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knife。 I knew her immediately to be Miss Betsey； for she came
stalking out of the house exactly as my poor mother had so often
described her stalking up our garden at Blunderstone Rookery。
‘Go away！’ said Miss Betsey； shaking her head； and making a
distant chop in the air with her knife。 ‘Go along！ No boys here！’
I watched her； with my heart at my lips； as she marched to a
corner of her garden； and stooped to dig up some little root there。
Then； without a scrap of courage； but with a great deal of
desperation； I went softly in and stood beside her； touching her
with my finger。
‘If you please； ma’am；’ I began。
She started and looked up。
‘If you please； aunt。’
‘Eh？’ exclaimed Miss Betsey； in a tone of amazement I have
never heard approached。
‘If you please； aunt； I am your nephew。’
‘Oh； Lord！’ said my aunt。 And sat flat down in the garden…path。
‘I am David Copperfield； of Blunderstone； in Suffolk—where
you came； on the night when I was born； and saw my dear mama。 I
have been very unhappy since she died。 I have been slighted； and
taught nothing； and thrown upon myself； and put to work not fit
for me。 It made me run away to you。 I was robbed at first setting
out； and have walked all the way； and have never slept in a bed
since I began the journey。’ Here my self…support gave way all at
once； and with a movement of my hands； intended to show her my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ragged state； and call it to witness that I had suffered something； I
broke into a passion of crying； which I suppose had been pent up
within me all the week。
My aunt； with every sort of expression but wonder discharged
from her countenance； sat on the gravel； staring at me； until I
began to cry； when she got up in a great hurry； collared me； and
took me into the parlour。 Her first proceeding there was to unlock
a tall press； bring out several bottles； and pour some of the
contents of each into my mouth。 I think they must have been taken
out at random； for I am sure I tasted aniseed water； anchovy
sauce； and salad dressing。 When she had administered these
restoratives； as I was still quite hysterical； and unable to control
my sobs； she put me on the sofa； with a shawl under my head； and
the handkerchief from her own head under my feet； lest I should
sully the cover； and then； sitting herself down behind the green
fan or screen I have already mentioned； so that I could not see her
face； ejaculated at intervals； ‘Mercy on us！’ letting those
exclamations off like minute guns。
After a time she rang the bell。 ‘Janet；’ said my aunt； when her
servant came in。 ‘Go upstairs； give my compliments to Mr。 Dick；
and say I wish to speak to him。’
Janet looked a little surprised to see me lying stiffly on the sofa
（I was afraid to move lest it should be displeasing to my aunt）； but
went on her errand。 My aunt； with her hands behind her； walked
up and down the room； until the gentleman who had squinted at
me from the upper window came in laughing。
‘Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； ‘don’t be a fool； because nobody can be
more discreet than you can； when you choose。 We all know that。
So don’t be a fool； whatever you are。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
The gentleman was serious immediately； and looked at me； I
thought； as if he would entreat me to say nothing about the
window。
‘Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； ‘you have heard me mention David
Copperfield？ Now don’t pretend not to have a memory； because
you and I know better。’
‘David Copperfield？’ said Mr。 Dick； who did not appear to me to
remember much about it。 ‘David Copperfield？ Oh yes； to be sure。
David； certainly。’
‘Well；’ said my aunt； ‘this is his boy—his son。 He would be as
like his father as it’s possible to be； if he was not so like his mother；
too。’
‘His son？’ said Mr。 Dick。 ‘David’s son？ Indeed！’
‘Yes；’ pursued my aunt； ‘and he has done a pretty piece of
business。 He has run away。 Ah！ His sister； Betsey Trotwood； never
would have run away。’ My aunt shook her head firmly； confident
in the character and behaviour of the girl who never was born。
‘Oh！ you think she wouldn’t have run away？’ said Mr。 Dick。
‘Bless and save the man；’ exclaimed my aunt； sharply； ‘how he
talks！ Don’t I know she wouldn’t？ She would have lived with her
god…mother； and we should have been devoted to one another。
Where； in the name of wonder； should his sister； Betsey Trotwood；
have run from； or to？’
‘Nowhere；’ said Mr。 Dick。
‘Well then；’ returned my aunt； softened by the reply； ‘how can
you pretend to be wool…gathering； Dick； when you are as sharp as
a surgeon’s lancet？ Now； here you see young David Copperfield；
and the question I put to you is； what shall I do with him？’
‘What shall you do with him？’ said Mr。 Dick； feebly； scratching
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
his head。 ‘Oh！ do with him？’
‘Yes；’ said my aunt； with a grave look； and her forefinger held
up。 ‘Come！ I want some very sound advice。’
‘Why； if I was you；’ said Mr。 Dick； considering； and looking
vacantly at me； ‘I should—’ The contemplation of me seemed to
inspire him with a sudden idea； and he added； briskly； ‘I should
wash him！’
‘Janet；’ said my aunt； turning round with a quiet triumph；
which I did not then understand； ‘Mr。 Dick sets us all right。 Heat
the bath！’
Although I was deeply interested in this dialogue； I could not
help observing my aunt； Mr。 Dick； and Janet； while it was in
progress； and completing a survey I had already been engaged in
making of the room。
My aunt was a tall； hard…featured lady； but by no means ill…
looking。 There was an inflexibility in her face； in her voice； in her
gait and carriage； amply sufficient to account for the effect she had
made upon a gentle creature like my mother； but her features
were rather handsome than otherwise； though unbending and
austere。 I particularly noticed that she had a very quick； bright
eye。 Her hair； which was grey； was arranged in two plain divisions；
under what I believe would be called a mob…cap； I mean a cap；
much more common then than now； with side…pieces fastening
under the chin。 Her dress was of a lavender colour； and perfectly
neat； but scantily made； as if she desired to be as little
encumbered as possible。 I remember that I thought it； in form；
more like a riding…habit with the superfluous skirt cut off； than
anything else。 She wore at her side a gentleman’s gold watch； if I
might judge from its size and make； with an appropriate chain and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
seals； she had some linen at her throat not unlike a shirt…collar；
and things at her wrists like little shirt…wristbands。
Mr。 Dick； as I have already said； was grey…headed； and florid： I
should have said all about him； in saying so； had not his head been
curiously bowed—not by age； it reminded me of one of Mr。
Creakle’s boys’ heads after a beating—and h