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bending his aching head； supported on his bony hand； over the
book on his desk； and wretchedly endeavouring to get on with his
tiresome work； amidst an uproar that might have made the
Speaker of the House of Commons giddy。 Boys started in and out
of their places； playing at puss in the corner with other boys； there
were laughing boys； singing boys； talking boys； dancing boys；
howling boys； boys shuffled with their feet； boys whirled about
him； grinning； making faces； mimicking him behind his back and
before his eyes； mimicking his poverty； his boots； his coat； his
mother； everything belonging to him that they should have had
consideration for。
‘Silence！’ cried Mr。 Mell； suddenly rising up； and striking his
desk with the book。 ‘What does this mean！ It’s impossible to bear
it。 It’s maddening。 How can you do it to me； boys？’
It was my book that he struck his desk with； and as I stood
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
beside him； following his eye as it glanced round the room； I saw
the boys all stop； some suddenly surprised； some half afraid； and
some sorry perhaps。
Steerforth’s place was at the bottom of the school； at the
opposite end of the long room。 He was lounging with his back
against the wall； and his hands in his pockets； and looked at Mr。
Mell with his mouth shut up as if he were whistling； when Mr。 Mell
looked at him。
‘Silence； Mr。 Steerforth！’ said Mr。 Mell。
‘Silence yourself；’ said Steerforth； turning red。 ‘Whom are you
talking to？’
‘Sit down；’ said Mr。 Mell。
‘Sit down yourself；’ said Steerforth； ‘and mind your business。’
There was a titter； and some applause； but Mr。 Mell was so
white； that silence immediately succeeded； and one boy； who had
darted out behind him to imitate his mother again； changed his
mind； and pretended to want a pen mended。
‘If you think； Steerforth；’ said Mr。 Mell； ‘that I am not
acquainted with the power you can establish over any mind
here’—he laid his hand； without considering what he did （as I
supposed）； upon my head—‘or that I have not observed you；
within a few minutes； urging your juniors on to every sort of
outrage against me； you are mistaken。’
‘I don’t give myself the trouble of thinking at all about you；’ said
Steerforth； coolly； ‘so I’m not mistaken； as it happens。’
‘And when you make use of your position of favouritism here；
sir；’ pursued Mr。 Mell； with his lip trembling very much； ‘to insult
a gentleman—’
‘A what？—where is he？’ said Steerforth。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Here somebody cried out； ‘Shame； J。 Steerforth！ Too bad！’ It
was Traddles； whom Mr。 Mell instantly discomfited by bidding
him hold his tongue。
—‘To insult one who is not fortunate in life； sir； and who never
gave you the least offence； and the many reasons for not insulting
whom you are old enough and wise enough to understand；’ said
Mr。 Mell； with his lips trembling more and more； ‘you commit a
mean and base action。 You can sit down or stand up as you please；
sir。 Copperfield； go on。’
‘Young Copperfield；’ said Steerforth； coming forward up the
room； ‘stop a bit。 I tell you what； Mr。 Mell； once for all。 When you
take the liberty of calling me mean or base； or anything of that
sort； you are an impudent beggar。 You are always a beggar； you
know； but when you do that； you are an impudent beggar。’
I am not clear whether he was going to strike Mr。 Mell； or Mr。
Mell was going to strike him； or there was any such intention on
either side。 I saw a rigidity come upon the whole school as if they
had been turned into stone； and found Mr。 Creakle in the midst of
us； with Tungay at his side； and Mrs。 and Miss Creakle looking in
at the door as if they were frightened。 Mr。 Mell； with his elbows on
his desk and his face in his hands； sat； for some moments； quite
still。
‘Mr。 Mell；’ said Mr。 Creakle； shaking him by the arm； and his
whisper was so audible now； that Tungay felt it unnecessary to
repeat his words； ‘you have not forgotten yourself； I hope？’
‘No； sir； no；’ returned the Master； showing his face； and shaking
his head； and rubbing his hands in great agitation。 ‘No； sir。 No。 I
have remembered myself； I—no； Mr。 Creakle； I have not forgotten
myself； I—I have remembered myself； sir。 I—I—could wish you
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
had remembered me a little sooner； Mr。 Creakle。 It—it—would
have been more kind； sir； more just； sir。 It would have saved me
something； sir。’
Mr。 Creakle； looking hard at Mr。 Mell； put his hand on Tungay’s
shoulder； and got his feet upon the form close by； and sat upon the
desk。 After still looking hard at Mr。 Mell from his throne； as he
shook his head； and rubbed his hands； and remained in the same
state of agitation； Mr。 Creakle turned to Steerforth； and said：
‘Now； sir； as he don’t condescend to tell me； what is this？’
Steerforth evaded the question for a little while； looking in
scorn and anger on his opponent； and remaining silent。 I could not
help thinking even in that interval； I remember； what a noble
fellow he was in appearance； and how homely and plain Mr。 Mell
looked opposed to him。
‘What did he mean by talking about favourites； then？’ said
Steerforth at length。
‘Favourites？’ repeated Mr。 Creakle； with the veins in his
forehead swelling quickly。 ‘Who talked about favourites？’
‘He did；’ said Steerforth。
‘And pray； what did you mean by that； sir？’ demanded Mr。
Creakle； turning angrily on his assistant。
‘I meant； Mr。 Creakle；’ he returned in a low voice； ‘as I said； that
no pupil had a right to avail himself of his position of favouritism
to degrade me。’
‘To degrade you？’ said Mr。 Creakle。 ‘My stars！ But give me
leave to ask you； Mr。 What’s…your…name’； and here Mr。 Creakle
folded his arms； cane and all； upon his chest； and made such a
knot of his brows that his little eyes were hardly visible below
them； ‘whether； when you talk about favourites； you showed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
proper respect to me？ To me； sir；’ said Mr。 Creakle； darting his
head at him suddenly； and drawing it back again； ‘the principal of
this establishment； and your employer。’
‘It was not judicious； sir； I am willing to admit；’ said Mr。 Mell。 ‘I
should not have done so； if I had been cool。’
Here Steerforth struck in。
‘Then he said I was mean； and then he said I was base； and then
I called him a beggar。 If I had been cool； perhaps I shouldn’t have
called him a beggar。 But I did； and I am ready to take the
consequences of it。’
Without considering； perhaps； whether there were any
consequences to be taken； I felt quite in a glow at this gallant
speech。 It made an impression on the boys too； for there was a low
stir among them； though no one spoke a word。
‘I am surprised； Steerforth—although your candour does you
honour；’ said Mr。 Creakle； ‘does you honour； certainly—I am
surprised； Steerfort