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DA VID UOPPERFIELD. --
I took them from her with ii most desolate sensation ;
and, glancing at such phrases at the top, as “ My ever
dearest and own Dora,” “ My best beloved angel,” 5‘ My
blessed one for ever,” and the like, blushed deeply, and
. inclined my head.
"No, thank you I ” said Mr. Spenlow, coldly, as I me-
‘ chanically offered them back to him. “ I will not deprive’
. you of them. Miss Murdstone, be so good as to proceed !
, That ‘ gentle creature,’ after a moment’s thoughtful
survey of the carpet, delivered herself with much dry
unction as follows : ‘ I
“Imust confess to having entertained my suspicions
of Miss Spenlow, in reference to David Copperfield, for
some time. ‘ I observed Miss Spenlow and David Copper-
field gvhen they first met ; and gio impression mfadlel uplon
iiie't en was not arrreeable. ie epravi y 0 8 11-
man heart is such-K?’ , . i ‘
“You will oblige me, rna’am,” interrupted Mr. Spen-
low. “ by confining yourself to facts.”
Miss Murdstoiie cast down her eyes, shook her lieadns
if protesting against this unseemly interruption, and with
frowning dignity resumed : ’ ,
“Since I am to confine myself to facts, I will state
them as dryly as I can. Perhaps that will be considered
an acceptable course of proceeding; :1 have already said,
sir, that I have had my suspicions of Miss Spenlow, in
reference to David Copperfield, for some time. I have
f’e‘luentlyvendeavourcd to find decisive corroboration of
those suspicions but without effect. I haV0 thefefme
foreborne‘ to mehtion them to Miss Spenlow’s father;”
looking severely at him - “knowing how little disposi-
tion there usually is in ,such cases, to acknowledge the
conscientious discharge of duty.” ‘
Ir. Spenlow seemed quite cowod by the gentlemmlly
Steruness of Miss Murdstone’s manner, and deprecated
her severity with a conciliatory little wave of his hand.
i “O11 my return to Norwood, after the period of ab-
sence occasioned by my brother's marriage,” Pursued
Miss Murdstone in ii. disdainful voice, “ and on the re-
turn of Miss Spenlow from her visit to her friend Miss
"13, I imarrined that the manner of Miss Spenlow EM“
me grenterbccasion for suspicion than before. There-
fore I watched Miss Spenlow closely.” , ' ' ,
D931’. tender little Dora, so unconscious of this Dragon S
e. : ; , ,
-I - n . (5 “mi no roof
uutfitia ;:;:;““‘i.“%.:::,.“.‘.‘;::‘i:“:$.;
received too II1:lI1yICtt0l’S from her friend Miss Mills;
but Miss Mills ‘bcin her friend with her fzithcr’s full
Concurrenco ” anotligr telling MOW 119 M11 SP9“10“’v " It
“'98 not for hie to interfere. If I may not be lwrnlmed
allude to the natural depravity of the human heart,
at least I may-I must-be permitted, so far to refer to
mi5D1n.ced confidencot”.
, ,1’-' Spenlow apologetically murmured his assent.
‘'1 otsZ‘.v“Ii“i‘i‘“i'-$5‘? mi”,rpmuCilix1igsiii‘dl:?r(i%'?;:‘2
e iic rrarinrrro n" .
. ut the dI'a‘VI)I1W.]'oon10D“750I‘l'yI!1:‘ something. I Sfild if’
M53 Slleiilow ‘Dora what is t iat the dog has” 1115
month? It’s ,3 er " ’Miss S enlow immediately put 1101'
Illlml to her frldclf giave ii siidgcn er)’. and 1'3“ ‘O the dog;
mt“'l’0Sed and said ‘ Dora my love, 5'0“ must Pew“
me’: n ’ l 2 i .
‘ Oh Jill, miserable Spaniel, this wretchednesf5i then‘
“H3 3‘ our work I - ‘
.. ‘ i$S Spenlow endeavoured,” said Miss Miirdstoilie,
0 I0 bribe me with kisses work-boxes. and 5m“&.11)art1li(it‘i:
.6 A4’ . e
do g3 Tgfgggta tliv.t(:1, of lcoursp, I pzlilsjs ggggoachinghim’
and was with “H e(r1.&.‘e 150 olnd 51 by the fire-irons.
“Vein when ad 1 mu by org 1: thelettcr in. his
mouth . and 0 is 0 gedd he stf 0, ggrinke it from him, at
e im ; ‘ n.my en 63..YOllI'!np k t betvvgen
, ininent risk of bein bitten, he 8P
his teeth so t. , 1 E to gel. himself to be held
suspended ipeplmacious y as suf the document. , At
Iengthl 0“ p re air by means 0 After perusing“, I
‘"1 : and ultimately obtained fromdllfri the pm,:LFt
Is now‘ - ’ han . . '
2 she cef,‘;e].%‘?‘;‘2dC;’,f',?,f,iii,.e,ir(i1:; reticulc agaiii,1:1nd
“8‘ her mouth looked as if she migm be bro .en’
c‘’“1‘1Ileverbebont. - ’ ’ ' I I V
SS .. I55
95
whichs-I
Hei-
Shiitti
but
265v
“ You have heard Miss Murdstone,” said Mr. Spenlow,
turiiin to me. “ I be to ask, Mr. Copperfield, if you
5? . fl
have anything to say in reply?” f h b H 1 rm
The picture I had before me, o t e eau 1.l.1 i e
treasure of my heart, sobbing and crying all night-of
her being alone, frightened, and wretched, then-of her
having so piteously begged and prayed that stony-
hearted woman to forgive her-of her having vainly of-
fered her those kisses, work-boxes, and trinkets-of her
being in such grievous distress, and all for me-very
much impaired the little dignity I had been able to'mus-
ter. 1 am afraid.I was in a treinuloiis state for 11 minute
or so, though I did my best to disguise it.
