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was something about my aunt； notwithstanding her many
eccentricities and odd humours； to be honoured and trusted in。
Though she was just as sharp that day as on the day before； and
was in and out about the donkeys just as often； and was thrown
into a tremendous state of indignation； when a young man； going
by； ogled Janet at a window （which was one of the gravest
misdemeanours that could be committed against my aunt’s
dignity）； she seemed to me to command more of my respect； if not
less of my fear。
The anxiety I underwent； in the interval which necessarily
elapsed before a reply could be received to her letter to Mr。
Murdstone； was extreme； but I made an endeavour to suppress it；
and to be as agreeable as I could in a quiet way； both to my aunt
and Mr。 Dick。 The latter and I would have gone out to fly the great
kite； but that I had still no other clothes than the anything but
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ornamental garments with which I had been decorated on the first
day； and which confined me to the house； except for an hour after
dark； when my aunt； for my health’s sake； paraded me up and
down on the cliff outside； before going to bed。 At length the reply
from Mr。 Murdstone came； and my aunt informed me； to my
infinite terror； that he was coming to speak to her herself on the
next day。 On the next day； still bundled up in my curious
habiliments； I sat counting the time； flushed and heated by the
conflict of sinking hopes and rising fears within me； and waiting to
be startled by the sight of the gloomy face； whose non…arrival
startled me every minute。
My aunt was a little more imperious and stern than usual； but I
observed no other token of her preparing herself to receive the
visitor so much dreaded by me。 She sat at work in the window；
and I sat by； with my thoughts running astray on all possible and
impossible results of Mr。 Murdstone’s visit； until pretty late in the
afternoon。 Our dinner had been indefinitely postponed； but it was
growing so late； that my aunt had ordered it to be got ready； when
she gave a sudden alarm of donkeys； and to my consternation and
amazement； I beheld Miss Murdstone； on a side…saddle； ride
deliberately over the sacred piece of green； and stop in front of the
house； looking about her。
‘Go along with you！’ cried my aunt； shaking her head and her
fist at the window。 ‘You have no business there。 How dare you
trespass？ Go along！ Oh！ you bold…faced thing！’
My aunt was so exasperated by the coolness with which Miss
Murdstone looked about her； that I really believe she was
motionless； and unable for the moment to dart out according to
custom。 I seized the opportunity to inform her who it was； and that
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the gentleman now coming near the offender （for the way up was
very steep； and he had dropped behind）； was Mr。 Murdstone
himself。
‘I don’t care who it is！’ cried my aunt； still shaking her head and
gesticulating anything but welcome from the bow…window。 ‘I won’t
be trespassed upon。 I won’t allow it。 Go away！ Janet； turn him
round。 Lead him off！’ and I saw； from behind my aunt； a sort of
hurried battle…piece； in which the donkey stood resisting
everybody； with all his four legs planted different ways； while
Janet tried to pull him round by the bridle； Mr。 Murdstone tried to
lead him on； Miss Murdstone struck at Janet with a parasol； and
several boys； who had come to see the engagement； shouted
vigorously。 But my aunt； suddenly descrying among them the
young malefactor who was the donkey’s guardian； and who was
one of the most inveterate offenders against her； though hardly in
his teens； rushed out to the scene of action； pounced upon him；
captured him； dragged him； with his jacket over his head； and his
heels grinding the ground； into the garden； and； calling upon
Janet to fetch the constables and justices； that he might be taken；
tried； and executed on the spot； held him at bay there。 This part of
the business； however； did not last long； for the young rascal；
being expert at a variety of feints and dodges； of which my aunt
had no conception； soon went whooping away； leaving some deep
impressions of his nailed boots in the flower…beds； and taking his
donkey in triumph with him。
Miss Murdstone； during the latter portion of the contest； had
dismounted； and was now waiting with her brother at the bottom
of the steps； until my aunt should be at leisure to receive them。 My
aunt； a little ruffled by the combat； marched past them into the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
house； with great dignity； and took no notice of their presence；
until they were announced by Janet。
‘Shall I go away； aunt？’ I asked； trembling。
‘No； sir；’ said my aunt。 ‘Certainly not！’ With which she pushed
me into a corner near her； and fenced Me in with a chair； as if it
were a prison or a bar of justice。 This position I continued to
occupy during the whole interview； and from it I now saw Mr。 and
Miss Murdstone enter the room。
‘Oh！’ said my aunt； ‘I was not aware at first to whom I had the
pleasure of objecting。 But I don’t allow anybody to ride over that
turf。 I make no exceptions。 I don’t allow anybody to do it。’
‘Your regulation is rather awkward to strangers；’ said Miss
Murdstone。
‘Is it！’ said my aunt。
Mr。 Murdstone seemed afraid of a renewal of hostilities； and
interposing began：
‘Miss Trotwood！’
‘I beg your pardon；’ observed my aunt with a keen look。 ‘You
are the Mr。 Murdstone who married the widow of my late nephew；
David Copperfield； of Blunderstone Rookery！—Though why
Rookery； I don’t know！’
‘I am；’ said Mr。 Murdstone。
‘You’ll excuse my saying； sir；’ returned my aunt； ‘that I think it
would have been a much better and happier thing if you had left
that poor child alone。’
‘I so far agree with what Miss Trotwood has remarked；’
observed Miss Murdstone； bridling； ‘that I consider our lamented
Clara to have been； in all essential respects； a mere child。’
‘It is a comfort to you and me； ma’am；’ said my aunt； ‘who are
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
getting on in life； and are not likely to be made unhappy by our
personal attractions； that nobody can say the same of us。’
‘No doubt！’ returned Miss Murdstone； though； I thought； not
with a very ready or gracious assent。 ‘And it certainly might have
been； as you say； a better and happier thing for my brother if he
had never entered into such a marriage。 I have always been of that
opinion。’
‘I have no doubt you have；’ said my aunt。 ‘Janet；’ ringing the
bell； ‘my compliments to Mr。 Dick； and beg him to come down。’
Until he came； my aunt sat perfectly upright and stiff； frowning
at the wall。 When he came； my aunt performed the ceremony of
introduction。
‘Mr。 Dick。 An old and intimate friend。 On whose judgement；’
said my aunt； with emphasis； as an admonition to Mr。 Dick； who
was biting his forefi