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and return them。 When it is better for the happiness of all parties
that no visiting should take place； （as in the case of our brother
Francis； and his establishment） that is quite different。’
I intimated that my aunt would be proud and delighted to make
their acquaintance； though I must say I was not quite sure of their
getting on very satisfactorily together。 The conditions being now
closed； I expressed my acknowledgements in the warmest
manner； and； taking the hand； first of Miss Clarissa； and then of
Miss Lavinia； pressed it； in each case； to my lips。
Miss Lavinia then arose； and begging Mr。 Traddles to excuse us
for a minute； requested me to follow her。 I obeyed； all in a tremble；
and was conducted into another room。 There I found my blessed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
darling stopping her ears behind the door； with her dear little face
against the wall； and Jip in the plate…warmer with his head tied up
in a towel。
Oh！ How beautiful she was in her black frock； and how she
sobbed and cried at first； and wouldn’t come out from behind the
door！ How fond we were of one another； when she did come out at
last； and what a state of bliss I was in； when we took Jip out of the
plate…warmer； and restored him to the light； sneezing very much；
and were all three reunited！
‘My dearest Dora！ Now； indeed； my own for ever！’
‘Oh； don’t！’ pleaded Dora。 ‘Please！’
‘Are you not my own for ever； Dora？’
‘Oh yes； of course I am！’ cried Dora； ‘but I am so frightened！’
‘Frightened； my own？’
‘Oh yes！ I don’t like him；’ said Dora。 ‘Why don’t he go？’
‘Who； my life？’
‘Your friend；’ said Dora。 ‘It isn’t any business of his。 What a
stupid he must be！’
‘My love！’ （There never was anything so coaxing as her childish
ways。） ‘He is the best creature！’
‘Oh； but we don’t want any best creatures！’ pouted Dora。
‘My dear；’ I argued； ‘you will soon know him well； and like him
of all things。 And here is my aunt coming soon； and you’ll like her
of all things too； when you know her。’
‘No； please don’t bring her！’ said Dora； giving me a horrified
little kiss； and folding her hands。 ‘Don’t。 I know she’s a naughty；
mischief…making old thing！ Don’t let her come here； Doady！’ which
was a corruption of David。
Remonstrance was of no use； then； so I laughed； and admired；
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and was very much in love and very happy； and she showed me
Jip’s new trick of standing on his hind legs in a corner—which he
did for about the space of a flash of lightning； and then fell down—
and I don’t know how long I should have stayed there； oblivious of
Traddles； if Miss Lavinia had not come in to take me away。 Miss
Lavinia was very fond of Dora （she told me Dora was exactly like
what she had been herself at her age—she must have altered a
good deal）； and she treated Dora just as if she had been a toy。 I
wanted to persuade Dora to come and see Traddles； but on my
proposing it she ran off to her own room and locked herself in； so I
went to Traddles without her； and walked away with him on air。
‘Nothing could be more satisfactory；’ said Traddles； ‘and they
are very agreeable old ladies； I am sure。 I shouldn’t be at all
surprised if you were to be married years before me； Copperfield。’
‘Does your Sophy play on any instrument； Traddles？’ I
inquired； in the pride of my heart。
‘She knows enough of the piano to teach it to her little sisters；’
said Traddles。
‘Does she sing at all？’ I asked。
‘Why； she sings ballads； sometimes； to freshen up the others a
little when they’re out of spirits；’ said Traddles。 ‘Nothing
scientific。’
‘She doesn’t sing to the guitar？’ said I。
‘Oh dear no！’ said Traddles。
‘Paint at all？’
‘Not at all；’ said Traddles。
I promised Traddles that he should hear Dora sing； and see
some of her flower…painting。 He said he should like it very much；
and we went home arm in arm in great good humour and delight。 I
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encouraged him to talk about Sophy； on the way； which he did
with a loving reliance on her that I very much admired。 I
compared her in my mind with Dora； with considerable inward
satisfaction； but I candidly admitted to myself that she seemed to
be an excellent kind of girl for Traddles； too。
Of course my aunt was immediately made acquainted with the
successful issue of the conference； and with all that had been said
and done in the course of it。 She was happy to see me so happy；
and promised to call on Dora’s aunts without loss of time。 But she
took such a long walk up and down our rooms that night； while I
was writing to Agnes； that I began to think she meant to walk till
morning。
My letter to Agnes was a fervent and grateful one； narrating all
the good effects that had resulted from my following her advice。
She wrote； by return of post； to me。 Her letter was hopeful；
earnest； and cheerful。 She was always cheerful from that time。
I had my hands more full than ever； now。 My daily journeys to
Highgate considered； Putney was a long way off； and I naturally
wanted to go there as often as I could。 The proposed tea…drinkings
being quite impracticable； I compounded with Miss Lavinia for
permission to visit every Saturday afternoon； without detriment to
my privileged Sundays。 So； the close of every week was a delicious
time for me； and I got through the rest of the week by looking
forward to it。
I was wonderfully relieved to find that my aunt and Dora’s
aunts rubbed on； all things considered； much more smoothly than
I could have expected。 My aunt made her promised visit within a
few days of the conference； and within a few more days； Dora’s
aunts called upon her； in due state and form。 Similar but more
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
friendly exchanges took place afterwards； usually at intervals of
three or four weeks。 I know that my aunt distressed Dora’s aunts
very much； by utterly setting at naught the dignity of fly…
conveyance； and walking out to Putney at extraordinary times； as
shortly after breakfast or just before tea； likewise by wearing her
bonnet in any manner that happened to be comfortable to her
head； without at all deferring to the prejudices of civilization on
that subject。 But Dora’s aunts soon agreed to regard my aunt as an
eccentric and somewhat masculine lady； with a strong
understanding； and although my aunt occasionally ruffled the
feathers of Dora’s aunts； by expressing heretical opinions on
various points of ceremony； she loved me too well not to sacrifice
some of her little peculiarities to the general harmony。
The only member of our small society who positively refused to
adapt himself to circumstances； was Jip。 He never saw my aunt
without immediately displaying every tooth in his head； retiring
under a chair； and growling incessantly： with now and then a
doleful howl； as if she really were too