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this unfortunate Mrs。 Gummidge was knitting in her corner； in a
very wretched and miserable condition。 Peggotty had been
working cheerfully。 Ham had been patching up a great pair of
waterboots； and I； with little Em’ly by my side； had been reading
to them。 Mrs。 Gummidge had never made any other remark than a
forlorn sigh； and had never raised her eyes since tea。
‘Well； Mates；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； taking his seat； ‘and how are
you？’
We all said something； or looked something； to welcome him；
except Mrs。 Gummidge； who only shook her head over her
knitting。
‘What’s amiss？’ said Mr。 Peggotty； with a clap of his hands。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Cheer up； old Mawther！’ （Mr。 Peggotty meant old girl。）
Mrs。 Gummidge did not appear to be able to cheer up。 She took
out an old black silk handkerchief and wiped her eyes； but instead
of putting it in her pocket； kept it out； and wiped them again； and
still kept it out； ready for use。
‘What’s amiss； dame？’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘Nothing；’ returned Mrs。 Gummidge。 ‘You’ve come from The
Willing Mind； Dan’l？’
‘Why yes； I’ve took a short spell at The Willing Mind tonight；’
said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘I’m sorry I should drive you there；’ said Mrs。 Gummidge。
‘Drive！ I don’t want no driving；’ returned Mr。 Peggotty with an
honest laugh。 ‘I only go too ready。’
‘Very ready；’ said Mrs。 Gummidge； shaking her head； and
wiping her eyes。 ‘Yes； yes； very ready。 I am sorry it should be
along of me that you’re so ready。’
‘Along o’ you！ It an’t along o’ you！’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘Don’t ye
believe a bit on it。’
‘Yes； yes； it is；’ cried Mrs。 Gummidge。 ‘I know what I am。 I know
that I am a lone lorn creetur’； and not only that everythink goes
contrary with me； but that I go contrary with everybody。 Yes； yes。
I feel more than other people do； and I show it more。 It’s my
misfortun’。’
I really couldn’t help thinking； as I sat taking in all this； that the
misfortune extended to some other members of that family besides
Mrs。 Gummidge。 But Mr。 Peggotty made no such retort； only
answering with another entreaty to Mrs。 Gummidge to cheer up。
‘I an’t what I could wish myself to be；’ said Mrs。 Gummidge。 ‘I
am far from it。 I know what I am。 My troubles has made me
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
contrary。 I feel my troubles； and they make me contrary。 I wish I
didn’t feel ’em； but I do。 I wish I could be hardened to ’em； but I
an’t。 I make the house uncomfortable。 I don’t wonder at it。 I’ve
made your sister so all day； and Master Davy。’
Here I was suddenly melted； and roared out； ‘No； you haven’t；
Mrs。 Gummidge；’ in great mental distress。
‘It’s far from right that I should do it；’ said Mrs。 Gummidge。 ‘It
an’t a fit return。 I had better go into the house and die。 I am a lone
lorn creetur’； and had much better not make myself contrary here。
If thinks must go contrary with me； and I must go contrary myself；
let me go contrary in my parish。 Dan’l； I’d better go into the house；
and die and be a riddance！’
Mrs。 Gummidge retired with these words； and betook herself to
bed。 When she was gone； Mr。 Peggotty； who had not exhibited a
trace of any feeling but the profoundest sympathy； looked round
upon us； and nodding his head with a lively expression of that
sentiment still animating his face； said in a whisper：
‘She’s been thinking of the old ’un！’
I did not quite understand what old one Mrs。 Gummidge was
supposed to have fixed her mind upon； until Peggotty； on seeing
me to bed； explained that it was the late Mr。 Gummidge； and that
her brother always took that for a received truth on such
occasions； and that it always had a moving effect upon him。 Some
time after he was in his hammock that night； I heard him myself
repeat to Ham； ‘Poor thing！ She’s been thinking of the old ’un！’
And whenever Mrs。 Gummidge was overcome in a similar manner
during the remainder of our stay （which happened some few
times）； he always said the same thing in extenuation of the
circumstance； and always with the tenderest commiseration。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
So the fortnight slipped away； varied by nothing but the
variation of the tide； which altered Mr。 Peggotty’s times of going
out and coming in； and altered Ham’s engagements also。 When the
latter was unemployed； he sometimes walked with us to show us
the boats and ships； and once or twice he took us for a row。 I don’t
know why one slight set of impressions should be more
particularly associated with a place than another； though I believe
this obtains with most people； in reference especially to the
associations of their childhood。 I never hear the name； or read the
name； of Yarmouth； but I am reminded of a certain Sunday
morning on the beach； the bells ringing for church； little Em’ly
leaning on my shoulder； Ham lazily dropping stones into the
water； and the sun； away at sea； just breaking through the heavy
mist； and showing us the ships； like their own shadows。
At last the day came for going home。 I bore up against the
separation from Mr。 Peggotty and Mrs。 Gummidge； but my agony
of mind at leaving little Em’ly was piercing。 We went arm…in…arm
to the public…house where the carrier put up； and I promised； on
the road； to write to her。 （I redeemed that promise afterwards； in
characters larger than those in which apartments are usually
announced in manuscript； as being to let。） We were greatly
overcome at parting； and if ever； in my life； I have had a void made
in my heart； I had one made that day。
Now； all the time I had been on my visit； I had been ungrateful
to my home again； and had thought little or nothing about it。 But I
was no sooner turned towards it； than my reproachful young
conscience seemed to point that way with a ready finger； and I felt；
all the more for the sinking of my spirits； that it was my nest； and
that my mother was my comforter and friend。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
This gained upon me as we went along； so that the nearer we
drew； the more familiar the objects became that we passed； the
more excited I was to get there； and to run into her arms。 But
Peggotty； instead of sharing in those transports； tried to check
them （though very kindly）； and looked confused and out of sorts。
Blunderstone Rookery would come； however； in spite of her；
when the carrier’s horse pleased—and did。 How well I recollect it；
on a cold grey afternoon； with a dull sky； threatening rain！
The door opened； and I looked； half laughing and half crying in
my pleasant agitation； for my mother。 It was not she； but a strange
servant。
‘Why； Peggotty！’ I said； ruefully； ‘isn’t she come home？’
‘Yes； yes； Master Davy；’ said Peggotty。 ‘She’s come home。 Wait
a bit； Master Davy； and I’ll—I’ll tell you something。’
Between her agitation； and her natural awkwardness in getting
out of the cart； Peggotty was making a most extr