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less cut up； when we had to deal with clients in mourning。 In a
similar feeling of delicacy； we were always blithe and light…hearted
with the licence clients。 Therefore I hinted to Peggotty that she
would find Mr。 Spenlow much recovered from the shock of Mr。
Barkis’s decease； and indeed he came in like a bridegroom。
But neither Peggotty nor I had eyes for him； when we saw； in
company with him； Mr。 Murdstone。 He was very little changed。
His hair looked as thick； and was certainly as black； as ever； and
his glance was as little to be trusted as of old。
‘Ah； Copperfield？’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘You know this gentleman；
I believe？’
I made my gentleman a distant bow； and Peggotty barely
recognized him。 He was； at first； somewhat disconcerted to meet
us two together； but quickly decided what to do； and came up to
me。
‘I hope；’ he said； ‘that you are doing well？’
‘It can hardly be interesting to you；’ said I。 ‘Yes； if you wish to
know。’
We looked at each other； and he addressed himself to Peggotty。
‘And you；’ said he。 ‘I am sorry to observe that you have lost your
husband。’
‘It’s not the first loss I have had in my life； Mr。 Murdstone；’
replied Peggotty； trembling from head to foot。 ‘I am glad to hope
that there is nobody to blame for this one；—nobody to answer for
it。’
‘Ha！’ said he； ‘that’s a comfortable reflection。 You have done
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your duty？’
‘I have not worn anybody’s life away；’ said Peggotty； ‘I am
thankful to think！ No； Mr。 Murdstone； I have not worrited and
frightened any sweet creetur to an early grave！’
He eyed her gloomily—remorsefully I thought—for an instant；
and said； turning his head towards me； but looking at my feet
instead of my face：
‘We are not likely to encounter soon again；—a source of
satisfaction to us both； no doubt； for such meetings as this can
never be agreeable。 I do not expect that you； who always rebelled
against my just authority； exerted for your benefit and
reformation； should owe me any good…will now。 There is an
antipathy between us—’
‘An old one； I believe？’ said I； interrupting him。
He smiled； and shot as evil a glance at me as could come from
his dark eyes。
‘It rankled in your baby breast；’ he said。 ‘It embittered the life of
your poor mother。 You are right。 I hope you may do better； yet； I
hope you may correct yourself。’
Here he ended the dialogue； which had been carried on in a low
voice； in a corner of the outer office； by passing into Mr。 Spenlow’s
room； and saying aloud； in his smoothest manner：
‘Gentlemen of Mr。 Spenlow’s profession are accustomed to
family differences； and know how complicated and difficult they
always are！’ With that； he paid the money for his licence； and；
receiving it neatly folded from Mr。 Spenlow； together with a shake
of the hand； and a polite wish for his happiness and the lady’s；
went out of the office。
I might have had more difficulty in constraining myself to be
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silent under his words； if I had had less difficulty in impressing
upon Peggotty （who was only angry on my account； good
creature！） that we were not in a place for recrimination； and that I
besought her to hold her peace。 She was so unusually roused； that
I was glad to compound for an affectionate hug； elicited by this
revival in her mind of our old injuries； and to make the best I
could of it； before Mr。 Spenlow and the clerks。
Mr。 Spenlow did not appear to know what the connexion
between Mr。 Murdstone and myself was； which I was glad of； for I
could not bear to acknowledge him； even in my own breast；
remembering what I did of the history of my poor mother。 Mr。
Spenlow seemed to think； if he thought anything about the matter；
that my aunt was the leader of the state party in our family； and
that there was a rebel party commanded by somebody else—so I
gathered at least from what he said； while we were waiting for Mr。
Tiffey to make out Peggotty’s bill of costs。
‘Miss Trotwood；’ he remarked； ‘is very firm； no doubt； and not
likely to give way to opposition。 I have an admiration for her
character； and I may congratulate you； Copperfield； on being on
the right side。 Differences between relations are much to be
deplored—but they are extremely general—and the great thing is；
to be on the right side’： meaning； I take it； on the side of the
moneyed interest。
‘Rather a good marriage this； I believe？’ said Mr。 Spenlow。
I explained that I knew nothing about it。
‘Indeed！’ he said。 ‘Speaking from the few words Mr。 Murdstone
dropped—as a man frequently does on these occasions—and from
what Miss Murdstone let fall； I should say it was rather a good
marriage。’
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‘Do you mean that there is money； sir？’ I asked。
‘Yes；’ said Mr。 Spenlow； ‘I understand there’s money。 Beauty
too； I am told。’
‘Indeed！ Is his new wife young？’
‘Just of age；’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘So lately； that I should think
they had been waiting for that。’
‘Lord deliver her！’ said Peggotty。 So very emphatically and
unexpectedly； that we were all three discomposed； until Tiffey
came in with the bill。
Old Tiffey soon appeared； however； and handed it to Mr。
Spenlow； to look over。 Mr。 Spenlow； settling his chin in his cravat
and rubbing it softly； went over the items with a deprecatory air—
as if it were all Jorkins’s doing—and handed it back to Tiffey with
a bland sigh。
‘Yes；’ he said。 ‘That’s right。 Quite right。 I should have been
extremely happy； Copperfield； to have limited these charges to the
actual expenditure out of pocket； but it is an irksome incident in
my professional life； that I am not at liberty to consult my own
wishes。 I have a partner—Mr。 Jorkins。’
As he said this with a gentle melancholy； which was the next
thing to making no charge at all； I expressed my
acknowledgements on Peggotty’s behalf； and paid Tiffey in
banknotes。 Peggotty then retired to her lodging； and Mr。 Spenlow
and I went into Court； where we had a divorce…suit coming on；
under an ingenious little statute （repealed now； I believe； but in
virtue of which I have seen several marriages annulled）； of which
the merits were these。 The husband； whose name was Thomas
Benjamin； had taken out his marriage licence as Thomas only；
suppressing the Benjamin； in case he should not find himself as
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comfortable as he expected。 Not finding himself as comfortable as
he expected； or being a little fatigued with his wife； poor fellow； he
now came forward； by a friend； after being married a year or two；
and declared that his name was Thomas Benjamin； and therefore
he was not married at all。 Which the Court confirmed； to his great
satisfaction。
I must say that I had my doubts about the strict justice of this；
and was not even frightened out of them by the bushel of wheat
wh