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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
really；’ said Traddles； suddenly； taking a letter out of his pocket；
and giving it to me； ‘put Mr。 Micawber quite out of my head！’
The letter （Mr。 Micawber never missed any possible
opportunity of writing a letter） was addressed to me； ‘By the
kindness of T。 Traddles； Esquire； of the Inner Temple。’ It ran
thus：—
‘MY DEAR COPPERFIELD；
‘You may possibly not be unprepared to receive the intimation
that something has turned up。 I may have mentioned to you on a
former occasion that I was in expectation of such an event。
‘I am about to establish myself in one of the provincial towns of
our favoured island （where the society may be described as a
happy admixture of the agricultural and the clerical）； in immediate
connexion with one of the learned professions。 Mrs。 Micawber and
our offspring will accompany me。 Our ashes； at a future period；
will probably be found commingled in the cemetery attached to a
venerable pile； for which the spot to which I refer has acquired a
reputation； shall I say from China to Peru？
‘In bidding adieu to the modern Babylon； where we have
undergone many vicissitudes； I trust not ignobly； Mrs。 Micawber
and myself cannot disguise from our minds that we part； it may be
for years and it may be for ever； with an individual linked by
strong associations to the altar of our domestic life。 If； on the eve of
such a departure； you will accompany our mutual friend； Mr。
Thomas Traddles； to our present abode； and there reciprocate the
wishes natural to the occasion； you will confer a Boon
‘On
‘One
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Who
‘Is
‘Ever yours；
‘WILKINS MICAWBER。’
I was glad to find that Mr。 Micawber had got rid of his dust and
ashes； and that something really had turned up at last。 Learning
from Traddles that the invitation referred to the evening then
wearing away； I expressed my readiness to do honour to it； and we
went off together to the lodging which Mr。 Micawber occupied as
Mr。 Mortimer； and which was situated near the top of the Gray’s
Inn Road。
The resources of this lodging were so limited； that we found the
twins； now some eight or nine years old； reposing in a turn…up
bedstead in the family sitting…room； where Mr。 Micawber had
prepared； in a wash…hand…stand jug； what he called ‘a Brew’ of the
agreeable beverage for which he was famous。 I had the pleasure；
on this occasion； of renewing the acquaintance of Master
Micawber； whom I found a promising boy of about twelve or
thirteen； very subject to that restlessness of limb which is not an
unfrequent phenomenon in youths of his age。 I also became once
more known to his sister； Miss Micawber； in whom； as Mr。
Micawber told us； ‘her mother renewed her youth； like the
Phoenix’。
‘My dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘yourself and Mr。
Traddles find us on the brink of migration； and will excuse any
little discomforts incidental to that position。’
Glancing round as I made a suitable reply； I observed that the
family effects were already packed； and that the amount of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
luggage was by no means overwhelming。 I congratulated Mrs。
Micawber on the approaching change。
‘My dear Mr。 Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘of your friendly
interest in all our affairs； I am well assured。 My family may
consider it banishment； if they please； but I am a wife and mother；
and I never will desert Mr。 Micawber。’
Traddles； appealed to by Mrs。 Micawber’s eye； feelingly
acquiesced。
‘That；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘that； at least； is my view； my dear
Mr。 Copperfield and Mr。 Traddles； of the obligation which I took
upon myself when I repeated the irrevocable words； “I； Emma；
take thee； Wilkins。” I read the service over with a flat…candle on
the previous night； and the conclusion I derived from it was； that I
never could desert Mr。 Micawber。 And；’ said Mrs。 Micawber；
‘though it is possible I may be mistaken in my view of the
ceremony； I never will！’
‘My dear；’ said Mr。 Micawber； a little impatiently； ‘I am not
conscious that you are expected to do anything of the sort。’
‘I am aware； my dear Mr。 Copperfield；’ pursued Mrs。 Micawber；
‘that I am now about to cast my lot among strangers； and I am also
aware that the various members of my family； to whom Mr。
Micawber has written in the most gentlemanly terms； announcing
that fact； have not taken the least notice of Mr。 Micawber’s
communication。 Indeed I may be superstitious；’ said Mrs。
Micawber； ‘but it appears to me that Mr。 Micawber is destined
never to receive any answers whatever to the great majority of the
communications he writes。 I may augur； from the silence of my
family； that they object to the resolution I have taken； but I should
not allow myself to be swerved from the path of duty； Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Copperfield； even by my papa and mama； were they still living。’
I expressed my opinion that this was going in the right
direction。 ‘It may be a sacrifice；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘to immure
one’s…self in a Cathedral town； but surely； Mr。 Copperfield； if it is a
sacrifice in me； it is much more a sacrifice in a man of Mr。
Micawber’s abilities。’
‘Oh！ You are going to a Cathedral town？’ said I。
Mr。 Micawber； who had been helping us all； out of the wash…
hand…stand jug； replied：
‘To Canterbury。 In fact； my dear Copperfield； I have entered
into arrangements； by virtue of which I stand pledged and
contracted to our friend Heep； to assist and serve him in the
capacity of—and to be—his confidential clerk。’
I stared at Mr。 Micawber； who greatly enjoyed my surprise。
‘I am bound to state to you；’ he said； with an official air； ‘that
the business habits； and the prudent suggestions； of Mrs。
Micawber； have in a great measure conduced to this result。 The
gauntlet； to which Mrs。 Micawber referred upon a former
occasion； being thrown down in the form of an advertisement； was
taken up by my friend Heep； and led to a mutual recognition。 Of
my friend Heep；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘who is a man of remarkable
shrewdness； I desire to speak with all possible respect。 My friend
Heep has not fixed the positive remuneration at too high a figure；
but he has made a great deal； in the way of extrication from the
pressure of pecuniary difficulties； contingent on the value of my
services； and on the value of those services I pin my faith。 Such
address and intelligence as I chance to possess；’ said Mr。
Micawber； boastfully disparaging himself； with the old genteel air；
‘will be devoted to my friend Heep’s service。 I have already some
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
acquaintance with the law—as a defendant on civil process—and I
shall immediately apply myself to the Commentaries of one of the
most eminent and remarkable of our English jurists。 I believe it is
unnecessary to add that I allude to Mr。 ju