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good advantage）； is not going to remain here； but intends
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
removing herself to a still more tiny cottage close at hand。 What
does this portend？ My marriage？ Yes！
Yes！ I am going to be married to Dora！ Miss Lavinia and Miss
Clarissa have given their consent； and if ever canary birds were in
a flutter； they are。 Miss Lavinia； self…charged with the
superintendence of my darling’s wardrobe； is constantly cutting
out brown…paper cuirasses； and differing in opinion from a highly
respectable young man； with a long bundle； and a yard measure
under his arm。 A dressmaker； always stabbed in the breast with a
needle and thread； boards and lodges in the house； and seems to
me； eating； drinking； or sleeping； never to take her thimble off。
They make a lay…figure of my dear。 They are always sending for
her to come and try something on。 We can’t be happy together for
five minutes in the evening； but some intrusive female knocks at
the door； and says； ‘Oh； if you please； Miss Dora； would you step
upstairs！’
Miss Clarissa and my aunt roam all over London； to find out
articles of furniture for Dora and me to look at。 It would be better
for them to buy the goods at once； without this ceremony of
inspection； for； when we go to see a kitchen fender and meat…
screen； Dora sees a Chinese house for Jip； with little bells on the
top； and prefers that。 And it takes a long time to accustom Jip to
his new residence； after we have bought it； whenever he goes in or
out； he makes all the little bells ring； and is horribly frightened。
Peggotty comes up to make herself useful； and falls to work
immediately。 Her department appears to be； to clean everything
over and over again。 She rubs everything that can be rubbed； until
it shines； like her own honest forehead； with perpetual friction。
And now it is； that I begin to see her solitary brother passing
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
through the dark streets at night； and looking； as he goes； among
the wandering faces。 I never speak to him at such an hour。 I know
too well； as his grave figure passes onward； what he seeks； and
what he dreads。
Why does Traddles look so important when he calls upon me
this afternoon in the Commons—where I still occasionally attend；
for form’s sake； when I have time？ The realization of my boyish
day…dreams is at hand。 I am going to take out the licence。
It is a little document to do so much； and Traddles
contemplates it； as it lies upon my desk； half in admiration； half in
awe。 There are the names； in the sweet old visionary connexion；
David Copperfield and Dora Spenlow； and there； in the corner； is
that Parental Institution； the Stamp Office； which is so
benignantly interested in the various transactions of human life；
looking down upon our Union； and there is the Archbishop of
Canterbury invoking a blessing on us in print； and doing it as
cheap as could possibly be expected。
Nevertheless； I am in a dream； a flustered； happy； hurried
dream。 I can’t believe that it is going to be； and yet I can’t believe
but that everyone I pass in the street； must have some kind of
perception； that I am to be married the day after tomorrow。 The
Surrogate knows me； when I go down to be sworn； and disposes of
me easily； as if there were a Masonic understanding between us。
Traddles is not at all wanted； but is in attendance as my general
backer。
‘I hope the next time you come here； my dear fellow；’ I say to
Traddles； ‘it will be on the same errand for yourself。 And I hope it
will be soon。’
‘Thank you for your good wishes； my dear Copperfield；’ he
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
replies。 ‘I hope so too。 It’s a satisfaction to know that she’ll wait for
me any length of time； and that she really is the dearest girl—’
‘When are you to meet her at the coach？’ I ask。
‘At seven；’ says Traddles； looking at his plain old silver watch—
the very watch he once took a wheel out of； at school； to make a
water…mill。 ‘That is about Miss Wickfield’s time； is it not？’
‘A little earlier。 Her time is half past eight。’
‘I assure you； my dear boy；’ says Traddles； ‘I am almost as
pleased as if I were going to be married myself； to think that this
event is coming to such a happy termination。 And really the great
friendship and consideration of personally associating Sophy with
the joyful occasion； and inviting her to be a bridesmaid in
conjunction with Miss Wickfield； demands my warmest thanks。 I
am extremely sensible of it。’
I hear him； and shake hands with him； and we talk； and walk；
and dine； and so on； but I don’t believe it。 Nothing is real。
Sophy arrives at the house of Dora’s aunts； in due course。 She
has the most agreeable of faces；—not absolutely beautiful； but
extraordinarily pleasant；—and is one of the most genial；
unaffected； frank； engaging creatures I have ever seen。 Traddles
presents her to us with great pride； and rubs his hands for ten
minutes by the clock； with every individual hair upon his head
standing on tiptoe； when I congratulate him in a corner on his
choice。
I have brought Agnes from the Canterbury coach； and her
cheerful and beautiful face is among us for the second time。 Agnes
has a great liking for Traddles； and it is capital to see them meet；
and to observe the glory of Traddles as he commends the dearest
girl in the world to her acquaintance。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Still I don’t believe it。 We have a delightful evening； and are
supremely happy； but I don’t believe it yet。 I can’t collect myself。 I
can’t check off my happiness as it takes place。 I feel in a misty and
unsettled kind of state； as if I had got up very early in the morning
a week or two ago； and had never been to bed since。 I can’t make
out when yesterday was。 I seem to have been carrying the licence
about； in my pocket； many months。
Next day； too； when we all go in a flock to see the house—our
house—Dora’s and mine—I am quite unable to regard myself as
its master。 I seem to be there； by permission of somebody else。 I
half expect the real master to come home presently； and say he is
glad to see me。 Such a beautiful little house as it is； with
everything so bright and new； with the flowers on the carpets
looking as if freshly gathered； and the green leaves on the paper as
if they had just come out； with the spotless muslin curtains； and
the blushing rose…coloured furniture； and Dora’s garden hat with
the blue ribbon—do I remember； now； how I loved her in such
another hat when I first knew her！—already hanging on its little
peg； the guitar…case quite at home on its heels in a corner； and
everybody tumbling over Jip’s pagoda； which is much too big for
the establishment。 Another happy evening； quite as unreal as all
the rest of it； and I steal into the usual room before goi