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curiously bowed—not by age； it reminded me of one of Mr。
Creakle’s boys’ heads after a beating—and his grey eyes
prominent and large； with a strange kind of watery brightness in
them that made me； in combination with his vacant manner； his
submission to my aunt； and his childish delight when she praised
him； suspect him of being a little mad； though； if he were mad；
how he came to be there puzzled me extremely。 He was dressed
like any other ordinary gentleman； in a loose grey morning coat
and waistcoat； and white trousers； and had his watch in his fob；
and his money in his pockets： which he rattled as if he were very
proud of it。
Janet was a pretty blooming girl； of about nineteen or twenty；
and a perfect picture of neatness。 Though I made no further
observation of her at the moment； I may mention here what I did
not discover until afterwards； namely； that she was one of a series
of protégées whom my aunt had taken into her service expressly to
educate in a renouncement of mankind； and who had generally
completed their abjuration by marrying the baker。
The room was as neat as Janet or my aunt。 As I laid down my
pen； a moment since； to think of it； the air from the sea came
blowing in again； mixed with the perfume of the flowers； and I saw
the old…fashioned furniture brightly rubbed and polished； my
aunt’s inviolable chair and table by the round green fan in the
bow…window； the drugget…covered carpet； the cat； the kettle…
holder； the two canaries； the old china； the punchbowl full of dried
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
rose…leaves； the tall press guarding all sorts of bottles and pots；
and； wonderfully out of keeping with the rest； my dusty self upon
the sofa； taking note of everything。
Janet had gone away to get the bath ready； when my aunt； to
my great alarm； became in one moment rigid with indignation；
and had hardly voice to cry out； ‘Janet！ Donkeys！’
Upon which； Janet came running up the stairs as if the house
were in flames； darted out on a little piece of green in front； and
warned off two saddle…donkeys； lady…ridden； that had presumed to
set hoof upon it； while my aunt； rushing out of the house； seized
the bridle of a third animal laden with a bestriding child； turned
him； led him forth from those sacred precincts； and boxed the ears
of the unlucky urchin in attendance who had dared to profane that
hallowed ground。
To this hour I don’t know whether my aunt had any lawful right
of way over that patch of green； but she had settled it in her own
mind that she had； and it was all the same to her。 The one great
outrage of her life； demanding to be constantly avenged； was the
passage of a donkey over that immaculate spot。 In whatever
occupation she was engaged； however interesting to her the
conversation in which she was taking part； a donkey turned the
current of her ideas in a moment； and she was upon him straight。
Jugs of water； and watering…pots； were kept in secret places ready
to be discharged on the offending boys； sticks were laid in ambush
behind the door； sallies were made at all hours； and incessant war
prevailed。 Perhaps this was an agreeable excitement to the
donkey…boys； or perhaps the more sagacious of the donkeys；
understanding how the case stood； delighted with constitutional
obstinacy in coming that way。 I only know that there were three
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
alarms before the bath was ready； and that on the occasion of the
last and most desperate of all； I saw my aunt engage； single…
handed； with a sandy…headed lad of fifteen； and bump his sandy
head against her own gate； before he seemed to comprehend what
was the matter。 These interruptions were of the more ridiculous to
me； because she was giving me broth out of a table…spoon at the
time （having firmly persuaded herself that I was actually starving；
and must receive nourishment at first in very small quantities）；
and； while my mouth was yet open to receive the spoon； she would
put it back into the basin； cry ‘Janet！ Donkeys！’ and go out to the
assault。
The bath was a great comfort。 For I began to be sensible of
acute pains in my limbs from lying out in the fields； and was now
so tired and low that I could hardly keep myself awake for five
minutes together。 When I had bathed； they （I mean my aunt and
Janet） enrobed me in a shirt and a pair of trousers belonging to
Mr。 Dick； and tied me up in two or three great shawls。 What sort of
bundle I looked like； I don’t know； but I felt a very hot one。 Feeling
also very faint and drowsy； I soon lay down on the sofa again and
fell asleep。
It might have been a dream； originating in the fancy which had
occupied my mind so long； but I awoke with the impression that
my aunt had come and bent over me； and had put my hair away
from my face； and laid my head more comfortably； and had then
stood looking at me。 The words； ‘Pretty fellow；’ or ‘Poor fellow；’
seemed to be in my ears； too； but certainly there was nothing else；
when I awoke； to lead me to believe that they had been uttered by
my aunt； who sat in the bow…window gazing at the sea from
behind the green fan； which was mounted on a kind of swivel； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
turned any way。
We dined soon after I awoke； off a roast fowl and a pudding； I
sitting at table； not unlike a trussed bird myself； and moving my
arms with considerable difficulty。 But as my aunt had swathed me
up； I made no complaint of being inconvenienced。 All this time I
was deeply anxious to know what she was going to do with me； but
she took her dinner in profound silence； except when she
occasionally fixed her eyes on me sitting opposite； and said； ‘Mercy
upon us！’ which did not by any means relieve my anxiety。
The cloth being drawn； and some sherry put upon the table （of
which I had a glass）； my aunt sent up for Mr。 Dick again； who
joined us； and looked as wise as he could when she requested him
to attend to my story； which she elicited from me； gradually； by a
course of questions。 During my recital； she kept her eyes on Mr。
Dick； who I thought would have gone to sleep but for that； and
who； whensoever he lapsed into a smile； was checked by a frown
from my aunt。
‘Whatever possessed that poor unfortunate Baby； that she must
go and be married again；’ said my aunt； when I had finished； ‘I
can’t conceive。’
‘Perhaps she fell in love with her second husband；’ Mr。 Dick
suggested。
‘Fell in love！’ repeated my aunt。 ‘What do you mean？ What
business had she to do it？’
‘Perhaps；’ Mr。 Dick simpered； after thinking a little； ‘she did it
for pleasure。’
‘Pleasure； indeed！’ replied my aunt。 ‘A mighty pleasure for the
poor Baby to fix her simple faith upon any dog of a fellow； certain
to ill…use her in some way or other。 What did she propose to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
herself； I should like to know！ She had had one husband。 She had
seen David Copperfield out of the world；