lodging during the visit were to be paid for。
The day soon came for our going。 It was such an early day that
it came soon； even to me； who was in a fever of expectation； and
half afraid that an earthquake or a fiery mountain； or some other
great convulsion of nature； might interpose to stop the expedition。
We were to go in a carrier’s cart； which departed in the morning
after breakfast。 I would have given any money to have been
allowed to wrap myself up over…night； and sleep in my hat and
boots。
It touches me nearly now； although I tell it lightly； to recollect
how eager I was to leave my happy home； to think how little I
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suspected what I did leave for ever。
I am glad to recollect that when the carrier’s cart was at the
gate； and my mother stood there kissing me； a grateful fondness
for her and for the old place I had never turned my back upon
before； made me cry。 I am glad to know that my mother cried too；
and that I felt her heart beat against mine。
I am glad to recollect that when the carrier began to move； my
mother ran out at the gate； and called to him to stop； that she
might kiss me once more。 I am glad to dwell upon the earnestness
and love with which she lifted up her face to mine； and did so。
As we left her standing in the road； Mr。 Murdstone came up to
where she was； and seemed to expostulate with her for being so
moved。 I was looking back round the awning of the cart； and
wondered what business it was of his。 Peggotty； who was also
looking back on the other side； seemed anything but satisfied； as
the face she brought back in the cart denoted。
I sat looking at Peggotty for some time； in a reverie on this
supposititious case： whether； if she were employed to lose me like
the boy in the fairy tale； I should be able to track my way home
again by the buttons she would shed。
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David Copperfield
Chapter 3
I HAVE A CHANGE
The carrier’s horse was the laziest horse in the world； I
should hope； and shuffled along； with his head down； as if
he liked to keep people waiting to whom the packages
were directed。 I fancied； indeed； that he sometimes chuckled
audibly over this reflection； but the carrier said he was only
troubled with a cough。 The carrier had a way of keeping his head
down； like his horse； and of drooping sleepily forward as he drove；
with one of his arms on each of his knees。 I say ‘drove’； but it
struck me that the cart would have gone to Yarmouth quite as well
without him； for the horse did all that； and as to conversation； he
had no idea of it but whistling。
Peggotty had a basket of refreshments on her knee； which
would have lasted us out handsomely； if we had been going to
London by the same conveyance。 We ate a good deal； and slept a
good deal。 Peggotty always went to sleep with her chin upon the
handle of the basket； her hold of which never relaxed； and I could
not have believed unless I had heard her do it； that one
defenceless woman could have snored so much。
We made so many deviations up and down lanes； and were
such a long time delivering a bedstead at a public…house； and
calling at other places； that I was quite tired； and very glad； when
we saw Yarmouth。 It looked rather spongy and soppy； I thought；
as I carried my eye over the great dull waste that lay across the
river； and I could not help wondering； if the world were really as
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round as my geography book said； how any part of it came to be so
flat。 But I reflected that Yarmouth might be situated at one of the
poles； which would account for it。
As we drew a little nearer； and saw the whole adjacent prospect
lying a straight low line under the sky； I hinted to Peggotty that a
mound or so might have improved it； and also that if the land had
been a little more separated from the sea； and the town and the
tide had not been quite so much mixed up； like toast and water； it
would have been nicer。 But Peggotty said； with greater emphasis
than usual； that we must take things as we found them； and that；
for her part； she was proud to call herself a Yarmouth Bloater。
When we got into the street （which was strange enough to me）
and smelt the fish； and pitch； and oakum； and tar； and saw the
sailors walking about； and the carts jingling up and down over the
stones； I felt that I had done so busy a place an injustice； and said
as much to Peggotty； who heard my expressions of delight with
great complacency； and told me it was well known （I suppose to
those who had the good fortune to be born Bloaters） that
Yarmouth was； upon the whole； the finest place in the universe。
‘Here’s my Am！’ screamed Peggotty； ‘growed out of knowledge！’
He was waiting for us； in fact； at the public…house； and asked
me how I found myself； like an old acquaintance。 I did not feel； at
first； that I knew him as well as he knew me； because he had never
