myself whether it was in her own little tormenting way； or in a
maidenly reserve before us； that she kept quite close to the wall；
and away from him； but I observed that she did so； all the evening。
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David Copperfield
As I remember； it was almost midnight when we took our leave。
We had had some biscuit and dried fish for supper； and Steerforth
had produced from his pocket a full flask of Hollands； which we
men （I may say we men； now； without a blush） had emptied。 We
parted merrily； and as they all stood crowded round the door to
light us as far as they could upon our road； I saw the sweet blue
eyes of little Em’ly peeping after us； from behind Ham； and heard
her soft voice calling to us to be careful how we went。
‘A most engaging little Beauty！’ said Steerforth； taking my arm。
‘Well！ It’s a quaint place； and they are quaint company； and it’s
quite a new sensation to mix with them。’
‘How fortunate we are； too；’ I returned； ‘to have arrived to
witness their happiness in that intended marriage！ I never saw
people so happy。 How delightful to see it； and to be made the
sharers in their honest joy； as we have been！’
‘That’s rather a chuckle…headed fellow for the girl； isn’t he？’
said Steerforth。
He had been so hearty with him； and with them all； that I felt a
shock in this unexpected and cold reply。 But turning quickly upon
him； and seeing a laugh in his eyes； I answered； much relieved：
‘Ah； Steerforth！ It’s well for you to joke about the poor！ You
may skirmish with Miss Dartle； or try to hide your sympathies in
jest from me； but I know better。 When I see how perfectly you
understand them； how exquisitely you can enter into happiness
like this plain fisherman’s； or humour a love like my old nurse’s； I
know that there is not a joy or sorrow； not an emotion； of such
people； that can be indifferent to you。 And I admire and love you
for it； Steerforth； twenty times the more！’
He stopped； and； looking in my face； said； ‘Daisy； I believe you
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are in earnest； and are good。 I wish we all were！’ Next moment he
was gaily singing Mr。 Peggotty’s song； as we walked at a round
pace back to Yarmouth。
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David Copperfield
Chapter 22
SOME OLD SCENES； AND SOME NEW PEOPLE
Steerforth and I stayed for more than a fortnight in that part
of the country。 We were very much together； I need not
say； but occasionally we were asunder for some hours at a
time。 He was a good sailor； and I was but an indifferent one； and
when he went out boating with Mr。 Peggotty； which was a
favourite amusement of his； I generally remained ashore。 My
occupation of Peggotty’s spare…room put a constraint upon me；
from which he was free： for； knowing how assiduously she
attended on Mr。 Barkis all day； I did not like to remain out late at
night； whereas Steerforth； lying at the Inn； had nothing to consult
but his own humour。 Thus it came about； that I heard of his
making little treats for the fishermen at Mr。 Peggotty’s house of
call； ‘The Willing Mind’； after I was in bed； and of his being afloat；
wrapped in fishermen’s clothes； whole moonlight nights； and
coming back when the morning tide was at flood。 By this time；
however； I knew that his restless nature and bold spirits delighted
to find a vent in rough toil and hard weather； as in any other
means of excitement that presented itself freshly to him； so none
of his proceedings surprised me。
Another cause of our being sometimes apart； was； that I had
naturally an interest in going over to Blunderstone； and revisiting
the old familiar scenes of my childhood； while Steerforth； after
being there once； had naturally no great interest in going there
again。 Hence； on three or four days that I can at once recall； we
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went our several ways after an early breakfast； and met again at a
late dinner。 I had no idea how he employed his time in the
interval； beyond a general knowledge that he was very popular in
the place； and had twenty means of actively diverting himself
where another man might not have found one。
For my own part； my occupation in my solitary pilgrimages was
to recall every yard of the old road as I went along it； and to haunt
the old spots； of which I never tired。 I haunted them； as my
memory had often done； and lingered among them as my younger
thoughts had lingered when I was far away。 The grave beneath the
tree； where both my parents lay—on which I had looked out； when
it was my father’s only； with such curious feelings of compassion；
and by which I had stood； so desolate； when it was opened to
receive my pretty mother and her baby—the grave which
Peggotty’s own faithful care had ever since kept neat； and made a
garden of； I walked near； by the hour。 It lay a little off the
churchyard path； in a quiet corner； not so far removed but I could
