Page 1106 - david-copperfield

youth; and of the many, never old, who had lived and loved
and died, while the reverberations of the bells had hummed
through the rusty armour of the Black Prince hanging up
within, and, motes upon the deep of Time, had lost them-
selves in air, as circles do in water.
I looked at the old house from the corner of the street,
but did not go nearer to it, lest, being observed, I might un-
wittingly do any harm to the design I had come to aid. The
early sun was striking edgewise on its gables and lattice-
windows, touching them with gold; and some beams of its
old peace seemed to touch my heart.
I strolled into the country for an hour or so, and then
returned by the main street, which in the interval had shak-
en off its last night’s sleep. Among those who were stirring
in the shops, I saw my ancient enemy the butcher, now ad-
vanced to top-boots and a baby, and in business for himself.
He was nursing the baby, and appeared to be a benignant
member of society.
We all became very anxious and impatient, when we
sat down to breakfast. As it approached nearer and near-
er to half past nine o’clock, our restless expectation of Mr.
Micawber increased. At last we made no more pretence of
attending to the meal, which, except with Mr. Dick, had
been a mere form from the first; but my aunt walked up and
down the room, Traddles sat upon the sofa affecting to read
the paper with his eyes on the ceiling; and I looked out of
the window to give early notice of Mr. Micawber’s coming.
Nor had I long to watch, for, at the first chime of the half
hour, he appeared in the street.

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