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nothing like it had ever been known。
Somehow； as I wrote to Agnes on a fine evening by my open
window； and the remembrance of her clear calm eyes and gentle
face came stealing over me； it shed such a peaceful influence upon
the hurry and agitation in which I had been living lately； and of
which my very happiness partook in some degree； that it soothed
me into tears。 I remember that I sat resting my head upon my
hand； when the letter was half done； cherishing a general fancy as
if Agnes were one of the elements of my natural home。 As if； in the
retirement of the house made almost sacred to me by her
presence； Dora and I must be happier than anywhere。 As if； in
love； joy； sorrow； hope； or disappointment； in all emotions； my
heart turned naturally there； and found its refuge and best friend。
Of Steerforth I said nothing。 I only told her there had been sad
grief at Yarmouth； on account of Emily’s flight； and that on me it
made a double wound； by reason of the circumstances attending
it。 I knew how quick she always was to divine the truth； and that
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
she would never be the first to breathe his name。
To this letter； I received an answer by return of post。 As I read
it； I seemed to hear Agnes speaking to me。 It was like her cordial
voice in my ears。 What can I say more！
While I had been away from home lately； Traddles had called
twice or thrice。 Finding Peggotty within； and being informed by
Peggotty （who always volunteered that information to
whomsoever would receive it）； that she was my old nurse； he had
established a good…humoured acquaintance with her； and had
stayed to have a little chat with her about me。 So Peggotty said；
but I am afraid the chat was all on her own side； and of
immoderate length； as she was very difficult indeed to stop； God
bless her！ when she had me for her theme。
This reminds me； not only that I expected Traddles on a certain
afternoon of his own appointing； which was now come； but that
Mrs。 Crupp had resigned everything appertaining to her office
（the salary excepted） until Peggotty should cease to present
herself。 Mrs。 Crupp； after holding divers conversations respecting
Peggotty； in a very high…pitched voice； on the staircase—with
some invisible Familiar it would appear； for corporeally speaking
she was quite alone at those times—addressed a letter to me；
developing her views。 Beginning it with that statement of
universal application； which fitted every occurrence of her life；
namely； that she was a mother herself； she went on to inform me
that she had once seen very different days； but that at all periods
of her existence she had had a constitutional objection to spies；
intruders； and informers。 She named no names； she said； let them
the cap fitted； wear it； but spies； intruders； and informers；
especially in widders’ weeds （this clause was underlined）； she had
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ever accustomed herself to look down upon。 If a gentleman was
the victim of spies； intruders； and informers （but still naming no
names）； that was his own pleasure。 He had a right to please
himself； so let him do。 All that she； Mrs。 Crupp； stipulated for；
was； that she should not be ‘brought in contract’ with such
persons。 Therefore she begged to be excused from any further
attendance on the top set； until things were as they formerly was；
and as they could be wished to be； and further mentioned that her
little book would be found upon the breakfast…table every
Saturday morning； when she requested an immediate settlement
of the same； with the benevolent view of saving trouble ‘and an illconwenience’ to all parties。
After this； Mrs。 Crupp confined herself to making pitfalls on the
stairs； principally with pitchers； and endeavouring to delude
Peggotty into breaking her legs。 I found it rather harassing to live
in this state of siege； but was too much afraid of Mrs。 Crupp to see
any way out of it。
‘My dear Copperfield；’ cried Traddles； punctually appearing at
my door； in spite of all these obstacles； ‘how do you do？’
‘My dear Traddles；’ said I； ‘I am delighted to see you at last； and
very sorry I have not been at home before。 But I have been so
much engaged—’
‘Yes； yes； I know；’ said Traddles； ‘of course。 Yours lives in
London； I think。’
‘What did you say？’
‘She—excuse me—Miss D。； you know；’ said Traddles； colouring
in his great delicacy； ‘lives in London； I believe？’
‘Oh yes。 Near London。’
‘Mine； perhaps you recollect；’ said Traddles； with a serious look；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘lives down in Devonshire—one of ten。 Consequently； I am not so
much engaged as you—in that sense。’
‘I wonder you can bear；’ I returned； ‘to see her so seldom。’
‘Hah！’ said Traddles； thoughtfully。 ‘It does seem a wonder。
suppose it is； Copperfield； because there is no help for it？’
‘I suppose so；’ I replied with a smile； and not without a blush。
‘And because you have so much constancy and patience；
Traddles。’
‘Dear me！’ said Traddles； considering about it； ‘do I strike you
in that way； Copperfield？ Really I didn’t know that I had。 But she
is such an extraordinarily dear girl herself； that it’s possible she
may have imparted something of those virtues to me。 Now you
mention it； Copperfield； I shouldn’t wonder at all。 I assure you she
is always forgetting herself； and taking care of the other nine。’
‘Is she the eldest？’ I inquired。
‘Oh dear； no；’ said Traddles。 ‘The eldest is a Beauty。’
He saw； I suppose； that I could not help smiling at the simplicity
of this reply； and added； with a smile upon his own ingenuous
face：
‘Not； of course； but that my Sophy—pretty name； Copperfield； I
always think？’
‘Very pretty！’ said I。
‘Not； of course； but that Sophy is beautiful too in my eyes； and
would be one of the dearest girls that ever was； in anybody’s eyes
（I should think）。 But when I say the eldest is a Beauty； I mean she
really is a—’ he seemed to be describing clouds about himself； with
both hands： ‘Splendid； you know；’ said Traddles； energetically。
‘Indeed！’ said I。
‘Oh； I assure you；’ said Traddles； ‘something very uncommon；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
indeed！ Then； you know； being formed for society and admiration；
and not being able to enjoy much of it in consequence of their
limited means； she naturally gets a little irritable and exacting；
sometimes。 Sophy puts her in good humour！’
‘Is Sophy the youngest？’ I hazarded。
‘Oh dear； no！’ said Traddles； stroking his chin。 ‘The two
youngest are only nine and ten。 Sophy educates ’em。’
‘The second daughter； perhaps？’ I hazarded。
‘No；’ said Traddles。 ‘Sarah’s the second。 Sarah has something
the matter with her spine； poor girl。 The malady will wear out by
and by； the doctors say； but in the meantime she has to lie down
for a twelvemonth。 Sophy nurses her。 Sophy’s the