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She clung the closer to him； but neither lifted up her face； nor
spoke a word。
‘It’s getting late； my dear；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘and here’s Ham
come fur to take you home。 Theer！ Go along with t’other loving
art！ What’ Em’ly？ Eh； my pretty？’
The sound of her voice had not reached me； but he bent his
head as if he listened to her； and then said：
‘Let you stay with your uncle？ Why； you doen’t mean to ask me
that！ Stay with your uncle； Moppet？ When your husband that’ll be
so soon； is here fur to take you home？ Now a person wouldn’t
think it； fur to see this little thing alongside a rough…weather chap
like me；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； looking round at both of us； with
infinite pride； ‘but the sea ain’t more salt in it than she has
fondness in her for her uncle—a foolish little Em’ly！’
‘Em’ly’s in the right in that； Mas’r Davy！’ said Ham。 ‘Lookee
here！ As Em’ly wishes of it； and as she’s hurried and frightened；
like； besides； I’ll leave her till morning。 Let me stay too！’
‘No； no；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘You doen’t ought—a married man
like you—or what’s as good—to take and hull away a day’s work。
And you doen’t ought to watch and work both。 That won’t do。 You
go home and turn in。 You ain’t afeerd of Em’ly not being took good
care on； I know。’ Ham yielded to this persuasion； and took his hat
to go。 Even when he kissed her。—and I never saw him approach
her； but I felt that nature had given him the soul of a gentleman—
she seemed to cling closer to her uncle； even to the avoidance of
her chosen husband。 I shut the door after him； that it might cause
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
no disturbance of the quiet that prevailed； and when I turned
back； I found Mr。 Peggotty still talking to her。
‘Now； I’m a going upstairs to tell your aunt as Mas’r Davy’s
here； and that’ll cheer her up a bit；’ he said。 ‘Sit ye down by the
fire； the while； my dear； and warm those mortal cold hands。 You
doen’t need to be so fearsome； and take on so much。 What？ You’ll
go along with me？—Well！ come along with me—come！ If her uncle
was turned out of house and home； and forced to lay down in a
dyke； Mas’r Davy；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； with no less pride than
before； ‘it’s my belief she’d go along with him； now！ But there’ll be
someone else； soon；—someone else； soon； Em’ly！’
Afterwards； when I went upstairs； as I passed the door of my
little chamber； which was dark； I had an indistinct impression of
her being within it； cast down upon the floor。 But； whether it was
really she； or whether it was a confusion of the shadows in the
room； I don’t know now。
I had leisure to think； before the kitchen fire； of pretty little
Emily’s dread of death—which； added to what Mr。 Omer had told
me； I took to be the cause of her being so unlike herself—and I had
leisure； before Peggotty came down； even to think more leniently
of the weakness of it： as I sat counting the ticking of the clock； and
deepening my sense of the solemn hush around me。 Peggotty took
me in her arms； and blessed and thanked me over and over again
for being such a comfort to her （that was what she said） in her
distress。 She then entreated me to come upstairs； sobbing that Mr。
Barkis had always liked me and admired me； that he had often
talked of me； before he fell into a stupor； and that she believed； in
case of his coming to himself again； he would brighten up at sight
of me； if he could brighten up at any earthly thing。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
The probability of his ever doing so； appeared to me； when I
saw him； to be very small。 He was lying with his head and
shoulders out of bed； in an uncomfortable attitude； half resting on
the box which had cost him so much pain and trouble。 I learned；
that； when he was past creeping out of bed to open it； and past
assuring himself of its safety by means of the divining rod I had
seen him use； he had required to have it placed on the chair at the
bed…side； where he had ever since embraced it； night and day。 His
arm lay on it now。 Time and the world were slipping from beneath
him； but the box was there； and the last words he had uttered
were （in an explanatory tone） ‘Old clothes！’
‘Barkis； my dear！’ said Peggotty； almost cheerfully： bending
over him； while her brother and I stood at the bed’s foot。 ‘Here’s
my dear boy—my dear boy； Master Davy； who brought us
together； Barkis！ That you sent messages by； you know！ Won’t you
speak to Master Davy？’
He was as mute and senseless as the box； from which his form
derived the only expression it had。
‘He’s a going out with the tide；’ said Mr。 Peggotty to me； behind
his hand。
My eyes were dim and so were Mr。 Peggotty’s； but I repeated in
a whisper； ‘With the tide？’
‘People can’t die； along the coast；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ’except
when the tide’s pretty nigh out。 They can’t be born； unless it’s
pretty nigh in—not properly born； till flood。 He’s a going out with
the tide。 It’s ebb at half…arter three； slack water half an hour。 If he
lives till it turns； he’ll hold his own till past the flood； and go out
with the next tide。’
We remained there； watching him； a long time—hours。 What
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
mysterious influence my presence had upon him in that state of
his senses； I shall not pretend to say； but when he at last began to
wander feebly； it is certain he was muttering about driving me to
school。
‘He’s coming to himself；’ said Peggotty。
Mr。 Peggotty touched me； and whispered with much awe and
reverence。 ‘They are both a…going out fast。’
‘Barkis； my dear！’ said Peggotty。
‘C。 P。 Barkis；’ he cried faintly。 ‘No better woman anywhere！’
‘Look！ Here’s Master Davy！’ said Peggotty。 For he now opened
his eyes。
I was on the point of asking him if he knew me； when he tried to
stretch out his arm； and said to me； distinctly； with a pleasant
smile：
‘Barkis is willin’！’
And； it being low water； he went out with the tide。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 31
A GREATER LOSS
It was not difficult for me； on Peggotty’s solicitation； to resolve
to stay where I was； until after the remains of the poor carrier
should have made their last journey to Blunderstone。 She had
long ago bought； out of her own savings； a little piece of ground in
our old churchyard near the grave of ‘her sweet girl’； as she always
called my mother； and there they were to rest。
In keeping Peggotty company； and doing all I could for her
（little enough at the utmost）； I was as grateful； I rejoice to think； as
even now I could wish myself to have been。 But I am afraid I had a
supreme satisfaction； of a personal and professional nature； in
taking charge of Mr。 Barkis’s will； and expounding its contents。
I may claim the merit of having originated the suggestion that
the will should be looked for in the box。 After some search； it was
found in the box； at the