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about？’
Traddles looked at me； as if he wondered what I was talking
about。
‘Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber！’ I repeated。 ‘Why； I am intimately
acquainted with them！’
An opportune double knock at the door； which I knew well
from old experience in Windsor Terrace； and which nobody but
Mr。 Micawber could ever have knocked at that door； resolved any
doubt in my mind as to their being my old friends。 I begged
Traddles to ask his landlord to walk up。 Traddles accordingly did
so； over the banister； and Mr。 Micawber； not a bit changed—his
tights； his stick； his shirt…collar； and his eye…glass； all the same as
ever—came into the room with a genteel and youthful air。
‘I beg your pardon； Mr。 Traddles；’ said Mr。 Micawber； with the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
old roll in his voice； as he checked himself in humming a soft tune。
‘I was not aware that there was any individual； alien to this
tenement； in your sanctum。’
Mr。 Micawber slightly bowed to me； and pulled up his shirt…
collar。
‘How do you do； Mr。 Micawber？’ said I。
‘Sir；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘you are exceedingly obliging。 I am in
statu quo。’
‘And Mrs。 Micawber？’ I pursued。
‘Sir；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘she is also； thank God； in statu quo。’
‘And the children； Mr。 Micawber？’
‘Sir；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘I rejoice to reply that they are；
likewise； in the enjoyment of salubrity。’
All this time； Mr。 Micawber had not known me in the least；
though he had stood face to face with me。 But now； seeing me
smile； he examined my features with more attention； fell back；
cried； ‘Is it possible！ Have I the pleasure of again beholding
Copperfield！’ and shook me by both hands with the utmost
fervour。
‘Good Heaven； Mr。 Traddles！’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘to think that
I should find you acquainted with the friend of my youth； the
companion of earlier days！ My dear！’ calling over the banisters to
Mrs。 Micawber； while Traddles looked （with reason） not a little
amazed at this description of me。 ‘Here is a gentleman in Mr。
Traddles’s apartment； whom he wishes to have the pleasure of
presenting to you； my love！’
Mr。 Micawber immediately reappeared； and shook hands with
me again。
‘And how is our good friend the Doctor； Copperfield？’ said Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber； ‘and all the circle at Canterbury？’
‘I have none but good accounts of them；’ said I。
‘I am most delighted to hear it；’ said Mr。 Micawber。 ‘It was at
Canterbury where we last met。 Within the shadow； I may
figuratively say； of that religious edifice immortalized by Chaucer；
which was anciently the resort of Pilgrims from the remotest
corners of—in short；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘in the immediate
neighbourhood of the Cathedral。’
I replied that it was。 Mr。 Micawber continued talking as volubly
as he could； but not； I thought； without showing； by some marks of
concern in his countenance； that he was sensible of sounds in the
next room； as of Mrs。 Micawber washing her hands； and hurriedly
opening and shutting drawers that were uneasy in their action。
‘You find us； Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； with one eye on
Traddles； ‘at present established； on what may be designated as a
small and unassuming scale； but； you are aware that I have； in the
course of my career； surmounted difficulties； and conquered
obstacles。 You are no stranger to the fact； that there have been
periods of my life； when it has been requisite that I should pause；
until certain expected events should turn up； when it has been
necessary that I should fall back； before making what I trust I shall
not be accused of presumption in terming—a spring。 The present
is one of those momentous stages in the life of man。 You find me；
fallen back； for a spring； and I have every reason to believe that a
vigorous leap will shortly be the result。’
I was expressing my satisfaction； when Mrs。 Micawber came in；
a little more slatternly than she used to be； or so she seemed now；
to my unaccustomed eyes； but still with some preparation of
herself for company； and with a pair of brown gloves on。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘My dear；’ said Mr。 Micawber； leading her towards me； ‘here is a
gentleman of the name of Copperfield； who wishes to renew his
acquaintance with you。’
It would have been better； as it turned out； to have led gently up
to this announcement； for Mrs。 Micawber； being in a delicate state
of health； was overcome by it； and was taken so unwell； that Mr。
Micawber was obliged； in great trepidation； to run down to the
water…butt in the backyard； and draw a basinful to lave her brow
with。 She presently revived； however； and was really pleased to
see me。 We had half…an…hour’s talk； all together； and I asked her
about the twins； who； she said； were ‘grown great creatures’； and
after Master and Miss Micawber； whom she described as ‘absolute
giants’； but they were not produced on that occasion。
Mr。 Micawber was very anxious that I should stay to dinner。 I
should not have been averse to do so； but that I imagined I
detected trouble； and calculation relative to the extent of the cold
meat； in Mrs。 Micawber’s eye。 I therefore pleaded another
engagement； and observing that Mrs。 Micawber’s spirits were
immediately lightened； I resisted all persuasion to forego it。
But I told Traddles； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber； that before I
could think of leaving； they must appoint a day when they would
come and dine with me。 The occupations to which Traddles stood
pledged； rendered it necessary to fix a somewhat distant one； but
an appointment was made for the purpose； that suited us all； and
then I took my leave。
Mr。 Micawber； under pretence of showing me a nearer way
than that by which I had come； accompanied me to the corner of
the street； being anxious （he explained to me） to say a few words
to an old friend； in confidence。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘My dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘I need hardly tell
you that to have beneath our roof； under existing circumstances； a
mind like that which gleams—if I may be allowed the expression—
which gleams—in your friend Traddles； is an unspeakable
comfort。 With a washerwoman； who exposes hard…bake for sale in
her parlour…window； dwelling next door； and a Bow…street officer
residing over the way； you may imagine that his society is a source
of consolation to myself and to Mrs。 Micawber。 I am at present； my
dear Copperfield； engaged in the sale of corn upon commission。 It
is not an avocation of a remunerative description—in other words；
it does not pay—and some temporary embarrassments of a
pecuniary nature have been the consequence。 I am； however；
delighted to add that I have now an immediate prospect of
something turning up （I am not at liberty to say in what direction）；
which I trust will enable me to provide； permanently； both for
myself and for your friend Traddles； in whom I have an unaffec