offered； and that； after a rather light dinner； I should remain
hungry all night—for I had left my cakes behind； at the hotel； in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
my hurry。 My apprehensions were realized。 When we stopped for
supper I couldn’t muster courage to take any； though I should
have liked it very much； but sat by the fire and said I didn’t want
anything。 This did not save me from more jokes； either； for a
husky…voiced gentleman with a rough face； who had been eating
out of a sandwich…box nearly all the way； except when he had been
drinking out of a bottle； said I was like a boa…constrictor who took
enough at one meal to last him a long time； after which； he
actually brought a rash out upon himself with boiled beef。
We had started from Yarmouth at three o’clock in the
afternoon； and we were due in London about eight next morning。
It was Mid…summer weather； and the evening was very pleasant。
When we passed through a village； I pictured to myself what the
insides of the houses were like； and what the inhabitants were
about； and when boys came running after us； and got up behind
and swung there for a little way； I wondered whether their fathers
were alive； and whether they Were happy at home。 I had plenty to
think of； therefore； besides my mind running continually on the
kind of place I was going to—which was an awful speculation。
Sometimes； I remember； I resigned myself to thoughts of home
and Peggotty； and to endeavouring； in a confused blind way； to
recall how I had felt； and what sort of boy I used to be； before I bit
Mr。 Murdstone： which I couldn’t satisfy myself about by any
means； I seemed to have bitten him in such a remote antiquity。
The night was not so pleasant as the evening； for it got chilly；
and being put between two gentlemen （the rough…faced one and
another） to prevent my tumbling off the coach； I was nearly
smothered by their falling asleep； and completely blocking me up。
They squeezed me so hard sometimes； that I could not help crying
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
out； ‘Oh！ If you please！’—which they didn’t like at all； because it
woke them。 Opposite me was an elderly lady in a great fur cloak；
who looked in the dark more like a haystack than a lady； she was
wrapped up to such a degree。 This lady had a basket with her； and
she hadn’t known what to do with it； for a long time； until she
found that on account of my legs being short； it could go
underneath me。 It cramped and hurt me so； that it made me
perfectly miserable； but if I moved in the least； and made a glass
that was in the basket rattle against something else （as it was sure
to do）； she gave me the cruellest poke with her foot； and said；
‘Come； don’t you fidget。 Your bones are young enough； I’m sure！’
At last the sun rose； and then my companions seemed to sleep
easier。 The difficulties under which they had laboured all night；
and which had found utterance in the most terrific gasps and
snorts； are not to be conceived。 As the sun got higher； their sleep
became lighter； and so they gradually one by one awoke。 I
recollect being very much surprised by the feint everybody made；
then； of not having been to sleep at all； and by the uncommon
indignation with which everyone repelled the charge。 I labour
under the same kind of astonishment to this day； having invariably
observed that of all human weaknesses； the one to which our
common nature is the least disposed to confess （I cannot imagine
why） is the weakness of having gone to sleep in a coach。
What an amazing place London was to me when I saw it in the
distance； and how I believed all the adventures of all my favourite
heroes to be constantly enacting and re…enacting there； and how I
vaguely made it out in my own mind to be fuller of wonders and
wickedness than all the cities of the earth； I need not stop here to
relate。 We approached it by degrees； and got； in due time； to the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
inn in the Whitechapel district； for which we were bound。 I forget
whether it was the Blue Bull； or the Blue Boar； but I know it was
the Blue Something； and that its likeness was painted up on the
back of the coach。
The guard’s eye lighted on me as he was getting down； and he
said at the booking…office door：
‘Is there anybody here for a yoongster booked in the name of
Murdstone； from Bloonderstone； Sooffolk； to be left till called for？’
Nobody answered。
‘Try Copperfield； if you please； sir；’ said I； looking helplessly
down。
‘Is there anybody here for a yoongster； booked in the name of
Murdstone； from Bloonderstone； Sooffolk； but owning to the name
of Copperfield； to be left till called for？’ said the guard。 ‘Come！ Is
there anybody？’
No。 There was nobody。 I looked anxiously around； but the
inquiry made no impression on any of the bystanders； if I except a
man in gaiters； with one eye； who suggested that they had better
