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303 I - I OHARLES, DICKENS’ .if0RK,s'.
Post Office, Canterbury, will be fraught with less pain-
ful consequences than any addressed immediately to one,
who subscribes herself, in extreme distress,
“Mr; Thomas Traddles’s respectful friend and sup-
pnmt’. .. i , 1,. ..
“ Emu 1iIICAW'.BI-LB.”
“lVhat do you think of that letter?” said Traddles,
casting his eyes upon me, when I had read it twice. , '
“ ‘Vhat do you think of the other?” said I. Forlhe
was still reading it with knitted brows. -
“ I think that the two together, Copperfield,” replied
Traddles,‘ “ mean morevthan Mr. and Mrs. Micawber
usually mean in their correspondence-but I don’t kn ow
what. They are both written in good faith, I haveino
doubt, and without any collusion. Poor thing 1 ” he
was now alluding-to Mrs. Micawber’s letter, and we
were standing side by side comparing the two ; “it will
be a charity to write to her, at all events, and tell her
that we will not fail to see Mr. Micawber.” I .
I acceded to this, the more readily, because I now re-
proached myself with having treated her former letter
rather lightly. It hadset ine thinking-a good‘deal‘at
the time, as I have" mentioned in its place ; but my ab-
sorption in my own affairs, my experience of the family,
and my hearing nothing more, had gradually ended in my
dismissing the subject. I had often thought of,tlie Mi-
cawbers, but chiefly to wonder what “ pecuniary liabili-
ties” they wcre establishing in Canterbury, and to recall
how shy Mr. Micawber was of me when he became clerk
to Uriah Heep. ‘ ' ‘ -.
However, I now wrote a comforting letter to -Mrs.
Micawbcr, in our joint names, and we both signed it,
As we walked into town to post it, Traddles and I held a
long conference, and launched into a number of specu-
lations, which I need not repeat. lVe took my aunt into
our counsels in the afternoon ;‘but our only decided con-
clusion was, that we wouldbe very punctual in keeping
Mr. Micawber’s appointment . I - r V
Although we appeared at the stipulated place a quarter
of an hour before the time, we found Mr. Micawber
already there. He was standing with his arms folded,
over against the wall, looking at the spikes on the top,
with asentimental expression, as if they were the interlac-
ing boughs of trees that had shaded him in his youth.;
lVhcn we accosted him, his manner was something
more confused, and something less genteelgtlian of yore,
He had relinquished his legal suit of black for the pin.
poses of this excursion, and .wore the old surtout and
tiglits, but not quite with the old air. He gradual]
picked up more and more of it as we convcrsed with
him ; but, his very eye-glass seemed to hang less easily, ‘
and his shirt collar, though still of the old formidable
dimensions, rather drooped. ‘
‘ ‘ Gentlemen i” said Mr. Micawber, after the first salu.
tations, “ you are friends in need, and friends indeed,
Allow me to offer my inquiries with reference to the
physical welfare of Mrs. Copperfield in ease, and Mrs,
Traddles in posse,-presuming, that is to say, that m
friend Mr. Traddles is not yet united to the object of his
affections, for weal and for woe.” -
‘Ye acknowledged his politeness, and made suitame
replies. He then directed our attention to the wall, and
was beginning “ I assure you gentlemen," when I ven-
tured to object to that ceremonious form of address, and
to beg that he would speak to us in the old way.
“ My dear Copperfield,” he returned, pressing’ my
hand, “your cordiality overpowers me. This reception
of a shattered fragment of the temple once called Mam.
if I may be permitted so to express myself-bespeaks 9,
heart that is an honour to our common nature“ I was
about to observe that I again behold’ the serene spot
where some of the happiest hours of i my existence
ileeted by.” ‘ ’
“ Made so, I am sure, by Mrs. Micawber,” said I. “ I
hope she is well ‘I ” I ,
“Thank you," returned Mr. Micawher, whose face
clouded at this reference, “ she is but so-so. And
this," said Mr. Micawber, nodding his head sorrowfully,
“is the Bench] VVherc, for the first time in many re-
volvinp; years, the overwhelming pressure of pecuniary
liabilities was not proclaimed, from day to day, by im.
portunate voices declining to vacate the passage ; where
there was no knocker on the door for any creditor to ap-
peal to ; where personal service of process was not
required, and detainers were merely lodged at the gate 1
Gentlemen,” said Mr. Micawber, “when the shadow
of thatironwork on the summit of the brick structure
has been reflected on the gravel of the Parade. I have
seen my children thread the mazes of the intricate pat-
tern, avoiding the dark marks. I have been familiar
with everystone in the place. If I betray weakness,
you will know how to excuse me.” ‘
“ ‘Va have all got on in life since then, Mr. Mi-
cawber,” said I. ' > g '
“Mr. Copperfield,” returned Mr. Micawber, bitterly,
“ when I was an inmate of that retreat I could look my
fellow-man in the face, and punch his head if he offended
me. , My fellow-man and myself . are no longer on those
gloriousterms I" ‘ ' .
