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parting； and confided her brother to my friendship as Ham had
done。 We had heard nothing of him since he went away； that
sunny afternoon。
‘And now； my own dear Davy；’ said Peggotty； ‘if； while you’re a
prentice； you should want any money to spend； or if； when you’re
out of your time； my dear； you should want any to set you up （and
you must do one or other； or both； my darling）； who has such a
good right to ask leave to lend it you； as my sweet girl’s own old
stupid me！’
I was not so savagely independent as to say anything in reply；
but that if ever I borrowed money of anyone； I would borrow it of
her。 Next to accepting a large sum on the spot； I believe this gave
Peggotty more comfort than anything I could have done。
‘And； my dear！’ whispered Peggotty； ‘tell the pretty little angel
that I should so have liked to see her； only for a minute！ And tell
her that before she marries my boy； I’ll come and make your house
so beautiful for you； if you’ll let me！’
I declared that nobody else should touch it； and this gave
Peggotty such delight that she went away in good spirits。
I fatigued myself as much as I possibly could in the Commons
all day； by a variety of devices； and at the appointed time in the
evening repaired to Mr。 Mills’s street。 Mr。 Mills； who was a terrible
fellow to fall asleep after dinner； had not yet gone out； and there
was no bird…cage in the middle window。
He kept me waiting so long； that I fervently hoped the Club
would fine him for being late。 At last he came out； and then I saw
my own Dora hang up the bird…cage； and peep into the balcony to
look for me； and run in again when she saw I was there； while Jip
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David Copperfield
remained behind； to bark injuriously at an immense butcher’s dog
in the street； who could have taken him like a pill。
Dora came to the drawing…room door to meet me； and Jip came
scrambling out； tumbling over his own growls； under the
impression that I was a Bandit； and we all three went in； as happy
and loving as could be。 I soon carried desolation into the bosom of
our joys—not that I meant to do it； but that I was so full of the
subject—by asking Dora； without the smallest preparation； if she
could love a beggar？
My pretty； little； startled Dora！ Her only association with the
word was a yellow face and a nightcap； or a pair of crutches； or a
wooden leg； or a dog with a decanter…stand in his mouth； or
something of that kind； and she stared at me with the most
delightful wonder。
‘How can you ask me anything so foolish？’ pouted Dora。 ‘Love a
beggar！’
‘Dora； my own dearest！’ said I。 ‘I am a beggar！’
‘How can you be such a silly thing；’ replied Dora； slapping my
hand； ‘as to sit there； telling such stories？ I’ll make Jip bite you！’
Her childish way was the most delicious way in the world to me；
but it was necessary to be explicit； and I solemnly repeated：
‘Dora； my own life； I am your ruined David！’
‘I declare I’ll make Jip bite you！’ said Dora； shaking her curls； ‘if
you are so ridiculous。’
But I looked so serious； that Dora left off shaking her curls； and
laid her trembling little hand upon my shoulder； and first looked
scared and anxious； then began to cry。 That was dreadful。 I fell
upon my knees before the sofa； caressing her； and imploring her
not to rend my heart； but； for some time； poor little Dora did
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
nothing but exclaim Oh dear！ Oh dear！ And oh； she was so
frightened！ And where was Julia Mills！ And oh； take her to Julia
Mills； and go away； please！ until I was almost beside myself。
At last； after an agony of supplication and protestation； I got
Dora to look at me； with a horrified expression of face； which I
gradually soothed until it was only loving； and her soft； pretty
cheek was lying against mine。 Then I told her； with my arms
clasped round her； how I loved her； so dearly； and so dearly； how I
felt it right to offer to release her from her engagement； because
now I was poor； how I never could bear it； or recover it； if I lost
her； how I had no fears of poverty； if she had none； my arm being
nerved and my heart inspired by her； how I was already working
with a courage such as none but lovers knew； how I had begun to
be practical； and look into the future； how a crust well earned was
sweeter far than a feast inherited； and much more to the same
purpose； which I delivered in a burst of passionate eloquence
quite surprising to myself； though I had been thinking about it；
day and night； ever since my aunt had astonished me。
‘Is your heart mine still； dear Dora？’ said I； rapturously； for I
knew by her clinging to me that it was。
‘Oh； yes！’ cried Dora。 ‘Oh； yes； it’s all yours。 Oh； don’t be
dreadful！’
I dreadful！ To Dora！
‘Don’t talk about being poor； and working hard！’ said Dora；
nestling closer to me。 ‘Oh； don’t； don’t！’
‘My dearest love；’ said I； ‘the crust well…earned—’
‘Oh； yes； but I don’t want to hear any more about crusts！’ said
Dora。 ‘And Jip must have a mutton…chop every day at twelve； or
he’ll die。’
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I was charmed with her childish； winning way。 I fondly
explained to Dora that Jip should have his mutton…chop with his
accustomed regularity。 I drew a picture of our frugal home； made
independent by my labour—sketching in the little house I had
seen at Highgate； and my aunt in her room upstairs。
‘I am not dreadful now； Dora？’ said I； tenderly。
‘Oh； no； no！’ cried Dora。 ‘But I hope your aunt will keep in her
own room a good deal。 And I hope she’s not a scolding old thing！’
If it were possible for me to love Dora more than ever； I am sure
I did。 But I felt she was a little impracticable。 It damped my newborn ardour； to find that ardour so difficult of communication to
her。 I made another trial。 When she was quite herself again； and
was curling Jip’s ears； as he lay upon her lap； I became grave； and
said：
‘My own！ May I mention something？’
‘Oh； please don’t be practical！’ said Dora； coaxingly。 ‘Because it
frightens me so！’
‘Sweetheart！’ I returned； ‘there is nothing to alarm you in all
this。 I want you to think of it quite differently。 I want to make it
nerve you； and inspire you； Dora！’
‘Oh； but that’s so shocking！’ cried Dora。
‘My love； no。 Perseverance and strength of character will
enable us to bear much worse things。’
‘But I haven’t got any strength at all；’ said Dora； shaking her
curls。 ‘Have I； Jip？ Oh； do kiss Jip； and be agreeable！’
It was impossible to resist kissing Jip； when she held him up to
me for that purpose； putting her own bright； rosy little mouth into
kissing form； as she directed the operation； which she insisted
should be performed symmetrically； on the centre of his nose。 I
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David Copperfield
did as she bade me—rewarding myself afterwards for my
obedience—and she charm