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The listening face； insensible to the inclement night； still
drooped at the door； and the hands begged me—prayed me—not
to cast it forth。
‘I never doubted her；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘No！ Not a bit！ On’y let
her see my face—on’y let her beer my voice—on’y let my stanning
still afore her bring to her thoughts the home she had fled away
from； and the child she had been—and if she had growed to be a
royal lady； she’d have fell down at my feet！ I know’d it well！ Many
a time in my sleep had I heerd her cry out； “Uncle！” and seen her
fall like death afore me。 Many a time in my sleep had I raised her
up； and whispered to her； “Em’ly； my dear； I am come fur to bring
forgiveness； and to take you home！”‘
He stopped and shook his head； and went on with a sigh。
‘He was nowt to me now。 Em’ly was all。 I bought a country
dress to put upon her； and I know’d that； once found； she would
walk beside me over them stony roads； go where I would； and
never； never； leave me more。 To put that dress upon her； and to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
cast off what she wore—to take her on my arm again； and wander
towards home—to stop sometimes upon the road； and heal her
bruised feet and her worse…bruised heart—was all that I thowt of
now。 I doen’t believe I should have done so much as look at him。
But； Mas’r Davy； it warn’t to be—not yet！ I was too late； and they
was gone。 Wheer； I couldn’t learn。 Some said beer； some said
theer。 I travelled beer； and I travelled theer； but I found no Em’ly；
and I travelled home。’
‘How long ago？’ I asked。
‘A matter o’ fower days；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘I sighted the old
boat arter dark； and the light a…shining in the winder。 When I
come nigh and looked in through the glass； I see the faithful
creetur Missis Gummidge sittin’ by the fire； as we had fixed upon；
alone。 I called out； “Doen’t be afeerd！ It’s Dan’l！” and I went in。 I
never could have thowt the old boat would have been so strange！’
From some pocket in his breast； he took out； with a very careful
hand a small paper bundle containing two or three letters or little
packets； which he laid upon the table。 ‘This fust one come；’ he
said； selecting it from the rest； ‘afore I had been gone a week。 A
fifty pound Bank note； in a sheet of paper； directed to me； and put
underneath the door in the night。 She tried to hide her writing；
but she couldn’t hide it from Me！’
He folded up the note again； with great patience and care； in
exactly the same form； and laid it on one side。
‘This come to Missis Gummidge；’ he said； opening another； ‘two
or three months ago。’After looking at it for some moments； he gave
it to me； and added in a low voice； ‘Be so good as read it； sir。’
I read as follows：
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Oh what will you feel when you see this writing； and
know it comes from my wicked hand！ But try； try—not
for my sake； but for uncle’s goodness； try to let your
heart soften to me； only for a little little time！ Try； pray
do； to relent towards a miserable girl； and write down
on a bit of paper whether he is well； and what he said
about me before you left off ever naming me among
yourselves—and whether； of a night； when it is my old
time of coming home； you ever see him look as if he
thought of one he used to love so dear。 Oh； my heart is
breaking when I think about it！ I am kneeling down to
you； begging and praying you not to be as hard with me
as I deserve—as I well； well； know I deserve—but to be
so gentle and so good； as to write down something of
him； and to send it to me。 You need not call me Little；
you need not call me by the name I have disgraced； but
oh； listen to my agony； and have mercy on me so far as
to write me some word of uncle； never； never to be seen
in this world by my eyes again！
‘Dear； if your heart is hard towards me—justly hard； I
know—but； listen； if it is hard； dear； ask him I have
wronged the most—him whose wife I was to have
been—before you quite decide against my poor poor
prayer！ If he should be so compassionate as to say that
you might write something for me to read—I think he
would； oh； I think he would； if you would only ask him；
for he always was so brave and so forgiving—tell him
then （but not else）； that when I hear the wind blowing
at night； I feel as if it was passing angrily from seeing
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
him and uncle； and was going up to God against me。
Tell him that if I was to die tomorrow （and oh； if I was
fit； I would be so glad to die！） I would bless him and
uncle with my last words； and pray for his happy home
with my last breath！’
Some money was enclosed in this letter also。 Five pounds。 It
was untouched like the previous sum； and he refolded it in the
same way。 Detailed instructions were added relative to the
address of a reply； which； although they betrayed the intervention
of several hands； and made it difficult to arrive at any very
probable conclusion in reference to her place of concealment；
made it at least not unlikely that she had written from that spot
where she was stated to have been seen。
‘What answer was sent？’ I inquired of Mr。 Peggotty。
‘Missis Gummidge；’ he returned； ‘not being a good scholar； sir；
Ham kindly drawed it out； and she made a copy on it。 They told
her I was gone to seek her； and what my parting words was。’
‘Is that another letter in your hand？’ said I。
‘It’s money； sir；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； unfolding it a little way。 ‘Ten
pound； you see。 And wrote inside； “From a true friend；” like the
fust。 But the fust was put underneath the door； and this come by
the post； day afore yesterday。 I’m a…going to seek her at the postmark。’
He showed it to me。 It was a town on the Upper Rhine。 He had
found out； at Yarmouth； some foreign dealers who knew that
country； and they had drawn him a rude map on paper； which he
could very well understand。 He laid it between us on the table；
and； with his chin resting on one hand； tracked his course upon it
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
with the other。
I asked him how Ham was？ He shook his head。
‘He works；’ he said； ‘as bold as a man can。 His name’s as good；
in all that part； as any man’s is； anywheres in the wureld。 Anyone’s
hand is ready to help him； you understand； and his is ready to help
them。 He’s never been heerd fur to complain。 But my sister’s
belief is （’twixt ourselves） as it has cut him deep。’
‘Poor fellow； I can believe it！’
‘He ain’t no care； Mas’r Davy；’ said Mr。 Peggotty in a solemn
whisper—‘kinder no care no…how for his life。 When a man’s
wanted for rough sarvice in rough weather； he’s theer。 When
there’s hard duty to be done with danger in it； he steps for’ard
afore all his mates。 And yet he’s as gentle as any child。 There ain’t
a child in Yarmouth that doen’t know him。’
He gathered up the letters thoughtfully； smoothing them with
his hand