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which I have had many a cold plunge。 Dressing myself as quietly
as I could； and leaving Peggotty to look after my aunt； I tumbled
head foremost into it； and then went for a walk to Hampstead。 I
had a hope that this brisk treatment might freshen my wits a little；
and I think it did them good； for I soon came to the conclusion that
the first step I ought to take was； to try if my articles could be
cancelled and the premium recovered。 I got some breakfast on the
Heath； and walked back to Doctors’ Commons； along the watered
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
roads
and through a pleasant smell of summer flowers； growing in
gardens and carried into town on hucksters’ heads； intent on this
first effort to meet our altered circumstances。
I arrived at the office so soon； after all； that I had half an hour’s
loitering about the Commons； before old Tiffey； who was always
first； appeared with his key。 Then I sat down in my shady corner；
looking up at the sunlight on the opposite chimney…pots； and
thinking about Dora； until Mr。 Spenlow came in； crisp and curly。
‘How are you； Copperfield？’ said he。 ‘Fine morning！’
‘Beautiful morning； sir；’ said I。 ‘Could I say a word to you
before you go into Court？’
‘By all means；’ said he。 ‘Come into my room。’
I followed him into his room； and he began putting on his gown；
and touching himself up before a little glass he had； hanging inside
a closet door。
‘I am sorry to say；’ said I； ‘that I have some rather disheartening
intelligence from my aunt。’
‘No！’ said he。 ‘Dear me！ Not paralysis； I hope？’
‘It has no reference to her health； sir；’ I replied。 ‘She has met
with some large losses。 In fact； she has very little left； indeed。’
‘You as…tound me； Copperfield！’ cried Mr。 Spenlow。
I shook my head。 ‘Indeed； sir；’ said I； ‘her affairs are so
changed； that I wished to ask you whether it would be possible—at
a sacrifice on our part of some portion of the premium； of course；’
I put in this； on the spur of the moment； warned by the blank
expression of his face—‘to cancel my articles？’
What it cost me to make this proposal； nobody knows。 It was
like asking； as a favour； to be sentenced to transportation from
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Dora。
‘To cancel your articless； Copperfield？ Cancel？’
I explained with tolerable firmness； that I really did not know
where my means of subsistence were to come from； unless I could
earn them for myself。 I had no fear for the future； I said—and I
laid great emphasis on that； as if to imply that I should still be
decidedly eligible for a son…in…law one of these days—but； for the
present； I was thrown upon my own resources。 ‘I am extremely
sorry to hear this； Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘Extremely
sorry。 It is not usual to cancel articles for any such reason。 It is
not a professional course of proceeding。 It is not a convenient
precedent at all。 Far from it。 At the same time—’
‘You are very good； sir；’ I murmured； anticipating a concession。
‘Not at all。 Don’t mention it；’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘At the same
time； I was going to say； if it had been my lot to have my hands
unfettered—if I had not a partner—Mr。 Jorkins—’
My hopes were dashed in a moment； but I made another effort。
‘Do you think； sir；’ said I； ‘if I were to mention it to Mr。
Jorkins—’
Mr。 Spenlow shook his head discouragingly。 ‘Heaven forbid；
Copperfield；’ he replied； ‘that I should do any man an injustice：
still less； Mr。 Jorkins。 But I know my partner； Copperfield。 Mr。
Jorkins is not a man to respond to a proposition of this peculiar
nature。 Mr。 Jorkins is very difficult to move from the beaten track。
You know what he is！’
I am sure I knew nothing about him； except that he had
originally been alone in the business； and now lived by himself in a
house near Montagu Square； which was fearfully in want of
painting； that he came very late of a day； and went away very
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
early； that he never appeared to be consulted about anything； and
that he had a dingy little black…hole of his own upstairs； where no
business was ever done； and where there was a yellow old
cartridge…paper pad upon his desk； unsoiled by ink； and reported
to be twenty years of age。
‘Would you object to my mentioning it to him； sir？’ I asked。
‘By no means；’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘But I have some experience
of Mr。 Jorkins； Copperfield。 I wish it were otherwise； for I should
be happy to meet your views in any respect。 I cannot have the
objection to your mentioning it to Mr。 Jorkins； Copperfield； if you
think it worth while。’
Availing myself of this permission； which was given with a
warm shake of the hand； I sat thinking about Dora； and looking at
the sunlight stealing from the chimney…pots down the wall of the
opposite house； until Mr。 Jorkins came。 I then went up to Mr。
Jorkins’s room； and evidently astonished Mr。 Jorkins very much
by making my appearance there。
‘Come in； Mr。 Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Jorkins。 ‘Come in！’
I went in； and sat down； and stated my case to Mr。 Jorkins
pretty much as I had stated it to Mr。 Spenlow。 Mr。 Jorkins was not
by any means the awful creature one might have expected； but a
large； mild； smooth…faced man of sixty； who took so much snuff
that there was a tradition in the Commons that he lived principally
on that stimulant； having little room in his system for any other
article of diet。
‘You have mentioned this to Mr。 Spenlow； I suppose？’ said Mr。
Jorkins； when he had heard me； very restlessly； to an end。
I answered Yes； and told him that Mr。 Spenlow had introduced
his name。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘He said I should object？’ asked Mr。 Jorkins。
I was obliged to admit that Mr。 Spenlow had considered it
probable。
‘I am sorry to say； Mr。 Copperfield； I can’t advance your object；’
said Mr。 Jorkins； nervously。 ‘The fact is—but I have an
appointment at the Bank； if you’ll have the goodness to excuse
me。’
With that he rose in a great hurry； and was going out of the
room； when I made bold to say that I feared； then； there was no
way of arranging the matter？
‘No！’ said Mr。 Jorkins； stopping at the door to shake his head。
‘Oh； no！ I object； you know；’ which he said very rapidly； and went
out。 ‘You must be aware； Mr。 Copperfield；’ he added； looking
restlessly in at the door again； ‘if Mr。 Spenlow objects—’
‘Personally； he does not object； sir；’ said I。
‘Oh！ Personally！’ repeated Mr。 Jorkins； in an impatient manner。
‘I assure you there’s an objection； Mr。 Copperfield。 Hopeless！ What
you wish to be done； can’t be done。 I—I really have got an
appointment at the Bank。’ With that he fairly ran away； and to the
best of my knowledge； it was three days before he showed himself
in the Commons again。
Being very anxious to leave no stone unturned； I waited until
Mr。 Spenlow came in； and then descri