way。 ‘I should say he was one of those men who stand in their own
light。 Yes； I should say he would never； for example； be worth five
hundred pound。 Traddles was recommended to me by a
professional friend。 Oh yes。 Yes。 He has a kind of talent for
drawing briefs； and stating a case in writing； plainly。 I am able to
throw something in Traddles’s way； in the course of the year；
something—for him—considerable。 Oh yes。 Yes。’
I was much impressed by the extremely comfortable and
satisfied manner in which Mr。 Waterbrook delivered himself of
this little word ‘Yes’； every now and then。 There was wonderful
expression in it。 It completely conveyed the idea of a man who had
been born； not to say with a silver spoon； but with a scaling…ladder；
and had gone on mounting all the heights of life one after another；
until now he looked； from the top of the fortifications； with the eye
of a philosopher and a patron； on the people down in the trenches。
My reflections on this theme were still in progress when dinner
was announced。 Mr。 Waterbrook went down with Hamlet’s aunt。
Mr。 Henry Spiker took Mrs。 Waterbrook。 Agnes； whom I should
have liked to take myself； was given to a simpering fellow with
weak legs。 Uriah； Traddles； and I； as the junior part of the
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company； went down last； how we could。 I was not so vexed at
losing Agnes as I might have been； since it gave me an opportunity
of making myself known to Traddles on the stairs； who greeted me
with great fervour； while Uriah writhed with such obtrusive
satisfaction and self…abasement； that I could gladly have pitched
him over the banisters。 Traddles and I were separated at table；
being billeted in two remote corners： he in the glare of a red velvet
lady； I； in the gloom of Hamlet’s aunt。 The dinner was very long；
and the conversation was about the Aristocracy—and Blood。 Mrs。
Waterbrook repeatedly told us； that if she had a weakness； it was
Blood。
It occurred to me several times that we should have got on
better； if we had not been quite so genteel。 We were so exceedingly
genteel； that our scope was very limited。 A Mr。 and Mrs。 Gulpidge
were of the party； who had something to do at second…hand （at
least； Mr。 Gulpidge had） with the law business of the Bank； and
what with the Bank； and what with the Treasury； we were as
exclusive as the Court Circular。 To mend the matter； Hamlet’s
aunt had the family failing of indulging in soliloquy； and held forth
in a desultory manner； by herself； on every topic that was
introduced。 These were few enough； to be sure； but as we always
fell back upon Blood； she had as wide a field for abstract
speculation as her nephew himself。
We might have been a party of Ogres； the conversation
assumed such a sanguine complexion。
‘I confess I am of Mrs。 Waterbrook’s opinion；’ said Mr。
Waterbrook； with his wine…glass at his eye。 ‘Other things are all
very well in their way； but give me Blood！’
‘Oh！ There is nothing；’ observed Hamlet’s aunt； ‘so satisfactory
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to one！ There is nothing that is so much one’s beau…ideal of—of all
that sort of thing； speaking generally。 There are some low minds
（not many； I am happy to believe； but there are some） that would
prefer to do what I should call bow down before idols。 Positively
Idols！ Before service； intellect； and so on。 But these are intangible
points。 Blood is not so。 We see Blood in a nose； and we know it。 We
meet with it in a chin； and we say； “There it is！ That’s Blood！” It is
an actual matter of fact。 We point it out。 It admits of no doubt。’
The simpering fellow with the weak legs； who had taken Agnes
down； stated the question more decisively yet； I thought。
‘Oh； you know； deuce take it；’ said this gentleman； looking
round the board with an imbecile smile； ‘we can’t forego Blood；
you know。 We must have Blood； you know。 Some young fellows；
you know； may be a little behind their station； perhaps； in point of
education and behaviour； and may go a little wrong； you know；
and get themselves and other people into a variety of fixes—and
all that—but deuce take it； it’s delightful to reflect that they’ve got
Blood in ’em！ Myself； I’d rather at any time be knocked down by a
man who had got Blood in him； than I’d be picked up by a man
who hadn’t！’
This sentiment； as compressing the general question into a
nutshell； gave the utmost satisfaction； and brought the gentleman
into great notice until the ladies retired。 After that； I observed that
Mr。 Gulpidge and Mr。 Henry Spiker； who had hitherto been very
distant； entered into a defensive alliance against us； the common
enemy； and exchanged a mysterious dialogue across the table for
our defeat and overthrow。
‘That affair of the first bond for four thousand five hundred
pounds has not taken the course that was expected； Spiker；’ said
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Mr。 Gulpidge。
