Creakle loomed behind him。 Again Mr。 Barkis appeared at the
gate； and again Miss Murdstone in her warning voice； said： ‘Clara！’
when my mother bent over me； to bid me farewell。
I kissed her； and my baby brother； and was very sorry then； but
not sorry to go away； for the gulf between us was there； and the
parting was there； every day。 And it is not so much the embrace
she gave me； that lives in my mind； though it was as fervent as
could be； as what followed the embrace。
I was in the carrier’s cart when I heard her calling to me。 I
looked out； and she stood at the garden…gate alone； holding her
baby up in her arms for me to see。 It was cold still weather； and
not a hair of her head； nor a fold of her dress； was stirred； as she
looked intently at me； holding up her child。
So I lost her。 So I saw her afterwards； in my sleep at school—a
silent presence near my bed—looking at me with the same intent
face—holding up her baby in her arms。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 9
I HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY
Ipass over all that happened at school； until the anniversary of
my birthday came round in March。 Except that Steerforth
was more to be admired than ever； I remember nothing。 He
was going away at the end of the half…year； if not sooner； and was
more spirited and independent than before in my eyes； and
therefore more engaging than before； but beyond this I remember
nothing。 The great remembrance by which that time is marked in
my mind； seems to have swallowed up all lesser recollections； and
to exist alone。
It is even difficult for me to believe that there was a gap of full
two months between my return to Salem House and the arrival of
that birthday。 I can only understand that the fact was so； because I
know it must have been so； otherwise I should feel convinced that
there was no interval； and that the one occasion trod upon the
other’s heels。
How well I recollect the kind of day it was！ I smell the fog that
hung about the place； I see the hoar frost； ghostly； through it； I feel
my rimy hair fall clammy on my cheek； I look along the dim
perspective of the schoolroom； with a sputtering candle here and
there to light up the foggy morning； and the breath of the boys
wreathing and smoking in the raw cold as they blow upon their
fingers； and tap their feet upon the floor。 It was after breakfast；
and we had been summoned in from the playground； when Mr。
Sharp entered and said：
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘David Copperfield is to go into the parlour。’
I expected a hamper from Peggotty； and brightened at the
order。 Some of the boys about me put in their claim not to be
forgotten in the distribution of the good things； as I got out of my
seat with great alacrity。
‘Don’t hurry； David；’ said Mr。 Sharp。 ‘There’s time enough； my
boy； don’t hurry。’
I might have been surprised by the feeling tone in which he
spoke； if I had given it a thought； but I gave it none until
afterwards。 I hurried away to the parlour； and there I found Mr。
Creakle； sitting at his breakfast with the cane and a newspaper
before him； and Mrs。 Creakle with an opened letter in her hand。
But no hamper。
‘David Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Creakle； leading me to a sofa； and
sitting down beside me。 ‘I want to speak to you very particularly。 I
have something to tell you； my child。’
Mr。 Creakle； at whom of course I looked； shook his head
without looking at me； and stopped up a sigh with a very large
piece of buttered toast。
‘You are too young to know how the world changes every day；’
said Mrs。 Creakle； ‘and how the people in it pass away。 But we all
have to learn it； David； some of us when we are young； some of us
when we are old； some of us at all times of our lives。’
I looked at her earnestly。
‘When you came away from home at the end of the vacation；’
said Mrs。 Creakle； after a pause； ‘were they all well？’ After another
pause； ‘Was your mama well？’
I trembled without distinctly knowing why； and still looked at
her earnestly； making no attempt to answer。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Because；’ said she； ‘I grieve to tell you that I hear this morning
your mama is very ill。’
A mist rose between Mrs。 Creakle and me； and her figure
seemed to move in it for an instant。 Then I felt the burning tears
run down my face； and it was steady again。
‘She is very dangerously ill；’ she added。
I knew all now。
‘She is dead。’
There was no need to tell me so。 I had already broken out into a
desolate cry； and felt an orphan in the wide world。
She was very kind to me。 She kept me there all day； and left me
alone sometimes； and I cried； and wore myself to sleep； and awoke
and cried again。 When I could cry no more； I began to think； and
then the oppression on my breast was heaviest； and my grief a dull
pain that there was no ease for。
