David Copperfield

I. I Am Born II. I Observe III. I Have a Change IV. I Fall into Disgrace V. I Am Sent Away VI. I...

My mother was too much afraid of her to refuse compliance with this odd request, if she had any...

Ham Peggotty, who went to the national school, and was a very dragon at his catechism, and who may...

I couldnt quite understand why Peggotty looked so queer, or why she was so ready to go back to the...

The air was so clear and pleasant, and the horse seemed to like the idea of the ride so much...

As we drew a little nearer, and saw the whole adjacent prospect lying a straight low line under the...

I should like it very much. We would all be gentlefolks together, then. Me, and uncle, and Ham, and...

Mrs. Gummidge retired with these words, and betook herself to bed. When she was gone, Mr. Peggotty,...

She has been my mistress a long time, sir, answered Peggotty, I ought to know it. Thats true, he...

Pray let us be friends, said my mother, I couldnt live under coldness or unkindness. I am so sorry....

Why, Jane, we can hardly expect Clara to bear, with perfect firmness, the worry and torment that...

Having by this time cried as much as I possibly could, I began to think it was of no use crying any...

I was very much concerned for his misfortunes, and felt that any recognition short of ninepence...

When I seemed to have been dozing a long while, the Master at Salem House unscrewed his flute into...

I am a determined character, said Mr. Creakle. Thats what I am. I do my duty. Thats what I do. My...

When this dreadful exordium was over, and Tungay had stumped out again, Mr. Creakle came to where I...

It was, properly, a half holiday; being Saturday. But as the noise in the playground would have...

His feelings. repeated Steerforth disdainfully. His feelings will soon get the better of it, Ill be...

When we arrived before day at the inn where the mail stopped, which was not the inn where my friend...

Peggotty darned away at a stocking as long as she could see, and then sat with it drawn on her left...

I felt that I made them as uncomfortable as they made me. If I came into the room where they were,...

I expected a hamper from Peggotty, and brightened at the order. Some of the boys about me put in...

So, when they stopped to bait the horse, and ate and drank and enjoyed themselves, I could touch...

Daybreak had come, and the sun was rising, when she said to me, how kind and considerate Mr....

In his attempts to be particularly lucid, Mr. Barkis was so extremely mysterious, that I might have...

Emly was confused by our all observing her, and hung down her head, and her face was covered with...

With morning came Peggotty; who called to me, as usual, under my window as if Mr. Barkis the...

I know enough of the world now, to have almost lost the capacity of being much surprised by...

In this house, and with this family, I passed my leisure time. My own exclusive breakfast of a...

Captain Hopkins lent me the knife and fork, with his compliments to Mr. Micawber. There was a very...

I had grown to be so accustomed to the Micawbers, and had been so intimate with them in their...

There was a defiant manner about this young man, and particularly about the way in which he chewed...

I was so much dismayed by these words, and particularly by the repetition of the last unknown one,...

I watched her, with my heart at my lips, as she marched to a corner of her garden, and stooped to...

And then theres that woman with the Pagan name, said my aunt, that Peggotty, she goes and gets...

I had some shadowy idea of endeavouring to evade the question, by replying that I thought him a...

I have my own opinions, resumed Mr. Murdstone, whose face darkened more and more, the more he and...

I was greatly elated by these orders; but my heart smote me for my selfishness, when I witnessed...

She had a little basket trifle hanging at her side, with keys in it; and she looked as staid and as...

But there was such an influence in Mr. Wickfields old house, that when I knocked at it, with my new...

My stool was such a tower of observation, that as I watched him reading on again, after this...

No, really, my dear Doctor, you must excuse me if I appear to dwell on this rather, because I feel...

The Doctor was sitting in his easy chair by the fireside, and his young wife was on a stool at his...

This veneration Mr. Dick extended to the Doctor, whom he thought the most subtle and accomplished...

We are too umble, sir, said Mrs. Heep, my son and me, to be the friends of Master Copperfield. He...

In a word, I never saw anybody so thoroughly jovial as Mr. Micawber was, down to the very last...

The eldest Miss Larkins knows officers. It is an awful thing to bear. I see them speaking to her in...

I am sure I am not like myself when I am away, said I. I seem to want my right hand, when I miss...

Why, here, said Mrs. Markleham, taking a letter from the chimney piece above the Doctors head, the...

I was so filled with the play, and with the past for it was, in a manner, like a shining...

