David Copperfield

CHAPTER 22

SOME OLD SCENES, AND

SOME NEW PEOPLE

S

teerforth and I stayed for more than a fortnight in that
part of the country. We were very much together, I need
not say; but occasionally we were asunder for some hours
at a time. He was a good sailor, and I was but an indifferent
one; and when he went out boating with Mr. Peggotty, which
was a favourite amusement of his, I generally remained
ashore. My occupation of Peggotty’s spare-room put a con-
straint upon me, from which he was free: for, knowing how
assiduously she attended on Mr. Barkis all day, I did not
like to remain out late at night; whereas Steerforth, lying at
the Inn, had nothing to consult but his own humour. Thus
it came about, that I heard of his making little treats for
the fishermen at Mr. Peggotty’s house of call, ‘The Willing
Mind’, after I was in bed, and of his being afloat, wrapped
in fishermen’s clothes, whole moonlight nights, and com-
ing back when the morning tide was at flood. By this time,
however, I knew that his restless nature and bold spirits de-
lighted to find a vent in rough toil and hard weather, as in