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evening but one； which was a Sunday； that I took Agnes to see
Dora。 I had arranged the visit； beforehand； with Miss Lavinia； and
Agnes was expected to tea。
I was in a flutter of pride and anxiety； pride in my dear little
betrothed； and anxiety that Agnes should like her。 All the way to
Putney； Agnes being inside the stage…coach； and I outside； I
pictured Dora to myself in every one of the pretty looks I knew so
well； now making up my mind that I should like her to look exactly
as she looked at such a time； and then doubting whether I should
not prefer her looking as she looked at such another time； and
almost worrying myself into a fever about it。
I was troubled by no doubt of her being very pretty； in any case；
but it fell out that I had never seen her look so well。 She was not in
the drawing…room when I presented Agnes to her little aunts； but
was shyly keeping out of the way。 I knew where to look for her；
now； and sure enough I found her stopping her ears again； behind
the same dull old door。
At first she wouldn’t come at all； and then she pleaded for five
minutes by my watch。 When at length she put her arm through
mine； to be taken to the drawing…room； her charming little face
was flushed； and had never been so pretty。 But； when we went
into the room； and it turned pale； she was ten thousand times
prettier yet。
Dora was afraid of Agnes。 She had told me that she knew Agnes
was ‘too clever’。 But when she saw her looking at once so cheerful
and so earnest； and so thoughtful； and so good； she gave a faint
little cry of pleased surprise； and just put her affectionate arms
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David Copperfield
round Agnes’s neck； and laid her innocent cheek against her face。
I never was so happy。 I never was so pleased as when I saw
those two sit down together； side by side。 As when I saw my little
darling looking up so naturally to those cordial eyes。 As when I
saw the tender； beautiful regard which Agnes cast upon her。
Miss Lavinia and Miss Clarissa partook； in their way； of my joy。
It was the pleasantest tea…table in the world。 Miss Clarissa
presided。 I cut and handed the sweet seed…cake—the little sisters
had a bird…like fondness for picking up seeds and pecking at sugar；
Miss Lavinia looked on with benignant patronage； as if our happy
love were all her work； and we were perfectly contented with
ourselves and one another。
The gentle cheerfulness of Agnes went to all their hearts。 Her
quiet interest in everything that interested Dora； her manner of
making acquaintance with Jip （who responded instantly）； her
pleasant way； when Dora was ashamed to come over to her usual
seat by me； her modest grace and ease； eliciting a crowd of
blushing little marks of confidence from Dora； seemed to make
our circle quite complete。
‘I am so glad；’ said Dora； after tea； ‘that you like me。 I didn’t
think you would； and I want； more than ever； to be liked； now
Julia Mills is gone。’
I have omitted to mention it； by the by。 Miss Mills had sailed；
and Dora and I had gone aboard a great East Indiaman at
Gravesend to see her； and we had had preserved ginger； and
guava； and other delicacies of that sort for lunch； and we had left
Miss Mills weeping on a camp…stool on the quarter…deck； with a
large new diary under her arm； in which the original reflections
awakened by the contemplation of Ocean were to be recorded
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under lock and key。
Agnes said she was afraid I must have given her an
unpromising character； but Dora corrected that directly。
‘Oh no！’ she said； shaking her curls at me； ‘it was all praise。 He
thinks so much of your opinion； that I was quite afraid of it。’
‘My good opinion cannot strengthen his attachment to some
people whom he knows；’ said Agnes； with a smile； ‘it is not worth
their having。’
‘But please let me have it；’ said Dora； in her coaxing way； ‘if you
can！’
We made merry about Dora’s wanting to be liked； and Dora
said I was a goose； and she didn’t like me at any rate； and the short
evening flew away on gossamer…wings。 The time was at hand
when the coach was to call for us。 I was standing alone before the
fire； when Dora came stealing softly in； to give me that usual
precious little kiss before I went。
‘Don’t you think； if I had had her for a friend a long time ago；
Doady；’ said Dora； her bright eyes shining very brightly； and her
little right hand idly busying itself with one of the buttons of my
coat； ‘I might have been more clever perhaps？’
‘My love！’ said I； ‘what nonsense！’
‘Do you think it is nonsense？’ returned Dora； without looking at
me。 ‘Are you sure it is？’
‘Of course I am！’
‘I have forgotten；’ said Dora； still turning the button round and
round； ‘what relation Agnes is to you； you dear bad boy。’
‘No blood…relation；’ I replied； ‘but we were brought up together；
like brother and sister。’
‘I wonder why you ever fell in love with me？’ said Dora；
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David Copperfield
beginning on another button of my coat。
‘Perhaps because I couldn’t see you； and not love you； Dora！’
‘Suppose you had never seen me at all；’ said Dora； going to
another button。
‘Suppose we had never been born！’ said I； gaily。
I wondered what she was thinking about； as I glanced in
admiring silence at the little soft hand travelling up the row of
buttons on my coat； and at the clustering hair that lay against my
breast； and at the lashes of her downcast eyes； slightly rising as
they followed her idle fingers。 At length her eyes were lifted up to
mine； and she stood on tiptoe to give me； more thoughtfully than
usual； that precious little kiss—once； twice； three times—and went
out of the room。
They all came back together within five minutes afterwards；
and Dora’s unusual thoughtfulness was quite gone then。 She was
laughingly resolved to put Jip through the whole of his
performances； before the coach came。 They took some time （not so
much on account of their variety； as Jip’s reluctance）； and were
still unfinished when it was heard at the door。 There was a hurried
but affectionate parting between Agnes and herself； and Dora was
to write to Agnes （who was not to mind her letters being foolish；
she said）； and Agnes was to write to Dora； and they had a second
parting at the coach door； and a third when Dora； in spite of the
remonstrances of Miss Lavinia； would come running out once
more to remind Agnes at the coach window about writing； and to
shake her curls at me on the box。
The stage…coach was to put us down near Covent Garden；
where we were to take another stage…coach for Highgate。 I was
impatient for the short walk in the interval； that Agnes might
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David Copperfield
praise Dora to me。 Ah！ what praise it was！ How lovingly and
fervently did it commend the pretty creature I had won； with all
her artless graces best displayed； to my most gentle care！ How