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parcels of made or mended clothes had come up for me； consigned
to Mr。 Quinion； and in each there was a scrap of paper to the effect
that J。 M。 trusted D。 C。 was applying himself to business； and
devoting himself wholly to his duties—not the least hint of my ever
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
being anything else than the common drudge into which I was fast
settling down。
The very next day showed me； while my mind was in the first
agitation of what it had conceived； that Mrs。 Micawber had not
spoken of their going away without warrant。 They took a lodging
in the house where I lived； for a week； at the expiration of which
time they were to start for Plymouth。 Mr。 Micawber himself came
down to the counting…house； in the afternoon； to tell Mr。 Quinion
that he must relinquish me on the day of his departure； and to give
me a high character； which I am sure I deserved。 And Mr。
Quinion； calling in Tipp the carman； who was a married man； and
had a room to let； quartered me prospectively on him—by our
mutual consent； as he had every reason to think； for I said nothing；
though my resolution was now taken。
I passed my evenings with Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber； during the
remaining term of our residence under the same roof； and I think
we became fonder of one another as the time went on。 On the last
Sunday； they invited me to dinner； and we had a loin of pork and
apple sauce； and a pudding。 I had bought a spotted wooden horse
over…night as a parting gift to little Wilkins Micawber—that was
the boy—and a doll for little Emma。 I had also bestowed a shilling
on the Orfling； who was about to be disbanded。
We had a very pleasant day； though we were all in a tender
state about our approaching separation。
‘I shall never； Master Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘revert
to the period when Mr。 Micawber was in difficulties； without
thinking of you。 Your conduct has always been of the most delicate
and obliging description。 You have never been a lodger。 You have
been a friend。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘My dear；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘Copperfield；’ for so he had been
accustomed to call me； of late； ‘has a heart to feel for the distresses
of his fellow…creatures when they are behind a cloud； and a head
to plan； and a hand to—in short； a general ability to dispose of
such available property as could be made away with。’
I expressed my sense of this commendation； and said I was very
sorry we were going to lose one another。
‘My dear young friend；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘I am older than
you； a man of some experience in life； and—and of some
experience； in short； in difficulties； generally speaking。 At present；
and until something turns up （which I am； I may say； hourly
expecting）； I have nothing to bestow but advice。 Still my advice is
so far worth taking； that—in short； that I have never taken it
myself； and am the’—here Mr。 Micawber； who had been beaming
and smiling； all over his head and face； up to the present moment；
checked himself and frowned—‘the miserable wretch you behold。’
‘My dear Micawber！’ urged his wife。
‘I say；’ returned Mr。 Micawber； quite forgetting himself； and
smiling again； ‘the miserable wretch you behold。 My advice is；
never do tomorrow what you can do today。 Procrastination is the
thief of time。 Collar him！’
‘My poor papa’s maxim；’ Mrs。 Micawber observed。
‘My dear；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘your papa was very well in his
way； and Heaven forbid that I should disparage him。 Take him for
all in all； we ne’er shall—in short； make the acquaintance；
probably； of anybody else possessing； at his time of life； the same
legs for gaiters； and able to read the same description of print；
without spectacles。 But he applied that maxim to our marriage； my
dear； and that was so far prematurely entered into； in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
consequence； that I never recovered the expense。’ Mr。 Micawber
looked aside at Mrs。 Micawber； and added： ‘Not that I am sorry for
it。 Quite the contrary； my love。’ After which； he was grave for a
minute or so。
‘My other piece of advice； Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘you
know。 Annual income twenty pounds； annual expenditure
nineteen nineteen and six； result happiness。 Annual income
twenty pounds； annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six；
result misery。 The blossom is blighted； the leaf is withered； the god
of day goes down upon the dreary scene； and—and in short you
are for ever floored。 As I am！’
To make his example the more impressive； Mr。 Micawber drank
a glass of punch with an air of great enjoyment and satisfaction；
and whistled the College Hornpipe。
I did not fail to assure him that I would store these precepts in
my mind； though indeed I had no need to do so； for； at the time；
they affected me visibly。 Next morning I met the whole family at
the coach office； and saw them； with a desolate heart； take their
places outside； at the back。
‘Master Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘God bless you！ I
never can forget all that； you know； and I never would if I could。’
‘Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘farewell！ Every happiness
and prosperity！ If； in the progress of revolving years； I could
persuade myself that my blighted destiny had been a warning to
you； I should feel that I had not occupied another man’s place in
existence altogether in vain。 In case of anything turning up （of
which I am rather confident）； I shall be extremely happy if it
should be in my power to improve your prospects。’
I think； as Mrs。 Micawber sat at the back of the coach； with the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
children； and I stood in the road looking wistfully at them； a mist
cleared from her eyes； and she saw what a little creature I really
was。 I think so； because she beckoned to me to climb up； with
quite a new and motherly expression in her face； and put her arm
round my neck； and gave me just such a kiss as she might have
given to her own boy。 I had barely time to get down again before
the coach started； and I could hardly see the family for the
handkerchiefs they waved。 It was gone in a minute。 The Orfling
and I stood looking vacantly at each other in the middle of the
road； and then shook hands and said good…bye； she going back； I
suppose； to St。 Luke’s workhouse； as I went to begin my weary day
at Murdstone and Grinby’s。
But with no intention of passing many more weary days there。
No。 I had resolved to run away。—To go； by some means or other；
down into the country； to the only relation I had in the world； and
tell my story to my aunt； Miss Betsey。 I have already observed that
I don’t know how this desperate idea came into my brain。 But；
once there； it remained there； and hardened into a purpose than
which I have never entertained a more determined purpose in my
life。 I am far from sure that I believed there was anything hopeful
in it； but my mind was thoroughly made up that it must be carrie