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FragmentWelcome to consult... have given in, and said to Mrs.
Micawber, in the words of Cato, “Plato, thoueasonest well. It’s all
up now. I can show fight no more.” But at no time of my life,’ said
Mr. Micawber, ‘have I enjoyed a highedegree of satisfaction than
in pouring my griefs (if I may describe difficulties, chiefly arising
out of warrants of attorney and promissory notes at two and fou
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David Copperfield
months, by that word) into the bosom of my friend Copperfield.’
Mr. Micawbeclosed this handsome tribute by saying, ‘Mr.
Heep! Good evening. Mrs. Heep! Youservant,’ and then walking
out with me in his most fashionable manner, making a good deal
of noise on the pavement with his shoes, and humming a tune as
we went.
It was a little inn where Mr. Micawbeput up, and he occupied
a littleoom in it, partitioned off from the commercialoom, and
strongly flavoured with tobacco-smoke. I think it was ovethe
kitchen, because a warm greasy smell appeared to come up
through the chinks in the floor, and there was a flabby
perspiration on the walls. I know it was neathe bar, on account of
the smell of spirits and jingling of glasses. Here,ecumbent on a
small sofa, underneath a picture of aace-horse, with hehead
close to the fire, and hefeet pushing the mustard off the dumbwaiteat the otheend of theoom, was Mrs. Micawber, to whom
Mr. Micawbeentered first, saying, ‘My dear, allow me to
introduce to you a pupil of DoctoStrong’s.’
I noticed, by the by, that although Mr. Micawbewas just as
much confused as eveabout my age and standing, he always
remembered, as a genteel thing, that I was a pupil of Docto
Strong’s.
Mrs. Micawbewas amazed, but very glad to see me. I was very
glad to see hetoo, and, aftean affectionate greeting on both
sides, sat down on the small sofa neaher.
‘My dear,’ said Mr. Micawber, ‘if you will mention to
Copperfield what oupresent position is, which I have no doubt he
will like to know, I will go and look at the papethe while, and see
whetheanything turns up among the advertisements.’
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David Copperfield
‘I thought you were at Plymouth, ma’am,’ I said to Mrs.
Micawber, as he went out.
‘My deaMasteCopperfield,’ sheeplied, ‘we went to
Plymouth.’
‘To be on the spot,’ I hinted.
‘Just so,’ said Mrs. Micawber. ‘To be on the spot. But, the truth
is, talent is not wanted in the Custom House. The local influence of
my family was quite unavailing to obtain any employment in that
department, foa man of Mr. Micawber’s abilities. They would
rathenot have a man of Mr. Micawber’s abilities. He would only
show the deficiency of the others. Apart from which,’ said Mrs.
Micawber, ‘I will not disguise from you, my deaMaste
Copperfield, that when that branch of my family which is settled in
Plymouth, became aware that Mr. Micawbewas accompanied by
myself, and by little Wilkins and his sister, and by the twins, they
did noteceive him with that ardouwhich he might have
expected, being so newlyeleased from captivity. In fact,’ said
Mrs. Micawber, lowering hevoice,—‘this is between ourselves—
oureception was cool.’
‘Deame!’ I said.
‘Yes,’ said Mrs. Micawber. ‘It is truly painful to contemplate
mankind in such an aspect, MasteCopperfield, but oureception
was, decidedly, cool. There is no doubt about it. In fact, that
branch of my family which is settled in Plymouth became quite
personal to Mr. Micawber, before we had been there a week.’
I said, and thought, that they ought to be ashamed of
themselves.
‘Still, so it was,’ continued Mrs. Micawber. ‘Undesuch
circumstances, what could a man of Mr. Micawber’s spirit do? But
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David Copperfield
one obvious course was left. To borrow, of that branch of my
family, the money toeturn to London, and toeturn at any
sacrifice.’
‘Then you all came back again, ma’am?’ I said.
‘We all came back again,’eplied Mrs. Micawber. ‘Since then, I
have consulted othebranches of my family
