PREFACE.I do not find it easy to get sufficiently far away from this Book, in the first sensations of having finished it, to refer to it with the composure which this formal heading would seem to require. My interest in it, is so recent and strong; and my mind is so divided between pleasure and regret—pleasure in the achievement of a long design, regret in the separation from many companions—that I am in danger of wearying the reader whom I love, with personal confidences, and private emotions.Besides which, all that I could say of the Story, to any purpose, I have endeavoured to say in it.It would concern the reader little, perhaps, to know, how sorrowfully the pen is laid down at the close of a two-years’ imaginative task; or how an Author feels as if he were dismissing some portion of himself into the shadowy world, when a crowd of the creatures of his brain are going from him for ever. Yet, I have nothing else to tell; unless, indeed, I were to confess (which might be of less moment still) that no onecan ever believe this Narrative, in the reading, more than I have believed it in the writing.Instead of looking back, therefore, I will look forward. I cannot close this Volume more agreeably to myself, than with a hopeful glance towards the time when I shall again put forth my two green leaves once a month, and with a faithful remembrance of the genial sun and showers that have fallen on these leaves of David Copperfield, and made me happy.London,October, 1850.
I do not find it easy to get sufficiently far away from this Book, in the first sensations of having finished it, to refer to it with the composure which this formal heading would seem to require. My interest in it, is so recent and strong; and my mind is so divided between pleasure and regret—pleasure in the achievement of a long design, regret in the separation from many companions—that I am in danger of wearying the reader whom I love, with personal confidences, and private emotions.
Besides which, all that I could say of the Story, to any purpose, I have endeavoured to say in it.
It would concern the reader little, perhaps, to know, how sorrowfully the pen is laid down at the close of a two-years’ imaginative task; or how an Author feels as if he were dismissing some portion of himself into the shadowy world, when a crowd of the creatures of his brain are going from him for ever. Yet, I have nothing else to tell; unless, indeed, I were to confess (which might be of less moment still) that no onecan ever believe this Narrative, in the reading, more than I have believed it in the writing.
Instead of looking back, therefore, I will look forward. I cannot close this Volume more agreeably to myself, than with a hopeful glance towards the time when I shall again put forth my two green leaves once a month, and with a faithful remembrance of the genial sun and showers that have fallen on these leaves of David Copperfield, and made me happy.
London,October, 1850.
ContentsCHAPTER I.1I AM BORN.CHAPTER II.10I OBSERVE.CHAPTER III.21I HAVE A CHANGE.CHAPTER IV.33I FALL INTO DISGRACE.CHAPTER V.46I AM SENT AWAY FROM HOME.CHAPTER VI.59I ENLARGE MY CIRCLE OF ACQUAINTANCE.CHAPTER VII.65MY “FIRST HALF” AT SALEM HOUSE.CHAPTER VIII.78MY HOLIDAYS. ESPECIALLY ONE HAPPY AFTERNOON.CHAPTER IX.88I HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY.CHAPTER X.97I BECOME NEGLECTED, AND AM PROVIDED FOR.CHAPTER XI.111I BEGIN LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT, AND DON’T LIKE IT.CHAPTER XII.122LIKING LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT NO BETTER, I FORM A GREAT RESOLUTION.CHAPTER XIII.129THE SEQUEL OF MY RESOLUTION.CHAPTER XIV.143MY AUNT MAKES UP HER MIND ABOUT ME.CHAPTER XV.154I MAKE ANOTHER BEGINNING.CHAPTER XVI.161I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE.CHAPTER XVII.176SOMEBODY TURNS UP.CHAPTER XVIII.188A RETROSPECT.CHAPTER XIX.193I LOOK ABOUT ME, AND MAKE A DISCOVERY.CHAPTER XX.205STEERFORTH’S HOME.CHAPTER XXI.211LITTLE