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of intelligence。 He was the first boy who returned。 He introduced
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
himself by informing me that I should find his name on the right…
hand corner of the gate； over the top…bolt； upon that I said；
‘Traddles？’ to which he replied； ‘The same；’ and then he asked me
for a full account of myself and family。
It was a happy circumstance for me that Traddles came back
first。 He enjoyed my placard so much； that he saved me from the
embarrassment of either disclosure or concealment； by presenting
me to every other boy who came back； great or small； immediately
on his arrival； in this form of introduction； ‘Look here！ Here’s a
game！’ Happily； too； the greater part of the boys came back low…
spirited； and were not so boisterous at my expense as I had
expected。 Some of them certainly did dance about me like wild
Indians； and the greater part could not resist the temptation of
pretending that I was a dog； and patting and soothing me； lest I
should bite； and saying； ‘Lie down； sir！’ and calling me Towzer。
This was naturally confusing； among so many strangers； and cost
me some tears； but on the whole it was much better than I had
anticipated。
I was not considered as being formally received into the school；
however； until J。 Steerforth arrived。 Before this boy； who was
reputed to be a great scholar； and was very good…looking； and at
least half…a…dozen years my senior； I was carried as before a
magistrate。 He inquired； under a shed in the playground； into the
particulars of my punishment； and was pleased to express his
opinion that it was ‘a jolly shame’； for which I became bound to
him ever afterwards。
‘What money have you got； Copperfield？’ he said； walking aside
with me when he had disposed of my affair in these terms。 I told
him seven shillings。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘You had better give it to me to take care of；’ he said。 ‘At least；
you can if you like。 You needn’t if you don’t like。’
I hastened to comply with his friendly suggestion； and opening
Peggotty’s purse； turned it upside down into his hand。
‘Do you want to spend anything now？’ he asked me。
‘No thank you；’ I replied。
‘You can； if you like； you know；’ said Steerforth。 ‘Say the word。’
‘No； thank you； sir；’ I repeated。
‘Perhaps you’d like to spend a couple of shillings or so； in a
bottle of currant wine by and by； up in the bedroom？’ said
Steerforth。 ‘You belong to my bedroom； I find。’
It certainly had not occurred to me before； but I said； Yes； I
should like that。
‘Very good；’ said Steerforth。 ‘You’ll be glad to spend another
shilling or so； in almond cakes； I dare say？’
I said； Yes； I should like that； too。
‘And another shilling or so in biscuits； and another in fruit； eh？’
said Steerforth。 ‘I say； young Copperfield； you’re going it！’
I smiled because he smiled； but I was a little troubled in my
mind； too。
‘Well！’ said Steerforth。 ‘We must make it stretch as far as we
can； that’s all。 I’ll do the best in my power for you。 I can go out
when I like； and I’ll smuggle the prog in。’ With these words he put
the money in his pocket； and kindly told me not to make myself
uneasy； he would take care it should be all right。 He was as good
as his word； if that were all right which I had a secret misgiving
was nearly all wrong—for I feared it was a waste of my mother’s
two half…crowns—though I had preserved the piece of paper they
were wrapped in： which was a precious saving。 When we went
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
upstairs to bed； he produced the whole seven shillings’ worth； and
laid it out on my bed in the moonlight； saying：
‘There you are； young Copperfield； and a royal spread you’ve
got。’
I couldn’t think of doing the honours of the feast； at my time of
life； while he was by； my hand shook at the very thought of it。 I
begged him to do me the favour of presiding； and my request
being seconded by the other boys who were in that room； he
acceded to it； and sat upon my pillow； handing round the viands—
with perfect fairness； I must say—and dispensing the currant wine
in a little glass without a foot； which was his own property。 As to
me； I sat on his left hand； and the rest were grouped about us； on
the nearest beds and on the floor。
How well I recollect our sitting there； talking in whispers； or
their talking； and my respectfully listening； I ought rather to say；
the moonlight falling a little way into the room； through the
window； painting a pale window on the floor； and the greater part
of us in shadow； except when Steerforth dipped a match into a
phosphorus…box； when he wanted to look for anything on the
board； and shed a blue glare over us that was gone directly！ A
certain mysterious feeling； consequent on the darkness； the
secrecy of the revel； and the whisper in which everything was said；
steals over me again； and I listen to all they tell me with a vague
feeling of solemnity and awe； which makes me glad that they are
all so near； and frightens me （though I feign to laugh） when
Traddles pretends to see a ghost in the corner。
I heard all kinds of things about the school and all belonging to
it。 I heard that Mr。 Creakle had not preferred his claim to being a
Tartar without reason； that he was the sternest and most severe of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
masters； that he laid about him； right and left； every day of his life；
charging in among the boys like a trooper； and slashing away；
unmercifully。 That he knew nothing himself； but the art of
slashing； being more ignorant （J。 Steerforth said） than the lowest
boy in the school； that he had been； a good many years ago； a
small hop…dealer in the Borough； and had taken to the schooling
business after being bankrupt in hops； and making away with Mrs。
Creakle’s money。 With a good deal more of that sort； which I
wondered how they knew。
I heard that the man with the wooden leg； whose name was
Tungay； was an obstinate barbarian who had formerly assisted in
the hop business； but had come into the scholastic line with Mr。
Creakle； in consequence； as was supposed among the boys； of his
having broken his leg in Mr。 Creakle’s service； and having done a
deal of dishonest work for him； and knowing his secrets。 I heard
that with the single exception of Mr。 Creakle； Tungay considered
the whole establishment； masters and boys； as his natural
enemies； and that the only delight of his life was to be sour and
malicious。 I heard that Mr。 Creakle had a son； who had not been
Tungay’s friend； and who； assisting in the school； had once held
some remonstrance with his father on an occasion when its
discipline was very cruelly exercised； and was supposed； besides；
to have protested against his father’s usage of his mother。 I heard
that Mr。 Creakle had turned him out of doors； in consequence； and
that Mrs。 and Miss Creakle had been in a sad way； ever since。
But the greate