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awber； to whom
Mr。 Micawber entered first； saying； ‘My dear； allow me to
introduce to you a pupil of Doctor Strong’s。’
I noticed； by the by； that although Mr。 Micawber was just as
much confused as ever about my age and standing； he always
remembered； as a genteel thing； that I was a pupil of Doctor
Strong’s。
Mrs。 Micawber was amazed； but very glad to see me。 I was very
glad to see her too； and； after an affectionate greeting on both
sides； sat down on the small sofa near her。
‘My dear；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘if you will mention to
Copperfield what our present position is； which I have no doubt he
will like to know； I will go and look at the paper the while； and see
whether anything turns up among the advertisements。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘I thought you were at Plymouth； ma’am；’ I said to Mrs。
Micawber； as he went out。
‘My dear Master Copperfield；’ she replied； ‘we went to
Plymouth。’
‘To be on the spot；’ I hinted。
‘Just so；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘To be on the spot。 But； the truth
is； talent is not wanted in the Custom House。 The local influence of
my family was quite unavailing to obtain any employment in that
department； for a man of Mr。 Micawber’s abilities。 They would
rather not have a man of Mr。 Micawber’s abilities。 He would only
show the deficiency of the others。 Apart from which；’ said Mrs。
Micawber； ‘I will not disguise from you； my dear Master
Copperfield； that when that branch of my family which is settled in
Plymouth； became aware that Mr。 Micawber was accompanied by
myself； and by little Wilkins and his sister； and by the twins； they
did not receive him with that ardour which he might have
expected； being so newly released from captivity。 In fact；’ said
Mrs。 Micawber； lowering her voice；—‘this is between ourselves—
our reception was cool。’
‘Dear me！’ I said。
‘Yes；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘It is truly painful to contemplate
mankind in such an aspect； Master Copperfield； but our reception
was； decidedly； cool。 There is no doubt about it。 In fact； that
branch of my family which is settled in Plymouth became quite
personal to Mr。 Micawber； before we had been there a week。’
I said； and thought； that they ought to be ashamed of
themselves。
‘Still； so it was；’ continued Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘Under such
circumstances； what could a man of Mr。 Micawber’s spirit do？ But
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
one obvious course was left。 To borrow； of that branch of my
family； the money to return to London； and to return at any
sacrifice。’
‘Then you all came back again； ma’am？’ I said。
‘We all came back again；’ replied Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘Since then； I
have consulted other branches of my family on the course which it
is most expedient for Mr。 Micawber to take—for I maintain that he
must take some course； Master Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber；
argumentatively。 ‘It is clear that a family of six； not including a
domestic； cannot live upon air。’
‘Certainly； ma’am；’ said I。
‘The opinion of those other branches of my family；’ pursued
Mrs。 Micawber； ‘is； that Mr。 Micawber should immediately turn
his attention to coals。’
‘To what； ma’am？’
‘To coals；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘To the coal trade。 Mr。 Micawber
was induced to think； on inquiry； that there might be an opening
for a man of his talent in the Medway Coal Trade。 Then； as Mr。
Micawber very properly said； the first step to be taken clearly was；
to come and see the Medway。 Which we came and saw。 I say “we”；
Master Copperfield； for I never will；’ said Mrs。 Micawber with
emotion； ‘I never will desert Mr。 Micawber。’
I murmured my admiration and approbation。
‘We came；’ repeated Mrs。 Micawber； ‘and saw the Medway。 My
opinion of the coal trade on that river is； that it may require talent；
but that it certainly requires capital。 Talent； Mr。 Micawber has；
capital； Mr。 Micawber has not。 We saw； I think； the greater part of
the Medway； and that is my individual conclusion。 Being so near
here； Mr。 Micawber was of opinion that it would be rash not to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
come on； and see the Cathedral。 Firstly； on account of its being so
well worth seeing； and our never having seen it； and secondly； on
account of the great probability of something turning up in a
cathedral town。 We have been here；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘three
days。 Nothing has； as yet； turned up； and it may not surprise you；
my dear Master Copperfield； so much as it would a stranger； to
know that we are at present waiting for a remittance from London；
to discharge our pecuniary obligations at this hotel。 Until the
arrival of that remittance；’ said Mrs。 Micawber with much feeling；
‘I am cut off from my home （I allude to lodgings in Pentonville）；
from my boy and girl； and from my twins。’
I felt the utmost sympathy for Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber in this
anxious extremity； and said as much to Mr。 Micawber； who now
returned： adding that I only wished I had money enough； to lend
them the amount they needed。 Mr。 Micawber’s answer expressed
the disturbance of his mind。 He said； shaking hands with me；
‘Copperfield； you are a true friend； but when the worst comes to
the worst； no man is without a friend who is possessed of shaving
materials。’ At this dreadful hint Mrs。 Micawber threw her arms
round Mr。 Micawber’s neck and entreated him to be calm。 He
wept； but so far recovered； almost immediately； as to ring the bell
for the waiter； and bespeak a hot kidney pudding and a plate of
shrimps for breakfast in the morning。
When I took my leave of them； they both pressed me so much to
come and dine before they went away； that I could not refuse。 But；
as I knew I could not come next day； when I should have a good
deal to prepare in the evening； Mr。 Micawber arranged that he
would call at Doctor Strong’s in the course of the morning （having
a presentiment that the remittance would arrive by that post）； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
propose the day after； if it would suit me better。 Accordingly I was
called out of school next forenoon； and found Mr。 Micawber in the
parlour； who had called to say that the dinner would take place as
proposed。 When I asked him if the remittance had come； he
pressed my hand and departed。
As I was looking out of window that same evening； it surprised
me； and made me rather uneasy； to see Mr。 Micawber and Uriah
Heep walk past； arm in arm： Uriah humbly sensible of the honour
that was done him； and Mr。 Micawber taking a bland delight in
extending his patronage to Uriah。 But I was still more surprised；
when I went to the little hotel next day at the appointed dinner…
hour； which was four o’clock； to find； from what Mr。 Micawber
said； that he had gone home with Uriah； and had drunk brandy…
and…water at Mrs。 Heep’s。
‘And I’ll tell you what； my dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。
Micawber； ‘your friend Heep is a young fellow who might be
attorney…general