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thought he might have been here today； sir。 The mistake is mine；
no doubt； sir。’
‘If you should see him first—’ said I。
‘If you’ll excuse me； sir； I don’t think I shall see him first。’
‘In case you do；’ said I； ‘pray say that I am sorry he was not here
today； as an old schoolfellow of his was here。’
‘Indeed； sir！’ and he divided a bow between me and Traddles；
with a glance at the latter。
He was moving softly to the door； when； in a forlorn hope of
saying something naturally—which I never could； to this man—I
said：
‘Oh！ Littimer！’
‘Sir！’
‘Did you remain long at Yarmouth； that time？’
‘Not particularly so； sir。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘You saw the boat completed？’
‘Yes； sir。 I remained behind on purpose to see the boat
completed。’
‘I know！’ He raised his eyes to mine respectfully。
‘Mr。 Steerforth has not seen it yet； I suppose？’
‘I really can’t say； sir。 I think—but I really can’t say； sir。 I wish
you good night； sir。’
He comprehended everybody present； in the respectful bow
with which he followed these words； and disappeared。 My visitors
seemed to breathe more freely when he was gone； but my own
relief was very great； for besides the constraint； arising from that
extraordinary sense of being at a disadvantage which I always had
in this man’s presence； my conscience had embarrassed me with
whispers that I had mistrusted his master； and I could not repress
a vague uneasy dread that he might find it out。 How was it； having
so little in reality to conceal； that I always DID feel as if this man
were finding me out？
Mr。 Micawber roused me from this reflection； which was
blended with a certain remorseful apprehension of seeing
Steerforth himself； by bestowing many encomiums on the absent
Littimer as a most respectable fellow； and a thoroughly admirable
servant。 Mr。 Micawber； I may remark； had taken his full share of
the general bow； and had received it with infinite condescension。
‘But punch； my dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； tasting it；
‘like time and tide； waits for no man。 Ah！ it is at the present
moment in high flavour。 My love； will you give me your opinion？’
Mrs。 Micawber pronounced it excellent。
‘Then I will drink；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘if my friend Copperfield
will permit me to take that social liberty； to the days when my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
friend Copperfield and myself were younger； and fought our way
in the world side by side。 I may say； of myself and Copperfield； in
words we have sung together before now； that
“We twa hae run about the braes
And pu’d the gowans’ fine”
—in a figurative point of view—on several occasions。 I am not
exactly aware；’ said Mr。 Micawber； with the old roll in his voice；
and the old indescribable air of saying something genteel； ‘what
gowans may be； but I have no doubt that Copperfield and myself
would frequently have taken a pull at them； if it had been feasible。’
Mr。 Micawber； at the then present moment； took a pull at his
punch。 So we all did： Traddles evidently lost in wondering at what
distant time Mr。 Micawber and I could have been comrades in the
battle of the world。
‘Ahem！’ said Mr。 Micawber； clearing his throat； and warming
with the punch and with the fire。 ‘My dear； another glass？’
Mrs。 Micawber said it must be very little； but we couldn’t allow
that； so it was a glassful。
‘As we are quite confidential here； Mr。 Copperfield；’ said Mrs。
Micawber； sipping her punch； ‘Mr。 Traddles being a part of our
domesticity； I should much like to have your opinion on Mr。
Micawber’s prospects。 For corn；’ said Mrs。 Micawber
argumentatively； ‘as I have repeatedly said to Mr。 Micawber； may
be gentlemanly； but it is not remunerative。 Commission to the
extent of two and ninepence in a fortnight cannot； however limited
our ideas； be considered remunerative。’
We were all agreed upon that。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Then；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； who prided herself on taking a
clear view of things； and keeping Mr。 Micawber straight by her
woman’s wisdom； when he might otherwise go a little crooked；
‘then I ask myself this question。 If corn is not to be relied upon；
what is？ Are coals to be relied upon？ Not at all。 We have turned
our attention to that experiment； on the suggestion of my family；
and we find it fallacious。’
Mr。 Micawber； leaning back in his chair with his hands in his
pockets； eyed us aside； and nodded his head； as much as to say
that the case was very clearly put。
‘The articles of corn and coals；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； still more
argumentatively； ‘being equally out of the question； Mr。
Copperfield； I naturally look round the world； and say； “What is
there in which a person of Mr。 Micawber’s talent is likely to
succeed？” And I exclude the doing anything on commission；
because commission is not a certainty。 What is best suited to a
person of Mr。 Micawber’s peculiar temperament is； I am
convinced； a certainty。’
Traddles and I both expressed； by a feeling murmur； that this
great discovery was no doubt true of Mr。 Micawber； and that it did
him much credit。
‘I will not conceal from you； my dear Mr。 Copperfield；’ said Mrs。
Micawber； ‘that I have long felt the Brewing business to be
particularly adapted to Mr。 Micawber。 Look at Barclay and
Perkins！ Look at Truman； Hanbury； and Buxton！ It is on that
extensive footing that Mr。 Micawber； I know from my own
knowledge of him； is calculated to shine； and the profits； I am told；
are e…nor…mous！ But if Mr。 Micawber cannot get into those firms—
which decline to answer his letters； when he offers his services
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
even in an inferior capacity—what is the use of dwelling upon that
idea？ None。 I may have a conviction that Mr。 Micawber’s
manners—’
‘Hem！ Really； my dear；’ interposed Mr。 Micawber。
‘My love； be silent；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； laying her brown glove
on his hand。 ‘I may have a conviction； Mr。 Copperfield； that Mr。
Micawber’s manners peculiarly qualify him for the Banking
business。 I may argue within myself； that if I had a deposit at a
banking…house； the manners of Mr。 Micawber； as representing
that banking…house； would inspire confidence； and must extend
the connexion。 But if the various banking…houses refuse to avail
themselves of Mr。 Micawber’s abilities； or receive the offer of them
with contumely； what is the use of dwelling upon that idea？ None。
As to originating a banking…business； I may know that there are
members of my family who； if they chose to place their money in
Mr。 Micawber’s hands； might found an establishment of that
description。 But if they do not choose to place their money in Mr。
Micawber’s hands—which they don’t—what is the use of that？
Again I contend that we are no farther advanced than we were
before。’
I shook my head； and said； ‘Not a bit。’ Traddles also sho