She was introduced as Miss Dartle, and both Steerforth and his mother called her Rosa. I found that...

So my son took, of his own will, and on no compulsion, to the course in which he can always, when...

I gave him minute directions for finding the residence of Mr. Barkis, carrier to Blunderstone and...

Barkis will be so glad, said Peggotty, wiping her eyes with her apron, that itll do him more good...

There was a certain person as had knowd our Emly, from the time when her father was drownded; as...

For my own part, my occupation in my solitary pilgrimages was to recall every yard of the old road...

The same as ever, said Steerforth. Distant and quiet as the North Pole. He shall see to the boat...

Oh, youre a broth of a boy, aint you. returned Miss Mowcher, shaking her head violently. I said,...

For the matter o that, Masr Davy, replied Ham, alls told amost in them words, Emly, Emly, for...

For some little time we held no conversation, Steerforth being unusually silent, and I being...

We had a long chat by the fire before we went to bed. I slept in a room on the same floor with my...

As I was delighted with the place, my aunt and Mrs. Crupp withdrew into the pantry to discuss the...

I went on, by finding suddenly that somebody was in the middle of a song. Markham was the singer,...

She looked so quiet and good, and reminded me so strongly of my airy fresh school days at...

Finding by degrees, however, that I was sober, and I hope that I was a modest young gentleman, Mrs....

Oh, really, Master Copperfield, I mean Mister Copperfield, said Uriah, to see you waiting upon me...

I never shall forget that night. I never shall forget how I turned and tumbled; how I wearied...

She was more than human to me. She was a Fairy, a Sylph, I dont know what she was anything that no...

I never saw such curls how could I, for there never were such curls. as those she shook out to hide...

With these words, Mrs. Crupp, affecting to be very careful of the brandy which was all gone thanked...

Its not a great deal towards the furnishing, said Traddles, but its something. The table cloths,...

At the appointed time, my three visitors arrived together. Mr. Micawber with more shirt collar than...

Then, said Mrs. Micawber, who prided herself on taking a clear view of things, and keeping Mr....

It was between ten and eleven oclock when Mrs. Micawber rose to replace her cap in the whitey brown...

It is expedient that I should inform you that the undersigned is Crushed. Some flickering efforts...

Oh. said Miss Dartle, nodding her head thoughtfully. To be sure. That would prevent it. Why, of...

Mr. Omers face and manner went for so much, that I could conscientiously nod my head, as divining...

Barkis, my dear. said Peggotty, almost cheerfully. bending over him, while her brother and I stood...

No, laughed Mr. Peggotty, not to look at, but to to consider on, you know. I doent care, bless you....

My wishes is, sir, as it shall look, day and night, winter and summer, as it has always looked,...

Yes, its always so. she said. They are all surprised, these inconsiderate young people, fairly and...

As to Mrs. Gummidge, if I were to endeavour to describe how she ran down the street by the side of...

The mere vehemence of her words can convey, I am sensible, but a weak impression of the passion by...

I might have had more difficulty in constraining myself to be silent under his words, if I had had...

It was a trying thing to find people here, waiting for us; and my jealousy, even of the ladies,...

When Dora hung her head and cried, and trembled, my eloquence increased so much the more. If she...

Very sad, is it not. returned Traddles. But in a merely domestic view it is not so bad as it might...

I was roused from my amazement, and concern for her I am sure, for her by her falling on my neck,...

It was difficult to believe that a night so long to me, could be short to anybody else. This...

I keep that room to myself still; but I cannot always desert Mrs. Heep, you know. And so, said...

It was not that he looked many years older, though still dressed with the old scrupulous...

I got into such a transport, that I felt quite sorry my coat was not a little shabby already. I...

But he saw nothing. He told her, good naturedly, that she was young and ought to be amused and...

To Canterbury. In fact, my dear Copperfield, I have entered into arrangements, by virtue of which I...

I was not so savagely independent as to say anything in reply, but that if ever I borrowed money of...

I was encouraged by this closing admission on the part of Miss Mills to ask her, whether, for Doras...

Miss Spenlow endeavoured, said Miss Murdstone, to bribe me with kisses, work boxes, and small...

In the back kitchen, I raved as became me. I went there, I suppose, to make a fool of myself, and I...

Wednesday. D. comparatively cheerful. Sang to her, as congenial melody, Evening Bells. Effect not...