Tllmingfrom the building in a downcast manner, M1‘.
Mieawber acceptedriny proffered arm on one side, and
the proffered arm of Traddles on the other, and walked
away between us.” . ‘. p
" There are sotnelandmarks,” observed Mr. Micawber,
looking fondly back over his shoulder, “ on the road to
the tomb, which, but for the impiety of the aspiration,
aman would wish'never' to have passed.’ Sucll is the
Bench in my chequered career.”
“ 011; You are in low ' spirits, Mr. Micawber,” said
‘Traddles.
. ‘.‘I am. Sit,” interposed Mr. Micawber.
" I h0P9,”- said" Traddles, “it ‘is not because you
have conceived a dislike to the law-for I am a lawyer
myself, you know.”. . , ‘ '
Mr. Micawber answered not a word.
“ How is our friend Heep, Mr. Micawber,” said I, ‘if’
ter a silence. ‘ . , . , r
“My dear Copperfield,” returned Mr. Micawber, burst-
ing into a state of much excitement, and turning pa 9.
“ .‘f,Y01i ask after my employer as your friend, I am sorry
f01',1t ; 1f, )'011 ask after him as my friend, I ‘ sardonically
smile at it. In whatever capacity you ask after my 8131-
Pl0)'0f, lbeg, without offence to you, to limit my reply
.t0ll1l5wll1=1f2Whatever his state of health may be, 1115
illlpeafallce IS foxy : not to say diabolical. You will al-
10‘V,m0:.9-3 3- Private individual, to decline pursuing 3
SubJect which has lashed me to the utmost verge of des-
peration in my professional capacity."
I expressed my regret for having innocently touched
upon a theme that roused him so much. “ May I ask,"
fmd 1. ‘iwitliout any hazard of repeating the mistake,
10))’ niyvold friends Mr. and Miss VVickfield are ‘2” ,
121,53 ‘.V1‘5k5,‘3ld,” said Mr. Micawber, now turning
red, is as she always is, 9. pattern, and a 1,,.ig],1; ex.
PmPle- , Myedear Copperfield, She is the only smrysiwi
In a miserable -existence.‘ My respect for that young
lady, my admiration of her character my devotion toilet
for her love and truth, and goo(1ne55'1mTal;e me,” said
Mr. Micawber, f‘ down a turning, for, upon my soul, in
Y m)’ Present state of mind I am not equal to this I ”
‘V6 Wheeled him off into a narrow street, where lle
wok ‘’“t h‘5 Pocket-liandkcrchief, and stood with his
back (0 11 Wall. If I looked as gravely at him as T1'3 '
dlesflid, he must have found our company by no 111911115
inspiriting. ‘ ‘ i
.“ It is mY,f11l0,” said Mr. Micawber, unfeignedly 50b‘
bmg’.bul' domg, 9"en't1“ll. with a shadow of the old 93'
pression of doing sometliinq genteel ; u it is my fa e,
gentlemen, that the finer feelings of our nature h21W3b‘"
90319 ,T‘?DI00-Clies to me. My hnmacre to Miss Xllicliiields
‘5 3' flight Of arrows in my bosom. “You had better left”
Hie: 1f F911 P193-Se, to walk the earth as a vagabond.
ii orin will settle my business in doublelquiel: time.”
‘YIWOM’ “itellding to this invocation we stood by’
mim he lmt “P 1155 pocket-handkerchief’ pulled “P "5
shirt-collar, and, to delude any person in’.the neighbour-
hmd “lb” ",1l‘a"11l have been observinrr him, liunime
time ‘mh h‘5‘l“1t V91'Y- much on one side I then men‘
ironed-not knowing What might be lost if we lost Sight
of him yet-that it would give me great pleasure t0, in‘
tmduce hm‘ t" my m1nt,it' he would ride out to Hlgh‘
g3‘l'ey'Wl1eIe a bed was at his service.
You shall make us a glass of your own punch, Mr.