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I was so filled with the play； and with the past—for it was； in a
manner； like a shining transparency； through which I saw my
earlier life moving along—that I don’t know when the figure of a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
handsome well…formed young man dressed with a tasteful easy
negligence which I have reason to remember very well； became a
real presence to me。 But I recollect being conscious of his
company without having noticed his coming in—and my still
sitting； musing； over the coffee…room fire。
At last I rose to go to bed； much to the relief of the sleepy
waiter； who had got the fidgets in his legs； and was twisting them；
and hitting them； and putting them through all kinds of
contortions in his small pantry。 In going towards the door； I
passed the person who had come in； and saw him plainly。 I turned
directly； came back； and looked again。 He did not know me； but I
knew him in a moment。
At another time I might have wanted the confidence or the
decision to speak to him； and might have put it off until next day；
and might have lost him。 But； in the then condition of my mind；
where the play was still running high； his former protection of me
appeared so deserving of my gratitude； and my old love for him
overflowed my breast so freshly and spontaneously； that I went up
to him at once； with a fast…beating heart； and said：
‘Steerforth！ won’t you speak to me？’
He looked at me—just as he used to look； sometimes—but I saw
no recognition in his face。
‘You don’t remember me； I am afraid；’ said I。
‘My God！’ he suddenly exclaimed。 ‘It’s little Copperfield！’
I grasped him by both hands； and could not let them go。 But for
very shame； and the fear that it might displease him； I could have
held him round the neck and cried。
‘I never； never； never was so glad！ My dear Steerforth； I am so
overjoyed to see you！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘And I am rejoiced to see you； too！’ he said； shaking my hands
heartily。 ‘Why； Copperfield； old boy； don’t be overpowered！’ And
yet he was glad； too； I thought； to see how the delight I had in
meeting him affected me。
I brushed away the tears that my utmost resolution had not
been able to keep back； and I made a clumsy laugh of it； and we
sat down together； side by side。
‘Why； how do you come to be here？’ said Steerforth； clapping
me on the shoulder。
‘I came here by the Canterbury coach； today。 I have been
adopted by an aunt down in that part of the country； and have just
finished my education there。 How do you come to be here；
Steerforth？’
‘Well； I am what they call an Oxford man；’ he returned； ‘that is
to say； I get bored to death down there； periodically—and I am on
my way now to my mother’s。 You’re a devilish amiable…looking
fellow； Copperfield。 just what you used to be； now I look at you！
Not altered in the least！’
‘I knew you immediately；’ I said； ‘but you are more easily
remembered。’
He laughed as he ran his hand through the clustering curls of
his hair； and said gaily：
‘Yes； I am on an expedition of duty。 My mother lives a little way
out of town； and the roads being in a beastly condition； and our
house tedious enough； I remained here tonight instead of going
on。 I have not been in town half…a…dozen hours； and those I have
been dozing and grumbling away at the play。’
‘I have been at the play； too；’ said I。 ‘At Covent Garden。 What a
delightful and magnificent entertainment； Steerforth！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Steerforth laughed heartily。
‘My dear young Davy；’ he said； clapping me on the shoulder
again； ‘you are a very Daisy。 The daisy of the field； at sunrise； is
not fresher than you are。 I have been at Covent Garden； too； and
there never was a more miserable business。 Holloa； you sir！’
This was addressed to the waiter； who had been very attentive
to our recognition； at a distance； and now came forward
deferentially。
‘Where have you put my friend； Mr。 Copperfield？’ said
Steerforth。
‘Beg your pardon； sir？’
‘Where does he sleep？ What’s his number？ You know what I
mean；’ said Steerforth。
‘Well； sir；’ said the waiter； with an apologetic air。 ‘Mr。
Copperfield is at present in forty…four； sir。’
‘And what the devil do you mean；’ retorted Steerforth； ‘by
putting Mr。 Copperfield into a little loft over a stable？’
‘Why； you see we wasn’t aware； sir；’ returned the waiter； still
apologetically； ‘as Mr。 Copperfield was anyways particular。 We can
give Mr。 Copperfield seventy…two； sir； if it would be preferred。
Next you； sir。’
‘Of course it would be preferred；’ said Steerforth。 ‘And do it at
once。’ The waiter immediately withdrew to make the exchange。
Steerforth； very much amused at my having been put into forty…
four； laughed again； and clapped me on the shoulder again； and
invited me to breakfast with him next morning at ten o’clock—an
invitation I was only too proud and happy to accept。 It being now
pretty late； we took our candles and went upstairs； where we
parted with friendly heartiness at his door； and where I found my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
new room a great improvement on my old one； it not being at all
musty； and having an immense four…post bedstead in it； which was
quite a little landed estate。 Here； among pillows enough for six； I
soon fell asleep in a blissful condition； and dreamed of ancient
Rome； Steerforth； and friendship； until the early morning coaches；
rumbling out of the archway underneath； made me dream of
thunder and the gods。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 20
STEERFORTH’S HOME
When the chambermaid tapped at my door at eight
o’clock； and informed me that my shaving…water was
outside； I felt severely the having no occasion for it；
and blushed in my bed。 The suspicion that she laughed too； when
she said it； preyed upon my mind all the time I was dressing； and
gave me； I was conscious； a sneaking and guilty air when I passed
her on the staircase； as I was going down to breakfast。 I was so
sensitively aware； indeed； of being younger than I could have
wished； that for some time I could not make up my mind to pass
her at all； under the ignoble circumstances of the case； but；
hearing her there with a broom； stood peeping out of window at
King Charles on horseback； surrounded by a maze of hackney…
coaches； and looking anything but regal in a drizzling rain and a
dark…brown fog； until I was admonished by the waiter that the
gentleman was waiting for me。
It was not in the coffee…room that I found Steerforth expecting
me； but in a snug private apartment； red…curtained and Turkey…
carpeted； where the fire burnt bright； and a fine hot breakfast was
set forth on a table covered with a clean cloth； and a cheerful
miniature of the room； the fire； the breakfast； Steerforth； and all；
was shining in the little round mirror over the sideboard。 I was
rather