laughter。
‘You’ll consider yourself guardian； jointly with me； of this child；
Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt。
‘I shall be delighted；’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘to be the guardian of
David’s son。’
‘Very good；’ returned my aunt； ‘that’s settled。 I have been
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
thinking； do you know； Mr。 Dick； that I might call him Trotwood？’
‘Certainly； certainly。 Call him Trotwood； certainly；’ said Mr。
Dick。 ‘David’s son’s Trotwood。’
‘Trotwood Copperfield； you mean；’ returned my aunt。
‘Yes； to be sure。 Yes。 Trotwood Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Dick； a
little abashed。
My aunt took so kindly to the notion； that some ready…made
clothes； which were purchased for me that afternoon； were
marked ‘Trotwood Copperfield’； in her own handwriting； and in
indelible marking…ink； before I put them on； and it was settled that
all the other clothes which were ordered to be made for me （a
complete outfit was bespoke that afternoon） should be marked in
the same way。
Thus I began my new life； in a new name； and with everything
new about me。 Now that the state of doubt was over； I felt； for
many days； like one in a dream。 I never thought that I had a
curious couple of guardians； in my aunt and Mr。 Dick。 I never
thought of anything about myself； distinctly。 The two things
clearest in my mind were； that a remoteness had come upon the
old Blunderstone life—which seemed to lie in the haze of an
immeasurable distance； and that a curtain had for ever fallen on
my life at Murdstone and Grinby’s。 No one has ever raised that
curtain since。 I have lifted it for a moment； even in this narrative；
with a reluctant hand； and dropped it gladly。 The remembrance of
that life is fraught with so much pain to me； with so much mental
suffering and want of hope； that I have never had the courage
even to examine how long I was doomed to lead it。 Whether it
lasted for a year； or more； or less； I do not know。 I only know that
it was； and ceased to be； and that I have written； and there I leave
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 15
I MAKE ANOTHER BEGINNING
Mr。 Dick and I soon became the best of friends； and very
often； when his day’s work was done； went out together
to fly the great kite。 Every day of his life he had a long
sitting at the Memorial； which never made the least progress；
however hard he laboured； for King Charles the First always
strayed into it； sooner or later； and then it was thrown aside； and
another one begun。 The patience and hope with which he bore
these perpetual disappointments； the mild perception he had that
there was something wrong about King Charles the First； the
feeble efforts he made to keep him out； and the certainty with
which he came in； and tumbled the Memorial out of all shape；
made a deep impression on me。 What Mr。 Dick supposed would
come of the Memorial； if it were completed； where he thought it
was to go； or what he thought it was to do； he knew no more than
anybody else； I believe。 Nor was it at all necessary that he should
trouble himself with such questions； for if anything were certain
under the sun； it was certain that the Memorial never would be
finished。 It was quite an affecting sight； I used to think； to see him
with the kite when it was up a great height in the air。 What he had
told me； in his room； about his belief in its disseminating the
statements pasted on it； which were nothing but old leaves of
abortive Memorials； might have been a fancy with him sometimes；
but not when he was out； looking up at the kite in the sky； and
feeling it pull and tug at his hand。 He never looked so serene as he
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
did then。 I used to fancy； as I sat by him of an evening； on a green
slope； and saw him watch the kite high in the quiet air； that it
lifted his mind out of its confusion； and bore it （such was my
boyish thought） into the skies。 As he wound the string in and it
came lower and lower down out of the beautiful light； until it
fluttered to the ground； and lay there like a dead thing； he seemed
to wake gradually out of a dream； and I remember to have seen
him take it up； and look about him in a lost way； as if they had
both come down together； so that I pitied him with all my heart。
While I advanced in friendship and intimacy with Mr。 Dick； I
did not go backward in the favour of his staunch friend； my aunt。
She took so kindly to me； that； in the course of a few weeks； she
shortened my adopted name of Trotwood into Trot； and even
encouraged me to hope； that if I went on as I had begun； I might
take equal rank in her affections with my sister Betsey Trotwood。
‘Trot；’ said my aunt one evening； when the backgammon…board
was placed as usual for herself and Mr。 Dick； ‘we must not forget
your education。’
This was my only subject of anxiety； and I felt quite delighted
