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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。