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Peggotty； who was not quite right in the name yet； ‘for I an’t heard
half enough。’
I couldn’t quite understand why Peggotty looked so queer； or
why she was so ready to go back to the crocodiles。 However； we
returned to those monsters； with fresh wakefulness on my part；
and we left their eggs in the sand for the sun to hatch； and we ran
away from them； and baffled them by constantly turning； which
they were unable to do quickly； on account of their unwieldy
make； and we went into the water after them； as natives； and put
sharp pieces of timber down their throats； and in short we ran the
whole crocodile gauntlet。 I did； at least； but I had my doubts of
Peggotty； who was thoughtfully sticking her needle into various
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
parts of her face and arms； all the time。
We had exhausted the crocodiles； and begun with the alligators；
when the garden…bell rang。 We went out to the door； and there
was my mother； looking unusually pretty； I thought； and with her
a gentleman with beautiful black hair and whiskers； who had
walked home with us from church last Sunday。
As my mother stooped down on the threshold to take me in her
arms and kiss me； the gentleman said I was a more highly
privileged little fellow than a monarch—or something like that； for
my later understanding comes； I am sensible； to my aid here。
‘What does that mean？’ I asked him； over her shoulder。
He patted me on the head； but somehow； I didn’t like him or his
deep voice； and I was jealous that his hand should touch my
mother’s in touching me—which it did。 I put it away； as well as I
could。
‘Oh； Davy！’ remonstrated my mother。
‘Dear boy！’ said the gentleman。 ‘I cannot wonder at his
devotion！’
I never saw such a beautiful colour on my mother’s face before。
She gently chid me for being rude； and； keeping me close to her
shawl； turned to thank the gentleman for taking so much trouble
as to bring her home。 She put out her hand to him as she spoke；
and； as he met it with his own； she glanced； I thought； at me。
‘Let us say “good night”； my fine boy；’ said the gentleman；
when he had bent his head—I saw him！—over my mother’s little
glove。
‘Good night！’ said I。
‘Come！ Let us be the best friends in the world！’ said the
gentleman； laughing。 ‘Shake hands！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
My right hand was in my mother’s left； so I gave him the other。
‘Why； that’s the wrong hand； Davy！’ laughed the gentleman。
My mother drew my right hand forward； but I was resolved； for
my former reason； not to give it him； and I did not。 I gave him the
other； and he shook it heartily； and said I was a brave fellow； and
went away。
At this minute I see him turn round in the garden； and give us a
last look with his ill…omened black eyes； before the door was shut。
Peggotty； who had not said a word or moved a finger； secured
the fastenings instantly； and we all went into the parlour。 My
mother； contrary to her usual habit； instead of coming to the
elbow…chair by the fire； remained at the other end of the room； and
sat singing to herself。
—‘Hope you have had a pleasant evening； ma’am；’ said
Peggotty； standing as stiff as a barrel in the centre of the room；
with a candlestick in her hand。
‘Much obliged to you； Peggotty；’ returned my mother； in a
cheerful voice； ‘I have had a very pleasant evening。’
‘A stranger or so makes an agreeable change；’ suggested
Peggotty。
‘A very agreeable change； indeed；’ returned my mother。
Peggotty continuing to stand motionless in the middle of the
room； and my mother resuming her singing； I fell asleep； though I
was not so sound asleep but that I could hear voices； without
hearing what they said。 When I half awoke from this
uncomfortable doze； I found Peggotty and my mother both in
tears； and both talking。 ‘Not such a one as this； Mr。 Copperfield
wouldn’t have liked；’ said Peggotty。 ‘That I say； and that I swear！’
‘Good Heavens！’ cried my mother； ‘you’ll drive me mad！ Was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ever any poor girl so ill…used by her servants as I am！ Why do I do
myself the injustice of calling myself a girl？ Have I never been
married； Peggotty？’
‘God knows you have； ma’am；’ returned Peggotty。 ‘Then； how
can you dare；’ said my mother—‘you know I don’t mean how can
you dare； Peggotty； but how can you have the heart—to make me
so uncomfortable and say such bitter things to me； when you are
well aware that I haven’t； out of this place； a single friend to turn
to？’
‘The more’s the reason；’ returned Peggotty； ‘for saying that it
won’t do。 No！ That it won’t do。 No！ No price could make it do。
No！’—I thought Peggotty would have thrown the candlestick
away； she was so emphatic with it。
‘How can you be so aggravating；’ said my mother； shedding
more tears than before； ‘as to talk in such an unjust manner！ How
can you go on as if it was all settled and arranged； Peggotty； when
I tell you over and over again； you cruel thing； that beyond the
commonest civilities nothing has passed！ You talk of admiration。
What am I to do？ If people are so silly as to indulge the sentiment；
is it my fault？ What am I to do； I ask you？ Would you wish me to
shave my head and black my face； or disfigure myself with a burn；
or a scald； or something of that sort？ I dare say you would；
Peggotty。 I dare say you’d quite enjoy it。’
Peggotty seemed to take this aspersion very much to heart； I
thought。
‘And my dear boy；’ cried my mother； coming to the elbow…chair
in which I was； and caressing me； ‘my own little Davy！ Is it to be
hinted to me that I am wanting in affection for my precious
treasure； the dearest little fellow that ever was！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Nobody never went and hinted no such a thing；’ said Peggotty。
‘You did； Peggotty！’ returned my mother。 ‘You know you did。
What else was it possible to infer from what you said； you unkind
creature； when you know as well as I do； that on his account only
last quarter I wouldn’t buy myself a new parasol； though that old
green one is frayed the whole way up； and the fringe is perfectly
mangy？ You know it is； Peggotty。 You can’t deny it。’ Then； turning
affectionately to me； with her cheek against mine； ‘Am I a naughty
mama to you； Davy？ Am I a nasty； cruel； selfish； bad mama？ Say I
am； my child； say “yes”； dear boy； and Peggotty will love you； and
Peggotty’s love is a great deal better than mine； Davy。 I don’t love
you at all； do I？’
At this； we all fell a…crying together。 I think I was the loudest of
the party； but I am sure we were all sincere about it。 I was quite
heart…broken myself； and am afraid that in the first transports of
wounded tenderness I called Peggotty a ‘Beast’。 That honest
creature was in deep affliction； I remember； and must have
become quite buttonless on the occasion； for a little volley of those
explo