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Again I contend that we are no farther advanced than we were
before。’
I shook my head； and said； ‘Not a bit。’ Traddles also shook his
head； and said； ‘Not a bit。’
‘What do I deduce from this？’ Mrs。 Micawber went on to say；
still with the same air of putting a case lucidly。 ‘What is the
conclusion； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； to which I am irresistibly
brought？ Am I wrong in saying； it is clear that we must live？’
I answered ‘Not at all！’ and Traddles answered ‘Not at all！’ and
I found myself afterwards sagely adding； alone； that a person must
either live or die。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Just so；’ returned Mrs。 Micawber； ‘It is precisely that。 And the
fact is； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； that we can not live without
something widely different from existing circumstances shortly
turning up。 Now I am convinced； myself； and this I have pointed
out to Mr。 Micawber several times of late； that things cannot be
expected to turn up of themselves。 We must； in a measure； assist to
turn them up。 I may be wrong； but I have formed that opinion。’
Both Traddles and I applauded it highly。
‘Very well；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘Then what do I recommend？
Here is Mr。 Micawber with a variety of qualifications—with great
talent—’
‘Really； my love；’ said Mr。 Micawber。
‘Pray； my dear； allow me to conclude。 Here is Mr。 Micawber；
with a variety of qualifications； with great talent—I should say；
with genius； but that may be the partiality of a wife—’
Traddles and I both murmured ‘No。’
‘And here is Mr。 Micawber without any suitable position or
employment。 Where does that responsibility rest？ Clearly on
society。 Then I would make a fact so disgraceful known； and
boldly challenge society to set it right。 It appears to me； my dear
Mr。 Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； forcibly； ‘that what Mr。
Micawber has to do； is to throw down the gauntlet to society； and
say； in effect； “Show me who will take that up。 Let the party
immediately step forward。”’
I ventured to ask Mrs。 Micawber how this was to be done。
‘By advertising；’ said Mrs。 Micawber—‘in all the papers。 It
appears to me； that what Mr。 Micawber has to do； in justice to
himself； in justice to his family； and I will even go so far as to say in
justice to society； by which he has been hitherto overlooked； is to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
advertise in all the papers； to describe himself plainly as so…and…so；
with such and such qualifications and to put it thus： “Now employ
me； on remunerative terms； and address； post…paid； to W。 M。； Post
Office； Camden Town。”’
‘This idea of Mrs。 Micawber’s； my dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。
Micawber； making his shirt…collar meet in front of his chin； and
glancing at me sideways； ‘is； in fact； the Leap to which I alluded；
when I last had the pleasure of seeing you。’
‘Advertising is rather expensive；’ I remarked； dubiously。
‘Exactly so！’ said Mrs。 Micawber； preserving the same logical
air。 ‘Quite true； my dear Mr。 Copperfield！ I have made the
identical observation to Mr。 Micawber。 It is for that reason
especially； that I think Mr。 Micawber ought （as I have already said；
in justice to himself； in justice to his family； and in justice to
society） to raise a certain sum of money—on a bill。’
Mr。 Micawber； leaning back in his chair； trifled with his eyeglass and cast his eyes up at the ceiling； but I thought him
observant of Traddles； too； who was looking at the fire。
‘If no member of my family；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘is possessed
of sufficient natural feeling to negotiate that bill—I believe there is
a better business…term to express what I mean—’
Mr。 Micawber； with his eyes still cast up at the ceiling；
suggested ‘Discount。’
‘To discount that bill；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘then my opinion is；
that Mr。 Micawber should go into the City； should take that bill
into the Money Market； and should dispose of it for what he can
get。 If the individuals in the Money Market oblige Mr。 Micawber to
sustain a great sacrifice； that is between themselves and their
consciences。 I view it； steadily； as an investment。 I recommend Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； to do the same； to regard it as
an investment which is sure of return； and to make up his mind to
any sacrifice。’
I felt； but I am sure I don’t know why； that this was self…denying
and devoted in Mrs。 Micawber； and I uttered a murmur to that
effect。 Traddles； who took his tone from me； did likewise； still
looking at the fire。
‘I will not；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； finishing her punch； and
gathering her scarf about her shoulders； preparatory to her
withdrawal to my bedroom： ‘I will not protract these remarks on
the subject of Mr。 Micawber’s pecuniary affairs。 At your fireside；
my dear Mr。 Copperfield； and in the presence of Mr。 Traddles；
who； though not so old a friend； is quite one of ourselves； I could
not refrain from making you acquainted with the course I advise
Mr。 Micawber to take。 I feel that the time is arrived when Mr。
Micawber should exert himself and—I will add—assert himself；
and it appears to me that these are the means。 I am aware that I
am merely a female； and that a masculine judgement is usually
considered more competent to the discussion of such questions；
still I must not forget that； when I lived at home with my papa and
mama； my papa was in the habit of saying； “Emma’s form is
fragile； but her grasp of a subject is inferior to none。” That my
papa was too partial； I well know； but that he was an observer of
character in some degree； my duty and my reason equally forbid
me to doubt。’
With these words； and resisting our entreaties that she would
grace the remaining circulation of the punch with her presence；
Mrs。 Micawber retired to my bedroom。 And really I felt that she
was a noble woman—the sort of woman who might have been a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Roman matron； and done all manner of heroic things； in times of
public trouble。
In the fervour of this impression； I congratulated Mr。 Micawber
on the treasure he possessed。 So did Traddles。 Mr。 Micawber
extended his hand to each of us in succession； and then covered
his face with his pocket…handkerchief； which I think had more
snuff upon it than he was aware of。 He then returned to the punch；
in the highest state of exhilaration。
He was full of eloquence。 He gave us to understand that in our
children we lived again； and that； under the pressure of pecuniary
difficulties； any accession to their number was doubly welcome。
He said that Mrs。 Micawber had latterly had her doubts on this
point； but that he had dispelled them； and reassured her。 As to her
family； they were totally unworthy of her； and their sentiments
were utterly indifferent to him； and they might—I quote his own
expression—go to the Devil。
Mr。 Micawber then delivered a warm eulogy on Traddles。 He
said