David Copperfield

Chapter 68 Tom Traddles (2)
Chapter 27 Tom Traddles(2)
"In this way, bit by bit, scrimp and save, I have at last rounded up a hundred pounds," said Traddles. Del said painfully as if he had pulled out another tooth, "It's very difficult. I still live on the kind of work I mentioned, and I'm waiting. One day, I will get in touch with a newspaper, and that newspaper will become my happiness." Well, Copperfield, you are so exactly as you were in old days, with your pleasant face, and so excited to meet you, that I will not hide it from you. You should therefore know that I am engaged."

Engaged! Oh, Dora!

"She's a clergyman's daughter," said Traddles, "one of ten, and home in Germany, yes!" For he saw me looking at the picture on the inkwell, "that's the church! You Look here, to the left, outside this door," he pointed his finger along the inkwell, "where I hold my pen, and that's the house—you see, towards the church."

I did not fully appreciate the pleasure with which he related these details, for my mind was then comparing the plans of Mr. Spenlow's house and gardens.

"She's such a charming girl!" said Traddles, "a little older than me, but the most charming girl! Did I tell you I was going out of town? Walking back, that was the happiest time! I think, our engagement seems to be going on for a long time, but our motto is 'expect and hope'! We always say 'expect and hope' from time to time. She is willing to wait for me, Copperfield, wait until you are sixty--at any age you can name!"

He got up from his chair, with a proud smile, and put his hands on the white cloth I said.

"But," he said, "we've made a start to family life. Yes, we've made a start. We should take it slowly, but we've made a start. Here," he said, with great satisfaction and noticed pulling the cloth aside, "There are two pieces of furniture to start with. This is a planter and a shelf, which she bought herself. You put it in a parlor window." Traddles drew back a little, pregnant admired it with great admiration, and said, "Plant a flower, and--then lo and behold! I bought this little round marble-topped table. You're going to put a book on it, or someone to come to see you or Your lady, want a cup of tea in an old place, so—so you look again!” said Traddles, “it is admirable work of art—solid as a rock!”

I was full of admiration for both, and Traddles covered the table-cloth with as much care as it had removed it.

"It's not much in terms of equipment, of course," said Traddles, "but it's a little. Table-cloths, pillow-cases, and that sort of thing depress me most, Copperfield. Ironware, candle-boxes, racks for grilling." , and necessities of the sort—they're expensive and getting more expensive. Still, 'expect and hope'! She's the most charming girl, I guarantee!"

"I'm sure of that," I said.

"Meanwhile," said Traddles, sitting back in his chair, "this is me, and I'm going to live. I don't earn much, and I don't use much. In short, I feed the people downstairs, and they Delightful people indeed. Both Mr and Mrs Micawber have had a great deal of life and are wonderful companions."

I quickly called out, "Who are you talking about?"

Traddles stared at me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Micawber!" I repeated. "Ah, we're friends!"

There happened to be two knocks on the door, a sound so familiar to me from my life in Windsor, that no one but Mr. Micawber knocked like that, and it put the question in my head as to whether they were my elders or not. The friend's doubts were eliminated.I asked Traddles to send his landlady up.He complied.And so Mr. Micawber, unchanged--leggings, walking-stick, collar, his spectacles, all unchanged--entered with a sort of refinement.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Traddles," said Mr. Micawber, breaking off his mild humming, and remarking in his old loud voice, "that I was not aware of a visitor who had never been here before."

Mr. Micawber bowed slightly to me.

"Mr. Micawber?" said I.

"Sir," said Mr. Micawber, "you are too kind. I am still me."

"Where's Mrs. Micawber?" I went on.

"Sir," said Mr. Micawber, "she, thank God, did the same."

"And the children, Mr. Micawber?"

"Sir," said Mr. Micawber, "I will be more than happy to tell you that they are in good health, too."

Hitherto Mr. Micawber, though standing face to face with me, had not recognized me in the slightest.But then, seeing me smiling, he looked more closely at my face, and cried out suddenly: "Is that possible? Is it my fate to see Mr. Copperfield again?" and shook my hand with great enthusiasm.

"Why, Mr. Traddles!" said Mr. Micawber, "you are old acquaintances, old companions! My dears!" When Traddles was astonished (naturally) at the above adjective, Mr. Micawber called out to his wife from the banister: "There is a gentleman in Mr. Traddles' room, and I want to introduce you, my love!"

Mr. Micawber returned at once, and took my hand.

"How is our good friend the Doctor, Copperfield?" said Mr. Micawber. "How are you all in Canterbury?"

"It's all good." I said.

"I'm glad to hear that," said Mr. Micawber. "We last met at Canterbury. I might put it more elegantly, where Chaucer ] Immortal, in the shadow of the religious edifice where the pilgrims gathered from afar—in short,” he said, “in the neighborhood of that chapel.”

I replied yes.Mr. Micawber went on as gently as he could, but I fancied there were traces of apprehension in his face, which showed that he was very concerned about the sound of Mrs. Micawber washing her hands in the next room, and the sound of drawers being opened and closed hastily.

"You find us, Copperfield," said Mr. Micawber, looking one eye at Traddles, "in a state of modesty, so to speak. You know, however, that in the experience of my life I have overcome many difficulties, I have overcome many obstacles. There have been periods in my life where I have had to stop and wait for a hoped-for opportunity, and have had to step back and engage in overtaking which I do not want to boast about. You know that fact well. .The present is one of those great junctures in life. You find me, and take a step back in order to catch up, and I have every reason to think that the result will soon be a powerful leap forward."

I was expressing my pleasure when Mrs. Micawber came.She was a little less groomed than before, perhaps to my unaccustomed eyes, but she still had some preparations for receiving guests, and she wore gloves.

"My dear," said Mr. Micawber, leading her to me, "Mr. Copperfield would like to reconnect with you."

I saw the weak Mrs. Micawber get so excited that Mr. Micawber was obliged to go downstairs to get a basin of water to wash her brow.She'll be fine in a while, though.And really liked seeing me.We talked for half an hour: I asked her about the twins, and she said they were "grown up"; then I asked her about Master and Miss Micawber, and she said they were "absolute giants," but that I did not bring them out to meet me.

Mr. Micawber kindly kept me at supper.If I had not read in Mrs. Micawber's eyes the embarrassment of counting the stock, I should have stayed.So I said something else, and Mrs. Micawber was instantly relieved.Seeing all this, I declined their persuasion to give up that date.

But I told Traddles and the Micawbers that they should appoint a time to see me before I took my leave, Traddles being bound by their duties to fix a somewhat distant date.But a suitable date was finally fixed, and I left.

Mr. Micawber said he would show me a nearer way, and come with me to the bend of the street, because he wanted to speak his heart to an old friend.

"My dear Copperfield," said Mr. Micawber, "I need not tell you that, in the present circumstances, it would be an inappropriate description to have a man of sensible mind like your friend Traddles living with him." I am delighted. There is a washerwoman who sells hard noodles at the parlour-window next door, and police officers live across the street. You can imagine that it is a privilege for us and my wife to live with them. My dear Copperfield, I am currently engaged in consignment grain sales. There is no profit in this business, but the result of a temporary financial embarrassment. However, I am happy to add that I now have an impending opportunity (not to say which), and I Thinking it could sustain me and your friend forever, I have a natural affinity for the man. You may wish to know that, in the state of my wife's health, there is a great possibility of adding a crystallization of love—Jane In short, the possibility of an additional baby. I don't see what it concerns them that Mrs. Micawber's natal family should protest against the situation, and I reject that apparent concern with contempt and contempt!"

He shook my hand and left.

(End of this chapter)