. “There is nothing I can say, SlI‘,””I returned, “ except
that all the blame is mine. Dora- '
“ Miss Spenlow, if you please,” said her father, ma-
’ ‘ ll ’.
Jesdiawds induced and persuaded by 'r110,"I Went 0‘?-
swallowing that colder designation, ‘;to C0HSGI1t t0 11115
concealment, and I bitterly regret it. ’ '
“ You are very much to blame, sir,’ said Mr. Spcnlorv,
walking to and fro upon the licarth-rug. find 9anPhf“i1?'
ing What he said with his whole 13041)’ ‘F5393 1‘: in?
head,‘ on account of the stiffness of his craxa iiitii gpnr.
“ You have done a stealthy and unbecoming a(i1(1)1:lS,eA m.)
Copperfield. VVlien I take a gentleman to niyr Dina.’ I
matter “'I]etI18l" he is nineteen, twenty -nipfcl, onbuqeslunl
take him tlieroin a. spirit of confidence. fie ‘Ix: CO
confidence, he commits a dishonourable ac I011: ‘ ' P
fl ld.’’ ‘ .
Peale feel it sir, I assure you,” I returned. But I
never thought so, before. Slll(‘eX‘0I1))’,fIl0llESt%%:);l;(%‘I(‘%g;
Mr. Spenlougil Itnevper ttliouglit so, e orc.
t ex on - .
SI.)Sn1g(oJ:)‘I1]onon:ense I’’ said Mr. Spenlow, reddening.
“ Pray dogft tell me to my face that You 1"” my dnugh‘
M ,,C rfield I ” ' , . ,
tell’: Coruldolpldeefend my conduct if Idid not, sir? ’ I I0‘
turned with all humility. . . ,, -
“Ce W‘ “;“‘‘2“ m:,;‘"a.:‘:.‘:...::.:‘%
Mr. Spenlow, stgppciggvosliorymllgi and my daughm,s
;:eIti1iflsVeM)r0uCd:I?ll>1:ifield? ' Have )'0“'C0"5idCi)edtw11)“1tt it is
I‘ '. ld su sis e ween
to undermine the confidence that shou Id (1
s Have vou consi ere my
my duugmer fwd. mfsel“ ' 1'5 Inn 'conteniplat0
(lauuhtei-’s station in life, the l’“’JC‘5 . ‘ -I . I
-I -t tar intentions may
‘ . 0 )er e , , g ‘ -
tliiggferyfjittligt air, I am afraid ;v g],31sx5:rEdf,ei[3??I‘<11JY:lgt'
to him as .resPec&fp2yea1:gu:?g:‘;;‘d ‘I111; mm w0,,1('1]). W.
Eirt:id'n1.)6:l‘%"1.ii1neI ex‘Dluined it to S0“: “"3 were already
‘siesta,’ S... M. spen10“"“‘.‘?"’1f;k$r53i?ilfeiiiiziici
had ever seen him, as he energe 10“ . . n in
t help noticing that eve
upon thclother-I could no V ‘ ‘ of engagm
my desgImr;Cnt1,atrc3v1;:iu!Jvill:x0T talk 0 me
merits r., oppelj 1 . t Ian bed
, Tho’ otlierwlise inixiligosriletiirliltsrylltlllilsiielllurds one
, t s in 0 '. . - ii 1
my
began again, substituting alnop. ‘Ptlilliils concealment’ into
whathiipts S0 1lI1P“1%?b1e to ml ’ led Miss Sllenlowl’
whic am so 1111 . ' t lt cd position,
lmve Stmmec.1 e"cr'V nerve’ I shall ‘improve it in time.
to improve it. I am surean vicngth of “me
VVill you grant nie tiine- 3 M.
v I] sir - ‘, 1 0( mg
bolt‘,-117sC?u) 311.10 g;ig1n:,” interrupted much’
his head a. great man)’ “me5ifvT;i1 nonsense. Let there
“you are both very’ Y0““g' Talgo “my those letters, xind
‘be an and of the nonsmsii‘ me Miss S[ienlow’s letters
throw them in me five. d l1t‘Il(:)1l"‘Il our future intercourse
to throw in the fire ; 3" Q t mihl to the Commons heft‘.
must’ you Me awnrmkbe llfgSfIl1'tl)(‘l' mention of the p.
We will agree toV;i1]f;d0 on don.‘ want sense ; and this is
Come,M1‘-C0Pl"" 9,, J ' . i
the sensible cours . “Going. to it. I was very
9 .
y f it
No. I couldn t tlilnkhjo h 5 oiisidemtion than SW59-
g etc ‘
sorry, but 3.1"” was “'
'2 “'0 are ‘