believe he only did it because they were easy； and didn’t want any
features。
He was very honourable； Traddles was； and held it as a solemn
duty in the boys to stand by one another。 He suffered for this on
several occasions； and particularly once； when Steerforth laughed
in church； and the Beadle thought it was Traddles； and took him
out。 I see him now； going away in custody； despised by the
congregation。 He never said who was the real offender； though he
smarted for it next day； and was imprisoned so many hours that he
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came forth with a whole churchyard…full of skeletons swarming all
over his Latin Dictionary。 But he had his reward。 Steerforth said
there was nothing of the sneak in Traddles； and we all felt that to
be the highest praise。 For my part； I could have gone through a
good deal （though I was much less brave than Traddles； and
nothing like so old） to have won such a recompense。
To see Steerforth walk to church before us； arm…in…arm with
Miss Creakle； was one of the great sights of my life。 I didn’t think
Miss Creakle equal to little Em’ly in point of beauty； and I didn’t
love her （I didn’t dare）； but I thought her a young lady of
extraordinary attractions； and in point of gentility not to be
surpassed。 When Steerforth； in white trousers； carried her parasol
for her； I felt proud to know him； and believed that she could not
choose but adore him with all her heart。 Mr。 Sharp and Mr。 Mell
were both notable personages in my eyes； but Steerforth was to
them what the sun was to two stars。
Steerforth continued his protection of me； and proved a very
useful friend； since nobody dared to annoy one whom he
honoured with his countenance。 He couldn’t—or at all events he
didn’t—defend me from Mr。 Creakle； who was very severe with
me； but whenever I had been treated worse than usual； he always
told me that I wanted a little of his pluck； and that he wouldn’t
have stood it himself； which I felt he intended for encouragement；
and considered to be very kind of him。 There was one advantage；
and only one that I know of； in Mr。 Creakle’s severity。 He found
my placard in his way when he came up or down behind the form
on which I sat； and wanted to make a cut at me in passing； for this
reason it was soon taken off； and I saw it no more。
An accidental circumstance cemented the intimacy between
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Steerforth and me； in a manner that inspired me with great pride
and satisfaction； though it sometimes led to inconvenience。 It
happened on one occasion； when he was doing me the honour of
talking to me in the playground； that I hazarded the observation
that something or somebody—I forget what now—was like
something or somebody in Peregrine Pickle。 He said nothing at
the time； but when I was going to bed at night； asked me if I had
got that book？
I told him no； and explained how it was that I had read it； and
all those other books of which I have made mention。
‘And do you recollect them？’ Steerforth said。
‘Oh yes；’ I replied； I had a good memory； and I believed I
recollected them very well。
‘Then I tell you what； young Copperfield；’ said Steerforth； ‘you
shall tell ’em to me。 I can’t get to sleep very early at night； and I
generally wake rather early in the morning。 We’ll go over ’em one
after another。 We’ll make some regular Arabian Nights of it。’
I felt extremely flattered by this arrangement； and we
commenced carrying it into execution that very evening。 What
ravages I committed on my favourite authors in the course of my
interpretation of them； I am not in a condition to say； and should
be very unwilling to know； but I had a profound faith in them； and
I had； to the best of my belief； a simple； earnest manner of
narrating what I did narrate； and these qualities went a long way。
The drawback was； that I was often sleepy at night； or out of
spirits and indisposed to resume the story； and then it was rather
hard work； and it must be done； for to disappoint or to displease
Steerforth was of course out of the question。 In the morning； too；
when I felt weary； and should have enjoyed another hour’s repose
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very much； it was a tiresome thing to be roused； like the Sultana
Scheherazade； and forced into a long story before the getting…up
bell rang； but Steerforth was resolute； and as he explained to me；
in return； my sums and exercises； and anything in my tasks that
was too hard for me； I was no loser by the transaction。 Let me do
myself justice； however。 I was moved by no interested or selfish
motive； nor was I moved by fear of him。 I admired and loved him；
and his approval was return enough。 It was so precious to me that
I look back on these trifles； now； with an aching heart。
Steerforth was considerate； too； and showed his consideration；
in one particular instance； in an unflinching manner that was a
little tantalizing； I suspect； to poor Traddles and the rest。
