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of his reverie。 At length he aroused himself； and looked about the
room until his eyes encountered mine。
‘Stay with us； Trotwood； eh？’ he said in his usual manner； and
as if he were answering something I had just said。 ‘I am glad of it。
You are company to us both。 It is wholesome to have you here。
Wholesome for me； wholesome for Agnes； wholesome perhaps for
all of us。’
‘I am sure it is for me； sir；’ I said。 ‘I am so glad to be here。’
‘That’s a fine fellow！’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘As long as you are
glad to be here； you shall stay here。’ He shook hands with me upon
it； and clapped me on the back； and told me that when I had
anything to do at night after Agnes had left us； or when I wished to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
read for my own pleasure； I was free to come down to his room； if
he were there and if I desired it for company’s sake； and to sit with
him。 I thanked him for his consideration； and； as he went down
soon afterwards； and I was not tired； went down too； with a book
in my hand； to avail myself； for half…an…hour； of his permission。
But； seeing a light in the little round office； and immediately
feeling myself attracted towards Uriah Heep； who had a sort of
fascination for me； I went in there instead。 I found Uriah reading a
great fat book； with such demonstrative attention； that his lank
forefinger followed up every line as he read； and made clammy
tracks along the page （or so I fully believed） like a snail。
‘You are working late tonight； Uriah；’ says I。
‘Yes； Master Copperfield；’ says Uriah。
As I was getting on the stool opposite； to talk to him more
conveniently； I observed that he had not such a thing as a smile
about him； and that he could only widen his mouth and make two
hard creases down his cheeks； one on each side； to stand for one。
‘I am not doing office…work； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah。
‘What work； then？’ I asked。
‘I am improving my legal knowledge； Master Copperfield；’ said
Uriah。 ‘I am going through Tidd’s Practice。 Oh； what a writer Mr。
Tidd is； Master Copperfield！’
My stool was such a tower of observation； that as I watched him
reading on again； after this rapturous exclamation； and following
up the lines with his forefinger； I observed that his nostrils； which
were thin and pointed； with sharp dints in them； had a singular
and most uncomfortable way of expanding and contracting
themselves—that they seemed to twinkle instead of his eyes；
which hardly ever twinkled at all。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘I suppose you are quite a great lawyer？’ I said； after looking at
him for some time。
‘Me； Master Copperfield？’ said Uriah。 ‘Oh； no！ I’m a very umble
person。’
It was no fancy of mine about his hands； I observed； for he
frequently ground the palms against each other as if to squeeze
them dry and warm； besides often wiping them； in a stealthy way；
on his pocket…handkerchief。
‘I am well aware that I am the umblest person going；’ said
Uriah Heep； modestly； ‘let the other be where he may。 My mother
is likewise a very umble person。 We live in a numble abode；
Master Copperfield； but have much to be thankful for。 My father’s
former calling was umble。 He was a sexton。’
‘What is he now？’ I asked。
‘He is a partaker of glory at present； Master Copperfield；’ said
Uriah Heep。 ‘But we have much to be thankful for。 How much
have I to be thankful for in living with Mr。 Wickfield！’
I asked Uriah if he had been with Mr。 Wickfield long？
‘I have been with him； going on four year； Master Copperfield；’
said Uriah； shutting up his book； after carefully marking the place
where he had left off。 ‘Since a year after my father’s death。 How
much have I to be thankful for； in that！ How much have I to be
thankful for； in Mr。 Wickfield’s kind intention to give me my
articles； which would otherwise not lay within the umble means of
mother and self！’
‘Then； when your articled time is over； you’ll be a regular
lawyer； I suppose？’ said I。
‘With the blessing of Providence； Master Copperfield；’ returned
Uriah。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Perhaps you’ll be a partner in Mr。 Wickfield’s business； one of
these days；’ I said； to make myself agreeable； ‘and it will be
Wickfield and Heep； or Heep late Wickfield。’
‘Oh no； Master Copperfield；’ returned Uriah； shaking his head；
‘I am much too umble for that！’
He certainly did look uncommonly like the carved face on the
beam outside my window； as he sat； in his humility； eyeing me
sideways； with his mouth widened； and the creases in his cheeks。
‘Mr。 Wickfield is a most excellent man； Master Copperfield；’
said Uriah。 ‘If you have known him long； you know it； I am sure；
much better than I can inform you。’
I replied that I was certain he was； but that I had not known
him long myself； though he was a friend of my aunt’s。
‘Oh； indeed； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah。 ‘Your aunt is a
sweet lady； Master Copperfield！’
He had a way of writhing when he wanted to express
enthusiasm； which was very ugly； and which diverted my attention
from the compliment he had paid my relation； to the snaky
twistings of his throat and body。
‘A sweet lady； Master Copperfield！’ said Uriah Heep。 ‘She has a
great admiration for Miss Agnes； Master Copperfield； I believe？’
I said； ‘Yes；’ boldly； not that I knew anything about it； Heaven
forgive me！
‘I hope you have； too； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah。 ‘But I am
sure you must have。’
‘Everybody must have；’ I returned。
‘Oh； thank you； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah Heep； ‘for that
remark！ It is so true！ Umble as I am； I know it is so true！ Oh； thank
you； Master Copperfield！’ He writhed himself quite off his stool in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the excitement of his feelings； and； being off； began to make
arrangements for going home。
‘Mother will be expecting me；’ he said； referring to a pale；
inexpressive…faced watch in his pocket； ‘and getting uneasy； for
though we are very umble； Master Copperfield； we are much
attached to one another。 If you would come and see us； any
afternoon； and take a cup of tea at our lowly dwelling； mother
would be as proud of your company as I should be。’
I said I should be glad to come。
‘Thank you； Master Copperfield；’ returned Uriah； putting his
book away upon the shelf—‘I suppose you stop here； some time；
Master Copperfield？’
I said I was going to be brought up there； I believed； as long as I
remained at school。
‘Oh； indeed！’ exclaimed Uriah。 ‘I should think you would come
into the business at last； Master Copperfield！’
I protested that I had no views of that sort； and that no such
scheme was entertained in my behalf by anybody； but Uriah
insisted on blandly replying to all my assurances； ‘Oh； yes； Master
Copperfield； I should think you would； indeed！’ and； ‘Oh； indeed；
Master Copperfield； I should th