by her referring to it。
‘Should you like to go to school at Canterbury？’ said my aunt。
I replied that I should like it very much； as it was so near her。
‘Good；’ said my aunt。 ‘Should you like to go tomorrow？’
Being already no stranger to the general rapidity of my aunt’s
evolutions； I was not surprised by the suddenness of the proposal；
and said： ‘Yes。’
‘Good；’ said my aunt again。 ‘Janet； hire the grey pony and
chaise tomorrow morning at ten o’clock； and pack up Master
Trotwood’s clothes tonight。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I was greatly elated by these orders； but my heart smote me for
my selfishness； when I witnessed their effect on Mr。 Dick； who was
so low…spirited at the prospect of our separation； and played so ill
in consequence； that my aunt； after giving him several admonitory
raps on the knuckles with her dice…box； shut up the board； and
declined to play with him any more。 But； on hearing from my aunt
that I should sometimes come over on a Saturday； and that he
could sometimes come and see me on a Wednesday； he revived；
and vowed to make another kite for those occasions； of
proportions greatly surpassing the present one。 In the morning he
was downhearted again； and would have sustained himself by
giving me all the money he had in his possession； gold and silver
too； if my aunt had not interposed； and limited the gift to five
shillings； which； at his earnest petition； were afterwards increased
to ten。 We parted at the garden…gate in a most affectionate
manner； and Mr。 Dick did not go into the house until my aunt had
driven me out of sight of it。
My aunt； who was perfectly indifferent to public opinion； drove
the grey pony through Dover in a masterly manner； sitting high
and stiff like a state coachman； keeping a steady eye upon him
wherever he went； and making a point of not letting him have his
own way in any respect。 When we came into the country road； she
permitted him to relax a little； however； and looking at me down in
a valley of cushion by her side； asked me whether I was happy？
‘Very happy indeed； thank you； aunt；’ I said。
She was much gratified； and both her hands being occupied；
patted me on the head with her whip。
‘Is it a large school； aunt？’ I asked。
‘Why； I don’t know；’ said my aunt。 ‘We are going to Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Wickfield’s first。’
‘Does he keep a school？’ I asked。
‘No； Trot；’ said my aunt。 ‘He keeps an office。’
I asked for no more information about Mr。 Wickfield； as she
offered none； and we conversed on other subjects until we came to
Canterbury； where； as it was market…day； my aunt had a great
opportunity of insinuating the grey pony among carts； baskets；
vegetables； and huckster’s goods。 The hair…breadth turns and
twists we made； drew down upon us a variety of speeches from the
people standing about； which were not always complimentary； but
my aunt drove on with perfect indifference； and I dare say would
have taken her own way with as much coolness through an
enemy’s country。
At length we stopped before a very old house bulging out over
the road； a house with long low lattice…windows bulging out still
farther； and beams with carved heads on the ends bulging out too；
so that I fancied the whole house was leaning forward； trying to
see who was passing on the narrow pavement below。 It was quite
spotless in its cleanliness。 The old…fashioned brass knocker on the
low arched door； ornamented with carved garlands of fruit and
flowers； twinkled like a star； the two stone steps descending to the
door were as white as if they had been covered with fair linen； and
all the angles and corners； and carvings and mouldings； and
quaint little panes of glass； and quainter little windows； though as
old as the hills； were as pure as any snow that ever fell upon the
hills。
When the pony…chaise stopped at the door； and my eyes were
intent upon the house； I saw a cadaverous face appear at a small
window on the ground floor （in a little round tower that formed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
one side of the house）； and quickly disappear。 The low arched door
then opened； and the face came out。 It was quite as cadaverous as
it had looked in the window； though in the grain of it there was
that tinge of red which is sometimes to be observed in the skins of
red…haired people。 It belonged to a red…haired person—a youth of
fifteen； as I take it now； but looking much older—whose hair was
cropped as close as the closest stubble； who had hardly any
eyebrows； and no eyelashes； and eyes of a red…brown； so
unsheltered and unshaded； that I remember wondering how he
went to sleep。 He was high…shouldered and bony； dressed in
decent black； with a white wisp of a neckcloth； buttoned up to the
throat； and had a long； lank； skeleton hand； which particularly
attracted my attention； as he stood at the pony’s head； rubbing his
chin with it； and looking up at us in t