Page 754 - david-copperfield

step I ought to take was, to try if my articles could be can-
celled and the premium recovered. I got some breakfast on
the Heath, and walked back to Doctors’ Commons, along
the watered roads
and through a pleasant smell of summer flowers, grow-
ing in gardens and carried into town on hucksters’ heads,
intent on this first effort to meet our altered circumstances.
I arrived at the office so soon, after all, that I had half an
hour’s loitering about the Commons, before old Tiffey, who
was always first, appeared with his key. Then I sat down in
my shady corner, looking up at the sunlight on the opposite
chimney-pots, and thinking about Dora; until Mr. Spenlow
came in, crisp and curly.
‘How are you, Copperfield?’ said he. ‘Fine morning!’
‘Beautiful morning, sir,’ said I. ‘Could I say a word to you
before you go into Court?’
‘By all means,’ said he. ‘Come into my room.’
I followed him into his room, and he began putting on
his gown, and touching himself up before a little glass he
had, hanging inside a closet door.
‘I am sorry to say,’ said I, ‘that I have some rather dis-
heartening intelligence from my aunt.’
‘No!’ said he. ‘Dear me! Not paralysis, I hope?’
‘It has no reference to her health, sir,’ I replied. ‘She has
met with some large losses. In fact, she has very little left,
indeed.’
‘You as-tound me, Copperfield!’ cried Mr. Spenlow.
I shook my head. ‘Indeed, sir,’ said I, ‘her affairs are
so changed, that I wished to ask you whether it would be