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bundle of oranges tied up in a handkerchief。 As he made no
allusion of any kind to this property； he was supposed to have left
it behind him by accident when he went away； until Ham； running
after him to restore it； came back with the information that it was
intended for Peggotty。 After that occasion he appeared every
evening at exactly the same hour； and always with a little bundle；
to which he never alluded； and which he regularly put behind the
door and left there。 These offerings of affection were of a most
various and eccentric description。 Among them I remember a
double set of pigs’ trotters； a huge pin…cushion； half a bushel or so
of apples； a pair of jet earrings； some Spanish onions； a box of
dominoes； a canary bird and cage； and a leg of pickled pork。
Mr。 Barkis’s wooing； as I remember it； was altogether of a
peculiar kind。 He very seldom said anything； but would sit by the
fire in much the same attitude as he sat in his cart； and stare
heavily at Peggotty； who was opposite。 One night； being； as I
suppose； inspired by love； he made a dart at the bit of wax…candle
she kept for her thread； and put it in his waistcoat…pocket and
carried it off。 After that； his great delight was to produce it when it
was wanted； sticking to the lining of his pocket； in a partially
melted state； and pocket it again when it was done with。 He
seemed to enjoy himself very much； and not to feel at all called
upon to talk。 Even when he took Peggotty out for a walk on the
flats； he had no uneasiness on that head； I believe； contenting
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
himself with now and then asking her if she was pretty
comfortable； and I remember that sometimes； after he was gone；
Peggotty would throw her apron over her face； and laugh for half…
an…hour。 Indeed； we were all more or less amused； except that
miserable Mrs。 Gummidge； whose courtship would appear to have
been of an exactly parallel nature； she was so continually
reminded by these transactions of the old one。
At length； when the term of my visit was nearly expired； it was
given out that Peggotty and Mr。 Barkis were going to make a day’s
holiday together； and that little Em’ly and I were to accompany
them。 I had but a broken sleep the night before； in anticipation of
the pleasure of a whole day with Em’ly。 We were all astir betimes
in the morning； and while we were yet at breakfast； Mr。 Barkis
appeared in the distance； driving a chaise…cart towards the object
of his affections。
Peggotty was dressed as usual； in her neat and quiet mourning；
but Mr。 Barkis bloomed in a new blue coat； of which the tailor had
given him such good measure； that the cuffs would have rendered
gloves unnecessary in the coldest weather； while the collar was so
high that it pushed his hair up on end on the top of his head。 His
bright buttons； too； were of the largest size。 Rendered complete by
drab pantaloons and a buff waistcoat； I thought Mr。 Barkis a
phenomenon of respectability。
When we were all in a bustle outside the door； I found that Mr。
Peggotty was prepared with an old shoe； which was to be thrown
after us for luck； and which he offered to Mrs。 Gummidge for that
purpose。
‘No。 It had better be done by somebody else； Dan’l；’ said Mrs。
Gummidge。 ‘I’m a lone lorn creetur’ myself； and everythink that
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
reminds me of creetur’s that ain’t lone and lorn； goes contrary
with me。’
‘Come； old gal！’ cried Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘Take and heave it。’
‘No； Dan’l；’ returned Mrs。 Gummidge； whimpering and shaking
her head。 ‘If I felt less； I could do more。 You don’t feel like me；
Dan’l； thinks don’t go contrary with you； nor you with them； you
had better do it yourself。’
But here Peggotty； who had been going about from one to
another in a hurried way； kissing everybody； called out from the
cart； in which we all were by this time （Em’ly and I on two little
chairs； side by side）； that Mrs。 Gummidge must do it。 So Mrs。
Gummidge did it； and； I am sorry to relate； cast a damp upon the
festive character of our departure； by immediately bursting into
tears； and sinking subdued into the arms of Ham； with the
declaration that she knowed she was a burden； and had better be
carried to the House at once。 Which I really thought was a sensible
idea； that Ham might have acted on。
Away we went； however； on our holiday excursion； and the first
thing we did was to stop at a church； where Mr。 Barkis tied the
horse to some rails； and went in with Peggotty； leaving little Em’ly
and me alone in the chaise。 I took that occasion to put my arm
round Em’ly’s waist； and propose that as I was going away so very
soon now； we should determine to be very affectionate to one
another； and very happy； all day。 Little Em’ly consenting； and
allowing me to kiss her； I became desperate； informing her； I
recollect； that I never could love another； and that I was prepared
to shed the blood of anybody who should aspire to her affections。
How merry little Em’ly made herself about it！ With what a
demure assumption of being immensely older and wiser than I；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the fairy little woman said I was ‘a silly boy’； and then laughed so
charmingly that I forgot the pain of being called by that
disparaging name； in the pleasure of looking at her。
Mr。 Barkis and Peggotty were a good while in the church； but
came out at last； and then we drove away into the country。 As we
were going along； Mr。 Barkis turned to me； and said； with a
wink；—by the by； I should hardly have thought； before； that he
could wink：
‘What name was it as I wrote up in the cart？’
‘Clara Peggotty；’ I answered。
‘What name would it be as I should write up now； if there was a
tilt here？’
‘Clara Peggotty； again？’ I suggested。
‘Clara Peggotty Barkis！’ he returned； and burst into a roar of
laughter that shook the chaise。
In a word； they were married； and had gone into the church for
no other purpose。 Peggotty was resolved that it should be quietly
done； and the clerk had given her away； and there had been no
witnesses of the ceremony。 She was a little confused when Mr。
Barkis made this abrupt announcement of their union； and could
not hug me enough in token of her unimpaired affection； but she
soon became herself again； and said she was very glad it was over。
We drove to a little inn in a by…road； where we were expected；
and where we had a very comfortable dinner； and passed the day
with great satisfaction。 If Peggotty had been married every day for
the last ten years； she could hardly have been more at her ease
about it； it made no sort of difference in her： she was just the same
as ever； and went out for a stroll with little Em’ly and me before
tea； while Mr。 Barkis philosophically smoked his pipe； and enjoyed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
himself； I suppose； with the contemplation of his happiness。 If so；
it sharpened his appetite