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take David back - to take him back unconditionally, to dis-
pose of him as I think proper, and to deal with him as I
think right. I am not here to make any promise, or give any
pledge to anybody. You may possibly have some idea, Miss
Trotwood, of abetting him in his running away, and in his
complaints to you. Your manner, which I must say does not
seem intended to propitiate, induces me to think it possible.
Now I must caution you that if you abet him once, you abet
him for good and all; if you step in between him and me,
now, you must step in, Miss Trotwood, for ever. I cannot
trifle, or be trifled with. I am here, for the first and last time,
to take him away. Is he ready to go? If he is not - and you tell
me he is not; on any pretence; it is indifferent to me what -
my doors are shut against him henceforth, and yours, I take
it for granted, are open to him.’
To this address, my aunt had listened with the closest at-
tention, sitting perfectly upright, with her hands folded on
one knee, and looking grimly on the speaker. When he had
finished, she turned her eyes so as to command Miss Murd-
stone, without otherwise disturbing her attitude, and said:
‘Well, ma’am, have YOU got anything to remark?’
‘Indeed, Miss Trotwood,’ said Miss Murdstone, ‘all that
I could say has been so well said by my brother, and all that
I know to be the fact has been so plainly stated by him, that
I have nothing to add except my thanks for your politeness.
For your very great politeness, I am sure,’ said Miss Murd-
stone; with an irony which no more affected my aunt, than
it discomposed the cannon I had slept by at Chatham.
‘And what does the boy say?’ said my aunt. ‘Are you ready

1 David Copperfield