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hopeful of you。’
I promised; as well as I could; that I would not abuse her
kindness or forget her admonition。
‘The pony’s at the door;’ said my aunt; ‘and I am off! Stay here。’
With these words she embraced me hastily; and went out of the
room; shutting the door after her。 At first I was startled by so
abrupt a departure; and almost feared I had displeased her; but
when I looked into the street; and saw how dejectedly she got into
the chaise; and drove away without looking up; I understood her
better and did not do her that injustice。
By five o’clock; which was Mr。 Wickfield’s dinner…hour; I had
mustered up my spirits again; and was ready for my knife and
fork。 The cloth was only laid for us two; but Agnes was waiting in
the drawing…room before dinner; went down with her father; and
sat opposite to him at table。 I doubted whether he could have
dined without her。
We did not stay there; after dinner; but came upstairs into the
drawing…room again: in one snug corner of which; Agnes set
glasses for her father; and a decanter of port wine。 I thought he
would have missed its usual flavour; if it had been put there for
him by any other hands。
There he sat; taking his wine; and taking a good deal of it; for
two hours; while Agnes played on the piano; worked; and talked to
him and me。 He was; for the most part; gay and cheerful with us;
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
but sometimes his eyes rested on her; and he fell into a brooding
state; and was silent。 She always observed this quickly; I thought;
and always roused him with a question or caress。 Then he came
out of his meditation; and drank more wine。
Agnes made the tea; and presided over it; and the time passed
away after it; as after dinner; until she went to bed; when her
father took her in his arms and kissed her; and; she being gone;
ordered candles in his office。 Then I went to bed too。
But in the course of the evening I had rambled down to the
door; and a little way along the street; that I might have another
peep at the old houses; and the grey Cathedral; and might think of
my coming through that old city on my journey; and of my passing
the very house I lived in; without knowing it。 As I came back; I saw
Uriah Heep shutting up the office; and feeling friendly towards
everybody; went in and spoke to him; and at parting; gave him my
hand。 But oh; what a clammy hand his was! as ghostly to the touch
as to the sight! I rubbed mine afterwards; to warm it; and to rub his
off。
It was such an uncomfortable hand; that; when I went to my
room; it was still cold and wet upon my memory。 Leaning out of
the window; and seeing one of the faces on the beam…ends looking
at me sideways; I fancied it was Uriah Heep got up there
somehow; and shut him out in a hurry。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 16
I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE
Next morning; after breakfast; I entered on school life
again。 I went; accompanied by Mr。 Wickfield; to the
scene of my future studies—a grave building in a
courtyard; with a learned air about it that seemed very well suited
to the stray rooks and jackdaws who came down from the
Cathedral towers to walk with a clerkly bearing on the grass…
plot—and was introduced to my new master; Doctor Strong。
Doctor Strong looked almost as rusty; to my thinking; as the tall
iron rails and gates outside the house; and almost as stiff and
heavy as the great stone urns that flanked them; and were set up;
on the top of the red…brick wall; at regular distances all round the
court; like sublimated skittles; for Time to play at。 He was in his
library (I mean Doctor Strong was); with his clothes not
particularly well brushed; and his hair not particularly well
combed; his knee…smalls unbraced; his long black gaiters
unbuttoned; and his shoes yawning like two caverns on the
hearth…rug。 Turning upon me a lustreless eye; that reminded me
of a long…forgotten blind old horse who once used to crop the
grass; and tumble over the graves; in Blunderstone churchyard; he
said he was glad to see me: and then he gave me his hand; which I
didn’t know what to do with; as it did nothing for itself。
But; sitting at work; not far from Doctor Strong; was a very
pretty young lady—whom he called Annie; and who was his
daughter; I supposed—who got me out of my difficulty by kneeling
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
down to put Doctor Strong’s shoes on; and button his gaiters;
which she did with great cheerfulness and quickness。 When she
had finished; and we were going out to the schoolroom; I was
much surprised to hear Mr。 Wickfield; in bidding her good
morning; address her as ‘Mrs。 Strong’; and I was wondering could
she be Doctor Strong’s son’s wife; or could she be Mrs。 Doctor
Strong; when Doctor Strong himself unconsciously enlightened
me。
‘By the by; Wickfield;’ he said; stopping in a passage with his
hand on my shoulder; ‘you have not found any suitable provision
for my wife’s cousin yet?’
‘No;’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘No。 Not yet。’
‘I could wish it done as soon as it can be done; Wickfield;’ said
Doctor Strong; ‘for Jack Maldon is needy; and idle; and of those
two bad things; worse things sometimes come。 What does Doctor
Watts say;’ he added; looking at me; and moving his head to the
time of his quotation; ‘“Satan finds some mischief still; for idle
hands to do。”’
‘Egad; Doctor;’ returned Mr。 Wickfield; ‘if Doctor Watts knew
mankind; he might have written; with as much truth; “Satan finds
some mischief still; for busy hands to do。” The busy people achieve
their full share of mischief in the world; you may rely upon it。
What have the people been about; who have been the busiest in
getting money; and in getting power; this century or two? No
mischief?’
‘Jack Maldon will never be very busy in getting either; I expect;’
said Doctor Strong; rubbing his chin thoughtfully。
‘Perhaps not;’ said Mr。 Wickfield; ‘and you bring me back to the
question; with an apology for digressing。 No; I have not been able
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
to dispose of Mr。 Jack Maldon yet。 I believe;’ he said this with
some hesitation; ‘I penetrate your motive; and it makes the thing
more difficult。’
‘My motive;’ returned Doctor Strong; ‘is to make some suitable
provision for a cousin; and an old playfellow; of Annie’s。’
‘Yes; I know;’ said Mr。 Wickfield; ‘at home or abroad。’
‘Aye!’ replied the Doctor; apparently wondering why he
emphasized those words so much。 ‘At home or abroad。’
‘Your own expression; you know;’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘Or
abroad。’
‘Surely;’ the Doctor answered。 ‘Surely。 One or other。’
‘One or other? Have you no choice?’ asked Mr。 Wickfield。
‘No;’ returned the Doctor。
‘No?’ with astonishment。
‘Not the least。’
‘No motive;’ said Mr。 Wickfield; ‘for meaning abroad; and not at
home?’
‘No;’ returned the Doctor。