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intention of ever going again。 She began to ‘help’ my mother next
morning； and was in and out of the store…closet all day； putting
things to rights； and making havoc in the old arrangements。
Almost the first remarkable thing I observed in Miss Murdstone
was； her being constantly haunted by a suspicion that the servants
had a man secreted somewhere on the premises。 Under the
influence of this delusion； she dived into the coal…cellar at the most
untimely hours； and scarcely ever opened the door of a dark
cupboard without clapping it to again； in the belief that she had
got him。
Though there was nothing very airy about Miss Murdstone； she
was a perfect Lark in point of getting up。 She was up （and； as I
believe to this hour； looking for that man） before anybody in the
house was stirring。 Peggotty gave it as her opinion that she even
slept with one eye open； but I could not concur in this idea； for I
tried it myself after hearing the suggestion thrown out； and found
it couldn’t be done。
On the very first morning after her arrival she was up and
ringing her bell at cock…crow。 When my mother came down to
breakfast and was going to make the tea； Miss Murdstone gave her
a kind of peck on the cheek； which was her nearest approach to a
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David Copperfield
kiss； and said：
‘Now； Clara； my dear； I am come here； you know； to relieve you
of all the trouble I can。 You’re much too pretty and thoughtless’—
my mother blushed but laughed； and seemed not to dislike this
character—‘to have any duties imposed upon you that can be
undertaken by me。 If you’ll be so good as give me your keys； my
dear； I’ll attend to all this sort of thing in future。’
From that time； Miss Murdstone kept the keys in her own little
jail all day； and under her pillow all night； and my mother had no
more to do with them than I had。
My mother did not suffer her authority to pass from her without
a shadow of protest。 One night when Miss Murdstone had been
developing certain household plans to her brother； of which he
signified his approbation； my mother suddenly began to cry； and
said she thought she might have been consulted。
‘Clara！’ said Mr。 Murdstone sternly。 ‘Clara！ I wonder at you。’
‘Oh； it’s very well to say you wonder； Edward！’ cried my mother；
‘and it’s very well for you to talk about firmness； but you wouldn’t
like it yourself。’
Firmness； I may observe； was the grand quality on which both
Mr。 and Miss Murdstone took their stand。 However I might have
expressed my comprehension of it at that time； if I had been called
upon； I nevertheless did clearly comprehend in my own way； that
it was another name for tyranny； and for a certain gloomy；
arrogant； devil’s humour； that was in them both。 The creed； as I
should state it now； was this。 Mr。 Murdstone was firm； nobody in
his world was to be so firm as Mr。 Murdstone； nobody else in his
world was to be firm at all； for everybody was to be bent to his
firmness。 Miss Murdstone was an exception。 She might be firm；
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David Copperfield
but only by relationship； and in an inferior and tributary degree。
My mother was another exception。 She might be firm； and must
be； but only in bearing their firmness； and firmly believing there
was no other firmness upon earth。
‘It’s very hard；’ said my mother； ‘that in my own house—’
‘My own house？’ repeated Mr。 Murdstone。 ‘Clara！’
‘Our own house； I mean；’ faltered my mother； evidently
frightened—‘I hope you must know what I mean； Edward—it’s
very hard that in your own house I may not have a word to say
about domestic matters。 I am sure I managed very well before we
were married。 There’s evidence；’ said my mother； sobbing； ‘ask
Peggotty if I didn’t do very well when I wasn’t interfered with！’
‘Edward；’ said Miss Murdstone； ‘let there be an end of this。 I go
tomorrow。’
‘Jane Murdstone；’ said her brother； ‘be silent！ How dare you to
insinuate that you don’t know my character better than your
words imply？’
‘I am sure；’ my poor mother went on； at a grievous
disadvantage； and with many tears； ‘I don’t want anybody to go。 I
should be very miserable and unhappy if anybody was to go。 I
don’t ask much。 I am not unreasonable。 I only want to be
consulted sometimes。 I am very much obliged to anybody who
assists me； and I only want to be consulted as a mere form；
sometimes。 I thought you were pleased； once； with my being a
little inexperienced and girlish； Edward—I am sure you said so—
but you seem to hate me for it now； you are so severe。’
‘Edward；’ said Miss Murdstone； again； ‘let there be an end of
this。 I go tomorrow。’
‘Jane Murdstone；’ thundered Mr。 Murdstone。 ‘Will you be
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David Copperfield
silent？ How dare you？’
Miss Murdstone made a jail…delivery of her pocket…
handkerchief； and held it before her eyes。
‘Clara；’ he continued； looking at my mother； ‘you surprise me！
You astound me！ Yes； I had a satisfaction in the thought of
marrying an inexperienced and artless person； and forming her
character； and infusing into it some amount of that firmness and
decision of which it stood in need。 But when Jane Murdstone is
kind enough to come to my assistance in this endeavour； and to
assume； for my sake； a condition something like a housekeeper’s；
and when she meets with a base return—’
‘Oh； pray； pray； Edward；’ cried my mother； ‘don’t accuse me of
being ungrateful。 I am sure I am not ungrateful。 No one ever said I
was before。 I have many faults； but not that。 Oh； don’t； my dear！’
‘When Jane Murdstone meets； I say；’ he went on； after waiting
until my mother was silent； ‘with a base return； that feeling of
mine is chilled and altered。’
‘Don’t； my love； say that！’ implored my mother very piteously。
‘Oh； don’t； Edward！ I can’t bear to hear it。 Whatever I am； I am
affectionate。 I know I am affectionate。 I wouldn’t say it； if I wasn’t
sure that I am。 Ask Peggotty。 I am sure she’ll tell you I’m
affectionate。’
‘There is no extent of mere weakness； Clara；’ said Mr。
Murdstone in reply； ‘that can have the least weight with me。 You
lose breath。’
‘Pray let us be friends；’ said my mother； ‘I couldn’t live under
coldness or unkindness。 I am so sorry。 I have a great many defects；
I know； and it’s very good of you； Edward； with your strength of
mind； to endeavour to correct them for me。 Jane； I don’t object to
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David Copperfield
anything。 I should be quite broken…hearted if you thought of
leaving—’ My mother was too much overcome to go on。
‘Jane Murdstone；’ said Mr。 Murdstone to his sister； ‘any harsh
words between us are； I hope； uncommon。 It is not my fault that so
unusual an occurrence has taken place tonight。 I was betrayed
into it by another。 Nor is it your fault。 You were betrayed into it by
another。 Let us both try to forget it。 And as this；’ he added； after
these