EM’LY.CHAPTER XXII.225SOME OLD SCENES, AND SOME NEW PEOPLE.CHAPTER XXIII.240I CORROBORATE MR. DICK, AND CHOOSE A PROFESSION.CHAPTER XXIV.251MY FIRST DISSIPATION.CHAPTER XXV.257GOOD AND BAD ANGELS.CHAPTER XXVI.271I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY.CHAPTER XXVII.283TOMMY TRADDLES.CHAPTER XXVIII.289MR. MICAWBER’S GAUNTLET.CHAPTER XXIX.303I VISIT STEERFORTH AT HIS HOME, AGAIN.CHAPTER XXX.308A LOSS.CHAPTER XXXI.314A GREATER LOSS.CHAPTER XXXII.321THE BEGINNING OF A LONG JOURNEY.CHAPTER XXXIII.334BLISSFUL.CHAPTER XXXIV.346MY AUNT ASTONISHES ME.CHAPTER XXXV.353DEPRESSION.CHAPTER XXXVI.367ENTHUSIASM.CHAPTER XXXVII.379A LITTLE COLD WATER.CHAPTER XXXVIII.385A DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.CHAPTER XXXIX.397WICKFIELD AND HEEP.CHAPTER XL.411THE WANDERER.CHAPTER XLI.417DORA’S AUNTS.CHAPTER XLII.428MISCHIEF.CHAPTER XLIII.443ANOTHER RETROSPECT.CHAPTER XLIV.449OUR HOUSEKEEPING.CHAPTER XLV.460MR. DICK FULFILS MY AUNT’S PREDICTION.CHAPTER XLVI.471INTELLIGENCE.CHAPTER XLVII.481MARTHA.CHAPTER XLVIII.489DOMESTIC.CHAPTER XLIX.497I AM INVOLVED IN MYSTERY.CHAPTER L.506MR. PEGGOTTY’S DREAM COMES TRUE.CHAPTER LI.513THE BEGINNING OF A LONGER JOURNEY.CHAPTER LII.525I ASSIST AT AN EXPLOSION.CHAPTER LIII.541ANOTHER RETROSPECT.CHAPTER LIV.545MR. MICAWBER’S TRANSACTIONS.CHAPTER LV.556TEMPEST.CHAPTER LVI.564THE NEW WOUND, AND THE OLD.CHAPTER LVII.569THE EMIGRANTS.CHAPTER LVIII.577ABSENCE.CHAPTER LIX.582RETURN.CHAPTER LX.594AGNES.CHAPTER LXI.600I AM SHOWN TWO INTERESTING PENITENTS.CHAPTER LXII.609A LIGHT SHINES ON MY WAY.CHAPTER LXIII.615A VISITOR.CHAPTER LXIV.621A LAST RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER I.1I AM BORN.
CHAPTER II.10I OBSERVE.
CHAPTER III.21I HAVE A CHANGE.
CHAPTER IV.33I FALL INTO DISGRACE.
CHAPTER V.46I AM SENT AWAY FROM HOME.
CHAPTER VI.59I ENLARGE MY CIRCLE OF ACQUAINTANCE.
CHAPTER VII.65MY “FIRST HALF” AT SALEM HOUSE.
CHAPTER VIII.78MY HOLIDAYS. ESPECIALLY ONE HAPPY AFTERNOON.
CHAPTER IX.88I HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY.
CHAPTER X.97I BECOME NEGLECTED, AND AM PROVIDED FOR.
CHAPTER XI.111I BEGIN LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT, AND DON’T LIKE IT.
CHAPTER XII.122LIKING LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT NO BETTER, I FORM A GREAT RESOLUTION.
CHAPTER XIII.129THE SEQUEL OF MY RESOLUTION.
CHAPTER XIV.143MY AUNT MAKES UP HER MIND ABOUT ME.
CHAPTER XV.154I MAKE ANOTHER BEGINNING.
CHAPTER XVI.161I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE.
CHAPTER XVII.176SOMEBODY TURNS UP.
CHAPTER XVIII.188A RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER XIX.193I LOOK ABOUT ME, AND MAKE A DISCOVERY.
CHAPTER XX.205STEERFORTH’S HOME.
CHAPTER XXI.211LITTLE EM’LY.
CHAPTER XXII.225SOME OLD SCENES, AND SOME NEW PEOPLE.
CHAPTER XXIII.240I CORROBORATE MR. DICK, AND CHOOSE A PROFESSION.
CHAPTER XXIV.251MY FIRST DISSIPATION.
CHAPTER XXV.257GOOD AND BAD ANGELS.
CHAPTER XXVI.271I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY.
CHAPTER XXVII.283TOMMY TRADDLES.
CHAPTER XXVIII.289MR. MICAWBER’S GAUNTLET.
CHAPTER XXIX.303I VISIT STEERFORTH AT HIS HOME, AGAIN.
CHAPTER XXX.308A LOSS.
CHAPTER XXXI.314A GREATER LOSS.
CHAPTER XXXII.321THE BEGINNING OF A LONG JOURNEY.
CHAPTER XXXIII.334BLISSFUL.
CHAPTER XXXIV.346MY AUNT ASTONISHES ME.
CHAPTER XXXV.353DEPRESSION.
CHAPTER XXXVI.367ENTHUSIASM.
CHAPTER XXXVII.379A LITTLE COLD WATER.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.385A DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXIX.397WICKFIELD AND HEEP.
CHAPTER XL.411THE WANDERER.
CHAPTER XLI.417DORA’S AUNTS.
CHAPTER XLII.428MISCHIEF.
CHAPTER XLIII.443ANOTHER RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER XLIV.449OUR HOUSEKEEPING.
CHAPTER XLV.460MR. DICK FULFILS MY AUNT’S PREDICTION.
CHAPTER XLVI.471INTELLIGENCE.
CHAPTER XLVII.481MARTHA.
CHAPTER XLVIII.489DOMESTIC.
CHAPTER XLIX.497I AM INVOLVED IN MYSTERY.
CHAPTER L.506MR. PEGGOTTY’S DREAM COMES TRUE.
CHAPTER LI.513THE BEGINNING OF A LONGER JOURNEY.
