took possession of me。
A timely observation of the sense of power that there was in his
face； did more to bring back to my remembrance the entreaty of
Agnes； in its full force； than any effort I could have made。 I asked
him； with a better appearance of composure than I could have
thought possible a minute before； whether he had made his
feelings known to Agnes。
‘Oh no； Master Copperfield！’ he returned； ‘oh dear； no！ Not to
anyone but you。 You see I am only just emerging from my lowly
station。 I rest a good deal of hope on her observing how useful I
am to her father （for I trust to be very useful to him indeed； Master
Copperfield）； and how I smooth the way for him； and keep him
straight。 She’s so much attached to her father； Master Copperfield
（oh； what a lovely thing it is in a daughter！）； that I think she may
come； on his account； to be kind to me。’
I fathomed the depth of the rascal’s whole scheme； and
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understood why he laid it bare。
‘If you’ll have the goodness to keep my secret； Master
Copperfield；’ he pursued； ‘and not； in general； to go against me； I
shall take it as a particular favour。 You wouldn’t wish to make
unpleasantness。 I know what a friendly heart you’ve got； but
having only known me on my umble footing （on my umblest I
should say； for I am very umble still）； you might； unbeknown； go
against me rather； with my Agnes。 I call her mine； you see； Master
Copperfield。 There’s a song that says； “I’d crowns resign； to call
her mine！” I hope to do it； one of these days。’
Dear Agnes！ So much too loving and too good for anyone that I
could think of； was it possible that she was reserved to be the wife
of such a wretch as this！
‘There’s no hurry at present； you know； Master Copperfield；’
Uriah proceeded； in his slimy way； as I sat gazing at him； with this
thought in my mind。 ‘My Agnes is very young still； and mother and
me will have to work our way upwards； and make a good many
new arrangements； before it would be quite convenient。 So I shall
have time gradually to make her familiar with my hopes； as
opportunities offer。 Oh； I’m so much obliged to you for this
confidence！ Oh； it’s such a relief； you can’t think； to know that you
understand our situation； and are certain （as you wouldn’t wish to
make unpleasantness in the family） not to go against me！’
He took the hand which I dared not withhold； and having given
it a damp squeeze； referred to his pale…faced watch。
‘Dear me！’ he said； ‘it’s past one。 The moments slip away so； in
the confidence of old times； Master Copperfield； that it’s almost
half past one！’
I answered that I had thought it was later。 Not that I had really
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thought so； but because my conversational powers were
effectually scattered。
‘Dear me！’ he said； considering。 ‘The ouse that I am stopping
at—a sort of a private hotel and boarding ouse； Master
Copperfield； near the New River ed—will have gone to bed these
two hours。’
‘I am sorry；’ I returned； ‘that there is only one bed here； and
that I—’
‘Oh； don’t think of mentioning beds； Master Copperfield！’ he
rejoined ecstatically； drawing up one leg。 ‘But would you have any
objections to my laying down before the fire？’
‘If it comes to that；’ I said； ‘pray take my bed； and I’ll lie down
before the fire。’
His repudiation of this offer was almost shrill enough； in the
excess of its surprise and humility； to have penetrated to the ears
of Mrs。 Crupp； then sleeping； I suppose； in a distant chamber；
situated at about the level of low…water mark； soothed in her
slumbers by the ticking of an incorrigible clock； to which she
always referred me when we had any little difference on the score
of punctuality； and which was never less than three…quarters of an
hour too slow； and had always been put right in the morning by
the best authorities。 As no arguments I could urge； in my
bewildered condition； had the least effect upon his modesty in
inducing him to accept my bedroom； I was obliged to make the
best arrangements I could； for his repose before the fire。 The
mattress of the sofa （which was a great deal too short for his lank
figure）； the sofa pillows； a blanket； the table…cover； a clean
breakfast…cloth； and a great…coat； made him a bed and covering；
for which he was more than thankful。 Having lent him a night…cap；
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which he put on at once； and in which he made such an awful
figure； that I have never worn one since； I left him to his rest。
I never shall forget that night。 I never shall forget how I turned
and tumbled； how I wearied myself with thinking about Agnes and
this creature； how I considered what could I do； and what ought I
to do； how I could come to no other conclusion than that the best
course for her peace was to do nothing； and to keep to myself what
I had heard。 If I went to sleep for a few moments； the image of
