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‘What would he be？’ said Peggotty。
‘Angry；’ I answered； with an involuntary imitation of his dark
frown。 ‘If he was only sorry； he wouldn’t look at me as he does。 I
am only sorry； and it makes me feel kinder。’
Peggotty said nothing for a little while； and I warmed my
hands； as silent as she。
‘Davy；’ she said at length。
‘Yes； Peggotty？’
‘I have tried； my dear； all ways I could think of—all the ways
there are； and all the ways there ain’t； in short—to get a suitable
service here； in Blunderstone； but there’s no such a thing； my
love。’
‘And what do you mean to do； Peggotty；’ says I； wistfully。 ‘Do
you mean to go and seek your fortune？’
‘I expect I shall be forced to go to Yarmouth；’ replied Peggotty；
‘and live there。’
‘You might have gone farther off；’ I said； brightening a little；
‘and been as bad as lost。 I shall see you sometimes； my dear old
Peggotty； there。 You won’t be quite at the other end of the world；
will you？’
‘Contrary ways； please God！’ cried Peggotty； with great
animation。 ‘As long as you are here； my pet； I shall come over
every week of my life to see you。 One day； every week of my life！’
I felt a great weight taken off my mind by this promise： but
even this was not all； for Peggotty went on to say：
‘I’m a…going； Davy； you see； to my brother’s； first； for another
fortnight’s visit—just till I have had time to look about me； and get
to be something like myself again。 Now； I have been thinking that
perhaps； as they don’t want you here at present； you might be let
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
to go along with me。’
If anything； short of being in a different relation to every one
about me； Peggotty excepted； could have given me a sense of
pleasure at that time； it would have been this project of all others。
The idea of being again surrounded by those honest faces； shining
welcome on me； of renewing the peacefulness of the sweet Sunday
morning； when the bells were ringing； the stones dropping in the
water； and the shadowy ships breaking through the mist； of
roaming up and down with little Em’ly； telling her my troubles；
and finding charms against them in the shells and pebbles on the
beach； made a calm in my heart。 It was ruffled next moment； to be
sure； by a doubt of Miss Murdstone’s giving her consent； but even
that was set at rest soon； for she came out to take an evening grope
in the store…closet while we were yet in conversation； and
Peggotty； with a boldness that amazed me； broached the topic on
the spot。
‘The boy will be idle there；’ said Miss Murdstone； looking into a
pickle…jar； ‘and idleness is the root of all evil。 But； to be sure； he
would be idle here—or anywhere； in my opinion。’
Peggotty had an angry answer ready； I could see； but she
swallowed it for my sake； and remained silent。
‘Humph！’ said Miss Murdstone； still keeping her eye on the
pickles； ‘it is of more importance than anything else—it is of
paramount importance—that my brother should not be disturbed
or made uncomfortable。 I suppose I had better say yes。’
I thanked her； without making any demonstration of joy； lest it
should induce her to withdraw her assent。 Nor could I help
thinking this a prudent course； since she looked at me out of the
pickle…jar； with as great an access of sourness as if her black eyes
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
had absorbed its contents。 However； the permission was given；
and was never retracted； for when the month was out； Peggotty
and I were ready to depart。
Mr。 Barkis came into the house for Peggotty’s boxes。 I had
never known him to pass the garden…gate before； but on this
occasion he came into the house。 And he gave me a look as he
shouldered the largest box and went out； which I thought had
meaning in it； if meaning could ever be said to find its way into Mr。
Barkis’s visage。
Peggotty was naturally in low spirits at leaving what had been
her home so many years； and where the two strong attachments of
her life—for my mother and myself—had been formed。 She had
been walking in the churchyard； too； very early； and she got into
the cart； and sat in it with her handkerchief at her eyes。
So long as she remained in this condition； Mr。 Barkis gave no
sign of life whatever。 He sat in his usual place and attitude like a
great stuffed figure。 But when she began to look about her； and to
speak to me； he nodded his head and grinned several times。 I have
not the least notion at whom； or what he meant by it。
‘It’s a beautiful day； Mr。 Barkis！’ I said； as an act of politeness。
‘It ain’t bad；’ said Mr。 Barkis； who generally qualified his
speech； and rarely committed himself。
‘Peggotty is quite comfortable now； Mr。 Barkis；’ I remarked； for
his satisfaction。
‘Is she； though？’ said Mr。 Barkis。
After reflecting about it； with a sagacious air； Mr。 Barkis eyed
her； and said：
‘Are you pretty comfortable？’
Peggotty laughed； and answered in the affirmative。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘But really and truly； you know。 Are you？’ growled Mr。 Barkis；
sliding nearer to her on the seat； and nudging her with his elbow。
‘Are you？ Really and truly pretty comfortable？ Are you？ Eh？’
At each of these inquiries Mr。 Barkis shuffled nearer to her； and
gave her another nudge； so that at last we were all crowded
together in the left…hand corner of the cart； and I was so squeezed
that I could hardly bear it。
Peggotty calling his attention to my sufferings； Mr。 Barkis gave
me a little more room at once； and got away by degrees。 But I
could not help observing that he seemed to think he had hit upon
a wonderful expedient for expressing himself in a neat； agreeable；
and pointed manner； without the inconvenience of inventing
conversation。 He manifestly chuckled over it for some time。 By
and by he turned to Peggotty again； and repeating； ‘Are you pretty
comfortable though？’ bore down upon us as before； until the
breath was nearly edged out of my body。 By and by he made
another descent upon us with the same inquiry； and the same
result。 At length； I got up whenever I saw him coming； and
standing on the foot…board； pretended to look at the prospect； after
which I did very well。
He was so polite as to stop at a public…house； expressly on our
account； and entertain us with broiled mutton and beer。 Even
when Peggotty was in the act of drinking； he was seized with one
of those approaches； and almost choked her。 But as we drew
nearer to the end of our journey； he had more to do and less time
for gallantry； and when we got on Yarmouth pavement； we were
all too much shaken and jolted； I apprehend； to have any leisure
for anything else。
Mr。 Peggotty and Ham waited for us at the old place。 They
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
received me and Peggotty in an affectionate manner； and shook
hands with Mr。 Barkis； who； with his hat on the very back of his
head； and a shame…faced