CHAPTER LII.525I ASSIST AT AN EXPLOSION.
CHAPTER LIII.541ANOTHER RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER LIV.545MR. MICAWBER’S TRANSACTIONS.
CHAPTER LV.556TEMPEST.
CHAPTER LVI.564THE NEW WOUND, AND THE OLD.
CHAPTER LVII.569THE EMIGRANTS.
CHAPTER LVIII.577ABSENCE.
CHAPTER LIX.582RETURN.
CHAPTER LX.594AGNES.
CHAPTER LXI.600I AM SHOWN TWO INTERESTING PENITENTS.
CHAPTER LXII.609A LIGHT SHINES ON MY WAY.
CHAPTER LXIII.615A VISITOR.
CHAPTER LXIV.621A LAST RETROSPECT.
LIST OF PLATES.FRONTISPIECE.OUR PEW AT CHURCH11I AM HOSPITABLY RECEIVED BY MR. PEGGOTTY23THE FRIENDLY WAITER AND I49MY MUSICAL BREAKFAST55STEERFORTH AND MR. MELL70CHANGES AT HOME79MRS. GUMMIDGE CASTS A DAMP ON OUR DEPARTURE105MY MAGNIFICENT ORDER AT THE PUBLIC-HOUSE117I MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO MY AUNT137THE MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW149I RETURN TO THE DOCTOR’S AFTER THE PARTY175SOMEBODY TURNS UP182MY FIRST FALL IN LIFE201WE ARRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY AT MR. PEGGOTTY’S FIRESIDE220I MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MISS MOWCHER233MARTHA238URIAH PERSISTS IN HOVERING NEAR US, AT THE DINNER PARTY262I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY274WE ARE DISTURBED IN OUR COOKERY292I FIND MR. BARKIS “GOING OUT WITH THE TIDE”313MR. PEGGOTTY AND MRS. STEERFORTH330MY AUNT ASTONISHES ME350MR. WICKFIELD AND HIS PARTNER WAIT UPON MY AUNT364MR. MICAWBER DELIVERS SOME VALEDICTORY REMARKS378TRADDLES MAKES A FIGURE IN PARLIAMENT, AND I REPORT HIM386THE WANDERER412TRADDLES AND I, IN CONFERENCE WITH THE MISSES SPENLOW420I AM MARRIED447OUR HOUSEKEEPING454MR. DICK FULFILS MY AUNT’S PREDICTION465THE RIVER482MR. PEGGOTTY’S DREAM COMES TRUE512RESTORATION OF MUTUAL CONFIDENCE BETWEEN MR. AND MRS. MICAWBER539MY CHILD-WIFE’S OLD COMPANION544I AM THE BEARER OF EVIL TIDINGS566THE EMIGRANTS575I AM SHOWN TWO INTERESTING PENITENTS605A STRANGER CALLS TO SEE ME615
FRONTISPIECE.
OUR PEW AT CHURCH11
I AM HOSPITABLY RECEIVED BY MR. PEGGOTTY23
THE FRIENDLY WAITER AND I49
MY MUSICAL BREAKFAST55
STEERFORTH AND MR. MELL70
CHANGES AT HOME79
MRS. GUMMIDGE CASTS A DAMP ON OUR DEPARTURE105
MY MAGNIFICENT ORDER AT THE PUBLIC-HOUSE117
I MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO MY AUNT137
THE MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW149
I RETURN TO THE DOCTOR’S AFTER THE PARTY175
SOMEBODY TURNS UP182
MY FIRST FALL IN LIFE201
WE ARRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY AT MR. PEGGOTTY’S FIRESIDE220
I MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF MISS MOWCHER233
MARTHA238
URIAH PERSISTS IN HOVERING NEAR US, AT THE DINNER PARTY262
I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY274
WE ARE DISTURBED IN OUR COOKERY292
I FIND MR. BARKIS “GOING OUT WITH THE TIDE”313
MR. PEGGOTTY AND MRS. STEERFORTH330
MY AUNT ASTONISHES ME350
MR. WICKFIELD AND HIS PARTNER WAIT UPON MY AUNT364
MR. MICAWBER DELIVERS SOME VALEDICTORY REMARKS378
TRADDLES MAKES A FIGURE IN PARLIAMENT, AND I REPORT HIM386
THE WANDERER412
TRADDLES AND I, IN CONFERENCE WITH THE MISSES SPENLOW420
I AM MARRIED447
OUR HOUSEKEEPING454
MR. DICK FULFILS MY AUNT’S PREDICTION465
THE RIVER482
MR. PEGGOTTY’S DREAM COMES TRUE512
RESTORATION OF MUTUAL CONFIDENCE BETWEEN MR. AND MRS. MICAWBER539
MY CHILD-WIFE’S OLD COMPANION544
I AM THE BEARER OF EVIL TIDINGS566
THE EMIGRANTS575
I AM SHOWN TWO INTERESTING PENITENTS605
A STRANGER CALLS TO SEE ME615