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because she was very fond of Agnes； and was often backwards and
forwards at our house。 There was a curious constraint between
her and Mr。 Wickfield； I thought （of whom she seemed to be
afraid）； that never wore off。 When she came there of an evening；
she always shrunk from accepting his escort home； and ran away
with me instead。 And sometimes； as we were running gaily across
the Cathedral yard together； expecting to meet nobody； we would
meet Mr。 Jack Maldon； who was always surprised to see us。
Mrs。 Strong’s mama was a lady I took great delight in。 Her
name was Mrs。 Markleham； but our boys used to call her the Old
Soldier； on account of her generalship； and the skill with which
she marshalled great forces of relations against the Doctor。 She
was a little； sharp…eyed woman； who used to wear； when she was
dressed； one unchangeable cap； ornamented with some artificial
flowers； and two artificial butterflies supposed to be hovering
above the flowers。 There was a superstition among us that this cap
had come from France； and could only originate in the
workmanship of that ingenious nation： but all I certainly know
about it； is； that it always made its appearance of an evening；
wheresoever Mrs。 Markleham made her appearance； that it was
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David Copperfield
carried about to friendly meetings in a Hindoo basket； that the
butterflies had the gift of trembling constantly； and that they
improved the shining hours at Doctor Strong’s expense； like busy
bees。
I observed the Old Soldier—not to adopt the name
disrespectfully—to pretty good advantage； on a night which is
made memorable to me by something else I shall relate。 It was the
night of a little party at the Doctor’s； which was given on the
occasion of Mr。 Jack Maldon’s departure for India； whither he was
going as a cadet； or something of that kind： Mr。 Wickfield having
at length arranged the business。 It happened to be the Doctor’s
birthday； too。 We had had a holiday； had made presents to him in
the morning； had made a speech to him through the head…boy； and
had cheered him until we were hoarse； and until he had shed
tears。 And now； in the evening； Mr。 Wickfield； Agnes； and I； went
to have tea with him in his private capacity。
Mr。 Jack Maldon was there； before us。 Mrs。 Strong； dressed in
white； with cherry…coloured ribbons； was playing the piano； when
we went in； and he was leaning over her to turn the leaves。 The
clear red and white of her complexion was not so blooming and
flower…like as usual； I thought； when she turned round； but she
looked very pretty； Wonderfully pretty。
‘I have forgotten； Doctor；’ said Mrs。 Strong’s mama； when we
were seated； ‘to pay you the compliments of the day—though they
are； as you may suppose； very far from being mere compliments in
my case。 Allow me to wish you many happy returns。’
‘I thank you； ma’am；’ replied the Doctor。
‘Many； many； many； happy returns；’ said the Old Soldier。 ‘Not
only for your own sake； but for Annie’s； and John Maldon’s； and
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many other people’s。 It seems but yesterday to me； John； when
you were a little creature； a head shorter than Master Copperfield；
making baby love to Annie behind the gooseberry bushes in the
back…garden。’
‘My dear mama；’ said Mrs。 Strong； ‘never mind that now。’
‘Annie； don’t be absurd；’ returned her mother。 ‘If you are to
blush to hear of such things now you are an old married woman；
when are you not to blush to hear of them？’
‘Old？’ exclaimed Mr。 Jack Maldon。 ‘Annie？ Come！’
‘Yes； John；’ returned the Soldier。 ‘Virtually； an old married
woman。 Although not old by years—for when did you ever hear
me say； or who has ever heard me say； that a girl of twenty was old
by years！—your cousin is the wife of the Doctor； and； as such； what
I have described her。 It is well for you； John； that your cousin is
the wife of the Doctor。 You have found in him an influential and
kind friend； who will be kinder yet； I venture to predict； if you
deserve it。 I have no false pride。 I never hesitate to admit； frankly；
that there are some members of our family who want a friend。 You
were one yourself； before your cousin’s influence raised up one for
you。’
The Doctor； in the goodness of his heart； waved his hand as if to
make light of it； and save Mr。 Jack Maldon from any further
reminder。 But Mrs。 Markleham changed her chair for one next the
Doctor’s； and putting her fan on his coat…sleeve； said：
‘No； really； my dear Doctor； you must excuse me if I appear to
dwell on this rather； because I feel so very strongly。 I call it quite
my monomania； it is such a subject of mine。 You are a blessing to
us。 You really are a Boon； you know。’
‘Nonsense； nonsense；’ said the Doctor。
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‘No； no； I beg your pardon；’ retorted the Old Soldier。 ‘With
nobody present； but our dear and confidential friend Mr。
Wickfield； I cannot consent to be put down。 I shall begin to assert
the privileges of a mother…in…law； if you go on like that； and scold
you。 I am perfectly honest and outspoken。 What I am saying； is
what I said when you first overpowered me with surprise—you
remember how surprised I was？—by proposing for Annie。 Not
that there was anything so very much out of the way； in the mere
fact of the proposal—it would be ridiculous to say that！—but
because； you having known her poor father； and having known
her from a baby six months old； I hadn’t thought of you in such a
light at all； or indeed as a marrying man in any way；—simply that；
you know。’
‘Aye； aye；’ returned the Doctor； good…humouredly。 ‘Never
mind。’
‘But I do mind；’ said the Old Soldier； laying her fan upon his
lips。 ‘I mind very much。 I recall these things that I may be
contradicted if I am wrong。 Well！ Then I spoke to Annie； and I told
her what had happened。 I said； “My dear； here’s Doctor Strong
has positively been and made you the subject of a handsome
declaration and an offer。” Did I press it in the least？ No。 I said；
“Now； Annie； tell me the truth this moment； is your heart free？”
“Mama；” she said crying； “I am extremely young”—which was
perfectly true—“and I hardly know if I have a heart at all。” “Then；
my dear；” I said； “you may rely upon it； it’s free。 At all events； my
love；” said I； “Doctor Strong is in an agitated state of mind； and
must be answered。 He cannot be kept in his present state of
suspense。” “Mama；” said Annie； still crying； “would he be
unhappy without me？ If he would； I honour and respect him so
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David Copperfield
much； that I think I will have him。” So it was settled。 And then；
and not till then； I said to Annie； “Annie； Doctor Strong will not
only be your husband； but he will represent your late father： he
will represent the head of our family； he will represent the wisdom
and station； and I may say the means； of our family； and wi