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‘I had my thowts o’ coming to make inquiration for you； sir；
tonight；’ he said； ‘but knowing as your aunt was living along wi’
you—fur I’ve been down yonder—Yarmouth way—I was afeerd it
was too late。 I should have come early in the morning； sir； afore
going away。’
‘Again？’ said I。
‘Yes； sir；’ he replied； patiently shaking his head； ‘I’m away
tomorrow。’
‘Where were you going now？’ I asked。
‘Well！’ he replied； shaking the snow out of his long hair； ‘I was
a…going to turn in somewheers。’
In those days there was a side…entrance to the stable…yard of the
Golden Cross； the inn so memorable to me in connexion with his
misfortune； nearly opposite to where we stood。 I pointed out the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
gateway； put my arm through his； and we went across。 Two or
three public…rooms opened out of the stable…yard； and looking into
one of them； and finding it empty； and a good fire burning； I took
him in there。
When I saw him in the light； I observed； not only that his hair
was long and ragged； but that his face was burnt dark by the sun。
He was greyer； the lines in his face and forehead were deeper； and
he had every appearance of having toiled and wandered through
all varieties of weather； but he looked very strong； and like a man
upheld by steadfastness of purpose； whom nothing could tire out。
He shook the snow from his hat and clothes； and brushed it away
from his face； while I was inwardly making these remarks。 As he
sat down opposite to me at a table； with his back to the door by
which we had entered； he put out his rough hand again； and
grasped mine warmly。
‘I’ll tell you； Mas’r Davy；’ he said；—‘wheer all I’ve been； and
what…all we’ve heerd。 I’ve been fur； and we’ve heerd little； but I’ll
tell you！’
I rang the bell for something hot to drink。 He would have
nothing stronger than ale； and while it was being brought； and
being warmed at the fire； he sat thinking。 There was a fine；
massive gravity in his face； I did not venture to disturb。
‘When she was a child；’ he said； lifting up his head soon after we
were left alone； ‘she used to talk to me a deal about the sea； and
about them coasts where the sea got to be dark blue； and to lay a…
shining and a…shining in the sun。 I thowt； odd times； as her father
being drownded made her think on it so much。 I doen’t know； you
see； but maybe she believed—or hoped—he had drifted out to
them parts； where the flowers is always a…blowing； and the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
country bright。’
‘It is likely to have been a childish fancy；’ I replied。
‘When she was—lost；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘I know’d in my mind；
as he would take her to them countries。 I know’d in my mind； as
he’d have told her wonders of ’em； and how she was to be a lady
theer； and how he got her to listen to him fust； along o’ sech like。
When we see his mother； I know’d quite well as I was right。 I went
across…channel to France； and landed theer； as if I’d fell down
from the sky。’
I saw the door move； and the snow drift in。 I saw it move a little
more； and a hand softly interpose to keep it open。
‘I found out an English gen’leman as was in authority；’ said Mr。
Peggotty； ‘and told him I was a…going to seek my niece。 He got me
them papers as I wanted fur to carry me through—I doen’t rightly
know how they’re called—and he would have give me money； but
that I was thankful to have no need on。 I thank him kind； for all he
done； I’m sure！ “I’ve wrote afore you；” he says to me； “and I shall
speak to many as will come that way； and many will know you； fur
distant from here； when you’re a…travelling alone。” I told him； best
as I was able； what my gratitoode was； and went away through
France。’
‘Alone； and on foot？’ said I。
‘Mostly a…foot；’ he rejoined； ‘sometimes in carts along with
people going to market； sometimes in empty coaches。 Many mile a
day a…foot； and often with some poor soldier or another； travelling
to see his friends。 I couldn’t talk to him；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘nor he
to me； but we was company for one another； too； along the dusty
roads。’
I should have known that by his friendly tone。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘When I come to any town；’ he pursued； ‘I found the inn； and
waited about the yard till someone turned up （someone mostly
did） as know’d English。 Then I told how that I was on my way to
seek my niece； and they told me what manner of gentlefolks was in
the house； and I waited to see any as seemed like her； going in or
out。 When it warn’t Em’ly； I went on agen。 By little and little； when
I come to a new village or that； among the poor people； I found
they know’d about me。 They would set me down at their cottage
doors； and give me what…not fur to eat and drink； and show me
where to sleep； and many a woman； Mas’r Davy； as has had a
daughter of about Em’ly’s age； I’ve found a…waiting fur me； at Our
Saviour’s Cross outside the village； fur to do me sim’lar
kindnesses。 Some has had daughters as was dead。 And God only
knows how good them mothers was to me！’
It was Martha at the door。 I saw her haggard； listening face
distinctly。 My dread was lest he should turn his head； and see her
too。
‘They would often put their children—particular their little
girls；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘upon my knee； and many a time you
might have seen me sitting at their doors； when night was coming
in； a’most as if they’d been my Darling’s children。 Oh； my Darling！’
Overpowered by sudden grief； he sobbed aloud。 I laid my
trembling hand upon the hand he put before his face。 ‘Thankee；
sir；’ he said； ‘doen’t take no notice。’
In a very little while he took his hand away and put it on his
breast； and went on with his story。 ‘They often walked with me；’
he said； ‘in the morning； maybe a mile or two upon my road； and
when we parted； and I said； “I’m very thankful to you！ God bless
you！” they always seemed to understand； and answered pleasant。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
At last I come to the sea。 It warn’t hard； you may suppose； for a
seafaring man like me to work his way over to Italy。 When I got
theer； I wandered on as I had done afore。 The people was just as
good to me； and I should have gone from town to town； maybe the
country through； but that I got news of her being seen among
them Swiss mountains yonder。 One as know’d his servant see ’em
there； all three； and told me how they travelled； and where they
was。 I made fur them mountains； Mas’r Davy； day and night。 Ever
so fur as I went； ever so fur the mountains seemed to shift away
from me。 But I come up with ’em； and I crossed ’em。 When I got
nigh the place as I had been told of； I began to think within my
own self； “What shall I do when I see her？”‘
The listening face； insensible to the inclement night； still
drooped at the door； and the hands begged me—prayed me—not
to cas