10  David Copperfield

CHAPTER 51

THE BEGINNING OF A

LONGER JOURNEY

I

t was yet early in the morning of the following day, when,

as I was walking in my garden with my aunt (who took

little other exercise now, being so much in attendance on

my dear Dora), I was told that Mr. Peggotty desired to speak

with me. He came into the garden to meet me half-way, on

my going towards the gate; and bared his head, as it was

always his custom to do when he saw my aunt, for whom

he had a high respect. I had been telling her all that had

happened overnight. Without saying a word, she walked up

with a cordial face, shook hands with him, and patted him

on the arm. It was so expressively done, that she had no

need to say a word. Mr. Peggotty understood her quite as

well as if she had said a thousand.

‘I’ll go in now, Trot,’ said my aunt, ‘and look after Little

Blossom, who will be getting up presently.’

‘Not along of my being heer, ma’am, I hope?’ said Mr. Peg-

gotty. ‘Unless my wits is gone a bahd’s neezing’ - by which

Mr. Peggotty meant to say, bird’s-nesting - ‘this morning,