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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber will be safe to adorn。 Under the temporary pressure of
pecuniary liabilities； contracted with a view to their immediate
liquidation； but remaining unliquidated through a combination of
circumstances； I have been under the necessity of assuming a garb
from which my natural instincts recoil—I allude to spectacles—
and possessing myself of a cognomen； to which I can establish no
legitimate pretensions。 All I have to say on that score is； that the
cloud has passed from the dreary scene； and the God of Day is
once more high upon the mountain tops。 On Monday next； on the
arrival of the four o’clock afternoon coach at Canterbury； my foot
will be on my native heath—my name； Micawber！’
Mr。 Micawber resumed his seat on the close of these remarks；
and drank two glasses of punch in grave succession。 He then said
with much solemnity：
‘One thing more I have to do； before this separation is complete；
and that is to perform an act of justice。 My friend Mr。 Thomas
Traddles has； on two several occasions； “put his name”； if I may
use a common expression； to bills of exchange for my
accommodation。 On the first occasion Mr。 Thomas Traddles was
left—let me say； in short； in the lurch。 The fulfilment of the second
has not yet arrived。 The amount of the first obligation；’ here Mr。
Micawber carefully referred to papers； ‘was； I believe； twenty…
three； four； nine and a half； of the second； according to my entry of
that transaction； eighteen； six； two。 These sums； united； make a
total； if my calculation is correct； amounting to forty…one； ten；
eleven and a half。 My friend Copperfield will perhaps do me the
favour to check that total？’
I did so and found it correct。
‘To leave this metropolis；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘and my friend
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Mr。 Thomas Traddles； without acquitting myself of the pecuniary
part of this obligation； would weigh upon my mind to an
insupportable extent。 I have； therefore； prepared for my friend Mr。
Thomas Traddles； and I now hold in my hand； a document； which
accomplishes the desired object。 I beg to hand to my friend Mr。
Thomas Traddles my I。O。U。 for forty…one； ten； eleven and a half；
and I am happy to recover my moral dignity； and to know that I
can once more walk erect before my fellow man！’
With this introduction （which greatly affected him）； Mr。
Micawber placed his I。O。U。 in the hands of Traddles； and said he
wished him well in every relation of life。 I am persuaded； not only
that this was quite the same to Mr。 Micawber as paying the money；
but that Traddles himself hardly knew the difference until he had
had time to think about it。 Mr。 Micawber walked so erect before
his fellow man； on the strength of this virtuous action； that his
chest looked half as broad again when he lighted us downstairs。
We parted with great heartiness on both sides； and when I had
seen Traddles to his own door； and was going home alone； I
thought； among the other odd and contradictory things I mused
upon； that； slippery as Mr。 Micawber was； I was probably indebted
to some compassionate recollection he retained of me as his boy…
lodger； for never having been asked by him for money。 I certainly
should not have had the moral courage to refuse it； and I have no
doubt he knew that （to his credit be it written）； quite as well as I
did。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 37
A LITTLE COLD WATER
My new life had lasted for more than a week； and I was
stronger than ever in those tremendous practical
resolutions that I felt the crisis required。 I continued to
walk extremely fast； and to have a general idea that I was getting
on。 I made it a rule to take as much out of myself as I possibly
could； in my way of doing everything to which I applied my
energies。 I made a perfect victim of myself。 I even entertained
some idea of putting myself on a vegetable diet； vaguely
conceiving that； in becoming a graminivorous animal； I should
sacrifice to Dora。
As yet； little Dora was quite unconscious of my desperate
firmness； otherwise than as my letters darkly shadowed it forth。
But another Saturday came； and on that Saturday evening she
was to be at Miss Mills’s； and when Mr。 Mills had gone to his
whist…club （telegraphed to me in the street； by a bird…cage in the
drawing…room middle window）； I was to go there to tea。
By this time； we were quite settled down in Buckingham Street；
where Mr。 Dick continued his copying in a state of absolute
felicity。 My aunt had obtained a signal victory over Mrs。 Crupp； by
paying her off； throwing the first pitcher she planted on the stairs
out of window； and protecting in person； up and down the
staircase； a supernumerary whom she engaged from the outer
world。 These vigorous measures struck such terror to the breast of
Mrs。 Crupp； that she subsided into her own kitchen； under the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
impression that my aunt was mad。 My aunt being supremely
indifferent to Mrs。 Crupp’s opinion and everybody else’s； and
rather favouring than discouraging the idea； Mrs。 Crupp； of late
the bold； became within a few days so faint…hearted； that rather
than encounter my aunt upon the staircase； she would endeavour
to hide her portly form behind doors—leaving visible； however； a
wide margin of flannel petticoat—or would shrink into dark
corners。 This gave my aunt such unspeakable satisfaction； that I
believe she took a delight in prowling up and down； with her
bonnet insanely perched on the top of her head； at times when
Mrs。 Crupp was likely to be in the way。
My aunt； being uncommonly neat and ingenious； made so many
little improvements in our domestic arrangements； that I seemed
to be richer instead of poorer。 Among the rest； she converted the
pantry into a dressing…room for me； and purchased and
embellished a bedstead for my occupation； which looked as like a
bookcase in the daytime as a bedstead could。 I was the object of
her constant solicitude； and my poor mother herself could not
have loved me better； or studied more how to make me happy。
Peggotty had considered herself highly privileged in being
allowed to participate in these labours； and； although she still
retained something of her old sentiment of awe in reference to my
aunt； had received so many marks of encouragement and
confidence； that they were the best friends possible。 But the time
had now come （I am speaking of the Saturday when I was to take
tea at Miss Mills’s） when it was necessary for her to return home；
and enter on the discharge of the duties she had undertaken in
behalf of Ham。 ‘So good…bye； Barkis；’ said my aunt； ‘and take care
of yourself！ I am sure I never thought I could be sorry to lose you！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I took Peggotty to the coach office and saw her off。 She cried at
parting； and confided her brother to my friendship as Ham had
done。 We had heard noth