Page 230 - david-copperfield

‘For stubbornness won’t do here,’ said his sister ‘What it
wants is, to be crushed. And crushed it must be. Shall be,
too!’
He gave her a look, half in remonstrance, half in approv-
al, and went on:
‘I suppose you know, David, that I am not rich. At any
rate, you know it now. You have received some considerable
education already. Education is costly; and even if it were
not, and I could afford it, I am of opinion that it would not
be at all advantageous to you to be kept at school. What is
before you, is a fight with the world; and the sooner you be-
gin it, the better.’
I think it occurred to me that I had already begun it, in
my poor way: but it occurs to me now, whether or no.
‘You have heard the ‘counting-house’ mentioned some-
times,’ said Mr. Murdstone.
‘The counting-house, sir?’ I repeated. ‘Of Murdstone and
Grinby, in the wine trade,’ he replied.
I suppose I looked uncertain, for he went on hastily:
‘You have heard the ‘counting-house’ mentioned, or the
business, or the cellars, or the wharf, or something about
it.’
‘I think I have heard the business mentioned, sir,’ I said,
remembering what I vaguely knew of his and his sister’s re-
sources. ‘But I don’t know when.’
‘It does not matter when,’ he returned. ‘Mr. Quinion
manages that business.’
I glanced at the latter deferentially as he stood looking
out of window.