Page 342 - david-copperfield

blind old horse who once used to crop the grass, and tumble
over the graves, in Blunderstone churchyard, he said he was
glad to see me: and then he gave me his hand; which I didn’t
know what to do with, as it did nothing for itself.
But, sitting at work, not far from Doctor Strong, was a
very pretty young lady - whom he called Annie, and who
was his daughter, I supposed - who got me out of my dif-
ficulty by kneeling down to put Doctor Strong’s shoes on,
and button his gaiters, which she did with great cheerful-
ness and quickness. When she had finished, and we were
going out to the schoolroom, I was much surprised to hear
Mr. Wickfield, in bidding her good morning, address her
as ‘Mrs. Strong’; and I was wondering could she be Doc-
tor Strong’s son’s wife, or could she be Mrs. Doctor Strong,
when Doctor Strong himself unconsciously enlightened
me.
‘By the by, Wickfield,’ he said, stopping in a passage with
his hand on my shoulder; ‘you have not found any suitable
provision for my wife’s cousin yet?’
‘No,’ said Mr. Wickfield. ‘No. Not yet.’
‘I could wish it done as soon as it can be done, Wickfield,’
said Doctor Strong, ‘for Jack Maldon is needy, and idle;
and of those two bad things, worse things sometimes come.
What does Doctor Watts say,’ he added, looking at me, and
moving his head to the time of his quotation, ‘“Satan finds
some mischief still, for idle hands to do.‘‘
‘Egad, Doctor,’ returned Mr. Wickfield, ‘if Doctor Watts
knew mankind, he might have written, with as much truth,
‘Satan finds some mischief still, for busy hands to do.’ The

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