Copperfield； I should think you would； indeed！’ and； ‘Oh； indeed；
Master Copperfield； I should think you would； certainly！’ over and
over again。 Being； at last； ready to leave the office for the night； he
asked me if it would suit my convenience to have the light put out；
and on my answering ‘Yes；’ instantly extinguished it。 After
shaking hands with me—his hand felt like a fish； in the dark—he
opened the door into the street a very little； and crept out； and
shut it； leaving me to grope my way back into the house： which
cost me some trouble and a fall over his stool。 This was the
proximate cause； I suppose； of my dreaming about him； for what
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
appeared to me to be half the night； and dreaming； among other
things； that he had launched Mr。 Peggotty’s house on a piratical
expedition； with a black flag at the masthead； bearing the
inscription ‘Tidd’s Practice’； under which diabolical ensign he was
carrying me and little Em’ly to the Spanish Main； to be drowned。
I got a little the better of my uneasiness when I went to school
next day； and a good deal the better next day； and so shook it off
by degrees； that in less than a fortnight I was quite at home； and
happy； among my new companions。 I was awkward enough in
their games； and backward enough in their studies； but custom
would improve me in the first respect； I hoped； and hard work in
the second。 Accordingly； I went to work very hard； both in play
and in earnest； and gained great commendation。 And； in a very
little while； the Murdstone and Grinby life became so strange to
me that I hardly believed in it； while my present life grew so
familiar； that I seemed to have been leading it a long time。
Doctor Strong’s was an excellent school； as different from Mr。
Creakle’s as good is from evil。 It was very gravely and decorously
ordered； and on a sound system； with an appeal； in everything； to
the honour and good faith of the boys； and an avowed intention to
rely on their possession of those qualities unless they proved
themselves unworthy of it； which worked wonders。 We all felt that
we had a part in the management of the place； and in sustaining
its character and dignity。 Hence； we soon became warmly attached
to it—I am sure I did for one； and I never knew； in all my time； of
any other boy being otherwise—and learnt with a good will；
desiring to do it credit。 We had noble games out of hours； and
plenty of liberty； but even then； as I remember； we were well
spoken of in the town； and rarely did any disgrace； by our
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
appearance or manner； to the reputation of Doctor Strong and
Doctor Strong’s boys。
Some of the higher scholars boarded in the Doctor’s house； and
through them I learned； at second hand； some particulars of the
Doctor’s history—as； how he had not yet been married twelve
months to the beautiful young lady I had seen in the study； whom
he had married for love； for she had not a sixpence； and had a
world of poor relations （so our fellows said） ready to swarm the
Doctor out of house and home。 Also； how the Doctor’s cogitating
manner was attributable to his being always engaged in looking
out for Greek roots； which； in my innocence and ignorance； I
supposed to be a botanical furor on the Doctor’s part； especially as
he always looked at the ground when he walked about； until I
understood that they were roots of words； with a view to a new
Dictionary which he had in contemplation。 Adams； our head…boy；
who had a turn for mathematics； had made a calculation； I was
informed； of the time this Dictionary would take in completing； on
the Doctor’s plan； and at the Doctor’s rate of going。 He considered
that it might be done in one thousand six hundred and forty…nine
years； counting from the Doctor’s last； or sixty…second； birthday。
But the Doctor himself was the idol of the whole school： and it
must have been a badly composed school if he had been anything
else； for he was the kindest of men； with a simple faith in him that
might have touched the stone hearts of the very urns upon the
wall。 As he walked up and down that part of the courtyard which
was at the side of the house； with the stray rooks and jackdaws
looking after him with their heads cocked slyly； as if they knew
how much more knowing they were in worldly affairs than he； if
any sort of vagabond could only get near enough to his creaking
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
shoes to attract his attention to one sentence of a tale of distress；
that vagabond was made for the next two days。 It was so notorious
in the house； that the masters and head…boys took pains to cut
these marauders off at angles； and to get out of windows； and turn
them out of the courtyard； before they could make the Doctor
aware of their presence； which was sometimes happily effected
within a few yards of him； without his knowing anything of the
matter； as he jogged to and fro。 Outside his own domain； and
