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 one can 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.
Contents
CHAPTER I.1
I AM BORN.
CHAPTER II.10
I OBSERVE.
CHAPTER III.21
I HAVE A CHANGE.
CHAPTER IV.33
I FALL INTO DISGRACE.
CHAPTER V.46
I AM SENT AWAY FROM HOME.
CHAPTER VI.59
I ENLARGE MY CIRCLE OF ACQUAINTANCE.
CHAPTER VII.65
MY “FIRST HALF” AT SALEM HOUSE.
CHAPTER VIII.78
MY HOLIDAYS. ESPECIALLY ONE HAPPY AFTERNOON.
CHAPTER IX.88
I HAVE A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY.
CHAPTER X.97
I BECOME NEGLECTED, AND AM PROVIDED FOR.
CHAPTER XI.111
I BEGIN LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT, AND DON’T LIKE IT.
CHAPTER XII.122
LIKING LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT NO BETTER, I FORM A GREAT RESOLUTION.
CHAPTER XIII.129
THE SEQUEL OF MY RESOLUTION.
CHAPTER XIV.143
MY AUNT MAKES UP HER MIND ABOUT ME.
CHAPTER XV.154
I MAKE ANOTHER BEGINNING.
CHAPTER XVI.161
I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE.
CHAPTER XVII.176
SOMEBODY TURNS UP.
CHAPTER XVIII.188
A RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER XIX.193
I LOOK ABOUT ME, AND MAKE A DISCOVERY.
CHAPTER XX.205
STEERFORTH’S HOME.
CHAPTER XXI.211
LITTLE EM’LY.
CHAPTER XXII.225
SOME OLD SCENES, AND SOME NEW PEOPLE.
CHAPTER XXIII.240
I CORROBORATE MR. DICK, AND CHOOSE A PROFESSION.
CHAPTER XXIV.251
MY FIRST DISSIPATION.
CHAPTER XXV.257
GOOD AND BAD ANGELS.
CHAPTER XXVI.271
I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY.
CHAPTER XXVII.283
TOMMY TRADDLES.
CHAPTER XXVIII.289
MR. MICAWBER’S GAUNTLET.
CHAPTER XXIX.303
I VISIT STEERFORTH AT HIS HOME, AGAIN.
CHAPTER XXX.308
A LOSS.
CHAPTER XXXI.314
A GREATER LOSS.
CHAPTER XXXII.321
THE BEGINNING OF A LONG JOURNEY.
CHAPTER XXXIII.334
BLISSFUL.
CHAPTER XXXIV.346
MY AUNT ASTONISHES ME.
CHAPTER XXXV.353
DEPRESSION.
CHAPTER XXXVI.367
ENTHUSIASM.
CHAPTER XXXVII.379
A LITTLE COLD WATER.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.385
A DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.
CHAPTER XXXIX.397
WICKFIELD AND HEEP.
CHAPTER XL.411
THE WANDERER.
CHAPTER XLI.417
DORA’S AUNTS.
CHAPTER XLII.428
MISCHIEF.
CHAPTER XLIII.443
ANOTHER RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER XLIV.449
OUR HOUSEKEEPING.
CHAPTER XLV.460
MR. DICK FULFILS MY AUNT’S PREDICTION.
CHAPTER XLVI.471
INTELLIGENCE.
CHAPTER XLVII.481
MARTHA.
CHAPTER XLVIII.489
DOMESTIC.
CHAPTER XLIX.497
I AM INVOLVED IN MYSTERY.
CHAPTER L.506
MR. PEGGOTTY’S DREAM COMES TRUE.
CHAPTER LI.513
THE BEGINNING OF A LONGER JOURNEY.
CHAPTER LII.525
I ASSIST AT AN EXPLOSION.
CHAPTER LIII.541
ANOTHER RETROSPECT.
CHAPTER LIV.545
MR. MICAWBER’S TRANSACTIONS.
CHAPTER LV.556
TEMPEST.
CHAPTER LVI.564
THE NEW WOUND, AND THE OLD.
CHAPTER LVII.569
THE EMIGRANTS.
CHAPTER LVIII.577
ABSENCE.
CHAPTER LIX.582
RETURN.
CHAPTER LX.594
AGNES.
CHAPTER LXI.600
I AM SHOWN TWO INTERESTING PENITENTS.
CHAPTER LXII.609
A LIGHT SHINES ON MY WAY.
CHAPTER LXIII.615
A VISITOR.
CHAPTER LXIV.621
A LAST RETROSPECT.
LIST OF PLATES.
I AM HOSPITABLY RECEIVED BY MR. PEGGOTTY23
MRS. GUMMIDGE CASTS A DAMP ON OUR DEPARTURE105
MY MAGNIFICENT ORDER AT THE PUBLIC-HOUSE117
I MAKE MYSELF KNOWN TO MY AUNT137
I RETURN TO THE DOCTOR’S AFTER THE PARTY175
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
WE ARE DISTURBED IN OUR COOKERY292
I FIND MR. BARKIS “GOING OUT WITH THE TIDE”313
MR. PEGGOTTY AND MRS. STEERFORTH330
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
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