstand。 ‘That’s the church！ You come round
here to the left； out of this gate；’ tracing his finger along the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
inkstand； ‘and exactly where I hold this pen； there stands the
house—facing； you understand； towards the church。’
The delight with which he entered into these particulars； did
not fully present itself to me until afterwards； for my selfish
thoughts were making a ground…plan of Mr。 Spenlow’s house and
garden at the same moment。
‘She is such a dear girl！’ said Traddles； ‘a little older than me；
but the dearest girl！ I told you I was going out of town？ I have
been down there。 I walked there； and I walked back； and I had the
most delightful time！ I dare say ours is likely to be a rather long
engagement； but our motto is “Wait and hope！” We always say
that。 “Wait and hope；” we always say。 And she would wait；
Copperfield； till she was sixty—any age you can mention—for me！’
Traddles rose from his chair； and； with a triumphant smile； put
his hand upon the white cloth I had observed。
‘However；’ he said； ‘it’s not that we haven’t made a beginning
towards housekeeping。 No； no； we have begun。 We must get on by
degrees； but we have begun。 Here；’ drawing the cloth off with
great pride and care； ‘are two pieces of furniture to commence
with。 This flower…pot and stand； she bought herself。 You put that
in a parlour window；’ said Traddles； falling a little back from it to
survey it with the greater admiration； ‘with a plant in it； and—and
there you are！ This little round table with the marble top （it’s two
feet ten in circumference）； I bought。 You want to lay a book down；
you know； or somebody comes to see you or your wife； and wants a
place to stand a cup of tea upon； and—and there you are again！’
said Traddles。 ‘It’s an admirable piece of workmanship—firm as a
rock！’ I praised them both； highly； and Traddles replaced the
covering as carefully as he had removed it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘It’s not a great deal towards the furnishing；’ said Traddles； ‘but
it’s something。 The table…cloths； and pillow…cases； and articles of
that kind； are what discourage me most； Copperfield。 So does the
ironmongery—candle…boxes； and gridirons； and that sort of
necessaries—because those things tell； and mount up。 However；
“wait
and hope！” And I assure you she’s the dearest girl！’
‘I am quite certain of it；’ said I。
‘In the meantime；’ said Traddles； coming back to his chair； ‘and
this is the end of my prosing about myself； I get on as well as I can。
I don’t make much； but I don’t spend much。 In general； I board
with the people downstairs； who are very agreeable people indeed。
Both Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber have seen a good deal of life； and are
excellent company。’
‘My dear Traddles！’ I quickly exclaimed。 ‘What are you talking
about？’
Traddles looked at me； as if he wondered what I was talking
about。
‘Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber！’ I repeated。 ‘Why； I a