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asm Mr. Peggotty became inspired when he thought of his
little favourite. He stands before me again, his bluff hairy
face irradiating with a joyful love and pride, for which I can
find no description. His honest eyes fire up, and sparkle, as
if their depths were stirred by something bright. His broad
chest heaves with pleasure. His strong loose hands clench
themselves, in his earnestness; and he emphasizes what he
says with a right arm that shows, in my pigmy view, like a
sledge-hammer.
Ham was quite as earnest as he. I dare say they would
have said much more about her, if they had not been
abashed by the unexpected coming in of Steerforth, who,
seeing me in a corner speaking with two strangers, stopped
in a song he was singing, and said: ‘I didn’t know you were
here, young Copperfield!’ (for it was not the usual visiting
room) and crossed by us on his way out.
I am not sure whether it was in the pride of having such
a friend as Steerforth, or in the desire to explain to him
how I came to have such a friend as Mr. Peggotty, that I
called to him as he was going away. But I said, modestly -
Good Heaven, how it all comes back to me this long time
afterwards! -
‘Don’t go, Steerforth, if you please. These are two Yar-
mouth boatmen - very kind, good people - who are relations
of my nurse, and have come from Gravesend to see me.’
‘Aye, aye?’ said Steerforth, returning. ‘I am glad to see
them. How are you both?’
There was an ease in his manner - a gay and light man-
ner it was, but not swaggering - which I still believe to have