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would proudly remark； when we conversed about it。 ‘Dick will
distinguish himself yet！’
I must refer to one other topic before I close this chapter。 While
the visit at the Doctor’s was still in progress； I observed that the
postman brought two or three letters every morning for Uriah
Heep； who remained at Highgate until the rest went back； it being
a leisure time； and that these were always directed in a businesslike manner by Mr。 Micawber； who now assumed a round legal
hand。 I was glad to infer； from these slight premises； that Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber was doing well； and consequently was much surprised
to receive； about this time； the following letter from his amiable
wife。
‘CANTERBURY； Monday Evening。
‘You will doubtless be surprised； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； to
receive this communication。 Still more so； by its contents。 Still
more so； by the stipulation of implicit confidence which I beg to
impose。 But my feelings as a wife and mother require relief； and as
I do not wish to consult my family （already obnoxious to the
feelings of Mr。 Micawber）； I know no one of whom I can better ask
advice than my friend and former lodger。
‘You may be aware； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； that between
myself and Mr。 Micawber （whom I will never desert）； there has
always been preserved a spirit of mutual confidence。 Mr。
Micawber may have occasionally given a bill without consulting
me； or he may have misled me as to the period when that
obligation would become due。 This has actually happened。 But； in
general； Mr。 Micawber has had no secrets from the bosom of
affection—I allude to his wife—and has invariably； on our
retirement to rest； recalled the events of the day。
‘You will picture to yourself； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； what the
poignancy of my feelings must be； when I inform you that Mr。
Micawber is entirely changed。 He is reserved。 He is secret。 His life
is a mystery to the partner of his joys and sorrows—I again allude
to his wife—and if I should assure you that beyond knowing that it
is passed from morning to night at the office； I now know less of it
than I do of the man in the south； connected with whose mouth
the thoughtless children repeat an idle tale respecting cold plum
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
porridge； I should adopt a popular fallacy to express an actual fact。
‘But this is not all。 Mr。 Micawber is morose。 He is severe。 He is
estranged from our eldest son and daughter； he has no pride in his
twins； he looks with an eye of coldness even on the unoffending
stranger who last became a member of our circle。 The pecuniary
means of meeting our expenses； kept down to the utmost farthing；
are obtained from him with great difficulty； and even under fearful
threats that he will Settle himself （the exact expression）； and he
inexorably refuses to give any explanation whatever of this
distracting policy。
‘This is hard to bear。 This is heart…breaking。 If you will advise
me； knowing my feeble powers such as they are； how you think it
will be best to exert them in a dilemma so unwonted； you will add
another friendly obligation to the many you have already rendered
me。 With loves from the children； and a smile from the happily…
unconscious stranger； I remain； dear Mr。 Copperfield；
Your afflicted；
‘EMMA MICAWBER。’
I did not feel justified in giving a wife of Mrs。 Micawber’s
experience any other recommendation； than that she should try to
reclaim Mr。 Micawber by patience and kindness （as I knew she
would in any case）； but the letter set me thinking about him very
much。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 43
ANOTHER RETROSPECT
Once again； let me pause upon a memorable period of my
life。 Let me stand aside； to see the phantoms of those days
go by me； accompanying the shadow of myself； in dim
procession。
Weeks； months； seasons； pass along。 They seem little more than
a summer day and a winter evening。 Now； the Common where I
walk with Dora is all in bloom； a field of bright gold； and now the
unseen heather lies in mounds and bunches underneath a
covering of snow。 In a breath； the river that flows through our
Sunday walks is sparkling in the summer sun； is ruffled by the
winter wind； or thickened with drifting heaps of ice。 Faster than
ever river ran towards the sea； it flashes； darkens； and rolls away。
Not a thread changes； in the house of the two little bird…like
ladies。 The clock ticks over the fireplace； the weather…glass hangs
in the hall。 Neither clock nor weather…glass is ever right； but we
believe in both； devoutly。
I have come legally to man’s estate。 I have attained the dignity
of twenty…one。 But this is a sort of dignity that may be thrust upon
one。 Let me think what I have achieved。
I have tamed that savage stenographic mystery。 I make a
respectable income by it。 I am in high repute for my
accomplishment in all pertaining to the art； and am joined with
eleven others in reporting the debates in Parliament for a Morning
Newspaper。 Night after night； I record predictions that never
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
come to pass； professions that are never fulfilled； explanations that
are only meant to mystify。 I wallow in words。 Britannia； that
unfortunate female； is always before me； like a trussed fowl：
skewered through and through with office…pens； and bound hand
and foot with red tape。 I am sufficiently behind the scenes to know
the worth of political life。 I am quite an Infidel about it； and shall
never be converted。
My dear old Traddles has tried his hand at the same pursuit；
but it is not in Traddles’s way。 He is perfectly good…humoured
respecting his failure； and reminds me that he always did consider
himself slow。 He has occasional employment on the same
newspaper； in getting up the facts of dry subjects； to be written
about and embellished by more fertile minds。 He is called to the
bar； and with admirable industry and self…denial has scraped
another hundred pounds together； to fee a Conveyancer whose
chambers he attends。 A great deal of very hot port wine was
consumed at his call； and； considering the figure； I should think
the Inner Temple must have made a profit by it。
I have come out in another way。 I have taken with fear and
trembling to authorship。 I wrote a little something； in secret； and
sent it to a magazine； and it was published in the magazine。 Since
then； I have taken heart to write a good many trifling pieces。 Now；
I am regularly paid for them。 Altogether； I am well off； when I tell
my income on the fingers of my left hand； I pass the third finger
and take in the fourth to the middle joint。
We have removed； from Buckingham Street； to a pleasant little
cottage very near the one I looked at； when my enthusiasm first
came on。 My aunt； however （who has sold the house at Dover； to
good advantage）； is not going to remain here； but intends
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
re