read the names upon the stone as I walked to and fro； startled by
the sound of the church…bell when it struck the hour； for it was like
a departed voice to me。 My reflections at these times were always
associated with the figure I was to make in life； and the
distinguished things I was to do。 My echoing footsteps went to no
other tune； but were as constant to that as if I had come home to
build my castles in the air at a living mother’s side。
There were great changes in my old home。 The ragged nests； so
long deserted by the rooks； were gone； and the trees were lopped
and topped out of their remembered shapes。 The garden had run
wild； and half the windows of the house were shut up。 It was
occupied； but only by a poor lunatic gentleman； and the people
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who took care of him。 He was always sitting at my little window；
looking out into the churchyard； and I wondered whether his
rambling thoughts ever went upon any of the fancies that used to
occupy mine； on the rosy mornings when I peeped out of that
same little window in my night…clothes； and saw the sheep quietly
feeding in the light of the rising sun。
Our old neighbours； Mr。 and Mrs。 Grayper； were gone to South
America； and the rain had made its way through the roof of their
empty house； and stained the outer walls。 Mr。 Chillip was married
again to a tall； raw…boned； high…nosed wife； and they had a weazen
little baby； with a heavy head that it couldn’t hold up； and two
weak staring eyes； with which it seemed to be always wondering
why it had ever been born。
It was with a singular jumble of sadness and pleasure that I
used to linger about my native place； until the reddening winter
sun admonished me that it was time to start on my returning walk。
But； when the place was left behind； and especially when
Steerforth and I were happily seated over our dinner by a blazing
fire； it was delicious to think of having been there。 So it was；
though in a softened degree； when I went to my neat room at
night； and； turning over the leaves of the crocodile…book （which
was always there； upon a little table）； remembered with a grateful
heart how blest I was in having such a friend as Steerforth； such a
friend as Peggotty； and such a substitute for what I had lost as my
excellent and generous aunt。
My nearest way to Yarmouth； in coming back from these long
walks； was by a ferry。 It landed me on the flat between the town
and the sea； which I could make straight across； and so save
myself a considerable circuit by the high road。 Mr。 Peggotty’s
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David Copperfield
house being on that waste…place； and not a hundred yards out of
my track； I always looked in as I went by。 Steerforth was pretty
sure to be there expecting me； and we went on together through
the frosty air and gathering fog towards the twinkling lights of the
town。
One dark evening； when I was later than usual—for I had； that
day； been making my parting visit to Blunderstone； as we were
now about to return home—I found him alone in Mr。 Peggotty’s
house； sitting thoughtfully before the fire。 He was so intent upon
his own reflections that he was quite unconscious of my approach。
This； indeed； he might easily have been if he had been less
absorbed； for footsteps fell noiselessly on the sandy ground
outside； but even my entrance failed to rouse him。 I was standing
close to him； looking at him； and still； with a heavy brow； he was
lost in his meditations。
He gave such a start when I put my hand upon his shoulder；
that he made me start too。
‘You come upon me；’ he said； almost angrily； ‘like a reproachful
ghost！’
‘I was obliged to announce myself； somehow；’ I replied。 ‘Have I
called you down from the stars？’
‘No；’ he answered。 ‘No。’
‘Up from anywhere； then？’ said I； taking my seat near him。
‘I was looking at the pictures in the fire；’ he returned。
‘But you are spoiling them for me；’ said I； as he stirred it
quickly with a piece of burning wood； striking out of it a train of
red…hot sparks that went careering up the little chimney； and
roaring out into the air。
‘You would not have seen them；’ he returned。 ‘I detest this
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
mongrel time； neither day nor night。 How late you are！ Where
have you been？’
‘I have been taking leave of my usual walk；’ said I。
‘And I have been sitting here；’ said Steerforth； glancing round
the room； ‘thinking that all the people we found so glad on the
night of our coming down； might—to judge from the present
wasted air of the place—be dispersed； or dead； or come to I don’t
know what harm。 David； I wish to God I had had a judicious father
these last twenty years！’
‘My dear Steerforth； what is the matter？’
‘I wish with all my soul I had been better guided！’ he exclaimed。
‘I wish with all my soul I could guide myself better！’
There was a passionate dejection in his manner that