Agnes with her tender eyes； and of her father looking fondly on
her； as I had so often seen him look； arose before me with
appealing faces； and filled me with vague terrors。 When I awoke；
the recollection that Uriah was lying in the next room； sat heavy
on me like a waking nightmare； and oppressed me with a leaden
dread； as if I had had some meaner quality of devil for a lodger。
The poker got into my dozing thoughts besides； and wouldn’t
come out。 I thought； between sleeping and waking； that it was still
red hot； and I had snatched it out of the fire； and run him through
the body。 I was so haunted at last by the idea； though I knew there
was nothing in it； that I stole into the next room to look at him。
There I saw him； lying on his back； with his legs extending to I
don’t know where； gurglings taking place in his throat； stoppages
in his nose； and his mouth open like a post…office。 He was so much
worse in reality than in my distempered fancy； that afterwards I
was attracted to him in very repulsion； and could not help
wandering in and out every half…hour or so； and taking another
look at him。 Still； the long； long night seemed heavy and hopeless
as ever； and no promise of day was in the murky sky。
When I saw him going downstairs early in the morning （for；
thank Heaven！ he would not stay to breakfast）； it appeared to me
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as if the night was going away in his person。 When I went out to
the Commons； I charged Mrs。 Crupp with particular directions to
leave the windows open； that my sitting…room might be aired； and
purged of his presence。
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Chapter 26
I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY
Isaw no more of Uriah Heep； until the day when Agnes left
town。 I was at the coach office to take leave of her and see her
go； and there was he； returning to Canterbury by the same
conveyance。 It was some small satisfaction to me to observe his
spare； short…waisted； high…shouldered； mulberry…coloured greatcoat perched up； in company with an umbrella like a small tent； on
the edge of the back seat on the roof； while Agnes was； of course；
inside； but what I underwent in my efforts to be friendly with him；
while Agnes looked on； perhaps deserved that little recompense。
At the coach window； as at the dinner…party； he hovered about us
without a moment’s intermission； like a great vulture： gorging
himself on every syllable that I said to Agnes； or Agnes said to me。
In the state of trouble into which his disclosure by my fire had
thrown me； I had thought very much of the words Agnes had used
in reference to the partnership。 ‘I did what I hope was right。
Feeling sure that it was necessary for papa’s peace that the
sacrifice should be made； I entreated him to make it。’ A miserable
foreboding that she would yield to； and sustain herself by； the
same feeling in reference to any sacrifice for his sake； had
oppressed me ever since。 I knew how she loved him。 I knew what
the devotion of her nature was。 I knew from her own lips that she
regarded herself as the innocent cause of his errors； and as owing
him a great debt she ardently desired to pay。 I had no consolation
in seeing how different she was from this detestable Rufus with
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the mulberry…coloured great…coat； for I felt that in the very
difference between them； in the self…denial of her pure soul and
the sordid baseness of his； the greatest danger lay。 All this；
doubtless； he knew thoroughly； and had； in his cunning；
considered well。
Yet I was so certain that the prospect of such a sacrifice afar off；
must destroy the happiness of Agnes； and I was so sure； from her
manner； of its being unseen by her then； and having cast no
shadow on her yet； that I could as soon have injured her； as given
her any warning of what impended。 Thus it was that we parted
without explanation： she waving her hand and smiling farewell
from the coach window； her evil genius writhing on the roof； as if
he had her in his clutches and triumphed。
I could not get over this farewell glimpse of them for a long
time。 When Agnes wrote to tell me of her safe arrival； I was as
miserable as when I saw her going away。 Whenever I fell into a
thoughtful state； this subject was sure to present itself； and all my
uneasiness was sure to be redoubled。 Hardly a night passed
without my dreaming of it。 It became a part of my life； and as
inseparable from my life as my own head。
I had ample leisure to refine upon my uneasiness： for
Steerforth was at Oxford； as he wrote to me； and when I was not at
the Commons； I was very much alone。 I believe I had at this time
some lurking distrust of Steerforth。 I wrote to him most
affectionately in reply to his； but I think I was glad； upon the
whole； that he could not come to London just then。 I suspect the
truth to be； that the influence of Agnes was upon me； undisturbed
by the s