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I tried to ascertain whether Mr。 Dick had any understanding of
the causes of this sudden and great change in my aunt’s affairs。
As I might have expected； he had none at all。 The only account he
could give of it was； that my aunt had said to him； the day before
yesterday； ‘Now； Dick； are you really and truly the philosopher I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
take you for？’ That then he had said； Yes； he hoped so。 That then
my aunt had said； ‘Dick； I am ruined。’ That then he had said； ‘Oh；
indeed！’ That then my aunt had praised him highly； which he was
glad of。 And that then they had come to me； and had had bottled
porter and sandwiches on the road。
Mr。 Dick was so very complacent； sitting on the foot of the bed；
nursing his leg； and telling me this； with his eyes wide open and a
surprised smile； that I am sorry to say I was provoked into
explaining to him that ruin meant distress； want； and starvation；
but I was soon bitterly reproved for this harshness； by seeing his
face turn pale； and tears course down his lengthened cheeks； while
he fixed upon me a look of such unutterable woe； that it might
have softened a far harder heart than mine。 I took infinitely
greater pains to cheer him up again than I had taken to depress
him； and I soon understood （as I ought to have known at first） that
he had been so confident； merely because of his faith in the wisest
and most wonderful of women； and his unbounded reliance on my
intellectual resources。 The latter； I believe； he considered a match
for any kind of disaster not absolutely mortal。
‘What can we do； Trotwood？’ said Mr。 Dick。 ‘There’s the
Memorial—’
‘To be sure there is；’ said I。 ‘But all we can do just now； Mr。
Dick； is to keep a cheerful countenance； and not let my aunt see
that we are thinking about it。’
He assented to this in the most earnest manner； and implored
me； if I should see him wandering an inch out of the right course；
to recall him by some of those superior methods which were
always at my command。 But I regret to state that the fright I had
given him proved too much for his best attempts at concealment。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
All the evening his eyes wandered to my aunt’s face； with an
expression of the most dismal apprehension； as if he saw her
growing thin on the spot。 He was conscious of this； and put a
constraint upon his head； but his keeping that immovable； and
sitting rolling his eyes like a piece of machinery； did not mend the
matter at all。 I saw him look at the loaf at supper （which happened
to be a small one）； as if nothing else stood between us and famine；
and when my aunt insisted on his making his customary repast； I
detected him in the act of pocketing fragments of his bread and
cheese； I have no doubt for the purpose of reviving us with those
savings； when we should have reached an advanced stage of
attenuation。
My aunt； on the other hand； was in a composed frame of mind；
which was a lesson to all of us—to me； I am sure。 She was
extremely gracious to Peggotty； except when I inadvertently called
her by that name； and； strange as I knew she felt in London；
appeared quite at home。 She was to have my bed； and I was to lie
in the sitting…room； to keep guard over her。 She made a great
point of being so near the river； in case of a conflagration； and I
suppose really did find some satisfaction in that circumstance。
‘Trot； my dear；’ said my aunt； when she saw me making
preparations for compounding her usual night…draught； ‘No！’
‘Nothing； aunt？’
‘Not wine； my dear。 Ale。’
‘But there is wine here； aunt。 And you always have it made of
wine。’
‘Keep that； in case of sickness；’ said my aunt。 ‘We mustn’t use it
carelessly； Trot。 Ale for me。 Half a pint。’
I thought Mr。 Dick would have fallen； insensible。 My aunt
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
being resolute； I went out and got the ale myself。 As it was
growing late； Peggotty and Mr。 Dick took that opportunity of
repairing to the chandler’s shop together。 I parted from him； poor
fellow； at the corner of the street； with his great kite at his back； a
very monument of human misery。
My aunt was walking up and down the room when I returned；
crimping the borders of her nightcap with her fingers。 I warmed
the ale and made the toast on the usual infallible principles。 When
it was ready for her； she was ready for it； with her nightcap on；
and the skirt of her gown turned back on her knees。
‘My dear；’ said my aunt； after taking a spoonful of it； ‘it’s a great
deal better than wine。 Not half so bilious。’
I suppose I looked doubtful； for she added：
‘Tut； tut； child。 If nothing worse than Ale happens to us； we are
well off。’
‘I should think so myself； aunt； I am sure；’ said I。
‘Well； then； why don’t you think so？’ said my aunt。
‘Because you and I are very different people；’ I returned。
‘Stuff and nonsense； Trot！’ replied my aunt。
My aunt went on with a quiet enjoyment； in which there was
very little affectation； if any； drinking the warm ale with a teaspoon； and soaking her strips of toast in it。
‘Trot；’ said she； ‘I don’t care for strange faces in general； but I
rather like that Barkis of yours； do you know！’
‘It’s better than a hundred pounds to hear you say so！’ said I。
‘It’s a most extraordinary world；’ observed my aunt； rubbing
her nose； ‘how that woman ever got into it with that name； is
unaccountable to me。 It would be much more easy to be born a
Jackson； or something of that sort； one would think。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Perhaps she thinks so； too； it’s not her fault；’ said I。
‘I suppose not；’ returned my aunt； rather grudging the
admission； ‘but it’s very aggravating。 However； she’s Barkis now。
That’s some comfort。 Barkis is uncommonly fond of you； Trot。’
‘There is nothing she would leave undone to prove it；’ said I。
‘Nothing； I believe；’ returned my aunt。 ‘Here； the poor fool has
been begging and praying about handing over some of her
money—because she has got too much of it。 A simpleton！’
My aunt’s tears of pleasure were positively trickling down into
the warm ale。
‘She’s the most ridiculous creature that ever was born；’ said my
aunt。 ‘I knew； from the first moment when I saw her with that
poor dear blessed baby of a mother of yours； that she was the most
ridiculous of mortals。 But there are good points in Barkis！’
Affecting to laugh； she got an opportunity of putting her hand
to her eyes。 Having availed herself of it； she resumed her toast
and her discourse together。
‘Ah！ Mercy upon us！’ sighed my aunt。 ‘I know all about it； Trot！
Barkis and myself had quite a gossip while you were out with
Dick。 I know all about it。 I don’t know where these wretched girls
expect to go to； for my part。 I wonder they don’t knock out their
brains against—against mantelpieces；’ said my aunt； an idea
which was probably sug