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the sisters laugh at it。’
‘Agreeable！’ said I。
‘Yes；’ returned Traddles with perfect innocence； ‘it’s a joke for
us。 They pretend that Sophy has a lock of it in her desk； and is
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
obliged to shut it in a clasped book； to keep it down。 We laugh
about it。’
‘By the by； my dear Traddles；’ said I； ‘your experience may
suggest something to me。 When you became engaged to the young
lady whom you have just mentioned； did you make a regular
proposal to her family？ Was there anything like—what we are
going through today； for instance？’ I added； nervously。
‘Why；’ replied Traddles； on whose attentive face a thoughtful
shade had stolen； ‘it was rather a painful transaction； Copperfield；
in my case。 You see； Sophy being of so much use in the family；
none of them could endure the thought of her ever being married。
Indeed； they had quite settled among themselves that she never
was to be married； and they called her the old maid。 Accordingly；
when I mentioned it； with the greatest precaution； to Mrs。
Crewler—’
‘The mama？’ said I。
‘The mama；’ said Traddles—‘Reverend Horace Crewler—when
I mentioned it with every possible precaution to Mrs。 Crewler； the
effect upon her was such that she gave a scream and became
insensible。 I couldn’t approach the subject again； for months。’
‘You did at last？’ said I。
‘Well； the Reverend Horace did；’ said Traddles。 ‘He is an
excellent man； most exemplary in every way； and he pointed out
to her that she ought； as a Christian； to reconcile herself to the
sacrifice （especially as it was so uncertain）； and to bear no
uncharitable feeling towards me。 As to myself； Copperfield； I give
you my word； I felt a perfect bird of prey towards the family。’
‘The sisters took your part； I hope； Traddles？’
‘Why； I can’t say they did；’ he returned。 ‘When we had
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David Copperfield
comparatively reconciled Mrs。 Crewler to it； we had to break it to
Sarah。 You recollect my mentioning Sarah； as the one that has
something the matter with her spine？’
‘Perfectly！’
‘She clenched both her hands；’ said Traddles； looking at me in
dismay； ‘shut her eyes； turned lead…colour； became perfectly stiff；
and took nothing for two days but toast…and…water； administered
with a tea…spoon。’
‘What a very unpleasant girl； Traddles！’ I remarked。
‘Oh； I beg your pardon； Copperfield！’ said Traddles。 ‘She is a
very charming girl； but she has a great deal of feeling。 In fact； they
all have。 Sophy told me afterwards； that the self…reproach she
underwent while she was in attendance upon Sarah； no words
could describe。 I know it must have been severe； by my own
feelings； Copperfield； which were like a criminal’s。 After Sarah
was restored； we still had to break it to the other eight； and it
produced various effects upon them of a most pathetic nature。 The
two little ones； whom Sophy educates； have only just left off detesting me。’
‘At any rate； they are all reconciled to it now； I hope？’ said I。
‘Ye…yes； I should say they were； on the whole； resigned to it；’
said Traddles； doubtfully。 ‘The fact is； we avoid mentioning the
subject； and my unsettled prospects and indifferent circumstances
are a great consolation to them。 There will be a deplorable scene；
whenever we are married。 It will be much more like a funeral；
than a wedding。 And they’ll all hate me for taking her away！’
His honest face； as he looked at me with a serio…comic shake of
his head； impresses me more in the remembrance than it did in
the reality； for I was by this time in a state of such excessive
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
trepidation and wandering of mind； as to be quite unable to fix my
attention on anything。 On our approaching the house where the
Misses Spenlow lived； I was at such a discount in respect of my
personal looks and presence of mind； that Traddles proposed a
gentle stimulant in the form of a glass of ale。 This having been
administered at a neighbouring public…house； he conducted me；
with tottering steps； to the Misses Spenlow’s door。
I had a vague sensation of being； as it were； on view； when the
maid opened it； and of wavering； somehow； across a hall with a
weather…glass in it； into a quiet little drawing…room on the ground…
floor； commanding a neat garden。 Also of sitting down here； on a
sofa； and seeing Traddles’s hair start up； now his hat was
removed； like one of those obtrusive little figures made of springs；
that fly out of fictitious snuff…boxes when the lid is taken off。 Also
of hearing an old…fashioned clock ticking away on the chimney…
piece； and trying to make it keep time to the jerking of my heart；—
which it wouldn’t。 Also of looking round the room for any sign of
Dora； and seeing none。 Also of thinking that Jip once barked in
the distance； and was instantly choked by somebody。 Ultimately I
found myself backing Traddles into the fireplace； and bowing in
great confusion to two dry little elderly ladies； dressed in black；
and each looking wonderfully like a preparation in chip or tan of
the late Mr。 Spenlow。
‘Pray；’ said one of the two little ladies； ‘be seated。’
When I had done tumbling over Traddles； and had sat upon
something which was not a cat—my first seat was—I so far
recovered my sight； as to perceive that Mr。 Spenlow had evidently
been the youngest of the family； that there was a disparity of six or
eight years between the two sisters； and that the younger
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David Copperfield
appeared to be the manager of the conference； inasmuch as she
had my letter in her hand—so familiar as it looked to me； and yet
so odd！—and was referring to it through an eye…glass。 They were
dressed alike； but this sister wore her dress with a more youthful
air than the other； and perhaps had a trifle more frill； or tucker； or
brooch； or bracelet； or some little thing of that kind； which made
her look more lively。 They were both upright in their carriage；
formal； precise； composed； and quiet。 The sister who had not my
letter； had her arms crossed on her breast； and resting on each
other； like an Idol。
‘Mr。 Copperfield； I believe；’ said the sister who had got my
letter； addressing herself to Traddles。
This was a frightful beginning。 Traddles had to indicate that I
was Mr。 Copperfield； and I had to lay claim to myself； and they had
to divest themselves of a preconceived opinion that Traddles was
Mr。 Copperfield； and altogether we were in a nice condition。 To
improve it； we all distinctly heard Jip give two short barks； and
receive another choke。
‘Mr。 Copperfield！’ said the sister with the letter。
I did something—bowed； I suppose—and was all attention；
when the other sister struck in。
‘My sister Lavinia；’ said she ‘being conversant with matters of
this nature； will state what we consider most calculated to
promote the happiness of both parties。’
I discovered aft