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never saw such a good house； Steerforth。 It’s made out of a boat！’
‘Made out of a boat； is it？’ said Steerforth。 ‘It’s the right sort of a
house for such a thorough…built boatman。’
‘So ’tis； sir； so ’tis； sir；’ said Ham； grinning。 ‘You’re right； young
gen’l’m’n！ Mas’r Davy bor’； gen’l’m’n’s right。 A thorough…built
boatman！ Hor； hor！ That’s what he is； too！’
Mr。 Peggotty was no less pleased than his nephew； though his
modesty forbade him to claim a personal compliment so
vociferously。
‘Well； sir；’ he said； bowing and chuckling； and tucking in the
ends of his neckerchief at his breast： ‘I thankee； sir； I thankee！ I do
my endeavours in my line of life； sir。’
‘The best of men can do no more； Mr。 Peggotty；’ said Steerforth。
He had got his name already。
‘I’ll pound it； it’s wot you do yourself； sir；’ said Mr。 Peggotty；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
shaking his head； ‘and wot you do well—right well！ I thankee； sir。
I’m obleeged to you； sir； for your welcoming manner of me。 I’m
rough； sir； but I’m ready—least ways； I hope I’m ready； you
unnerstand。 My house ain’t much for to see； sir； but it’s hearty at
your service if ever you should come along with Mas’r Davy to see
it。 I’m a reg’lar Dodman； I am；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； by which he
meant snail； and this was in allusion to his being slow to go； for he
had attempted to go after every sentence； and had somehow or
other come back again； ‘but I wish you both well； and I wish you
happy！’
Ham echoed this sentiment； and we parted with them in the
heartiest manner。 I was almost tempted that evening to tell
Steerforth about pretty little Em’ly； but I was too timid of
mentioning her name； and too much afraid of his laughing at me。 I
remember that I thought a good deal； and in an uneasy sort of
way； about Mr。 Peggotty having said that she was getting on to be
a woman； but I decided that was nonsense。
We transported the shellfish； or the ‘relish’ as Mr。 Peggotty had
modestly called it； up into our room unobserved； and made a great
supper that evening。 But Traddles couldn’t get happily out of it。
He was too unfortunate even to come through a supper like
anybody else。 He was taken ill in the night—quite prostrate he
was—in consequence of Crab； and after being drugged with black
draughts and blue pills； to an extent which Demple （whose father
was a doctor） said was enough to undermine a horse’s
constitution； received a caning and six chapters of Greek
Testament for refusing to confess。
The rest of the half…year is a jumble in my recollection of the
daily strife and struggle of our lives； of the waning summer and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the changing season； of the frosty mornings when we were rung
out of bed； and the cold； cold smell of the dark nights when we
were rung into bed again； of the evening schoolroom dimly lighted
and indifferently warmed； and the morning schoolroom which was
nothing but a great shivering…machine； of the alternation of boiled
beef with roast beef； and boiled mutton with roast mutton； of clods
of bread…and…butter； dog’s…eared lesson…books； cracked slates；
tear…blotted copy…books； canings； rulerings； hair…cuttings； rainy
Sundays； suet…puddings； and a dirty atmosphere of ink；
surrounding all。
I well remember though； how the distant idea of the holidays；
after seeming for an immense time to be a stationary speck； began
to come towards us； and to grow and grow。 How from counting
months； we came to weeks； and then to days； and how I then
began to be afraid that I should not be sent for and when I learnt
from Steerforth that I had been sent for； and was certainly to go
home； had dim forebodings that I might break my leg first。 How
the breaking…up day changed its place fast； at last； from the week
after next to next week； this week； the day after tomorrow；
tomorrow； today； tonight—when I was inside the Yarmouth mail；
and going home。
I had many a broken sleep inside the Yarmouth mail； and many
an incoherent dream of all these things。 But when I awoke at
intervals； the ground outside the window was not the playground
of Salem House； and the sound in my ears was not the sound of
Mr。 Creakle giving it to Traddles； but the sound of the coachman
touching up the horses。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 8
MY HOLIDAYS。 ESPECIALLY ONE HAPPY
AFTERNOON
When we arrived before day at the inn where the mail
stopped； which was not the inn where my friend the
waiter lived； I was shown up to a nice little bedroom；
with DOLPHIN painted on the door。 Very cold I was； I know；
notwithstanding the hot tea they had given me before a large fire
downstairs； and very glad I was to turn into the Dolphin’s bed； pull
the Dolphin’s blankets round my head； and go to sleep。
Mr。 Barkis the carrier was to call for me in the morning at nine
o’clock。 I got up at eight； a little giddy from the shortness of my
night’s rest； and was ready for him before the appointed time。 He
received me exactly as if not five minutes had elapsed since we
were last together； and I had only been into the hotel to get change
for sixpence； or something of that sort。
As soon as I and my box were in the cart； and the carrier
seated； the lazy horse walked away with us all at his accustomed
pace。
‘You look very well； Mr。 Barkis；’ I said； thinking he would like
to know it。
Mr。 Barkis rubbed his cheek with his cuff； and then looked at
his cuff as if he expected to find some of the bloom upon it； but
made no other acknowledgement of the compliment。
‘I gave your message； Mr。 Barkis；’ I said： ‘I wrote to Peggotty。’
‘Ah！’ said Mr。 Barkis。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Mr。 Barkis seemed gruff； and answered drily。
‘Wasn’t it right； Mr。 Barkis？’ I asked； after a little hesitation。
‘Why； no；’ said Mr。 Barkis。
‘Not the message？’
‘The message was right enough； perhaps；’ said Mr。 Barkis； ‘but
it come to an end there。’
Not understanding what he meant； I repeated inquisitively：
‘Came to an end； Mr。 Barkis？’
‘Nothing come of it；’ he explained； looking at me sideways。 ‘No
answer。’
‘There was an answer expected； was there； Mr。 Barkis？’ said I；
opening my eyes。 For this was a new light to me。
‘When a man says he’s willin’；’ said Mr。 Barkis； turning his
glance slowly on me again； ‘it’s as much as to say； that man’s awaitin’ for a answer。’
‘Well； Mr。 Barkis？’
‘Well；’ said Mr。 Barkis； carrying his eyes back to his horse’s
ears； ‘that man’s been a…waitin’ for a answer ever since。’
‘Have you told her so； Mr。 Barkis？’
‘No—no；’ growled Mr。 Barkis； reflecting about it。 ‘I ain’t got no
call to go and tell her so。 I never said six words to her myself； I
ain’t a…goin’ to tell her so。’
‘Would you like me to do it； Mr。 Barkis？’ said I； doubtfully。 ‘You
might tell her； if you would；’ said Mr。 Barkis； with another slow