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David Copperfield
She had been weeping； but her face then was so calm and
beautiful！
‘Heaven bless you！’ she said； giving me her hand。
‘Dearest Agnes！’ I returned； ‘I see you ask me not to speak of
tonight—but is there nothing to be done？’
‘There is God to trust in！’ she replied。
‘Can I do nothing—I； who come to you with my poor sorrows？’
‘And make mine so much lighter；’ she replied。 ‘Dear Trotwood；
no！’
‘Dear Agnes；’ I said； ‘it is presumptuous for me； who am so poor
in all in which you are so rich—goodness； resolution； all noble
qualities—to doubt or direct you； but you know how much I love
you； and how much I owe you。 You will never sacrifice yourself to
a mistaken sense of duty； Agnes？’
More agitated for a moment than I had ever seen her； she took
her hands from me； and moved a step back。
‘Say you have no such thought； dear Agnes！ Much more than
sister！ Think of the priceless gift of such a heart as yours； of such a
love as yours！’
Oh！ long； long afterwards； I saw that face rise up before me；
with its momentary look； not wondering； not accusing； not
regretting。 Oh； long； long afterwards； I saw that look subside； as it
did now； into the lovely smile； with which she told me she had no
fear for herself—I need have none for her—and parted from me by
the name of Brother； and was gone！
It was dark in the morning； when I got upon the coach at the
inn door。 The day was just breaking when we were about to start；
and then； as I sat thinking of her； came struggling up the coach
side； through the mingled day and night； Uriah’s head。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Copperfield！’ said he； in a croaking whisper； as he hung by the
iron on the roof； ‘I thought you’d be glad to hear before you went
off； that there are no squares broke between us。 I’ve been into his
room already； and we’ve made it all smooth。 Why； though I’m
umble； I’m useful to him； you know； and he understands his
interest when he isn’t in liquor！ What an agreeable man he is； after
all； Master Copperfield！’
I obliged myself to say that I was glad he had made his apology。
‘Oh； to be sure！’ said Uriah。 ‘When a person’s umble； you know；
what’s an apology？ So easy！ I say！ I suppose；’ with a jerk； ‘you
have sometimes plucked a pear before it was ripe； Master
Copperfield？’
‘I suppose I have；’ I replied。
‘I did that last night；’ said Uriah； ‘but it’ll ripen yet！ It only
wants attending to。 I can wait！’
Profuse in his farewells； he got down again as the coachman got
up。 For anything I know； he was eating something to keep the raw
morning air out； but he made motions with his mouth as if the
pear were ripe already； and he were smacking his lips over it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 40
THE WANDERER
We had a very serious conversation in Buckingham
Street that night； about the domestic occurrences I
have detailed in the last chapter。 My aunt was deeply
interested in them； and walked up and down the room with her
arms folded； for more than two hours afterwards。 Whenever she
was particularly discomposed； she always performed one of these
pedestrian feats； and the amount of her discomposure might
always be estimated by the duration of her walk。 On this occasion
she was so much disturbed in mind as to find it necessary to open
the bedroom door； and make a course for herself； comprising the
full extent of the bedrooms from wall to wall； and while Mr。 Dick
and I sat quietly by the fire； she kept passing in and out； along this
measured track； at an unchanging pace； with the regularity of a
clock…pendulum。
When my aunt and I were left to ourselves by Mr。 Dick’s going
out to bed； I sat down to write my letter to the two old ladies。 By
that time she was tired of walking； and sat by the fire with her
dress tucked up as usual。 But instead of sitting in her usual
manner； holding her glass upon her knee； she suffered it to stand
neglected on the chimney…piece； and； resting her left elbow on her
right arm； and her chin on her left hand； looked thoughtfully at
me。 As often as I raised my eyes from what I was about； I met hers。
‘I am in the lovingest of tempers； my dear；’ she would assure me
with a nod； ‘but I am fidgeted and sorry！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I had been too busy to observe； until after she was gone to bed；
that she had left her night…mixture； as she always called it；
untasted on the chimney…piece。 She came to her door； with even
more than her usual affection of manner； when I knocked to
acquaint her with this discovery； but only said； ‘I have not the
heart to take it； Trot； tonight；’ and shook her head； and went in
again。
She read my letter to the two old ladies； in the morning； and
approved of it。 I posted it； and had nothing to do then； but wait； as
patiently as I could； for the reply。 I was still in this state of
expectation； and had been； for nearly a week； when I left the
Doctor’s one snowy night； to walk home。
It had been a bitter day； and a cutting north…east wind had
blown for some time。 The wind had gone down with the light； and
so the snow had come on。 It was a heavy； settled fall； I recollect； in
great flakes； and it lay thick。 The noise of wheels and tread of
people were as hushed； as if the streets had been strewn that
depth with feathers。
My shortest way home；—and I naturally took the shortest way
on such a night—was through St。 Martin’s Lane。 Now； the church
which gives its name to the lane； stood in a less free situation at
that time； there being no open space before it； and the lane
winding down to the Strand。 As I passed the steps of the portico； I
encountered； at the corner； a woman’s face。 It looked in mine；
passed across the narrow lane； and disappeared。 I knew it。 I had
seen it somewhere。 But I could not remember where。 I had some
association with it； that struck upon my heart directly； but I was
thinking of anything else when it came upon me； and was
confused。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
On the steps of the church； there was the stooping figure of a
man； who had put down some burden on the smooth snow； to
adjust it； my seeing the face； and my seeing him； were
simultaneous。 I don’t think I had stopped in my surprise； but； in
any case； as I went on； he rose； turned； and came down towards
me。 I stood face to face with Mr。 Peggotty！
Then I remembered the woman。 It was Martha； to whom Emily
had given the money that night in the kitchen。 Martha Endell—
side by side with whom； he would not have seen his dear niece；
Ham had told me； for all the treasures wrecked in the sea。
We shook hands heartily。 At first； neither of us could speak a
word。
‘Mas’r Davy！’ he said； gripping me tight； ‘it do my art good to
see you； sir。 Well met； well met！’
‘Well met； my dear old friend！’ said I。
‘I had my thowts o’ coming to make inquiration for you； sir；
tonight；’ he said