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been half…an…hour in the house； was the close and attentive watch
Miss Dartle kept upon me； and the lurking manner in which she
seemed to compare my face with Steerforth’s； and Steerforth’s
with mine； and to lie in wait for something to come out between
the two。 So surely as I looked towards her； did I see that eager
visage； with its gaunt black eyes and searching brow； intent on
mine； or passing suddenly from mine to Steerforth’s； or
comprehending both of us at once。 In this lynx…like scrutiny she
was so far from faltering when she saw I observed it； that at such a
time she only fixed her piercing look upon me with a more intent
expression still。 Blameless as I was； and knew that I was； in
reference to any wrong she could possibly suspect me of； I shrunk
before her strange eyes； quite unable to endure their hungry
lustre。
All day； she seemed to pervade the whole house。 If I talked to
Steerforth in his room； I heard her dress rustle in the little gallery
outside。 When he and I engaged in some of our old exercises on
the lawn behind the house； I saw her face pass from window to
window； like a wandering light； until it fixed itself in one； and
watched us。 When we all four went out walking in the afternoon；
she closed her thin hand on my arm like a spring； to keep me back；
while Steerforth and his mother went on out of hearing： and then
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
spoke to me。
‘You have been a long time；’ she said； ‘without coming here。 Is
your profession really so engaging and interesting as to absorb
your whole attention？ I ask because I always want to be informed；
when I am ignorant。 Is it really； though？’
I replied that I liked it well enough； but that I certainly could
not claim so much for it。
‘Oh！ I am glad to know that； because I always like to be put
right when I am wrong；’ said Rosa Dartle。 ‘You mean it is a little
dry； perhaps？’
‘Well；’ I replied； ‘perhaps it was a little dry。’
‘Oh！ and that’s a reason why you want relief and change—
excitement and all that？’ said she。 ‘Ah！ very true！ But isn’t it a
little—Eh？—for him； I don’t mean you？’
A quick glance of her eye towards the spot where Steerforth
was walking； with his mother leaning on his arm； showed me
whom she meant； but beyond that； I was quite lost。 And I looked
so； I have no doubt。
‘Don’t it—I don’t say that it does； mind I want to know—don’t it
rather engross him？ Don’t it make him； perhaps； a little more
remiss than usual in his visits to his blindly…doting—eh？’ With
another quick glance at them； and such a glance at me as seemed
to look into my innermost thoughts。
‘Miss Dartle；’ I returned； ‘pray do not think—’
‘I don’t！’ she said。 ‘Oh dear me； don’t suppose that I think
anything！ I am not suspicious。 I only ask a question。 I don’t state
any opinion。 I want to found an opinion on what you tell me。 Then；
it’s not so？ Well！ I am very glad to know it。’
‘It certainly is not the fact；’ said I； perplexed； ‘that I am
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
accountable for Steerforth’s having been away from home longer
than usual—if he has been： which I really don’t know at this
moment； unless I understand it from you。 I have not seen him this
long while； until last night。’
‘No？’
‘Indeed； Miss Dartle； no！’
As she looked full at me； I saw her face grow sharper and paler；
and the marks of the old wound lengthen out until it cut through
the disfigured lip； and deep into the nether lip； and slanted down
the face。 There was something positively awful to me in this； and
in the brightness of her eyes； as she said； looking fixedly at me：
‘What is he doing？’
I repeated the words； more to myself than her； being so
amazed。
‘What is he doing？’ she said； with an eagerness that seemed
enough to consume her like a fire。 ‘In what is that man assisting
him； who never looks at me without an inscrutable falsehood in his
eyes？ If you are honourable and faithful； I don’t ask you to betray
your friend。 I ask you only to tell me； is it anger； is it hatred； is it
pride； is it restlessness； is it some wild fancy； is it love； what is it；
that is leading him？’
‘Miss Dartle；’ I returned； ‘how shall I tell you； so that you will
believe me； that I know of nothing in Steerforth different from
what there was when I first came here？ I can think of nothing。 I
firmly believe there is nothing。 I hardly understand even what you
mean。’
As she still stood looking fixedly at me； a twitching or
throbbing； from which I could not dissociate the idea of pain； came
into that cruel mark； and lifted up the corner of her lip as if with
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
scorn； or with a pity that despised its object。 She put her hand
upon it hurriedly—a hand so thin and delicate； that when I had
seen her hold it up before the fire to shade her face； I had
compared it in my thoughts to fine porcelain—and saying； in a
quick； fierce； passionate way； ‘I swear you to secrecy about this！’
said not a word more。
Mrs。 Steerforth was particularly happy in her son’s society； and
Steerforth was； on this occasion； particularly attentive and
respectful to her。 It was very interesting to me to see them
together； not only on account of their mutual affection； but
because of the strong personal resemblance between them； and
the manner in which what was haughty or impetuous in him was
softened by age and sex； in her； to a gracious dignity。 I thought；
more than once； that it was well no serious cause of division had
ever come between them； or two such natures—I ought rather to
express it； two such shades of the same nature—might have been
harder to reconcile than the two extremest opposites in creation。
The idea did not originate in my own discernment； I am bound to
confess； but in a speech of Rosa Dartle’s。
She said at dinner：
‘Oh； but do tell me； though； somebody； because I have been
thinking about it all day； and I want to know。’
‘You want to know what； Rosa？’ returned Mrs。 Steerforth。
‘Pray； pray； Rosa； do not be mysterious。’
‘Mysterious！’ she cried。 ‘Oh！ really？ Do you consider me so？’
‘Do I constantly entreat you；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth； ‘to speak
plainly； in your own natural manner？’
‘Oh！ then this is not my natural manner？’ she rejoined。 ‘Now
you must really bear with me； because I ask for information。 We
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
never know ourselves。’
‘It has become a second nature；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth； without
any displeasure； ‘but I remember；—and so must you； I think；—
when your manner was different； Rosa； when it was not so
guarded； and was more trustful。’
‘I am sure you are right；’ she returned； ‘and so it is that bad
habits grow upon one！ Really？ Less guarded and more trustful？
How can I； imperceptibly； have changed； I wonder！ Well； that’s
very odd！ I must study to regain my former self。’
‘I wish you