unprotected； he was a very sheep for the shearers。 He would have
taken his gaiters off his legs； to give away。 In fact； there was a story
current among us （I have no idea； and never had； on what
authority； but I have believed it for so many years that I feel quite
certain it is true）； that on a frosty day； one winter…time； he actually
did bestow his gaiters on a beggar…woman； who occasioned some
scandal in the neighbourhood by exhibiting a fine infant from door
to door； wrapped in those garments； which were universally
recognized； being as well known in the vicinity as the Cathedral。
The legend added that the only person who did not identify them
was the Doctor himself； who； when they were shortly afterwards
displayed at the door of a little second…hand shop of no very good
repute； where such things were taken in exchange for gin； was
more than once observed to handle them approvingly； as if
admiring some curious novelty in the pattern； and considering
them an improvement on his own。
It was very pleasant to see the Doctor with his pretty young
wife。 He had a fatherly； benignant way of showing his fondness for
her； which seemed in itself to express a good man。 I often saw
them walking in the garden where the peaches were； and I
sometimes had a nearer observation of them in the study or the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
parlour。 She appeared to me to take great care of the Doctor； and
to like him very much； though I never thought her vitally
interested in the Dictionary： some cumbrous fragments of which
work the Doctor always carried in his pockets； and in the lining of
his hat； and generally seemed to be expounding to her as they
walked about。
I saw a good deal of Mrs。 Strong； both because she had taken a
liking for me on the morning of my introduction to the Doctor； and
was always afterwards kind to me； and interested in me； and
because she was very fond of Agnes； and was often backwards and
forwards at our house。 There was a curious constraint between
her and Mr。 Wickfield； I thought （of whom she seemed to be
afraid）； that never wore off。 When she came there of an evening；
she always shrunk from accepting his escort home； and ran away
with me instead。 And sometimes； as we were running gaily across
the Cathedral yard together； expecting to meet nobody； we would
meet Mr。 Jack Maldon； who was always surprised to see us。
Mrs。 Strong’s mama was a lady I took great delight in。 Her
name was Mrs。 Markleham； but our boys used to call her the Old
Soldier； on account of her generalship； and the skill with which
she marshalled great forces of relations against the Doctor。 She
was a little； sharp…eyed woman； who used to wear； when she was
dressed； one unchangeable cap； ornamented with some artificial
flowers； and two artificial butterflies supposed to be hovering
above the flowers。 There was a superstition among us that this cap
had come from France； and could only originate in the
workmanship of that ingenious nation： but all I certainly know
about it； is； that it always made its appearance of an evening；
wheresoever Mrs。 Markleham made her appearance； that it was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
carried about to friendly meetings in a Hindoo basket； that the
butterflies had the gift of trembling constantly； and that they
improved the shining hours at Doctor Strong’s expense； like busy
bees。
I observed the Old Soldier—not to adopt the name
disrespectfully—to pretty good advantage； on a night which is
made memorable to me by something else I shall relate。 It was the
night of a little party at the Doctor’s； which was given on the
occasion of Mr。 Jack Maldon’s departure for India； whither he was
going as a cadet； or something of that kind： Mr。 Wickfield having
at length arranged the business。 It happened to be the Doctor’s
birthday； too。 We had had a holiday； had made presents to him in
the morning； had made a speech to him through the head…boy； and
had cheered him until we were hoarse； and until he had shed
tears。 And now； in the evening； Mr。 Wickfield； Agnes； and I； went
to have tea with him in his private capacity。
Mr。 Jack Maldon was there； before us。 Mrs。 Strong； dressed in
white； with cherry…coloured ribbons； was playing the piano； when
we went in； and he was leaning over her to turn the leaves。 The
clear red and white of her complexion was not so blooming and
flower…like as usual； I thought； when she turned round； but she
looked very pretty； Wonderfully pretty。
‘I have forgotten； Doctor；’ said Mrs。 Strong’s mama； when we
were seated； ‘to pay you the compliments of the day—though they
are； as you may suppose； very far from being mere compliments in
my case。 Allow me to wish you many happy returns。’
‘I thank you； ma’am；’ replied the Doctor。
‘Many； many； many； happy returns；’ said the Old Soldier。 ‘Not
only for your own sake； but for Annie’s； and John Maldon’s； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook