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three waistcoats at a prodigious sacrifice； as being too luxurious
for my stern career。
Not satisfied with all these proceedings； but burning with
impatience to do something more； I went to see Traddles； now
lodging up behind the parapet of a house in Castle Street；
Holborn。 Mr。 Dick； who had been with me to Highgate twice
already； and had resumed his companionship with the Doctor； I
took with me。
I took Mr。 Dick with me； because； acutely sensitive to my aunt’s
reverses； and sincerely believing that no galley…slave or convict
worked as I did； he had begun to fret and worry himself out of
spirits and appetite； as having nothing useful to do。 In this
condition； he felt more incapable of finishing the Memorial than
ever； and the harder he worked at it； the oftener that unlucky head
of King Charles the First got into it。 Seriously apprehending that
his malady would increase； unless we put some innocent
deception upon him and caused him to believe that he was useful；
or unless we could put him in the way of being really useful （which
would be better）； I made up my mind to try if Traddles could help
us。 Before we went； I wrote Traddles a full statement of all that
had happened； and Traddles wrote me back a capital answer；
expressive of his sympathy and friendship。
We found him hard at work with his inkstand and papers；
refreshed by the sight of the flower…pot stand and the little round
table in a corner of the small apartment。 He received us cordially；
and made friends with Mr。 Dick in a moment。 Mr。 Dick professed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
an absolute certainty of having seen him before； and we both said；
‘Very likely。’
The first subject on which I had to consult Traddles was this；—I
had heard that many men distinguished in various pursuits had
begun life by reporting the debates in Parliament。 Traddles having
mentioned newspapers to me； as one of his hopes； I had put the
two things together； and told Traddles in my letter that I wished to
know how I could qualify myself for this pursuit。 Traddles now
informed me； as the result of his inquiries； that the mere
mechanical acquisition necessary； except in rare cases； for
thorough excellence in it； that is to say； a perfect and entire
command of the mystery of short…hand writing and reading； was
about equal in difficulty to the mastery of six languages； and that it
might perhaps be attained； by dint of perseverance； in the course
of a few years。 Traddles reasonably supposed that this would settle
the business； but I； only feeling that here indeed were a few tall
trees to be hewn down； immediately resolved to work my way on
to Dora through this thicket； axe in hand。
‘I am very much obliged to you； my dear Traddles！’ said I。 ‘I’ll
begin tomorrow。’
Traddles looked astonished； as he well might； but he had no
notion as yet of my rapturous condition。
‘I’ll buy a book；’ said I； ‘with a good scheme of this art in it； I’ll
work at it at the Commons； where I haven’t half enough to do； I’ll
take down the speeches in our court for practice—Traddles； my
dear fellow； I’ll master it！’
‘Dear me；’ said Traddles； opening his eyes； ‘I had no idea you
were such a determined character； Copperfield！’
I don’t know how he should have had； for it was new enough to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
me。 I passed that off； and brought Mr。 Dick on the carpet。
‘You see；’ said Mr。 Dick； wistfully； ‘if I could exert myself； Mr。
Traddles—if I could beat a drum—or blow anything！’
Poor fellow！ I have little doubt he would have preferred such an
employment in his heart to all others。 Traddles； who would not
have smiled for the world； replied composedly：
‘But you are a very good penman； sir。 You told me so；
Copperfield？’
‘Excellent！’ said I。 And indeed he was。 He wrote with
extraordinary neatness。
‘Don’t you think；’ said Traddles； ‘you could copy writings； sir； if
I got them for you？’
Mr。 Dick looked doubtfully at me。 ‘Eh； Trotwood？’
I shook my head。 Mr。 Dick shook his； and sighed。 ‘Tell him
about the Memorial；’ said Mr。 Dick。
I explained to Traddles that there was a difficulty in keeping
King Charles the First out of Mr。 Dick’s manuscripts； Mr。 Dick in
the meanwhile looking very deferentially and seriously at
Traddles； and sucking his thumb。
‘But these writings； you know； that I speak of； are already
drawn up and finished；’ said Traddles after a little consideration。
‘Mr。 Dick has nothing to do with them。 Wouldn’t that make a
difference； Copperfield？ At all events； wouldn’t it be well to try？’
This gave us new hope。 Traddles and I laying our heads
together apart； while Mr。 Dick anxiously watched us from his
chair； we concocted a scheme in virtue of which we got him to
work next day； with triumphant success。
On a table by the window in Buckingham Street； we set out the
work Traddles procured for him—which was to make； I forget how
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
many copies of a legal document about some right of way—and on
another table we spread the last unfinished original of the great
Memorial。 Our instructions to Mr。 Dick were that he should copy
exactly what he had before him； without the least departure from
the original； and that when he felt it necessary to make the
slightest allusion to King Charles the First； he should fly to the
Memorial。 We exhorted him to be resolute in this； and left my aunt
to observe him。 My aunt reported to us； afterwards； that； at first；
he was like a man playing the kettle…drums； and constantly
divided his attentions between the two； but that； finding this
confuse and fatigue him； and having his copy there； plainly before
his eyes； he soon sat at it in an orderly business…like manner； and
postponed the Memorial to a more convenient time。 In a word；
although we took great care that he should have no more to do
than was good for him； and although he did not begin with the
beginning of a week； he earned by the following Saturday night
ten shillings and nine…pence； and never； while I live； shall I forget
his going about to all the shops in the neighbourhood to change
this treasure into sixpences； or his bringing them to my aunt
arranged in the form of a heart upon a waiter； with tears of joy and
pride in his eyes。 He was like one under the propitious influence of
a charm； from the moment of his being usefully employed； and if
there were a happy man in the world； that Saturday night； it was
the grateful creature who thought my aunt the most wonderful
woman in existence； and me the most wonderful young man。
‘No starving now； Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Dick； shaking hands with
me in a corner。 ‘I’ll provide for her； Sir！’ and he flourished his ten
fingers in the air； as if they were ten banks。
I hardly know which was the better pleased； Traddles or I。 ‘It
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
really；’ said Traddles； suddenly； taking a letter out of his po