‘Do you mean the D。 of A。’s？’ said Mr。 Spiker。
‘The C。 of B。’s！’ said Mr。 Gulpidge。
Mr。 Spiker raised his eyebrows； and looked much concerned。
‘When the question was referred to Lord—I needn’t name him；’
said Mr。 Gulpidge； checking himself—
‘I understand；’ said Mr。 Spiker； ‘N。’
Mr。 Gulpidge darkly nodded—‘was referred to him； his answer
was； “Money； or no release。”’
‘Lord bless my soul！’ cried Mr。 Spiker。
“‘Money； or no release；”’ repeated Mr。 Gulpidge； firmly。 ‘The
next in reversion—you understand me？’
‘K。；’ said Mr。 Spiker； with an ominous look。
‘—K。 then positively refused to sign。 He was attended at
Newmarket for that purpose； and he point…blank refused to do it。’
Mr。 Spiker was so interested； that he became quite stony。
‘So the matter rests at this hour；’ said Mr。 Gulpidge； throwing
himself back in his chair。 ‘Our friend Waterbrook will excuse me if
I forbear to explain myself generally； on account of the magnitude
of the interests involved。’
Mr。 Waterbrook was only too happy； as it appeared to me； to
have such interests； and such names； even hinted at； across his
table。 He assumed an expression of gloomy intelligence （though I
am persuaded he knew no more about the discussion than I did）；
and highly approved of the discretion that had been observed。 Mr。
Spiker； after the receipt of such a confidence； naturally desired to
favour his friend with a confidence of his own； therefore the
foregoing dialogue was succeeded by another； in which it was Mr。
Gulpidge’s turn to be surprised； and that by another in which the
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surprise came round to Mr。 Spiker’s turn again； and so on； turn
and turn about。 All this time we； the outsiders； remained
oppressed by the tremendous interests involved in the
conversation； and our host regarded us with pride； as the victims
of a salutary awe and astonishment。 I was very glad indeed to get
upstairs to Agnes； and to talk with her in a corner； and to
introduce Traddles to her； who was shy； but agreeable； and the
same good…natured creature still。 As he was obliged to leave early；
on account of going away next morning for a month； I had not
nearly so much conversation with him as I could have wished； but
we exchanged addresses； and promised ourselves the pleasure of
another meeting when he should come back to town。 He was
greatly interested to hear that I knew Steerforth； and spoke of him
with such warmth that I made him tell Agnes what he thought of
him。 But Agnes only looked at me the while； and very slightly
shook her head when only I observed her。
As she was not among people with whom I believed she could
be very much at home； I was almost glad to hear that she was
going away within a few days； though I was sorry at the prospect
of parting from her again so soon。 This caused me to remain until
all the company were gone。 Conversing with her； and hearing her
sing； was such a delightful reminder to me of my happy life in the
grave old house she had made so beautiful； that I could have
remained there half the night； but； having no excuse for staying
any longer； when the lights of Mr。 Waterbrook’s society were all
snuffed out； I took my leave very much against my inclination。 I
felt then； more than ever； that she was my better Angel； and if I
thought of her sweet face and placid smile； as though they had
shone on me from some removed being； like an Angel； I hope I
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thought no harm。
I have said that the company were all gone； but I ought to have
excepted Uriah； whom I don’t include in that denomination； and
who had never ceased to hover near us。 He was close behind me
when I went downstairs。 He was close beside me； when I walked
away from the house； slowly fitting his long skeleton fingers into
the still longer fingers of a great Guy Fawkes pair of gloves。
It was in no disposition for Uriah’s company； but in
remembrance of the entreaty Agnes had made to me； that I asked
him if he would come home to my rooms； and have some coffee。
‘Oh； really； Master Copperfield；’ he rejoined—‘I beg your
pardon； Mister Copperfield； but the other comes so natural； I don’t
like that you should put a constraint upon yourself to ask a
numble person like me to your ouse。’
‘There is no constraint in the case；’ said I。 ‘Will you come？’
‘I should like to； very much；’ replied Uriah； with a writhe。
‘Well； then； come along！’ said I。
I could not help being rather short with him； but he appeared
not to mind it。 We went the nearest way； without conversing much
upon the road； and he was so humble in respect of those
scarecrow gloves； that he was still putting them on； and seemed to
have made no advance in that labour； when we got to my place。
I led him up the dark stairs； to prevent his knocking his head
against anything； and really his damp cold hand felt so like a frog
in mine； that I was