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He gathered up the letters thoughtfully； smoothing them with
his hand； put them into their little bundle； and placed it tenderly
in his breast again。 The face was gone from the door。 I still saw the
snow drifting in； but nothing else was there。
‘Well！’ he said； looking to his bag； ‘having seen you tonight；
Mas’r Davy （and that doos me good！）； I shall away betimes
tomorrow morning。 You have seen what I’ve got heer’； putting his
hand on where the little packet lay； ‘all that troubles me is； to
think that any harm might come to me； afore that money was give
back。 If I was to die； and it was lost； or stole； or elseways made
away with； and it was never know’d by him but what I’d took it； I
believe the t’other wureld wouldn’t hold me！ I believe I must come
back！’
He rose； and I rose too； we grasped each other by the hand
again； before going out。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘I’d go ten thousand mile；’ he said； ‘I’d go till I dropped dead； to
lay that money down afore him。 If I do that； and find my Em’ly； I’m
content。 If I doen’t find her； maybe she’ll come to hear； sometime；
as her loving uncle only ended his search for her when he ended
his life； and if I know her； even that will turn her home at last！’
As he went out into the rigorous night； I saw the lonely figure
flit away before us。 I turned him hastily on some pretence； and
held him in conversation until it was gone。
He spoke of a traveller’s house on the Dover Road； where he
knew he could find a clean； plain lodging for the night。 I went with
him over Westminster Bridge； and parted from him on the Surrey
shore。 Everything seemed； to my imagination； to be hushed in
reverence for him； as he resumed his solitary journey through the
snow。
I returned to the inn yard； and； impressed by my remembrance
of the face； looked awfully around for it。 It was not there。 The snow
had covered our late footprints； my new track was the only one to
be seen； and even that began to die away （it snowed so fast） as I
looked back over my shoulder。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 41
DORA’S AUNTS
At last； an answer came from the two old ladies。 They
presented their compliments to Mr。 Copperfield； and
informed him that they had given his letter their best
consideration； ‘with a view to the happiness of both parties’—
which I thought rather an alarming expression； not only because
of the use they had made of it in relation to the family difference
before…mentioned； but because I had （and have all my life）
observed that conventional phrases are a sort of fireworks； easily
let off； and liable to take a great variety of shapes and colours not
at all suggested by their original form。 The Misses Spenlow added
that they begged to forbear expressing； ‘through the medium of
correspondence’； an opinion on the subject of Mr。 Copperfield’s
communication； but that if Mr。 Copperfield would do them the
favour to call； upon a certain day （accompanied； if he thought
proper； by a confidential friend）； they would be happy to hold
some conversation on the subject。
To this favour； Mr。 Copperfield immediately replied； with his
respectful compliments； that he would have the honour of waiting
on the Misses Spenlow； at the time appointed； accompanied； in
accordance with their kind permission； by his friend Mr。 Thomas
Traddles of the Inner Temple。 Having dispatched which missive；
Mr。 Copperfield fell into a condition of strong nervous agitation；
and so remained until the day arrived。
It was a great augmentation of my uneasiness to be bereaved； at
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
this eventful crisis； of the inestimable services of Miss Mills。 But
Mr。 Mills； who was always doing something or other to annoy
me—or I felt as if he were； which was the same thing—had
brought his conduct to a climax； by taking it into his head that he
would go to India。 Why should he go to India； except to harass me？
To be sure he had nothing to do with any other part of the world；
and had a good deal to do with that part； being entirely in the
India trade； whatever that was （I had floating dreams myself
concerning golden shawls and elephants’ teeth）； having been at
Calcutta in his youth； and designing now to go out there again； in
the capacity of resident partner。 But this was nothing to me。
However； it was so much to him that for India he was bound； and
Julia with him； and Julia went into the country to take leave of her
relations； and the house was put into a perfect suit of bills；
announcing that it was to be let or sold； and that the furniture
（Mangle and all） was to be taken at a valuation。 So； here was
another earthquake of which I became the sport； before I had
recovered from the shock of its predecessor！
I was in several minds how to dress myself on the important
day； being divided between my desire to appear to advantage； and
my apprehensions of putting on anything that might impair my
severely practical character in the eyes of the Misses Spenlow。 I
endeavoured to hit a happy medium between these two extremes；
my aunt approved the result； and Mr。 Dick threw one of his shoes
after Traddles and me； for luck； as we went downstairs。
Excellent fellow as I knew Traddles to be； and warmly attached
to him as I was； I could not help wishing； on that delicate occasion；
that he had never contracted the habit of brushing his hair so very
upright。 It gave him a surprised look—not to say a hearth…broomy
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield 807
kind of expression—which； my apprehensions whispered； might
be fatal to us。
I took the liberty of mentioning it to Traddles； as we were
walking to Putney； and saying that if he would smooth it down a
little—
‘My dear Copperfield；’ said Traddles； lifting off his hat； and
rubbing his hair all kinds of ways； ‘nothing would give me greater
pleasure。 But it won’t。’
‘Won’t be smoothed down？’ said I。
‘No；’ said Traddles。 ‘Nothing will induce it。 If I was to carry a
half…hundred…weight upon it； all the way to Putney； it would be up
again the moment the weight was taken off。 You have no idea
what obstinate hair mine is； Copperfield。 I am quite a fretful
porcupine。’
I was a little disappointed； I must confess； but thoroughly
charmed by his good…nature too。 I told him how I esteemed his
good…nature； and said that his hair must have taken all the
obstinacy out of his character； for he had none。
‘Oh！’ returned Traddles； laughing。 ‘I assure you； it’s quite an old
story； my unfortunate hair。 My uncle’s wife couldn’t bear it。 She
said it exasperated her。 It stood very much in my way； too； when I
first fell in love with Sophy。 Very much！’
‘Did she object to it？’
‘She didn’t；’ rejoined Traddles； ‘but her eldest sister—the one
that’s the Beauty—quite made game of it； I understand。 In fact； all
the sisters laugh at it。’
‘Agreeable！’ said I。
‘Yes；’ returned Traddles wi