come to our house since the night I was born； and naturally he had
the advantage of me。 But our intimacy was much advanced by his
taking me on his back to carry me home。 He was； now； a huge；
strong fellow of six feet high； broad in proportion； and round…
shouldered； but with a simpering boy’s face and curly light hair
that gave him quite a sheepish look。 He was dressed in a canvas
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jacket； and a pair of such very stiff trousers that they would have
stood quite as well alone； without any legs in them。 And you
couldn’t so properly have said he wore a hat； as that he was
covered in a…top； like an old building； with something pitchy。
Ham carrying me on his back and a small box of ours under his
arm； and Peggotty carrying another small box of ours； we turned
down lanes bestrewn with bits of chips and little hillocks of sand；
and went past gas…works； rope…walks； boat…builders’ yards；
shipwrights’ yards； ship…breakers’ yards； caulkers’ yards； riggers’
lofts； smiths’ forges； and a great litter of such places； until we came
out upon the dull waste I had already seen at a distance； when
Ham said；
‘Yon’s our house； Mas’r Davy！’
I looked in all directions； as far as I could stare over the
wilderness； and away at the sea； and away at the river； but no
house could I make out。 There was a black barge； or some other
kind of superannuated boat； not far off； high and dry on the
ground； with an iron funnel sticking out of it for a chimney and
smoking very cosily； but nothing else in the way of a habitation
that was visible to me。
‘That’s not it？’ said I。 ‘That ship…looking thing？’
‘That’s it； Mas’r Davy；’ returned Ham。
If it had been Aladdin’s palace； roc’s egg and all； I suppose I
could not have been more charmed with the romantic idea of
living in it。 There was a delightful door cut in the side； and it was
roofed in； and there were little windows in it； but the wonderful
charm of it was； that it was a real boat which had no doubt been
upon the water hundreds of times； and which had never been
intended to be lived in； on dry land。 That was the captivation of it
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to me。 If it had ever been meant to be lived in； I might have
thought it small； or inconvenient； or lonely； but never having been
designed for any such use； it became a perfect abode。
It was beautifully clean inside； and as tidy as possible。 There
was a table； and a Dutch clock； and a chest of drawers； and on the
chest of drawers there was a tea…tray with a painting on it of a lady
with a parasol； taking a walk with a military…looking child who was
trundling a hoop。 The tray was kept from tumbling down； by a
bible； and the tray； if it had tumbled down； would have smashed a
quantity of cups and saucers and a teapot that were grouped
around the book。 On the walls there were some common coloured
pictures； framed and glazed； of scripture subjects； such as I have
never seen since in the hands of pedlars； without seeing the whole
interior of Peggotty’s brother’s house again； at one view。 Abraham
in red going to sacrifice Isaac in blue； and Daniel in yellow cast
into a den of green lions； were the most prominent of these。 Over
the little mantelshelf； was a picture of the ‘Sarah Jane’ lugger；
built at Sunderland； with a real little wooden stern stuck on to it； a
work of art； combining composition with carpentry； which I
considered to be one of the most enviable possessions that the
world could afford。 There were some hooks in the beams of the
ceiling； the use of which I did not divine then； and some lockers
and boxes and conveniences of that sort； which served for seats
and eked out the chairs。
All this I saw in the first glance after I crossed the threshold—
child…like； according to my theory—and then Peggotty opened a
little door and showed me my bedroom。 It was the completest and
most desirable bedroom ever seen—in the stern of the vessel； with
a little window； where the rudder used to go through； a little
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looking…glass； just the right height for me； nailed against the wall；
and framed with oyster…shells； a little bed； which there was just
room enough to get into； and a nosegay of seaweed in a blue mug
on the table。 The walls were whitewashed as white as milk； and
the patchwork counterpane made my eyes quite ache with its
brightness。 One thing I particularly noticed in this delightful
house； was the smell of fish； which was so searching； that when I
took out my pocket…handkerchief to wipe my nose； I found it smelt
exactly as if it had wrapped up a lobster。 On my imparting this
discovery in confidence to Peggotty； she informed me that her
brother dealt in lobsters； crabs； and crawfish； and I afterwards
found that a heap of these creatures； in a state of wonderful
conglomeration with one another； and never leaving off pinching
whatever they laid hold of； were usually to be found i