Page 499 - david-copperfield

most worthy and deserving man in her own station of life. I
esteem her for her good sense, as much as I admire her for
her good looks.’
‘Well said!’ cried Steerforth. ‘Hear, hear, hear! Now I’ll
quench the curiosity of this little Fatima, my dear Daisy, by
leaving her nothing to guess at. She is at present appren-
ticed, Miss Mowcher, or articled, or whatever it may be, to
Omer and Joram, Haberdashers, Milliners, and so forth, in
this town. Do you observe? Omer and Joram. The promise
of which my friend has spoken, is made and entered into
with her cousin; Christian name, Ham; surname, Peggotty;
occupation, boat-builder; also of this town. She lives with
a relative; Christian name, unknown; surname, Peggotty;
occupation, seafaring; also of this town. She is the pretti-
est and most engaging little fairy in the world. I admire
her - as my friend does - exceedingly. If it were not that I
might appear to disparage her Intended, which I know my
friend would not like, I would add, that to me she seems to
be throwing herself away; that I am sure she might do bet-
ter; and that I swear she was born to be a lady.’
Miss Mowcher listened to these words, which were very
slowly and distinctly spoken, with her head on one side, and
her eye in the air as if she were still looking for that answer.
When he ceased she became brisk again in an instant, and
rattled away with surprising volubility.
‘Oh! And that’s all about it, is it?’ she exclaimed, trim-
ming his whiskers with a little restless pair of scissors, that
went glancing round his head in all directions. ‘Very well:
very well! Quite a long story. Ought to end ‘and they lived

David Copperfield