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in the Commons again。
Being very anxious to leave no stone unturned； I waited until
Mr。 Spenlow came in； and then described what had passed； giving
him to understand that I was not hopeless of his being able to
soften the adamantine Jorkins； if he would undertake the task。
‘Copperfield；’ returned Mr。 Spenlow； with a gracious smile； ‘you
have not known my partner； Mr。 Jorkins； as long as I have。
Nothing is farther from my thoughts than to attribute any degree
of artifice to Mr。 Jorkins。 But Mr。 Jorkins has a way of stating his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield 695
objections which often deceives people。 No； Copperfield！’ shaking
his head。 ‘Mr。 Jorkins is not to be moved； believe me！’
I was completely bewildered between Mr。 Spenlow and Mr。
Jorkins； as to which of them really was the objecting partner； but I
saw with sufficient clearness that there was obduracy somewhere
in the firm； and that the recovery of my aunt’s thousand pounds
was out of the question。 In a state of despondency； which I
remember with anything but satisfaction； for I know it still had too
much reference to myself （though always in connexion with Dora）；
I left the office； and went homeward。
I was trying to familiarize my mind with the worst； and to
present to myself the arrangements we should have to make for
the future in their sternest aspect； when a hackney…chariot coming
after me； and stopping at my very feet； occasioned me to look up。
A fair hand was stretched forth to me from the window； and the
face I had never seen without a feeling of serenity and happiness；
from the moment when it first turned back on the old oak
staircase with the great broad balustrade； and when I associated
its softened beauty with the stained…glass window in the church；
was smiling on me。
‘Agnes！’ I joyfully exclaimed。 ‘Oh； my dear Agnes； of all people
in the world； what a pleasure to see you！’
‘Is it； indeed？’ she said； in her cordial voice。
‘I want to talk to you so much！’ said I。 ‘It’s such a lightening of
my heart； only to look at you！ If I had had a conjuror’s cap； there is
no one I should have wished for but you！’
‘What？’ returned Agnes。
‘Well！ perhaps Dora first；’ I admitted； with a blush。
‘Certainly； Dora first； I hope；’ said Agnes； laughing。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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‘But you next！’ said I。 ‘Where are you going？’
She was going to my rooms to see my aunt。 The day being very
fine； she was glad to come out of the chariot； which smelt （I had
my head in it all this time） like a stable put under a cucumber…
frame。 I dismissed the coachman； and she took my arm； and we
walked on together。 She was like Hope embodied； to me。 How
different I felt in one short minute； having Agnes at my side！
My aunt had written her one of the odd； abrupt notes—very
little longer than a Bank note—to which her epistolary efforts
were usually limited。 She had stated therein that she had fallen
into adversity； and was leaving Dover for good； but had quite
made up her mind to it； and was so well that nobody need be
uncomfortable about her。 Agnes had come to London to see my
aunt； between whom and herself there had been a mutual liking
these many years： indeed； it dated from the time of my taking up
my residence in Mr。 Wickfield’s house。 She was not alone； she
said。 Her papa was with her—and Uriah Heep。
‘And now they are partners；’ said I。 ‘Confound him！’
‘Yes；’ said Agnes。 ‘They have some business here； and I took
advantage of their coming； to come too。 You must not think my
visit all friendly and disinterested； Trotwood； for—I am afraid I
may be cruelly prejudiced—I do not like to let papa go away alone；
with him。’
‘Does he exercise the same influence over Mr。 Wickfield still；
Agnes？’
Agnes shook her head。 ‘There is such a change at home；’ said
she； ‘that you would scarcely know the dear old house。 They live
with us now。’
‘They？’ said I。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Mr。 Heep and his mother。 He sleeps in your old room；’ said
Agnes； looking up into my face。
‘I wish I had the ordering of his dreams；’ said I。 ‘He wouldn’t
sleep there long。’
‘I keep my own little room；’ said Agnes； ‘where I used to learn
my lessons。 How the time goes！ You remember？ The little
panelled room that opens from the drawing…room？’
‘Remember； Agnes？ When I saw you； for the first time； coming
out at the door； with your quaint little basket of keys hanging at
your side？’
‘It is just the same；’ said Agnes； smiling。 ‘I am glad you think of
it so pleasantly。 We were very happy。’
‘We were； indeed；’ said I。
‘I keep that room to myself still； but I cannot always desert Mrs。
Heep； you know。 And so；’ said Agnes； quietly； ‘I feel obliged to
bear her company； when I might prefer to be alone。 But I have no
other reason to complain of her。 If she tires me； sometimes； by her
praises of her son； it is only natural in a mother。 He is a very good
son to her。’
I looked at Agnes when she said these words； without detecting
in her any consciousness of Uriah’s design。 Her mild but earnest
eyes met mine with their own beautiful frankness； and there was
no change in her gentle face。
‘The chief evil of their presence in the house；’ said Agnes； ‘is
that I cannot be as near papa as I could wish—Uriah Heep being
so much between us—and cannot watch over him； if that is not too
bold a thing to say； as closely as I would。 But if any fraud or
treachery is practising against him； I hope that simple love and
truth will be strong in the end。 I hope that real love and truth are
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
stronger in the end than any evil or misfortune in the world。’
A certain bright smile； which I never saw on any other face；
died away； even while I thought how good it was； and how familiar
it had once been to me； and she asked me； with a quick change of
expression （we were drawing very near my street）； if I knew how
the reverse in my aunt’s circumstances had been brought about。
On my replying no； she had not told me yet； Agnes became
thoughtful； and I fancied I felt her arm tremble in mine。
We found my aunt alone； in a state of some excitement。 A
difference of opinion had arisen between herself and Mrs。 Crupp；
on an abstract question （the propriety of chambers being
inhabited by the gentler sex）； and my aunt； utterly indifferent to
spasms on the part of Mrs。 Crupp； had cut the dispute short； by
informing that lady that she smelt of my brandy； and that she
would trouble her to walk out。 Both of these expressions Mrs。
Crupp considered actionable； and had expressed her intention of
bringing before a ‘British Judy’—meaning； it was supposed； the
bulwark of our national liberties。
My aunt； however； having had time to cool； while Peggotty was
out showing Mr。 Dick the soldiers at the Horse Guards—and
being； besides； greatly pleased to see Agnes—rather plumed
herself