put a brass collar round my neck； and tie me up in the stable。
A ladder was brought； and I got down after the lady； who was
like a haystack： not daring to stir； until her basket was removed。
The coach was clear of passengers by that time； the luggage was
very soon cleared out； the horses had been taken out before the
luggage； and now the coach itself was wheeled and backed off by
some hostlers； out of the way。 Still； nobody appeared； to claim the
dusty youngster from Blunderstone； Suffolk。
More solitary than Robinson Crusoe； who had nobody to look at
him and see that he was solitary； I went into the booking…office；
and； by invitation of the clerk on duty； passed behind the counter；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and sat down on the scale at which they weighed the luggage。
Here； as I sat looking at the parcels； packages； and books； and
inhaling the smell of stables （ever since associated with that
morning）； a procession of most tremendous considerations began
to march through my mind。 Supposing nobody should ever fetch
me； how long would they consent to keep me there？ Would they
keep me long enough to spend seven shillings？ Should I sleep at
night in one of those wooden bins； with the other luggage； and
wash myself at the pump in the yard in the morning； or should I
be turned out every night； and expected to come again to be left
till called for； when the office opened next day？ Supposing there
was no mistake in the case； and Mr。 Murdstone had devised this
plan to get rid of me； what should I do？ If they allowed me to
remain there until my seven shillings were spent； I couldn’t hope
to remain there when I began to starve。 That would obviously be
inconvenient and unpleasant to the customers； besides entailing
on the Blue Whatever…it…was； the risk of funeral expenses。 If I
started off at once； and tried to walk back home； how could I ever
find my way； how could I ever hope to walk so far； how could I
make sure of anyone but Peggotty； even if I got back？ If I found
out the nearest proper authorities； and offered myself to go for a
soldier； or a sailor； I was such a little fellow that it was most likely
they wouldn’t take me in。 These thoughts； and a hundred other
such thoughts； turned me burning hot； and made me giddy with
apprehension and dismay。 I was in the height of my fever when a
man entered and whispered to the clerk； who presently slanted me
off the scale； and pushed me over to him； as if I were weighed；
bought； delivered； and paid for。
As I went out of the office； hand in hand with this new
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
acquaintance； I stole a look at him。 He was a gaunt； sallow young
man； with hollow cheeks； and a chin almost as black as Mr。
Murdstone’s； but there the likeness ended； for his whiskers were
shaved off； and his hair； instead of being glossy； was rusty and dry。
He was dressed in a suit of black clothes which were rather rusty
and dry too； and rather short in the sleeves and legs； and he had a
white neck…kerchief on； that was not over…clean。 I did not； and do
not； suppose that this neck…kerchief was all the linen he wore； but
it was all he showed or gave any hint of。
‘You’re the new boy？’ he said。 ‘Yes； sir；’ I said。
I supposed I was。 I didn’t know。
‘I’m one of the masters at Salem House；’ he said。
I made him a bow and felt very much overawed。 I was so
ashamed to allude to a commonplace thing like my box； to a
scholar and a master at Salem House； that we had gone some little
distance from the yard before I had the hardihood to mention it。
We turned back； on my humbly insinuating that it might be useful
to me hereafter； and he told the clerk that the carrier had
instructions to call for it at noon。
‘If you please； sir；’ I said； when we had accomplished about the
same distance as before； ‘is it far？’
‘It’s down by Blackheath；’ he said。
‘Is that far； sir？’ I diffidently asked。
‘It’s a good step；’ he said。 ‘We shall go by the stage…coach。 It’s
about six miles。’
I was so faint and tired； that the idea of holding out for six miles
more； was too much for me。 I took heart to tell him that I had had
nothing all night； and that if he would allow me to buy something
to eat； I should be very much obliged to him。 He appeared
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
surprised at this—I see him stop and look at me now—and after
considering for a few moments； said he wanted to call on an old
person who lived not far off； and that the best way would be for me
to buy some bread； or whatever I liked best that was wholesome；
and make my breakfast at her house； where we could get some
milk。
Accordingly we looked in at a baker’s window； and after I had
made a series of proposals to buy everything that was bilious in
the shop； and he had rejected them one by one； we decided in
favour of a nice little loaf of brown bread； which cost me
threepence。 Then； at a grocer’s shop； we bought an egg and a slice
of s