David Copperfieldcase, Mrs. Crupp?’ said I.
‘Mr. Copperfull,’ said Mrs. Crupp, with a great deal of
feeling, ‘I’m a mother myself.’
For some time Mrs. Crupp could only lay her hand upon
her nankeen bosom, and fortify herself against returning
pain with sips of her medicine. At length she spoke again.
‘When the present set were took for you by your dear
aunt, Mr. Copperfull,’ said Mrs. Crupp, ‘my remark were,
I had now found summun I could care for. ‘Thank Ev’in!’
were the expression, ‘I have now found summun I can care
for!’ - You don’t eat enough, sir, nor yet drink.’
‘Is that what you found your supposition on, Mrs. Crupp?’
said I.
‘Sir,’ said Mrs. Crupp, in a tone approaching to severity,
‘I’ve laundressed other young gentlemen besides yourself. A
young gentleman may be over-careful of himself, or he may
be under-careful of himself. He may brush his hair too reg-
ular, or too un-regular. He may wear his boots much too
large for him, or much too small. That is according as the
young gentleman has his original character formed. But let
him go to which extreme he may, sir, there’s a young lady in
both of ‘em.’
Mrs. Crupp shook her head in such a determined man-
ner, that I had not an inch of vantage-ground left.
‘It was but the gentleman which died here before yourself,’
said Mrs. Crupp, ‘that fell in love - with a barmaid - and
had his waistcoats took in directly, though much swelled
by drinking.’
‘Mrs. Crupp,’ said I, ‘I must beg you not to connect the