Page 236 - david-copperfield

washing the bottles; and sobbed as if there were a flaw in my
own breast, and it were in danger of bursting.
The counting-house clock was at half past twelve, and
there was general preparation for going to dinner, when Mr.
Quinion tapped at the counting-house window, and beck-
oned to me to go in. I went in, and found there a stoutish,
middle-aged person, in a brown surtout and black tights
and shoes, with no more hair upon his head (which was a
large one, and very shining) than there is upon an egg, and
with a very extensive face, which he turned full upon me.
His clothes were shabby, but he had an imposing shirt-col-
lar on. He carried a jaunty sort of a stick, with a large pair
of rusty tassels to it; and a quizzing-glass hung outside his
coat, - for ornament, I afterwards found, as he very seldom
looked through it, and couldn’t see anything when he did.
‘This,’ said Mr. Quinion, in allusion to myself, ‘is he.’
‘This,’ said the stranger, with a certain condescending roll
in his voice, and a certain indescribable air of doing some-
thing genteel, which impressed me very much, ‘is Master
Copperfield. I hope I see you well, sir?’
I said I was very well, and hoped he was. I was sufficient-
ly ill at ease, Heaven knows; but it was not in my nature to
complain much at that time of my life, so I said I was very
well, and hoped he was.
‘I am,’ said the stranger, ‘thank Heaven, quite well. I have
received a letter from Mr. Murdstone, in which he mentions
that he would desire me to receive into an apartment in the
rear of my house, which is at present unoccupied - and is, in
short, to be let as a - in short,’ said the stranger, with a smile