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CHAPTER 35

DEPRESSION

A

s soon as I could recover my presence of mind, which

quite deserted me in the first overpowering shock of

my aunt’s intelligence, I proposed to Mr. Dick to come

round to the chandler’s shop, and take possession of the

bed which Mr. Peggotty had lately vacated. The chandler’s

shop being in Hungerford Market, and Hungerford Market

being a very different place in those days, there was a low

wooden colonnade before the door (not very unlike that be-

fore the house where the little man and woman used to live,

in the old weather-glass), which pleased Mr. Dick mightily.

The glory of lodging over this structure would have com-

pensated him, I dare say, for many inconveniences; but, as

there were really few to bear, beyond the compound of fla-

vours I have already mentioned, and perhaps the want of a

little more elbow-room, he was perfectly charmed with his

accommodation. Mrs. Crupp had indignantly assured him

that there wasn’t room to swing a cat there; but, as Mr. Dick

justly observed to me, sitting down on the foot of the bed,

nursing his leg, ‘You know, Trotwood, I don’t want to swing

a cat. I never do swing a cat. Therefore, what does that sig-