I dont know how it is, Agnes; I seem to want some faculty of mind that I ought to have. You were so...

I had not walked out far enough to be quite clear of the town, upon the Ramsgate road, where there...

I dont know all I have done, in my fatuity, said Mr. Wickfield, putting out his hands, as if to...

When she was a child, he said, lifting up his head soon after we were left alone, she used to talk...

Id go ten thousand mile, he said, Id go till I dropped dead, to lay that money down afore him. If I...

I had a vague sensation of being, as it were, on view, when the maid opened it; and of wavering,...

In this position of affairs, said Miss Lavinia, again referring to her notes, and admitting his...

So, when I once asked Dora, with an eye to the cookery book, what she would do, if we were married,...

I never was so happy. I never was so pleased as when I saw those two sit down together, side by...

My dear Strong, said Mr. Wickfield in a tremulous voice, my good friend, I neednt tell you that it...

I have shown you often enough, said I, that I despise you. I have shown you now, more plainly, that...

This is hard to bear. This is heart breaking. If you will advise me, knowing my feeble powers such...

The topic is fraught with such danger to the bonnet, that Miss Lavinia gives another little scream,...

When there was a debate, and I was kept out very late, it seemed so strange to me, as I was walking...

The next domestic trial we went through, was the Ordeal of Servants. Mary Annes cousin deserted...

I was a boyish husband as to years. I had known the softening influence of no other sorrows or...

Unconscious of this prediction, Mr. Dick continued to occupy precisely the same ground in reference...

Mrs. Markleham, by this time recovering the power of speech, and seeming to swell with family pride...

I have never, but in your presence, interchanged a word with him from that time; then, only when it...

The young woman went on in this manner for some time, being occasionally low in her spirits, until...

Reflecting on what had been thus told me, I felt it right that it should be communicated to Mr....

We were now down in Westminster. We had turned back to follow her, having encountered her coming...

What shall I ever do. she said, fighting thus with her despair. How can I go on as I am, a solitary...

You stripped me of the greater part of all I ever had, said my aunt. You closed my heart against...

Dora would not allow me, for a long time, to remove the handkerchief. She sat sobbing and murmuring...

Dora had helped him up on the sofa; where he really was defying my aunt to such a furious extent,...

I acceded to this the more readily, because I now reproached myself with having treated her former...

At another time I should have been amused by this; but I felt that we were all constrained and...

I asked her if that were not our destination. On her motioning Yes, with the same hasty gesture as...

I came here, you pure fountain of love, she said, to see as I began by telling you what such a...

Emly got to France, and took service to wait on travelling ladies at a inn in the port. Theer,...

Its an ingenious thing, aint it. he inquired, following the direction of my glance, and polishing...

Tant that I forgive her. Tant that so much. Tis more as I beg of her to forgive me, for having...

At the hotel where Mr. Micawber had requested us to await him, which we got into, with some...

You are a precious set of people, aint you. said Uriah, in the same low voice, and breaking out...

To wit, in manner following, that is to say. Mr. W. being infirm, and it being within the bounds of...

As we were all very grateful to him, and all desirous to show that we were, as well as the hurry...

Not that I am vain of it, now, you mocking boy, she says, when I smile; but because you used to say...

Madam, he replied, Mrs. Micawber and myself are deeply sensible of the very considerate kindness of...

Often. I am not afraid, dear Trotwood. I am certain of success. So many people know me here, and...

Six and thirty years ago, this day, my dear, said my aunt, as we walked back to the chariot, I was...

Joining these groups, I found bewailing women whose husbands were away in herring or oyster boats,...

There was a bell on board; and as the ship rolled and dashed, like a desperate creature driven mad,...

The girl anxiously replied that her mistress was very seldom out now, even in a carriage; that she...

I went through the dreary house, and darkened the windows. The windows of the chamber where he lay,...

On the voyage, I shall endeavour, said Mr. Micawber, occasionally to spin them a yarn; and the...

Then I saw her, at her uncles side, and trembling on his shoulder. He pointed to us with an eager...

For a long time, though studying and working patiently, I had accustomed myself to robust exercise....

In the course of my stumbling upstairs, I fancied I heard a pleasant sound of laughter; and not the...

Oh. Thats your partiality. laughed Traddles. But, indeed, I am in a most enviable state. I work...

Well, sir, there were violent quarrels at first, I assure you, said Mr. Chillip; but she is quite a...