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David Copperfield
my head； and as I looked at him； he leered at the leaders with the
eye with which he didn’t squint； in a very knowing manner。
‘Ain’t you？’ asked William。
‘Ain’t I what？’ said the gentleman behind。
‘Bred them Suffolk Punches by wholesale？’
‘I should think so；’ said the gentleman。 ‘There ain’t no sort of
orse that I ain’t bred； and no sort of dorg。 Orses and dorgs is some
men’s fancy。 They’re wittles and drink to me—lodging； wife； and
children—reading； writing； and ’rithmetic—snuff； tobacker； and
sleep。’
‘That ain’t a sort of man to see sitting behind a coach…box； is it
though？’ said William in my ear； as he handled the reins。
I construed this remark into an indication of a wish that he
should have my place； so I blushingly offered to resign it。
‘Well； if you don’t mind； sir；’ said William； ‘I think it would be
more correct。’
I have always considered this as the first fall I had in life。 When
I booked my place at the coach office I had had ‘Box Seat’ written
against the entry； and had given the book…keeper half…a…crown。 I
was got up in a special great…coat and shawl； expressly to do
honour to that distinguished eminence； had glorified myself upon
it a good deal； and had felt that I was a credit to the coach。 And
here； in the very first stage； I was supplanted by a shabby man
with a squint； who had no other merit than smelling like a livery…
stables； and being able to walk across me； more like a fly than a
human being； while the horses were at a canter！
A distrust of myself； which has often beset me in life on small
occasions； when it would have been better away； was assuredly
not stopped in its growth by this little incident outside the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Canterbury coach。 It was in vain to take refuge in gruffness of
speech。 I spoke from the pit of my stomach for the rest of the
journey； but I felt completely extinguished； and dreadfully young。
It was curious and interesting； nevertheless； to be sitting up
there behind four horses： well educated； well dressed； and with
plenty of money in my pocket； and to look out for the places where
I had slept on my weary journey。 I had abundant occupation for
my thoughts； in every conspicuous landmark on the road。 When I
looked down at the trampers whom we passed； and saw that well…
remembered style of face turned up； I felt as if the tinker’s
blackened hand were in the bosom of my shirt again。 When we
clattered through the narrow street of Chatham； and I caught a
glimpse； in passing； of the lane where the old monster lived who
had bought my jacket； I stretched my neck eagerly to look for the
place where I had sat； in the sun and in the shade； waiting for my
money。 When we came； at last； within a stage of London； and
passed the veritable Salem House where Mr。 Creakle had laid
about him with a heavy hand； I would have given all I had； for
lawful permission to get down and thrash him； and let all the boys
out like so many caged sparrows。
We went to the Golden Cross at Charing Cross； then a mouldy
sort of establishment in a close neighbourhood。 A waiter showed
me into the coffee…room； and a chambermaid introduced me to my
small bedchamber； which smelt like a hackney…coach； and was
shut up like a family vault。 I was still painfully conscious of my
youth； for nobody stood in any awe of me at all： the chambermaid
being utterly indifferent to my opinions on any subject； and the
waiter being familiar with me； and offering advice to my
inexperience。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Well now；’ said the waiter； in a tone of confidence； ‘what would
you like for dinner？ Young gentlemen likes poultry in general：
have a fowl！’
I told him； as majestically as I could； that I wasn’t in the
humour for a fowl。
‘Ain’t you？’ said the waiter。 ‘Young gentlemen is generally tired
of beef and mutton： have a weal cutlet！’
I assented to this proposal； in default of being able to suggest
anything else。
‘Do you care for taters？’ said the waiter； with an insinuating
smile； and his head on one side。 ‘Young gentlemen generally has
been overdosed with taters。’
I commanded him； in my deepest voice； to order a veal cutlet
and potatoes； and all things fitting； and to inquire at the bar if
there were any letters for Trotwood Copperfield； Esquire—which I
knew there were not； and couldn’t be； but thought it manly to
appear to expect。
He soon came back to say that there were none （at which I was
much surprised） and began to lay the cloth for my dinner in a box
by the fire。 While he was so engaged； he asked me what I would
take with it； and on my replying ‘Half a pint of sherry；’ thought it a
favourable opportunity； I am afraid； to extract that measure of
wine from the stale leavings at the bottoms of several small
decanters。 I am of this opinion； because； while I was reading the
newspaper； I observed him behind a low wooden partition； which
was his private apartment； very busy pouring out of a number of
those vessels into one； like a chemist and druggist making up a
prescription。 When the wine came； too； I thought it flat； and it
certainly had more English crumbs in it； than were to be expected
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
in a foreign wine in anything like a pure state； but I was bashful
enough to drink it； and say nothing。
Being then in a pleasant frame of mind （from which I infer that
poisoning is not always disagreeable in some stages of the
process）； I resolved to go to the play。 It was Covent Garden
Theatre that I chose； and there； from the back of a centre box； I
saw Julius Caesar and the new Pantomime。 To have all those
noble Romans alive before me； and walking in and out for my
entertainment； instead of being the stern taskmasters they had
been at school； was a most novel and delightful effect。 But the
mingled reality and mystery of the whole show； the influence upon
me of the poetry； the lights； the music； the company； the smooth
stupendous changes of glittering and brilliant scenery； were so
dazzling； and opened up such illimitable regions of delight； that
when I came out into the rainy street； at twelve o’clock at night； I
felt as if I had come from the clouds； where I had been leading a
romantic life for ages； to a bawling； splashing； link…lighted；
umbrella…struggling； hackney…coach…jostling； patten…clinking；
muddy； miserable world。
I had emerged by another door； and stood in the street for a
little while； as if I really were a stranger upon earth： but the
unceremonious pushing and hustling that I received； soon recalled
me to myself； and put me in the road back to the hotel； whither I
went； revolving the glorious vision all the way； and where； after
some porter and oysters； I sat revolving it still； at past one o’clock；
with my eyes on the coffee…room fire。
I was so filled with the play； and with the past—for it was； in a
manner； like a shining transparency； through