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street； without distinctly knowing what I expected to see besides；
‘how do you come here？ What is the matter？’ She motioned to me
with her short right arm； to shut the umbrella for her； and passing
me hurriedly； went into the kitchen。 When I had closed the door；
and followed； with the umbrella in my hand； I found her sitting on
the corner of the fender—it was a low iron one； with two flat bars
at top to stand plates upon—in the shadow of the boiler； swaying
herself backwards and forwards； and chafing her hands upon her
knees like a person in pain。
Quite alarmed at being the only recipient of this untimely visit；
and the only spectator of this portentous behaviour； I exclaimed
again； ‘Pray tell me； Miss Mowcher； what is the matter！ are you
ill？’
‘My dear young soul；’ returned Miss Mowcher； squeezing her
hands upon her heart one over the other。 ‘I am ill here； I am very
ill。 To think that it should come to this； when I might have known
it and perhaps prevented it； if I hadn’t been a thoughtless fool！’
Again her large bonnet （very disproportionate to the figure）
went backwards and forwards； in her swaying of her little body to
and fro； while a most gigantic bonnet rocked； in unison with it；
upon the wall。
‘I am surprised；’ I began； ‘to see you so distressed and
serious’—when she interrupted me。
‘Yes； it’s always so！’ she said。 ‘They are all surprised； these
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
inconsiderate young people； fairly and full grown； to see any
natural feeling in a little thing like me！ They make a plaything of
me； use me for their amusement； throw me away when they are
tired； and wonder that I feel more than a toy horse or a wooden
soldier！ Yes； yes； that’s the way。 The old way！’
‘It may be； with others；’ I returned； ‘but I do assure you it is not
with me。 Perhaps I ought not to be at all surprised to see you as
you are now： I know so little of you。 I said； without consideration；
what I thought。’
‘What can I do？’ returned the little woman； standing up； and
holding out her arms to show herself。 ‘See！ What I am； my father
was； and my sister is； and my brother is。 I have worked for sister
and brother these many years—hard； Mr。 Copperfield—all day。 I
must live。 I do no harm。 If there are people so unreflecting or so
cruel； as to make a jest of me； what is left for me to do but to make
a jest of myself； them； and everything？ If I do so； for the time；
whose fault is that？ Mine？’
No。 Not Miss Mowcher’s； I perceived。
‘If I had shown myself a sensitive dwarf to your false friend；’
pursued the little woman； shaking her head at me； with
reproachful earnestness； ‘how much of his help or good will do you
think I should ever have had？ If little Mowcher （who had no hand；
young gentleman； in the making of herself） addressed herself to
him； or the like of him； because of her misfortunes； when do you
suppose her small voice would have been heard？ Little Mowcher
would have as much need to live； if she was the bitterest and
dullest of pigmies； but she couldn’t do it。 No。 She might whistle for
her bread and butter till she died of Air。’
Miss Mowcher sat down on the fender again； and took out her
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
handkerchief； and wiped her eyes。
‘Be thankful for me； if you have a kind heart； as I think you
have；’ she said； ‘that while I know well what I am； I can be cheerful
and endure it all。 I am thankful for myself； at any rate； that I can
find my tiny way through the world； without being beholden to
anyone； and that in return for all that is thrown at me； in folly or
vanity； as I go along； I can throw bubbles back。 If I don’t brood
over all I want； it is the better for me； and not the worse for
anyone。 If I am a plaything for you giants； be gentle with me。’
Miss Mowcher replaced her handkerchief in her pocket； looking
at me with very intent expression all the while； and pursued：
‘I saw you in the street just now。 You may suppose I am not
able to walk as fast as you； with my short legs and short breath；
and I couldn’t overtake you； but I guessed where you came； and
came after you。 I have been here before； today； but the good
woman wasn’t at home。’
‘Do you know her？’ I demanded。
‘I know of her； and about her；’ she replied； ‘from Omer and
Joram。 I was there at seven o’clock this morning。 Do you
remember what Steerforth said to me about this unfortunate girl；
that time when I saw you both at the inn？’
The great bonnet on Miss Mowcher’s head； and the greater
bonnet on the wall； began to go backwards and forwards again
when she asked this question。
I remembered very well what she referred to； having had it in
my thoughts many times that day。 I told her so。
‘May the Father of all Evil confound him；’ said the little woman；
holding up her forefinger between me and her sparkling eyes； ‘and
ten times more confound that wicked servant； but I believed it was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
you who had a boyish passion for her！’
‘I？’ I repeated。
‘Child； child！ In the name of blind ill…fortune；’ cried Miss
Mowcher； wringing her hands impatiently； as she went to and fro
again upon the fender； ‘why did you praise her so； and blush； and
look disturbed？ ‘
I could not conceal from myself that I had done this； though for
a reason very different from her supposition。
‘What did I know？’ said Miss Mowcher； taking out her
handkerchief again； and giving one little stamp on the ground
whenever； at short intervals； she applied it to her eyes with both
hands at once。 ‘He was crossing you and wheedling you； I saw； and
you were soft wax in his hands； I saw。 Had I left the room a
minute； when his man told me that “Young Innocence” （so he
called you； and you may call him “Old Guilt” all the days of your
life） had set his heart upon her； and she was giddy and liked him；
but his master was resolved that no harm should come of it—more
for your sake than for hers—and that that was their business
here？ How could I but believe him？ I saw Steerforth soothe and
please you by his praise of her！ You were the first to mention her
name。 You owned to an old admiration of her。 You were hot and
cold； and red and white； all at once when I spoke to you of her。
What could I think—what did I think—but that you were a young
libertine in everything but experience； and had fallen into hands
that had experience enough； and could manage you （having the
fancy） for your own good？ Oh！ oh！ oh！ They were afraid of my
finding out the truth；’ exclaimed Miss Mowcher； getting off the
fender； and trotting up and down the kitchen with her two short
arms distressfully lifted up； ‘because I am a sharp little thing—I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
need be； to get through the world at all！—and they deceived me
altogether； and I gave the poor unfortunate girl a letter； which I
fully believe was the beginning of her ever speakin