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this nature； will state what we consider most calculated to
promote the happiness of both parties。’
I discovered afterwards that Miss Lavinia was an authority in
affairs of the heart； by reason of there having anciently existed a
certain Mr。 Pidger； who played short whist； and was supposed to
have been enamoured of her。 My private opinion is； that this was
entirely a gratuitous assumption； and that Pidger was altogether
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
innocent of any such sentiments—to which he had never given any
sort of expression that I could ever hear of。 Both Miss Lavinia and
Miss Clarissa had a superstition； however； that he would have
declared his passion； if he had not been cut short in his youth （at
about sixty） by over…drinking his constitution； and over…doing an
attempt to set it right again by swilling Bath water。 They had a
lurking suspicion even； that he died of secret love； though I must
say there was a picture of him in the house with a damask nose；
which concealment did not appear to have ever preyed upon。
‘We will not；’ said Miss Lavinia； ‘enter on the past history of this
matter。 Our poor brother Francis’s death has cancelled that。’
‘We had not；’ said Miss Clarissa； ‘been in the habit of frequent
association with our brother Francis； but there was no decided
division or disunion between us。 Francis took his road； we took
ours。 We considered it conducive to the happiness of all parties
that it should be so。 And it was so。’
Each of the sisters leaned a little forward to speak； shook her
head after speaking； and became upright again when silent。 Miss
Clarissa never moved her arms。 She sometimes played tunes upon
them with her fingers—minuets and marches I should think—but
never moved them。
‘Our niece’s position； or supposed position； is much changed by
our brother Francis’s death；’ said Miss Lavinia； ‘and therefore we
consider our brother’s opinions as regarded her position as being
changed too。 We have no reason to doubt； Mr。 Copperfield； that
you are a young gentleman possessed of good qualities and
honourable character； or that you have an affection—or are fully
persuaded that you have an affection—for our niece。’
I replied； as I usually did whenever I had a chance； that nobody
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
had ever loved anybody else as I loved Dora。 Traddles came to my
assistance with a confirmatory murmur。
Miss Lavinia was going on to make some rejoinder； when Miss
Clarissa； who appeared to be incessantly beset by a desire to refer
to her brother Francis； struck in again：
‘If Dora’s mama；’ she said； ‘when she married our brother
Francis； had at once said that there was not room for the family at
the dinner…table； it would have been better for the happiness of all
parties。’
‘Sister Clarissa；’ said Miss Lavinia。 ‘Perhaps we needn’t mind
that now。’
‘Sister Lavinia；’ said Miss Clarissa； ‘it belongs to the subject。
With your branch of the subject； on which alone you are
competent to speak； I should not think of interfering。 On this
branch of the subject I have a voice and an opinion。 It would have
been better for the happiness of all parties； if Dora’s mama； when
she married our brother Francis； had mentioned plainly what her
intentions were。 We should then have known what we had to
expect。 We should have said “Pray do not invite us； at any time”；
and all possibility of misunderstanding would have been avoided。’
When Miss Clarissa had shaken her head； Miss Lavinia
resumed： again referring to my letter through her eye…glass。 They
both had little bright round twinkling eyes； by the way； which
were like birds’ eyes。 They were not unlike birds； altogether；
having a sharp； brisk； sudden manner； and a little short； spruce
way of adjusting themselves； like canaries。
Miss Lavinia； as I have said； resumed：
‘You ask permission of my sister Clarissa and myself； Mr。
Copperfield； to visit here； as the accepted suitor of our niece。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘If our brother Francis；’ said Miss Clarissa； breaking out again；
if I may call anything so calm a breaking out； ‘wished to surround
himself with an atmosphere of Doctors’ Commons； and of Doctors’
Commons only； what right or desire had we to object？ None； I am
sure。 We have ever been far from wishing to obtrude ourselves on
anyone。 But why not say so？ Let our brother Francis and his wife
have their society。 Let my sister Lavinia and myself have our
society。 We can find it for ourselves； I hope。’
As this appeared to be addressed to Traddles and me； both
Traddles and I made some sort of reply。 Traddles was inaudible。 I
think I observed； myself； that it was highly creditable to all
concerned。 I don’t in the least know what I meant。
‘Sister Lavinia；’ said Miss Clarissa； having now relieved her
mind； ‘you can go on； my dear。’
Miss Lavinia proceeded：
‘Mr。 Copperfield； my sister Clarissa and I have been very
careful indeed in considering this letter； and we have not
considered it without finally showing it to our niece； and
discussing it with our niece。 We have no doubt that you think you
like her very much。’
‘Think； ma’am；’ I rapturously began； ‘oh！—’
But Miss Clarissa giving me a look （just like a sharp canary）； as
requesting that I would not interrupt the oracle； I begged pardon。
‘Affection；’ said Miss Lavinia； glancing at her sister for
corroboration； which she gave in the form of a little nod to every
clause； ‘mature affection； homage； devotion； does not easily
express itself。 Its voice is low。 It is modest and retiring； it lies in
ambush； waits and waits。 Such is the mature fruit。 Sometimes a
life glides away； and finds it still ripening in the shade。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Of course I did not understand then that this was an allusion to
her supposed experience of the stricken Pidger； but I saw； from
the gravity with which Miss Clarissa nodded her head； that great
weight was attached to these words。
‘The light—for I call them； in comparison with such sentiments；
the light—inclinations of very young people；’ pursued Miss
Lavinia； ‘are dust； compared to rocks。 It is owing to the difficulty
of knowing whether they are likely to endure or have any real
foundation； that my sister Clarissa and myself have been very
undecided how to act； Mr。 Copperfield； and Mr。—’
‘Traddles；’ said my friend； finding himself looked at。 ‘I beg
pardon。 Of the Inner Temple； I believe？’ said Miss Clarissa； again
glancing at my letter。
Traddles said ‘Exactly so；’ and became pretty red in the face。
Now； although I had not received any express encouragement
as yet； I fancied that I saw in the two little sisters； and particularly
in Miss Lavinia； an intensified enjoyment of this new and fruitful
subject of domestic interest； a settling down to make the most of it；
a disposition to pet it； in which there was a good br