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When she had served us all； she withdrew to the window； where
she sedulously employed herself in repairing some shirts and
other clothes belonging to Mr。 Peggotty； and neatly folding and
packing them in an old oilskin bag； such as sailors carry。
Meanwhile； she continued talking； in the same quiet manner：
‘All times and seasons； you know； Dan’l；’ said Mrs。 Gummidge；
‘I shall be allus here； and everythink will look accordin’ to your
wishes。 I’m a poor scholar； but I shall write to you； odd times；
when you’re away； and send my letters to Mas’r Davy。 Maybe
you’ll write to me too； Dan’l； odd times； and tell me how you fare to
feel upon your lone lorn journies。’
‘You’ll be a solitary woman heer； I’m afeerd！’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘No； no； Dan’l；’ she returned； ‘I shan’t be that。 Doen’t you mind
me。 I shall have enough to do to keep a Beein for you’ （Mrs。
Gummidge meant a home）； ‘again you come back—to keep a
Beein here for any that may hap to come back； Dan’l。 In the fine
time； I shall set outside the door as I used to do。 If any should come
nigh； they shall see the old widder woman true to ’em； a long way
off。’
What a change in Mrs。 Gummidge in a little time！ She was
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David Copperfield
another woman。 She was so devoted； she had such a quick
perception of what it would be well to say； and what it would be
well to leave unsaid； she was so forgetful of herself； and so
regardful of the sorrow about her； that I held her in a sort of
veneration。 The work she did that day！ There were many things to
be brought up from the beach and stored in the outhouse—as oars；
nets； sails； cordage； spars； lobster…pots； bags of ballast； and the
like； and though there was abundance of assistance rendered；
there being not a pair of working hands on all that shore but
would have laboured hard for Mr。 Peggotty； and been well paid in
being asked to do it； yet she persisted； all day long； in toiling under
weights that she was quite unequal to； and fagging to and fro on
all sorts of unnecessary errands。 As to deploring her misfortunes；
she appeared to have entirely lost the recollection of ever having
had any。 She preserved an equable cheerfulness in the midst of
her sympathy； which was not the least astonishing part of the
change that had come over her。 Querulousness was out of the
question。 I did not even observe her voice to falter； or a tear to
escape from her eyes； the whole day through； until twilight； when
she and I and Mr。 Peggotty being alone together； and he having
fallen asleep in perfect exhaustion； she broke into a half…
suppressed fit of sobbing and crying； and taking me to the door；
said； ‘Ever bless you； Mas’r Davy； be a friend to him； poor dear！’
Then； she immediately ran out of the house to wash her face； in
order that she might sit quietly beside him； and be found at work
there； when he should awake。 In short I left her； when I went away
at night； the prop and staff of Mr。 Peggotty’s affliction； and I could
not meditate enough upon the lesson that I read in Mrs。
Gummidge； and the new experience she unfolded to me。
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David Copperfield
It was between nine and ten o’clock when； strolling in a
melancholy manner through the town； I stopped at Mr。 Omer’s
door。 Mr。 Omer had taken it so much to heart； his daughter told
me； that he had been very low and poorly all day； and had gone to
bed without his pipe。
‘A deceitful； bad…hearted girl；’ said Mrs。 Joram。 ‘There was no
good in her； ever！’
‘Don’t say so；’ I returned。 ‘You don’t think so。’
‘Yes； I do！’ cried Mrs。 Joram； angrily。
‘No； no；’ said I。
Mrs。 Joram tossed her head； endeavouring to be very stern and
cross； but she could not command her softer self； and began to cry。
I was young； to be sure； but I thought much the better of her for
this sympathy； and fancied it became her； as a virtuous wife and
mother； very well indeed。
‘What will she ever do！’ sobbed Minnie。 ‘Where will she go！
What will become of her！ Oh； how could she be so cruel； to herself
and him！’
I remembered the time when Minnie was a young and pretty
girl； and I was glad she remembered it too； so feelingly。
‘My little Minnie；’ said Mrs。 Joram； ‘has only just now been got
to sleep。 Even in her sleep she is sobbing for Em’ly。 All day long；
little Minnie has cried for her； and asked me； over and over again；
whether Em’ly was wicked？ What can I say to her； when Em’ly
tied a ribbon off her own neck round little Minnie’s the last night
she was here； and laid her head down on the pillow beside her till
she was fast asleep！ The ribbon’s round my little Minnie’s neck
now。 It ought not to be； perhaps； but what can I do？ Em’ly is very
bad； but they were fond of one another。 And the child knows
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David Copperfield
nothing！’
Mrs。 Joram was so unhappy that her husband came out to take
care of her。 Leaving them together； I went home to Peggotty’s；
more melancholy myself； if possible； than I had been yet。
That good creature—I mean Peggotty—all untired by her late
anxieties and sleepless nights； was at her brother’s； where she
meant to stay till morning。 An old woman； who had been
employed about the house for some weeks past； while Peggotty
had been unable to attend to it； was the house’s only other
occupant besides myself。 As I had no occasion for her services； I
sent her to bed； by no means against her will； and sat down before
the kitchen fire a little while； to think about all this。
I was blending it with the deathbed of the late Mr。 Barkis； and
was driving out with the tide towards the distance at which Ham
had looked so singularly in the morning； when I was recalled from
my wanderings by a knock at the door。 There was a knocker upon
the door； but it was not that which made the sound。 The tap was
from a hand； and low down upon the door； as if it were given by a
child。
It made me start as much as if it had been the knock of a
footman to a person of distinction。 I opened the door； and at first
looked down； to my amazement； on nothing but a great umbrella
that appeared to be walking about of itself。 But presently I
discovered underneath it； Miss Mowcher。
I might not have been prepared to give the little creature a very
kind reception； if； on her removing the umbrella； which her
utmost efforts were unable to shut up； she had shown me the
‘volatile’ expression of face which had made so great an
impression on me at our first and last meeting。 But her face； as she
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
turned it up to mine； was so earnest； and when I relieved her of
the umbrella （which would have been an inconvenient one for the
Irish Giant）； she wrung her little hands in such an afflicted
manner； that I rather inclined towards her。
‘Miss Mowcher！’ said I； after glancing up and down the empty
street； without distinctly knowing what I expected to see besides；
‘how do you co