0 David Copperfield
He put his hand into the breast of his shaggy jacket, and
took out with great care a pretty little purse.
‘And if I could deny her when the tears was on her face,
Mas’r Davy,’ said Ham, tenderly adjusting it on the rough
palm of his hand, ‘how could I deny her when she give me
this to carry for her - knowing what she brought it for? Such
a toy as it is!’ said Ham, thoughtfully looking on it. ‘With
such a little money in it, Em’ly my dear.’
I shook him warmly by the hand when he had put it away
again - for that was more satisfactory to me than saying any-
thing - and we walked up and down, for a minute or two,
in silence. The door opened then, and Peggotty appeared,
beckoning to Ham to come in. I would have kept away, but
she came after me, entreating me to come in too. Even then,
I would have avoided the room where they all were, but for
its being the neat-tiled kitchen I have mentioned more than
once. The door opening immediately into it, I found myself
among them before I considered whither I was going.
The girl - the same I had seen upon the sands - was near
the fire. She was sitting on the ground, with her head and
one arm lying on a chair. I fancied, from the disposition of
her figure, that Em’ly had but newly risen from the chair,
and that the forlorn head might perhaps have been lying
on her lap. I saw but little of the girl’s face, over which her
hair fell loose and scattered, as if she had been disordering
it with her own hands; but I saw that she was young, and of
a fair complexion. Peggotty had been crying. So had little
Em’ly. Not a word was spoken when we first went in; and
the Dutch clock by the dresser seemed, in the silence, to tick