like this the best。 It will be easily believed that I am a fond parent
to every child of my fancy； and that no one can ever love that
family as dearly as I love them。 But； like many fond parents； I have
in my heart of hearts a favourite child。 And his name is DAVID
COPPERFIELD。 1869
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 1
I AM BORN
Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life； or
whether that station will be held by anybody else； these
pages must show。 To begin my life with the beginning
of my life； I record that I was born （as I have been informed and
believe） on a Friday； at twelve o’clock at night。 It was remarked
that the clock began to strike； and I began to cry； simultaneously。
In consideration of the day and hour of my birth； it was
declared by the nurse； and by some sage women in the
neighbourhood who had taken a lively interest in me several
months before there was any possibility of our becoming
personally acquainted； first； that I was destined to be unlucky in
life； and secondly； that I was privileged to see ghosts and spirits；
both these gifts inevitably attaching； as they believed； to all
unlucky infants of either gender； born towards the small hours on
a Friday night。
I need say nothing here； on the first head； because nothing can
show better than my history whether that prediction was verified
or falsified by the result。 On the second branch of the question； I
will only remark； that unless I ran through that part of my
inheritance while I was still a baby； I have not come into it yet。 But
I do not at all complain of having been kept out of this property；
and if anybody else should be in the present enjoyment of it； he is
heartily welcome to keep it。
I was born with a caul； which was advertised for sale； in the
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David Copperfield
newspapers； at the low price of fifteen guineas。 Whether sea…going
people were short of money about that time； or were short of faith
and preferred cork jackets； I don’t know； all I know is； that there
was but one solitary bidding； and that was from an attorney
connected with the bill…broking business； who offered two pounds
in cash； and the balance in sherry； but declined to be guaranteed
from drowning on any higher bargain。 Consequently the
advertisement was withdrawn at a dead loss—for as to sherry； my
poor dear mother’s own sherry was in the market then—and ten
years afterwards； the caul was put up in a raffle down in our part
of the country； to fifty members at half…a…crown a head； the winner
to spend five shillings。 I was present myself； and I remember to
have felt quite uncomfortable and confused； at a part of myself
being disposed of in that way。 The caul was won； I recollect； by an
old lady with a hand…basket； who； very reluctantly； produced from
it the stipulated five shillings； all in halfpence； and twopence
halfpenny short—as it took an immense time and a great waste of
arithmetic； to endeavour without any effect to prove to her。 It is a
fact which will be long remembered as remarkable down there；
that she was never drowned； but died triumphantly in bed； at
ninety…two。 I have understood that it was； to the last； her proudest
boast； that she never had been on the water in her life； except
upon a bridge； and that over her tea （to which she was extremely
partial） she； to the last； expressed her indignation at the impiety of
mariners and others； who had the presumption to go ‘meandering’
about the world。 It was in vain to represent to her that some
conveniences； tea perhaps included； resulted from this
objectionable practice。 She always returned； with greater
emphasis and with an instinctive knowledge of the strength of her
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David Copperfield
objection； ‘Let us have no meandering。’
Not to meander myself； at present； I will go back to my birth。
I was born at Blunderstone； in Suffolk； or ‘there by’； as they say
in Scotland。 I was a posthumous child。 My father’s eyes had closed
upon the light of this world six months； when mine opened on it。
There is something strange to me； even now； in the reflection that
he never saw me； and something stranger yet in the shadowy
remembrance that I have of my first childish associations with his
white grave…stone in the churchyard； and of the indefinable
compassion I used to feel for it lying out alone there in the dark
night； when our little parlour was warm and bright with fire and
candle； and the doors of our house were—almost cruelly； it
seemed to me sometimes—bolted and locked against it。
An aunt of my father’s； and consequently a great…aunt of mine；
of whom I shall have more to relate by and by； was the principal
magnate of our family。 Miss Trotwood； or Miss Betsey； as my poor
mother always called her； when she sufficiently overcame her
dread of this formidable personage to mention her at all （which
was seldom）； had been married to a husband younger than herself；