Peggotty’s promised letter—what a comfortable letter it was！—
arrived before ‘the half’ was many weeks old； and with it a cake in
a perfect nest of oranges； and two bottles of cowslip wine。 This
treasure； as in duty bound； I laid at the feet of Steerforth； and
begged him to dispense。
‘Now； I’ll tell you what； young Copperfield；’ said he： ‘the wine
shall be kept to wet your whistle when you are story…telling。’
I blushed at the idea； and begged him； in my modesty； not to
think of it。 But he said he had observed I was sometimes hoarse—
a little roopy was his exact expression—and it should be； every
drop； devoted to the purpose he had mentioned。 Accordingly； it
was locked up in his box； and drawn off by himself in a phial； and
administered to me through a piece of quill in the cork； when I
was supposed to be in want of a restorative。 Sometimes； to make it
a more sovereign specific； he was so kind as to squeeze orange
juice into it； or to stir it up with ginger； or dissolve a peppermint
drop in it； and although I cannot assert that the flavour was
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improved by these experiments； or that it was exactly the
compound one would have chosen for a stomachic； the last thing
at night and the first thing in the morning； I drank it gratefully and
was very sensible of his attention。
We seem； to me； to have been months over Peregrine； and
months more over the other stories。 The institution never flagged
for want of a story； I am certain； and the wine lasted out almost as
well as the matter。 Poor Traddles—I never think of that boy but
with a strange disposition to laugh； and with tears in my eyes—
was a sort of chorus； in general； and affected to be convulsed with
mirth at the comic parts； and to be overcome with fear when there
was any passage of an alarming character in the narrative。 This
rather put me out； very often。 It was a great jest of his； I recollect；
to pretend that he couldn’t keep his teeth from chattering；
whenever mention was made of an Alguazill in connexion with the
adventures of Gil Blas； and I remember that when Gil Blas met
the captain of the robbers in Madrid； this unlucky joker
counterfeited such an ague of terror； that he was overheard by Mr。
Creakle； who was prowling about the passage； and handsomely
flogged for disorderly conduct in the bedroom。 Whatever I had
within me that was romantic and dreamy； was encouraged by so
much story…telling in the dark； and in that respect the pursuit may
not have been very profitable to me。 But the being cherished as a
kind of plaything in my room； and the consciousness that this
accomplishment of mine was bruited about among the boys； and
attracted a good deal of notice to me though I was the youngest
there； stimulated me to exertion。 In a school carried on by sheer
cruelty； whether it is presided over by a dunce or not； there is not
likely to be much learnt。 I believe our boys were； generally； as
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ignorant a set as any schoolboys in existence； they were too much
troubled and knocked about to learn； they could no more do that
to advantage； than any one can do anything to advantage in a life
of constant misfortune； torment； and worry。 But my little vanity；
and Steerforth’s help； urged me on somehow； and without saving
me from much； if anything； in the way of punishment； made me；
for the time I was there； an exception to the general body；
insomuch that I did steadily pick up some crumbs of knowledge。
In this I was much assisted by Mr。 Mell； who had a liking for me
that I am grateful to remember。 It always gave me pain to observe
that Steerforth treated him with systematic disparagement； and
seldom lost an occasion of wounding his feelings； or inducing
others to do so。 This troubled me the more for a long time； because
I had soon told Steerforth； from whom I could no more keep such
a secret； than I could keep a cake or any other tangible possession；
about the two old women Mr。 Mell had taken me to see； and I was
always afraid that Steerforth would let it out； and twit him with it。
We little thought； any one of us； I dare say； when I ate my
breakfast that first morning； and went to sleep under the shadow
of the peacock’s feathers to the sound of the flute； what
consequences would come of the introduction into those almshouses of my insignificant person。 But the visit had its unforeseen
consequences； and of a serious sort； too； in their way。
One day when Mr。 Creakle kept the house from indisposition；
which naturally diffused a lively joy through the school； there was
a good deal of noise in the course of the morning’s work。 The great
relief and satisfaction experienced by the boys made them difficult
to manage； and though the dreaded Tungay brought his wooden
leg in twice or thrice； and took notes of the principal offenders’
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David Copperfie