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while； then sent it back to Mrs。 Heep； and so they went on tossing
it about until I had no idea who had got it； and was quite
bewildered。 The ball itself was always changing too。 Now it was
Mr。 Wickfield； now Agnes； now the excellence of Mr。 Wickfield；
now my admiration of Agnes； now the extent of Mr。 Wickfield’s
business and resources； now our domestic life after dinner； now；
the wine that Mr。 Wickfield took； the reason why he took it； and
the pity that it was he took so much； now one thing； now another；
then everything at once； and all the time； without appearing to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
speak very often； or to do anything but sometimes encourage them
a little； for fear they should be overcome by their humility and the
honour of my company； I found myself perpetually letting out
something or other that I had no business to let out and seeing the
effect of it in the twinkling of Uriah’s dinted nostrils。
I had begun to be a little uncomfortable； and to wish myself well
out of the visit； when a figure coming down the street passed the
door—it stood open to air the room； which was warm； the weather
being close for the time of year—came back again； looked in； and
walked in； exclaiming loudly； ‘Copperfield！ Is it possible？’
It was Mr。 Micawber！ It was Mr。 Micawber； with his eye…glass；
and his walking…stick； and his shirt…collar； and his genteel air； and
the condescending roll in his voice； all complete！
‘My dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； putting out his hand；
‘this is indeed a meeting which is calculated to impress the mind
with a sense of the instability and uncertainty of all human—in
short； it is a most extraordinary meeting。 Walking along the street；
reflecting upon the probability of something turning up （of which I
am at present rather sanguine）； I find a young but valued friend
turn up； who is connected with the most eventful period of my life；
I may say； with the turning…point of my existence。 Copperfield； my
dear fellow； how do you do？’
I cannot say—I really cannot say—that I was glad to see Mr。
Micawber there； but I was glad to see him too； and shook hands
with him； heartily； inquiring how Mrs。 Micawber was。
‘Thank you；’ said Mr。 Micawber； waving his hand as of old； and
settling his chin in his shirt…collar。 ‘She is tolerably convalescent。
The twins no longer derive their sustenance from Nature’s
founts—in short；’ said Mr。 Micawber； in one of his bursts of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
confidence； ‘they are weaned—and Mrs。 Micawber is； at present；
my travelling companion。 She will be rejoiced； Copperfield； to
renew her acquaintance with one who has proved himself in all
respects a worthy minister at the sacred altar of friendship。’
I said I should be delighted to see her。
‘You are very good；’ said Mr。 Micawber。
Mr。 Micawber then smiled； settled his chin again； and looked
about him。
‘I have discovered my friend Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber
genteelly； and without addressing himself particularly to anyone；
‘not in solitude； but partaking of a social meal in company with a
widow lady； and one who is apparently her offspring—in short；’
said Mr。 Micawber； in another of his bursts of confidence； ‘her son。
I shall esteem it an honour to be presented。’
I could do no less； under these circumstances； than make Mr。
Micawber known to Uriah Heep and his mother； which I
accordingly did。 As they abased themselves before him； Mr。
Micawber took a seat； and waved his hand in his most courtly
manner。
‘Any friend of my friend Copperfield’s；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘has
a personal claim upon myself。’
‘We are too umble； sir；’ said Mrs。 Heep； ‘my son and me； to be
the friends of Master Copperfield。 He has been so good as take his
tea with us； and we are thankful to him for his company； also to
you； sir； for your notice。’
‘Ma’am；’ returned Mr。 Micawber； with a bow； ‘you are very
obliging： and what are you doing； Copperfield？ Still in the wine
trade？’ I was excessively anxious to get Mr。 Micawber away； and
replied； with my hat in my hand； and a very red face； I have no
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
doubt； that I was a pupil at Doctor Strong’s。
‘A pupil？’ said Mr。 Micawber； raising his eyebrows。 ‘I am
extremely happy to hear it。 Although a mind like my friend
Copperfield’s’—to Uriah and Mrs。 Heep—‘does not require that
cultivation which； without his knowledge of men and things； it
would require； still it is a rich soil teeming with latent vegetation—
in short；’ said Mr。 Micawber； smiling； in another burst of
confidence； ‘it is an intellect capable of getting up the classics to
any extent。’
Uriah； with his long hands slowly twining over one another；
made a ghastly writhe from the waist upwards； to express his
concurrence in this estimation of me。
‘Shall we go and see Mrs。 Micawber； sir？’ I said； to get Mr。
Micawber away。
‘If you will do her that favour； Copperfield；’ replied Mr。
Micawber； rising。 ‘I have no scruple in saying； in the presence of
our friends here； that I am a man who has； for some years；
contended against the pressure of pecuniary difficulties。’ I knew
he was certain to say something of this kind； he always would be
so boastful about his difficulties。 ‘Sometimes I have risen superior
to my difficulties。 Sometimes my difficulties have—in short； have
floored me。 There have been times when I have administered a
succession of facers to them； there have been times when they
have been too many for me； and I have given in； and said to Mrs。
Micawber； in the words of Cato； “Plato； thou reasonest well。 It’s all
up now。 I can show fight no more。” But at no time of my life；’ said
Mr。 Micawber； ‘have I enjoyed a higher degree of satisfaction than
in pouring my griefs （if I may describe difficulties； chiefly arising
out of warrants of attorney and promissory notes at two and four
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
months； by that word） into the bosom of my friend Copperfield。’
Mr。 Micawber closed this handsome tribute by saying； ‘Mr。
Heep！ Good evening。 Mrs。 Heep！ Your servant；’ and then walking
out with me in his most fashionable manner； making a good deal
of noise on the pavement with his shoes； and humming a tune as
we went。
It was a little inn where Mr。 Micawber put up； and he occupied
a little room in it； partitioned off from the commercial room； and
strongly flavoured with tobacco…smoke。 I think it was over the
kitchen； because a warm greasy smell appeared to come up
through the chinks in the floor； and there was a flabby
perspiration on the walls。 I know it was near the bar； on account of
the smell of spirits and jingling of glasses。 Here； recumbent on a
small sofa； underneath a picture of a race…horse； with her head
close to the fire； and her feet pushing the mustard off the dumbwaiter at the other end of the room； was Mrs。 Micawber； to whom
Mr。 Micawber entered first；