who was very handsome； except in the sense of the homely adage；
‘handsome is； that handsome does’—for he was strongly suspected
of having beaten Miss Betsey； and even of having once； on a
disputed question of supplies； made some hasty but determined
arrangements to throw her out of a two pair of stairs’ window。
These evidences of an incompatibility of temper induced Miss
Betsey to pay him off； and effect a separation by mutual consent。
He went to India with his capital； and there； according to a wild
legend in our family； he was once seen riding on an elephant； in
company with a Baboon； but I think it must have been a Baboo—
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David Copperfield
or a Begum。 Anyhow； from India tidings of his death reached
home； within ten years。 How they affected my aunt； nobody knew；
for immediately upon the separation； she took her maiden name
again； bought a cottage in a hamlet on the sea…coast a long way off；
established herself there as a single woman with one servant； and
was understood to live secluded； ever afterwards； in an inflexible
retirement。
My father had once been a favourite of hers； I believe； but she
was mortally affronted by his marriage； on the ground that my
mother was ‘a wax doll’。 She had never seen my mother； but she
knew her to be not yet twenty。 My father and Miss Betsey never
met again。 He was double my mother’s age when he married； and
of but a delicate constitution。 He died a year afterwards； and； as I
have said； six months before I came into the world。
This was the state of matters； on the afternoon of； what I may
be excused for calling； that eventful and important Friday。 I can
make no claim therefore to have known； at that time； how matters
stood； or to have any remembrance； founded on the evidence of
my own senses； of what follows。
My mother was sitting by the fire； but poorly in health； and very
low in spirits； looking at it through her tears； and desponding
heavily about herself and the fatherless little stranger； who was
already welcomed by some grosses of prophetic pins； in a drawer
upstairs； to a world not at all excited on the subject of his arrival；
my mother； I say； was sitting by the fire； that bright； windy March
afternoon； very timid and sad； and very doubtful of ever coming
alive out of the trial that was before her； when； lifting her eyes as
she dried them； to the window opposite； she saw a strange lady
coming up the garden。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
My mother had a sure foreboding at the second glance； that it
was Miss Betsey。 The setting sun was glowing on the strange lady；
over the garden…fence； and she came walking up to the door with a
fell rigidity of figure and composure of countenance that could
have belonged to nobody else。
When she reached the house； she gave another proof of her
identity。 My father had often hinted that she seldom conducted
herself like any ordinary Christian； and now； instead of ringing the
bell； she came and looked in at that identical window； pressing the
end of her nose against the glass to that extent； that my poor dear
mother used to say it became perfectly flat and white in a moment。
She gave my mother such a turn； that I have always been
convinced I am indebted to Miss Betsey for having been born on a
Friday。
My mother had left her chair in her agitation； and gone behind
it in the corner。 Miss Betsey； looking round the room； slowly and
inquiringly； began on the other side； and carried her eyes on； like
a Saracen’s Head in a Dutch clock； until they reached my mother。
Then she made a frown and a gesture to my mother； like one who
was accustomed to be obeyed； to come and open the door。 My
mother went。
‘Mrs。 David Copperfield； I think；’ said Miss Betsey； the
emphasis referring； perhaps； to my mother’s mourning weeds； and
her condition。
‘Yes；’ said my mother； faintly。
‘Miss Trotwood；’ said the visitor。 ‘You have heard of her； I dare
say？’
My mother answered she had had that pleasure。 And she had a
disagreeable consciousness of not appearing to imply that it had
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David Copperfield
been an overpowering pleasure。
‘Now you see her；’ said Miss Betsey。 My mother bent her head；
and begged her to walk in。
They went into the parlour my mother had come from； the fire
in the best room on the other side of the passage not being
lighted—not having been lighted； indeed； since my father’s
funeral； and when they were both seated； and Miss Betsey said
nothing； my mother； after vainly trying to restrain herself； began
to cry。 ‘Oh tut； tut； tut！’ said Miss Betsey； in a hurry。 ‘Don’t do that！
Come； come！’
My mother couldn’t help it notwithstanding； so she cried until
she had had her cry out。
‘Take off your cap； child；’ said Miss Betsey； ‘and let me see you。’
My mother was too much afraid of her to refuse compliance
with this odd request； if she had any disposition to do so。
Therefore she d