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being； besides； greatly pleased to see Agnes—rather plumed
herself on the affair than otherwise； and received us with
unimpaired good humour。 When Agnes laid her bonnet on the
table； and sat down beside her； I could not but think； looking on
her mild eyes and her radiant forehead； how natural it seemed to
have her there； how trustfully； although she was so young and
inexperienced； my aunt confided in her； how strong she was；
indeed； in simple love and truth。
We began to talk about my aunt’s losses； and I told them what I
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David Copperfield
had tried to do that morning。
‘Which was injudicious； Trot；’ said my aunt； ‘but well meant。
You are a generous boy—I suppose I must say； young man； now—
and I am proud of you； my dear。 So far； so good。 Now； Trot and
Agnes； let us look the case of Betsey Trotwood in the face； and see
how it stands。’
I observed Agnes turn pale； as she looked very attentively at my
aunt。 My aunt； patting her cat； looked very attentively at Agnes。
‘Betsey Trotwood；’ said my aunt； who had always kept her
money matters to herself。 ‘—I don’t mean your sister； Trot； my
dear； but myself—had a certain property。 It don’t matter how
much； enough to live on。 More； for she had saved a little； and
added to it。 Betsey funded her property for some time； and then；
by the advice of her man of business； laid it out on landed security。
That did very well； and returned very good interest； till Betsey was
paid off。 I am talking of Betsey as if she was a man…of…war。 Well！
Then； Betsey had to look about her； for a new investment。 She
thought she was wiser； now； than her man of business； who was
not such a good man of business by this time； as he used to be—I
am alluding to your father； Agnes—and she took it into her head to
lay it out for herself。 So she took her pigs；’ said my aunt； ‘to a
foreign market； and a very bad market it turned out to be。 First；
she lost in the mining way； and then she lost in the diving way—
fishing up treasure； or some such Tom Tiddler nonsense；’
explained my aunt； rubbing her nose； ‘and then she lost in the
mining way again； and； last of all； to set the thing entirely to rights；
she lost in the banking way。 I don’t know what the Bank shares
were worth for a little while；’ said my aunt； ‘cent per cent was the
lowest of it； I believe； but the Bank was at the other end of the
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world； and tumbled into space； for what I know； anyhow； it fell to
pieces； and never will and never can pay sixpence； and Betsey’s
sixpences were all there； and there’s an end of them。 Least said；
soonest mended！’
My aunt concluded this philosophical summary； by fixing her
eyes with a kind of triumph on Agnes； whose colour was gradually
returning。
‘Dear Miss Trotwood； is that all the history？’ said Agnes。
‘I hope it’s enough； child；’ said my aunt。 ‘If there had been more
money to lose； it wouldn’t have been all； I dare say。 Betsey would
have contrived to throw that after the rest； and make another
chapter； I have little doubt。 But there was no more money； and
there’s no more story。’
Agnes had listened at first with suspended breath。 Her colour
still came and went； but she breathed more freely。 I thought I
knew why。 I thought she had had some fear that her unhappy
father might be in some way to blame for what had happened。 My
aunt took her hand in hers； and laughed。
‘Is that all？’ repeated my aunt。 ‘Why； yes； that’s all； except；
“And she lived happy ever afterwards。” Perhaps I may add that of
Betsey yet； one of these days。 Now； Agnes； you have a wise head。
So have you； Trot； in some things； though I can’t compliment you
always’； and here my aunt shook her own at me； with an energy
peculiar to herself。 ‘What’s to be done？ Here’s the cottage； taking
one time with another； will produce say seventy pounds a year。 I
think we may safely put it down at that。 Well！—That’s all we’ve
got；’ said my aunt； with whom it was an idiosyncrasy； as it is with
some horses； to stop very short when she appeared to be in a fair
way of going on for a long while。
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‘Then；’ said my aunt； after a rest； ‘there’s Dick。 He’s good for a
hundred a…year； but of course that must be expended on himself。 I
would sooner send him away； though I know I am the only person
who appreciates him； than have him； and not spend his money on
himself。 How can Trot and I do best； upon our means？ What do
you say； Agnes？’
‘I say； aunt；’ I interposed； ‘that I must do something！’
‘Go for a soldier； do you mean？’ returned my aunt； alarmed； ‘or
go to sea？ I won’t hear of it。 You are to be a proctor。 We’re not
going to have any knockings on the head in this family； if you
please； sir。’
I was about to explain that I was not desirous of introducing
that mode of provision into the family； when Agnes inquired if my
rooms were held for any long term？
‘You come to the point； my dear；’ said my aunt。 ‘They are not to
be got rid of； for six months at least； unless they could be underlet；
and that I don’t believe。 The last man died here。 Five people out of
six would die—of course—of that woman in nankeen with the
flannel petticoat。 I have a little ready money； and I agree with you；
the best thing we can do； is； to live the term out here； and get a
bedroom hard by。’
I thought it my duty to hint at the discomfort my aunt would
sustain； from living in a continual state of guerilla warfare with
Mrs。 Crupp； but she disposed of that objection summarily by
declaring that； on the first demonstration of hostilities； she was
prepared to astonish Mrs。 Crupp for the whole remainder of her
natural life。
‘I have been thinking； Trotwood；’ said Agnes； diffidently； ‘that if
you had time—’
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‘I have a good deal of time； Agnes。 I am always disengaged after
four or five o’clock； and I have time early in the morning。 In one
way and another；’ said I； conscious of reddening a little as I
thought of the hours and hours I had devoted to fagging about
town； and to and fro upon the Norwood Road； ‘I have abundance
of time。’
‘I know you would not mind；’ said Agnes； coming to me； and
speaking in a low voice； so full of sweet and hopeful consideration
that I hear it now； ‘the duties of a secretary。’
‘Mind； my dear Agnes？’
‘Because；’ continued Agnes； ‘Doctor Strong has acted on his
intention of retiring； and has come to live in London； and he asked
papa； I know； if he could recommend him one。 Don’t you think he
would rather have his favourite old pupil near him； than anybody
else？’
‘Dear Agnes！’ said I。 ‘What should I do without you！ You are
always my good angel。 I told you so。 I never think of you in any
other light。’
Agnes answered with her pleasant laugh； that one good Angel
（meaning Dora） was enough； and went on to remind me that the
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