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‘No motive；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； ‘for meaning abroad； and not at
home？’
‘No；’ returned the Doctor。
‘I am bound to believe you； and of course I do believe you；’ said
Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘It might have simplified my office very much； if I
had known it before。 But I confess I entertained another
impression。’
Doctor Strong regarded him with a puzzled and doubting look；
which almost immediately subsided into a smile that gave me
great encouragement； for it was full of amiability and sweetness；
and there was a simplicity in it； and indeed in his whole manner；
when the studious； pondering frost upon it was got through； very
attractive and hopeful to a young scholar like me。 Repeating ‘no’；
and ‘not the least’； and other short assurances to the same
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
purport； Doctor Strong jogged on before us； at a queer； uneven
pace； and we followed： Mr。 Wickfield； looking grave； I observed；
and shaking his head to himself； without knowing that I saw him。
The schoolroom was a pretty large hall； on the quietest side of
the house； confronted by the stately stare of some half…dozen of
the great urns； and commanding a peep of an old secluded garden
belonging to the Doctor； where the peaches were ripening on the
sunny south wall。 There were two great aloes； in tubs； on the turf
outside the windows； the broad hard leaves of which plant
（looking as if they were made of painted tin） have ever since； by
association； been symbolical to me of silence and retirement。
About five…and…twenty boys were studiously engaged at their
books when we went in； but they rose to give the Doctor good
morning； and remained standing when they saw Mr。 Wickfield and
me。
‘A new boy； young gentlemen；’ said the Doctor； ‘Trotwood
Copperfield。’
One Adams； who was the head…boy； then stepped out of his
place and welcomed me。 He looked like a young clergyman； in his
white cravat； but he was very affable and good…humoured； and he
showed me my place； and presented me to the masters； in a
gentlemanly way that would have put me at my ease； if anything
could。
It seemed to me so long； however； since I had been among such
boys； or among any companions of my own age； except Mick
Walker and Mealy Potatoes； that I felt as strange as ever I have
done in my life。 I was so conscious of having passed through
scenes of which they could have no knowledge； and of having
acquired experiences foreign to my age； appearance； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
condition as one of them； that I half believed it was an imposture
to come there as an ordinary little schoolboy。 I had become； in the
Murdstone and Grinby time； however short or long it may have
been； so unused to the sports and games of boys； that I knew I was
awkward and inexperienced in the commonest things belonging to
them。 Whatever I had learnt； had so slipped away from me in the
sordid cares of my life from day to night； that now； when I was
examined about what I knew； I knew nothing； and was put into the
lowest form of the school。 But； troubled as I was； by my want of
boyish skill； and of book…learning too； I was made infinitely more
uncomfortable by the consideration； that； in what I did know； I
was much farther removed from my companions than in what I
did not。 My mind ran upon what they would think； if they knew of
my familiar acquaintance with the King’s Bench Prison？ Was
there anything about me which would reveal my proceedings in
connexion with the Micawber family—all those pawnings； and
sellings； and suppers—in spite of myself？ Suppose some of the
boys had seen me coming through Canterbury； wayworn and
ragged； and should find me out？ What would they say； who made
so light of money； if they could know how I had scraped my
halfpence together； for the purchase of my daily saveloy and beer；
or my slices of pudding？ How would it affect them； who were so
innocent of London life； and London streets； to discover how
knowing I was （and was ashamed to be） in some of the meanest
phases of both？ All this ran in my head so much； on that first day
at Doctor Strong’s； that I felt distrustful of my slightest look and
gesture； shrunk within myself whensoever I was approached by
one of my new schoolfellows； and hurried off the minute school
was over； afraid of committing myself in my response to any
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David Copperfield
friendly notice or advance。
But there was such an influence in Mr。 Wickfield’s old house；
that when I knocked at it； with my new school…books under my
arm； I began to feel my uneasiness softening away。 As I went up to
my airy old room； the grave shadow of the staircase seemed to fall
upon my doubts and fears； and to make the past more indistinct。 I
sat there； sturdily conning my books； until dinner…time （we were
out of school for good at three）； and went down； hopeful of
becoming a passable sort of boy yet。
Agnes was in the drawing…room； waiting for her father； who was
detained by someone in his office。 She met me with her pleasant
smile； and asked me how I liked the school。 I told her I should like
it very much； I hoped； but I was a little strange to it at first。
‘You have never been to school；’ I said； ‘have you？’
‘Oh yes！ Every day。’
‘Ah； but you mean here； at your own home？’
‘Papa couldn’t spare me to go anywhere else；’ she answered；
smiling and shaking her head。 ‘His housekeeper must be in his
house； you know。’
‘He is very fond of you； I am sure；’ I said。
She nodded ‘Yes；’ and went to the door to listen for his coming
up； that she might meet him on the stairs。 But； as he was not
there； she came back again。
‘Mama has been dead ever since I was born；’ she said； in her
quiet way。 ‘I only know her picture； downstairs。 I saw you looking
at it yesterday。 Did you think whose it was？’
I told her yes； because it was so like herself。
‘Papa says so； too；’ said Agnes； pleased。 ‘Hark！ That’s papa
now！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Her bright calm face lighted up with pleasure as she went to
meet him； and as they came in； hand in hand。 He greeted me
cordially； and told me I should certainly be happy under Doctor
Strong； who was one of the gentlest of men。
‘There may be some； perhaps—I don’t know that there are—
who abuse his kindness；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘Never be one of
those； Trotwood； in anything。 He is the least suspicious of
mankind； and whether that’s a merit； or whether it’s a blemish； it
deserves consideration in all dealings with the Doctor； great or
small。’
He spoke； I thought； as if he were weary； or dissatisfied with
something； but I did not pursue the question in my mind； for
dinner was just then announced； and we went down and took the
same seats as before。
We had scarcely done so； when Uriah Heep put in his red head
and his lank hand at the door； and said：
‘Here’s Mr。 Maldon begs the favour of a word； sir。’
‘I am but this moment