1 David Copperfield

CHAPTER 8

MY HOLIDAYS. ESPECIALLY

ONE HAPPY AFTERNOON

W

hen we arrived before day at the inn where the mail

stopped, which was not the inn where my friend the

waiter lived, I was shown up to a nice little bedroom, with

DOLPHIN painted on the door. Very cold I was, I know,

notwithstanding the hot tea they had given me before a

large fire downstairs; and very glad I was to turn into the

Dolphin’s bed, pull the Dolphin’s blankets round my head,

and go to sleep.

Mr. Barkis the carrier was to call for me in the morn-

ing at nine o’clock. I got up at eight, a little giddy from the

shortness of my night’s rest, and was ready for him before

the appointed time. He received me exactly as if not five

minutes had elapsed since we were last together, and I had

only been into the hotel to get change for sixpence, or some-

thing of that sort.

As soon as I and my box were in the cart, and the carrier

seated, the lazy horse walked away with us all at his accus-

tomed pace.