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with me； when anything befell him； and he slung his bag about
him； took his hat and stick； and bade us both ‘Good…bye！’
‘All good attend you； dear old woman；’ he said； embracing
Peggotty； ‘and you too； Mas’r Davy！’ shaking hands with me。 ‘I’m
a…going to seek her； fur and wide。 If she should come home while
I’m away—but ah； that ain’t like to be！—or if I should bring her
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
back； my meaning is； that she and me shall live and die where no
one can’t reproach her。 If any hurt should come to me； remember
that the last words I left for her was； “My unchanged love is with
my darling child； and I forgive her！”’
He said this solemnly； bare…headed； then； putting on his hat； he
went down the stairs； and away。 We followed to the door。 It was a
warm； dusty evening； just the time when； in the great main
thoroughfare out of which that by…way turned； there was a
temporary lull in the eternal tread of feet upon the pavement； and
a strong red sunshine。 He turned； alone； at the corner of our shady
street； into a glow of light； in which we lost him。
Rarely did that hour of the evening come； rarely did I wake at
night； rarely did I look up at the moon； or stars； or watch the
falling rain； or hear the wind； but I thought of his solitary figure
toiling on； poor pilgrim； and recalled the words：
‘I’m a going to seek her； fur and wide。 If any hurt should come
to me； remember that the last words I left for her was； “My
unchanged love is with my darling child； and I forgive her！”’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 33
BLISSFUL
All this time； I had gone on loving Dora； harder than ever。 Her
idea was my refuge in disappointment and distress； and made
some amends to me； even for the loss of my friend。 The more I
pitied myself； or pitied others； the more I sought for consolation in
the image of Dora。 The greater the accumulation of deceit and
trouble in the world； the brighter and the purer shone the star of
Dora high above the world。 I don’t think I had any definite idea
where Dora came from； or in what degree she was related to a
higher order of beings； but I am quite sure I should have scouted
the notion of her being simply human； like any other young lady；
with indignation and contempt。
If I may so express it； I was steeped in Dora。 I was not merely
over head and ears in love with her； but I was saturated through
and through。 Enough love might have been wrung out of me；
metaphorically speaking； to drown anybody in； and yet there
would have remained enough within me； and all over me； to
pervade my entire existence。
The first thing I did； on my own account； when I came back；
was to take a night…walk to Norwood； and； like the subject of a
venerable riddle of my childhood； to go ‘round and round the
house； without ever touching the house’； thinking about Dora。 I
believe the theme of this incomprehensible conundrum was the
moon。 No matter what it was； I； the moon…struck slave of Dora；
perambulated round and round the house and garden for two
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
hours； looking through crevices in the palings； getting my chin by
dint of violent exertion above the rusty nails on the top； blowing
kisses at the lights in the windows； and romantically calling on the
night； at intervals； to shield my Dora—I don’t exactly know what
from； I suppose from fire。 Perhaps from mice； to which she had a
great objection。
My love was so much in my mind and it was so natural to me to
confide in Peggotty； when I found her again by my side of an
evening with the old set of industrial implements； busily making
the tour of my wardrobe； that I imparted to her； in a sufficiently
roundabout way； my great secret。 Peggotty was strongly
interested； but I could not get her into my view of the case at all。
She was audaciously prejudiced in my favour； and quite unable to
understand why I should have any misgivings； or be low…spirited
about it。 ‘The young lady might think herself well off；’ she
observed； ‘to have such a beau。 And as to her Pa；’ she said； ‘what
did the gentleman expect； for gracious sake！’
I observed； however； that Mr。 Spenlow’s proctorial gown and
stiff cravat took Peggotty down a little； and inspired her with a
greater reverence for the man who was gradually becoming more
and more etherealized in my eyes every day； and about whom a
reflected radiance seemed to me to beam when he sat erect in
Court among his papers； like a little lighthouse in a sea of
stationery。 And by the by； it used to be uncommonly strange to me
to consider； I remember； as I sat in Court too； how those dim old
judges and doctors wouldn’t have cared for Dora； if they had
known her； how they wouldn’t have gone out of their senses with
rapture； if marriage with Dora had been proposed to them； how
Dora might have sung； and played upon that glorified guitar； until
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she led me to the verge of madness； yet not have tempted one of
those slow…goers an inch out of his road！
I despised them； to a man。 Frozen…out old gardeners in the
flower…beds of the heart； I took a personal offence against them all。
The Bench was nothing to me but an insensible blunderer。 The
Bar had no more tenderness or poetry in it； than the bar of a
public…house。
Taking the management of Peggotty’s affairs into my own
hands； with no little pride； I proved the will； and came to a
settlement with the Legacy Duty…office； and took her to the Bank；
and soon got everything into an orderly train。 We varied the legal
character of these proceedings by going to see some perspiring
Wax…work； in Fleet Street （melted； I should hope； these twenty
years）； and by visiting Miss Linwood’s Exhibition； which I
remember as a Mausoleum of needlework； favourable to self…
examination and repentance； and by inspecting the Tower of
London； and going to the top of St。 Paul’s。 All these wonders
afforded Peggotty as much pleasure as she was able to enjoy；
under existing circumstances： except； I think； St。 Paul’s； which；
from her long attachment to her work…box； became a rival of the
picture on the lid； and was； in some particulars； vanquished； she
considered； by that work of art。
Peggotty’s business； which was what we used to call ‘commonform business’ in the Commons （and very light and lucrative the
common…form business was）； being settled； I took her down to the
office one morning to pay her bill。 Mr。 Spenlow had stepped out；
old Tiffey said； to get a gentleman sworn for a marriage licence；
but as I knew he would be back directly； our place lying close to
the Surrogate’s； and to the Vicar…General’s office too； I told
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Peggotty to wait。
We were a little like undertakers； in the Commons； as regarded
Probate transactions； generally making it a rule to look more or
less cut up； when we had to deal with clients in mour