And yet my thoughts were idle； not intent on the calamity that
weighed upon my heart； but idly loitering near it。 I thought of our
house shut up and hushed。 I thought of the little baby； who； Mrs。
Creakle said； had been pining away for some time； and who； they
believed； would die too。 I thought of my father’s grave in the
churchyard； by our house； and of my mother lying there beneath
the tree I knew so well。 I stood upon a chair when I was left alone；
and looked into the glass to see how red my eyes were； and how
sorrowful my face。 I considered； after some hours were gone； if my
tears were really hard to flow now； as they seemed to be； what； in
connexion with my loss； it would affect me most to think of when I
drew near home—for I was going home to the funeral。 I am
sensible of having felt that a dignity attached to me among the rest
of the boys； and that I was important in my affliction。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
If ever child were stricken with sincere grief； I was。 But I
remember that this importance was a kind of satisfaction to me；
when I walked in the playground that afternoon while the boys
were in school。 When I saw them glancing at me out of the
windows； as they went up to their classes； I felt distinguished； and
looked more melancholy； and walked slower。 When school was
over； and they came out and spoke to me； I felt it rather good in
myself not to be proud to any of them； and to take exactly the
same notice of them all； as before。
I was to go home next night； not by the mail； but by the heavy
night…coach； which was called the Farmer； and was principally
used by country…people travelling short intermediate distances
upon the road。 We had no story…telling that evening； and Traddles
insisted on lending me his pillow。 I don’t know what good he
thought it would do me； for I had one of my own： but it was all he
had to lend； poor fellow； except a sheet of letter…paper full of
skeletons； and that he gave me at parting； as a soother of my
sorrows and a contribution to my peace of mind。
I left Salem House upon the morrow afternoon。 I little thought
then that I left it； never to return。 We travelled very slowly all
night； and did not get into Yarmouth before nine or ten o’clock in
the morning。 I looked out for Mr。 Barkis； but he was not there； and
instead of him a fat； short…winded； merry…looking； little old man in
black； with rusty little bunches of ribbons at the knees of his
breeches； black stockings； and a broad…brimmed hat； came puffing
up to the coach window； and said：
‘Master Copperfield？’
‘Yes； sir。’
‘Will you come with me； young sir； if you please；’ he said；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
opening the door； ‘and I shall have the pleasure of taking you
home。’
I put my hand in his； wondering who he was； and we walked
away to a shop in a narrow street； on which was written OMER；
DRAPER； TAILOR； HABERDASHER； FUNERAL FURNISHER；
&c。 It was a close and stifling little shop； full of all sorts of clothing；
made and unmade； including one window full of beaver…hats and
bonnets。 We went into a little back…parlour behind the shop； where
we found three young women at work on a quantity of black
materials； which were heaped upon the table； and little bits and
cuttings of which were littered all over the floor。 There was a good
fire in the room； and a breathless smell of warm black crape—I did
not know what the smell was then； but I know now。
The three young women； who appeared to be very industrious
and comfortable； raised their heads to look at me； and then went
on with their work。 Stitch； stitch； stitch。 At the same time there
came from a workshop across a little yard outside the window； a
regular sound of hammering that kept a kind of tune： Rat—tat…tat；
Rat—tat…tat； Rat—tat…tat； without any variation。
‘Well；’ said my conductor to one of the three young women。
‘How do you get on； Minnie？’
‘We shall be ready by the trying…on time；’ she replied gaily；
without looking up。 ‘Don’t you be afraid； father。’
Mr。 Omer took off his broad…brimmed hat； and sat down and
panted。 He was so fat that he was obliged to pant some time before
he could say：
‘That’s right。’
‘Father！’ said Minnie； playfully。 ‘What a porpoise you do grow！’
‘Well； I don’t know how it is； my dear；’ he replied； considering
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
about it。 ‘I am rather so。’
‘You are such a comfortable man； you see；’ said Minnie。 ‘You
take things so easy。’
‘No use taking ’em otherwise； my dear；’ said Mr。 Omer。
‘No； indeed；’ returned his daughter。 ‘We are all pretty gay here；
thank Heaven！ Ain’t we； father？’
‘I hope so； my dear；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘As I have got my breath
now； I think I’ll measure this young scholar。 Would you walk into
the shop； Master Copperfield？’
I preceded Mr。 Omer； in compliance with his request； and after
showing me a roll of cloth which he said w