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David Copperfield
wrote； but to think that Miss Betsey should seem to be so different
from what she had been thought to be； was a Moral！—that was her
word。 She was evidently still afraid of Miss Betsey； for she sent her
grateful duty to her but timidly； and she was evidently afraid of
me； too； and entertained the probability of my running away again
soon： if I might judge from the repeated hints she threw out； that
the coach…fare to Yarmouth was always to be had of her for the
asking。
She gave me one piece of intelligence which affected me very
much； namely； that there had been a sale of the furniture at our
old home； and that Mr。 and Miss Murdstone were gone away； and
the house was shut up； to be let or sold。 God knows I had no part
in it while they remained there； but it pained me to think of the
dear old place as altogether abandoned； of the weeds growing tall
in the garden； and the fallen leaves lying thick and wet upon the
paths。 I imagined how the winds of winter would howl round it；
how the cold rain would beat upon the window…glass； how the
moon would make ghosts on the walls of the empty rooms；
watching their solitude all night。 I thought afresh of the grave in
the churchyard； underneath the tree： and it seemed as if the house
were dead too； now； and all connected with my father and mother
were faded away。
There was no other news in Peggotty’s letters。 Mr。 Barkis was
an excellent husband； she said； though still a little near； but we all
had our faults； and she had plenty （though I am sure I don’t know
what they were）； and he sent his duty； and my little bedroom was
always ready for me。 Mr。 Peggotty was well； and Ham was well；
and Mrs。。 Gummidge was but poorly； and little Em’ly wouldn’t
send her love； but said that Peggotty might send it； if she liked。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
All this intelligence I dutifully imparted to my aunt； only
reserving to myself the mention of little Em’ly； to whom I
instinctively felt that she would not very tenderly incline。 While I
was yet new at Doctor Strong’s； she made several excursions over
to Canterbury to see me； and always at unseasonable hours： with
the view； I suppose； of taking me by surprise。 But； finding me well
employed； and bearing a good character； and hearing on all hands
that I rose fast in the school； she soon discontinued these visits。 I
saw her on a Saturday； every third or fourth week； when I went
over to Dover for a treat； and I saw Mr。 Dick every alternate
Wednesday； when he arrived by stage…coach at noon； to stay until
next morning。
On these occasions Mr。 Dick never travelled without a leathern
writing…desk； containing a supply of stationery and the Memorial；
in relation to which document he had a notion that time was
beginning to press now； and that it really must be got out of hand。
Mr。 Dick was very partial to gingerbread。 To render his visits
the more agreeable； my aunt had instructed me to open a credit
for him at a cake shop； which was hampered with the stipulation
that he should not be served with more than one shilling’s…worth
in the course of any one day。 This； and the reference of all his little
bills at the county inn where he slept； to my aunt； before they were
paid； induced me to suspect that he was only allowed to rattle his
money； and not to spend it。 I found on further investigation that
this was so； or at least there was an agreement between him and
my aunt that he should account to her for all his disbursements。
As he had no idea of deceiving her； and always desired to please
her； he was thus made chary of launching into expense。 On this
point； as well as on all other possible points； Mr。 Dick was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
convinced that my aunt was the wisest and most wonderful of
women； as he repeatedly told me with infinite secrecy； and always
in a whisper。
‘Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Dick； with an air of mystery； after
imparting this confidence to me； one Wednesday； ‘who’s the man
that hides near our house and frightens her？’
‘Frightens my aunt； sir？’
Mr。 Dick nodded。 ‘I thought nothing would have frightened
her；’ he said； ‘for she’s—’ here he whispered softly； ‘don’t mention
it—the wisest and most wonderful of women。’ Having said which；
he drew back； to observe the effect which this description of her
made upon me。
‘The first time he came；’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘was—let me see—
sixteen hundred and forty…nine was the date of King Charles’s
execution。 I think you said sixteen hundred and forty…nine？’
‘Yes； sir。’
‘I don’t know how it can be；’ said Mr。 Dick； sorely puzzled and
shaking his head。 ‘I don’t think I am as old as that。’
‘Was it in that year that the man appeared； sir？’ I asked。
‘Why； really’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘I don’t see how it can have been in
that year； Trotwood。 Did you get that date out of history？’
‘Yes； sir。’
‘I suppose history never lies； does it？’ said Mr。 Dick； with a
gleam of hope。
‘Oh dear； no； sir！’ I replied； most decisively。 I was ingenuous
and young； and I thought so。
‘I can’t make it out；’ said Mr。 Dick； shaking his head。 ‘There’s
something wrong； somewhere。 However； it was very soon after the
mistake was made of putting some of the trouble out of King
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Charles’s head into my head； that the man first came。 I was
walking out with Miss Trotwood after tea； just at dark； and there
he was； close to our house。’
‘Walking about？’ I inquired。
‘Walking about？’ repeated Mr。 Dick。 ‘Let me see； I must
recollect a bit。 N…no； no； he was not walking about。’
I asked； as the shortest way to get at it； what he WAS doing。
‘Well； he wasn’t there at all；’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘until he came up
behind her； and whispered。 Then she turned round and fainted；
and I stood still and looked at him； and he walked away； but that
he should have been hiding ever since （in the ground or
somewhere）； is the most extraordinary thing！’
‘Has he been hiding ever since？’ I asked。
‘To be sure he has；’ retorted Mr。 Dick； nodding his head
gravely。 ‘Never came out； till last night！ We were walking last
night； and he came up behind her again； and I knew him again。’
‘And did he frighten my aunt again？’
‘All of a shiver；’ said Mr。 Dick； counterfeiting that affection and
making his teeth chatter。 ‘Held by the palings。 Cried。 But；
Trotwood； come here；’ getting me close to him； that he might
whisper very softly； ‘why did she give him money； boy； in the
moonlight？’
‘He was a beggar； perhaps。’
Mr。 Dick shook his head； as utterly renouncing the suggestion；
and having replied a great many times； and with great confidence；
‘No beggar； no beggar； no beggar； sir！’ went on to say； that from
his window he had afterwards； and late at night； seen my aunt give
this person money outside the garden rails in the moonlight； who
then slunk away—into the ground again； as he thought probable—
Ch